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Lifetimes of Change (Historical Vignettes set from 1891 - 2011)
« on: September 24, 2021, 10:29:20 AM »
Lifetimes of Change


"Lifetimes of Change" is a project which seeks to cast a light on the period of Mundus's History from 1891 to 2011, not from the perspective of great men and of nations as a whole, but of the common man. Of their struggles, of how technology, politics, and socio-economic forces shaped their lives in this era. It seeks not to generalize, but to offer a window into the lives of what is, by many of us, a forgotten era. Here, anyone can write their own stories following the lives of the humble farmer all the way to the highest noble in their marble palace and everything between. What it is not, however, is a story of right or wrong. Not usually, anyways.

For those who may struggle to make a post, I would perhaps recommend that you start your character's posts with a point early in their life, whether that be as early as the 1890s or as late the 2000s and anywhere in between before moving along the timeline. For the sake of those making these posts, I will periodically update this page with categories for their characters written up for this wit the hope of making it easier to follow. As a side note, while it is not a requirement, it would always be neat to see photos from this time period, perhaps as a way of capturing a specific feeling for that post.

With that being said, let us take a step back and remember the past.
Vignette Index
Haruto Kimura

   • Standing in Line — 08-20-1914
   • First Contact — 09-19-1914
   • Watching the Mountain of Souls — 11-27-1914
   • The Battle of Kon'noyama — 12-11-1914
   • Home again — 12-29-1914
   • The Letter — 01-04-1915
   • Farewell — 04-13-1916
   • Under Ashen Skies — 04-20-1916 - 09-21-1916
   • Over the Top — 09-21-1916
   • At Every Turn — 10-21-1916
   • Homeward-bound — 11-06-1916
   • Changes — 11-10-1916
   • The Parade — 04-17-1918 - 04-17-1931
   • The New Era — 11-20-1932
Yuna Umeki
   • Delivery Service — 12-06-1934
   • Kunan Ishin — 01-22-1937
   • Daitō Seisen — 06-24-1939
   • Chopsticks and Arrangements — 12-16-1943
   • Underway — 02-02-1944
   • Shinzen kekkon — 02-02-1944
   • Reasons — 02-02-1944
   • Guests — 03-16-1944
   • The Castle of Hatsukaichi — 03-28-1944
   • Sayonara, Hatsukaichi — 03-29-1944
   • Belonging — 04-03-1944
   • Lectures for Survival — 05-06-1944
   • The First Raid — 06-14-1944
   • Port of Call — 06-24-1944
   • Reunion — 06-25-1944
   • Black Market Blues — 08-04-1944
   • The Palace of the Dragon God — 08-04-1944
   • The Unending Dream — 09-15-1944
   • Ride Through the Dark — 11-19-1944
   • The Canvas of Smoke and Flame — 03-16-1945
   • Far Above — 04-08-1945
   • Sacrifice — 04-14-1945
   • Calling — 05-05-1945
   • The Farewell — 05-15-1945
   • Survivors — 06-24-1945
   • Delayed — 06-25-1945
   • Murderer — 06-28-1945
   • Fire on the Mountain, Part One — 07-01-1945
   • Fire on the Mountain, Part Two — 07-02-1945
   • "I'm Glad." — 07-19-1945
   • The Coward — 07-28-1945
   • Dawn of a New Age — 08-05-1945
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Other Characters
   • Isao KimuraThe Pilot's Request — 11-11-1944
   • Character — |
   • Character — |
   • Character — |
« Last Edit: March 05, 2024, 03:12:39 PM by Daitō »

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Re: A Lifetime of Change (Historical Vignettes set from 1891 - 2011)
« Reply #1 on: September 27, 2021, 03:05:56 AM »
Standing in Line
Isahaya Ward, Shinkyō
UTC 0900
August 20, 1914


The station was rather crowded, more than normal, actually. What was less normal than even that, however, was the large volume of soldiers there. Of course, that was no surprise, after all, war had been declared upon the Ardian Empire just nineteen days prior. Something about an ally getting attacked, Haruto thought, even as he stepped forwards in the line to the train. He still remembered the day the mobilization order was issued as though it were yesterday, especially the way he felt. While now, he felt apprehensive of what lay ahead, he also felt a certain... joy, in a way. He'd grown up hearing tales of samurai and of great battles, of the conquests of the Tōitsu Emperor, and of glory earned on the field of battle. Now, he too would get the chance to take part in glory.

