The room was dimly lit thanks to some night lights as well as some sunlight peaking through the blinded up windows. It was mostly quiet other than the faint sounds of soft breathing in the room until some light shuffling of the covers breaks the silence for a brief moment as Takao wiggles around a bit resting on her left side, her eyes partially open up to find Atago facing her but was soundly asleep.
Lips curled up into a soft smile watching her sister sleep, although now she was curious about something as she carefully pushes herself up without disturbing her bed partners just so she could spot the subtly glowing red numbers of the digital clock near by seeing that it was nearing 8:20 AM. Normally she'd of been up by this time having completed her daily routine of getting prepared and dressed up for the day ahead of her, but considering it wasn't a weekday there was no real need to rush things.
With a relaxed sigh she lays back down onto the bed and takes another look at her sister who now had a smile of her own but appeared to still be asleep as Atago squirmed just slight with a soft giggle along with a soft murmur under her breath.
Takao couldn't help but quietly giggle as she observed, it was a safe enough assumption for her to guess that her sister was having a good dream of sorts so best to not disturb her. Stiffing back a yawn before she closed her eyes again then rolls under the covers to her right side wanting to spend just a little while longer with everyone as she raises her left arm up so she could wrap it around her husband.
"Hmm?"
Her hand rests on nothing but mattress. Odd, she thought, maybe… She pats around some more even going as far as her arm could reach out yet there was nothing but emptiness everywhere she could search. Puzzled she slowly opens her eyes up, confirming that the other half of the bed was lacking someone important.
"Hmm? Max?" Takao quietly calls out, hoping she doesn't wake up Atago in the process while she slowly sits up and the covers sliding off of her. She slowly scans the room with no visible signs given on his whereabouts till she looked off to the side and a slightly cracked open door leading out and light showing through it.
Before she could even question herself if he might be out and about she picked up the scent of a faint aroma coming from the door. A few quick sniffs before her lips curled into a knowing smile. "Ah, of course." Takao quietly muses, now that her sleepy brain was slowly catching up with her it was clear as to where he had gone to.
Deciding that now is as good of a time as any to get the day started, she leans over to her sister and places a hand on her shoulder to lightly shake her up. "Atago? Wake up." It took a moment for her to get some results as Atago stirs from her sleep as her eyes slowly crack open. "Hmm…? What… is it, Takao-chan?" She would ask between yawns
"You smell that?" Takao would ask her sister with a small smile.
"Hmm?" Atago being a little slow in her response taking a fair bit longer for her to wake up with just how deeply asleep she was just a moment ago, she waited a bit till she was able to focus on her senses before she curiously sniffs at the air. Sniff… Sniff, sniff…
Her eyes lit up upon the discovery, looking to her sister curiously as well as with a hint of excitement as asks, "Is he…?"
A quiet mused laugh from Takao as she answered with a simple nod and a smile, "Mhmm, he is." To which Atago giggled with joy before she squirmed about. "Well then, perhaps we should go join him~"
With another nod of agreement from Takao the two of them would shimmy and scoot their way out of bed and got their feet onto the hardwood floor. Walking up to the window Takao grasps onto the blinds and slides them open allowing the morning light to bathe the room with it's warm glow along with a welcoming view of blue skies and the naval base some distance away. Once the room was now lit up she and Atago take a moment to get the bed fixed up, the covers all neat and tidy making sure everything was all ready for tonight.
Once they were satisfied with their work and straightening out their nightgowns they would finally leave the bedroom while holding hands, swinging the door open and venturing further into their home and towards the kitchen where not only the scent was getting stronger but so too did the audible sound of cooking taking place along with someone humming a tune and soon they spotted him in his white tank top and navy blue shorts.
Switching from one pan to another, the Commander was constantly checking on his progress on all the food he was working with. He perked up upon hearing the whistle on the kettle starting to go off, believing the two were still slumbering in bed he hopped over to hoist the kettle off the stove before turning it off and setting the kettle aside before resuming his task of cooking.
All was looking pretty good far as he could see, so he was about to start getting plates ready when he turned around and was startled for a moment upon Takao and Atago standing by the end of the hull. He quickly settled down before greeted them with a warm smile. "Oh, hey girls. Good morning."
"Good morning, Max." The two responded in sync with a smile of their own as the slowly walked, each of them circling around opposite ends of the island of the kitchen flanking him with Takao to his right and Atago at his left as they get within arms reach with each of them leaning up for a kiss from him before they all were pulled in for a big hug.
