The chapter begins with Miho and Erika lost in an unfamiliar port.
The Oarai girls explain how this came to happen. Momo says that there are times when two ships must go to the same port of call at once (incidentally, Black Forest's ship can't dock in Kumamoto), and Yuzu says it's awkward.
Saori hopes to meet some guys from Black Forest, since she didn't have the chance in the finals, but Hana reminds her that Black Forest is specifically a girls' school (a fact some fanfic writers seem to miss). Yukari hopes for a passionate tank talk with their former opponents, and Mako easily guesses that this is what she wants.
Anzu tells the others not to cause trouble for the other school, because it would cause problems for her, and they agree. Yukari turns to Miho, asking if she wants to visit her sister, but Miho isn't there. Incidentally, it might be nice to see more of the Nishizumi sisters together in the anime, even if they are at separate schools.
Miho follows Erika, who, in a somewhat restrained tone for her, asks her to stop following her. Miho says that she left her phone behind and asks for Erika's phone. Erika's annoyed with Miho's mistake and is about to comply, but realizes that she's lost hers.
The scene cuts to Maho, who notices that Erika's not picking up, and Koume finds Erika's phone in her bag.
Incidentally, in How NOT to Write a Novel, it is said that the advent of the cell phone rendered many plots obsolete. It offers several possibilities, among them having characters lose their cell phones, but warns that they can possibly be contrived.
Erika, while bemoaning her misfortune, denies having a phone to begin with apparently to avoid having to admit to losing it. She then points Miho to a phone booth, not hearing Miho's saying that it's card operated until she notices it herself. Not possessing a card and unable to buy one, the two girls head toward the ships by looking at them in the distance, with Erika saying that their size and visibility is the only good thing about them.
Before they go, Miho stops by a store to buy another Bokoare-guma, specifically a model that hasn't made it to Oarai yet, and she cheerfully admits that it's the reason why she was separated from the others. Erika knows all too well how much Miho likes those, but still doesn't get it, upsetting Miho.
Miho asks Erika how she got lost, addressing her by name for the first time. In a flashback, Erika, after getting an e-mail on her cell phone, informs Maho that the matter has been settled. She accidentally drops the cell phone in Koume's bag and falls asleep, resulting in her sleeping through their stop and being left behind. Miho asking her about the latter detail infuriates her enough to almost want to leave her behind, and she almost gets lost in a crowd while distracted by the cell phone.
Meanwhile, Oarai has noticed Miho is gone and started to look for her, finding her cell phone. Momo complains that Miho getting lost first is "clear evidence of a slacking off"; it's odd for her to associate laziness with getting lost, unless it's a translation mistake. As Duck Team searches for Miho, they run into the crew of the Maus.
Erika and Miho stop in a cafe, and asks if she didn't drop her bag. Erika is amazed that a commander who won the nationals could get lost in such a way, but Miho points out that her comrades also helped. Erika sarcastically points out that Miho has good camaraderie at Oarai, and accuses her of leaving behind her previous comrades at Oarai, catching Miho off guard for a moment. I personally have to wonder whether Miho enjoyed Black Forest to some extent; she was able to go to the same school as her sister, and may well have had friends there.
Miho, however, becomes decisive and counters that Oarai is special, but while she's unable to say anything more, Erika drops the argument, given that they're in a hurry, so she orders a macaron for her. Erika, with a smile, admits that Miho has become quite something.
As the waitress arrives, Erika asks about the gift Maho got, and Miho is amazed that her sister liked it.
An explosive situation is brewing between Oarai and Black Forest, with the latter's crews seeking to settle their grudges with the ones who took them out (even if the Panzer III doesn't know who did them in). Maho tries to calm them down and turns to Yukari, asking where Miho is (oddly enough, correcting herself to call Miho "your commander.") As Yukari begins to answer, Miho and Erika return, hand in hand, with Erika immediately breaking off holding hands, saying it was only so Miho could get back safely. As Erika returns, she gets gift from Miho.
All in all, this is an interesting and humanizing look at Erika, although the characters (even apart from Erika) are a bit hard on Miho. I'd like to see more of post-anime Erika.
An omake follows, showing gender-swapped versions of many of the cast, and a large Katyusha holding a tiny Nonna.
Next Installment: Yukari prepares for a day out with Miho.
