Z23

Whilst on your way to work one morning, Z23 intercepts you with a face like thunder. She stomps her way up to you, her cheeks puffed out. "Ah! There you are!" She gives you a prod on the arm, maintaining her pout. "What time do you call this, Commander?"

Z23 tries to maintain a stern expression, but she gives up and lets out a small sigh, drooping her head slightly. "What am I going to do with you..."

Z23 is trying to focus on her work behind her desk, but she can't help but notice your gaze out the corner of her eye. She makes eye contact for a moment before quickly looking away with a slight blush. She tries to continue working, but her mind is now elsewhere. After a few moments of trying and failing to work, she lets out a little sigh and looks up at you.

"Commander, why are you staring at me?" Your reply catches her off guard, and she can't help but blush, stumbling over her words a little. "You think I'm pretty when I look serious? I-Idiot! Go do your own work..."

Off to the side of the stacks of paperwork on your desk sits a small brown box, laced in a pink ribbon. The label is written in delicate handwriting and is signed by Z23. It reads:

"Your hard work is always appreciated. Please enjoy these chocolates."

Since you were both working overtime late into the night, she never got a good opportunity to give it to you directly before she went to sleep on the office couch. She rolls over slight, still sound asleep.

Enjoying some rare time off, Z23 heads to the beach along with a few other shipgirls and yourself. All of the shipgirls are wearing their summer swimsuits, including Z23, who is wearing a delicate black and red bikini. Before long, the shipgirls are enjoying a game of volleyball on the warm sand. With a lunge forwards, Z23 manages to keep the volleyball in the air, although it careens off of the makeshift pitch and directly towards you.

"Oops! Look out, Commander...! Oh, nice catch. Sorry about that. I bounced the ball at an odd angle, haha...."

Z23 finishes helping you sort through a hefty pile of papers, setting them neatly to the side. All the while, she noticed how your eyelids would occasionally droop or your head would rock forwards for a brief moment. She lets out a little sigh and moves the papers to the edge of the desk.

"You're a bit tired, aren't you Commander? Very well. Getting rest is important." She gives you a faint smile, but she can see in your eyes what she knows is going to come out of your mouth in but a moments time. "Y-You want a lap pillow, don't you? I-I guess it's fine... just for a little while..."

Z23 nervously waits for you outside the banquet hall. She looks down at her black dress and white thigh highs, quite a change from her usual uniform and something that she is rarely seen in. Fidgeting with the hem of her dress, she can't help but feel a little nervous at being seen like this. Her cheeks heat a little once she lays eyes on you.

"Ah! C-Commander! Aha, fancy seeing you here... I was just looking for Javelin and Ayanami, but would you like to keep me company for a bit?"

She struggles to maintain eye contact, subtly giving away that she has more to say. Alas, the words slip from her mouth in a jumbled mess.

"Erm, well, Commander... I don't usually think about things like this but, you know, tonight... I'm wondering... Commander, when I'm all dressed up like this, do you think I'm... well... pretty?"

It's a cold, winters day, with snow forming a thin veil of white over the port. Z23 is enjoying one of her rare days off, relaxing in a simple black tank top and a pair of loose shorts. She snuggles into her beanbag by the window, holding a warm mug of hot chocolate between her hands. It's a serene day and the only thing she wants to do is relax, which is why the ringing of her doorbell makes her grumble a little.

Z23 makes her way over to the door, still holding the warm mug between her hands, and slowly unlocks it.

"Commander? What brings you here?"

The cold winter air hits the bare skin of her arms, midriff and legs, which is when she remembers that she is just in some simple comfort clothes. She blushes slightly and hides behind the door a little, waiting for your answer.