The triplets did not linger after the warehouse handoff, not because they did not want to see Aurelian's new companion, but because they had their own work waiting on them the moment they stepped back into Polaris traffic lanes, paperwork, inspections, academy scheduling, and the quiet politics that always followed anyone who suddenly became important.
Yelena was the first to look at the time and decide it was better to move before the wrong eyes noticed the group standing together in one place for too long, Mirei followed with a sigh and a lazy joke that tried to cover up her exhaustion, and Katsura gave Aurelian one last look before the three of them peeled away into the noise of the starport.
Aurelian watched them go, then turned his attention back to the task with a timer attached.
The heavy destroyer hull was secured, but "secured" did not mean "bonded," and he still needed to awaken the ship girl and contract her so that he could advance to rank II commander.