Another step forwards, another soldier aboard the train. Of course, those boarding were already trained; Even he had undergone it as part of his mandatory service upon turning eighteen. 'Course, this was something that would undoubtedly change, after all, more men would likely be needed before the end. He almost distracted himself wondering where he might one day end up. Maybe the shores of Floodwater, or perhaps some far-flung island in the Alucard?
   "Next!" a man in uniform said, the insignia on his collar and shoulders indicating that he was a Gunsō— a Sergeant— while his face, weathered as it was, clearly communicated that he was at least thirty-five but no older than forty. So, Haruto would step forwards. "Name?" He would be asked by the older sergeant.
   "Haruto Kimura." He reported as the sergeant wrote something in a ledger.
   "Date of birth?" The sergeant asked with a sigh as he looked at the line behind Haruto.
   "April 4th, 2552."[1] Haruto responded.
   "Place of Birth and current residence?"
   "Born here in Isahaya. I live at 102 Kashiwa-Dōri... Well, before the mobilization order, anyways."
   "Not asking for your life story. Okay, Division, regiment, and battalion?"
   "2nd Infantry, 4th Regiment, 1st Battalion."
   "Huh... Interesting. One last question: Next of kin?"
   "Why are you asking?" Haruto said, confused for a moment by the question.
   "In case you die, go missing, or are wounded. That way, at least someone knows." The sergeant asked with a sigh; it was clear he had been asked this many times before.
   "My parents, Daisuke and Etsuko. Got a sister... Her name is Ayuka. Also a-"
   "That's all I needed to know. Not interested in who you may be sweet on. Take this." The sergeant said, handing him a ticket. "Hold onto that until you reach the front." He said as he ushered Haruto aboard the train before shouting "Next!" once more.

And so, Haruto boarded the train, next stop... Well, actually, there'd be multiple stops before they reached their destination. But eventually, he would be going to the front, and likewise, farther from home than he ever imagined. As he watched the station fall behind him from a small window in the car, he wondered where this journey would lead.
 1. This date would be April 4th, 1892 on the Gregorian Calendar
« Last Edit: August 22, 2022, 10:59:39 AM by Daitō »

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Re: A Lifetime of Change (Historical Vignettes set from 1891 - 2011)
« Reply #2 on: August 14, 2022, 01:00:50 PM »
First Contact
Warning: This post contains: violence. If this bothers you, turn away now.
Tanzawa Mountains, Southwest Daitō
UTC 1133
September 19, 1914


The sun bore down on the men of the second infantry, who found themselves marching through the northern tip of the Tanzawa mountains, not far from the Ardian border. At nearly a month into his service, Haruto found himself further from the sea than he had ever been before; his father was a fisherman, as had his father before him, and his father before him, and so on and so forth for generations. Suffice to say, for a boy who had grown up on the water, this was quite different from anything he had experienced before. He had heard tales of the Ardians, of their brutality during the last war back in the 1850s, and yet, they said that all they would need was a kick in the pants and they would be running back to Cescedia before the new year. Their commanding officer, a Rikugun-Shōi[1] by the name of Eisaku Tachikawa, had taken up the lead thus far.

