St.Orca's Secret Operation - Stage 5

Opening

Feather: .....

.....

Feather: .....

.....

Feather: ..........


..... Feather.

Feather: Yes.

Maybe... Are you kidding me?

Feather: No way! I cant make fun of the commander I admire...

Feather flatly denied it, but no matter how you see it...
Its just a box...
I was wondering if there was a cloak with an optical camouflage inside.
But that was it, the box was just a box.
I wondered if it was already on so I put my hand into the box.
I tried to find it, but... after all there was no cloak.

Feather: Doctor will be sad if you just call it a box.
         This is the ultimate equipment, cardboard!
         Whats more, its a specially designed version "The Love Cardboard" for 2 people.

Haaa...
Its a name that doesnt make any sense at first... but if you look closely...
There are heart-shaped stickers here and there...

Feather: Its very hard to explain it...
         What about using it first?
         I didnt think it would work the first time too.
         You will be amazed if you try it!

Really...
But it really look like its just cardboard... No, no... believe...
Feather and me enter the box.
Feather sticks to me and completely closes it.
Except for a light coming out from a small hole, it became completely dark.
Lets wait for someone to come.
I think its going to be suspicious if suddenly a cardboard box is on the bridge...
If this is just a prank then its a intricate one.
When I was thinking that, Feather gently approached me.

Feather: Dont you feel at ease when you are inside in such a dark and narrow place?
         Its cozy...

Well... I guess...
When Feather told me that, for some reason I felt at ease and began to feel a strange sense of security.

Feather: Commander, please come close.

Feather was getting close and closer in this small place.
Im hitting something, but I dont know what...

Feather: Fufu, I regret not being able to take pictures of this...

Is there any reason why you like photography so much?

Feather: Hmmm... At first it was just a part of reconnaissance missions...
         While I took photos for the it, I started to shoot other things too slowly...
         It was fun.
         Also, dont you like to keep photos of important things or moments?

Yeah... I understand.
Suddenly, I thought I should have taken photos of what have happened so far.
Feather, from now on...

Feather: Commander please be quite... someone is coming.
Undine: Lets try to use a more firm accent. Come on, one more time.
Siren: "Hmmm! It's not that I make it just for you or anything!"
       ...Undine, will this really please the commander...?
Undine: Of course! It is written here as "A technique to captivate a man with a single blow!"

Looking through a small gap, Siren and Undine were talking while reading an old book.

Siren: But what does this "Tsundere" mean?
Undine: Its like a title given to an attractive woman!
        Look here. Doesnt it say "very popular with men"?
Siren: Hm... I see... Ill do my best to be a tsundere...
Undine: Thats the spirit. Then please read the next one too.
Siren: Hmm... "Do you like oysters? How about one?"
       ...Oyster?
Undine: Oyster?
Siren: Oyster... Isnt that a shellfish?
       Why are they talking about this...?
Undine: Oh thats it!
        Shellfish are closed! So... is like opening your heart to him?
        Like...
Siren: Ah! You can see that scene at the bottom...
       I want to exchange it with my favourite person for his Octopus...
Undine: Thats right! Thats what it means. Yes...
Siren: Tsundere is a deep topic...
       I would like to practice more. Could you lend me this book?
Undine: Of course! Im already a master!
Siren: Fufu, thank you. If I have more questions, Ill ask you.
       Well, I have a meeting... see you later.
Undine: Yes, your welcome. See you later...
(If there was an actual sexual joke in this conversation I totally missed it, Im sorry)

Where did you find such book?
Siren is going to keep practising and come to my office in the future, I have to properly react to this tsundere thing...

Undine: Ah... I didnt know that...
        Its really hard... what should I do...?

I have to think about following Undine...

Feather: As expected, all the girls of Horizon are cute... arent they?

Thats right.

Feather: They are always active outside of the Orca so cant take pictures... could you...?

Shiii!!!
I shut Feathers mouth. Someone was approaching.

War Wolf: Even though we just returned, Why do we have to sortie again~?
Camel: Didnt you hear what is the mission? Dont complain!
War Wolf: I think the commander prefers to drink and get really wild with us rather than that...
Camel: You often say that even though you have been issued a prohibition order, dont you?
War Wolf: Haaaa... so what about the captain?
Camel: She is already out. Come on, we have to hurry too.

War Wolf and Quick Camel headed to exit and disappeared.
That Hordes mission should have been the last reconnaissance...
When I was wondering and twisting my head, something started to flutter in my arms.
Oh, Im sorry.

Feather: Puhaa...!
         (Heart pupils) Commander, really... wild... In a place like this...

...Did I do something strange?

