Chapter 4: Workplace Field Trip

Shuuichi Arakawa’s Point of View

Ba-ban! Ba-ba-ban! Pah pah pah pah...

I listened to the dwindling sound of gunshots from within the command vehicle, which was lit by a dim red glow. All of the facilities would soon be under our control. Deciding to take a smoke, I took a cigarette from the pocket of my uniform and lit it.

I breathed out. “Fuuh...”

I gazed at the rising smoke and remembered the reason I’d come here today.

The initial trigger had been the Arakawa Pact, which had come into effect in January of this year. The pact stated that countries of the world would not interfere with Kouki Arakawa, and would allow him to live freely. This had created time for us to form a plot to claim him for our own country.

It was true that there had been good intentions behind the pact. Miki had been delighted, but the pact gave me no delight. The result had been what I’d expected: Rebel groups opposing the pact had appeared in numerous locations and were directing their forces against Kouki.

“I won’t let them lay a finger on him,” I told myself while chewing on the cigarette filter.

The group we were currently suppressing was the largest of the rebel groups. It seemed the group was funded by a cult organization that considered Kouki a demon child. Devotees of this organization appeared to include people in high-ranking political positions who had leaked out information about Kouki.

If we can just crush this one group, we’ll be safe for a while. I might even be able to spend more time at home, I thought as one of my subordinates entered the command vehicle. It was Elise, an information officer.

“My report follows,” she said: “Squad A controls the entirety of the compound. Squads C and D are beginning to clear out the remnants of the enemy forces.”

Hm... Things are moving as smoothly as expected. But what of Squad B?

“Elise, what about Squad B?” I asked her, and she began operating the information terminal strapped to her arm. Then she looked at me and spoke with weariness in her voice.

“My name is Clare. Elise is my older twin sister.”

An awkward atmosphere filled the command vehicle, and I was at loss for words.

So this one is Clare. I’ll have to remember that Clare is the one who Kouki is fond of, and Elise is the other one.

“In that case, Clare, what’s the current status of Squad B?” I said at last.

“Squad B are currently investigating the underground passageways discovered under the compound. They’re advancing forward while disarming traps that were set up.”

The commander of Squad B was Louis. I knew Louis could be relied upon, but I had a bad feeling.

Should we send in the reserves?

“Have a member from Squad F and some members from Squad C who are defending the command vehicle follow after Squad B,” I said.

“I’ll give the order immediately.”

For now, we just had to wait and see... but I couldn’t get rid of a nagging sense of uneasiness. After I had smoked another four cigarettes, there came a transmission from Squad B.

“This is Squad B! We’ve encountered numerous enemies in the underground passageways. We are engaging. We have sustained heavy damage. Request backup! Please send backup!”

Damn! That bad feeling was right on target... What now? Should I have them withdraw, or should I send more reinforcements? This was no time for indecision, so I chose both.

“Have Squad B withdraw immediately. Then instruct all squads to retain a minimum number of personnel and to send the rest to aid Squad B.”

Beside me, Clare was gathering information with a cool expression on her face.

I’ve got to keep myself together... I thought. The commanding officer can’t go out in the field. Even if my subordinates are in crisis, all I can do in this situation is chew my fingernails and watch.

I somehow suppressed the urge to give in to my emotions and punch the display screen. All I could do was wait. I folded my arms and prayed that the situation would improve in some way. That was when we received a transmission.

“This is Squad A. We have retrieved the withdrawing Squad B. After joining with reinforcements and regrouping, we’ll move to suppress the enemy once more.”

All right, we’ve avoided unnecessary losses. Now we just need to eradicate the remaining enemies. But why are they putting up such a fight here? We held the upper hand in this situation. The only option for our opponent was to surrender. What have I overlooked?

Just then, there came a transmission that answered my question.

“This is Squad A! We have discovered a missile silo deep within the passageways. Launch procedures have been initiated!”

A missile?! So that’s their secret! That’s why they were resisting. I’ve no idea where they intend to strike, but we have to prevent it at all cost!

“Prevent the launch with all you have!” I yelled. “If possible, capture the control room and gather information!”

