The News February 6th, 2060: Sunshine Cafe

The Bunko Shimbun

Op. Ed.
AMPED UP AND GOING MAD
Mishima Eiji

Yesterday, at 1:30 p.m., an altercation between New Meiji police and a gang of, as yet unnamed personages, erupted inside a lower quarter diner called the Sunshine Cafe. Although it's unconfirmed, Matsuda Jiro (17), a witness to the fracas claimed: "These guys were AMP'd out of their minds, man!"

In technical terms, AMP falls into the category of popular street drugs which is said to improve focus, strength and make their addicts completely bloody well out of their minds. Though the police neither confirmed nor denied the claim, it was obvious this was not your regular resisting arrest. Further rumors indicate that one of the diseased was a Hiroshi S. (24), a man in and out of the court systems for crimes such as petty theft, assault and battery, and dealing near Kureha Middle School. So why, you may ask, was he let go after being found guilty of trying to peddle AMP to kids not even old enough to drink? The New Meiji P.D. had no comment, as usual, but perhaps being the son of Superintendent Hiroshi Inazo (47) has something to do with it.

These aren't just crimes, any more, these are lives. New Meiji is consuming itself, like a snake eating its own tail. In the past five years, the number of AMP users has risen 15% and, perhaps more frightening, there is rumor of a new drug on the market which makes AMP look like Advil. What are the P.D. and the New Meiji seat doing about it? I can't tell you, but I can tell you that it's not enough.

We deserve to live in a safe city. We deserve a police force that will get out of their coffee houses and actually police, not just harass citizens who may have differing opinions. Even the great city of New Meiji can only bend so much before it breaks.

M.E.

The following is an email exchange between Mishima Eiji and Captain Saitoh Hajime

From: Mishima Eiji (.jp)
To: Saitou Hajime (email hidden)

Subject: The Sunshine Cafe Massacre

I understand that you were involved in the mowing down of several gang members at the Sunshine Cafe, yesterday. It's rumored that the police used unnecessary force. Would you care to set the record straight? For once?

If so, and I highly suggest you do, please give me a call. You'll know my number.

Sincerely,

Mishima Eiji

~~~
Bunko Shimbun
Editor/Founder

From: saitoh_hajime

I can state with absolute certainty that no lawn mowers were involved.

Other than this, No comment. Moron.

Please direct any and all press inquiries to the following webmail address:

From: mishima_eiji

I can read your strike-throughs, you know Moron

Contact them so they can give me the runaround? No thanks. I would prefer it straight from the source. Or was that just a hint that you want a bribe? Well, sorry, unlike most of the mindless sheep which you can crush under your authoritarian heel, I'm not so easily swayed.

I can see buying you a coffee, though.

Are you afraid of accidentally saying something vital? Something the government wants to hide?

From: saitoh_hajime

I can buy my own coffee and don't need to wear heels. Honestly, Kid, where do you come up with this stuff?

Other than this,No Comment. Please direct any and all press inquiries to the following webmail address:

From: mishima_eiji

It's my right to know, you know. It's my taxes paying your over-inflated salary. to match your over-inflated ego. See? I can be witty, too.

From: saitoh_hajime

Moron.

Buying me a cup of coffee is a privilege, not a right.

Considering that you are a member of the press, I would highly suggest you familiarize yourself with the difference.

.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Japan

From: mishima_eiji

Huh. I didn't know this was created so long ago. I guess there's not so much of a difference between old Meiji and New Meiji, is there? We're both shifting toward different ideals, though I can't say the New Meiji shift is going in the right direction.

Although we kind of blew article 9 out of the water, didn't we? "Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes."

Why did we even fight that war. Why was it so important? Was it the people that pressured the government or the other way around. I truly don't know the answer to this. But I'm determined to find out.

Regardless, as you can see, Saitou-san, the constitution is highly fallible. I apologize for my inflammatory words earlier, but I really only want the truth, not the usual runaround and government rhetoric.

You know, there used to be a Shinsengumi saying.

"悪即斬" (aku soku zan)

But of course that's faintly barbaric these days, so I live by the phrase

"悪即暴き出す" (aku soku abakidasu. Loosely: expose criminal activities)

So whether I get it from you or someone else, I will know the truth.

From: saitoh_hajime

I like the first saying better. Always have. Always will.

As for your search for truth, let me know when you manage to find it.

Otherwise...

No Comment. Please direct any and all press inquiries to the following webmail address:

From: mishima_eiji

I don't doubt that you do. Killing only begets killing, sir. Violence only leads to violence.

I see you're a stubborn one. Nevertheless, we'll see who wins out in the end.