86. Domestic Disclosure of Information, Japan

Whether due to the impact of Ichijō having passed the aforementioned data through a foreign ministry bureaucrat on a temporary assignment to the United States, or some other factor, there had been a modest stir in civilian circles. Eventually, the political sphere began to stir as well.

The sitting cabinet, already feeling abandoned by the economic sector, faced a no-confidence motion introduced by the opposition Liberal Democratic Party just before the parliamentary session’s end. A portion of the opposition parties also aligned with the motion, voting in favor—enough to pass the resolution.

In response, the outgoing cabinet chose resignation over dissolving the House of Representatives. In the subsequent prime ministerial nomination election, Takahashi Kanae, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, secured a majority of votes in both chambers and was nominated as the next prime minister. Immediately after assuming office, Takahashi swiftly formed a new cabinet and dissolved the House of Representatives without delay. Whether due to the lingering effects of the earlier, seasonally inappropriate personnel reshuffle, media coverage of Takahashi’s new cabinet was notably impartial—unlike past practices. Polls had already predicted an early, decisive majority for the LDP in the upcoming election, shifting focus to how many additional seats the party might secure. The LDP has also explicitly stated it will not form a coalition with the Intelligent Party in the future.

"Captain, a request for a meeting has been relayed through Level Seven from the Prime Minister’s Office in Japan. What would you recommend?"

A report arrived from Ain.

"Who exactly am I meeting with?"

"The Prime Minister of the Japanese Government, Takachi."

"Ah. So soon after taking office, you're choosing Agirakana as your first meeting partner. Hm."

"They've requested the location be here—Agirakana's Embassy in Japan."

"Is the Prime Minister coming here in person? Quite the initiative."

"Apparently, they're requesting a visit from both Prime Minister Takachi and the new Chief Cabinet Secretary, Niikawa."

"And when do they want it?"

"Any time works for us—tomorrow morning, if that suits."

"During an election period, and yet they're moving fast. Fine. Tomorrow at ten a.m., in the conference room on the tenth floor. I'll have Ain and Ichijō meet them at the ground-level drop-off."

"Understood. I'll inform Ichijō. The meeting will be in the conference room, not the reception lounge?"

"Both seem like decent politicians. Let's start the conversation, confirm they're trustworthy, then bring up Zeno—once we've secured their cooperation on immigration. Showing the video in the conference room should make it easier to convey. Don’t forget to ask the aides to stay back and keep the meeting strictly between the two of us."

"Are you sure it's safe to do this?"

"Eventually, we'll have to tell them anyway. If they're trustworthy, wouldn't it be better to act sooner rather than later—for their sake as well?"

The next day.

We had prepared the video exactly as planned and were waiting for the Prime Minister's delegation at the Embassy.

And precisely five minutes before the appointed time, about three black-painted official vehicles of the Japanese Government arrived at the lower driveway. In civilian attire, the Secret Service agents lined up in front of the main entrance, from which the Prime Minister and the Cabinet Secretary emerged. As prearranged, Ichijō and Ain were waiting at the Embassy’s entrance. Naturally, our ground troops were stationed discreetly throughout the Embassy grounds, exercising meticulous vigilance.

They were expected to arrive via the direct elevator to the tenth floor, so I headed toward the elevator with Maria to greet them.

The elevator doors slid open with a soft ping, and the Prime Minister of Japan, Takahashi Kikue, and the Cabinet Secretary, Niikawa Ken, stepped out onto the tenth floor.

“Thank you for sparing us your time, despite your busy schedule.”

I was suddenly bowing to the head of a nation.

“No, no—thank you for coming all this way. Since you’ve taken the time to visit us today, we have something we’d like to show you as well, so please follow me to the conference room rather than the lounge.”

This time, I lead the way, guiding the two visitors through to the conference room. In the meantime, the guests glance around curiously. Well, it’s not exactly a typical office building—there’s almost nothing placed inside, and the atmosphere is rather stark.

“I heard from someone who was transferred from the Japanese Government that this Agirakana Embassy has never trembled during earthquakes.”

“That’s correct. Though the building appears to be constructed this way, it’s essentially a spacecraft. It doesn’t actually sit directly on the ground anymore—just a few centimeters above it, hovering, as it were. Because of that, even when seismic activity occurs, this structure remains completely still.”

“Remarkable!”

I’m relieved they’re impressed—nothing better than that.

Since we had previously stipulated that the opposing party would attend the meeting with only two delegates and no aides, we seated them at a slightly longer table, divided to either side. On the left half of the large screen at the front of the room, the Japanese national flag hung—though, if one were to be precise, the right half displayed our flag, except that Agirakana has no flag, so we projected the usual image: the hexagonal prism of the Blazer, set against a background of space.

“Then, allow me to introduce myself once more: I am Takachi, appointed this time as Prime Minister of Japan.”

“I am Niikawa, newly appointed Cabinet Secretary.”

“Please forgive the formality—Yamada, representative of Agirakana.”

It sounded almost like a corporate introduction, yet somehow, that made it more likable.

“So, what brings the two of you all the way to our Embassy, may I ask?”

“First, I should mention—though it was during the previous cabinet—that our nation committed what could only be described as a breach of trust toward Agirakana. We came here today to offer our apologies.”

At that moment, the two of them simultaneously rose and bowed deeply in my direction. I hadn’t expected such a gesture—slightly flustered, I must admit—yet, being the commoner I am at heart, I found myself oddly pleased. Ah, I suppose I’m still Japanese after all, I thought, with a touch of self-consciousness.

“Regarding yesterday’s incident, you needn’t go to such lengths. Please, rise.”

Thank you. Regarding the purpose of this visit, we believe that coexistence with Agirakana is the only viable path for our nation’s development. However, when comparing the benefits we’ve received from Agirakana over the past decade or so with what we’ve contributed in return, it’s overwhelmingly clear that we’ve benefited far more—such one-sided arrangements are, frankly, undesirable.

"Please continue."

"In that case, we’re not here to make demands, but rather to inquire: if there’s anything our nation could contribute to Agirakana, we’d be grateful to learn of it."

"I see. Understood. In that case, we do have one request to make of the Japanese Government—but first, we’d like to show you a video. It’s quite startling, I should warn you. But it’s real footage."