Chapter 22
Subashiri Police Koban, Subashiri, Oyama, Sunto District, Shizuoka
May 13, 2013
10:50 A.M.
Ikeda Kurumi
Colonel Kanda, commander of the 13th Infantry Regiment, sat by his lonesome at the other side of the reorganized tables. Sitting on the other side of the table was me, my daughter Ao sitting on my lap, my boyfriend Ichigo to my right, Father to Ichigo’s right, and Ran to my left. And in the middle of the table sat a pile of blank papers.
Behind us stood Mama, Papa, Mrs. Taro and Mother. Behind Colonel Kanda stood Major Suzumoto and two lower ranking members of the Self Defense Forces, one of them with a radio set by his feet.
Colonel Kanda was a white haired man as tall as Father…and that was where any comparison with Father ends. Colonel Kanda was broad shouldered, with arm muscles that hint at a body that can snap Father’s lean body in half with a hug. And his face was that of a sumo wrestler. Chubby yet intimidating at the same time to civilians who aren’t acquainted with him.
Thus it was fortunate that the entire Ohta family is acquainted with him via several ways. There was the welcoming party, when Father presented us to the members of the 13th Infantry Regiment and their dependents. There was Ichigo and Mother seeing Colonel Kanda every weekend, due to the community outreach effort by the 13th Infantry Regiment that consists of letting civilians freely use their gym for jukendo practice every weekend morning. And there was me and Ao meeting him or his wife, or both, at the nearest convenience store roughly once every three visits because both of us are patrons of said store.
“What do you plan to do now after being discharged from the Self Defense Forces, Ohta?” Colonel Kanda asked in a sincerely caring manner.
“Sir…I plan…to akmp…my family...sir.”
“Ah. Of course, why did I think otherwise? So you will stick around with the…civilian contractors?”
Colonel Kanda’s face expressed naked displeasure when he uttered the last two words, which made me worry for Ao.
“My grand…daughter…will be…one of…the contcrs. Of course…I will…stay with…family.”
“Yes. Ao…Ohta, don’t you find this situation with your granddaughter ridiculous? Ao is only four years old.”
“I do…sir. But if…my son…dor in…law and…grand…daughter…have known…bounties…on their…heads. We have…no choice.”
“Bounties? What bounties?”
Major Suzumoto leaned over to Colonel Kanda’s ear and started to whisper something for quite some time.
‘Wait a minute. Did I tell Major Suzumoto about the bounties?’
After a few moments of thought, I turned towards Ran.
“Ran, did you tell Major Suzumoto about the bounties on our heads?”
“I did earlier this day Ms. Kurumi,” Ran confessed immediately. “Why?”
“…oh. Nothing. Just curious.”
I turned back towards Colonel Kanda, to see him with an outraged look on his face as Major Suzumoto stepped back into standing in place behind the Colonel.
“They dare? They dare go for our dependents? In our faces while we are shooting at them, and actually declare multibillion yen rewards per head?” Colonel Kanda said in a disbelieving, outraged tone of voice while looking at us.
“If we…are to…believe…enemy sdrs…who tried…to slay…my fam…yes sir,” Father sternly said.
“Well now. Well now. I can’t think of anything more…motivating for us in the Self Defense Forces than that piece of stupidity.”
“Colonel Kanda, may I offer my insight regarding the bounties?” Ichigo suddenly asked.
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Subashiri Police Koban, Subashiri, Oyama, Sunto District, Shizuoka
May 13, 2013
10:51 A.M.
Ohta Ichigo
“Alright. Speak up Ichigo,” Colonel Kanda replied with a very favorable tone of voice. “You must have more information to provide, since you and your family are the targets.”
“It is more likely that it is only my family that will have special…attention from the Lighteaters. According to my daughter and from what those Skinchanger nobles who tried to attack us yesterday said, we have apparently gained the enmity of a very rich and important family in Lighteater society by being caught on footage contributing to the death of one of their members. Everyone else’s families should…be in safer conditions than the one mine is currently under.”
Several seconds passed before Colonel Kanda made a comment.
“...sensible. But that attempted execution of your family in your own house is very worrying for those of us who still have families.”
‘Who still have families?! Is that...’
I winced at the implication, and gingerly asked about his own family’s status.
“My son is unhurt, he’s living with his girlfriend in their shared apartment in Nagano since March. But my wife…I’m eager to pay these invaders back for my wife’s amputated fingers. But not as eager as...those I had to convince.”
‘Convince? You’re the commanding officer of an Infantry Regiment. A thousand men more or less when it is at full strength. Since when did you have to convince anyone?’
