I cannot judge how realistic the mechanism Sasakura experimentally has made is. His method, in which the power of the structure to support the intake air compression is directly generated by the rotation torque of the engine, sounds smart to me. But, I guess the problem lies in the durability of the turbine. The materials have to be able to endure severe conditions, and they have to be processed precisely. For example, turbochargers, the turbines of which are driven by pressure of the exhaust gas, work well for large-sized engines. However, the reality is that, for small-sized engines of fighter aircrafts, turbochargers are useless because they break down so frequently. The fuel consumption can be slightly less and the power can be increased by 30 percent. But, with the addition of the vulnerable mechanism, the overall weight of the aircraft will be increased and the maintainability will be decreased. There are just too many sacrifices this way. Machines such as airplanes cannot fly if it has just one defect. If it cannot fly, then all parts become equivalent to pieces of scrap iron. There would be no value to them. So, it is natural for us to aim for mechanical structures that are as simple as possible.
“What do you think?” Sasakura asks. His eyes look joyful.
“I have no idea.” I reply honestly.
“I think it is worth trying.”
“Umm ... Probably, you’re right. I gotta at least try.”
“May I put this into your aircraft?”
“What?” I look at his face. Then, I see his point. “But, the official permission is required, correct?”
“You must remember the variable valve limiter that I installed the other day. I secretly did that.” Sasakura grins.
“You did that without permission?”
“I still told you about that. I felt I had to at least do that to you.”
“Of course you have to do that.” I find myself burst into laughter. “If you do such a thing as you like, a pilot cannot stand that. That’s like conducting experiments on human subjects.”
“But as for this, we cannot even do an easy experiment on the ground.”
“I will fly the aircraft with the modification, if you get permission from Ms. Kusanagi and if you let me carry a parachute on my back. Still, I’m not quite crazy about willing to do so. It won’t explode, will it?”
“Probably.” Sasakura nods. “But it is impossible for me to get a permission from Ms. Kusanagi. If I can, I don’t hide it in such a place.”
“I think she will understand it if you explain it to her properly. Now might be the chance, considering the fact that we were bombed today.”
“I don’t think so.” Sasakura shakes his head, and sits down on the bed with authority. The bed springs make creaky noise. “She will definitely say she needs a permission from the headquarters. She always does so.”
“If so, why don’t you wait for the permission from the headquarters?”
“It takes no less than two months.”
“Why?”
“My guess is that it has to do with matters pertaining to patents or something like that.”
“Oh ...” I nod.
“Moreover, there is almost no chance of getting the permission granted.”
“How pessimistic of you.”
“I need to prepare many and many pages of bothersome documents. Before that, I have to make a drawing for the design.”
“What? Haven’t you made a drawing yet?”
“I have to make an analysis report, and attach graphs of experimental data. In addition, I need to ask a big-shot professor of a certain university to check the contents and to grant me a seal of approval. With only one element lacking in the process, no permission will be granted. I cannot help but regard the system as a bureaucratic nuisance. I am convinced that everyone is trying to annoy me on purpose.”
“Why does the system as the company adopt such a bothersome system?”
“I think they do so in order to avoid consuming budget, labor, and facilities on wasteful researches and development.”
“Yours isn’t a waste, you think?” I dare to ask. I look at Sasakura while smirking. “I guess, in fact, you have either the analysis report or the experimental data, don’t you?”
“Nothing at all.”
“Then, what makes yours any different? Where is the element of conviction?”
“I made it.” Sasakura states, while glaring at me. “It’s the most distinguished point of my craft.”
“Compared to what?”
“Compared to the case in which another person makes it.”
“In short, you are saying that you are a special person.”
“Of course, I am special.”
“Is it from the objective viewpoint?”
“If I tell you that I am saying this from the subjective viewpoint, then that makes me a fool. Do you think that I can say so?”
“Are you a genius?” I ask.
“Yes.”
