KanColle X Devil May Cry: Devil Trigger Protocol

Devil May Cry Naval Base, Command Office

Lately, something gnawed at Dante: Haguro's behavior. Whenever they crossed paths, she'd stammer "Sorry!" and flee. Being dodged for no clear reason stung, even for him.

"Bad luck with women follows me here too, huh?" he muttered.

The fleet girls were stunning, but trouble came with them.

Akagi, Mamiya, Akashi, and Kongou? No issues.

Kaga seemed to dislike him.

Houshou and Ooyodo nagged constantly.

Tenryuu was just loud.

Tatsuta and Kitakami's thoughts were a mystery at times.

Haguro ran from him.

The rest? Kids.

"(Better than a bullet to the head, I guess.) Let's build something."

Arsenal

"Admiral, what's up today?" Akashi greeted.

"Thinking of building one more," Dante said.

"Why not try development?" Akashi suggested.

"Strong weapons are wasted on rookies. They're not skilled enough yet." Dante shrugged. Plus, he hated the penguins that popped up from failed developments. "I'd make better use of 'em."

"That's what scares me," Akashi muttered.

Dante snorted, starting construction with high-speed materials.

"I'm Naka, the fleet's idol! Nice to meet ya!" a bubbly girl announced.

Dante blinked. Another weird one.

"Fleet idol? What's that?" he asked.

"Someone who makes everyone smile!" Naka beamed.

"Smiling deep-sea ships? Do we even need an idol?" Dante raised an eyebrow.

"Does the Admiral hate Naka-chan?" she pouted.

"Don't know you yet," he said flatly.

"Then I'll make you love me!" Naka declared.

"Uh, sure. Akashi, handle this." Dante bolted.

Akashi smirked at his flustered retreat.

Later, strolling the base, Dante spotted Haguro.

"S-Sorry!" she yelped, darting off.

"Hey, why're you running?" Dante called, chasing her.

"Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!" Haguro sprinted, near tears.

"Why're you running?!" Dante, effortlessly keeping pace, used his Trickster ability to teleport ahead, catching her.

"Why're you chasing me?" Haguro whimpered.

"Why're you running? Spill it," Dante pressed.

"What's going on, Admiral?" Kongou appeared, mid-tea break. After hearing the story, she clapped. "Tea time together! Share tea, get friendly, desu!"

"Not a bad idea," Dante agreed.

Haguro, swept by the mood, reluctantly joined.

"So, why dodge me?" Dante asked.

"I-It's just... Sorry!" Haguro squeaked.

"Admiral, be gentler with girls!" Kongou scolded.

"Alright, why do you avoid me, Haguro?" Dante softened his tone, leaning closer.

"I-I... Um..." Haguro blushed furiously.

"Something's off here," Kongou muttered.

Ooyodo arrived. "Admiral, I need you to review documents in the office."

"Got it. You two enjoy tea," Dante said, leaving.

Kongou turned to Haguro. "Why run from the Admiral?"

"I get nervous... and he's kinda scary," Haguro admitted.

"No worries! I haven't been here long, but I know the Admiral's kind," Kongou said.

"How?" Haguro asked.

"A mean guy wouldn't chase you down to understand why," Kongou smiled.

Command Office

"What's this? 'Naval Review'?" Dante asked, eyeing the papers.

"Yes. A meeting with other admirals, including the review's planning, is set for three days from now at Naval Command. You're summoned," Ooyodo explained.

"Pass," Dante said.

"Why?!" Ooyodo exclaimed.

"Smells like a hassle."

"It's a direct order from the Marshal. Disobey, and you'll face a court-martial."

"Jail sounds like a nice nap spot," Dante quipped.

"And wear the dress uniform," Ooyodo added.

"That white thing? No way," Dante groaned.

"No admiral attends in casual clothes!" Ooyodo insisted.

"This is my dress uniform," Dante shot back.

Three Days Later, Morning, Command Office

Kaga stood like a sentinel at the door, arms crossed, ensuring Dante couldn't slip away. Inside, Ooyodo and Houshou grilled him.

"Where's the dress uniform?" Ooyodo demanded.

"Dunno," Dante shrugged.

"It was laid out last night," Houshou pressed.

"Didn't see it," Dante lied.

Akagi, there to accompany him, munched on rice balls, watching the drama unfold.

"We're out of time," Ooyodo sighed.

"No choice. Go as is. Akagi, keep him in line," Houshou said.

"On it," Akagi nodded.

As they moved to leave, Kaga blocked the door. "Don't embarrass Akagi," she warned.

"I'll try," Dante said.

As they left, Akagi noticed a white uniform sleeve poking from Cerberus's mouth at the gate but said nothing.

Naval Command

The conference room buzzed with the Marshal, admirals, and naval officers. Behind each admiral stood their secretary ship.

"(Where's Dante? He's late,)" the Marshal muttered.

Some suggested starting without him, but as the main focus, his absence stalled proceedings. Finally, Yamato, the Marshal's secretary, entered.

"Admiral Dante of Devil May Cry Naval Base has arrived," she announced.

Dante, in his red coat, strode in with Akagi.

"Sorry for the delay," Akagi apologized on his behalf.

"About time, Admiral Dante. Take a seat," the Marshal said.

Dante sat, Akagi behind him. Yamato stood by the Marshal. Curious and jealous eyes fixed on Dante. His reputation as a demon-hunter preceded him, especially after resolving the frozen village incident. Some admired his rumored prowess; others resented his swift rise to admiral, suspecting favoritism or bribes.

"You're late. What held you up?" the Marshal asked.

"Traffic," Dante said.

"And the uniform?" the Marshal pressed.

"Dog ate it," Dante quipped.

