Takao

Takao lets out a soft giggle at your off-the-cuff quip, covering her mouth with her hand. Lately she has found herself thoroughly enjoying your company and she looks forward to the next time she can see you, even if it is just at work.

"Commander, I think you may want to watch that mouth of yours~" She returns in a joking tone. The two of you walk along the coast together having spent a day in each other's company. Takao is reluctant to call it a 'date', but the more she thinks about it, the more she accepts it. Strangely, she finds herself wanting more. More time together. A longer path home, just to prolong your 'date'.

Despite dusk approaching, Takao is still down in the courtyard, immersed in her training. Having caught brief glimpses of you from the corner of her eye, she knows you're watching on but tries to not let this distract her. Regardless, one slight wander of the mind results in her striking the training dummy too hard, slicing it clean in half. "Tch... That was careless of me," Takao murmurs aloud, sheathing her katana as she goes to pick up the top half of the dummy from the floor. "My form slipped. This is unacceptable."

Takao sets the dummy down on top of a box and leans against it, taking a moment to catch her breath. She catches you out the corner of her eye again, although much closer than she expected. "Commander! I—apologies, I didn’t see you there... I-I mean, I knew you were there, but..." She blushes slightly, looking at the ruined dummy before her. "Please do not misunderstand. This wasn't me showing off. That would be... unbecoming."

Takao holds up the Race Queen outfit in front of her, eyeing it up with obvious discontent. It's nothing but a pair of tights and a black leotard that would barely contain her chest. A blush rises on Takao's cheeks at the thought of wearing it, especially for a promotional shoot like you asked. "C-Commander..." she begins, shooting you a glance. "This is such shameless attire. Are you sure you want me to wear this?"

The actual promotional shoot wasn't until next week which makes her even more hesitant, but Takao appreciates that any adjustments to the outfit will take time, even if there isn't much material there to adjust. "...Th-this... this is absurd. I fail to see how this... 'outfit', contributes to morale..." Takao mumbles with a bright blush on her cheeks. Her eyes linger on the low neckline of the outfit as she holds it up against herself, almost burning with embarassment. "A-Alright! I... I need a moment to change," she relents, failing to meet your eyes as she asks for a moment of privacy.

Sitting on the sand with her legs tucked beneath her, Takao is happy to simply admire the beautiful weather. Her hands idly toy with a beach ball as she watches a group of shipgirls set up a game of volleyball on the sand. The whole scene is a breath of fresh air for her, from the warm sun to you lying on the sand beside her. Even her swimsuit - a simple, white one piece that would usually make her blush - has little impact on her mood.

"This weather is divine, don't you think?" Takao asks, holding the beach ball in her lap as she looks down at you with a fond smile. "Everyone seems to be having fun... And even I... am not thinking about training right now~" Takao smiles, a warm and genuine smile as the gentle sea breeze lightly plays with her ponytail.

Takao shoots Atago a glance, wondering what devious plans she has brewing in her mind. Her sister has been acting strangely today: while it's not out of sorts for her to be flirty and suggestive, today has seen that been ramped up to the max. "Atago," she whispers, "Why are we at the Commander's office? Surely he will be working."

Atago had dragged her sister up to the Commander's office just in time for his lunch break and she had been particularly coy about why. Takao watches as her sister's hand lingers on the doorknob, a mischievous and naughty glint in her eyes that makes Takao's heart skip.

Having woken up early as usual, Takao prepares herself for a day at the port's academy. She dons the academy uniform - a black cropped shirt and black skirt, with black tights to match - and does her hair up in a ponytail before stepping out into the sunshine.

With Atago down at the training grounds today, Takao makes the journey to the academy by herself. With her bag tucked beneath her shoulder, it's quite a comfortable walk, despite most of it being uphill. As she walks her mind wanders, both to her schedule for the day at the academy and whether or not she'll see you there. She certainly hopes so...

The two of you walk slowly through the port gardens, lanterns casting a gentle glow over the stone paths. Takao keeps pace at your side, hands clasped behind her back, her expression calm at first glance. Still, every time your arms brush, her ears twitch faintly, and she grows more aware of each step. Eventually, she exhales quietly, slowing just enough to draw your attention. "Commander," she begins, "may I speak freely for a moment?" Her tone is polite, but there is a nervous edge beneath it.

She stops walking and turns to face you, eyes steady but cheeks faintly pink. "When I am with you like this," Takao continues, "my thoughts become… disordered." She lowers her gaze, embarrassed. "During battle, I know exactly what to do. But now, I find myself worrying about where to place my hands, or whether I am standing too close." Her ears flatten further before she speaks again. "It's frustrating... yet not unpleasant." She hesitates, then adds, "Please forgive me. I am still learning how to handle these feelings. But... I wish to continue walking with you."

The studio space is quieter than Takao expected, lights set low and equipment kept to a minimum. She stands near the backdrop in her fitted cream sweater and dark pencil skirt, smoothing the fabric at her waist as she checks her posture for the tenth time. The black tights and heels feel far removed from her usual uniform, and the unfamiliarity shows in the way she keeps her hands close, fingers lightly curled. Her long ponytail sways as she shifts her weight, glancing toward you with a careful, unsure look.

"Commander… this is only a small shoot, correct?" Takao asks softly, adjusting the ribbon in her hair. "Atago said I should treat it like training, but…" Her voice trails off as she notices you watching, ears twitching subtly beneath her hair. "P-please don’t stare so intently." She straightens anyway, cheeks warming. "If you guide me, I will do my best. I… trust your judgement."

Takao stands near the window, watching the port lights outside while idly holding a warm mug between her hands. The sweater hugs her frame comfortably and she leans forward against the window sill with an ease she wouldn’t show anywhere else. Her ponytail hangs loose over one shoulder and she absentmindedly smooths it down as if grounding herself in the moment.

"Commander," she says softly, looking over her shoulder at you while leaning forwards against the window, "thank you for inviting me to stay." Her cheeks colour faintly as she turns her attention back out of the window, hoping you don't notice their tint. "I know I visit often… yet you always make me feel welcome. That... makes me happy." She tucks her chin into her sweater, adorably bashful even here.

Takao stands alone in her bedroom, the lights dimmed just enough to soften the reflection in the mirror. Her uniform jacket and skirt are folded neatly on her bed, leaving her standing there nude. Her phone is held carefully in one hand while the other smooths her ponytail, ears flicking as she adjusts her angle. The room is quiet except for her own breathing, steady but just a little faster than usual.

"...This is improper," she murmurs to herself, watching her reflection shift on the screen of her phone. Her thumb hovers, hesitating, before she exhales softly. "But the Commander asked for a picture..." She tilts the phone slightly, cheeks warming as she catches the way the mirror frames her figure. She covers herself up with only her arms, her figure displayed alluring in the photo. "Just one," Takao tells herself firmly. The camera snaps and she sends the photo over Juustagram, her cheeks burning hot as she waits for you to open it. Did she really just do that? With no clothes on at all?!