Akagi's fox ears drooped as she finished explaining everything. She kept her head lowered, unable to meet her sister's gaze, bracing herself for Amagi's inevitable criticism.
Yet Amagi remained silent, simply tapping her oil-paper umbrella against her palm.
The quiet between them grew heavier with each passing second, until it felt almost unbearable. At last, Akagi could not take it anymore.
She raised her head just enough to glance up and asked, her voice trembling, "Sister Amagi... why aren't you saying anything? When you stay quiet like this... it scares me a little."
Hearing her almost pleading tone, Amagi stopped tapping. The cold look in her eyes faded, replaced with a gentle one.
"What is there to fear? The Lord instructed you to keep this matter confidential, and you obeyed. You even handled it with care. To restrain Taihou, you cleverly used the title of 'Perfect Wife' as leverage, ensuring The Lord's affairs remained undisclosed."
Her voice softened even further as she continued.
"Simply put, you carried out The Lord's wishes flawlessly."
When Akagi heard that, her drooping ears perked up ever so slightly.
'Does that mean... Sister isn't angry anymore?'
While this thought crossed her mind, Amagi spoke once again.
"So instead of punishing you, I think you deserve a reward."
"A reward?"
That made Akagi's nerves finally calm down. She repeated it, not quite believing her ears.
"Of course," Amagi said, her tone calm as she slid her hand into her kimono sleeve.
When she withdrew it, a small, exquisitely wrapped paper box rested in her palm.
She opened it gently, revealing a cake nestled inside, its sweet aroma drifting into the air. A spoon had even been thoughtfully placed beside it.
Akagi recognized that cake right away.
It was the very same dessert that kept appearing in the 'Dormitory Project' reports, the one the Commander himself had let Taihou and the others taste on more than one occasion.
Her eyes widened instantly. She could almost smell the sweet, milky scent drifting from it.
"Sis... Sister! That's..." she said, her voice full of shock and desire. "Where did you get it?"
Amagi watched Akagi's reaction with amusement and put a finger to her lips.
"Hehe... A wise person never reveals all her secrets."
While Akagi was still in awe, her hand was already reaching out without thinking.
'As expected of Sister Amagi! No matter the situation, she always displays her extraordinary foresight and skill!'
Lost in admiration, Akagi's hand had already shot forward eagerly.
She was desperate to find out what made this cake so special, the very dessert Taihou never stopped boasting about.
Yet just as her fingertips were about to brush against the paper box, Amagi subtly turned her wrist, drawing the cake out of her reach.
Akagi grasped nothing but empty air. The sudden momentum sent her stumbling forward, nearly toppling over before she caught herself. She steadied her footing and shot her sister a sulky pout.
"Sister Amagi! Why are you teasing me?" she protested, her voice laced with a faint whine.
Amagi merely raised an eyebrow and replied calmly, "I just remembered something more important. So I am not in a hurry to give you this reward yet."
'Something more important?' Akagi blinked in confusion.
Instead of answering right away, Amagi glanced around to ensure they were truly alone. Once satisfied, she leaned in closer.
Lowering her voice, she asked, "Where is The Lord staying now? Did you happen to learn his current residence?"
Everything fell into dead silence. Akagi parted her lips as if she meant to explain herself, yet in the end, only an awkward "...No." slipped out.
The moment the word left her mouth, the warmth vanished from Amagi's expression. Her purple eyes, once gentle and reassuring, now held nothing but disappointment.
Akagi immediately realized she must have made another mistake.
"Akagi," Amagi's voice was frighteningly calm. "Your cake is gone."
Akagi's heart sank instantly.
"And..." Amagi paused meaningfully, then unhurriedly opened the packaging before her eyes. "There will also be punishment. As for what that punishment will be..."
She delicately scooped up a small piece with the spoon and brought it to her lips with practiced grace.
"You'll watch me enjoy every bite."
The sweet aroma filled the space between them, but to Akagi, it might as well have been the most exquisite form of torture.
Her expression crumpled into one of pure grievance, tears beginning to shimmer in her eyes.
"But why, Sister Amagi? You just said I did well!"
Amagi paid her no mind, eating the cake with this totally blissful look on her face.
Only after she swallowed did she carefully wipe her mouth with a handkerchief and cut another piece.
Seeing Akagi practically drooling, Amagi made this little dismissive sound.
"Hmph. Reflect on your mistake. Consider carefully where you failed."
After that, she turned her full attention to the cake, completely ignoring Akagi.
Akagi remained frozen in place, forced to watch as her rightful 'reward' disappeared one bite at a time.
The more she tried to think about what she did wrong, the more her brain just turned to mush.
Watching Amagi's poised, unhurried movements only made the confusion and hurt swell even more.
Finally, when there was only one bite left, Akagi couldn't take it anymore.
"I don't understand... Sister Amagi, I really don't! Tell me, what exactly did I do wrong?"
Realizing Akagi truly had no idea, Amagi let out a soft sigh and set the spoon aside. She lifted her gaze, meeting her sister's eyes with quiet intensity.
"Akagi, this is always your problem. You allow your feelings to cloud your judgment far too easily, particularly when The Lord is involved."
Akagi opened her mouth but found no rebuttal. Amagi was absolutely right. That was exactly who she was.
But what was she supposed to do? The Commander was the person she loved most in the world.
"Your mistake this time was that you only focused on the information itself and failed to consider the greater opportunities hidden within it."
"Opportunities?" Akagi echoed quietly, grasping the meaning partway but still uncertain.
"Precisely. Consider the question I asked about The Lord's residence. Do you realize how valuable that single piece of information could have been? Not just for you and me, but for Kaga and countless other sisters in the Sakura Empire?"
She exuded an air of certainty and continued.
"Every girl in this Port dreams of having The Lord stay in their dormitory, even for just a few days, so they might serve him directly. By not asking, you essentially gave that chance away to someone else."
That explanation made everything clear.
'Ah... Why didn't I think of that?'
Akagi's expression darkened as she quickly rose to her feet.
"Sister Amagi, don't worry. I will return and ask him immediately!"
"Don't bother, Akagi. The moment has passed. I have no doubt Miss Belfast, as the Secretary Ship, has already claimed the chance you missed."
After finishing her words, Amagi extended the final bite toward her.
"Since you have understood, this belongs to you."
"Thank you, Sister Amagi!"
Akagi replied eagerly, her voice filled with gratitude as she received it with slightly shaking hands.
As soon as she tasted it, the deep, creamy sweetness spread through her mouth.
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Novels Available:
-> Zenless Zone Zero: The Almighty Incubus of Sixth Street. (Translation)
-> Azur Lane: Don't Fight! You're All My Wives! (Translation)
-> Zenless Zone Zero: Death in White. (Original)
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