Then I returned to my seat and squeezed my eyes shut. Let things turn out okay, I’m begging you...

I didn’t normally believe in God, but at that moment I was praying.

“We’ve successfully captured the control room,” Clare reported in a businesslike manner. “The information is being sent to my terminal. We are currently determining their target.”

All that remains is to take control of the missile itself, I thought with relief. I think we’re going to be okay. I felt more relaxed as I waited for the next report.

“Launch prevention failed! I repeat: Launch prevention failed! The missile’s boosters are firing.”

“Data analysis complete. This is a ballistic missile. The target is the Next-Generation Scientific Research Institute, Japan.”

The worst possible reports arrived simultaneously.

The Next-Generation Scientific Research Institute? Miki and Kouki should be heading there today. In a panic, I left the command vehicle.

Before my eyes, the form of a missile was tearing through the sky...

**

Kouki Arakawa’s Point of View

“Okay, is everybody ready? Once we’re inside, make sure you listen to the people in charge.”

There were cries of, “Yes, Mrs. Arakawa,” and “Buh hee!” in response to Mom’s voice.

It was the weekend, and I had arrived with my mom at the Next-Generation Scientific Research Institute.

It had all started with Saito saying, “Hey, Arakawa, I’d love to see a powered suit that’s still in development.” I’d been so distracted by the exams that I’d agreed without much thought. This had turned into quite a problem.

In the end, like always, I’d asked Mom if she could do anything to help me out, and to my surprise, she had happily agreed. Mom had said, “You promised your friend, right? Well, then, that’s that.”

Can she really just say, “That’s that,” and consider it settled? I thought uneasily. Though I am grateful, and I suppose I shouldn’t complain...

Saito had been happy and clearly excited when I’d told him I’d gotten permission. Although I hadn’t planned to do so from the start, I’d invited Alice, too, and she’d wanted to come with us, so it had turned into a field trip to a workplace.

“Please leave your personal terminals here,” the security staff requested with a smile.

Ah, I guess protecting their secrets is an issue.

I’d already figured this out by myself when, as I expected, a member of security staff said, “We’re asking this of all of you in the interests of security.”

There was no reason to refuse, so I simply went along with it. Mom was apparently being treated as an employee, because she didn’t remove hers.

“So you must be Kouki?” a member of security staff said to me as I handed over my terminal.

“That’s me,” I replied, and he replied by showering me with praise. Clearly, Mom was proud to have me as her son and had been telling it all to various people. I was self-consciously listening to all this when a man in a white coat emerged from the building.

“Welcome, everyone,” he announced. “My name is Ozaki, and I’ll be your guide today.”

Ozaki seemed like a nice person. We all told him, “Thanks for taking care of us today” as we entered the research building.

Once inside, the first thing I saw was their cutting-edge equipment.

No wonder they call it the Next-Generation Scientific Research Institute.

It wasn’t just Saito; even Alice was all fired up. As we were being shown this department, someone who looked very much like a researcher emerged from inside.

“This is no place for children,” the researcher scolded. “What are they doing here?”

Oh, wow! He’s speaking Russian! This was a great chance to show off for Alice.

I responded, trying my hardest not to speak with an accent, “Please excuse us. We’re students from a technology academy here on a field trip. My mother, Arakawa, works here, so we’ve been given permission.”

That seemed to surprise him a little, and he gave me a probing look as he spoke, “So that makes you Kouki? I’m surprised you can understand Russian. My name is Nikolai. Nice to meet you.”

All right! We actually understood each other. I glanced sideways at Alice, and she was looking at me with admiration. Saito was... busy looking at a production line. Hey! How about you show a little interest in me?!

Nikolai’s defensiveness disappeared, and he invited us to his own lab. It seemed he was researching new drugs for an incurable disease. Alice enthusiastically asked him questions while Ozaki interpreted.

Saito, what’s got you so interested? I was curious so I went over and asked him. Ah, so these are powered suit components. Mom had brought these kinds of things home with her on occasion.

I was looking at the powered suit parts and reminiscing when Nikolai said, “So, Kouki can speak the language of my home country. I had thought Mrs. Arakawa was simply proud because he was family, but I’m in awe to learn that he is also proficient in his language studies.”

