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Chapter Text

My body and mind were utterly exhausted, the muscles in my hands and wrists searing as if they were on fire. With a weary look in my eyes, I gazed upon the seemingly never-ending pile of paperwork on my desk, a fatigued groan escaping from my mouth. Following the repeal of the Anti-Sex Law and the other laws attached to it, I was deluged by a seemingly never-ending stream of paperwork. The reasoning was simple; there was going to be a meeting at Geneva in order to verify the new rules across the entire world, and I had to write and sign out the documents for every single nation.

It was a Herculean task in of itself; I had to write them out in their respective languages. Sakuran for the Sakura Empire, Sardegnan for Sardegna, and so on and so forth. And it’s not as if I had an ample amount of time at my disposal; I only had a week and a bit to get them all signed before the meeting. As such, I spent the last few weeks doing nothing but paperwork, only taking breaks to eat or go to the bathroom. My body was in pain, both mentally and emotionally; I don’t know what the hell I was supposed to do any longer.

My thoughts soon drifted towards my lovers; Littorio, Illustrious, Hood, Zara & Pola, causing another sad sigh to escape from my mouth. I hadn’t had the chance to spend time with them throughout this entire ordeal; I was too caught up in my duties to even give them the time of day they deserved. Then again, it’s not as if they needed me around, especially since they’ve got each other. After all, Littorio and Illustrious had each other, as do Zara and Pola. And Hood had Bismarck to go to if she needed company. They’re probably much happier with each other than they are with me; I am the useless third wheel after all.

I thought about all the happy times we spent with each other at the end of the day; Littorio’s soothing words, Illustrious’ soft landings, Hood’s tender embraces. I loved each and every one of them, but I knew that I didn’t deserve them in the very end. For what good was I if I struggled with all this paperwork? An intense frustration built up within me; why the hell did they give me so much work with such a short time limit?! Gods, why the hell can’t things go right for me for once in my damn life?!

But as I was about to scream in frustration, the phone began ringing, my curiosity piqued by it. Slowly picking it up, I saw that it was from Fleet Admiral Page; had he realized that the time limit was unfair and extended the deadline? Only one way to find out.

“Sir?” I raised the phone to my ear, a sense of hope flickering within my heart.

“You’re awake, Cunningham. I…I have some bad news for you.” Page’s apologetic tone rang out in my ear, a crushing sensation soon overcoming me. Had the meeting been canceled? Had all my effort been for naught?

“W-What’s the matter…?” I asked fearfully, my phone trembling within my shaky hand as an uncomfortable feeling of fear rose within me.

“I just got a call from the secretary of the Geneva Convention; they had to shift the meeting due to some unexpected circumstances. The papers…” The Fleet Admiral began with a quick gulp, his mind quickly forming the words needed. “The papers are due tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?!” I exclaimed in surprise over his words, my heart skipping a beat. Surely, he must be lying; no way could he really expect me to get everything done in no time. But the silence on the other end of the phone told me the bitter truth; that I really had to get everything done by today.

“I’m sorry Cunningham, but I’m telling you the truth. The papers have to get done by tomorrow. I tried to have the deadline extended for you, but they wouldn’t budge, saying that if they’re not done, then the repeals won’t go through.” Page informed me, my tone starting to quaver in a mix of shock and anger.

“B-But President Frost approved them; the laws have already gone through in Eagle Union!” I shot back at him.

“Correct, but that’s only in Eagle Union. The rest of the world won’t adopt these new policies until they’ve been greenlit by the Geneva Convention. And they won’t greenlight them if they’re not all filled in by tomorrow and presented at the meeting.” My superior attempted to reassure me, his tone of voice very smooth. Yet despite his reassurances, it did little to comfort me; if anything, it made me feel worse.

“So that’s it then? The rest of the world will see the KANSEN as less than human?” I told him with a hint of defeat in my tone, with Page giving me a grim ‘mhm’ of confirmation.

“I’m sorry that it had to be this way, I’m sorry that I attempted to knock back the repeals back then, and I’m sorry I wasn’t able to help you out, Cunningham...” A flurry of apologies escaped from Page’s mouth as he soon hung up in defeat, the phone sliding out of my hand.

I fucked up…I fucked up in the end. Because I was so worthless that I couldn’t get any paperwork down, the KANSEN would never be seen as equals now. I was wretched scum, scum that didn’t deserve any kindness or love. And yet…I was brimming with an intense rage the likes of which I had never felt before. Why? Why the hell was the entire world conspiring against me? All I wanted to do is the right thing, yet those fucking bastards get in my way all the damn time. I hate them…I HATE THEM ALL!!

With a rage unlike any I had ever felt before, I threw everything off my desk in a fit of anger, the screen on my phone cracking upon hitting the wall. I tossed the documents off the table, threw the pen pot onto the ground, even went so far as to throw my chair across the wall. I didn’t care, I was too furious to think clearly at this point.

Pillows and cushions were thrown all over the place, my fists punched the walls over and over again, all while I let out the most anguished scream I could. My rampage went on for minutes, but it felt like hours, my eyes seeding a shade of red unlike any I had seen before. But when the destruction was over, when my once clean office was a pigsty, that’s when it overcame me. The crushing sense of failure that loomed over my head like the blade of the guillotine.

I failed them, I failed the women who meant the most to me. Littorio, Illustrious, Hood. All of them were eager to see me succeed, to be granted the humanity that they rightfully deserve. But I couldn’t do that; I was too weak and incompetent to give them what they wanted. Once they find out about this, they’ll no doubt leave me, just as I deserved. For I was worthless scum; a plague upon this port who deserved nothing more than to suffer. Well suffer I shall, for I was done with everything.

Unable to keep my emotions bottled up anymore, I cried. I cried and I cried and I cried; I cried like the useless failure that I was. I hate my life…I wish I was never born, so that I didn’t have to endure all this pain…

0000

“I hope Ritchie enjoys this cake I’ve made for him~” The cheery tone of Illustrious rang out through the hall as she and Littorio were walking towards his office, a pleasant skip in their step. “I feel really bad for leaving him on his own for so long, but he’s been really busy with work recently.”

“Indeed. Word on the grapevine is that he’s planning on taking the repeals to the Geneva Convention; the mere thought is making my heart flutter!” The green-haired woman chimed sweetly, her arm snaking itself around Illustrious’ body. “Just like how your very presence makes my heart flutter.”

“Likewise, mia bella signora.” The white-haired beauty replied in Sardegnan, her angelic tone causing the battleship’s heart to flutter. Soon enough, they were able to make their way to Richard’s office, however they ended up bumping into a pair of familiar faces. “Ah, good morning Lady Hood; how are you and Bismarck going today?”

“Wonderful! The two of us had made some apple pie for Richard; poor guy’s been working up a storm for the last few weeks.” The blonde battlecruiser chimed in, with Bismarck giving a nod of her own.

“His work ethic is admirable, but I’d wish he’d take a break more often. Granted, he is in the midst of an important task, but if anything, that makes breaktime a lot more important.” Bismarck replied with her usual air of coolness, her gaze briefly glancing at the door. “However…I sense that something’s off today.”

“I wouldn’t worry about it; mio caro’s no doubt exhausted from all the work he’s done. Our tantalizing treats should no doubt—” Littorio began boldly as she quickly opened the door, her words dying in her throat as she gazed upon the scene in horror. Her eyes widened slightly as she gazed upon the mess, my crumpled, weeping form twitching before her. “R-Richard!”

