In the early morning, as the sun rose from the distant horizon and cast a thin layer of radiance upon the capital's skyline, the entire city was already bustling with life.
At the Golden Horn Bay Naval Base, Little Formidable, Little Enterprise, and Little Belfast, along with other mini shipgirls, rode the waves toward the capital's academy.
Together with the other little girls, they marched in lively groups, schoolbags on their backs, heading for the classroom buildings.
The Starsea Empire's education system emphasized freedom of development—anyone could freely choose their own path of study for the future.
Whether it was the path of science or magic, one could learn Type-Moon magecraft, dragon magic, Honkai energy manipulation, or even how to pilot a Gundam.
The lolis from the DitF world attended morning compulsory courses with the mini shipgirls, covering the fundamentals of the interstellar age.
In the afternoons, the shipgirls would head to Earth's orbit for starship combat training, the black-haired lolis would intern in the Research Division, and 02, Ichigo, and Kokoro would practice piloting FRANXX units.
Everyone had a bright future ahead.
...
On Mount Taixuan.
Fu Hua, dressed in her misty white Daoist robes, stood in the training field, demonstrating techniques of the Taixuan Eminence to her disciples.
Before her stood the Butterfly Sisters, Akame, Kurome, the Sword Maiden, and several other ordinary humans from the base, all wearing similar Daoist attire.
They followed the immortal's every motion, repeating her sword forms carefully.
After undergoing Meta-Morph surgery and becoming MANTIS, they could feel their power growing steadily each day.
Fu Hua had undeniably given them an excellent path for progress.
...
At the Akashi Workshop—
The repair shipgirls, Daedalus, and several Siren girls were overseeing a group of hammer-wielding Bulins as they worked noisily on refitting the Strelizia.
The Angeloids had conveniently brought over Dr. FRANXX's research data, saving the Bulins a great deal of reverse-engineering. Now, they could simply install advanced Starsea Empire weaponry directly.
Miniature photon spears, arc cannons, corrosion missiles—all sorts of cutting-edge gear were being fitted onto the mech wherever possible.
"Oh, this thing's quite different from the old Gundams, isn't it?" one engineer remarked.
"It's much larger now—it can handle heavier weapons. Maybe we could even mount a small booster unit."
Akashi scratched her ear and drew a few lines on the schematic, then frowned slightly.
"But, uh... the Strelizia was originally a two-pilot mech, right? It draws power from the pilot's body. If we convert it to a single-pilot version, won't that make it weaker?"
"..."
Purifier and the repair ship exchanged glances.
"Whether it's Ritsuka Fujimaru or the Commander, a two-pilot system's totally useless for them, right?"
"Yeah, it'd just get in the way. Honestly, a two-person cockpit would be a total disaster—it's 1 + 1 < 2. Let's just make it single-seat."
They both agreed that putting the Commander—who could control Juggernauts—into a cramped two-person cockpit was one of the dumbest ideas imaginable.
The marginal gain in performance definitely didn't outweigh the downsides.
"...Wait!"
Observer's eyes gleamed mischievously as a sly smile crept across her face.
"We could still keep the dual-pilot mode, you know. Like the Commander said—'I don't need it, but you do.'"
"All we have to do is make the Bulins spend a little more time and resources to add a single/dual-seat switchable mode, right?"
"Oh?..."
The others thought for a moment—it made sense.
It would only take a few extra resources to add the feature, and the Starsea Empire certainly wasn't lacking in those. The Commander definitely wouldn't care about such a small expense.
They all nodded in agreement.
"What about the seats though? The Strelizia's cockpit layout looks... weird, meow."
Akashi poked her head into the cockpit curiously.
No matter how she looked at it, the FRANXX dual-seat system was... questionable.
"Should we maybe redesign it into a normal side-by-side setup?"
Akashi twitched her ears.
"No need," Observer said, waving her tentacles.
"Keep the original layout—I have a much better idea! In fact, move the seats even closer together, yes... so close they'll bump into each other with the slightest movement."
"That way, the Commander and the Klaxosaur Princess will really remember they're piloting Strelizia."
"???"
The repair ship and several Siren girls were utterly horrified.
"If you get beaten up later, don't drag us into it..."
...
Meanwhile, in the administrative center — the Commander's bedroom.
The room was a little messy. Yat Sen and Chen Hai were resting on either side of Setsuna, sleeping soundly against his shoulders.
The two Dragon Empery shipgirls were his favorite pair — one in black silk, one in white — the contrast absolutely perfect.
Knock knock knock—
Belfast gently tapped on the door and entered with a tray in hand.
"Commander, your breakfast."
As the head maid, she was long accustomed to scenes like this.
With a smooth motion, she drew the curtains open, letting sunlight spill into the room.
"Eh? ..."
Chen Hai sat up, blinking sleepily. Noticing the time, she quickly got out of bed.
Running her fingers through her cascading black hair, she took out a short black cheongsam with golden embroidery from the wardrobe and slipped it on.
As she buttoned it one by one, the fabric tightened, accentuating her elegant, curvacious figure.
