November 3rd, 2:00 PM, Above the Sea of Japan, 1955
The Marine Fisheries LTD plane soared high above the sea. In it rested Yamane Shinkichi and Tsukioka Shoichi. It had been a year since the detonation of the Oxygen Destroyer in Tokyo Bay, reducing the waters in to a wasteland incapable of producing life for a decade at least. Shinkichi had been adopted by Professor Yamane since he couldn't go back to Oto Island, too many memories there.
He had also quit his job at SSS, much to Ogata's understanding with the latter at least wished him luck on any future endeavors. He found a new job at MF LTD and the rest was history. His new job was searching for new sources of fish in the Sea of Japan. He instantly made two friends upon joining the company; Tsukioka and his pal Kobayashi Koji.
"Tsukioka, look down there!" Shinkichi pointed out the window.
Tsukioka turned and saw a tide of silver beneath the waves. He let out an impressed whistle.
"School of bonito," he spoke. "That's one hell of a catch."
He then turned on his radio and contacted the base.
"MF, MF," he reported. "This is K105 Tsukioka. Yamane and I just saw a big school of bonito at thirty four degrees N, one hundred thirty six degrees E. Send word to the Kokoryu No. 3. Over."
November 3rd, 2:00 PM, Osaka, 1955
Yamaji Hidemi nodded. She was one of the radio operators along with her friend and confidant, Inoue Yasuko in the head office of Marine Fisheries LTD. She was also Tsukioka's fiancée and was due to marry him in a week. Her father, Yamaji Kohei, was the head of the MF.
"Roger that, K105." she replied. "Relaying information to the Kokuryu No. 3. Keep eyes on the school, over."
Hidemi proceeded to telegraph the findings to the trawler.
November 3rd, 2:01 PM, Sea of Japan, 1955
Captain Osakura noted the message relayed from MF head office and gave a toothy grin. He relayed a telegraph confirming the message.
"IT'S PAYDAY, BOYS!" he roared to his crew.
His shout received the cheers around the ship as they set sail to the coordinates, nets deployed.
High above in their plane, Yamane and Tsukioka soared ahead.
"K105 to main office," Tsukioka spoke. "I'll guide the Kokoryu No.3 to the school."
"Good to hear, K105," Hidemi replied. "Though, on an unrelated note, can I ask you something?"
"Go right ahead."
"You tired yet?" Hidemi asked casually. "Because if you and Yamane are tired..."
"Hidemi-chan," Tsukioka chuckled. "I'm more looking forward to seeing you on a night on the town. So, what do you want to do first when I go off, my little Sakura blossom? Dinner? A movie? Dancing? Whatever my soon-to-be-bride wants, she gets."
Hidemi giggled at her future husband's words, prompting Yasuko to raise an eyebrow.
"Seriously?" she asked. "Are you two flirting during work?"
"Jealous, Yasuko?" Hidemi asked slyly.
Yasuko's eyes widened before she scoffed and rolled them.
"Hardly." she replied. "I just wish you did it on your own time and not while we're trying to work."
Hidemi gave her friend her own roll of the eyes and whispered into the microphone. "I'll have to borrow Dad's car first."
Yasuko, who had been listening just grumbled. "Yeah, good luck with that, even if you're the boss's daughter, the rules still apply."
Hidemi stuck her tongue out at her co-worker. "I'll be sure to get you some zenzai."
Yasuko just looked at her blankly before scoffing and getting back to work. Even though she didn't ever imagine admitting it, she could always be bought off by her favorite dessert. Just then, there was a crackling on the radiophone.
"Mayday! Mayday!" It was Kobayashi. "This is Plane K104, calling main office. I repeat, mayday, mayday!"
Instantly, both women jumped into action.
"This is main office, K104," Hidemi spoke in a more serious tone than before. "What's your situation?"
"My engine's failed and I'm losing altitude," Kobayashi replied urgently. "I need a safe place to land."
Just then, Kohei entered the room.
"What's the commotion?" he asked.
"It's Kobayashi, Dad," Hidemi replied. "He says his plane's engines failed and he's gone into a dive. Are there any places nearby he can land for pick-up? Over"
Kohei looked at the map to see where he could land. He then went over and grabbed his daughter's radiophone.
"Kobayashi, where is your current location?" he asked.
"Four miles south of Iwato Island, sir. Over."
"I want you to head there," he told him. "We'll get someone nearby to come and pick you up. Just wait on Iwato Island until then. Over."
"Will do, sir. Over."
He set the radiophone back next to Hidemi.
"Hidemi, Yasuko," he addressed the two women. "What pilots do we have nearby."
"Tsukioka and Yamane, Dad."
"Call them and tell them what's up."
Hidemi nodded and radioed in on K105.
"Main office to Plane K105, can you read me? Over." Hidemi's voice crackled on their radio. She sounded urgent about something. "Shoichi? Shinkichi? Anyone?"
"Plane K105 here," Tsukioka replied. "What's up, Hidemi?"
"We just got word from Kobayashi," Hidemi replied. "His plane has engine trouble and he is currently in a controlled glide to Iwato Island. I need you to perform a rescue operation. Over!"
Tsukioka just sat there with a disgruntled look on his face.
Dammit, Koji, he thought. I told you to get that engine looked at and look what happened.
"Will do." he replied in the phone. He looked over at Shinkichi.
"Well, I guess we're headed to Iwato Island." Shinkichi said.
Tsukioka just grunted. "I told him a hundred times, 'Koji, get your engine checked. Koji, get your engine checked'. But did he listen? No, he just kept telling me, 'It hasn't given out on me yet and it probably never will, you're just being paranoid'. Well, look where it's got you now, idiot."
He then sighed and rerouted his plane to meet up with Kobayashi. However, if both men were to stay a little longer, they would've noticed a massive, black shadow swimming beneath the waves.