A moment later, I felt horrified by the follow up thought.
‘Who did you have to convince? And what did you have to convince them into?’
Behind him, Major Suzumoto was also staring with wide eyes at Colonel Kanda, probably because he noticed the same thing as I did.
“But I digress. Ichigo, can you assure us that these Lighteaters won’t prosecute our families if they win this war, for the sin of being the families of former soldiers?”
“I…I can’t,” I replied in a distracted manner, still out of sorts at the realization Colonel Kanda almost had a mutiny happen in the 13th.
“Then there you have it Ichigo. There is no use trying to calm those of us in the 13th who still have families. There is no available evidence they won’t take it out on our families after we surrender or die, or anyone else’s families if they were part of the resisting forces.”
By now, even the two privates that Major Suzumoto brought along from the forces around Mt. Fuji were starting to look troubled by what they were hearing.
“Look. Let’s move on to other topics. Under the latest instructions of the Ministry of Defense as of yesterday, and as the highest ranking officer of the Self Defense Forces in the area, I will sign this contract and validate all the requests that Suzumoto here told me came from the Ohta family.”
I nodded while eagerly waiting for Colonel Kanda’s next words, which I felt must be the condition for him to sign the contract.
“In return the Ministry of Defense insists that Ao must start following military law from the moment that she signs the contract.“
‘Wait. Ao will what? Where's Mrs. Taro?’
That was the moment that Mrs. Taro made her presence known to Colonel Kanda.
“Pardon me Colonel. Taro Miyuki. Equal Employment, Children and Families Bureau of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. What is the Ministry of Defense’s justification for requiring a four year old child to follow military law in the process of working for the Self Defense Forces?”
Said Colonel spent several seconds looking at Mrs. Taro before he countered with his own very surprising question.
“Taro…are you the social worker who tore a hole in the Air Self Defense Forces chain of command last year?”
'...she did - oh stop digressing, you people!'
“Colonel, you and the people present are uninvolved parties in the case that you just referred to. Please refrain from discussing that case and answer my question. Why is Ikeda Ao supposed to start following military law?”
"Because the Ministry of Defense will sign this contract to hire Ikeda Ao’s services under the guidance of Article 36-2 of the Self Defense Force Act. The article which allows the Ministry of Defense to hire civilians, who possess highly specialized skills that the JSDF doesn’t possess, as JSDF members.”
“And if I presume correctly, the same demand would be made of Yamada Ran in her contract?" Mrs. Taro asked in a very skeptical manner.
"Yes, the same requirement would be insisted upon in Yamada Ran’s case. Do you have any further questions Ma’am?”
"I do. Have you and the Ministry of Defense been made aware of the contracts that I proposed to Major Suzumoto earlier this day? Ones that respect the spirit of several laws concerning minors?"
"The Ministry of Defense is unaware of it. And I didn't bother listening to it because there is no point. Article 36-2 of the Self Defense Forces Act is the only legally accepted method for the Self Defense Forces to hire civilians."
"I'm quite sure Article 36-2 was legislated with legal adults, and only legal adults, in mind," Mrs. Taro said while glaring at Major Suzumoto, whose only reaction was to give a shrug filled with helplessness.
"Mrs. Taro, in case you have forgotten Japan is at war. All civilians are expected to cooperate with the Self Defense Forces during wartime, so please stop interfering with the hiring process."
"Are you quoting 'Law concerning the Measures for Protection of the people in Armed Attack Situations etc.' of 2004 at me?"
'More commonly known as that Armed Attack Situations Law. Mrs. Taro, what's your game plan?'
"Yes Ma'am."
"Articles 4 and 173 to be specific?" Mrs. Taro said with a smug smile that appeared out of nowhere.
"...yes," Colonel Kanda said while giving Mrs. Taro a wary stare.
"Then narrate the contents of Articles 5 and 174."
Colonel Kanda’s wary stare turned into a blank one the instant after Mrs. Taro said those last few words. Behind him, the privates visibly looked like they wanted to get away from this room as fast as possible. And Major Suzumoto raised an eyebrow at Mrs. Taro's direction.
The room was silent for several seconds before my wife, of all people, broke the silence with a question.
“What does Article 5 and 174 of the…People Protection Law?”
“Armed Attack Situations Law,” I quickly corrected Kurumi.
“Thank you Ichigo. What does Article 5 and 174 of the Armed Attack Situations Law say?”
Mrs. Taro answered Kurumi without looking away from Colonel Kanda.
“Paragraph 1 says ‘When implementing civil protection measures, the people’s freedom and rights guaranteed by the Constitution shall be respected.’”