He let out a soft pleased mmm from this lovely greeting from the two while he squeezes them in their embrace before loosening up his hold so he could look at them. "What got you two up and about already?"
"Well, I was having a lovely sleep and wanted snuggle up with you before it was time to get up, only to find that you were no where to be seen." Takao answered while giving him an accusing glance before her lips curled into a small smirk.
Ah… He thought, as a bashful smile upon him finding out he was busted as well as wished he was there to of accepted the moment. "Heh, sorry. Felt like I had plenty of rest so wanted to get this all started for us and well… Wanted to surprise you."
Takao and Atago looked pleased with his explanation. The three of them had come to an agreement some time ago; while they felt it was their obligation as his wives to cook meals for him he didn't want it to solely be their duty to always do so as he felt responsibilities should be shared, and so they came up with their little compromise between them.
On the weekdays, Takao and Atago would alternate between cooking for everyone and would sometimes cook together on Wednesdays, while on the weekends he would be the one to provide for everyone.
Atago already had some experience prior to them becoming a couple, as for Takao… While she had constantly trained with her sword to be efficient in battle, said skill doesn't easily transfer when it came duties in the kitchen as some of her previous attempts had ended in failure. Thankfully Atago helped her learn along the way and they both even got a few pointers from some of the others within the fleet like with King George V from the Royal Navy.
As for the Max, he couldn't hope to be as good as the ladies were as cooking was never his forte. Simple things like pancakes, eggs and bacon for breakfast? Putting together a burger? Making a pot of coffee or cup of tea? Those he could do just fine and he at least knew how to cook something in the oven. Beyond that though he felt like he was pretty much hopeless, even if the others would disagree but they did at least agree that the more complex stuff would be best suited for the ladies.
He'd give a soft smile then gestures to the table near by. "Go on and have a seat. Should be ready shortly." The sisters nod, both of them giving him one more squeezing hug before they finally let him go so they could head over and get themselves settled onto their seats by the dinning table.
It had been over a month since the sortie they took part in took place, once it had been secured another team had been sent in to provide cover for an FOB to be built to ensure the sector wouldn't easily fall back into enemy hands. Back home when debriefings were conducted and reported being sent back to HQ, normality had returned to the shipgirls and their Commander to their daily routine lives at the port, each of them enjoying their own little peace and downtime how ever long they can knowing that sooner or later they would have to be sent back out to do battle once again.
Back to the Commander and his two heavy cruiser girls, he had prepared and brought them their cups of tea before working on the final touches on their breakfast, making sure he didn't forget anything during the home stretch and once the plates had been set and ready he'd finally bringing everything over before getting his squared away.
Once he had finally got himself all settled into his chair and joined them at the table that they would all get to dig in at last. "Itadakimasu~" Atago would announce happily in a cheer before grabbing her utensils to cut out a sizable portion of pancake on her fork and noms on it. "Itadakimasu." Takao joined in with her sister in the little praise before also doing the same with her plate and having her first bite as well. The word being a phrase in the Japanese tongue that translates "to humbly receive", usually being said before eating and to honor those that had prepared the meal.
It may have been something simple and nothing extravagant, but the pleased noises coming from the two of them told him that despite everything that they were going to enjoy their meal due to the fact that it was made by him and he did a good job with everything.
That made him smile and filled him with some pride. As he was about to start as well he went to repeat what they said, "Itadkee… mosu?" He started sounding confident but quickly deflated as he sadly was flubbing the attempt in trying to pronounce the phrase and his second attempt sounded a bit worse when he was starting to second guess himself.
Seeing Max in his dismay made Atago quietly giggled. She'd finish up what was currently in her mouth before she points to him with her fork before she started to speak it out slowly for him to understand.
"I-ta-da-ki-ma-su." He would repeat after her, doing it at least twice and he would try again and this time he said it properly to which Atago smiled and clapped her hands excitedly of his accomplishment. "There you go~"
A soft sheepish laugh was his response along with him rubbing the side of his head from his initial embarrassment but her praise helped him shake it off quickly. He had been getting some help from Takao and Atago in learning how to speak Japanese, even before they had started to become an item together their Commander had showed an interest in the culture and ways of the Japanese people including their language as it was part of his fascination about another country.
The couple sat there eating their meal and enjoying each other's company, catching up one topics that were left from yesterday, seeing how each other were doing, etc. Eventually the discussion on the here and now would soon be brought up as Max would ask, "So what's on today's agenda?"