For his part, Haruto found himself conversing with another recruit, a man by the name of Hajime. From what he knew, Hajime, whose family was of some importance back home, hailed from the east of the country, from around Awara. Probably some sort of retainers to the Taira, if he were to guess, but after the restoration they had lost what status they had. Still, it was clear to him that, while Hajime was hoping to earn glory on the battlefield so as to restore his family's status to some degree, he was in it more for the Empire itself.
   "...I dunno, Haruto, I mean I'd love nothing more than to give Gripus[2] a thrashing, I'd rather do it when we aren't on a tight schedule." Hajime said in a semi-serious manner, his eyes scanning the ridges of the valley for movement.
   "Sure, not like we have much of a choice though. Would be nice if Tachikawa-Shōi would give us a break, but you know how he is." Replied Haruto, shifting his rifle on his shoulder as the bolt had begun to dig into his skin a tad.
   "Mhm... Sure beats being out here exposed to the elements, I guess." Hajime stated in agreement before adding "Come to think of it, it is rather odd that we haven't seen them yet."
   "Maybe they fled when they received word we were coming?" Haruto noted with a chuckle before their commander raised his hand, motioning for them to stop in their tracks. The platoon went silent at that moment as Tachikawa slowly crept forwards. Was he just being paranoid, or perhaps he had actually seen something?

*CRACK*

A bullet whizzed by, striking one of Haruto's brothers-in-arms in, as it happened, the arm.
   "AMBUSH!" Eisaku shouted as Haruto raised his rifle, a Type 34 and gunfire erupted along the mountainside. Someone shouted that they should retreat, another that they had the Ardians on the run. Simply put, it was chaos. Though in later days he wouldn't admit it, Haruto's nerves had failed him completely. He had been scared pale and senseless, almost frozen in place until Hajime pulled him to the ground, only to be shot dead mere moments later. After coming to his senses, all he heard was gunfire and the screams of the dying on the mountainside. Not just Daitōjin, but Ardian too. He leveled his gun, spotting an Ardian gunner just ahead, up on the ridge.

*BANG*

He fired his rifle, aiming for the man's chest. He fell, tumbling down the mountainside before finally coming to a stop, his skin bruised, his body mangled by the fall. Not long after, the tide had begun to shift. He saw two men fleeing from them. Two shots. One in the gut, the other in the leg. The two Ardians met with a similar fate, their screams echoing throughout the valley as they plummeted to their deaths. It was truly dreadful, he would admit that much later on, but he had no choice. It was either he kill, or he would be killed. With the skirmish at a close, they took stock of their losses. Eight dead, five wounded, and three missing out of fifty men. Having survived his first contact with the foe, Haruto, alongside the men of the second infantry platoon, continued on their way, unable to even bury their dead.

If this were to be his first taste of combat, Haruto felt nothing but dread for what was to come.

 1. Rikugun-Shōi: "Rikugun-Shōi", a title within the Imperial Daitōjin Army, translates roughly as Sub-Lieutenant, alternatively as Second Lieutenant. An officer of this rank is referred to as -Name--Shōi
 2. "Gripus" was a nickname for the Ardians in those days among the Daitōjin, much as "Ivan" is for the Russians in reality.
« Last Edit: August 14, 2022, 02:18:03 PM by Daitō »

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Re: A Lifetime of Change (Historical Vignettes set from 1891 - 2011)
« Reply #3 on: August 15, 2022, 08:03:47 AM »
Watching the Mountain of Souls
Tanzawa Mountains, Southwest Daitō
UTC 1700
November 27, 1914


Ice cold wind battered Haruto's position, cut into rock and ice upon the summit of Mount Suiken, one hundred or so kilometers from the old capital in Tenkyō. As the snow had ceased momentarily, he had a momentary reprieve, able to see their next objective, Mount Ushiro, just across the ways. In fighting like this, elevation was everything, and Ushiro had it, standing nearly seventy meters higher than their current position, which was, if Haruto had to guess, around four and a half kilometers from sea level. He wasn't entirely sure why it was so important of course; he had heard talk that it could be used as a position for their artillery, able to rain down fire into the nearby Yamanori valley, but that was just one guess of many. In all likelihood, it was just a matter of pushing the front forwards more than anything, something that would become far easier once they were past the alps.

