A/N: This chapter will be focused on the JSDF reorganization into a full-scale armed forces and the parents thought about their children in the war.
Tokyo, April 15th, 2018.
"The joint special season of the Diet, conducted today in view of the Emperor Naruhito, alongside invited observers from the United States, Great Britain, France, Russia, and PRC had passed the Self-Defense Force Reorganization Law. The main part of the law is the renaming and reorganization of the Jieitai, with immediate effect, into a full-scale military force under the name of Japanese National Military Forces/JNMF. Each branch has been renamed under the reorganization, Japanese National Army (JNA), Japanese National Navy (JNN), and the Japanese National Air Force (JNAF). In addition, the Ministry of Defense also raised a fourth branch, the National Information Defense Force or simply as Cyber Force (JCF). The Emperor himself has publicly consented the reorganization in wake of the missile attack, a necessity to finish the "Korean problem" once and for all, and a needed overhaul of the defense force in general."
"Within hours upon the passage of the reorganization law, anti-war protesters, led by organizations such as the ANSWER Coalition (1), alongside various religious groups, trade unions, Socialist (3) and Communist (4) lawmakers, women groups, and student groups such as the SEALD (2) went into the streets of major cities like Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki. Protesters also targeted Japanese and American military facilities nationwide, largest in scale since the 1960s. The National Police Agency has ordered prefectural and city police forces to show restrain in keeping public order according to established procedures. Clashes has been reported between small groups of protesters associated with the far-left groups and members of uyoku dantai (Japanese far-right groups) in Yokosuka, Gotemba City, Sendai, Oita, Higashine, Chitose, Hakodate, and Kagoshima. Estimated 120 people from both sides has been arrested nationwide..."
"In international level, the most vocal opposition of the reorganization come from the government of Russia, China, Iran, Syria, Cuba, Venezuela, and members of the Non-Aligned Movement, with exception of several South East Asian members (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Thailand). Along with it, protests were also registered in Japanese embassies in major world cities like New York, London, Berlin, Paris, Den Haag, Stockholm, Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Jakarta, Manila, Canberra, and it's trade representative in Taipei."
"The law also codified and regulated the Defense Board of Draft (5), along with National Civilian Service Program for those who declared themselves as conscientious objectors.."
Kousei's house.
"Protest whatever you want, and if we're lost and get occupied by the Nokors because of this, you people will be the first to be sent to the gulag (forced labor camp)." Takahiko Arima growled as he, had returned home from his managerial-level work in a pharmaceutical company, watched the nightly news which showed massive anti-war protests erupted on Japanese cities.
Takahiko remembered his late father, and Kousei's grandfather, Kenichiro, which had passed away in 2017. He served in the Imperial Japanese Army during the Pacific War as a sergeant in Manchuria, was captured by the Soviet Army during the Invasion of Manchuria in 1945 and subsequently spent four years in a Soviet POW camp in Krasnoyarsk. Poor nutrition, abuse, and heavy political indoctrination in the camp both by the Soviet and collaborating Japanese officers had caused Kenichiro to be a staunch anti-communist, the view which was inherited by Takahiko and Kousei.
"Kousei is doing well, Takahiko. One of my colleague, which has a cousin in the Koku Jieitai.. gomen, the Kuugun (Air Force), speaks highly about him and his conduct." Yumi said, gently.
Because of his reputation back in Japan, along with Emi, the 4th Tactical Fighter Squadron had severely limited access to journalists which are eager to obtain a good interview with Kousei or Emi about their service.
"Yumi, you know I can't stop thinking of him doing all the fighting in Korea, and being able to know he's doing well calmed it down somewhat. Still, I can imagine what you feels when you kill somebody for the first time." Takahiko replied, still showed concern and a hint of worry in his face.
"You forgot, Kousei told us four days ago that first, he felt guilty, but upon he landed, the feeling has vanished. "Because the man will kill me if I don't shoot" he said on that video call back then. Besides, Emi is there and will help him cope with his change from a gentle boy we know and love, into a killer. There's such thing as difference between killing in self-defence or in warfare with murder." Yumi replied again, caressing Takahiko's cheek to further calm him down.
"Otoosan, Okaasan, we've done our homework!" Risa and Nana went into the family room, bringing several books. Takahiko smiled and patted his stepdaughters heads and proceeded to check their work, along with Yumi.
...
Meanwhile, Emi's house.
Kotori Igawa are sitting on a couch in front of the Igawa's house.
"Thinking about Emi, honey?" Her husband, Tojiro, interrupt her train of thought, bringing his wife her favorite green tea.