Colonel Kanda suddenly jumped into the conversation, in the manner of someone who is doing something to maintain an image.
“Paragraph 2 says ‘When implementing civil protection measures described in the preceding paragraph, if people’s freedom and rights are to be restricted, the restriction shall be limited to the minimum necessary for implementing the civil protection measures and executed by due process of the law. It shall not be discriminatory and shall not violate the freedom of thought and conscience and the freedom of expression.’ Mrs. Taro where are you going with this?”
“By making Ikeda Ao and Yamada Ran follow military law and making them JSDF members, the Self Defense Forces are violating the rights of said minors under Article 31 of the Japanese Constitution and Article 5 and 174 of the Armed Attack Situations Law.”
“Now wait just a minute here Mrs. Taro,” Major Suzumoto suddenly entered the so far two man conversation himself. “Article 31 of the Constitution is ‘No person shall be deprived of life or liberty, nor shall any other criminal penalty be imposed, except according to procedure established by law.’ How exactly are we depriving Ao and Ran of those rights, as well as tripping over Article 5 and 174?”
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Subashiri Police Koban, Subashiri, Oyama, Sunto District, Shizuoka
May 13, 2013
10:52 A.M.
Ikeda Kurumi
“Wait what?!” I suddenly yelled out. “Why is my daughter’s right to life and liberty suddenly being talked about here!”
“Because by invoking Article 31 I can quickly use the Juvenile Act of 1948 as a weapon. According to the Juvenile Act of 1948, the proper venue for minors who committed crimes is a family court or a child consultation center, not whatever place the JSDF uses to sentence erring Self Defense Forces members and the proper investigator of criminal minors are not the military police...never mind that one. Military police are still police. Anyways, the military police's theoretical findings on Ao and Ran are required by law to be passed on to a family court or a child consultation center, not the venue the Self Defense Forces uses for erring members."
"So you're basing your argument against making these girls follow military law on the phrases 'due process of the law' and 'according to procedure established by law'? Is that it?" Major Suzumoto asked in the manner of someone who had an enlightenment.
"That is one track I could use. Alternatively I could point out that minors are always tried according to civilian laws, and what military law and civilian law considers crimes would probably be extremely different. Whatever the Self Defense Forces try to charge Ao and Ran with will most probably end up getting dropped by every family court judge in the country. And a third – ”
"Your legal gymnastics is pointless, Mrs. Taro. The JSDF is exempted from many laws that apply to civilians, especially in the midst of a war. They will enter the ranks as JSDF members, and follow military laws, as laid out in Article 36-2 of the Self Defense Forces Act." Colonel Kanda interrupted in a self-assured manner.
"Oh? Let’s leave aside the third track and talk about Article 36-2 for now. Can the Self Defense Forces and the Ministry of Defense prove juveniles are also included in the lawmaker’s minds when Article 36-2 was legislated into being?”
Colonel Kanda’s smug face evaporated, leaving behind a face filled with doubt.
“Common sense would say juveniles weren’t included in the first place. So the idea of entering juveniles into the Self Defense Forces is illegal from the very first step.”
“What about the third track?” I asked Mrs. Taro, to make sure that Colonel Kanda finds every single opening to force to Ao enter the Self Defense Forces and start following military law blocked by the law itself.
“The third track is simple. Juveniles are mentally incapable of following military law.”
The only reason I didn’t snap out a response at the insult to my daughter’s intelligence was because I knew she was trying to save Ao from becoming a JSDF member at a very young age. Nevertheless, her statement earned her angry stares from me and Ran, who twisted to look at the woman beside her.
“Juveniles are…mentally incapable? Of following military law?” Colonel Kanda asked in a very skeptical manner.
“Yes. Any juvenile who theoretically becomes a JSDF member would be breaking military regulations left and right just by being a child doing children's activities, setting up a cycle of getting punished over and over for trying to learn how to interact with their fellow children and their family.”
“Is that still related to Article 31?” Major Suzumoto asked.
“Forcibly putting an unwilling someone into a government organization that is keenly aware said unwilling person will be unable to not break the organization’s rules endlessly would have any judge start crying foul against the organization in the name of justice if they were told to penalize said unwilling person.”
“…it seems we are at an impasse then. Because Article 36-2 is the only method allowed to the JSDF to hire civilians with specialized skills, and it is the method that I had been instructed to do so by the Ministry of Defense.”
“And yet applying Article 36-2 to these juveniles breaks the law in many ways. Look, it is obvious that you and the Self Defense Forces had become a victim of bureaucracy through no fault of its own. Use that radio behind you, call the Ministry of Defense and let me talk with Defense Minister Onodera.”