With surprising zeal, the Glory of Naples ran towards my side and embraced me firmly, a look of pain on her face. “Richard? Richard? Is everything alright?!”

“Leave me alone…” I sniffled at her, my eyes puffy and red from the tears I’d been crying. “I deserve to rot within my misery; I’m a failure and I always will be.”

“What are you talking about? How on earth can you be a failure; you’ve done so much for us.” Littorio rebutted, with Illustrious, Hood and Bismarck quickly running towards me side.

“I…I can’t Littorio, I just can’t…” I choked out weakly, my gaze shifting towards the scattered papers. “I-I was just told that I had to fill all those forms out by tomorrow, otherwise y-you wouldn’t get all your rights. I tried and tried and tried, but I couldn’t do it; I can’t get all those forms signed in a single day! I failed you; I FAILED YOU ALL!”

Choked sobs continued to escape from my mouth as the KANSEN all gazed at each other, forlorn looks in their eyes. I was in pain; I was in so much pain that words could barely describe it. And though they were unsure on what they could do, they were going to stand by my side every step of the way.

“Richard…” Hood began, crouching down before my face as she began to wipe my tear-stained cheeks. “You are not a failure; you never were, and you never will be. If all those documents need to be signed today, then that’s what we’re going to do!”

“Ja, I can handle it for you, Richard. Spend the rest of the day in your room, recuperating from the previous weeks.” Bismarck offered with a sincere smile on her face.

“B-But it wouldn’t be right of me to accept your help. I *sniff* I promised you all that I’d get the paperwork done for you. That I’d help you get the rights and recognition that you deserved, but I couldn’t even get that done…” I continued to sniffle into Littorio’s chest, the green-haired woman cradling me firmly.

“Please don’t blame yourself; you went this far on your own. It’s only fair that we lifted you up when you need it, that I showered you with the light of love and peace.” Illustrious reassured me, the tender woman smiling at me as an idea formed in her mind. “That’s why we’re going to pamper you today; to shower you with all our love and affection!”

“Indeed. You’ve worked so hard for all of us here; now allow us to rest your weary mind and spirit.” Hood agreed with Illustrious, the blonde watching as Littorio scooped me up in her arms, the battleship slowly getting back on her feet.

“Let us make haste to our room, Richard. I shall hold you within my arms, alleviating you of the pain within your heart.” The Glory of Naples smiled, the three women slowly making their way out the office as Bismarck opted to begin the process of completing the paperwork. Once she was finished, she was going to offer her own comfort to the man she loved.

0000

“No need to work yourself up; just sit back and relax, dear~” Hood chimed in blissfully as she rested my head on her lap, her hand gingerly combing through my hair. Littorio was content to lie on her side and cuddle me firmly, nuzzling up to me as her hand slowly rubbed my stomach. And Illustrious? Illustrious gingerly removed my shoes and began massaging my aching feet, with my mind only now recognising the throbbing pain within them. Guess all that kicking and screaming must’ve bruised something. Her hands, they were so soft and tender, her fingers gingerly rubbing the pain away. Their pampering felt utterly wonderful, more so than mere words could describe. Yet I didn’t deserve it; I didn’t deserve any of this at all.

When I became Hood’s boyfriend, when I married Littorio and Illustrious, I promised to stay by their side the entire way. Yet these last few weeks…I had failed in my oath to watch over then, to shower them in my love and affection. I was caught up in work, but that was no excuse; I should’ve made more time in the day for them. Perhaps that was why they didn’t reach out to me; they had grown weary of me and saw me as an intrusive third wheel in their relationships with each other.

“I’m sorry…” I muttered sadly, my words reaching their ears. “I’m sorry I failed you all.”

“You haven’t failed us, Richard. You’ve gone above and beyond for us with these repeals, to the point where you’ve exhausted yourself time after time.” Illustrious reassured me, a tender smile on her face as she continued to massage my aching feet.

“But I have; I have failed you. I couldn’t get them all done in the time limit; because of me you won’t get the rights that you deserve!” I replied with anguished firmness, my hands beginning to tremble by my side as my emotions began to bottle up within me. “A real Commander would’ve gotten it all done within days!”

“That would be impossible, tesoro. I saw the workload you had gotten back then; I doubt any other Commander could get it done within the time limit. Even with her proficiency in paperwork, it’ll be a Herculean task for Signora Bismarck.” Littorio began, her hand reaching for mine and gingerly grasped it. “Please, don’t beat yourself up over it.”

“It’s not just that I failed in; I failed you all as a husband, and a boyfriend!” I shot back at them, tears pooling in my eyes once more. “I…I always felt like the unwanted third wheel in our relationship, as someone who nobody wanted to be around. I-I threw myself at my duty as a means of combating these feelings, but they got in the way…”

“W-What are you trying to say?” I hint of concern grew in Illustrious’ tone, her hands quavering slightly as I took a gulp of air.

“I never deserved your love; you’ve showered so much kindness upon me, yet I failed to reciprocate any of it…” I managed to choke out, a warm flow of tears trickling down my cheeks once more as I looked up at them. “You d-don’t have to love me; you’re free to dump me i-if you desire…”

I soon broke down once more as I sobbed into Hood’s lap, pained looks forming on the women’s faces. However, they chose to stand by me, with Littorio embracing me as firmly as she could. “Why would you say such things? Of course we love you, Richard.”

“B-But what have I done to deserve such kindness? What have I done that has proven myself worthy in your eyes?!” I croaked out once more, my teary eyes gazing into hers as my hands cling onto her shoulders. An empathetic smile on her face, Littorio brought me into a warm embrace, my face buried within her soft chest as she began to comb my hair tenderly.

“You’re an incredible man, mio caro. You’ve brought peace between the two factions, repairing shattered bonds of friendship. You fought for our rights time and time again, getting back up whenever you were knocked down. And you’ve even laid the groundwork for so many relationships; all the lovely signoras here wouldn’t have found their true love if it hadn’t been for you.” The Glory of Naples reassured me as she began rocking back and forth slowly, cradling me ever-so gently. “Please, don’t downplay yourself as unworthy, for that is a falsehood. You are among the worthiest people in the world of my love, and that will never change.”

“Littorio’s right, Ritchie; you are an incredible man. Your heart it one of the purest I’ve ever seen, always going out of your way to help out those who are in dire need. There’s a sense of innocence within you; one that always sees the best in people, not that it’s a bad thing. And let’s not forget about just how charming you can be, my love. It’s no wonder so many women here have fallen in love with you, including me.” Illustrious gingerly smiled as she crawled towards me and brought me into an embrace, her plush bosom pressed against the side of my head. “It’s why I married you, after all. You’ve given me something far greater than I could ever hope for.”

“Littorio and Illustrious have spoken the absolute truth about you, but I would like to add my own piece as well.” Hood chimed in, gingerly sliding behind me as she joined in the hug. “You were there for me when I needed it the most; like you, I was coping with my own mental health issues. That night in the Denmark Strait traumatized me, it left me with seemingly never-ending nightmares. Yet you showered me with kindness; you were my pillar of strength when I needed it the most. Let me return the favor; let me be your pillar of strength.”

“Y-You guys…” I muffled out loud, my heart genuinely touched by their immense kindness. It…it gave me a renewed sense of hope, a hope that encouraged me to continue forward and give it my all for the ones I love. My teary-eyed frown turned into a smile, a sense of warmth flowing from my watery eyes “T-Thank you…from the bottom of my heart, thank you.”