Feather: Even thought we havent hold hands yet, getting me so suddenly into forced play...
         I guess it cant be helped... fufu...

Hey! Did I do something weird?!
Feather got up and opened the box.
I look at her face, It was red and really hot... Was it too much?
I stood up too and after stretching my stiff legs I stared at the exit where War Wolf and Camel dissipated.
The horde had no other mission apart of reconnaissance, right?

Feather: Eh? Yes... Probably...

Where did they go? And Siren having a meeting...
Lets chase them.

Feather: Eh?!

What happened?

Feather: Oh, no-nothing. Its too late... Im a bit tired for today.
Why dont we take the rest of the day off...?

When I shook my head, Feather turned into a crying face.

Im specially grateful to the Horde.
Like Horizon, the Horde has a small number of members and mainly because they take reconnaissance and manoeuvring missions
Its hard to meet them face to face in the Orca.
I was worried that I couldnt interact with them too much. Just that.
I also want to see how the Horde spend their free time.

Feather: Well, I can tell you that... so...

No its better to see it with my own eyes.
I tried to go to the exit but I stopped.
...Yes, I have to bring this too.
After all, having this box makes me feel at ease...

Ending

I committed 2 errors
The first was that I underestimated the speed of the Horde.
I was able to follow them until they got out of the Orca, their speed was beyond my expectations...
After a few minutes of desperately chasing them, the Horde disappeared completely into the darkness of the night.

Feather: Commander, you have done everything you could.

Thank you.
The second one was that I had forgotten about the constant threat that was always near us.
On the way back to the Orca Feather made me hide and in a quiet voice informed of the enemy.
Although there were few iron-bugs around here, Feather and specially me are not suitable for combat.
I was thinking If I should take out the protective firearm that I have.
One of the iron-bugs that was nearby was suddenly shot.
When Feather started to shoot, other sniper started to bury iron-bugs one after another.
Then the sniper appeared.

Miho: Did you lower you head properly?

Yeah, thank you.

Miho: Hmm... no matter how safe the area is, isnt a little careless to go out alone?

I cant refute that...
Miho smiled as I kept silent with a visible feeling of remorse.

Miho: Well, thats fine. I hope you are not injured.
      Thanks to Feather support this was easy.
Feather: This is enough.
         Commander, I think its better to go back to the Orca for today.
         Everyone is probably worried because of the time and this battle.

Yes, lets go back...

Miho: Wait.

Miho interrupted my words.
While messing around with my hem, I was smashing the snow that had piled up at my feet.

Miho: Commander, you know...
      While you are out...
      Would you like to take a short walk around that area?
      Ah... that is.... for reconnaissance of course.

<<2 options>>
I think its better to go home now.
...I get it.(x)

Feather: Eh? Commander, you should think that again...

Miho is going to be with me so its okay.
Mihos face, which had been moody, brightens at once.

Feather: Fufu... Fufufu! Thats right. I think you will be okay.
         Then, commander, I will return first.

Feather said that and left quickly.
Miho, who was looking quietly at the sky, started to talk as soon as the engine noise disappeared.

Miho: Should we go?

Miho and I were walking silently on the snowy road.
In the quiet forest, only the footsteps of two people walking made echo.
Miho, who was waling one step ahead suddenly stopped.

Miho: Kukuku... It makes me happy when I think about it.

What?

Miho turns around and looks at me. She is really happy and laughing.

Miho: What I said earlier! This area is safe and have been scouted.
      Moreover, even though Ive cleaned up the iron-bugs, Im going to scout more.

Are you going to confess?
Miho, who smiled happily, approached me and took my hand.

Miho: To be alone with the popular commander.
      You have to be big and important, right?

A pleasant silence came for a while.
Miho, who had her fingers tangled with mine, spoke quietly.

Miho: Commander, havent you been tired lately?

Mmm, uhh... no?

Miho: Liar. Its written on your face.

Miho pushes my side belly with her elbow.

Miho: Dont overdo it, okay?
      Leave the small fights command to the captains of the group.
      We know you dont want us to get hurt, but that will cause more troubles to the commander.

Its the usual light tone, however when I look at her, I can feel the seriousness from Miho.

Alright...

Miho: You are lying! You are going to do it anyways!
      I have to punish this liar commander. Can you close your eyes?

Oh, okay...
I close my eyes as told. I can hear Mihos steps in the snow, she is in front of me.
Miho does a small deep breath and...
A soft thing touches my cheek...
When I open my eyes in amazement, a pink braid was shaking in front of me.

Miho: You cant lie again, okay?
      Go, commander.

Ah, ahah...

Miho reached out the other side while facing me and I headed back.
The way back to the Orca felt a lot shorter than when I came.