In the afternoon office, Dante works alone on paperwork, signing documents. The shipgirls are busy with training or duties.
"Admiral, coming in!" Tenryuu enters without waiting, Tatsuta behind her.
"No knocking? What if I was naked?" Dante says.
"No reason to be naked in here," Tenryuu retorts.
"I'd cut it off," Tatsuta adds.
Dante and Tenryuu avoid asking "what."
"So, why're you sisters here?" Dante asks.
"Something's been bugging me," Tenryuu says, eyeing Rebellion leaning against the desk.
"Your sword?"
"Yup. Interested? Rental's pricey."
"I've got my own," Tenryuu shows her blade.
"…A katana."
"Can you even handle that huge sword?" Tenryuu asks.
"Here for small talk? I've got paperwork, or Houshou and Ooyodo'll chew me out. Find someone else."
"Spar with me," Tenryuu challenges.
"You listening?"
"Scared?"
"…" Dante glares at Tenryuu's smug grin, then agrees. "Fine, let's play."
"Outside on the grounds," Tenryuu says.
Dante grabs Rebellion, and they head out.
Naval Base Grounds
Dante and Tenryuu face off, keeping distance.
"Rules?" Dante asks.
"Make the other say 'surrender.' Good?" Tenryuu says.
"OK."
They draw swords.
"Wait!" Houshou and the carriers rush over, alerted by fairy pilots spotting trouble. Other shipgirls join.
"What're you doing!?" Houshou demands.
"Stop this nonsense!" Kaga says.
"Commander, you'll get hurt!" Ikazuchi says.
"Fighting's bad!" Inazuma says.
"You'll get us banned from pizza again!" Akagi says.
"Kaga's got a point," Houshou agrees.
"Don't worry, just a spar," Tenryuu says.
"Admiral…" Ooyodo says, concerned.
"It's fine. I won't go too far," Dante says.
"They won't stop," Kaga sighs.
"Everyone, step back," Akagi says.
The shipgirls reluctantly retreat to watch.
Dante and Tenryuu ready their swords. Tenryuu strikes first, slashing repeatedly. Dante blocks with Rebellion, seeming defensive to all.
"Who'll win, Tatsuta?" Kitakami asks.
"Tenryuu, obviously," Tatsuta says.
"Wanna bet? Dessert after dinner," Kitakami offers.
"Deal~ (Probably the Admiral, though)," Tatsuta thinks, recalling Dante sinking Deep Sea Fleet ships. She bets on Tenryuu to support her sister, knowing Dante's stronger than most humans.
"Admiral's holding back, right?" Ooyodo asks.
"Hope it ends safely," Houshou says.
"(More like bashing than cutting,)" Dante thinks.
"Come on! Defense won't beat Tenryuu-sama! Is that sword just for show?" Tenryuu taunts, swinging hard.
Dante blocks, their blades locking. Tenryuu pushes with both hands, but Dante doesn't budge.
"Bravery's nice, but it won't win," Dante says.
"What!?"
Dante shoves her back, taking distance. Now he attacks, forcing Tenryuu on the defensive.
"(What's with this guy!? Totally different now!)" Tenryuu thinks.
"Going a bit harder. Brace yourself," Dante says.
He knocks Tenryuu and her sword flying. She scrambles for it, but Dante uses Stinger.
"(I'm dead!)" Tenryuu thinks.
"Ah!" Akatsuki, Ikazuchi, and Inazuma cover their eyes.
Kaga and Kitakami gasp.
"Admiral!" Houshou and Ooyodo shout.
Akagi and Tatsuta watch silently.
Tenryuu braces, eyes closed, but feels no pain. Opening her eyes, Rebellion's tip hovers before her face, stopped by Dante.
"Keep going?" he asks.
"I surrender," Tenryuu says.
The shipgirls sigh in relief.
"How was it, Tenryuu-chan?" Tatsuta asks.
"You were right. He's no ordinary guy, beating a shipgirl like me," Tenryuu says.
"Explain this," Houshou demands.
"Uh…" Dante starts.
"You worried us. Explain," Kaga insists.
"Worried about me, Kaga? I'm tearing up," Dante teases.
"Don't flatter yourself. I worried about the destroyers getting traumatized," Kaga says.
"Bummer," Dante says.
"(So stubborn,)" Akagi chuckles.
"Might already be traumatized," Kitakami says, pointing to the half-crying Akatsuki, Ikazuchi, and Inazuma.
"Fighting Commanders are bad!" Inazuma says.
"Don't cry, my bad," Dante says, panicking.
"No more fighting?" Ikazuchi asks.
"Nope, I'm done," Dante says.
"Promise?"
"…Sure (probably)," Dante says.
"Then you're not bad!" Inazuma says.
"Good. Can't have you hating me," Dante says.
"Lolicon?" Kitakami teases.
"I hear you," Dante snaps.
Kitakami whistles, looking away.
"Explanation, please," Ooyodo presses.
Tenryuu interrupts, "My fault."
She explains: Tatsuta told her about Dante sinking Deep Sea Fleet ships and fighting demons. Wanting to test if he's trustworthy, she challenged him.
"I understand. Why didn't you stop her, Tatsuta?" Houshou asks.
"Tenryuu wanted to fight, and if it helped her trust him, I didn't interfere. Plus, she's a bit of a musclehead~," Tatsuta says.
"Hey!" Tenryuu snaps.
Dante and Kitakami snicker.
"Stop laughing!" Tenryuu says.
Houshou sighs, exasperated.
"I underestimated you. Didn't think a shipgirl like me would lose," Tenryuu says.
"No biggie," Dante says casually.
"Admiral, a request. Spar with me sometimes?" Tenryuu bows.
"If everyone's cool with it," Dante says.
Tenryuu looks at the others.
"If it's safe, fine," Akagi says.
"Agreed," Kaga adds.
"Again?" Inazuma asks.
"Just training," Tenryuu says.
"Then it's okay! Right, Akatsuki, Ikazuchi?" Inazuma says.
"Y-Yeah…" they reply.
"Don't care either way," Kitakami says.
"Houshou-san…" Ooyodo looks to her.
"…Fine, but don't worry us," Houshou says.
"Deal," Dante says.
"Sweet!" Tenryuu grins.
"What about the paperwork?" Ooyodo asks.
"Uh…" Dante falters.
"We need to talk," Houshou says.
"Work's waiting, no time to chat," Dante tries.
"We'll help with work, so there's time. To the office," Houshou says.
Ooyodo adds, "Tenryuu, Tatsuta, Kitakami, you're coming too."
"Why me!?" Kitakami protests.
"You bet on the fight," Ooyodo says.
"…"
"You did that?" Dante laughs.
"No choice, Tatsuta," Tenryuu says.
"If you're going, fine~," Tatsuta says.
In the office, Dante, Tenryuu, Tatsuta, and Kitakami endure hours of Houshou's lecture and Ooyodo's corrections for paperwork errors.
Cafeteria
The four sit, drained, looking pale.
"What happened?" Akashi asks.
"Houshou's lecture," Ooyodo says.
"Oh…"
Mamiya watches from the kitchen. "(Did they not like dinner…?)" she worries, clueless.
The base, noisy as ever, ends another day (mostly) safely.
Elsewhere, in a dark void, Jester stands.
"Play your role well, Devil Boy. Hyahahahaha!" Behind him looms a three-headed demon dog.