Chapter 77: The Green Cat’s Love

After countless days and nights, Akashi, resigned to her fate, continued to silently accompany her commander.

She observed that while the commander was increasingly generous in her shop, his face bore more and more signs of weariness and silence.

He no longer smiled with genuine joy at the arrival of new companions.

Nor did he cheer sincerely after leading his comrades to thwart Siren plots or defeat powerful Siren flagships.

The entire port area was deeply concerned about the commander's state but felt powerless.

Even the flagship representatives from various factions found it increasingly difficult to meet with the commander.

The person who spent the most time with Lin Lan turned out to be her, the port area shop owner.

But no matter how much she tried to act cute or joke around, the commander seemed to be unable to hear her.

It was also unclear when the commander had stopped petting her head every time he came.

Akashi felt a deep sense of worry but gradually realized that she and the commander seemed to belong to different worlds.

Nevertheless, she had grown accustomed to greeting the commander with the most enthusiastic demeanor whenever he arrived.

It was their unspoken understanding, and Akashi would maintain it forever.

No matter how much time passed, she would always show a warm smile to the commander.

Perhaps, only this way could she make the commander feel a bit better, Meow.

This situation continued until one night.

While Akashi was napping on the shop's counter, the commander burst in urgently.

"Mm, Meow, it's the commander... Why are you staying up late again, Meow... There's no new stock today, Meow..."

Seeing the commander, who looked exhausted with dark circles under his eyes, Akashi groggily got up and gently rubbed against him with concern.

"It's been a while since I petted your head."

"Meow?"

The weary man spoke as he gently patted her little head, just like when they first met years ago.

"Akashi, buy an oath ring."

The commander came to her counter and took out a wad of Red Gems from his pocket.

"Meow... Commander, which faction's foolish girl are you eyeing now, Meow? Well, whatever, it's not for me anyway, Meow..."

Though Akashi was very happy to be petted, she had long realized that no matter what she said, the commander couldn't hear her.

Buying rings must be a daily affair for this mischievous ringmaster.

The commander's words were probably just a sleepy illusion.

Akashi handed a ring box to the man, yawned cutely, and prepared to go back to sleep.

"Akashi, you've worked hard managing the port area all these years, serving me and the other shipgirls every day."

"Although I've always joked about you being a schemer and knew about the little tricks you and Shiranui have done, well…"

"I actually forgot to make a vow with you all these years, I'm really sorry…"

The man held the ring box, his voice hoarse but very gentle.

"C-Commander Meow?"

Akashi, who had already climbed onto the counter, was stunned. Hadn't she been told that she wouldn't be heard?

The cat-eared loli looked at the commander's apologetic eyes, unsure how to respond.

"Let's go, Akashi. We're going to the shrine."

"My hardworking little shop owner, my cute schemer."

"We're going to make a vow."

So, Akashi was taken by the commander to the shrine late at night.

In the presence of the arriving companions as witnesses, she finally wore the unique, limited-edition cat-eared white outfit she had secretly prepared for a long time.

She stared dazedly as the commander gently placed the dazzling oath ring on her right ring finger.

At that moment, dressed in the white, shoulder-exposing outfit resembling a shrine maiden's attire, with green long hair, tears rolled down in large drops from the cat-eared little schemer's eyes.

Years of effort finally paid off.

Akashi was probably the happiest shipgirl in the world.

This was the rarest and most expensive thing, something that money could never buy.

The fantasy she had held for so many years finally came true at this moment. 

Akashi's cat ears drooped, her small hands tightly holding the commander's hand as she fought back her sobs.

The cat-eared loli lifted her head, staring intently at the worn and tired face of the man, as if she wanted to engrave it into her soul.

Although she didn't know how to advise her commander to take care of his health, she knew that the only thing she could do for him at that moment was to show her happiness and repay his vow with her best self.

"The commander has always taken care of Akashi's business, so Akashi can only dedicate herself to you, Meow!"

"...Meow, just kidding~ I like the commander the most, yes, more than gems, Meow!"

"And from now on, I'll always like you the most, Meow!"

The appearance of the weary man from her memories slowly overlapped with Lin Lan walking towards her.

Akashi didn't notice that tears had quietly begun to fall from her pale face.

She stood dazed at the port entrance, watching the young man, who was much taller than her, walk up to her.

Even if his first words were criticisms, she would accept it, Meow.

Akashi made up her mind and tightly closed her eyes.

However, the next second, the green-haired cat-eared loli was lifted from the ground by a pair of strong, warm arms.

Then...

"Hahaha, I've wanted to hold you in my arms and pet you for a long time. I was always afraid I'd find that I'd pet your ears and head bald one day."

Lin Lan laughed heartily as he cradled the cute cat-eared schemer in his arms, one hand firmly stroking the dazed loli's face.

"C-Commander Meow…"

The little loli in his arms was being petted but did not struggle.

Instead, she made soft sobbing noises.

Oh no, did I pet her too hard and make her cry?

Lin Lan's heart skipped a beat, and he stopped, thinking about apologizing and setting Akashi down.

But he found that she had tightly hugged him and wouldn't let go.

"Akashi?"

"Commander, why did you leave Akashi, Meow…"

"Do you know how much money Akashi saved up in the port area for you, and how many fun things I prepared to show you, Meow? Why did you irresponsibly leave me behind, Meow…"

"Without you, what's the use of all the money I saved, Meow!"

"Do you know how many dangerous places I went to find you, and how worried I was for you, Meow!"

"Do you know that every night, Akashi dreams of you petting me… Meow…"

"Meow woo woo…"

Lin Lan had never seen Akashi cry before.

In his impression, Akashi was a cheerful, always lazy shipgirl with a perpetual business smile, the sly little schemer who was always trying to trick him into spending money.

He didn't expect that this little schemer who had been by his side since the launch had such deep feelings for him.

And he hadn't realized it earlier.

In fact, Lin Lan also felt guilty towards the little schemer Akashi.

Because at the beginning, he had indeed forgotten to make a vow with this cat-eared loli whom he had seen almost every day since the launch.

After all, with so many meetings, he had instinctively thought that he had already made the vow with Akashi.

It wasn't until he saw a group member's post about Akashi's vow skin while working late and checking the group chat that he suddenly realized.

Oh no, it seems I haven't given the shopkeeper her ring yet!

So, even though he was busy with overtime, he immediately logged on in a hurry late at night, bought the ring, and made the vow with this hardworking little shopkeeper in the port area.

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AGAIN. OATH. YOUR. AKASHI. NOW!!!!

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