Crossover Shipgirls: Building a Dimensional Empire from Scratch

"Mm…"

Just as Setsuna was holding Yat Sen and about to say something further—

Bang, bang, bang—

"Yat Sen-sister, we steamed some buns. Do you want some?"

Suddenly, the voices of a few destroyers came from outside the door.

With a creak, the door opened.

Four little shipgirl heads peeked in.

"You didn't lock the door?!"

Both Setsuna and Yat Sen were startled and quickly separated.

Since he was only paying Yat Sen a visit, locking the door like he might at Taihou or Richelieu's place hadn't even crossed his mind.

"Oh, An Shan, Chang Chun, Tai Yuan… it's you?"

Focusing, he realized it was the Four Heavenly Kings and a black-haired carrier shipgirl, Chen Hai.

There was the tiger-headed Chang Chun, red-haired Fu Shun, short-haired youngest sister Tai Yuan, and their elder sister with a ponytail, An Shan.

The four cuties were old friends of the Dragon Empery Navy.

Each of them was holding steamers in their hands, which they set down on the table with bustling energy.

When they noticed the Commander, they looked slightly surprised but enthusiastically greeted him.

"Commander, are you here to hang out with Yat Sen-sister? Come eat some buns with us!"

"They're freshly steamed by Ning Hai and Ping Hai."

The white-haired Chang Chun, wearing her tiger hat, pulled him down to sit and stuffed two large buns into his hands.

"…"

Setsuna and Yat Sen exchanged glances, their expressions slightly awkward.

The atmosphere had been just right, and they were one step away… until the visitors showed up.

The Dragon Empery shipgirls weren't large in number, but their unity was incredible.

It was normal for them to drop by the flagship's place for a visit, but could they not trigger the Dragon Empery Bonds at such a time?!

"Oh?…"

After sitting down, Chen Hai cast a meaningful glance at Setsuna and Yat Sen, her lips curling into a sly smile.

"Did we interrupt something?"

"No, no! The Commander and I were just… discussing some matters."

Yat Sen blushed, shaking her head repeatedly.

"Is that so~…"

Chen Hai propped her head on one hand, alternating her gaze between Yat Sen and Setsuna with an expression that was far too suggestive.

Meanwhile, the four little ones enthusiastically offered buns to the two, even setting out some small side dishes.

Their cheeks were stuffed full as they ate.

Setsuna forced himself to stay calm and quickly shifted gears, chatting and joking with the Four Heavenly Kings.

An Shan, more mature than a typical destroyer and closer to a cruiser in temperament, contrasted her younger sisters—some mischievous, others quiet.

But all of them seemed to have a natural closeness to Setsuna, given their shared Dragon Empery origins.

Soon, the group surrounded him, peppering him with questions.

"Commander, Commander, when can we be upgraded into starships like Yat Sen-sister?"

"Well, the second batch for upgrades includes carriers and battleships. Once the cruisers are finished, it'll be your turn."

"Can we keep our hull numbers? 101, 102, 103, and 104—they're part of our identity…"

"Of course."

Setsuna patted Tai Yuan's head.

The Four Heavenly Kings shared a deep bond. Whether protecting the seas of the Republic in the past, fighting for the port area as shipgirls, or embarking into space, they had always kept their hull numbers. It was a unique part of their legacy.

"Hm? What's this?"

Chen Hai suddenly noticed the red ceremonial dress that Yat Sen hadn't had time to put away.

As an Dragon Empery shipgirl, she immediately understood its significance.

A wedding dress—there was only one situation where an Dragon Empery shipgirl would wear such an outfit.

"A fine piece, Yat Sen."

"I imagine it'll look wonderful on you… I'll be sure to give you my blessings."

"But have you thought about making a matching outfit for the Commander?"

Her voice carried both admiration and curiosity.

"Ah…"

Seeing that her intentions had been uncovered by Chen Hai, Yat Sen lowered her head, covered her face, and took a moment to calm herself.

Then, all at once, she stood up.

"Ah, well… this might be sudden…"

"From now on, I'll be the Commander's Oath ship. I'll also tell the rest of the fleet sisters tomorrow. Please take care of me…"

"Wow—"

The shipgirls exclaimed in unison.

"Uh… cough, cough, cough—"

Chang Chun, the tiger-hatted loli, nearly choked. An Shan quickly poured her a cup of water and patted her back to help her recover.

"So that's how it is?"

"Well, Yat Sen-sister is the flagship of Dragon Empery, so it's only fitting."

An Shan gave a look of admiration.

As expected of her elder sister—always ahead in everything, whether in starship upgrades or other matters.

"Just the other day, Hai Tien and Hwah Jah were betting on who in the Dragon Empery Fleet would be the first Oath ship. They thought it would be Bin—"

"Mmph, mmph, mmph!"

Fu Shun's words were abruptly cut off as An Shan stuffed a bun into her mouth.