“Anything for you, mio caro. I will always be here by your side, my arms forever open to your embraces.” Littorio smiled blissfully, taking out a tissue and gingerly wiped my eyes. “Your smiles are what keep me going at times; knowing that I make you happy, makes me feel very happy.”

“Likewise, and I know the perfect way to cheer you up!” The blonde battlecruiser chimed in, digging her fork into her apple pie and lifted up a chunk. “Here, have a taste. Perhaps some food will help settle your nerves.

Gazing at the delicious pie before my eyes, I got myself in a more comfortable position and opened my mouth, watching as Hood lowered the fork into my maw. Closing my lips, I lifted the mouthful from the fork and proceeded to chew on it, my tongue immediately graced with a multitude of flavors. The flakiness of the pastry was spot on, providing me with a satisfyingly mild crunch. But the apples! The apples were spot on; they were crunchy and juicy at the same time, their crispness a real treat to behold. And it seemed as though there was some apple sauce thrown into the pie for that extra zest; a very wise decision on their behalf.

“T-This is incredible!” I spoke adamantly, a bit of food still in my mouth.

“I’m glad you liked it, Richard. Just make sure you don’t talk with some food in your mouth; it’s common etiquette after all~” Hood chimed in with a smile, the two of us chuckling to ourselves gingerly.

“Just make sure to pace yourself, sweetheart. I also have some cake for you~” Illustrious smiled sweetly, holding up her plate containing a slice of chocolate mousse cake. All of a sudden, the door to my room opened up quickly, my gaze turning to see Zara and Pola by the entrance.

“Richard! We heard all about what happened from Bismarck.” A hint of concern rang out in Zara’s voice as she and her sister quickly made their way onto the bed, gingerly climbing onto it. “Are you ok, mio caro?!”

“I-I’m feeling better now, thank you.” I offered them a small smile as I relaxed within Hood’s lap, with the two cruisers’ soon crawling towards my side to nuzzle up to me.

“You’ll never be a third wheel in our relationship, Ritchie. We love you far too much to even consider such a thing.” The redhead reassured me, gingerly resting my head atop her plush bosom. “You are an absolute sweetheart and a gentleman, and I won’t hear otherwise.”

“That’s right. You gave us both a chance to make it up to you for what happened that day with the contest. You’ve always looked out for us, showing us so much kindness that it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.” Pola cooed blissfully as she embraced me as well, effectively sandwiching me between the two sisters. “We’ll always love you, Richard. Now and forever.”

“And I’ll always love you all with every fibre of my heart, now and forever.” I smiled up at the five of them, my arms gingerly embracing the two sisters as they nuzzled up to me.

“It’s a good thing that you two showed up when you did.” Illustrious chimed in at the Sardegnan cruisers. “We were just giving our loving Commander some pampering to ease his body, mind and spirit. We’d love for you two to join in~”

“And join in we shall!” Zara chimed in as she took out a mimikaki from her box, twirling it within her fingers. “I know exactly how to pamper our weary boyfriend.”

“Zara’s thighs are incredibly soft, so much so that I use them as a pillow.” The purple-haired cruiser chimed in, shooting me a warm smile. “Don’t be shy, Ritchie. Try them out for yourself~”

“Alright then.” I replied gingerly as the three of us shifted on the bed, my eyes watching the redhead gingerly pat her thighs. On cue, I rested my head atop her very thick legs, a sense of bliss permeating throughout my body. Pola was right, they were very soft, so much so that I was on the verge of falling asleep. But any thoughts of sleep were soon dispelled as I felt the gentle touch of Zara’s mimikaki against my ear, the fluffy tip gingerly running all across the soft organ. Pola, gazing at me affectionately began to gingerly unbutton my shirt, opening it up to expose my bare torso.

But her intentions weren’t risqué at all; retrieving a small bottle of oil from Zara’s box, she removed her gloves and poured the oil onto her hands, before putting the bottle aside. Her fingers waving in the air, she reached for my stomach and began massaging it gingerly, a shuddered moan of bliss escaping from my mouth. “Does that feel good, Ritchie?” Pola inquired with a smile, her hands running down my soft belly.

“It feels wonderful, my love!” I smiled up at her, a look of satisfaction forming on the cruiser’s face. “The same extends to you, Zara. Your lap-pillow is incredible!”

“Well, Sardegnan thighs are among the best in the world; take it from me, Littorio!” The green-haired woman chimed in, eliciting amused chuckles from the other women in the room. With her pie still in hand, Hood made her way towards my head once more, eager to continue feeding me.

Gingerly scooping up another forkful of pie, she gingerly lowered it towards my mouth as I opened it, a quick ‘nom’ escaping from my mouth as I began chewing on the delicious pastry. This…this must be what heaven was like; getting pampered by the ones I loved without worrying about my obligations. That said, I did feel bad for Bismarck; she was left with quite the mess after all.

“Hey, Hood? Do you think Bismarck will be alright?” I inquired gently, the battlecruiser returning a casual smile at me.

“She’ll be alright; after all, Biscuit’s among the best when it comes to handling paperwork.” The blonde beauty reassured me, her gloved hand gingerly caressing my warm cheek. “As a matter of fact, she was able to impart a few tips onto the other faction leaders shortly after the reunification.”

“Her Majesty was among those who learned from Lady Bismarck. Just don’t go reminding her about it; she’ll deny it profusely~” A playful giggle escaped from Illustrious’ mouth as she made her way back to my feet to massage them, her delicate fingers clambering all over them once more. This time, she focused her attention on my toes, gingerly pressing down on them as a blissful sigh escaped from my mouth.

“My dear Veneto was also aided by Signora Bismarck; her gratitude for Ironblood’s radiant beacon of strength and beauty as clear as day!” Littorio chimed in with her usual flair, the green-haired battleship setting up a scented oil diffuser before switching it on. “The role of a leader can be taxing on one’s mind and spirit, and Veneto is like you in some way; worried about letting down those close to her. Perhaps that is why she has grown so fond of you, mio caro.”

“I know what you mean; leading a navy amidst a chaotic government is bound to cause untold levels of stress and anxiety.” I chimed in, making myself comfortable atop Zara’s thighs. “Seems the two of us are closer than I initially expected; like two peas in a pod.”

“It’s a common trope for best friends to evolve into lovers, and it seems as though you and Veneto are another exa—” Hood began, only for the forkful of pie to slip off the utensil and onto Zara’s legs. “My apologies, Lady Zara. I’ll get a napkin to clean it up.”

“Don’t worry; if anything, I was hoping for something like this to happen…” The redhead returned with a playful smile, her finger gingerly poking my cheek. Knowing exactly what she wanted me to do, I tilted my head and began licking the pie off her soft thighs, a pleasured coo escaping from the cruiser’s mouth. Zara’s plush legs began twitching slightly as I merrily licked at them, my slippery muscle cleaning them up effortlessly. All while the curvaceous cruiser began petting my head, her fingers running through my soft blonde hair.

Around a minute or so later, I had finished cleaning up her thighs, slowly rolling onto my back once more as I looked up at Zara. A satisfied smile on her face, she continued to gingerly pet my head, her fingers reaching for her mimikaki once more. Sure enough, she began to gingerly clean my ears with it, a pleasured sigh escaping from my mouth. My body continued to drift atop the metaphorical bed of clouds, the sensation amplified as Pola slowly picked up the pace of her massage, her oil-soaked fingers fervently rubbing my stomach.