"Of course. And I can feel that our Emi is doing well for a conscript. Kousei is with her. Their closeness in piano are being brought into their military life. Also, I still remember her childhood dream to be a pilot, before discovering her real talent in music. Her dream was unexpectedly come true. Blessing in disguise, am I correct?" Kotori asked.
"I think so. Kotori. Kousei is a good man and will protect her from any harm. And as I often said, our daughter and him are a match made in heaven, with all due respect to Kousei's first love which sacrificed her life to return him where he belongs." Tojiro replied while reminiscing the moment when Emi introduced Kousei to her parents, which resulted the latter to learn the truth about Kousei's past, as they are knowing each other.
"The flag of war has been flown high now. Self-Defense Force is no more. Our country has recreate the old Imperial Military. I wonder where those people will go after this war? Iraq? Afghanistan? Iran? Syria? Or even provoking the Chinese or Russians? Acquiring nukes? If so, we might soon all be dead!" Kotori replied, clearly frightened about one of the unintended consequences of revision of the Article 9 and the full remilitarization.
"Worry not. Our Prime Minister has guaranteed this new form of defense will remain under the framework with the good old American friend of ours. Besides, according to Ryu (Tojiro's brother in the Diet) and Daisuke (his younger brother which is an official in the Japanese Ministry of Defense), the government has long promised to be more assertive and active in it's own defense. In other terms, less dependence on American forces deployed here, while remaining a major ally. For now, forget such scenarios and look what is in front of us (North Korea)" Tojiro continued.
"Let's hope for the best, then, honey" Kotori leaned over and continued her tea-drinking time with her husband.
"Emi love. Protect us from the sky and come back to us alive.."
Tsubaki and Watari's Parents
One day after the passing of the JSDF Reorganization Law, both Tsubaki and Watari's parents are currently praying in the nearby shrine for safety of their country, and most importantly, their children. The war had saw shrine visits increasing, many with the same prayer as theirs. The same case also for other religions.
The news from the front indicated the tides are started to turn in favor of the Coalition Forces. But threat of Chinese intervention looming, just like in the 1950s. In the plus size, the Russian government, while condemned the renaming of Japanese military, has officially declared neutrality in the Korean conflict, citing a need to keep a good economic relations between Russia and Japan, despite Japan's support of sanctions on Russia due to annexation of Crimea and it's support to rebels in Donbass, Ukraine.
Junichiro Ryouta holds his wife's hand and told her, softly, while entering the shrine's gate. "We must be strong for Watari. They are still fighting. Unfiltered sources had said our forces had making progress, in good sense of it."
They throw coins for offering and bowed to pay their respects.
"We wish our Watari to come back safe and sound, and winning, alongside his love!" Junichiro and Tenma Ryouta prayed.
Next, Tsubaki's parents. Touma and Karen Sawabe.
"We pray for our beloved daughter to be safe and sound in her duty in defending our homeland. Protect her and the others fighting for us and our brothers and sisters in Korea. Guide us in this difficult times. Keep her heart as steady as a rock and as gentle as a dove. We also prayed for her love which also fight side-by-side with her. We also pray for her friends especially Kousei which also serve this great country in the same branch as her. Keep him and his lover safe, too.."
Both Touma and Karen Sawabe went out of the shrine and hugging each other before return home.
"How we can live if she didn't come back?" Touma asked.
"Don't ever say that, Touma!" Karen interjected. "We must held our hope high that she, and Watari, and others, will come back here, alive, well, and victorious. And also.. as she's an adult, she had already know the risk of being in the service." She softened a little bit, understanding the inherent danger their daughter, and others, were facing.
A/N:
1. ANSWER Coalition, abbreviated as Act Now to Stop War and End Racism Coalition, is a real-life international anti-war and "social justice" non-governmental organization based in the USA. This organization has link to a fringe Communist group in the USA, Workers World Party, reinforced by it's open support or conciliatory approaches to regimes in Cuba, Venezuela, and North Korea.
2. SEALD is a Japanese student organization abbreviated as Student Emergency Action for Liberal Democracy. As it's name implies, their tenets are identified as liberal democracy with Japanese pacifism framework and is not considered to have link with Marxist political groups. In real life they has been disbanded in 2016 but in this story, the attack and SDF reorganization into a full-scale military caused it to be reformed.
3. Refers to Social Democratic Party of Japan (Shakai Minshu-tō, SDPJ)
4. Communist Party of Japan (Nihon Kyōsan-tō, CPJ)
5. This board, not exists in real life, exercises the same function as the United States Selective Service System, which is to maintain information about those who potentially subject to military conscription. Unlike the American counterpart which is an independent agency, the Japanese Board of Draft was attached under the Ministry of Defense.