Rising Rays of the New Century: Tale of the Japanese Empire

The Golden Banquet and the Awakening of Fusō

Kanata Yadoya's Monologue

Originally, I had been a soccer player since elementary school. When I entered junior high school, I managed to get into one that had a soccer club, which is rare nowadays. In my third year of junior high school, I was a candidate for the National Athletic Meet, but one day I stopped playing for good.

The trigger was a meniscus injury. The doctor suggested regenerative surgery using iPS cell transplantation, but I turned it down because I had no intention of becoming a professional player when I failed to make it to the youth team.

However, there were times when I regretted my choice, and I went on to high school with a sense of emptiness in my heart. I thought that at least I could spend my time peacefully, and I became interested in astronomy which I had loved since I was a child alongside soccer. However, my high school life, far from being peaceful, became thrilling and so turbulent to the point that I feared for my life.

It all started when I met an "Ice Queen" in that classroom. Meeting her was the beginning of my crazy high school life.

. . . . .

. . .

.

Around Yokosuka Imperial Navy Facility

Time goes back to a short time ago. After finishing their diversion at the park, Yadoya, Koba, and Hagane were on their way home in a rented car. The driver's seat was occupied by the license holder, Yadoya, while Koba was in the passenger seat and Hagane was in the back seat. The age for obtaining a regular driver's license in this country has been lowered from 18 to 16 due to the advancement of fully automated driving technology.

They were now driving in the outer garden of the Yokosuka Imperial Navy Facility. This is the port from which the United States Forces Japan withdrew when the Japan-US Security Treaty ended in 2042, and which is now the home port of the flying battleship Fusō and the nuclear fusion-powered aircraft carrier Shōkaku. The site is rather small compared to the USFJ era, as most of the commercial facilities were closed down following the seizure by the Japanese government, and the location of the main gate has also changed.

Their car was approaching the main gate.

"...Huh?"

Yadoya in the driver's seat was the first to notice something unusual. He noticed a fight at the main gate.

"...Demi-humans!"

A clash between a group of demi-humans and Imperial Navy soldiers was taking place at the wrecked main gate. Security androids were in scrums, with naval patrols forming a position behind them with shields. The androids and the security system were working together to deploy a large shock-absorbing barrier to prevent attacks by the demi-humans, but the soldiers, which were unable to launch an aggressive attack due to the proximity of the city, were greatly outmatched.

"...Are they from the Demi-Human Liberation Front!?"

"...I don't know! But... if we can get even the slightest clue!"

Yadoya and Koba nodded to each other silently. Then Yadoya, switching to manual operation, drove toward the main gate, which has turned into a battlefield.

"Hagane-chan! Sorry, but you have to duck!"

"R-right!"

Yadoya told Hagane to take cover. Then Koba unbuckled his seatbelt, rolled down the window, leaned out of the car and brought up his arms, letting his right arm be covered with magic power.