For a few seconds, Sasakura keeps on glaring at me. After that, he looks down at the floor. Then he puts his both hands on the back of his head and lie down on the bed like the start of a backstroke swimmer. He is doing so in his dirty jumpsuit. I think I would not do it like that. But if he is a genius, then he can do that, I suppose.
-5-
The three aircrafts have returned to the airbase soon. My dear precious aircraft, whose engine is exposed without the cowling, is taxiing in front of the hangar. I am meeting and welcoming it. I think I should thank her. Kusanagi, who is getting out from the canopy onto the wing, is not even wearing a helmet. She is just wearing a flight suit over the uniform, and sunglasses on her face.
“Good condition.” Kusanagi comments, after approaching me without smiling at all.
“About the engine?” I ask.
She nods.
“It means Mr. Sasakura is a good mechanic.”
“The automatic breathing is for beginners, though.”
“Right ...” I nod. “But I can focus on other issues, thanks to that.”
I look back and find Sasakura looking at us from the shade of the hangar shutter. He is too far away from us to hear our conversation.
“Tokino is late.” Kusanagi murmurs while walking.
“He has not come back yet.” I answer while looking up at the sky.
The other two have already landed on the runway. The hangar for the two is located opposite to the office building across the runway. Besides, there are several backup hangars for emergency situations. They are used for hiding malfunctioned aircrafts.
“He must have landed somewhere else.” She clucks her tongue, while looking at her wristwatch.
An aircraft as small as Sanka can easily land on a straight, smooth road. Tokino is probably loitering around somewhere.
“Mr. Sasakura seems to be developing a new device.” I have just decided to talk to her about it.
“What kind?”
“Umm ..., it’s a turbocharger of some sort.” The reason for my mentioning this has to do with my expecting that she might have just decided to respect Sasakura’s craftspersonship after she has experienced the effectiveness of the automatic breathing system. Sasakura talked about this with me a moment ago to get me to do this. I also feel like I want to help him at least in this way.
“Again ...” Kusanagi sighs slightly.
“I suppose it might be worth trying.”
“We have no time for that.” Kusanagi replies after glancing at me.
Our conversation is over. After that, we are walking without words. While walking, Kusanagi takes off her gloves. I am walking behind her diagonally while maintaining a certain distance like a wingmate. Her legs protruding from her skirt are straight and look smooth. I am realizing that she is not an adult, after all. Strictly speaking, getting on an airplane in a skirt like she has just done violates the regulation. I wonder if such a strange regulation was formulated by males or females. Anyway, I know for sure that it was introduced by adults. Adhering to such trivial things is the characteristic, privilege, and responsibility of adults.
“Is there anything that you want to talk to me about?” After reaching the hangar, Kusanagi stops in front of Sasakura, and asks him.
“Huh?” Sasakura widens his eyes. He glances at me only for a moment. “No, nothing in particular ... I don’t have a special topic of discussion ... Umm, was the oil pressure okay?”
“Yeah.” Kusanagi nods. “As of now, the pressure has not been lowered. However, I am not sure yet because I did not shake it so much. If it is deemed okay after two more flights, I want you to do the same thing to the other three aircrafts as well.”
“What?” Sasakura asks. “Err, ma’am, about what?”
“Modifying the breathing mechanism.”
“Oh ..., yes ma’am.” Sasakura smiles, and then he brings a blush to his face.
How pure-minded this genius is. I am observing the two, while lighting a cigarette a little far away from them.
Kusanagi walks by Sasakura, and grabs the receiver of the intercom hanging on a wall. She faces the inner part of the hangar and stands with her shoulder leaning on the wall. She is standing tilted.
“This is Kusanagi ... Yes, connect to the manager.” While saying so, she looks back at us once. She seems to be smiling, although it might be my imagination. Sasakura is walking toward me, as if he wants to stay away from Kusanagi. “Yes ..., anyway, get the manager on the line and tell him that I am safe after the flight. What? I do not care about the meeting. Just do that ... Yes, tell him ...” She shuts her mouth again. She looks downward as if she is staring at her feet. Then, she looks back at us again. “Hey, don’t you have a cigarette?”