“Easy there, allow me to relieve you of your tensions~” The purple-haired woman chimed in as she gingerly massaged me, her hands running up and down my stomach. Every now and then, her finger would poke my navel, a quick giggle escaping from my mouth. The sensation was ticklish already, but the oil served to amply it by a considerable magnitude. Yet all of a sudden, Pola felt Littorio’s hand on her shoulder, the green-haired battleship whispering something into her ear.

Sure enough, Pola moved out of the way with Zara following suit, enabling Littorio to rest my head and shoulder atop her lap, my body lying vertically. From there, she proceeded to gingerly massage my shoulders, the green-haired woman singing quietly underneath her breath. I wasn’t able to fully understand the lyrics as they were in Sardegnan, but from the gentle tone of her voice, I could tell it was meant to comfort me. The battleship’s fingers lovingly kneaded my shoulders, my aches and pains fading away within seconds as she continued to gaze at me lovingly. Turning to give Illustrious a quick nod, Littorio watched as the white-haired beauty made her way towards me, holding the plate of cake in her hand.

“I made your favorite for you today~” The buxom carrier chimed in as she took a forkful of cake and hovered it over my mouth. “No need to rush; be sure to savor every last mouthful.”

Gazing at the tantalizing treat, I opened my mouth and bite down on the cake, lifting it off the fork and began chewing it slowly as a wave of relief flowed within me. The soft chocolate mousse melted in my mouth, my tongue blessed with its tantalizing sweetness. The rich chocolate sauce was an additional bonus to the rich dessert, the sticky liquid trickling down my throat. Gods, it tasted so good; I wanted more, now! Giggling sweetly to herself, Illustrious scooped off another forkful and held it over my mouth, watching as I bit it off the shiny utensil.

“Someone must’ve worked up an appetite~” The white-haired beauty chimed to herself as she reached for my cheek and began petting it, her hand working in tandem with Littorio’s. “Is there anything in particular you’d like?”

“You mean for dinner?” I inquired, with Illustrious giving me a nod in return. In all honesty, I was so hungry that I didn’t care what I got for dinner; I just needed something to quash my growing hunger. “I’m in the mood to be surprised, today. Think of it as a…pleasant way to wrap up today.”

“Works for me!” Illustrious chimed in, gingerly resting the plate atop her lap in order to send a message via her phone. Her fingers merrily tapped the glass screen, a pleasant hum escaping from her mouth while doing so. Soon enough, she sent the message with a final tap, a look of satisfaction on her face. “There we go; King George V should receive the message by now. Knowing her, she’d be more than happy to cheer you up with some cooking.”

“Veneto would no doubt pitch in to help; the two of them have gotten fairly close with each other recently.” Littorio commented as she continued to massage my shoulders. “That and she’d always be happy to cook something for our dear Ritchie.”

“My, my~” A coo of intrigue escaped from Pola’s mouth over hearing the news, a playful smile forming on her face. “To have two lovely women make something up for you tonight; such an honor must make you feel giddy inside.”

“You’re right, Pola. I am honored to have so many people care about me. It’s something that I should never take for granted…” I began, slowly lifting myself up off the bed as I turned to face everyone. “Thank you…thank you all so much for comforting me in my moment of need.”

“No need to thank us, polpetto~” Littorio chimed in as she embraced me from behind, nuzzling up to me affectionately. “Our arms are always open to you, my love. Please, if ever you feel like you’re on the verge of another break down, come seek us. We’ll always offer you some comfort whenever you need it.”

“Precisely. We’re here for you, just as you’re here for us. After all, you’ve done so much for us; it’s only fair that we return the favor.” Hood chimed in as well, a delicate smile on her face as the bedroom door slowly opened, her head turning to see a familiar face. “You’re here, Biscuit! I take it everything’s in order now?”

“Ja, it was no easy feat; no wonder the Commander was broken mentally…” A weary sigh escaped from Bismarck’s mouth as she rested the completed forms atop one of the bedside drawers, only for the blonde battleship to gingerly make her way to my bed, slowly climbing on top of it. Before I knew it, the buxom battleship brought me into a passionate embrace, my body freezing slightly over how powerful her hug was.

“B-Bismarck.” I managed to get out, slowly lifting my face from her plush bosom and looked into her eyes. “I-Is it really true? Were you able to get it all done?”

“Ja, it’s all done now.” She smiled, her hand tenderly cupping my cheek as she gazed into my eyes affectionately. “To have done so much in so short a time; you’re truly grown as a leader, Richard.”

“Thank you Bismarck. Thank you for helping me out when I needed it. To have completed so much paperwork today; you’ve saved my hide, and the hide of all your comrades today.” I thanked her whole-heartedly.

“I should be the one thanking you. After all, we wouldn’t have gotten this far had it not been for your unyielding efforts. Not only have you patched things up between Hood and I, but you allowed me to put aside the mantle of Ironblood’s unwavering flagship, enabling me to be myself for a while, however brief it may be. Those moments with just the three of us; you, me and Hood. These are treasures moments that I’ll always hold dear to me.” Bismarck smiled as she started to grow misty-eyed, fighting back the urge to cry right there and then.

“You’re very welcome, Bismarck. I’m always, always happy to offer you my arm whenever you ne—” I began, only to be silenced by a kiss from the Beacon of Ironblood. My cheeks started to burn red as I felt her embrace me, the battleship snuggling up to me. Yet I wasn’t bothered by it at all…if anything, I welcomed her passionate love. Reciprocating her feelings, I began to embrace her back, my hands lovingly massaging her body. Around half a minute later, she broke off the kiss and proceeded to nuzzle my cheek.

“Ich liebe dich…” The blonde battleship began, her soft blue eyes gazing into mine. “That is Ironblood for I love you, and it’s exactly how I feel about you, Richard…”

“I love you too, Bismarck. I love you with all my heart.” I smiled back at her, planting an affectionate kiss on her forehead.

“It’s like a dream come true…” Hood smiled blissfully to herself, wiping a tear of joy off her cheek before clapping her hands together. “I should write something to celebrate the momentous occasion; an arrow of love piercing through a barrier of grief to cleanse the soul. The mere thought alone makes my heart flutter~”

“You’re into poetry as well? I’m sure Aquila would be delighted to read your stuff, Signora Hood!” Zara chimed in with a smile of her own, a sense of pride appearing on Hood’s face.

“Think of it as my talent; much like how you two are superb chefs.” The blonde battlecruiser chimed back at them merrily, her gaze turning back towards me. “Ah, but we can discuss out talents another time; we’ve got our loving boyfriend to pamper.”

“Infatti~ We’ve got the entire day to shower him with our love and affection.” The redhead replied, her hand gingerly stroking my chin. “I hope you’ve got room to spare, because you’re getting spoiled tonight!”

“So many soft landings, lap pillows and cuddles; you’ll be eating well tonight, Richard!” Illustrious chimed in with a smile of her own.

“Not to mention the kisses; it would be an injustice for me to ignore those soft lips of yours…” Littorio began, slowly leaning forward and gave me a quick but very passionate kiss on the lips. “Enjoy what we have to offer you, mio caro~”

“I will, thank you very much.” I smiled up at her as I soon found myself in one big cuddle pile, a warm fuzzy feeling coursing through my heart. Though today nearly pushed me over the edge, I was saved from falling over by the women whom I loved with all my heart.

Chapter Text

A casual hum escaped from King George V’s mouth as she switched on the oven and prepared the ingredients for tonight’s meal. Earlier today, she had just received a text from Illustrious mentioning the Commander’s poor state of mind. It didn’t surprise the Knight Commander; being cooped up in his office for weeks on end would tank anyone’s morale severely. Which is why she strove to prepare a most exquisite meal for him; both to cheer him up, and as a means of expressing her love for him.