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It was now around twelve in the afternoon and Ran had, of her own volition, created beverage and food with magic so she could feed everyone in the Police Koban.
The beverage consisted of several pairs of yunomi, one filled with warm milk that had floating milk skins and the other filled with warm water, while food consisted of a platter each of inarizushi, nori flavored senbei, and hoshigaki. All of them refilled or restocked by Ran upon request.
Everyone, including Mrs. Taro who ate while negotiating with the Minister of Defense and exchanging texts with Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Tamura, ate and drank even up to the present moment when Mrs. Taro bade the minister farewell and put down the handset of the radio.
“Are you satisfied now?” Colonel Kanda asked with a glare after swallowing the hoshigaki he was chewing in his mouth.
“Somewhat.”
Mrs. Taro coughed, and then looked at our side of the table.
“Ao, Ran. Ichigo, Kurumi. Mr. and Mrs. Taro. Did you all understand the agreement I and Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Tamura had negotiated with Minister Onodera?”
As most of the mentioned, including me, answered in the affirmative I thought about the oral agreement Mrs. Taro had waged a hard fought negotiation over in the last hour or so.
Minister Onodera and Minister Tamura would jointly issue a Cabinet Order, declaring the formation of a group that is henceforth to be called the Special Skills Support Group.
The Special Skills Support Group would refer to the magically capable Japanese civilians and residents who are hired to support the JSDF because of the inapplicability of Article 36-2 to said civilians and residents, the appointed Self Defense Forces liaison through whom the Self Defense Forces would request magical support, the appointed observer from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare who would ensure that there are no violations of rights or contracts from either the side of the hired civilians and residents or the Self Defense Forces, and the appointed career diplomat from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who would negotiate with the residents that are in many ways above the law and are nations unto themselves.
The Special Skills Support Group shall be under the direct orders of the Prime Minister of Japan, and its every move will be closely supervised by the liaison, the observer and the diplomat from the three different Cabinet Ministries.
And the Special Skills Support Group shall offer magical support to the JSDF in every way the hired civilians and residents had agreed to in their contracts.
The first members of the Special Skills Support Group are my daughter, Ran, and Mrs. Taro, who would no longer be able to act as our family’s appointed social worker due to her new appointment as the observer of the Special Skills Support Group and thus will turn over our family to her subordinate, who is presently also in charge of Ran and Moe. As for the career diplomat, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would be informed of what happened by Minister Onodera and Minister Tamura as soon as the negotiation over the radio set ended while Colonel Kanda had been ordered by Minister Onodera to select the liaison from one of his subordinates.
As for the contracts…
“Alright. Since everyone understood the contracts, let’s start writing it on paper. Ran, if you would please?”
Ran asked everyone if they are full, and quickly got multiple replies that they aren’t.
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Subashiri Police Koban, Subashiri, Oyama, Sunto District, Shizuoka
May 13, 2013
12:34 P.M.
Ohta Ichigo
“Alright. If everyone is full, then I’m taking away the food and drinks. I, Yamada Ran of Gifu, will that the food and beverage I had made be replaced by paper and brush, and ink stick and ink stone.”
And just as she said, the platters and yunomi were instantly replaced by two pairs each of brush, ink stick, ink stone with water present, and two piles of paper without a sound.
“Alright. Ran, start writing what you remember you agreed to. Kurumi, Ichigo? Which of you two is going to write down Ao’s contract?”
“I’ll do it. I have some experience with calligraphy, and Kurumi is holding Ao,” I said with a raised finger.
Immediately after saying that I carefully dragged my half of the writing paraphernalia closer, took a piece of paper from the paper stack and laid it in front of me, and then started to grind the ink stick into the water filled ink stone.
Once the water had turned sufficiently black, I dipped the tip of the brush into the liquid and was about to start writing when all of a sudden Mrs. Taro stopped me.
“You have to write it in Ao’s words Ichigo. You writing for Ao feels awfully close to breaking Article 58, Paragraph 1 of the Labor Standards Act of 1947.”
“And that is?” I asked in a tired manner, mentally exhausted at hearing law after law being quoted left and right by multiple people in the span of just two hours.
“The person who has parental authority for, or is the legal guardian of the minor shall not make a labor contract in place of that said minor.”
I blinked, thought about it, and then turned towards my wife and daughter.
“Alright. You heard Mrs. Taro, Ao. Let's write down that contract in your own words.”
Ao nodded, and started reciting what she remembers.
