Commander's Rounds Volume 1

Entry 57: Dandelions

"Gahhh... I can't believe I overdid it like that..."

The commander looked up from his desk, having a look at what was going on. Jean Bart was laid out on a couch for some reason, while Choukai was there giving her a massage.

Choukai merely smiled. "Ah, well, while it was impressive to watch, miss, it doesn't do to compete with Massachusetts overmuch in one day. Though she is probably receiving the same treatment from her sisters, seeing as she was also eager to indulge you..."

"Yeah, I know..." She grumped a bit. "...Worst part is that sis will probably lecture me. Again."

The commander looked over at her. "If it helps, South Dakota is probably giving her own brand of sisterly advice to Massachusetts. Anyway, I don't really mind, as long as it doesn't get in the way of your other duties. I don't think you would keep doing this if you didn't like spending time with her."

"Hmph." She folded her arms as she submitted to Choukai's massage. "...Well, maybe she just thinks of it as a nuisance she has to endure to prove herself."

The commander continued. "Actually, she wanted to see you again- she told me she spent a long time wondering who you were and if she could meet you again, so she could compete against you for real sometime. She actually wanted you to challenge her, so she doesn't really consider something like this a problem- I think she enjoys it, no matter what happens."

Jean Bart blinked. "Really...?"

Choukai smiled, and began working on Jean Bart's bare thighs. "Massachusetts is one of those people who likes to push herself, I think. She works hard to keep herself fit and strong, so..."

"Yeah, I get it." Jean Bart just relaxed as Choukai continued. "So... She actually likes it?"

The commander looked through some routine papers. "If you'd like me to be honest, I think it makes her happy."

"Huh." She remained quiet and in thought while Choukai finished up the massage. "...Well, I'm going to take a nap here and just head back home later. Sister can wait a little while to lecture me."

Choukai looked at the commander. "Would that be okay?"

The commander gave a nod. "Yeah, girls fall asleep in here all the time if they just want to take a nap someplace comfortable but don't want to go all the way home. Nicholas, Furutaka, Laffey, Shinano, Kashino, they all do that once in a while."

Jean Bart shrugged. "Well, if the commander is okay with that, then there's no problem." Jean Bart got comfortable on the couch, and was out like a light."

Choukai had a look. "Hm! It must have been a tiring day."

"No doubt." The commander put away the papers he was done with. "...Anyway, it's good when you stop by to help out with things like this."

"Hm?" She smiled, and one of her floppy dog ears twitched a little. "Well... It was only luck that I came this way when Jean Bart decided to take a breather, but I do what I can."

The commander was sure that it wasn't luck. Of the four Takao sisters, the eldest was stoic and resolute, Atago was aggressively affectionate, Maya could be gloomy and standoff-ish, and then there was Choukai, who was relentlessly and unrepentantly kind- if she noticed that Jean Bart was a bit out of sorts even for a split-second... "But you still helped out all the same, and that is still appreciated."

"Oh! Um... Thank you, commander..." She rocked on her heels a bit. "Well, I know you'd do the same for me and my sisters."

That was true enough- he had done that sort of thing before. There had been at least one time when Atago had been very vocal about how much she enjoyed it. "That's fair enough. I want you and your sisters- Well, basically everyone here- to be comfortable, after all."