第８６７堀：任務終了と (Part2)
For me—no, for Vilia and Hiiro as well—today was a day to remember.
However, I couldn't afford to get carried away. One job might have ended, but a staggering amount of work still lay ahead. That was what it meant to support Yuki.
And so...
"Alright, I’m just as happy as you are to be praised by Yuki, but we can't let it go to our heads. If we mess up the paperwork for our time off and cause a scene, it’ll be pathetic. Let’s get this finished properly!"
"Yes! You're right!"
"Ehhh... Hiiro doesn't want to do paperwork anymore..."
"Hiiro!" we both barked.
"Augh, okay, I'll do my best!"
And so, we dragged along Hiiro—who was as averse to paperwork as ever—and put our hearts into ensuring no last-minute mistakes were made. By the time we finished our pre-vacation duties, the clock struck six.
"It got later than I expected. Giving out instructions for while we're away is quite the chore."
We checked the time and hurried home, though our conversation remained fixed on work.
"Yes. There were more things that needed addressing before our break than I thought."
"There were so many procedures for the Sea Sipho people to rotate out using the gates too!" Hiiro added.
"Ah, General Lake did mention that the Sea Sipho side would be taking some time off as well," I noted.
"Yes. Documents regarding the crew rotation for the fleet arrived from Chancellor Aquamarine. I’ve already submitted them to Dressa," Vilia reported.
"I’ve already double-checked them. It seems the people of Sea Sipho have found some peace of mind after hearing Yuki’s report."
"Hiiro handled the individual applications for that! If there were any more, it would've been dangerous... So, what was Big Sis Dre doing?"
"Me? I was arranging supply replenishment during the break, finding a substitute fleet commander..."
"Eh? Who’s the substitute commander? Big Bro? Or one of the Big Sisters?"
"Neither. Yuki and the others are busy with diplomacy. They have the massive task of bringing the Sea Sipho Kingdom into the Intercontinental Exchange Alliance. Steve and his crew are taking over as fleet commanders."
"Steve? But isn't Steve on the first ship, the *Luna*?"
"Apparently, they’re pulling back from there. Since the monsters in this sea zone have been eliminated, they decided a defensive line isn't strictly necessary anymore."
Well, operating an aircraft carrier incurs astronomical costs, so they wouldn't want to keep it deployed without reason. When Eris and Ratz showed me the operating expenses for that carrier, I thought my eyes were going to pop out of my head. I used to wonder why Yuki was so adamant about not putting a single scratch on the planes, but now I understood perfectly.
The same went for Sea Sipho; seeing them reduce their total numbers alongside the crew rotation suggested that going to sea is an incredibly expensive endeavor.
As we were discussing such things...
"Hey, being dedicated to the job is fine and all, but you need to rest when it's time to rest."
Hearing that voice from behind, we turned around to find Yuki and the others standing there, clutching plastic grocery bags.
"Today is yakiniku night!"
"It's the highest-grade yakiniku!" Aslin added.
"You three are the stars today for working so hard at sea," Labyris said. "Forget about work for now."
"Indeed. As Labyris says, knowing how to properly unwind is a necessary trait for those in leadership," Aslin continued, pulling some delicious-looking marbled meat out of the bags to show us.
*Whoa, isn't that the most expensive stuff in the supermarket?!*
This yakiniku dinner was going to be a war. With meat-lovers like Tori and Cleena leading the charge, things were bound to get wild. If I let my guard down, I wouldn't get a single bite...
But as I was worrying about that...
"Don't worry. Like Labyris said, the stars today are Dressa, Vilia, and Hiiro. I’ve secured a separate stash of meat just for you three."
Yuki reached in and showed us even thicker cuts of marbled steak.
"Is this okay? This must be expensive."
"Big Brother... are you sure we can have this?"
"Yay! I love you, Big Bro!"
"Yeah. You guys worked that hard. Eat up, don't hold back!"
"Yay!!" we all cheered in unison.
And so, our vacation began with a spectacular start.
*...Wait. This isn't the end of the reward, is it?*
Surely, a romance with Yuki is about to begin, right? Will spring finally bloom for Dressa? Or will it all end with grilled meat?
Also, I really want to eat that meat!