Not really; I learned it in my previous life, I thought. Obviously, I couldn’t say that to him, so I just smiled awkwardly.

I looked over to my mom and saw that she’d been called over by other researchers. It seemed they wanted to confirm some research results with her.

Mom turned to us and said, “I’m going to step out for a moment. Please follow Ozaki and Nikolai’s instructions.” She then headed to another area.

We went on to see other departments. There was an artificial organs lab, an aircraft development lab, and even an interesting department that was developing new metals. We had limited access to the arms development department, but they showed us some new weapons, and an employee who saw how eager Saito was had invited him to try on a prototype powered suit. He was running around the testing area, full of energy.

“Buh hee... Buh hee hee hee hee hee hee!”

Saito was firing on all cylinders, and to say it was nauseating was an understatement. Unlike Alice, he was repulsing all of the employees in the area.

Just when I started wondering what to do, he suddenly stopped moving. It seemed the batteries had run out. The researcher looked a little tired as he went to retrieve Saito, but he managed to muster a slight smile.

We decided to eat lunch before going to see the next department, and everyone headed to the cafeteria.

“So what do you think of our research labs?” Ozaki asked while we ate lunch.

“It’s really interesting,” Alice told him. “I really liked the pharmaceutical research department in particular. I’d love to work in a place like this myself in the future.”

Hearing that put Nikolai in a good mood; he smiled and told her he’d welcome the opportunity to work alongside such a beautiful girl.

“I was interested in the arms department! This is the first time I’ve even worn a military-use suit, and it was really inspiring,” Saito said cheerfully while eating his bowl of pork on rice.

Come to think of it, it was the first time I’d ever seen Saito have so much fun.

I’m really glad we came here today.

“What about you, Kouki?” Ozaki asked. “What did you find interesting?”

“For me, it was the new metals research department. I was really interested in the new metals, especially the development of metals with a high Mohs hardness.”

Ozaki had asked the question, and so I’d answered it, but now everyone was looking at me strangely.

I knew what they were thinking without them saying it: How weird... I don’t know how to say it, but that’s a strange choice of department.

It really was amazing, though! A department that made metals that didn’t exist on Earth. I didn’t see what was so wrong with that. Clearly, these guys just didn’t get it.

Huh? A bunch of people sitting on either side of the room were looking at me with sparkling eyes. Oh! Those are the people we met at the metal research department. Worry not! I appreciate the importance of your research. Keep doing your best.

“Well then, let’s get moving,” said Ozaki after seeing that we’d all finished eating, and he resumed giving us the tour.

“This department researches the global environment,” another employee told us, taking over for Ozaki.

I see... Unmanned drones measure pollution in the atmosphere and bore into the South Pole to research the global atmosphere of ancient times. This is nice. What about the evolution of living organisms? Are they trying to solve those mysteries? Just as I was about to ask, the door flew open and someone entered the room.

“We have an emergency situation” were the first words out of Baldy’s mouth.

What’s he doing here? I wondered, but what he said next answered all of my questions.

“A ballistic missile has been launched from a country in Eastern Europe. Its target is here, the Next-Generation Scientific Research Institute.”

Wait. What? Why would a missile strike here?

Alice and everyone else turned pale. I felt close to panic as I asked Baldy, “What should we do?”

“Unfortunately, we failed to intercept it in orbit,” he told me. “Even if we evacuate now, we can’t hope to get beyond the blast radius. Our only option is to wait it out in a secure underground area.”

The outlook he gave us was bleak. Even if we went underground, the entire research facility would be blown away.

Now what? Seriously, now what? I thought frantically. All right, I’ll stay calm and talk it through with Mom this time. She’s a genius, so she’s bound to think of something! I tried to call to Mom for help but then I realized, I don’t have my terminal with me!!

I had forgotten that they’d been taken when we entered.

This is bad. We’re totally screwed.

Just when I thought there was nothing we could do, a large-scale terminal in the corner of the room caught my eye.

I’ll use that to contact Mom, I thought as I ran over to the terminal.