He remained silent, his eyes trained on the mountain. Other than the wind, it was quiet. Not a surprise, a blizzard had ripped through the area mere hours before after all. Soon, the fighting would likely resume. As he kept watch, another soldier walked up and tried to strike a conversation.
   "Y'know, weren't we supposed to be in Saito by now?" The private asked, to which Haruto sighed, his breath turning to mist in the cold air.
   "...Yes, Yasuki. Yes we were." Haruto replied, eyes remaining on the mountain.
   "I bet that mountain's why we haven't moved on." The private, Yasuki Okada, said, which everyone knew of course. "You know what the locals say about it, Haruto?"
   "What?" Haruto asked, briefly humoring him.
   "Well, they say that anyone who tries to climb it never comes back." Yasuki noted as he too looked over to the mountain. "They call it Kon'noyama[1]."
   "How nice, the folks around here have their own name for it. How quaint."
Yasuki nodded in agreement before finally reporting "In any case, I suppose I'm here to relieve you."
   "I stand relieved." Haruto said before heading back inside the dugout. In just a few weeks, they would be seizing the mountain. After that, it was anyone's guess where they would be going.
 1. "Kon'noyama" translates as "Mountain of Souls"

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Re: A Lifetime of Change (Historical Vignettes set from 1891 - 2011)
« Reply #4 on: August 21, 2022, 02:01:14 PM »
The Battle of Kon'noyama
Warning: This post contains: violence. If this bothers you, turn away now.
Tanzawa Mountains, Southwest Daitō
UTC 0800
December 11, 1914


The whistles blared as Haruto and his compatriots, his countrymen, clambered up the mountainside, the way made for them by the boys in His Majesty's Tozan-ka[1], first regiment, if he remembered correctly. Whether or not they took the mountain, this was going to be the last major operation until spring, as the winter weather simply wouldn't allow them to advance. Instead, it would be a battle with the elements, fending off frostbite and hypothermia rather than bullet and shell. He glanced down over the cliff, watching as something odd flew past. It appeared like a bird, its wings grand, yet it was no bird. Its wings did not flap, it made a most dreadful buzzing noise, and painted upon its wings was the Hinomaru, the circle of the sun. Finally, he realized what it was. At long last, he was getting to see an airplane in person.

In spite of this miraculous sight, Haruto, now a corporal owing to a field promotion, pushed forwards, rifle in hand, bayonet affixed. A loud boom sounded throughout the area as a shell landed nearby, shaking the earth as though it were a table in an earthquake. Debris fell all around, and yet, they still marched on into what would undoubtedly be their deaths. Bodies lay along the trail, their eyes glazed like glass, blood staining the snow and ice. The fighting was already so horrible, and they were going straight into it. Seeing this sight—realizing this was quite possibly the end—he would briefly recite the nenbutsu as he stepped forwards, prepared for what was to come.

A few minutes passed before they reached the enemy position, quickly coming under a hail of fire from one of many bunkers carved into the heights. Someone tossed a grenade, little more than some picric acid and iron attached to a stick, towards the Ardian bunker, yet for a moment it seemed like it may not make it through. These weapons had numerous issues, after all, but it was what they had. Thankfully, this time it succeeded, and a loud thud could be heard as the guns went silent. In the time between contact and the bunker being neutralized, a great many men including Sub-Lieutenant Tachikawa had fallen to machinegun fire. This loss troubled many of the men, but not Haruto. Rather, he took his CO's sword, not really intending to keep it but rather so that it wouldn't fall into the hands of the enemy. Such weapons were, after all, said to be quite valuable among the Ardian ranks. That and he hoped that it would be returned to Tachikawa's family, owing to the blade being something of an heirloom, or so he'd been told.
   "Forwards!" He cried, waving his hand, motioning for them to advance. The whistle of mortar shells foretold their impact, falling short of their intended target and taking two of Haruto's men. They were now close enough to the enemy lines that they could hear them speak in their alien tongue, indecipherable to all but a trained listener. With a great shout, he and his men fell upon the Ardians, bayonets glinting in the morning sun. A great many men were slain that day, yet the day would not be theirs.