Admittedly, it did take a little while for George to decide upon what exactly to cook; there were so many options after all. But then she remembered that fateful night when they confessed to one another, the meal he poured all his feelings into while he created it just for her. Poularde Albufera, Albufera Pullet as it’s known in English. It was a dish that she had never heard of before hand, but quickly grew to become one of her favorites. Perhaps the pleasant memory endeared her to it a lot quicker than usual. Either way, she was going to enjoy making it herself.

With a casual hum, she got to work cutting open the chicken and began the long process of deboning it, putting them aside on a separate plate. The process required precise cutting of the meat, but such a task was easy for Azur Lane’s greatest chef. The deboning now done, the blonde battleship proceeded to place the fillets into the marinade, making sure to add the necessary herbs and spices into the mixture before letting it stew for a moment. Then, she made her way towards the fridge and put both the chicken and the marinade inside before closing the door, enabling her to begin work on the stuffing.

Just then, the kitchen door opened once more as a familiar face entered the room, a casual smile forming on George’s face. “Good morning, Lady Veneto. How are you today?” She greeted warmly, with the Enteral Flagship giving her a quick bow of respect.

“Bene. My sister Littorio told me about what happened to the Commander today; poor guy worked himself into a meltdown.” An empathetic wince escaped from the grey-haired beauty as she rested her bag of ingredients on the countertop. “I want to make something for him; something that shows just how much I care for him, and I know exactly what to make.”

“Oh? You’ve got my attention.” The blonde woman chimed in as she began to gingerly dice the liver into small cubes. With a smile, Veneto retrieved a bottle of extra virgin olive oil, some basil leaves, San Marzano tomato sauce and Mozzarella di Bufala Campana cheese. It didn’t take long for the Knight Commander to connect the dots. “Neapolitan pizza; a very good choice.”

“I know how much he loves the stuff; his never-ending gushing of praise that day we had the joint banquet always resonated with me.” She cooed blissfully, a soft sigh escaping from the battleship’s mouth. “It’s why I’m always happy to make some up for him; it fills my heart with a sense of pride.”

“Indeed; the greatest thing a chef could receive is the heartfelt compliments from the person they cooked for. Fine dining has a way of bringing out the innermost feelings of both the server and the served; I know all too well for it happened to me a while ago.” George continued as she began to fry the liver cubes in butter, with Veneto beginning the process of making the dough for the pizza.

“If I may ask, what are you making for the Commander tonight?” The Eternal Flagship inquired out of curiosity, eying up the liver cubes as they began to sizzle within the pan of butter.

“Poularde Albufera; a chicken dish hailing from France with a bit of history to it. It garnered its name from the then Duke of Albuféra; Marshal Suchet of the Grande Armée. That’s what Richard told me when he presented the dish to me.” The Knight Commander recalled with a serene smile as she began to mince the onion for later down the road. “It’s a very special dish for me, for it was how he expressed his feelings for me.”

“Which is why you’re preparing it for him as a means of reaffirming your feelings for him, offering him comfort in his hour of need.” Veneto mused to herself, with the British battleship giving her a confirmatory nod. “It’s beautiful, in a poetic way.”

“It’s as I’ve said before; cooking’s the perfect way for two people to express their feelings for one another.” George chimed in as her ruby-red eyes glanced down at Veneto’s workstation, watching as the Eternal Flagship had begun the process of pouring the tomato sauce onto the freshly prepared dough.

For a while, both women continued to work on their respective dishes in silence, making sure that they got everything right. With the sauce applied to the pizza, Veneto soon began to drizzle the rich mozzarella all over it, gazing upon it with a sense of pride and admiration. Afterwards, she began to gently chop up the basil before scooping up a few leaves, and began the task of sprinkling them to form a classic love heart.

As for George, she had just finished frying the onions and began adding all the other ingredients, rice, wine, salt & pepper, and even some saffron. She then allowed the mixture to begin simmering atop the stove top, gazing at it with a smile as she proceeded to take out the ingredients for the sauce, only for an idea to form in her mind.

“Veneto, I’ve noticed that you’ve finished preparing the pizza. Perhaps I could show you how to prepare the Albufera sauce.” The Knight Commander offered, piquing the Sardegnan’s attention.

“Of course! I’d be delighted to learn how to make it for myself.” The grey-haired beauty chimed in, her heart fluttering ever-so slightly. Asides from her fellow Sardegnan’s and the Commander, King George V was the one who Veneto considered a very close friend. She had learned much about Royal Navy cuisine from her, just as she taught her so much about Sardegnan cuisine. But asides from that, Veneto also found herself enamoured by the battleship’s devotion to her duty.

When she was bestowed the title of Eternal Flagship following the night at Taranto, she felt an immense pressure from her government to lead her friends to victory. However, the winds of fate blew against her, ensuring Sardegna’s defeat in the Great War. It was this angle that enabled her to bond with Richard; the duo connecting over the expectations forced upon themselves. But just as he provided her with a comforting shoulder, George offered her a role model to aspire to.

The Knight Commander; a symbol of the Royal Navy’s harmonious mixture of strength and elegance. Even in the face of overwhelming odds, she didn’t waver before the enemy, rallying her comrades for one last desperate charge against them. It was this impeccable leadership that enabled the Royal Navy to secure so many victories, with Queen Elizabeth herself granting George the status of ‘Flagship of the Royal Navy’. She served as a role model to the Eternal Flagship, even if she’s oblivious to the impression she’s left on her.

Making her way to George’s side, the duo began the preparations for the sauce, cutting up the carrots and onions quickly yet carefully. They then proceeded to put them in the pan for the chicken, pouring in the puree which consisted of paprika, wine, stock and an assortment of herbs. With that done, the blonde woman made her way to the fridge and retrieved the chicken and the stuffing before making her way to the countertop. There she and Veneto began the process of putting the stuffing into the chicken, a merry hum escaping from the latter’s mouth.

Gingerly sewing up the chicken with cooking rope, the Knight Commander proceeded to place it in the pan before opening the oven and sliding it in. There, she closed it and set the timer for 90 minutes, a look of satisfaction beaming on her face.

“Thank you for giving me the opportunity to help you out; it looks like a most fascinating dish.” Veneto chimed in as she placed her pizza in the port’s wood oven, one that was built as a gesture of goodwill towards the Sardegnans. “I must confess, I really enjoy the time we spend together, Signora George. Every day provides a new opportunity to learn more about our respective nation’s cuisine.”

“Likewise. It was my honor to show everyone that there’s more to Royal cuisine than the stereotypes would assume.” The blonde woman chimed in with a sense of pride, her hands resting over her hips.

“I’m sure Richard would greatly appreciate the banquet we’ve prepared for him; he would’ve no doubt worked up quite an appetite from working non-stop for so long.” The grey-haired beauty commented, her mind drifting over to when she first heard the news from him. Her heart skipped a beat as he informed everyone about the upcoming meeting at Geneva to fully emancipate the KANSEN, granting them the rights and equality that they rightfully deserve. All his efforts, all his fighting, it was finally going to pay off.

However, it did also put a substantial amount of pressure on him; just a minor delay could jeopardise the entire assignment. Perhaps that was what cause the meltdown today; a sudden delay meant that he wouldn’t be able to complete the task before the deadline. Perhaps their pampering would give him the much-needed energy to finish the task without anymore setbacks; in any case, it was their duty to look out for him today. After all, he’s done so much for them; it’s only fair that they return the favor.