Next, she picked up a pair of sheer black stockings, hooking them delicately and sliding them up to mid-thigh — their transparency and length perfectly balanced.
Graceful yet alluring, she exuded a timeless Eastern charm.
Standing before the mirror, Chen Hai adjusted the folds of her cheongsam.
"Oh..."
No matter how many times he saw it, Setsuna always felt that the combination of black stockings and a cheongsam — especially on a mature shipgirl — was a direct assault on his every weakness.
He stepped forward and gently wrapped his arms around her from behind, planting a kiss on her cheek.
"Ah?"
Chen Hai jolted slightly and gave him a soft, playful glare.
"Don't tease me, Commander," she said with a hint of reproach. "I still have to go teach at the academy later. If I'm late again, it'll be bad. You made me over an hour late last time..."
"..."
"I understand you've been away on expeditions and miss your companions here," Belfast interjected with a sigh, "but Commander, please remember to take care of the other sisters as well."
She crossed her arms, a teasing smile on her lips.
"Your poor maid can only watch you flirt with everyone else, yet still has to bring your tea and breakfast — and even wash your clothes and sheets afterward?"
Pfft—
Setsuna couldn't help but laugh.
Belfast was both his oath-bound ship and his head maid — often switching freely between the two roles.
"Are you upset that I didn't invite you to the party?" he teased.
"Don't worry, when I start up the Eternal Snowfall, I'll take all of you aboard for a two-month trip."
He pinched Belfast's cheek playfully.
Hosting parties was a post-expedition tradition — both to unwind and to spend time with his girls. With dozens of them now, even taking turns was becoming difficult.
"You don't have to say it out loud like that..." Belfast muttered, blushing.
"They're all family — what's there to hide?" Setsuna grinned.
Snap—
With a snap of his fingers, a small spacecraft appeared outside the window.
"Oh, right." Setsuna suddenly remembered something.
"What about the chefs from Totsuki Academy? They should've been studying here for a while now."
"Bring them up — it's time to improve our meals. I'm tired of only having tail meat at every party."
...
In the Imperial Logistics Department—
The chefs from Totsuki Academy, led by Erina Nakiri, were busy at work.
When they first arrived from Totsuki, it took some time to adjust.
But once life stabilized and they devoted themselves fully to culinary research, they discovered that the Starsea Empire was, for a chef, nothing short of a dreamland.
Here, ingredients from countless worlds gathered—mystical and diverse, with flavors and textures unheard of and unseen on Earth.
Even the chefs who had once stood at the pinnacle of Totsuki—and even of the world—found a renewed joy in discovery.
Even the "God's Tongue" herself had to admit that she needed to retrain her palate in this new world.
"Hmm..."
Erina sliced off a small piece of some unknown magical beast meat from the frying pan and tasted it.
"Mm... it's somewhat like beef, but the muscle fibers are tougher and more elastic. I think this would make an excellent Wellington steak. I'll need to experiment with the seasoning."
"Your previous cooking techniques were far too simple," she remarked casually.
Nearby, the Royal Maids watched with curiosity.
Her heightened sense of taste gave her an extraordinary advantage in identifying ingredients—she was practically born to be a top-tier chef.
Although in the previous shokugeki competition, the Totsuki chefs had been completely overwhelmed by the Starsea Empire's rather unorthodox cooks—
That match had largely been decided by ingredient superiority. Both Nene Kinokuni and Rindou Kobayashi couldn't even compete in terms of base materials, so their dishes never stood a chance.
However, once the Totsuki chefs familiarized themselves with the properties of the multiverse ingredients and began integrating them with their own culinary knowledge, their true skills began to shine.
They often produced dishes that looked bizarre—but tasted incredible.
"Hmm... next, I'd like to try cooking meat from another type of dangerous beast... let's see how it reacts to high heat..." Erina murmured thoughtfully.
Whoosh—
Just then, Belfast arrived aboard a small shuttle, stepping through the door with her usual grace.
"Lady Maid Chief!"
The Angeloids and Royal Maids bowed deeply, followed by Erina and the Totsuki chefs.
Although Belfast was nominally the Commander's personal maid, she effectively managed most of the Empire's logistics—making her their superior in every sense.
"Erina," Belfast said, walking straight toward her.
"The Commander has returned victorious from his otherworld expedition. He'll be holding a celebration banquet aboard the Eternal Snowfall, and he specifically requested that your team handle the cooking. Consider this a test of what you've learned so far."
"Do your best."
"???"
"Eh?!"
Erina and the Totsuki chefs were completely stunned.
Setsuna, the Commander of the Starsea Empire, was a being far above their station—someone they could scarcely imagine meeting.
Other than their first encounter during the culinary competition when they'd been brought here, they'd never seen him again.
From what they'd learned, he commanded a vast interstellar fleet and wielded the kind of power that could shatter stars with a thought.
That he had once deigned to join them for a cooking contest was already an act of immense generosity—they would never dare approach him otherwise.
"Ehhhhh—?!"
The ever-timid Megumi Tadokoro nearly panicked.
