"Easy, easy! Be careful with the wings!" Shirogane quickly scooted over to Kazamatsuri and Toyosaki, who stopped as he approached. "These things break easily when you're not careful. Here, I'll help you put in on the crane. Follow my lead."
Shirogane adjusted his slacks' suspenders and rolled up his left sleeve a bit more. He and everyone present were dressed in comfortable white button-ups left open near the collar, practical for long hours of hard work. A chestnut flat cap sat on Ishigami's head. Since they began, dirt and grease have sullied most of their lower halves.
Ishigami tugged the cables close as Shirogane pulled along his two volunteering classmates. "Take hold of this," he instructed. After fixing it in place, they pivoted the wing to face the fuselage. "Now do it slowly. The wings are the most significant part that keep the plane in the skies. If they break during flight, the chances of crash and death become much higher. We don't want anyone losing their life in an accident."
Starting with the right wing, guided by Shirogane, the duo gently moved the wing close. "The wings attach to the fuselage through the main spar, the thick horizontal pole in the middle that the whole structure is connected to, along with smaller spars. The delicate skin covering it all consists of rubbery fabric, so don't puncture it." They slide the wing towards the fuselage until the wing root is slotted into place, and Ishigami fastens it with bolts and screws.
After a moment's scrutiny, he gives the okay sign. Shirogane called to his father's hired handlers for the other wing. Asher and Olin, two men who worked for Shirogane's father, and occasionally for Ishigami's company, swiftly brought over the lightweight piece. Shirogane tugs the crane over to the opposite side, and together they have the wing attached.
"Did the manufacturer get the payment on time?" Shirogane asked Asher.
"Aye, he did. He can't wait for the next one," he said with an amiable wink.
"We'll see about turning to him again in the future. Now would you mind holding this?"
After he secured the wing root, Ishigami leaned up to wipe his brow. "All well and good, but now comes the rigging, the tedious part." Toyasaki gets instructed to grab the wire cutters and the metal spool. Shirogane promptly divides it intuitively into three smaller spools, and turns to his crew.
"Kazamatsuri, you're with me. Olin, go take Toyosaki and handle the empennage. Asher and Ishigami will do the left wing, we'll do the right. Let's go."
Rigging is a slow and painstaking process. It intricately ties most of the aircraft together into a single delicately woven apparatus. The science behind how the plane is assembled and calibrated is very difficult to explain, but in practice, the allegorical mind can relate it to sewing. The act of attaching each individual cable is undeniably fussy, but once everything is said and done, the final results can be a sight to behold.
"Right over here, boy." Olin rumbled while pulling the rigging taut. "Just keep those hands steady now."
"Make sure those wires aren't too loose, nor too tight," Shirogane reminded.
Shirogane's and Ishigami's pairs start with the flying wires that go underneath the wings, while Toyosaki and Olin concentrate on the airplane's rear. They checked the internal wires that connect to the elevator and rudder through the fuselage, before moving on to the wires above the wings.
The upper rigging begins from the kingpost, a V-shaped strut atop the fuselage that serves as the main support for the ground wires. These cables keep the wings up and the flying wires taut. On the other hand, lower rigging is responsible for bracing the wings and actuating the plane's wings as the pilot pleases.
It takes the better part of two hours to complete the rigging. All the while, the prodigious Shirogane supervised the process with keen, sharp orders. Ishigami follows right after him in terms of skill, but ultimately it's his clever insight that allows the production to maintain its quick and speedy scheme. As the last wire gets calibrated, the others breathe a sigh of relief.
Olin taps Shirogane's shoulder. "Boss, you mind double-checking our work? We'd thought you'd like to look at it." He nodded his assent and went over to inspect the rest of the rigging while the others relaxed.
"I... didn't know that… airplanes needed this much work," Kazamatsuri groaned.
"You wouldn't last long at that rate," Asher remarked. "You should take a look at yourselves and see why. But Prez over here treats his hobby with immense pride, letting his emotions serve as a drive to work tirelessly day and night. If this less-than-an-hour endeavor leaves you exhausted, you would never hold a candle to him. Ishigami too, for that matter."