Luckily, it had been left powered on. Some numerical values were displayed on the screen, but this was an emergency situation. Even if I ended up deleting research data, no one could complain.

First, I tried operating it to get to the communications screen. However, no matter what I did, I couldn’t get back to the desktop screen!

What if I press Ctrl F? Looks like this is no ordinary terminal.

I became more and more impatient as the display filled with lists of numbers that I didn’t understand. Then, suddenly, Error appeared on the screen, and it stopped.

We’re finished... I thought. Are we going to die here?

Then I heard a few words leaking from the intercom that Baldy was holding to his ear. “Destruction of the ballistic missile confirmed...”

Whaat?! What happened?

Everyone was cheering around me, and Alice was hugging me for some reason.

Her boobs are so soft... Wait, this is no time for that. What in the world is going on here?

“Incredible. I never thought it would be possible to do so much in such a short time,” said Nikolai admiringly. Saito and Ozaki were repeatedly praising me, too.

“Arakawa, I always knew you were a genius... You’re amazing,” Saito told me.

“I can see why Arakawa has such pride in you. I take my hat off to your superior intellect,” added Ozaki.

Has there been some kind of misunderstanding? I was just messing around with the terminal and trying to contact Mom. Huh? I’m not being humble, I’m serious. Look, someone just tell me what’s going on!! Why am I always getting into these misunderstandings?

**

Ozaki’s Point of View

As soon as we realized that a direct hit by a ballistic missile was unavoidable, Kouki ran over to an unmanned control terminal in the corner of the room.

What does he hope to do with that? I wondered.

Knowing that it was hopeless, I went to grab Kouki so we could evacuate underground, but the bald-headed security person stopped me.

“It looks like he has an idea,” he said, insisting that we should just watch.

As Kouki stood there with a serious look on his face, I looked at the large-scale screen on the wall connected to the terminal, and then I realized what it was he was trying to do.

“He’s changing the course of the unmanned drone?” I said aloud. I couldn’t see what good that would do. Does he intend to make that unmanned measurement drone that’s not even five meters wide collide with a missile that’s falling from the outer atmosphere? Impossible... It can’t be done.

Then again, the boy before me was the son of Miki Arakawa.

Perhaps he had heard the words: “Missile launched from a country in Eastern Europe,” and had been able to predict and calculate an accurate speed and trajectory of the missile’s descent. But in reality, without high-grade missile defense technology, such a thing was completely impossible. The possibility of him accomplishing such a thing using nothing but his intellect was close to zero.

I felt ready to pray as I followed the point of light representing the unmanned drone on the screen. Then suddenly, the lights disappeared.

“Destruction of the ballistic missile confirmed...”

Even when I heard those words, I still couldn’t comprehend it.

You’re kidding me. He made that near-zero possibility a reality? He caused an unmanned drone to collide with a missile falling twenty times the speed of sound. He accomplished something that humankind has only just been capable of with the help of technology.

I wouldn’t have considered the word genius adequate. He said it was a coincidence; humility appeared to be one of his virtues.

Kouki Arakawa, a boy whose accomplishments were recognized even by Miki Arakawa. I wondered what great things he’d go on to accomplish. I was enthralled by the thought.

**

Shuuichi Arakawa’s Point of View

“It seems your son had to resort to crashing an unmanned drone into it,” Clare reported.

Her report was a relief. But on the other hand, I’d long thought that Kouki’s way of doing things was a little too flashy.

How do you even intercept a ballistic missile using an unmanned drone? I wondered. Damn! I can’t believe I left it to my son rather than cleaning up my own damn mess. But I still had work to do.

“Have we taken full control?” I asked.

“Yes. We’re currently preparing to transfer the prisoners.”

I’ll make them regret messing with my son... I promise I’ll find their leader and chase him to the depths of hell if I have to. I’m coming for you.

“I’ll help, too,” Clare mumbled absentmindedly. “I’m also a member of the Arakawa Family,” she added with a smile.

“No matter what you say, I won’t let you take my son as your groom,” I replied.

As Clare’s face was turning bright red, I left the command vehicle and stepped outside. I gazed at the clear sky, and heard Clare cocking her weapon behind me...