“Ok Papa. Uh…I promise to help the JSDF until the contract ends five years from now. And I will help them by telling them the future. The JSDF will pay me for telling them the future by…putting two million yen every month into a bank account just for me, free checkups and treatment for Lolo and Lola and Papa and Mama and me in JSDF hospitals for the rest of our lives just by showing our ID…Papa, how do I say you are already accepted in JSDF College?”
"Wait a moment Ao, I'm still writing what you said earlier," I requested as I repeated the cycle of dipping my brush into the ink and then writing on the paper until the ink present in the brush tip runs out.
I finally finished with what Ao said earlier around two minutes later, and promptly told my daughter she could continue.
"Ok. Papa can enter the...National Defense Academy?"
"National Defense Academy," Kurumi said in a supportive manner.
"National Defense Academy as soon as he graduates high school, without any entrance exam."
I was smiling as I wrote that down, ecstatic at the idea of a guaranteed open slot in the National Defense Academy waiting for me.
“And Mama…I'm still confused about the part with Mama after graduating high school."
"Mama will get an apprenticeship," I clarified, figuring out her difficulty in understanding was because of a new word she has never encountered before. “It’s the oldest kind of education, where your teacher teaches you personally how to do a job.”
Defense Minister Onodera wasn't happy at finding out Kurumi's post high school plan involves home economics and the Open University of Japan. He quickly started advertising the benefits of being an officer straight out of graduating the National Defense Academy to a very uninterested Kurumi.
At a guess, Minister Onodera was either trying to be cheap by making Kurumi go to the same college as me, or he saw an opportunity to get two future officers for the Self Defense Forces in one move.
Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Tamura came to the rescue by saying he will find her a part-time apprenticeship by matching her up with any professional in the fashion or culinary industry looking for an apprentice that the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare knows of, with the conditional that Kurumi must be enrolled in and promise to graduate the Living and Welfare course of the Open University of Japan's Liberal Arts Department.
When Minister Onodera challenged Minister Tamura on doing something that infringes on the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Minister Tamura said he isn't forcing any culinary or fashion professional to accept Kurumi. He repeated that he was matching up Kurumi and any of those professionals, and even claimed doing so is within his Ministry's jurisdiction by helping fill up a labor shortage.
“Like a martial arts sensei?” Ao asked.
“Exactly like a martial arts sensei, but not in the martial arts,” Kurumi said with a mix of happiness and…embarrassment?
‘What’s embarrassing you Kurumi?’
“Ok. Mama gets a cooking or sewing arts sensei, while in college at the same time,” Ao stated, which made Kurumi blush.
‘Ah. It’s the professionals she must be embarrassed about. She had just been told she can ask for a part time apprenticeship with the best in Japan in the sewing or cooking industry, and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare will make it happen.’
When I finally finished writing the last sentence Ao had just said, I looked up and informed Mrs. Taro that I was finished.
She looked up from examining Ran’s paper, and told me to lay it down on the table so she could inspect it.
Around two minutes later, she was done inspecting Ao’s contract.
“Alright. Everything seems to be in order. It’s now time to sign the contract paper. Ao, do you know how to write your name?”
Ao shook her head while Kurumi explained that Ao doesn’t know how to write with a brush.
“Well...alright. Let’s do it this way. Ao, I want your right hand’s fingerprints on the lower half of the contract paper, away from the written words. I’ll take care of the rest.”
“Are you sure that is legally acceptable, Mrs. Taro?” I asked.
“Probably. In the end what I’m after is proving that Ao knows about this and gave her consent. Fingerprints are probably acceptable.”
After receiving that explanation, I went and helped Ao put her fingerprints on the paper. Once she was finished and a minute or so was allowed to pass so that the ink would dry, Mrs. Taro took Ao's contract and quickly asked Ran to make four copies each of her and Ao's contract.
Within moments Mrs. Taro handed me Ao's original contract and a copy of it.
"Same as what Colonel Goto said earlier with your father's medical discharge. Don't lose these."
"Yes Ma'am," I said as I took the contracts from her hands.
"Alright! There is a contract. Can I now give a request, Mrs. Taro?" Colonel Kanda asked with a very relieved look on his face.
"Just this once. You really need to appoint a liaison."
"Liaison? Sure...Suzumoto!"
"Yes sir!" Major Suzumoto responded.
"You're now the liaison to the Special Skills Support Group. I'll have other people take over your work."
"T-thank you sir!" Major Suzumoto said in a very flustered tone.
'Probably because he's not sure about leaving his work to others.'
"Alright. May I request knowledge of what the magical aliens are planning now?"
"Ok!" Ao chirped and then closed her eyes with a smile.
Several moments later the smile disappeared.
"That is a lot of people being told to attack us now."