“Veneto.” George chimed in, causing the Eternal Flagship to quickly turn her head to face her colleague. “I know how you feel about Richard; you love him just as much as I do, right?”

The Sardegnan was initially taken aback by the comment, a fierce blush forming on her delicate cheeks. But she couldn’t hide the truth any longer, the grey-haired beauty giving the Knight Commander a confirmatory nod. “You’re correct, my friend.”

“Perhaps today could be the day that the two of you become one; just as how he cooked for me to express his feelings, so too, did you cook to express your feelings. I’m not saying that you have to confess right there and then; that’s up to your heart to decide.” She informed her, with the Eternal Flagship taking her words to heart.

“I’ll need to spend some time to myself to think about it; if you’ll excuse me.” Veneto gave her friend a respectful bow.

“Take all the time you need; I’ll keep an eye on our dishes in here.” George smiled at her, waving at her friend as the grey-haired battleship calmly made her way out the kitchen to think for herself. Taking a seat in one of the nearby breakrooms, Veneto prepared herself a glass of wine before drinking it slowly, mulling over whether or not to confess to Richard today. Initially, she wanted to save it for a private moment, with just the two of them.

And yet…her heart was yearning for her to do it today, to fully convey her feelings alongside the pizza she had prepared for him. After all, it was the perfect opportunity for her to do so; picking him up in his hour of need. Richard…he has done so much for her, her sister, her fellow Sardegnans, and all of Azur Lane. It was time that she told him just how much he means to her; no more holding back, no more allowing her concerns to get in the way. It was time for the Eternal Flagship to live up to her name and take charge.

“It’s time I showed my dear Richard the full splendor of Sardegna!” Veneto smiled to herself, finishing her glass of wine with a delicate sip.

0000

“Ahhhh…” A sigh of bliss escaped from my mouth as I rested my head atop Bismarck’s lap, the blonde battleship gingerly petting my head. Her fingers, though slightly calloused from all the work she’s done today, felt incredible atop my head, her nimble digits twirling around my short blonde hair. “That’s the stuff.”

“You like it, Richard?” Bismarck inquired as I looked up at her, before giving her a quick nod. “Danke…this is my first time doing such a thing.”

“No need to feel embarrassed; we were all newbies at one point.” Hood chimed in as she schooched over to the battleship’s side, gingerly running a hand up and down her back. “Maybe in the future, I can expect some headpats from you, Biscuit~”

“I’d be more than happy to do so, Hood.” The Beacon of Ironblood smiled blissfully as she continued to pet my head, her hand gingerly tapping me as another blissful sigh escaped from my mouth. To the other side of me, Littorio was content with snuggling up to me, the green-haired woman occasionally glancing at her pocket watch as the hands ticked second by second. Promptly putting it away, she leaned forward towards me and began gingerly massaging my stomach, peppering my cheek with a barrage of kisses.

“Veneto should be coming soon, mio caro. No doubt she’d made something special just for you.” She smiled gingerly, her words causing me to slowly sit back up on my bed, tucking myself beneath the warm and soft sheets. I was really looking forward to what she had made for me; it could be a dish I’ve never had before, or even one of my favorites; the anticipation was getting to me.

“There we go, that’s the cheerful Richard we all love and adore~” Zara cooed blissfully, giving me a brief but firm hug as she nuzzled up to me. Gazing at her affectionately, I moved my hand towards her back and began massaging it gingerly, a tender coo escaping from her mouth. “Someone’s working up an appetite.”

“What can I say? When I’m surrounded by some of the most incredible women in the world, it’s hard for me to not feel a little peckish.” I rebutted playfully, with the redhead chuckling in response. My spirit was a lot cheerier than it had been earlier today; no longer held down by feelings of inadequacy and worthlessness. And it was all thanks to their affectionate pampering.

*click*

“Buongiorno, Commander.” The cheery, yet dignified tone of Vittorio Veneto reached my ears, the grey-haired beauty gingerly walking into my room with a slight skip in her step. “I’ve heard from Littorio that you were feeling blue today, so I figured that I’d prepare something just for you~”

On cue, she lifted the lid from her tray and presented her dish to me, my eyes sparkling with joy at the sight. Neapolitan pizza; one of my all-time favorites. So eager was I to eat it that I almost leapt out of bed, only for Illustrious to gingerly hold onto me.

“I know you’re feeling ravenous today, but try not to gorge yourself; George has made you something as well after all.” The white-haired beauty smiled tenderly, making herself comfortable beside me as Pola assisted Veneto in bringing the tray with the pizza onto my lap, making sure it didn’t fall onto the bed. Gingerly, the Eternal Flagship climbed onto the bed, no doubt eager to see me dine on her latest creation.

With eagerness in my body, I picked up the first slice and bit into it, my mouth awash with the incredible flavor. The tomato sauce was as rich as ever, the pizza bread absorbing it nicely as I relished every last ounce of it. The cheese was also mouth-wateringly delicious; the rich, creamy topping causing me to utter a muffled moan of joy. On top of that, the basil provided that extra hint of flavor, the subtle peppery flavor adding a little extra flair to the pizza. I felt like I was in heaven right now; the meal provided to me was every bit as fantastic as I anticipated it to be.

“Now this was what I was hoping for…” I muttered blissfully as I finished my first slice of pizza, turning to look at Veneto with adoration in my eyes. “Thank you very much, Veneto; this was simply incredible.”

“Grazie. I’m glad you enjoyed it so far.” The Eternal Flagship smiled as she sat beside me, her eyes continuing to watch me merrily snack on the pizza, a warm, fuzzy feeling flowing through her heart. She was waiting for the right opportunity for her to come clean about her feelings, the buxom battleship carefully stringing the words in her mind. Noticing her older sister’s quietness, Littorio moved her hand over hers and began rubbing it gingerly, shooting her a reassuring gaze.

“Sorella, I know what’s on your mind. Your heart is ready, your spirit eager, yet you worry that you don’t have the words laid out…” The Glory of Naples spoke softly to her, shooting her a reassuring gaze. “Don’t allow apprehension to shackle your feelings; allow your heart to speak freely, and everything will be alright.”

“A-Ah…I understand, Littorio.” Veneto replied just as I had finished off the pizza, my mind flaring with curiosity over what they were just talking about. Spurred on by Littorio’s words, the grey-haired beauty decided to step forward and come clean about her feelings. “Comm—Richard, we have known each other for a long time, during which, I’ve come to realise that we’re more alike than one might think. Like you, I was thrust into a leadership position without any preparation whatsoever, a move which ultimately led to my failure back in the Great War. When I first laid eyes on you, I say myself within you; the me back then, I should say. As such, I vowed that I would offer you the support that I was denied back in the war.”

The battleship’s tone grew clearer as she spoke, a smile soon gracing her lips as her warm gaze locked onto my face. “But as we’ve worked together, I watched you grow into a truly remarkable leader, one who’s provided Sardegna and I with so many wonderful allies. You’ve even given me some much-needed support and comfort, allowing me respite from my duties whenever I needed it. You’ve showered us all with immense kindness and generosity, and have loyally stood by my sister’s side every step of the way. You’ve done so much for us, and your efforts have won me over more times than you can count…” The Eternal Flagship continued, her hands reaching for mine and clasped them tenderly. “Ti amo, Richard. Ti amo con tutto il mio cuore.”

I knew exactly what she said to me; Littorio says those very words back to me before we head off to bed. A bright smile forming on my face, I leaned forward and brought Veneto into a passionate kiss, our soft lips pressed together. “Anch'io ti amo, Veneto.” I smiled back at her affectionately. “Ti amo più di quanto tu possa immaginare.”