Ishigami throws a half-grin at the lightly bearded man's praise. "Perhaps that only applies to him. On the day when we first got our Bleriot, I wanted to call it quits half-way. Meanwhile, he just kept working and working. I was exhausted all over, catching my own breath, while Shirogane didn't stop until the evening bells rang. I still remember his haggard, satisfied beam.
"I've gotten better at keeping up, but that's less to say about myself as a whole. Grit, spit, and precise handiwork are all signs of a talented engineer, but it takes dedication and determination to see yourself through. Shirogane managed to achieve all of that, and he also taught me how to do it too. I'm both proud of and grateful to him."
Kazamatsuri nodded and muttered something to himself. Once Shirogane finished he rejoined them. Meanwhile, Asher pulled out an ice chest underneath a long table and silently passed on ice-cold bottles of cola to the volunteers and their masters' sons. "This is the stuff," he chuckled out loud before taking a swig. The sweet and refreshing drink soon slides down everyone's throats.
But just then, a few loud knocks thumped on the partly-open hangar door, before two girls poked their heads inside. "Excuse us for disturbing you, but would you mind us asking a few questions?"
The aircraft crew turned to them. "It depends on what you're asking." Shirogane beckoned them forward. "What brings you ladies here?"
She warmly introduces herself. "I'm Karen Kino from the local gazette, and this is my friend Erika Kose. I assume you must be Mr. Shirogane, the mastermind behind this project?" The girls wore similar matching white lace blouses, with the difference being the latter wearing a comfy spring coat and the former's blouse having shorter sleeves. Erika wore a forest green split skirt, while Karen had a beige long skirt and flat shoes, and a burgundy hat.
Toyosaki's face suddenly lit up. "Oh, so you came! Aren't you glad to see us-"
"We're here for a scoop, Saburo." Erika's voice was derisive. "We thank you for tipping us, but your usefulness ends here. We'd be much more happy and likely to interview Mr. Shirogane." Karen snickered along with her as his face timidly withdrew. Shirogane wiped his face again and leaned back with appraisal.
"Well, I'm grateful for their help nonetheless," he put in. "All I did was ask on the spur of the moment, and they readily agreed despite not knowing anything about what they're getting into, amusingly. But they've been amiable and quick to follow, so I wouldn't count them out."
"Mr. Shirogane is very considerate," Karen remarked approvingly.
"Please, just call me 'Shirogane'. You're lucky to arrive right after we've finished. Of course, there's still a need for assessment before we can actually declare the plane finished, but we can do that another time. I'd be happy to answer any of your questions, just as long as they're not too personal."
"Hey Prez," Ishigami called from the back, presenting an enormous wicker basket. "I didn't tell you earlier, but my big brother packed me some snack food, for when we're done. And since we are, why not we have a picnic? I reckon there's enough for everybody, including the girls if they want to."
The two visitors look worried, but they're eventually assured that they're welcome to share in their snacks. Erika is particularly excited, for which Karen scolded her for acting uncouthly. Asher whispered something into Shirogane's ear, and he assented. He and Olin bowed to their young chief, and walked out of the hangar.
"They're not joining us?" asked Kazamasturi.
"Nope. Apparently my father told them to head straight for Ishigami's factory once they've finished helping us out. It'll just be us six, if you girls are okay with it. I've thought about a picnic by the airstrip, what do you think?" The agreeing murmurs around the room formed a general, solid consensus.
After Ishigami confirmed the lock on the hangar door, the group marched down the gentle slope by the side of the airstrip. The sky is blissfully clear today, with only the occasional cloud on the horizon. There's a perpetual breeze cruising through the open plains. Kazamatsuri and Toyosaki inhale the fresh air, and Karen held on to her hat, giggling despite herself.
Once they voted on a spot, Erika and Ishigami unpacked the picnic basket, whose cloth was conveniently sized to be big enough for six people. The contents were cheese bread, bagels, and large cookies. They also had Toyosaki carry the remaining colas with him. The group gathered around in a circle, the windy breeze ruffling their hair and skirts.
Carried over by the wind, a few shouts reached them from the opposite side. Two men were pulling out a biplane from another hangar while a third donned his goggles and got in the pilot's seat. The rest of Shirogane's group turned to watch as they cleared the area and spun the propeller to start. The engine fires, filling the air with a low, rumbling thrum.
