After calming down, Kurumi obediently followed Setsuna.
Their date finally settled into a normal rhythm.
"So, where do you want to go?"
Setsuna lightly patted Kurumi's head.
She looked stunning when she was quiet and composed—just like an elegant young lady.
"…"
"Hmm…"
Kurumi thought for a moment.
"I want to see the shipgirls."
Her answer caught Setsuna by surprise.
"I know they've been with you the longest, but even after being here for so long, I still don't know much about them."
"The ones who stay by your side the most are shipgirls, aren't they? I'd like to meet more of them."
"Oh? You don't go visiting on your own?"
Setsuna raised an eyebrow.
"Setsuna, I'd feel a bit awkward going alone," Kurumi said with a hint of grievance.
She wasn't as naturally sociable as Gudako, who had only been in the base for a few days yet had already made herself infamous among the shipgirls as Chaldea's shameless Master of human depravity.
Visiting strangers, even if they wouldn't mind, still required some courage.
"Alright, let's go."
Setsuna gently took her hand.
Her fingers were slender and delicate, with a slightly lower body temperature than his own.
"Are you cold?"
"Not at all. I'm a Spirit, Setsuna."
Kurumi dusted off the snow on her shoulder and answered softly.
Together, they walked toward the naval base in the Golden Horn.
Many of the shipgirls already knew about Kurumi—even if they hadn't met her personally, they were aware of her from the strategic meetings regarding the Date A Live world.
Seeing the Commander bring her over for a visit, they eagerly gathered around to greet her.
"Commander, is she your new oath-bound ship?"
"Uh? Should we call her your girlfriend? Or something else?"
"You're a Spirit? Can you use magic? Like Mio?"
The younger shipgirls circled around Setsuna and Kurumi with curiosity.
Kurumi politely responded to each one and even took a moment to pet the ears of a little Sakura Empire beast-eared girl.
"I'm not as powerful as the Spirit of Origin, but I am the Spirit of Time. I can do some rather unique things…"
"Oath-bound ship? Hmm, I don't quite understand that term…"
Setsuna and the shipgirls gave her a grand tour of the naval base.
From the shipgirl dormitories to the docks, the Bulin factories, the repair yards, and even the hot springs, Kurumi marveled at everything she saw.
She had witnessed shipgirls in battle, but this was her first time truly exploring their domain.
The shipgirls' lifestyle and Azur Lane's technology were far beyond anything she had imagined.
"Torpedo tempura?! Your food is truly… unique…"
"Coolant? Battleship fuel? No, no, I'm not drinking that…"
However, she couldn't help but notice that the shipgirls frequently used the term "oath-bound ship," which puzzled her.
"Setsuna, they seem to place great importance on the word 'oath,' and they often use it to refer to certain shipgirls around you."
"Does it have a special meaning?"
"It signifies two fates becoming one—an oath to live and die together, never to be separated."
Setsuna explained according to the shipgirls' customs.
"…"
Kurumi's eyes flickered with a complex emotion.
She was beginning to understand why there was such absolute trust between Setsuna and the shipgirls.
For someone who had been deceived before, this level of unwavering faith was difficult to comprehend.
But after Setsuna had helped her resolve her inner turmoil, she found herself willing to try believing in someone again.
"Can someone who isn't a shipgirl form an oath?"
"Hmm… That's just how the shipgirls phrase it. In reality, I treat everyone the same."
Setsuna gently squeezed her hand.
After finishing their tour of the Azur Lane naval port and bidding farewell to the shipgirls, the two of them continued their visit to the Siren and Fleet of Fog naval bases.
Kurumi gained a new understanding of Setsuna's popularity among the shipgirls.
Wherever they went, whether it was Azur Lane, Fleet of Fog, or even Siren shipgirls, each group was more enthusiastic than the last.
They all eagerly greeted him, some even boldly throwing themselves into his arms to cuddle.
Following the standard flow of a date, Setsuna took her to an Dragon Empery shipgirl-run restaurant for dinner.
Afterward, they went to watch an imported movie.
—The capital didn't yet have its own film industry, but they could import movies from allied worlds.
Kurumi randomly picked a sci-fi film, only to find herself yawning through it.
Hollywood's idea of sci-fi was laughable. Star Wars still featured sword-fighting with glowing sticks?