"R-right now?! But we're not ready at all...!"
"There's no need to panic. The Commander simply wants to see your abilities. Just do your best," Belfast said kindly.
"I believe your culinary skills are more than worthy of serving aboard the Eternal Snowfall, preparing dishes for the Commander and his closest companions."
"Haa..."
Rindou Kobayashi and Erina exchanged glances.
"To cook in front of the Commander, huh...? This chance came sooner than I expected."
"I wanted more time to train first..."
"You're already late to the tradition," Belfast said, patting Erina on the shoulder.
"The Commander frequently ventures across worlds, expanding the Starsea Empire's reach and bringing back strange technologies, magical artifacts, and new discoveries."
"When he returns triumphant, he always hosts a grand celebration aboard the Eternal Snowfall, inviting those who joined his expedition—and his closest companions."
"To be allowed aboard the Imperial Flagship is an honor. Make the most of it."
"..."
The Totsuki chefs understood the honor of cooking aboard the Imperial Flagship. It was like being invited to cook for a national leader back on Earth—
Except this was on an entirely different level. After all, no Earthly leader could compare to the Commander of a multiversal empire.
"The menu... should we follow the Starsea Empire's recipes or...?" Erina asked.
"You decide for yourselves," Belfast replied.
"In the past, Tohru or Yat Sen usually handled the cooking aboard the Eternal Snowfall. But the Commander probably feels that having tail meat at every banquet is getting old—so this time, he's sending you instead."
"Uhh... design our own menu?" The Totsuki chefs immediately felt the pressure.
They swarmed Belfast with questions about the Commander's dietary preferences, likes, dislikes, and any food restrictions.
The maid chief couldn't help but admire their professionalism. After all, when Tohru cooked, she never bothered to ask what anyone else wanted to eat.
...
Later that evening—
Vrrmmm—
A small shuttle carried the Totsuki chefs up to orbit, where the majestic Eternal Snowfall awaited beyond Earth's atmosphere.
The planetary-class flagship was vast enough to house an entire city, and to Erina's surprise, it didn't look like a purely military installation at all.
Instead, it resembled a high-tech space fortress—a shining citadel among the stars.
Inside the command deck, the nervous chefs, clutching their kitchen tools, bowed respectfully to Setsuna.
"Greetings, Commander," Erina said formally. "As ordered, we're here to cook for you."
Erina and Rindou glanced around the bridge.
Those gathered were mostly the Commander's closest companions—
Richelieu, Taihou, Yat Sen, Mio, and Tohru...
Nagato lay sprawled across Setsuna's lap, her large tail swaying as he absentmindedly stroked it.
From the chefs' perspective, every single one of them radiated an intimidating aura of power.
Of course, the chefs' main concern was much simpler: What do they like to eat?!
"Hm... Belfast said you've all improved quite a bit recently?" Setsuna said, standing up and scanning the group.
"Lady Belfast flatters us," Erina replied softly, bowing politely.
"No need to be so tense. Go on," Setsuna said, waving his hand.
"And it's not just a single meal—you'll be staying aboard the Eternal Snowfall for a while. You'll handle all meals during that time."
"To the outside world, it'll only be one night."
"In your free time, you're welcome to explore the ship."
Following his gesture, the chefs turned to the massive observation window.
Beyond it, the Earth and the surrounding stars seemed frozen in time.
"Time manipulation...?!" Erina gasped, staring at Setsuna in disbelief.
Her expression was one of awe—as though beholding a god.
Unable to comprehend such power, the chefs bowed repeatedly and hurried off to the kitchen, trembling with nervous energy.
...
"Commander, you seem to have frightened them," said the Miko in his arms, her fox ears twitching.
She couldn't help but find the chefs' exaggerated politeness amusing—especially when Megumi Tadokoro had even bowed to one of the cleaning Angeloids earlier.
"Ordinary people are like that," Setsuna said casually. "They'll get used to it soon enough."
He pulled Kanae—who was sitting beside him—closer.
"You were the same when you first came to the capital. You barely spoke, always bowing whenever you saw me or the shipgirls."
"And now... well, you've gotten a little bold."
"I have not! I was just scared back then!" Kanae puffed her cheeks and stood up dramatically, giving a theatrical bow.
"Lady Kanae humbly greets the Commander!"
"See? You even dare to talk back now," Setsuna said with a chuckle, pinching her cheek affectionately.
Once you were close to him, such formalities naturally faded.
"Hmm... but, my dear husband," came Kurumi Tokisaki's teasing voice as she leaned over the back of the sofa, her crimson eyes gleaming with mischief.
"The chefs you brought aboard—they're all quite pretty, and their figures aren't bad either."
As she spoke, she traced a few lines on his cheek with her fingers, her tone dripping with suggestive amusement.
"So tell me, my dear husband... did you bring them here to cook food—or to be on the menu?"
"Both," Setsuna replied smoothly. "But before that, Kurumi—could you transform into your Spirit form?"
"Hm? I can, but... why?"
"Attack speed buff," he said, smiling. "We're doing some warm-up exercises first."
—
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