Haruto nearly froze up when he saw the Ardian rifle leveled towards him. His eyes widened as he glimpsed the flash, he knew it was for him. He ducked behind cover, his head barely poking out over the rock, but it would not be enough. Though he would not be directly hit, the bullet fragmented upon contact with the ground, a shard striking him near his left eye and leaving him blinded by blood in said eye. The pain was terrible, he could not deny it, but if he didn't act now, there was no way that anyone would be getting home today. Thus, biting back the pain, he raised his rifle and returned fire, calling for a retreat as he did so. He heard another shell fall, striking not far from him and knocking him off his feet. He saw, by his side, what looked like a hand, though mangled beyond any recognition. It wasn't his, thankfully, but that was enough of a "kick in the pants", as it were, to tell him that they needed to get out of there, and fast. The volume of artillery fire had begun to increase, and many shells had begun to hit the snow above. If Daitō couldn't have the mountain, as was clear to Corporal Kimura at this point, then it seemed likely that they would deny it to the Ardians as well. And so, they ran. Daitō's finest fled, doing what the locals had thought inconceivable. Kon'noyama would not claim them, not today.

Thus, having gotten clear of the peak to some degree, Haruto saw a great white cloud of snow envelop the site they had fought so desperately to claim. He was, from that point onwards, sent home as he had leave for a time coming up.

 1. "Tozan-ka", an Onishi term, translates as "Mountaineers"
« Last Edit: August 22, 2022, 04:24:30 PM by Daitō »

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Re: A Lifetime of Change (Historical Vignettes set from 1891 - 2011)
« Reply #5 on: August 23, 2022, 12:19:54 AM »
Home again
Isahaya Ward, Shinkyō
UTC 1400
December 29, 1914


Haruto stepped off the train and onto the platform, back where he had started after just over four months. His uniform was left ragged, damaged by the elements up in the Tanzawa Mountains and and by enemy fire. Just four months, and already he was sent home. What 'luck' he had, being sent home, likely to be transferred out to Toshikawa alongside the rest of his unit. Adjusting his kit-bag so that it rested well on his back, he then straightened his cap as he walked towards the exit. Just four months alone had been enough to change the city drastically; sure, there were still many people, but you couldn't take a few steps without running into a newspaper reporting on the latest events of the war.
   "Haruto! Over here!" A voice called out. Haruto looked around, trying to find who was calling him. Then, he saw him. His elder brother, Jiro, was leaning against a column, kitted out in his naval uniform as he smoked a cigarette.
   "Jiro, what are you doing here?" Haruto asked in response, a nearly child-like joy overtaking him as he walked over to join him. "It's been, what, six months since we last saw each other?"
   "Seven months as of last Tuesday, as a matter of fact." Jiro corrected him with a nod, offering a cigarette, which Haruto accepted. "As for your question, father asked that I get you."
   "Ah, fair enough. How's he doing, by the way?"
   "Not too badly, all things considered. Doctor says his arm's mending rather well, after the accident I mean."
   "Right, well, I'm sure he'll be happy to get back out on the water soon." Haruto said, lighting his cig as he glanced around the area; more and more troops boarding trains and less civilians, and those civilians who were present were boarding last. "That reminds me, how's life on the Tochigi? I'm sure you're getting to spend your days in the tropics, living a life of leisure." He asked in a joking manner.
   "Yeah... It's quite wonderful. Up in the Kyne, the 'rain' is so nice. In fact, some say it's to die for." Jiro responded in turn. "Seriously though, it could be better, but it could be a lot worse. It's the kami's providence that we can get out of port without getting attacked." He pointed out as he checked his watch; they really needed to get going soon. "In any case, lets get you home, huh?"
   "Yes, lets." Haruto nodded as the two left the station before catching a trolley towards home.