“Oh Richard!” The grey-haired beauty cooed merrily, fighting back tears as she nuzzled up to me affectionately, pressing herself against my body as we tightened our hug. A sense of joy emanated from Littorio’s body; her older sister was able to come clean with her feelings after all this time.

“My, my. Looks like you two would have to share him.” A smile graced Pola’s lips as she turned to look up at Littorio. “But I’m sure you already anticipated such a thing, no?”

“Precisely; for just as how my glory should be shared by everyone here, so too shall my polpetto’s warmth and affection be shared by all!” The green-haired woman smiled to herself, gingerly embracing the purple-haired cruiser. “After all, you and Zara are able to share him without any issues.”

“Neither of us could bear the idea of hurting the other, so we’ve come to an agreement and decided to share him. We’re looking forward to introducing him to Gorizia and Fiume once they arrive here.” Pola chimed in merrily, her mind no doubt anticipating how the night would go between the five of them.

“In any case, I’m glad you two haven’t gotten into an argument over him; I’d hate to see such a lovely family torn apart by such conflict.” Illustrious commented with a smile of her own, gingerly embracing the Glory of Naples.

“Never fear, mia bella signora. I shall never do anything that would cause you any distress whatsoever; to even consider such a thought would be paramount to blasphemy.” Littorio returned with her usual flair, gingerly kissing her wife on the cheek as the buxom carrier giggled to herself. Just then, the bedroom door opened once more as an eighth woman entered the room, before closing it behind her.

“Sorry I was late; Howe wanted me to try her latest batch of cookies. The peach jam filling was simply sublime.” King George V offered an apology as she wheeled a metal tray towards us, a smile gracing her flawless face. “I see that Veneto has already presented her dish to you.”

“Indeed, and it was incredible. Neapolitan pizza would have to be my favorite Sardegnan dish of all time!” I chimed in merrily, my eyes briefly glancing at the dish on the tray, a sense of intrigue welling inside me. “My, what have you prepared for me?”

“It’s a dish that I’m sure you know about; one that has a very special place within my heart.” The Knight Commander began, lifting the tray onto my lap before lifting up the lid, my eyes widening in joy over her dish. Poularde Albufera, the very dish I had prepared for her on the night we confessed to each other. A maelstrom of nostalgia and happiness flowed within my heart as I gazed upon it, my hands eagerly reaching for the fork and knife as I began to cut into it.

Picking up the first piece of chicken & stuffing, I popped it into my mouth and began chewing on it tenderly, allowing the harmonious mixture of flavors to grace my tongue. The flesh of the chicken was just as moist and juicy as I was hoping for, the fillets virtually melting inside my mouth. As for the stuffing, it was rich and hearty; the mixture of liver cubes, onion, rice and more proving to be extremely filling. To be honest, I wasn’t quite sure if I’d be able to finish it all off tonight, but the reassuring gaze from George’s eyes told me that I didn’t need to push myself.

Nevertheless, I continued to dine on the hearty chicken dish, neatly cutting off chunks of flesh before popping it into my mouth. The food on its own was excellent, but I could also feel her intense feelings emanating from the dish. I guess I now fully understand how she felt that very night; dining on a dish that was prepared by the one you love with all your heart. It was the same as with Veneto and her pizza; the intensity of her feelings made the incredible flavor stand out even more.

It took around 15-20 minutes for me to finish off George’s lovingly prepared dish, my stomach feeling as stuffed as the chicken was. But it was well worth it; every single bite made my mouth sing with joy. “That was incredible, George. I loved every single mouthful of it!”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it, Richard. Anything to cheer you up, my love.” The blonde battleship smiled, lifting up the tray off my lap before taking a seat beside me on the bed. “Think of it as my way of reaching out to you when you needed it the most. As I’ve always said, the best way to cheer someone up is to make something for them. It could be a simple dish, or it could be a more complex one. Either way, the message is just as powerful regardless of what dish you cook.”

“I greatly appreciate your kind gesture, George. You and Veneto really cheered me up with your homemade cooking.” I smiled as I opened my arm, with the blonde battleship lying beside me as she cuddled up to me affectionately. Her ruby-red eyes gazed into mine as she gingerly planted a kiss on my cheek, her gaze slowly shifting towards the overly joyous Veneto. It didn’t take her long to connect the dots to get. “I see you opened up about your feelings, Lady Veneto.”

“Corretta. My heart skipped a beat during those fateful seconds, with immense joy flowing within me afterwards. Knowing that the one you love feels the same way as you do; I now understand why Littorio was so joyous when Illustrious & Richard reciprocated her feelings for them.” The Eternal Flagship chimed merrily, resting her head atop my shoulder as her younger sister uttered a brief chuckle.

“Love is a truly beautiful emotion; one that is to be cherished throughout the world instead of torn to pieces. That is why I cannot forgive those who betray their lovers; they’re tearing down what it the purest form of beauty in this world.” The green-haired woman regaled, gingerly wrapping her arm around Illustrious as the carrier gave her a firm nod.

“Which is why we’re lucky to have such a devoted and empathetic man as our husband~” The buxom carrier chimed in, her hand gingerly patting her knee. “One who, even with some hurdles in the road, was able to complete all the necessary paperwork for the repeals.”

“It would be wrong of me to take all the credit; Bismarck did pitch in to save my hide when the going was at its roughest.” I reminded her, turning to give the German woman a nod of appreciation, only to see that she was pondering something to herself. “Something the matter?”

“Your superior, the Eagle Union Fleet Admiral, surely he knew that such a task couldn’t be completed by tomorrow. And given that he did initially oppose said repeals…” Bismarck mused to herself quietly, a hand on her chin as she turned to look back at me. “I can’t help but wonder if he attempted to sabotage your repeals.”

“I must admit, that is a plausible explanation. Still, I can’t see it being the truth.” Hood casually rebutted, her girlfriend raising an eyebrow in intrigue. “Page knows that if he pulls a stunt like that, then he’d face serious ramifications from the President, to the point he may very well lose his position as Fleet Admiral.”

“Not to mention that he wouldn’t even attempt to do so in the first place. In the phone call this morning, he expressed his regret over his actions back then, and was upset over the fact that he couldn’t buy me more time. If anything, I’d say that he was in an equally sticky situation to me.” I chimed in his defense, with the Beacon of Ironblood giving us both a nod.

“If that’s what you believe, then I’m going to believe it as well; I trust the both of you.” Bismarck’s look of concern shifted to a more relaxed expression, the blonde woman making herself comfortable atop the bed. “I will admit, he is starting to open up to us a little more.”

“It’ll be like the days when Commander Charlotte was in charge; a real sense of unity among us all. Such a day would be most joyous indeed!” Zara exclaimed merrily, raising her arms in the air as Littorio flashed a smile of her own.

“Most joyous indeed; they’ll be a mass celebration among us all once the bridge has been gapped between both parties. And speaking of mass celebrations…” The Glory of Naples began, before gingerly rolling on her side to face me. “Mio caro, what are your plans in regard to our post repeal celebration?”

“To tell you the truth, I was so busy that I haven’t had the time to properly plan things out.” I admitted with a sheepish chuckle, gingerly scratching the back of my head.

“No need to worry; we can always brainstorm ideas with each other while we’re pampering you~” Pola cooed blissfully, her hand moving towards my head and began patting it gingerly. “For instance, we could use that chocolate fondue Formidable gifted you a while back.”

