For one serious and one potentially joke reason. On the serious side, he was gonna smack Ikazuchi, which isn't the nicest thing to do. On the joking side, Wakaba (and this Wakaba in particular it seems) is portrayed as a masochist, and the Admiral does not allow her to indulge in her particular tastes by taking the blow for Ikazuchi. (Though I doubt the second possibility was the intended reason for adding it to the pool).
Yes, but intending to and actually do it is different
And hitting a girl is not automatically "Shitty"
Especially if you consider it corporal punishment for mouthing off to a superior officer. Especially when said officer is trying to explain to you that you're borderline suicidal and he doesn't want you dead.
Yes, but intending to and actually do it is different
And hitting a girl is not automatically "Shitty"
While I agree that hitting a girl isn't automatically shitty (like, as a girl, I actually find the idea super insulting and demeaning), but it is a bit different when you're an adult and the person you're hitting is a child. And, like, the way he raised his hand so high, it kinda looked like he was going to hit her at pretty high power. Even if you're her superior officer, she's still a child. There's a lot of argument regarding corporal punishment being used on children nowadays, so it's perfectly reasonable for that to be pool-worthy.
Also, I'm not sure what this difference is between doing something and just intending to do it. He was still intending to do it. He's saved from being labelled shitty just because somebody stopped him before he could? That's nonsense.
................Huh?The slap that wasn't....Oh, I see.
Being defiant, are we?If you want to hit someone, hit me instead!It's not just Ikazuchi's fault.
I'm at fault too. Ikazuchi!Thank you, Wakaba.....You have some excellent comrades, Ikazuchi.
Just don't do it again.You barely made it out alive!*hmph*I got a way to fix that!Are you listening to me!Wakaba?!Hold on, Admiral.