It wasn't even close to the futuristic reality of Constantinople.
Here, shipgirls transformed into starships, their rigging could resize at will, mechas of various models roamed freely, Bulins could construct an entire satellite city in three days, and dragon girls could literally turn into dragons…
There was no need for special effects—just filming daily life here would already be a sci-fi masterpiece.
By the time they left the theater, it was already dusk.
The two of them strolled through the residential district, snowflakes drifting down as they walked. With millions of little lolis in the city, the atmosphere was livelier than ever.
They chatted idly as they walked until they reached a quiet two-story townhouse.
Origami, Kotori, Yoshino, and the younger Spirits lived together under Mio's care.
Kurumi had her own place.
She glanced at Setsuna meaningfully and deliberately drew out her words.
"Ara, Setsuna, it's quite late. Would you like to come in for a bit?"
"This is a girl's reward for a successful date, you know~"
"This was the part you were looking forward to the most, wasn't it?"
Pfft—
Setsuna found Kurumi truly amusing.
He chuckled and nodded.
"You catch on quick."
"Please, come in."
Kurumi's home was neatly organized, decorated simply yet elegantly, matching her refined demeanor.
Several cats lounged lazily on the sofa.
As a devoted cat lover, one of the first things she had done after receiving her house was to ask the shipgirls to bring her some cats from other worlds.
She played with them for a bit, refilling their food bowls.
Then, she slipped off her JK uniform jacket and hung it on the coat rack, leaving her in a snug, form-fitting undershirt that accentuated her curves.
"This way."
Kurumi gestured from the hallway, leading him to her bedroom.
"So forward?"
Setsuna noticed the slight smirk on her lips.
As soon as he stepped inside, Kurumi gave him a gentle push, sending him onto the bed.
"Setsuna… I bet you're thinking about something inappropriate right now, aren't you?"
Kurumi sat beside him, her alluring smile never fading.
With a teasing glint in her seductive eyes, she playfully lifted the hem of her skirt, running her fingers over her black stockings along her thighs.
"Of course. What else would I be here for—quantum physics and astrophysics?"
Setsuna laughed.
"Hmm…"
"You're probably imagining all sorts of things right now, thinking about devouring me, aren't you?"
Kurumi propped her chin on her hand, watching him with an amused glint in her eyes.
"Mmhmm, I usually prefer being the one in control."
"And I can teach you a few new tricks."
Setsuna cleared his throat.
As soon as he finished speaking—
"What a coincidence, Setsuna—"
"I also like being in control… and I want to devour you too."
Kurumi suddenly stood up.
A swirl of white energy enveloped her, and in an instant, her outfit transformed into an elaborate black-and-red gothic dress.
Astral Dress Third Form—Elohim.
A crimson-and-black headband now adorned her hair, enhancing her already striking beauty compared to her usual JK uniform.
Then, she raised her right hand.
"Come forth—Zafkiel!"
Shua—
A massive golden clock materialized behind Tokisaki Kurumi.
Its hands ticked steadily, embodying the power to manipulate time—forward and backward.
The Angel Zafkiel, the source of Kurumi's strength and dominion over time.
Kurumi reached toward the clock's face, grasping the short hand, which transformed into an ancient flintlock pistol.
"Eight Bullet!"
The clock's hand halted at the number 8, and a black-red energy surged into the gun.
Bang!
With the sound of a gunshot, shadows at her feet twisted and took form.
Four more versions of Tokisaki Kurumi emerged.
A gothic lolita Kurumi in black-and-white attire with rose accessories in her hair.
A Kurumi in a traditional kimono.
A Kurumi wrapped in bandages.
And an eyepatch-wearing, chuuni-styled Kurumi.
Each one was a manifestation of her past selves—clones created through her temporal abilities.
"Setsuna, I told you—I'm going to devour you."
Kurumi twirled the flintlock in her hand before straddling Setsuna's lap, grinning mischievously.
"We have all the time in the world today."
"You know the effects of the Second Bullet, the Fourth Bullet, and the Seventh Bullet, don't you? No matter how much you beg for mercy, I won't stop~"
"?"
Setsuna raised an eyebrow.
"The Four Great Kurumi Kings? And now we have time-stop and time-rewind play?"
Time-based abilities were far too fitting for this kind of scenario…
"Give me more. I can take it."
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