Jealous officers scoffed at his casual attire and attitude, galled that the Marshal tolerated it.

"Let me introduce Admiral Dante, head of the new Devil May Cry Naval Base," the Marshal announced.

Grumbles erupted. "Why him?" "He's a kid!" "How'd he buy his rank?" "Is the Marshal coerced?"

The Marshal rubbed his temples, exasperated by his petty subordinates. A burly, bearded officer a renowned Navy brawler, rank Admiral spoke up.

"Hold it. This guy solved the village incident. He takes down demons the Navy, Army, and MPs wouldn't touch. Got complaints? Fight him and win. Then talk."

Silence fell. The Marshal added, "Dante's a specialist in demon cases, serving as our ally. Want him out? Handle demons yourselves."

No one spoke.

"Enough. Get to the point. I'm busy," Dante said.

"Right. The Naval Review will be hosted at Devil May Cry Naval Base to unveil your fleet. Prepare thoroughly," the Marshal said.

"Prepare what?" Dante asked.

"We'll cover that post-meeting," the Marshal replied.

The meeting droned on with reports and deep-sea ship intel. Dante napped, nudged awake by Akagi, ignoring every word.

Post-meeting, only Dante, Akagi, the Marshal, Yamato, and the burly Admiral remained. The Marshal explained the review.

"So, a Navy-sponsored party?" Dante summed up.

"Close enough. VIPs attend, MPs handle security. You plan and execute the events," the Marshal said.

"Got it. I know how to entertain," Dante grinned.

"Akagi, coordinate with Houshou and others," the Marshal instructed.

"For the First Carrier's pride," Akagi vowed.

"Later, old man," Dante said, leaving.

"Looking forward to it, kid," the Admiral called.

"Yamato, about that date—" Dante started.

"Get out!" the Marshal roared.

Akagi dragged Dante away.

"(///)" Yamato flushed.

"Interesting guy you found, Father," the Admiral said.

"He's a headache," the Marshal sighed.

"My sons could use his guts," the Admiral mused.

"My grandson won't be that reckless! I opposed his Navy enlistment!" the Marshal snapped.

"My family's a military line. Accept it," the Admiral, his son, replied.

Next Day, Devil May Cry Naval Base, Meeting Room

The fleet planned the review, Ooyodo leading. "We'll showcase fleet navigation at the training grounds and an airshow with carrier planes," she outlined.

"Japan loves festivals. Add stalls," Dante suggested.

"But we're stretched thin," Ooyodo said.

"General public can attend, right?" Dante asked.

"Possibly," Ooyodo replied.

"Then get locals to help," Dante said.

The girls's flyer incident had built rapport with residents through odd jobs. Dante proposed they run stalls like a festival vendors.

"Won't that burden them?" Houshou worried.

"They'll say yes if you ask. Next!" Dante waved off.

"Naka-chan wants to sing and dance on stage!" Naka chirped.

"Nice. Who else?" Dante asked.

A surprising hand rose. "Kaga?" Dante gaped.

"(///)" Kaga blushed, Akagi grinning beside her.

"You sing?" Dante asked.

"I have a song," Kaga mumbled.

"Title?" Dante pressed.

"'Kaga Misaki,'" Kaga whispered.

"No way," Dante said, stunned.

"(///)" Kaga nodded.

"Alright, do it!" Dante laughed.

"I'm closing," Dante declared.

"You?!" Ooyodo gasped.

"Gotta end with a bang," Dante grinned.

"So, stage is Naka, Kaga, and the Admiral. Akashi, handle stage materials," Ooyodo instructed.

"On it," Akashi said.

"I'll manage scheduling," Ooyodo added.

"Knock it out," Dante said.

Preparations began.

Ooyodo drafted schedules, Akashi sourced materials. The girls canvassed the town, securing residents' eager help. Fairies built a specialized drone platform. Rehearsals mixed naval drills with stage practice.

"Kitakawa, triple axel there!" Dante called during a drill.

"Fleets don't spin!" Kitakami snapped.

"Admiral, you're in the way!" Tenryuu barked.

Stage rehearsals hummed with song.

Naval Review Day

The base bustled with stalls. Houshou and Mamiya ran shops, idle girls pitched in, serving guests. Tenryuu and Tatsuta patrolled with MPs.

"Quite the turnout," the Admiral noted.

"The President's here. I just want it to end smoothly," the Marshal sighed.

"Locals helping? Bold move," Yamato said.

VIPs, officers, and civilians packed the base, lively and festive.

At the training field, the fleet's ships paraded, shifting formations. Akagi's planes soared in formation, joined by blank cannon fire, thrilling the crowd. The Marshal and Admiral nodded approval.

The stage opened with Naka. "First Love Torpedo Squadron!" Her songs—"Love's 2-4-5"—electrified the audience.

Next, Kaga's* "Kaga Misaki" hushed the crowd, her voice by the sea.

Then, Dante. Wielding Nevanion, he blasted hard rock, shredding the mood. Overzealous, he swung Nevanion, wrecking stage props. Akashi, Kaga, and Naka tackled him offstage.

"Bwahahaha! That guy's a riot!" the Admiral roared.

The Admiral laughed, but the Marshal paled, sweat pouring. Yamazaki smiled wryly. The crowd sat stunned.

Minor hiccups aside, the review concluded successfully.

That Night

"Cheers!" the fleet and girls toasted at the afterparty.

"Admiral, why'd you go nuts?! Those props were expensive!" Akashi fumed.

"Kaga, your stage was amazing!" Akagi praised.

"Thank you," Kaga said softly.

"No weirdos crashed, nice," Tenryuu said.

"Yep," Tatsuta agreed.

Food, drinks, and chatter flowed until an uninvited guest appeared.

"Hellooo!"