126: Chapter 126 Desserts

"Miss Dunkerque! Please give me two extra-large parfaits!"

With a clatter, Finn slapped his hands down on Dunkerque's table.

"Shh..." Dunkerque immediately raised a finger to her lips, signaling him to be quieter, then nodded a greeting to Olena beside him.

Naturally, these two weren't first-time visitors. To be precise, ever since this dessert shop opened, they had become regulars—it's just that most of the time they came separately.

It was somewhat understandable. Although they were a Ship Girl and Commander pair, their personalities were truly worlds apart.

As a Commander, he would goof off with other cadets; as a Ship Girl, she would dutifully stick to her duties until late every day.

Yet, they were both constantly worried that the other hadn't eaten dinner because they were too busy / played too late. This happened almost every time.

Over the past half year, they had become quite familiar with each other. Dunkerque knew their tastes very well.

Besides the extra-large parfaits, she also specially prepared macarons and cookies for them.

They were old friends, so there was no need to charge extra—especially since it was clear the atmosphere between them today needed a little boost.

This was the first time Dunkerque had seen Finn so flustered in front of Olena, and Olena had clearly dressed up specially for him.

That brat probably hadn't caught on yet, but there was no doubt Miss Olena was ready.

She called over Terrible from the side, asked Strasbourg to make her violin performance that evening a bit more soothing, and had Forbin handle the plating.

As the shop owner who also doubled as the head pastry chef, she naturally couldn't leave the front counter and the handcrafting station at will, so the server duties had to be left to the Destroyers who came with her.

The bell above the door let out a crisp ring. Dunkerque looked up and saw a figure with black hair walk in.

Unfortunately, it wasn't her own Commander.

"Welcome, Commander Zhou Hong." She greeted him.

A Ship Girl's memory allowed her to remember several regular customers, and Zhou Hong was one of them.

"Hello, Miss Dunkerque. Please pack up a box of caramel cookies and a box of chocolate cookies for me."

"Of course, please wait a moment!"

Zhou Hong sat down on a nearby chair, turned his head, and his gaze happened to meet Finn's.

Zhou Hong nodded in greeting, then withdrew his gaze. He took out a notebook from his satchel and began jotting something down, while also listening to the conversation between Olena and Finn.

Finn Hawke, usually so brash and unrestrained, had actually become this hesitant and stammering. It was truly a novel sight.

Zhou Hong suddenly felt like laughing, but his upbringing made him hold it back.

Soon, Miss Forbin came out carrying their desserts.

It had to be said, this pastry shop truly lived up to its reputation, having been pursued by countless Commanders or aspiring Commanders since its opening.

They treated people gently and carried themselves with elegance, making it hard not to be charmed.

However, they always maintained a distance from any Commanders who showed interest, their stance very unified:

They already had a Commander, and they would not, and could never, accept a new one.

Although no one knew which big shot let his Ship Girls come out to open a shop, it had nothing to do with him, Zhou Hong.

He just intended to buy some pastries, then go home to let his young younger siblings have a taste, and also offer a bit more tribute before his parents' memorial tablets.

"You dummy, feed me!" Olena pressed against Finn, complaining about his clumsiness.

Zhou Hong cast a glance tinged with a bit of envy.

He was one of the few cadets who hadn't managed to construct... hadn't constructed a Ship Girl.

He sighed and withdrew his gaze once more.

I'm not envious, I'm not envious.

I'm still so envious.

"Still haven't made up your mind?"

At some point, another Ship Girl had sat down beside Zhou Hong.

"Miss Terrible! You startled me!"

Zhou Hong jumped, his whole body shaking.

A slight curve lifted the corner of Terrible's mouth. Living and running the shop with her companions, communication with customers was essential, so Terrible remembered him.

A somewhat special guy.

"You see, the moment you start thinking, you neglect your surroundings." Her uncovered golden right eye (not covered by the cross-shaped patch) flashed with a hint of playfulness. "Envious?"

Zhou Hong couldn't deny it.

"Why haven't you gone to construct yet?"

"Because I can't bear the responsibility." Zhou Hong sighed.

"You're still using the same excuse to brush me off." Terrible looked at him. "If you can't bear the responsibility, why did you sign the academy enrollment contract?"

"Because..." Zhou Hong lowered his head. "Because I need that stipend. My younger siblings need me to support them so they can continue their studies."

Terrible was taken aback for a moment, opened her mouth, then suddenly let out a light laugh.

"You're worried you might let down your potential Ship Girl?" Terrible swung her legs, while sweeping a glance across the shop. Hmm, no new customers. "You... are ridiculously stubborn..."

Zhou Hong gave a bitter smile and nodded.

"Mmm!... Hngh..." Finn was pushed by Olena against the glass window, and then the two of them engaged in a deep kiss.

Terrible glanced at them.

Nearby, the black-haired Strasbourg was already in position at the performance spot, ready to begin.

Although it seemed a bit late, it was still timely now.

The melodious sound of a violin.

"Commander Zhou Hong, your pastries."

The golden-haired training knight wasn't wearing armor or carrying a knight's sword today, but was just an ordinary Ship Girl server. "Terrible, come help already."

"Coming." Terrible glanced at Forbin, then looked back at Zhou Hong. "Well then, see you next time, Commander Zhou Hong. I hope you'll think carefully about what I said earlier."

Zhou Hong was stunned for a moment, then gave another bitter smile. "I understand."

He stood up, gave a slight bow, and then walked out of the shop's door.

...You must remember, the bond between a Ship Girl and her Commander isn't just about sharing the good times, but also weathering hardships together. You will have to go to the battlefield sooner or later. If you only think about constructing a Ship Girl then, how is she, a newcomer, supposed to face the enemy?

Zhou Hong felt helpless. Although the academy wouldn't allow Ship Girls and cadets to go to the battlefield without training, what if? What if the situation was urgent?

The most important thing was...

Even though at first it was just coveting that stipend, but...

I really, truly, truly, also want to have a Ship Girl like that.

Inside the shop, Terrible picked up the baking tray Dunkerque had just finished preparing.

The violin music continued, while Olena and Finn had returned to their seats on opposite sides of the table, heads bowed in silence.

She placed the tray into the oven and skillfully set the timer.

Then she took out her phone and continued her great undertaking of information gathering.

Although, ever since that hotel incident, those videos were quickly taken down, and subsequently any information about their own Commander vanished without a trace, she still tirelessly collected information, especially from within the academy.

Of course, right in front of her now was a source of information, but now was clearly not a good opportunity.

She looked at the somewhat stiff Finn and narrowed her eyes.

...

...