“Oooh, that’s a wonderful idea, sorella~” Zara chimed in agreement, a playful smile forming on her face. “We’ll take turns dipping our fingers into it and have Ritchie slowly lick it off; I’m sure he’ll enjoy that immensely~”

The cruiser’s fingers slowly moved towards my lips while she was speaking, the slender digits poised mere centimetres from my mouth. In a flash, I began to lick at them slowly, causing the redhead to chuckle loudly to herself. Soon, she lifted her fingers slightly and began tapping my nose, smearing it with my saliva.

“Just like that~” Was all she said in her usually playful tone, her other hand resting on her hip. But it was while I lapped at her fingers that an idea formed in my mind.

“Why don’t we go for the classic and have an international banquet? Have dishes from every nation in Azur Lane available for consumption.” I proposed, with several murmurs of agreement filling the room.

“You know how to win me over, Ritchie. I’ll gladly offer my expertise in preparing this lavish feast!” George chimed in with a smile, the Knight Commander taking out a notepad from her coat and began writing down in it. “There’s so many dishes I could prepare; from classics such as a Sunday roast, to international dishes like kedgeree.”

“I’ll gladly offer up my services in the culinary area as well; Sardegna does have an impressive range of cuisine after all; it is my duty to show off the empire’s splendour after all~” Veneto added as well, her gaze drifting towards Zara and Pola. “I assume you’ll be lending me a hand?”

“But of course, Signora Veneto! It would be amiss of us to not aid you in your noble endeavour. After all, I’m sure Algérie of the Vichya Dominion would no doubt throw her hat into the ring; call it competitiveness, but I’m eager to show her my mettle.” The redhead admitted, only for her younger sister to giggle in response.

“Oh? We weren’t even talking about Algérie; perhaps your competitiveness stems from…affection, my dear Zara?” Pola teased her playfully, her words causing the redhead to blush profusely as a few merry chuckles filled the room. Intrigued by the idea, Littorio casually made her way to her childhood friend and rested a hand on her shoulder.

“If it is the arrow of love you’ve been struck with, then allow me to be of aide. As the Cupid of Azur Lane, it is my duty to ensure that everyone here finds their one true love…or true loves in some cases.” The Glory of Naples chimed in, resting her other hand on her chest. “Come under my wing, and I shall teach you all that there is about romancing the lovely Signora Algérie.”

“S-Sure thing, Littorio!” Zara stammered briefly as she accepted her friend’s assistance, only for a casual knock on the bedroom door to catch them by surprise.

“Commander? Are you in there?” The familiar tone of Belfast graced my ears, causing me to gingerly sit up on the bed.

“Yes, I’m here. Was there something you needed?” I chimed in, with the bedroom door slowly opening as the Head Maid stepped inside…with Fleet Admiral Page following beside her. I noticed that he had an apologetic look in his eyes; nevertheless, his presence caused me to give him a quick salute. “Everything alright, sir?”

“I was worried about you following our phone call, so I dropped everything in order to check up on you.” Page replied, his gaze locked directly on me. “Is everything alright, Cunningham?”

“At first they weren’t, but I’m feeling a lot better now.” I replied with an appreciative smile. “Bismarck was able to help me finish off the paperwork, while the others helped ease my intense emotions. It was a Herculean task, but we got it done.”

On cue, the Beacon of Ironblood slowly hopped off the bed and retrieved the stack of forms, before handing them over to the well-built man. “Here you go.” She said casually.

“Thank you.” The Fleet Admiral replied, accepting the stack of papers before tucking them underneath his arm.

“Quick question, sir. Would I have to attend the meeting tomorrow? After all, it is an important step when it comes to fully establishing equal rights for the KANSEN.” I inquired, my hands resting within my lap.

“Under normal circumstances, yes, your attendance is compulsory. However, given that you’re not in the best of health following several weeks of intense work, I believe it would be best for you to sit this one out. We’ll just have to have a KANSEN act as a representative; I was leaning towards New Jersey personally.” Page informed me.

“A wise choice; New Jersey is a most capable leader on and off the battlefield. No doubt she’ll be able to win over the rest of the Geneva Convention.” Belfast agreed with his decision, bowing respectfully at him.

“It’s easy to see why Wellington was eager to give her an official position in High Command. Not only is she very intelligent, but her cheerful personality is great for morale.” The Fleet Admiral stated with a quick chuckle, only for a quick sigh to escape from his mouth. “And yet I almost trampled all over her happiness…”

“S-Sir, I—” I began, only for Page to raise a hand in the air.

“Cunningham…I’m sorry about what happened that day. I allowed my fear and distrust to get in the way of their happiness. I know it’ll take some time for all of you to forgive me; I just want you all to know that I’m sorry.” He began to apologise; his regret over his actions that day evident to all of us.

“It’s alright sir, I forgive you. I’m just glad that you’re on our side now.” I replied with a smile, with several of the KANSEN offering nods of approval as well.

“I appreciate your kind words, Cunningham.” Page continued, the older man soon clearing his throat. “Anyway, I better get ready for the meeting tomorrow; I’ll see you in a few days. As for your orders, you are to rest and recuperate from all the hard work you’ve put in, understand?”

“Yes sir!” I replied with a wave, watching as the Fleet Admiral left the bedroom with Belfast closing the door behind her, their footsteps echoed throughout the halls. A sense of relief flowed within my heart; everything was going to be alright in the end. Mere words could barely describe my happiness over the massive victory we were able to pull off.

“It looks like he’s starting to warm up to us again.” Hood replied with a smile, an equally joyous expression on her face. “I’d like to think that you’ve played a role in his personal growth, Ritchie.”

“I appreciate the kind words, but I can’t take full credit for it. After all, Page himself is making the journey himself.” I commented, with all nine of us casually relaxing on the bed. “So I guess I’m on vacation now; got any ideas on what we could do?”

“Oh, I have one idea, my love.” Illustrious chimed in, the white-haired beauty gingerly undressing herself until she was left in naught but her lacy undergarments. Noticing what she was doing, the rest of my lovers began to undress themselves, my eyes widening over the sight before me.

“M-My apologies, but I’m not feeling up for a night battle today…” I commented, only for a playful giggle to escape from the carrier’s mouth.

“We know that; we just felt like snuggling up to you tonight.” She replied merrily, slowly tucking herself into bed alongside the others, with all nine of us bundled up nice and warmly.

“Precisely; there are nights were we just want to cuddle up to the ones we love, no need for any debauchery whatsoever.” Littorio chimed in, the green-haired woman making herself comfortable between Illustrious and I.

“Nothing beats some wholesome snuggling after a hearty meal, I say. And it has been a while since we last snuggled, so forgive me if I’m feeling extra peckish tonight~” George stated with a casual grin, resting her head atop my shoulder.

“It’s a truly heartwarming feeling to be able to spend the night with those you love, without worrying about your responsibilities.” Bismarck commented as she made herself comfortable between Hood and George.

“Agreed; I will hang up the mantle of Eternal Flagship tonight, so that I may cherish this peaceful night, alongside those I love with all my heart.” Veneto replied with a coo, making herself comfortable within the warm bed.

“I’ll be sure to make this vacation the best one yet for all of us; I love you all so much!” I chimed in happily.

“We love you too, Ritchie~” They all cooed in response, the nine of us making ourselves comfortable within the bed as we continued to cuddle up to each other. Feelings of immense joy permeated within the KANSEN’s hearts, for they were able to offer some much-needed comfort to the one who’s done so much for them, and has stolen their hearts in the process.