"One of the other teams," Ishigami explained to their classmates. "There's around five or six groups other than us competing for the annual competition."
Upon realizing, Erika swiftly pulled out a padded notebook and gave it to Karen, who didn't skip a beat as she rapidly jotted down Ishigami's words. "How long did yours take?"
Shirogane sought to answer her. "I already drafted some good designs many months before. You could say our plane is a combination of all my previous works, along with the new stuff I learned through research and theorization. The remainder of the year was poured into getting the plane finished on time."
Karen smiled. "It's a really nice plane, even though we only had a fleeting glance. Who's going to fly it on the day of the competition?"
"Ishigami will. We can both fly, but I'll need to be on the ground since I'm the lead designer. The pilots will take several laps around a set course in order to determine which design is overall better than the rest. The top three will be awarded, but the first place will go on to become patented and commissioned."
"That's incredible!" Erika gasped.
Shirogane shrugged. "Even if we don't win in first place, getting in the top three is key to getting recognized by the aviation industry, which is remarkably young, but unspokenly aggressive. The race to overtake each other's companies has caused many of the brightest minds to play their best cards. We're underdogs."
"That being said," Kazamatsuri commented. "The competition is sponsored by the state, right? Are they actively encouraging the aviation industry in this vein?"
"Perhaps. 'Survival of the fittest' can somehow be related - while other companies may give up, the ones who persevere will ultimately come out with the best possible designs that will parade innovation for the future. It's pretty cutthroat, however. There's a chance of a company going bankrupt after one too many screw ups." As ours did, he lamented internally.
"That's why it's paramount we establish ourselves strongly against the competition. Even if it takes more tries and more years, we'll get there eventually, so that one day, anyone can fly if they want to. Whether to travel and explore, or to bask in that emptiness above the Earth, that's my true goal, and I'll not stop until I fulfill it."
"Ambitious words from an ambitious genius," Karen winked. "Coming back to the topic, do you mind telling us a bit about your design?"
"Certainly. Ishigami?" He nodded to his co-engineer.
Ishigami stuck his hand into his shoulder bag and pulled out a folded blueprint. "Here you go, man." The plane shared the same main features with the one inside the hangar.
"Our design is called the Yumi Type-H. 'Yumi' comes from my and Ishigami's first names. 'Type-H' is the model version we built. The goal of the design is to improve the plane's aerodynamic aspects through simple yet effective measures."
"And what do you mean by that?" she inquired.
"Let's clear up some basics first. There are four fundamentals when it comes to flight, namely: lift, weight, drag and thrust. Each part plays a key role in getting a plane in the air.
"Lift happens when the air pushes the wings upwards, which counters the plane's weight in order to fly. Meanwhile, the engine propels the plane forward, called thrust, which counters the air resistance that slows the plane down, called drag. 'Aerodynamics' is all about studying everything affected by these four rules. For example, we spent a lot of time refining the shape of the wing to improve lift and decrease drag, and better distribute stress loads."
"My head is spinning," Toyosaki grumbled, drawing a glare from Erika.
"You're not supposed to say that in front of geniuses like him," she said. "I mean, I don't get all this aero-stuff either but you're sure not hearing me saying it!"
"But… you just did," he winced.
"Yes, it sounds complicated at first, but as long as you understand these basic things, the rest of aerodynamics becomes intuitively easier." Shirogane paused to drink some more cola.
"Um, I hate to sound rude or anything, but-" Toyosaki continued. "What's the point of all of this? I mean, developing planes? Do you do this just for fun, or?"
Kazamatsuri elbowed his friend under the disapproving stare of the two girls. But Shirogane was mild. "Sometimes I ask myself too. But ultimately I know what I want, and what I'm doing this for. Sure, I love what I do, but there's much more to that.
"There's a saying I know: 'A mile of road only gets you a mile, but a mile of runway gets you a thousand anywhere.'"
"...'til you run out of fuel, that is," Ishigami interjects.
