Chapter Text
Taihou was a special case. While she did have full affection towards me more than the other shipgirls did, it soon became clear that she was insistent on not sharing me around.
Just the other day, my last secretary, Z2, left me a parting gift of a box of chocolates. I arrived the morning after to enjoy the chocolates alongside some coffee, only to see Taihou sitting on the couch. Upon checking the drawer where I had left her gift the night before, I was shocked to find it gone.
After a few minutes of searching the entire office, Taihou had finally spoken up.
“... That gift she gave you? Oh, I threw that out. Why wouldn't I? Only my things belong on your desk~”
She sat so calmly, drinking some tea as she watched me move around the office to search once more.
Unfortunately, upon rummaging through the bin I kept by the side of my desk, I found the exact same box but empty of its contents. I let out a sigh before turning towards Taihou, who set her teacup down to return my gaze as if sensing I needed something.
“Is there anything I could do for you, commander? Perhaps you’d want some of my chocolates instead, I poured everything into making them for you.”
Since she seemed so insistent on being by my side, I figured that it was her turn to be my secretary.
“Taihou, as of today, you’ll be my secretary for the week.”
Hearing my words, she let out a giggle and bowed before me.
“Unworthy as I am, I would eternally devote myself to serving you if you wished for it, commander.”
----
The next day, I found Taihou rummaging through the various drawers in the office. Deciding not to question her, I went straight to my desk and set down my things before turning to the door to collect the stacked papers that was today’s work.
“Was it these documents my commander needed? I know they were, naturally.”
Taihou handed me the stack I was going to pick up. I accepted the papers and she gave me an endearing smile.
“Thanks, Taihou.”
“Anything for my commander.”
As I worked away behind my desk, I could feel Taihou’s eyes watching my every move. I didn’t even need to look up to know she had her eyes on me the entire time, her red irises gazing at me from the couch.
“Taihou, I-”
Almost instantly, she had her full attention on me, as if sensing I required her assistance.
“You wanted tea, commander? Here, you can have this cup that I prepared for you.”
She set the teacup on my desk, expectantly waiting for me to take a sip.
“Thanks, but actually I wanted to-”
“To know why I’m staring at you so much? Why, it’s only natural to watch you 24/7 if I’m to learn everything about you, commander. After all, you need only to focus on-”
Suddenly, the door was thrown open by a blonde shipgirl.
“Surprise! Commander, you seen Taihou anywhere?”
I turned our heads towards the wall of drawers, where Taihou was backed up against a cupboard. Albacore looked confused, only to follow my gaze and saw the carrier as well.
“A-Albacore?! What are you doing here?”
“I just came looking for you. We’re gonna go play this new game I found!”
Taihou looked over to me then back to Albacore. She quickly shook her head and recomposed herself before speaking.
“I have very important secretary ship duties today, duties that involve staying forever by my commander's side. I don't have time to play with you.”
Proud of her answer, she turned back to me expectantly, awaiting my praise.
I was focused on getting my work done, so I had let the two argue back and forth for a while. From what I managed to hear of their conversation, Albacore wanted to spend time with Taihou.
“Just bring the commander with you, duh.”
Taihou’s moment of pride was quickly shattered and she turned back to Albacore, her face full of envy and anger. I could only imagine what she would be thinking now.
“Fine! I’ll think of something later. I’d like to spend some quality time with my commander now.”
Satisfied with Taihou’s response, Albacore gave her a toothy grin and nodded in agreement.
“Then I’ll come to get you later! Bye bye, Taihou, Commander!”
Shortly after Albacore had dashed out the door and it slammed shut, Taihou’s whole expression had changed.
“Everytime she comes along, I always get dragged into doing something! And now the commander’s been roped into this as well! I can’t imagine what she’s planning…”
She seemed so upset with having me spend time with other shipgirls. But I couldn’t help but notice how Taihou reacted to Albacore barging into the office…
“I hope you’re not planning on going to spend time with that child, commander.”
Taihou looked over at me with a hint of malice, clearly set on having me all to herself.
The whole week went by, and Taihou had been diligent in her secretarial duties. She was always first in the office to set everything up for the day. Whenever I asked how she’d manage to get into the office so early, she’d always change the subject or simply put her finger to her lips. As a result, Taihou had requested another week for secretary duty.
However, I couldn’t help but think that Taihou was neglecting her own health to simply serve me to the best of her ability. Being her superior, instead of her working on her last day, I allowed her some time off secretary duty.
“But… commander, I still have not finished with my duties yet! How else am I supposed to serve you with all that I am?”
She seemed insistent on staying by my side until the end of the week, but worried for her health, I offered to take Taihou to her room. Before I closed the door to her room, I saw her sitting on the bed with a crestfallen look on her face. I saw a new emotion welling up inside Taihou, overpowering her. It was loneliness.
