St.Orca's Secret Operation P.2 - Stage 8

Opening

After letting Feather go first, I finally got to the city with Undine and Audrey.

Audrey: Oh, it has changed so much.
Undine: Waa...

While I was resting...
The shopping mall was decorated for Christmas and it got completely transformed into a party venue.
There was electricity also...

Audrey: Ufufu, Undine. You already became one with commander.
Undine: .....

Undine doesnt say anything and just holds my hand tightly.
And Audrey on the other side also entwined her arm around my arm and got closer.

Audrey: Mooo... Its a party but I couldnt wash my dress.
        All because someone didnt let me go at the last minute, right?

This is... doctor must have been very hard dealing with her.

Armand: Your Majesty, everything is set... the party is ready.
        All Orca members are participating, except for a few guards.

How is the reaction?

Armand: Everyone is surprised, but for the most part when you look at the decoration, they seem to have noticed that
        His majesty was the only one who could do this for us.
Undine: Thats right, I think everyone will notice that!
        Lets go, fast!

Undine pulled my hand heading to the shopping mall.
The members gathered saw me and began to cheer.

Khan: Its spectacular.
      It was also hard commander.
Marie: Your excellency, thank you for your hard work.
       I would like to express Steel Lines gratitude.
May: My mind was ready for something like this.
     But... if you collapse again...

All the captain come to me to express their gratitude.
The faces of the members and the captains were full of smiles.
Everyone... Thank you very much.
With this... I was finally relieved.
After all, I didnt have much time myself to prepare, but enjoy it anyways...

Marie: Well, guys!
       Enjoy the party prepared by His Excellency!
       Thats it!

With Maries words, the girls go in their own ways and start to enjoy the party.
My shoulders finally feel light when I see everyone eating happily and laughing, everything I did finally paid off.

Leona: This is a nice party, thank you for your hard work.

It was possible thanks to everyone who helped me. Especially Doctor... Eh?
By the way, I couldnt see Doctor.
Leona, Have you seen her?
It was hard for everyone, but especially for her.

Leona: Doctor? I dont know.

Really? Then I will have to find her.

Leona: Ah... You cant.

...Why? Is something wrong?

Leona: Well, thats because...
Khan: Commanders job right now is to enjoy the party.
      If the commander is gone everyone will get sad, right?
      I will look for Doctor.

...Alright. Tell her I was looking for her.

Khan: Understood.

I felt a little uncomfortable, but I let Khan take care of it.
I decide to go around.


Khan: Only one is enough.
Leona: .....
Khan: Im not good at acting...
      I wonder how I was able to hide all of this until now...
Leona: Well, that will be a story for a different time...
Khan: I see...
Leona: Yes...
       For the time being lets clean the surroundings. Dont let uninvited guests come.
       "St Orca" will catch the attention of the iron-bugs.
Khan: Understood. Ill pretend Im looking for Doctor.


Ending

I couldnt find Doctor at the party.
I was so worried that I tried to call her.
Leona came to report that the party finale was ready.

Finale?

Leona: Yes, its an event to distribute the presents that the commander has been looking for the members.
Khan: The iron-bugs in the surroundings has been cleaned up. Lets get out of the city.

When I start moving, the members made a circle around me.
It made me feel strange seeing them moving without any disturbance.
Leona, who was walking next to me, started to talk, perhaps noticing me.

Leona: How do you feel about being escorted by everyone at the same time like this?

Somehow... it feels weird...
At first glance, everyones seems to be having fun chatting, but... it was more than usual.
I was nervous.
Sometimes our eyes crossed, they smile like telling me not to worry...

Khan: We have arrived.

...Here?
The place, that Khan was referring, was an empty snowfield.
I overlooked the others, it seemed that everyone stooped and were waiting for something.
Oh, the presents. Where are the presents? Ill start to...
My words were blocked.
Suddenly a low engine sound was heard and with that a large flying object slowly appeared.
Eh...?! That is...!!
Everyone opened their eyes to look at it.
There is no such flying object in the Orca with that strength.
Everyone, get ready for battle!
Even when it was an emergency order, the girls just talked with each other.
They werent moving. I even felt that they were desperately trying not to listen to my orders...
What?

