I could feel my simmering anger rising to a violent boil. It had been a while since I’d felt this mad; his oppressive, demeaning tone reminded me all too well of how my school teachers talked down to me in my own time. But this guy was somehow even more obnoxious. Accosting me angrily out of nowhere, and brandishing his weapon to intimidate me… I was scared, yes—but even more than that, I was downright furious.
“I could say the same to you, sir,” I spat back. “You come over here shouting in my face, and you won’t even tell me what I’ve done wrong? Are you on some sort of power kick? Or do you just think you can get away with abusing your authority because I’m a woman?”
I knew I was playing with fire by being this argumentative with him. One look at his reaction was enough to tell me I’d crossed the line.
“Don’t screw with me, damn you!” he said, raising his voice even higher as he gripped his baton tightly. “I heard exactly what you said! You said Japan’s already lost! That surrender would be for the best!”
“I did say that, yes,” I readily admitted. “And what about it? I’m entitled to my own opinion, aren’t I?”
“Wha… The nerve of you, woman! You traitorous scum!”
He grabbed me roughly by the arm, and my whole body seized up. As he raised his baton high over his head, I realized he was about to hit me. A beating from a large, angry man like this would probably do a lot more than leave a bruise. Instinctively, I closed my eyes and lifted my free arm to cover my face.
A moment later, I felt a blunt and powerful impact, and I could see stars on the backs of my eyelids. It hadn’t even been a direct hit—more like he’d just grazed my skull—and yet it still sent a searing pain down my scalp, a pain that sent me reeling backward.
“Owww…” I groaned. “What the heck was that for?”
But when I opened my eyes to glare at him, he had a terrifying look on his face as he raised his baton for a second strike—this one much stronger than last time. I shut my eyes again and braced myself for impact—but the pain never came. And yet, I could still hear the dull sound of the strike. Confused, I lifted my head—only to see a small-statured woman collapsed in the dirt right in front of me, holding her shoulder in pain.
“Tsuru-san!” I shouted, rushing to help her back up.
“It’s all right, my dear,” she said with a smile—but the pain was written all over her face. Realizing she must have blocked the second blow for me, I nearly started to cry.
“Tsuru-san, why…? Are you all right? Your shoulder… Is it okay?”
Tsuru just gave a silent nod, then hugged me tight, before turning to look up at the officer again—whose eyes went wide with realization.
“Wait, you’re…the old lady who runs the Tsuru-ya Mess Hall, aren’t you?” he asked.
“Yes, that’s right,” Tsuru said with a nod. “I’m guessing my little girl here must have said something objectionable without realizing it? If so, then allow me to take the blame for her. I’ll ensure it never happens again, so please overlook her ignorance just this once.”
She got on her knees and prostrated herself before the police officer.
“Tsuru-san, no!” I said with a gasp. “There’s no need for that! I haven’t done anything wrong, I swear! I didn’t say anything objectionable at all!”
Tsuru grabbed me by the wrist and shook her head with a smile, as if to say: It’s okay, dear. Just let me handle this.
“Still denying it, are you?!” the officer barked, glaring at me. “You know, I’d received multiple reports that the mess hall’s new poster girl was harboring anti-war sentiments, but decided to chalk it up to pure childish ignorance… Yet judging from her defiant attitude, I can see that it’s far more than just that. I can’t overlook this any longer; I hope you’re ready to pay the price for her treason!”
He raised his baton over his head again, and I dived in front of Tsuru to protect her. I simply couldn’t bear to let her take another blow on my behalf.
“No, don’t!” Tsuru cried.
I gritted my teeth and shut my eyes tight.
But once again, no pain of impact came.
Warily, I opened my eyes to see a well-built pair of shoulders right in front of me, draped in military garb. It was a broad but gentle frame, one I knew all too well.
“Wait… Akira?” I gasped.
I could see only a sliver of his face in profile, but even so, I knew it was him.
“No way…” I said. “But how?”
Akira had grabbed the police officer’s baton with one hand, right as he swung it down. Realizing this must have been the dull impact I heard a moment ago, my face went pale.
“Akira!” I cried. “Are you okay?!”
“Don’t worry about me,” he said, chuckling a bit. “I’m just fine.”
I was so relieved to see the smile on his face that I started tearing up.
Akira slowly lowered his arm, still gripping the officer’s baton tightly. The officer frowned and gave Akira a once-over, scanning his uniform from top to bottom.
“…A kamikaze pilot, are you?” he murmured.
Akira didn’t say a word; he just looked down at the officer in silence.
Taking this as an affirmation, the officer withdrew his baton.
In this time period, kamikaze pilots like Akira were heralded as heroes for giving their lives for their country—revered like gods among the living until their time came. Which was why, I assumed, this police officer couldn’t bring himself to strike Akira for his insolence in intervening here. Once I put it all together, I breathed a heavy sigh of relief.
“This girl and I were just talking a few things over,” said the officer. “You’re not involved here. Please stand aside.”
The officer’s tone was brusque; I could tell he was very frustrated that he couldn’t reprimand Akira physically.
Akira’s tone, meanwhile, was calm and collected, with no hint of spite whatsoever.
“Sorry, I’m afraid I can’t do that,” said Akira, shaking his head. “Involved or not, I won’t stand idly by while you assault an innocent girl.”
“Excuse me?!” said the officer, his face reddening further. “I wasn’t assaulting anyone! I was doing my duty to discipline this girl for being a traitor to the Empire!”
“A traitor?” said Akira. “And what proof do you have of this?”
“I heard her say the words myself! She said Japan has already lost!”
“Yes, but what was the context? Did you actually hear everything she was saying from the beginning, or are you jumping to conclusions based on a few words you overheard in passing?”
Akira continued speaking softly to the man, never once raising his voice or changing his expression. In stark contrast, the police officer was clearly growing increasingly frustrated by the second. It only took one look to tell that he was utterly incensed at having his authority and pride as a police officer questioned in this way.
“…Silence!” he shouted. “I thought I told you to stand down!”
The man shoved Akira lightly by the collarbone in an attempt to push him aside.
“No,” said Akria, unmoving. “I think I’ll stay right where I am.”
This was the last straw.
“I said move, you damn brat!” he shouted—then he reared his massive torso back and shoved Akira as hard as he could, sending him flying across the road.
“Akira!” I shouted, attempting to run to his side. “…Ngh!”
My vision went dark as the large man stepped in front of me to block my path. I looked up to see him glaring angrily down at me, with his fist raised and clenched. I knew he was about to hit me—I’d probably be knocked out before I even realized what was happening. Yet for whatever reason, it felt like time slowed to a crawl instead.
I watched in slow motion as his fist grew closer and closer.
But just then, as I braced myself for impact, Akira dived in front of me.
And I could hear the dull crack of bone hitting bone through a thin layer of skin.
The moment the fist hit his skull, Akira’s entire body keeled over.
“Akira!” I cried so loud, it stung my throat.
He staggered unsteadily to his feet and pressed one hand against his brow where he’d taken the blow, before he fell to his knees on the dirt.
“Akira!” I said, hurriedly crouching down beside him. “Akira, are you okay?!”
A stupid question, of course—but it was all I could think of to say.
I didn’t know how to properly express what I was feeling in that moment.
This agony, this anguish gnawing away at my chest from within.
Trying my very best not to cry, I clung to Akira’s back as he hung his head.
“Ngh…”