"Of course I know. My photos are in there too, under the Sakura Empire folder," Noshiro chuckled softly. "Not just mine; there are many others as well."
Lu Chen picked up his phone, looking dumbfounded. "Were those all voluntary?"
"Yes, we did it voluntarily. Otherwise, how would a certain someone realize how pretty we are?" Noshiro used two fair fingers to pinch Lu 's phone. "But you won't have a chance to admire them tonight. Go to bed now."
Lu Chen stood up and walked towards the bedroom. When his hand reached the doorknob, he turned back and asked, "How revealing are they? How do they compare to tonight?"
"Not as revealing as tonight!" Noshiro instantly bristled.
"Hmm… I'm still looking forward to it. Don't delete your photos. I want to see them tomorrow morning." Lu Chen finished speaking and walked into the bedroom.
Noshiro stood in place. After a moment, once the flush on her face had faded, she whispered, "Yes, Commander."
Lu Chen took off his clothes and tossed them onto the bed. He sat at the computer desk, staring at the screen, lost in thought.
Too many things had happened all day. He felt his life before amnesia couldn't have been this eventful: an academy built for him, a kind and gentle neighbor sister, a supposedly upright delinquent girl who was completely unrestrained with him, and photos of an idol group…
He rubbed his aching head. He really hoped he was dreaming so he could enjoy this world, which was more beautiful than a dream, without any reservations.
Wait, a dream? Lu Chen reached out and pinched his thigh.
Hiss, it hurt. Not a dream.
So, did he really have unusual relationships with so many girls?
No, impossible. Lu Chen suddenly noticed a crucial point of doubt.
Although he had amnesia, his body was still the same—vigorous and a virgin. From his encounter with Hutten, he learned that he wasn't the only one who was inexperienced; he wasn't much better himself, perhaps only rich in theoretical knowledge.
If Noshiro was his girlfriend, given his self-control, it was impossible for him not to have made a move on her. Lu Chen was confident about this. Even without Noshiro, there were so many beautiful girls, such as the idol group, Friedrich, and Hutten. They held a mysterious attraction for him. He wouldn't have done nothing.
So the answer went a step further: before the amnesia, he probably didn't know them, but they knew a certain amount about Lu Chen and held a deep affection for him.
Thinking about this, Lu Chen's head started aching again, but he smiled. The truth of the world was one step closer.
Although this outrageous guess brought up more questions, Lu Chen had finally taken the first step. Of course, he wouldn't share this conjecture with anyone. It would be too embarrassing if he was wrong.
He moved the clothes from the bed to the chair, lay down, and soon fell asleep.
Meanwhile, in the real world.
Noshiro walked out of the sleep pod. Hutten and the others were already waiting nearby.
"You're awake, our official girlfriend?" Hutten smiled teasingly. "I thought you wouldn't come out tonight."
Noshiro paused, then smiled shyly. "Don't tease me, Sister Hutten. I don't have that kind of courage."
Although they were Ship Girl avatars, except for sisters of the same class, everyone used their projected age to determine seniority. For example, Noshiro considered herself an 18-year-old JK girl, while Hutten appeared older but chose to portray a delinquent girl.
"If you had done it, you would have left a strong impression in the Commander's heart," Hutten said earnestly. She was telling the truth.
"Is it too late for Taihou to go online now?" Taihou asked.
Akashi moved her gaze from the screen and spread her hands. "The Commander has entered a deep sleep state, nya~ I suggest we don't disturb him, nya~ He seems to have figured out quite a few things, nya."
"At this rate, it won't take long for the Commander to recover his memories, so I suggest we increase the intensity," Hutten tapped the table. "The instructions have been passed down, right? Starting tomorrow, let the Commander interact with more people. The more he interacts, the more loopholes we'll expose."
"Then can I see my favorite Honey tomorrow?" a girl with long, pale lavender hair and starry blue eyes asked eagerly. She had rabbit-ear headwear and was entirely wrapped in black stockings, with an extremely voluptuous and tall figure but an innocent expression.
This was the strongest battleship of the Eagle Union, New Jersey, also known as Bunny Girl.
"What role are you playing?"
New Jersey thought for a moment, pulled a card from her black-stocking-clad chest, and read from it. "By day, a student at the academy. By night, a bunny girl dancer working at an underground bar. She's the Commander's childhood friend. Something like that."
"Then it depends on whether the Commander goes to the bar tomorrow, nya~" Akashi said, waving her long sleeves.
Hutten chuckled softly. She and New Jersey were both Oath Ships. To be precise, all of these Legendary-class existences were the Commander's Oath Ships.
The Commander liked girls who were beautiful and strong, and the Legendary-class girls met both criteria: beautiful and capable fighters, all of them Lu Chen's Oath Ships.
"I apologize, but I already made plans with the Commander this afternoon. He's going to patronize my café tomorrow."
Hearing this, New Jersey's face showed visible disappointment. She slumped onto the table. "That's too bad. I really wanted to see Honey."
"No need to rush. Take it step by step, everyone," Friedrich consoled.
"Wuuu~"
"It's getting late. Everyone should rest. We have many things to do tomorrow," Friedrich stood up. Seeing Yat Sen sitting next to Lu Chen's sleep pod, she walked over and placed her hand on her shoulder. "You should go back too. Don't wear yourself out."
"We are Ship Girls. How can we wear ourselves out?" A hint of sadness appeared in Yat Sen's eyes, regretting her helplessness to only watch Lu Chen's confusion and doubts in the virtual world.
"Find yourself a role and go in to experience it, even if it's just the convenience store clerk. You'll see that he's not doing too badly," Friedrich pondered for a moment, then leaned down and whispered what Hutten had done that afternoon into Yat Sen's ear.
Yat Sen's pretty face instantly turned crimson. She looked tremblingly at Hutten, her eyes filled with disbelief. "Th-Th-That's too, too…"
"But the Commander was very happy," Friedrich lied without batting an eye. (Perhaps it wasn't a lie, but Lu Chen definitely looked conflicted at the time.) "No matter what, we won't let the Commander suffer in the slightest. If you don't believe me, you can see for yourself."
"...I will consider it."
Akashi complained, "The convenience store clerks are me and Shiranui, nya. Don't take our roles!"