Khan: To be honest, I was surprised that it was completed in such a short time...
Leona: She is just a child.

Khan? Leona? Everyone?
Khan and Leona, as well as the other captains, just saw this flying object.
I was just impressed.
.....
Still nervous though.

Leona: Well, look quietly.
       Its a reward from us... to the commander who worked really hard.

Doctor appeared before I realise what that meant.

Doctor: Hmm... in time...
        Onii-chan!

Seeing Doctor with a mischievous smile, I couldnt understand what was all this situation about.
...a surprise...?

Doctor: Ihihi, thats right!
        Its a surprise for you onii-chan!

Kuu...
A double surprise...
Looking back now, from the first time I asked Doctor for help I felt something was off.
I look at the girls that were also surprised to see the airship floating in the night sky.
It look like almost everyone is here...
The girls who are on alert are...

Leona: I knew you would worry for them. Because of all of them volunteered Ill give them a reward later.
       Can you leave that to us?
Khan: As Leona says.
      The commander doesnt have to carry it all on his own.
Doctor: Thats right~! Onii-chan!
        Dont worry, we have prepared gifts for all the onee-chan who are still working.
        By the way~!
        Its time for the real surprise from us~!

At the same time as Doctor words, the lower part of the airship opened, a bunch of drones appeared each one carrying something.
Those are... present boxes...?

Doctor: For the kind-hearted onii-chan who was trying to give us a present.
        A santa made exclusively for the Orca!
        Its the "St. Orca"~!

Woah...
I was really impressed by size of it.
I told her to make a Santa.
But Doctor went far beyond my imaginations...
Oh, maybe... is this the thing that crashed the last time...?

Doctor: Yes! Thats it! I think it would have been more luxurious if it could be used as... sorry.

Didnt you say that Khan discovered it?

Khan: I take responsibility for lying in the report, I will accept any kind of punishment.
Doctor: We wrapped the gifts that onii-chan was collecting one by one~...
        ...Look how happy are the onee-chans!
        ...Was it worth the effort, onii-chan?

........Ah.
Each time a girl receives a present and opens it, a big smile appear on her face.
Its very nice...

Doctor: Then the next~...

There is more?

Doctor: Yes, its not a big deal, but... its a little embarrassing...

Doctor slowly heads towards the others.
The girls who were crazy about the presents turned to me with that as signal correcting their postures.
Doctor takes a small deep breath and talks.

(Open spoiler image)

Doctor: Thank you, Onii-chan!
        Thanks to you we can finish this year happily.
        Thank you so much!

Doctor laughed and bowed her head as if to disguise her embarrassment
Following that, each one of the girls expressed its gratitude...
With big smiles in their faces... or with faces that could cried at any moment...
Haha... ahaha...
I might get angry at Doctor later for this airship...
The words of gratitude from everyone are the most gratifying gifts...
...Thank you everyone.
Something is itching deep inside my heart...
I hid this feeling that I felt for the first time with my hands and an awkward laugh.

Doctor: Ihihi! Waaa! Mission completed!
        Onee-chans! Look! Onii-chan is really happy!
        Didnt I tell you that~?!
Leona: Commander, you eyes are red...

.....
Leona approaches me.

Leona: Thank you for your hard work commander. Please take care of us next year.
Khan: Please continue to guide us firmly, but dont overdo it.

What should I say in such a case?
Leona gently stroked my front hair.
I got little relieved when I felt the gentle touch of her hands.

Doctor: Onii-chan, come on!

Doctor, who was please with the success, was staring at me.
The rest were also calling me to go there.
When I replied and headed for everyone, Khan and Leona also followed me from behind.

Doctor: Onii-chan lets have a toast!

Before I realise, wine was already poured in everyone glass.
When I raised the glass, all the members also raised theirs.

Doctor: Onii-chan! Fast!
        Everyone is waiting your words!

...Oh
...I have such a cute and amazing imouto.
Also...
Its a pretty good wine.
Did you have a hard time getting it?

Leona: Hmm, its for commander. Isnt natural to get the best of the best?

Its good to have my family always at my side...

St.Orca's Secret Operation - END