As the trolley pulled into Kashiwa-Dōri, the pair stepped off and continued walking. Their stop wasn't far from home, just a block away. His mind went over what he might say as they approached the door. Truthfully, he didn't know who would be there when he got home; it was just about three in the afternoon, after all, so not everyone was likely to be home by now. He only wished he could've gotten home sooner. Still, he could only imagine the look on his mother's face when she saw him, especially with the fresh new scar near his eye.

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Re: A Lifetime of Change (Historical Vignettes set from 1891 - 2011)
« Reply #6 on: August 30, 2022, 07:35:08 PM »
The Letter
Isahaya Ward, Shinkyō
UTC 0730
January 04, 1915


Cold air swept the streets of Shinkyō early in the morning of the fourth of January. Haruto found himself reading the morning paper, getting caught up with the war before he was supposed to ship out, or at least, so he thought. He glanced down at his lap, where a letter rested, already opened, but he wanted to keep his mind off of it for the time being. It was a lot to take in, after all. So instead, here he sat, reading the latest on the war. Apparently, not even a week ago, Mount Ushiro had finally been taken, and yet once again, the Empire's finest were stuck in a stalemate just a few kilometers from the Yamanori valley. At this pace, it'd take at least another two years before they'd be in Saito, if they were lucky. Thankfully, they had the kami on their side, unlike Gripus, but he wasn't so sure if that would be enough.

It felt like every day, they heard about how a ship had been lost or some far-flung town on the peninsula had been seized, and yet, there was still a certain optimism among the people that victory would be achieved. Perhaps it was the defiant Yamato-damashii—the Ōnishi Spirit—which drove them forwards, as had been drilled into his mind since he was a mere child, or perhaps it was merely a desire to exact vengeance for the disaster of 1859. Whatever the case may be, it was hard to see how it could get worse now. Now, all that was left was to see the sun rise through the clouds once more. He just hoped, no, he prayed that he would live to see it for himself.

The sound of footsteps drew closer, not on the street but from behind him, within the house. Who could it be, Haruto pondered for but a moment, as he continued to study the paper, looking for news on the Peninsular theatre, hopeful that, at least somewhere, the tides of war were favorable. Alas, that was not the case. Like in the Tanazawa mountains, a stalemate had fallen across the frontlines, with neither side able to achieve any major gains but rather trapped in a quagmire of trenches and wire. In a word, based on how it was described, it was hell. He couldn't help but feel glad that he wasn't there and that he had been sent this letter, for if he were, he was certain he would perish. His thoughts on this were soon interrupted though, for as he turned the page, the door slid open and out stepped a man in his early fifties, his arm in a sling following an accident a few months back.
   "O-tōsan.[1]" Haruto said with a nod as he glanced to look. "You heading to your appointment?"
   "Yep. Doc said this'll be my final appointment and then I can get out of this sling and back to work." Daisuke—His father—replied with a smile as he glanced down at his son and at the paper. "Y'know, I never got to ask, what's it like out there. On the frontlines, I mean."
   "Why?" Haruto asked, confused by the question, or rather, by why he was asking.
   "Well, you see, some of my friends are saying that the papers aren't telling the whole truth, so I thought I'd get it from someone who had be-"
   "With all due respect, father, I'm not particularly comfortable talking about it." Haruto said, cutting his father off as he looked down at the ground.
   "That's alright." Daisuke said, his brow pulled together. "At any rate, you give any thoughts about what you want to do when this is all over?"
   "Honestly, I haven't given it much thought. I know Jiro will be taking over the business once you retire, but as for me? I really don't know." Haruto lied, not specifically to his father but rather to himself. "I mean, I got a letter... It said I've been accepted into the academy, but... I don't know if I could make it through, if I'm actually cut out for it."
   "W-why didn't you say that sooner?" His father, exasperated by the revelation, asked.
   "I don't know if I'm going to accept it." Haruto noted as he picked it up from his lap. "It's at least another ten years in the service if I do."
   "Perhaps, but even so, the pay must be really good at that point. You'd be able to choose any life you'd like after that, especially if—no, when—you get promoted."
With a sigh, Haruto admitted "...that's a good point." as he looked back at his father. He could finally match Jiro, a lieutenant in the navy, even if it meant he would be responsible for a great many people. "Okay. Against my better judgement, I'll do it."
   "That's my boy." Daisuke said, patting his son's back before walking off. Before he left, he would wave and shout for Haruto to pick up something for dinner, given what a momentous occasion this was to be.