"Don't talk with your mouth full while eating!"

After finishing their late-night snack, the Four Heavenly Kings continued to chatter and play for a while before Chen Hai began ushering them out.

"Alright, off you go. Back to your dorms to rest. You still have school tomorrow."

The carrier shipgirl shooed the four little ones out the door with a mix of pushing and prodding.

"Eh? Commander's not coming with us?"

Chang Chun peeked back and asked.

"The Commander and Yat Sen still have things to discuss. Now, hurry home!"

After Chen Hai led the others away, she smiled, leaned close to Setsuna's ear, and whispered softly.

"Well then... please consummate the marriage, newlyweds."

"I'll leave you two alone. Farewell."

…

…

Bang—

After the door closed, Setsuna and Yat Sen sat in an awkward silence for a moment.

The unexpected interruption had thrown off the mood.

"It's getting late," Yat Sen finally said, glancing at the darkened window. She hesitated before suggesting tentatively, "It might not be convenient for you to return now. Perhaps you should…"

Her words trailed off.

Though it was only a twenty-minute walk from the dormitory to Setsuna's quarters, the base was entirely safe, with Bulins and Siren patrols everywhere. There was no real concern about walking back at night.

But Setsuna caught the underlying meaning perfectly.

"In that case, I'll gladly accept your invitation."

Shhh—click—

Yat Sen pulled the curtains closed and locked the door with a soft click, as if to seal away any disturbances from the outside world.

"Well, then… please don't think poorly of me…"

The bedroom maintained the same elegant, antique decor as the rest of the house.

With Yat Sen in her traditional dress and styled hairpins, Setsuna felt as though he had stepped back into a bygone era.

"The room is beautifully arranged," he said.

"Only the room?" Yat Sen asked softly.

"You're stunning as well."

"Ah—"

With a quiet gasp, Yat Sen's gaze met his as he leaned closer, giving Setsuna a chance to study this mysterious Dragon Empery shipgirl up close.

Her delicate features were beyond reproach, but it was the soft elegance of her demeanor—like a serene muse from a timeless painting—that fulfilled every dream he had of refined grace.

In her crimson eyes lingered a mix of anticipation and nervousness, and her carefully arranged hairpins were now slightly undone, strands spilling onto the pillow.

"Oh no…"

"My hair's come loose. It took me such a long time to style it…"

Yat Sen gently pulled her hand from beneath Setsuna, brushing her fingers through her dark locks.

"And you're still worried about that now?" Setsuna chuckled, tapping her lightly on the forehead.

"Well… you're the one I styled it for."

"I suppose I can fix it tomorrow."

With a small smile, Yat Sen seemed to resolve herself, turning her focus entirely back to the man before her.

"..."

"Slower, gentler, Commander."

The impression Yat Sen gave Setsuna was entirely distinct from Taihou or Richelieu.

Taihou was overly enthusiastic, always clinging to him whenever she had the chance. Whatever the Commander said was law in her eyes.

Richelieu, on the other hand, carried the aristocratic romance and pride of the Iris Libre, often attempting to assert control.

Yat Sen, however, embodied the ideal partner envisioned by the Dragon Empery.

She was accommodating and understanding of everything about the Commander. But if he truly made a mistake, she wouldn't hesitate to point it out.

Gentle and virtuous, wise and resilient.

It was impossible not to feel protective of her.

"Mm…"

Yat Sen hesitated, her voice tinged with unease.

"Commander, would you be willing to stay by my side and move forward with me?"

"Of course. I'm already looking forward to seeing you in your phoenix coronet and red robes."

…

…

The next morning.

When Setsuna opened his eyes in the elegantly decorated bedroom, Yat Sen was seated at the vanity, brushing her hair and tidying her appearance.

Her movements were graceful, her delicate silhouette so captivating that Setsuna found himself momentarily entranced.

"Ah…"

Noticing Setsuna's gaze, Yat Sen blushed slightly.

"Commander, if you're awake, at least say something."

"Don't be shy."

Setsuna chuckled as he sat up and patted her shoulder.

"How are you feeling?"

"Hmph, asking a question you already know the answer to."

Yat Sen feigned a slight pout, pretending to be a little annoyed.

"You've got two Wisdom Cubes now and a strong body—so you're just bullying me, aren't you?"

"How could I?"

Setsuna raised his hand as if swearing to the heavens. He had treated Yat Sen with far more care and tenderness than Taihou or Richelieu. After all, the latter two were a battleship and an aircraft carrier, with much greater resilience.

"Well then… I'm sorry, okay? I won't do it again."

He spread his hands, half-apologizing.

"No."

Yat Sen smoothly finished dressing and began tidying the room.

"As your oath-bound ship, it's my duty to stay by your side. I'm obligated to keep you on track with your work and take care of your daily life."

"May I move some of my personal belongings into your quarters?"

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