"Woohoo! Pop the champagne!" Hornet, a blonde twin-tailed girl without the tsundere personality, held a bottle of champagne, shook it vigorously, and popped the cork, aiming the bottle neck at a neatly stacked four-tiered pyramid of glass cups. She was trying to build a champagne tower, but a lot of the champagne spilled onto the floor.
Enterprise shook her head helplessly. Hornet, her younger sister, was too active, even a bit clumsy. "Hornet, don't play like that anymore. It will be a hassle to clean up later."
"Who cares, Sister," Hornet said dismissively, nudging her head toward the center of the hall. "New Jersey left a hole over there that's much harder to deal with than this. Besides, since this is a dream space, one swipe is all it takes to restore it. So play with confidence, Sister Enterprise. Should we compete to see who can finish faster?"
Enterprise's expression instantly became serious. "Hornet, this is not the place for you to say things like that."
They absolutely could not reveal the truth of the world to the Commander, or the consequences would be troublesome.
"What does it matter?" Hornet shrugged. "The Commander and Baltimore are long gone. The Commander can't hear anything we say."
"Since when?" Enterprise sharply turned her head, where Lu Chen had been standing, there were now only two empty stemmed glasses, and in the distance, Albacore was listlessly clutching a party popper and chasing after Cavalla.
Without the Commander to join her mischief, even the most ingenious plan held little interest for Albacore. If only Taihou had come. Albacore could have scared Taihou at least three times tonight, with a new reaction every time.
Hornet scratched her head, thinking. "Roughly when you were telling Sister Yorktown not to drink."
"!" Enterprise snapped her head around, only to see Yorktown swaying toward her, clutching a half-empty bottle of champagne. "Sister Yorktown! Didn't I warn you not to drink under any circumstances?"
Yorktown slowly lifted her head, her gentle older sister face looking utterly hazy. "Enterprise, huh? Why are there two of you?"
Enterprise covered her face, unable to look at her two sisters. This was truly adding insult to injury.
"We're finished. Sister Yorktown is drunk," Hornet was also stunned.
Yorktown struggled to focus, waving at the empty space in front of her. "Never mind. No matter how many Enterprises there are, you're all my good sisters. Sister, where is the Commander? I need to find him."
"I think it would be better if you stayed here, Sister," Enterprise sighed. "Are you really in a fit state to see the Commander right now?"
"Why not? Hiccup~ I've never been better!" Yorktown refuted, letting out a small hiccup. "Where is the Commander? I'm going to find him and confess! I can't hold back any longer. If he won't make the first move, I will!"
Hornet's eyes widened. "Th-This is the legendary 'Dutch courage'?"
"Sister, please give up that unrealistic idea. Baltimore is on a date with the Commander right now. We can't be the spoilsports," Enterprise pleaded earnestly. Her drunken sister left her helpless. Even Hornet's mischievousness now seemed refreshing in comparison.
Yorktown squinted and smiled. "W-What are you talking about? I don't believe you. You won't tell me, will you? I'll go myself. Ugh, I feel a little nauseous. I'll go find him myself. Girls, please help me find the Commander."
She raised her hand and waved, and several mini-aircraft wobbily flew out, turning into streams of light that returned to her body a moment later.
"Enterprise-chan, no lying in the future. The Commander and Baltimore are clearly just idly looking at the scenery on the balcony. How can you say they are dating?" Yorktown pushed away Enterprise's hand that tried to steady her, and steadily walked away.
Hornet muttered quietly, "A man and a woman who have good feelings for each other and are alone together—what else is that but a date?"
Enterprise sighed heavily. "Put down your champagne tower. Even if we can't stop her, we have to keep an eye on her. I'm afraid she'll do something irrational if she gets too emotional."
In her normal state, her sister was gentle and kind, lovely to everyone. But as soon as she touched alcohol, it was as if a strange hobby awakened in her, making her proactive and candid. But in this state, if Yorktown mentioned anything about Ship Girls or dreams to the Commander, it would be a huge problem.
...
Lu Chen wasn't so deranged as to stage a casting couch scene with a newly debuted idol in front of everyone. He wanted to cultivate their feelings first.
This feeling was unique and strange to Lu Chen, mixed with a hint of guilt. He was clearly attracted to her beauty, and everything he did felt like he had ulterior motives. Fortunately, Baltimore's tacit acceptance diluted his guilt.
However, he was now caught in another predicament: he seemed to have underestimated the fruit wine's potency.
Lu Chen felt perfectly clear-headed, and he was fully aware of his every action, but he couldn't quite control his desires. Baltimore's every expression was so alluring in his eyes, especially when she parted her pink lips. Lu Chen desperately wanted to taste what they were like.
He had given his first kiss to Noshiro that morning, then his lips connected with Taihou's. Now, he had almost no resistance to a girl's lips. Lu Chen vaguely felt that something was wrong, but his alcohol-influenced brain instinctively avoided thinking about complicated matters.
He only wanted to get spicy.
"W-What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?" Baltimore asked, feigning indifference. But she wasn't foolish; the Commander's burning gaze hadn't left her body for a second. He wanted to do something to her, and he was about to act.
Lu Chen shook his head, trying to dislodge the feeling of discomfort, and asked, "Are you wearing makeup?"
"Just light makeup. Bremerton helped me apply it," Baltimore replied. "She said idols only wear heavy makeup when they perform. I only needed a little touch-up to meet the manager. Is it obvious?"
Ship Girls were naturally beautiful, and their bare faces were enough to display their unique charm.
Lu Chen tried his best not to look at Baltimore, turning his face away. "It looks like you're wearing lipstick."
"It's just lip balm. Lipstick colors are too vibrant for me," Baltimore replied softly. She guessed what the Commander wanted to do to her.
Lu Chen was silent for a moment, then asked, "What does it taste like?"
Baltimore was momentarily stunned, and a hint of a smile appeared in her eyes beneath her short hair. "I'm curious about that too. Can you tell me the answer?"
Lu Chen turned around, facing Baltimore, and took a deep breath. "Then I will... Huh?!"
To Lu Chen's surprise, before he could act, Baltimore kissed him first. The reason was simple: Baltimore clearly saw the Ship Girl named Yorktown approaching right behind Lu Chen.
You want me, Baltimore, to be the pathetic loser in a romantic comedy who is constantly interrupted? You've picked the wrong person.