 1. "O-tōsan" is an honorific term for one's father.

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Re: A Lifetime of Change (Historical Vignettes set from 1891 - 2011)
« Reply #7 on: August 31, 2022, 07:41:24 PM »
Farewell
Isahaya Ward, Shinkyō
UTC 1800
April 13, 1916


Haruto stepped towards the station, the silver star on twin bars of red that adorned his collar glistening in the evening sun. Having made it through the academy, he was being assigned once more to the western front, where a breakthrough had been made nearly a year back. Finally, after nearly two years, the army was in the great Yamanori Valley, a great plain nestled between the Tanzawa and Ryōhaku mountains, whereupon the city of Saito lay nestled along the coast. Fifty-seven years it had been since it was taken, and he would get to take part in its liberation, or die trying. Either way, he felt duty-bound to serve the Empire in this most noble pursuit.

He turned back as he approached the steps to the door, a shaky smile upon his face as he looked back on his family, which had gathered to see him off. Well, everyone who could, anyways. His brother was out at sea again, no doubt giving the Ardians hell after the Battle of Miyakejima last February, which saw a great many ships lost on both sides but Daitō and her allies attaining a strategic victory. He walked over to them one last time, wishing to say his final goodbyes before he was off to the front. Oh how he hated goodbyes; he was never good at them, but now, he wasn't even sure if he would return.
   "O-tōsan..." He said, turning to his father. "Thank you for everything. I wouldn't be able to have this opportunity were it not for you."
   "Take care, son." His father said, his voice soft and fragile. "Make sure you write us once in a while, I'd love to know how the Army's treating you."
   "I will see what I can do." Haruto said before turning to his mother. "O-kāsan, I promise, I will come home." He said, offering a hug for a moment as he thought of what else there was to say.
   "I'll be praying for your safe return, Haruto." Etsuko—His mother—said in a calm manner, though her eyes betrayed a sense of worry for her son, soon to go off to war once again. She wouldn't say anything else, for what else could be said?
   "Ayuka... Stay strong, for me." He finally said to his sister before turning away, making his way back towards the station, waving as he walked.

He passed through the door, looking up at the sign which read "Isahaya-eki", Isahaya station, a sight which was so very familiar to him now. He boarded his train, and soon he was off to the front, to Saito. Either glory or death awaited, and he was ready for either. As the city began to fade away, he looked down at a card he had been given before he left, the sender unknown, likely a friend of the family, which read something along the lines of
   "Though we may not see each other again alive, know that you are forever in our prayers so that peace may one day be yours."
He chuckled as he placed the card aside, content to watch the countryside go by. Many stops would be made as more and more soldiers boarded the train, but in time, fields and rivers, cities and roads, gave way to mountains and valleys, and soon, they would arrive.

