Mo Chen finally remembered: Anis really had called him earlier, but he'd been caught up with something and didn't pick up.
"I was just busy."
"Busy?"
"Yeah. Oh right, that fridge you guys kept nagging me about? It's been delivered. I stocked it full of cola."
"Wow! Commander, you're the best! Heehee, you even picked my favorite flavor!"
Anis wrapped her smooth, shapely legs around Mo Chen's waist, cheering with both arms raised. Her eyes sparkled with joy as she threw her arms around his neck and leaned in to plant a big kiss on his cheek.
"Commander, you're my god!"
Her obsession with carbonated drinks was practically religious.
"Hey, hey," Mo Chen quickly steadied her by the waist so she wouldn't fall off, sighing helplessly. "Don't call me 'Commander' like that all formal and stuff—it's weird. Feels like I'm some seventy-year-old geezer."
He gave her a light pat on the butt to signal her to get down.
"But I like calling you that, hehe," Anis clung to his neck, unwilling to let go, and even gave a little wriggle, as if protesting. "You know, I feel like you've gotten even more handsome than before. I just can't get enough."
She leaned in again for a kiss.
Mo Chen quickly covered her mouth.
"Jeez, your drool's about to drip out. Gross."
"Yup, gross, super gross, gonna get you all sticky~"
Anis didn't pull back—instead, she came even closer. Mo Chen held her back by the forehead. The two tussled like kids, but inevitably, all kinds of places got bumped. Her slim waist peeked out, shirt riding up, revealing her smooth tummy and adorable belly button.
Her hands weren't exactly behaving either. While Mo Chen had both arms occupied holding her up, she sneaked her hands under his shirt and started poking and tickling, fingers crawling everywhere like a little female perv.
"Cut it out," Mo Chen grabbed her mischievous hands at his waist. "The nanosuit is almost done. I'll have Syuen deliver it to you guys soon."
The nanosuit armor was both offensive and defensive, boasting solid firepower and great protection. Mo Chen had long planned to mass-produce it, and left the research to Syuen.
Don't be fooled by her gremlin-like size: Syuen was arguably Ark's top scientist. The equipment used by the Matis unit was her handiwork.
Originally, Mo Chen thought developing the nanosuit armor would take a while, but less than six months later, Syuen had already produced a working prototype. It was still in the testing phase and not ready for mass production, but it was ready to be equipped.
Its performance didn't quite match the original, but it was more than enough to handle Raptures. At the very least, it would prevent sudden decapitations or being bisected like in the original story.
"Hm?"
"Commander, did you… do something behind my back?"
"No."
"Then why are you suddenly being so nice to me?"
Mo Chen gave her a speechless look. "Haven't I always treated you well?"
"Well, that's true… but today you're being especially sweet."
Anis narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "Commander, you seriously didn't do something shady, did you?"
"What, you don't like it?" Mo Chen pinched her soft curves. "Need me to beat some sense into you?"
"No, no, it's not that I don't like it," Anis puffed up her chest a little, seeming annoyed that Mo Chen wasn't playing along properly. "Forget it, let's not talk about that. There's something important you still haven't answered."
Her expression turned serious—though her cheeks were tinged pink. It wasn't clear if that was because of Mo Chen's hands.
"What important thing?"
Mo Chen asked while his hands kept moving. He even leaned in closer, making his words sound a bit muffled, as if he had something in his mouth.
Anis held Mo Chen's head with both hands, as if wanting to push him away—but at the same time, also wanting to pull him closer. Her waist arched backward in a pose only dancers could pull off, supple and graceful.
"C-Commander… are you really going to head out to sea?"
Mo Chen froze as if struck by lightning.
"What? Out to sea?"
He lifted his head, even stopping his movements.
"Yeah, I heard you're going with the Aegis unit aboard the Admire, heading out on a mission. Is that true?"
"It is," Mo Chen didn't hide it at all and was actually a little curious why Anis brought it up so suddenly. "What about it?"
Anis clearly wasn't pleased with Mo Chen going on pause. She pressed in close, wrapped her arms tighter around his neck like she was spoon-feeding a bedridden husband.
"Commander, it's been a while since you've been on a mission with us. The Counters Squad feels totally lifeless."
"Oh? You miss me that much?"
Mo Chen said, still somewhat muffled.
Anis replied, "Yup, I really do miss you."
"You not roasting me for once already feels like a miracle."
Then suddenly, Mo Chen realized the room had gone quiet. He lifted his head and saw Anis had turned her face away, a trace of melancholy on her cheek.
"Commander… you've got so many important things to do now. You'll meet more and more Nikkes from different squads... Maybe someday, we won't matter so much anymore."
Mo Chen was stunned.
He never thought someone as cheerful as Anis would say something like that.
But then Anis suddenly laughed, bright and casual again.
"Haha, it's nothing. I've thought about it before."
"We're not as powerful as the Admire's captain, and we can't solve problems like the others can. Honestly, just not holding you back already feels like an achievement. We've only come this far because of your protection, after all."
"Anis…"
Mo Chen had just opened his mouth when Anis silenced him with a kiss.
"You don't need to comfort me, Commander. I already know, even if you don't say it. Nikkes get replaced when their specs fall behind. Even if I get retired… maybe it wouldn't be so bad."
Then she gave him a wide, radiant smile.
"Haha, just ignore my whining, Commander. Pretend you didn't hear it."
So that's what she was really thinking…
Seeing that forced smile on her face, Mo Chen couldn't help but pull her into a tight hug.
"You were the first Nikke I met. And it's because of you all that I've made it this far. So don't say things like that. No one could ever replace your place in my heart."
"Eh?" Anis blinked, as if she'd just witnessed something unbelievable.
Before Mo Chen could react, Anis added, "Commander, did you just say something sweet? I'm touched."
"But... can I ask? Am I the one you love most out of all the ones you've fallen for?"
Mo Chen: "…"
I've been tricked!