"Well, Choukai had mentioned that a new shopping center had opened up in town, said that she wanted to check it out with us." Atago would chime her response.
"Ah, a day with the whole family huh? That'll be fun." He would smile and grab himself another bite out of his meal before his attention was brought to Takao when it was her turn. "Maya on the other hand did ask me to forward a request of hers to you."
"Oh? And what would that be?"
Takao gingerly wipes her mouth with a napkin before grabbing her tea as she explains, "That she would like a rematch with you today."
"Does she now?" He quietly chuckles, taking a sip out of his own cup of tea. "What's the score so far?"
Atago would hold a finger up while looking to him. "Two to five, with Maya in the lead of course."
Sounds about right. Every so often he would get into a dual with the 3rd sister of the Takao-class, a friendly fight with bokken or wooden training swords, and it all started when Maya wanted to put the Commander's training to the test.
For some time now he had been receiving sword training from the two Samurai warships, Atago would pitch in and help him out here and there but for the most part it was mainly Takao instructing him in how to properly use a katana. It was another thing that had peaked his interest when he was younger of Feudal Japan, the way of the Samurai Warrior, warrior code and honor as well as their main weapon of choice the katana and their variants.
When he had shared his interest and curiosity about it all with Takao back then he honestly didn't expect anything to really come from it, if anything it would have been a fun topic to bring up during some off time, get a better understanding of the times since she is very much the living definition of a Samurai Warrior. And yes, they do discuss about it from time to time, but when she had offered to teach him how to fight with a katana, what else was he to do but accept?
With a small hmm as he takes another sip of tea, looking a little lost in his thoughts before returns to reality and looks to his right to Takao. "How do you think today will go this time?"
It was Takao's turn to be in a deep thought, holding her cup with both hands while she considers the topic like a strategist looking over a battle plan. "Hmm… It is difficult to say. There's a strong possibility that Maya would become the winner. And we have been falling behind on your training."
She'd finally give her thoughts over the matter, but upon realizing what she had said on the last part she looks to him while she held her hand and offered a small apologetic smile. "With no fault against you of course. Considering your busy work schedule and your duties as Shikikan it would have been impossible to do a full proper training session to sharpen your skills. But even then with the small amount of training you have been receiving, you are slowly but surely improving."
Max quietly chuckled when she made the correction on her statement, not that it would of mattered since it was the truth and also it wasn't like he would have been able to take on a Siren by himself with a katana. For the most part it was kind of like a hobby, but a fun one at that especially when it involved spending time with Takao.
He would look back at her and gave her soft smile, sliding his right hand over to take her left hand and holds it. His thumb rubbing over the back of her head then brushed over the metal band of her wedding ring on her finger, lightly rubbing it before he'd lock eyes with her. "Well, it certainly helps that I have an awesome Sensei to teach me."
Her ears twitched and a soft blush began to dust her cheeks but Takao curled her lips into a small yet loving smile, giving a squeeze on his hand as they stare into each other's eyes. "You honor me."
After a little while as the sisters were still finishing up their breakfast but their Commander was already finished he'd groans during a stretch before excusing himself from the table and gets up. "Alright then. You girls finish up while I go hop into the shower."
"Ara~ You want me to join you and help wash your back, Max?~" Atago asked with a hint of a tease in the tone of her voice.
But before either of them could continue, Takao quickly countered the discussion to shut it down with her usual stoic tone.
"Atago, no."
"Aww, Takao-chan." Atago softly whined in a playful pout, to which the older sister of the two didn't let up on her stance in this. "Knowing you? You are more likely to do more than help him 'wash up' and make things take longer rather than faster for him." Takao pointed out in her argument. She didn't spend this long being with her sister to not pick up on some of her tricks.
A small, defeated sigh came from Atago while she held up her hands in a shrug. "Yes ma'am."
Max quietly chuckled, amused by this little moment between sisters. He stepped around and leans down to give Atago a kiss before saying, "Another time, Atago."
"Mmm, but of course." She murrs low and smiles, then glances over to smirk at her sister. "Perhaps we'll even let Takao-chan join us as well~"
Takao of course getting a lil more red on the face, whether it be from frustration or her getting flustered by that statement can be a bit difficult to tell sometimes, but the fact that she didn't voice any objection about the idea might suggest the latter. What ever the case may be she greets him with a smile when it was her turn to receive a kiss and the two letting their moment linger for a just a bit before finally parting ways so he could take his leave and get ready for the day ahead of him.