The establishment of National Akatsuki Academy as the first Blazer school sponsored by Japan, accompanied by Prime Minister Tsukikage’s sudden announcement of its existence just days before the Seven Stars Battle Festival, sent enormous shockwaves throughout the world. But that was only natural. The member nations of the International Mage-Knight Federation traditionally entrusted control of the education of Blazers, the forefront of military strength, to the Federation. Tsukikage, however, rejected such tradition, publicly declaring that he would wrest that control from them and giving it to Japan by way of a school that would represent the nation itself. It was an utterly radical action, tantamount to a declaration of war against the Federation, and ultimately led to the birth of two factions within the country.

The first was, of course, against the prime minister’s decision. Under the Federation, Japan had seen over fifty years of peace, and a great many people believed that such a blessing should not be so frivolously thrown asunder. Some even responded with revulsion at Tsukikage’s exploitation of the government as a means to destroy both Hagun Academy and the climax of all student knights’ school lives: the Seven Stars.

The other, then, supported Tsukikage’s actions. To them, entrusting the nation’s first line of defense to a foreign entity was bizarre. Opinions ranged from the belief that it was something that should fall under Japan’s jurisdiction alone, with Tsukikage merely rectifying the mistakes of the past five decades, to the radical idea that Japan could become strong enough to join the ranks of Russia and America as a superpower all its own, independent of weak unions like the Federation.

Even those who were uninterested in politics found themselves voicing their opinions on what the prime minister had done.

“Tsukikage’s way too aggressive. It makes me sick.”

“All those naysayers are just exaggerating the attack on Hagun. Akatsuki’s Devices were in Phantom Form, so nobody actually got hurt.”

“I don’t want my child being roped into fighting other people’s wars. Let’s leave the Federation and make ourselves a peaceful nation.”

“This country doesn’t have the power to maintain its sovereignty alone. We should stay under the banner of the Federation.”

“I heard Tsukikage is connected to those terrorists from the Rebellion! He can’t be trusted!”

“It was a mistake to ever join the Federation.”

Some bantered over drinks with friends. Some held water cooler gossip sessions. Some launched more active campaigns, going as far as protesting in the streets. But no matter their opinion, no matter their manner of discussion, every man, woman, and child could feel the billow that threatened to overturn the times.

Would Japan continue to exist as a member of the Federation, or would it stand on its own as an autonomous nation? Everyone felt that the answer was dependent on the result of the coming Seven Stars Battle Festival. If Tsukikage’s own National Akatsuki Academy proved that its strength could measure up to his bold words, public opinion would lean toward leaving the Federation. If the other schools toppled Akatsuki, however, Tsukikage’s words would stop carrying any weight.

The Festival had become far more important than it had ever been, poised to influence the very future of Japan. As the final few days leading up to the event passed, the participants drew more excitement and interest from spectators than any that came before them.