----
When I went into the office the next morning, Taihou wasn’t waiting for me on the couch. The day was a lot more uneventful and lonely without Taihou around. I had gotten used to her teasing remarks that I think I had come into the office everyday just to hear her voice. She also dedicated herself to being a secretary, practically forcing me to rest instead of “burdening myself with such menial tasks”.
I liked having Taihou around, but I felt that it was more than that. I chose to take the day off to go searching for Taihou.
Upon opening the door to step outside the office, I saw Albacore waiting to barge in and surprise me and my secretary. She realised I was standing at the door and shortly reconsidered her approach.
“Is Taihou here?”
“No, and I’ve no idea where she might’ve gone.”
Albacore looked worried as she wondered where the carrier may have gone off to.
“Weird. I haven’t been able to find Taihou anywhere at all. The last place I would be checking is in her room, but it’s been locked since yesterday.”
Closing the office door and thanking Albacore, I set off for Taihou’s room. Her room would be the last place I would be checking for Taihou. I didn’t know much of Taihou’s favourite spots around the port, but I’m definitely sure that “behind me”, “anywhere in my sight” or “in my resting quarters” takes the top spot.
I slowed down to a walk before I reached Taihou’s room, the carpeted floor muffling my footsteps. Like all the other doors in the dorm, there was only a single gold plate decorating the door emblazoned with the shipgirl’s faction and name. Taking a deep breath, I raised my hand to knock on the door.
“Taihou? It’s me, the commander.”
I could hear the shuffling of sheets inside the room, meaning Taihou was definitely awake. However, she didn’t exclaim my name in surprise or rush to open the door. Her footfalls were muffled by the carpet, becoming only shuffles as she slowly moved towards the door. I heard a soft thud against the carpet, followed by a thud against the door.
“Taihou? Are you okay?”
I pressed my ear against the door in hopes to hear her mumbles, but she responded loud and clear.
“Do you dislike me being by your side, commander?”
She seemed upset and frustrated with being relieved from these duties.
“Do you hate me?”
Moving my ear away from the door, I stood up straight and took another deep breath. I softly knocked on the door again to get her attention.
“Could you open the door, Taihou?”
I heard Taihou shuffling around in the room. She was getting up from her spot by the door and standing to greet me. I heard a lock click, then I heard the doorknob click. The gold knob turned and the door opened slightly. Confused, I grasped the doorknob and slinked into the room, making sure the door closed behind me.
Lights were off and curtains were drawn to keep the room as dark as possible. Pictures of me during the day covered one side of the room, and on the other side was her bed and drawers, various apparel and clothing littered across both. Taihou was sitting on her bed, glumly patting the space next to her.
“Commander… please take a seat.”
I walked over to her bed and slowly lowered myself down onto her bed, the mattress depressing under my weight.
“Taihou, if you need to tell me anything, you can do so whenever you want. I’ll wait forever if I have to.”
She fidgeted in her seat, hesitant to talk.
“Commander, I…”
Taihou took a deep breath.
“I want to have you all to myself, and I realise you may like the other girls instead of me. So if you hate me, I want you to know that, as unworthy and selfish as I am, I would humbly accept any position to devote myself to your success.
She was staring straight at me, her red eyes pleading for more time by my side. Hands clasped together in front of her. Her usual teasing voice replaced with a tinge of sadness in her voice.
“Taihou, I don’t hate you at all.”
Taihou turned her head away from me, as if she deemed herself unworthy for these words.
“I love you as much as the other shipgirls, but when you work, no less serve someone diligently, for several days straight, I can’t help but think you were neglecting your health for my sake.”
She turned back towards me, red eyes softened, listening to every word that came out of my mouth.
“You deserved some rest after you spent the entire week working. But now it seems you’ve rested up fully, would you like to serve by my side once more?”
Her eyes widened in surprise, hands clasped in front of her.
“You would give someone as lowly as me another chance to be by your side?”
“Taihou, I’m a commander, not a tyrant.”
Taihou closed her eyes and got up from her bed and moved to the floor, kneeling before me with her hands laid on her legs.
“Lowly, selfish and unworthy as I am, I, Taihou, am at your service once more, commander.”
----
A few days later, Taihou had called the entirety of the Sakura Empire to witness her pledge her everything to me. While Akagi was burning with jealousy and envy, the rest of the crowd was cheering me on. This was the first time I had ever oathed a shipgirl, and pledged my everything to her as well.
Taking the ring from the box that Akashi had sold to me for a ridiculous amount of gems, I slid it gently onto her finger. Taihou held her hand up to her face, as if inspecting the ring, before jumping onto me and hugging me.
“It's finally on my finger! You know, I would have thrown this ring out long ago if it didn't have my name on it.”
My eyes widened in shock, confused as to how Taihou had discovered that I bought a ring for her.
“How did I know about it? I told you, I know EVERYTHING about my Commander. And from now on I'm going to love EVERYTHING about you too~”