"-but I can imagine it a few steps further. One day, the aircraft will fill the heavens, so plenty that the birds and hawks soar side-by-side. People can go anywhere they want, whenever they want. What takes several months at sea only needs a few days in the sky. Who knows, maybe our mechanical birds could reach for the stars." He let the thought hang in the air.
"Shirogane is an idealist," Erika concluded.
"That he is," said Ishigami. "But he's an adventurer, a pioneer. If there's one person I could follow anywhere, it's him. And not have it any other way." A gleam in his eyes told of a much deeper meaning to his words. Shirogane smiled back.
"I think these are enough for now." Karen closed her notebook. "I'll admit today was more enlightening than I thought. Of course I'm no way going to be an expert in aircraft, but I'm glad I learned something."
"Really?" Erika quipped. "Are you sure not just playing coy?" The two giggled while rocking each other back and forth. Ishigami closes his eyes for a moment, forehead creased.
"Ms. Erika… by any chance, do you work at a restaurant?"
Erika turned with an expression of shock. "As a matter of fact I do. My family owns a place near Laiden Square, with Karen's family gazette. But how did you know?"
Ishigami shrugged. "Simple, you smell like steamed food."
The congeniality was abruptly cut short as they stared at one another in awkwardness. After a long minute, Toyosaki said, "Dude, that's creepy."
Ishigami's irises shrunk in a split moment, and looked down. Just let me die.
He rose and donned his cap. "Shirogane... I wanna die, so I'm going home early. Good luck with the evaluator." He stalked back up the hill.
"Sure thing… just, don't die," Shirogane called after him. He slumped back on his spot, suddenly weary. It takes another minute before Karen resumes the conversation.
"You know… I've always wanted to become a professional journalist, on my family's behalf. I'd figure learning from the top journals and newspapers abroad would help me get better." She turned to her friend. "I've told Erika before, and she's always insisted that she'd follow me anywhere, even though this is mostly about me."
"C'mon, I've also told you how travelling with you could help me learn more as a chef," she countered. "But you know I'm more excited about going around the world and learning new things with you. To say nothing of all the delicious food waiting out there…"
"I'm doubtful of where your loyalties lie," she replied, causing Erika to snap back an incoherent rejoinder about Karen and food.
Shirogane turned to Kazamatsuri and Toyosaki. "And what about you guys? What's going to be your plans hereafter? Surely there's something you want to pursue."
The two boys stared at one another, then to the girls who are still quipping at one another. When he turned back to Shirogane, his voice was a little less cheerful. "To be honest, we never thought about it. We'd figure we'd mix a little of what our parents want and we want, but… honestly we don't know what we're going to do."
Shirogane thought for a few seconds. "It's not something immediate that should become the biggest of your worries, so you don't have to sulk about it. There's also a quote for this: 'Like a man rowing a boat that floats on the tide, we enter the future facing the past. Our eyes see only the landscape of the past; what tomorrow looks like, nobody knows.'
"You've heard me constantly talking about the future, but honestly, that's just me dreaming big. The reality is that I may not even be there to see what tomorrow brings. I'd even go as far to say it's a little scary to think about. Sometimes living in the moment is better, since no one could ever tell what'd become of us, especially if we keep trying to imagine it."
"Philosophy is intimidating," Kazamatsuri said.
While his other classmates continued on with each other, Shirogane let out a rueful sigh. A million dreams can take its toll. He thought that'd someday, he'd switch it up a bit, and let fate dictate his life for once. Getting whisked off on a thrilling adventure, where there's little space to breathe in the midst of excitement. But that would never happen, it's unrealistic.
Everyone's heads turned to the edge of the field, where the biplane from earlier was picking up speed, zooming past their group with a zesty smile. The girls gasped and the boys watched in awe as the plane took off, ascending into the sky. Footsteps on the grass grew louder, and Ishigami arrived at Shirogane's side.
He turned to him in surprise. "I thought you wanted to die?"
He snorted. "That was only an obligatory joke. But more importantly, the evaluator just got here." His finger pointed to a lone figure next to a truck a few paces away from the hangar. He wore the suit of a civil servant, with an identification card around his neck and a clipboard in his hand. He was gazing curiously in their direction.
Shirogane got up, and excused himself with his acquainted friends, and sauntered up the hill with Ishigami to meet the evaluator.