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Re: A Lifetime of Change (Historical Vignettes set from 1891 - 2011)
« Reply #8 on: September 01, 2022, 06:48:38 AM »
Under Ashen Skies
9km outside of Saito
UTC 1100
April 20, 1916


The sky was gray with smoke, mixed with the clouds as artillery thundered throughout the land. Where vibrant green grass once grew, the ground was left scarred and brown, and one could've struggled to imagine that anything had ever lived here. The smell was horrible, a mix of rotting flesh, smoke, and sulfur among other things which, no matter where you went, you could never quite escape for long. Haruto had never seen anything like this outside of the photographs shown during his time in the academy, and certainly never in such vivid detail as this. Nonetheless, he and a party of other men continued their way through the snaking trenches, eventually reaching one of many dugouts on the line. There, they were greeted by the commanding officer of their company, one Captain Sakichi Umezaki.
   "So, you're the replacements, huh?" Sakichi said, his voice gravelly; he was, by comparison to Haruto and a few of the other men in the unit, rather short, his hair black and cut short, and his skin was tanned and rough. In spite of what he had said, it was clear, given the expression he wore, that he was far more welcoming than may have been expected. "What's your name, son?" He asked Haruto first.
   "Haruto Kimura-shōi, sir!" Haruto shouted, his eyes forwards as he almost instinctively snapped to attention.
   "At ease, Kimura-shōi. And you?" He said, asking the corporal next to Haruto.
   "Atsuya Sugeno-gochō, sir." The Corporal—Atsuya—replied. Sakichi would continue to ask the same question as he went through the group, five in total, after which he would move on from simple introductions.
   "Okay, now that that's done, lets set some ground rules." The captain said as he grabbed a sheet of paper off his "desk", which was little more than a makeshift wooden table in the corner of his dugout. "Lets see... First of all, and this should go without saying, keep your heads down at all times. Second, keep your feet dry. I've seen enough people have the mud eat their feet clean off to know that much. And of course, follow your orders when given them. You do all of that and you may just make it. Understood?"
   "Yes sir!" The group said at once.
   "Good. One last thing, in about a week, we'll be transferring back to the secondary trench, then back to the reserve trench a week after that. Then we're back here. Best of luck, and... try not to get yourselves killed."
UTC 0500-1900
April 22-September 21, 1916


Haruto had awoken early, or at least, early by the standards back home. Here, waking up at three in the morning was normal for someone on his shift, allowed him to be ready should he be needed. Now, however, as the sun began to rise, he and his men had been ordered to "stand-to", to guard the frontline from any potential attack by the Ardians. Of course, given the nature of the war, it was decided a while back, before he had been transferred here, that the soldiers would exchange fire, no doubt to remind Gripus that they were, in fact, still there. This lasted thirty minutes, after which, given that there was thankfully no assault, they had inspection and then breakfast, alongside their daily ration of liquor, typically rum, but sometimes other spirits snuck in. Then it was onto various chores; thankfully, Haruto found himself filling sandbags instead of having to repair the trench or worse.

Shells as always rained down around them, even as the previous watch retired for the day so that they could take over in the evening. It was like an orchestra of death, the mortars whistled like flutes and struck like drums. It was a shame Haruto thought, that there was no stringed instrument to go along with it, at least, he thought that until he was reminded of the razor wire, at which point he would realize it was probably for the best. Of course, the shouts for people to take cover were the vocal performance in this maddening symphony. Lunch would provide a brief respite from it; even if the food itself was, in a word, awful, it took his mind off of what was going on around them, at least until a shell inevitably struck nearby sending everyone looking for cover.

Unfortunately, nothing good ever seemed to last, and inevitably, the characteristic shouts of "Medic to the front!" and "Help!" meant that someone had been wounded or worse in a process known to the men as "wastage". A great many people died each month; in June alone, Haruto counted at least sixty men either wounded or killed in his battalion alone, and he was certain similarly high casualties were common elsewhere along the line as well. It was a shame to see so many go, as most were still practically kids, barely old enough to serve. They had spirit, but spirit alone didn't win wars. If it did, they'd already be halfway to the Ardian capital by now. Far too many times, he had found a newcomer blown to bits, to the point that he'd have to put them in sandbags simply to bury them. It was only right that they were frequently rotated off the line; if they weren't, then by the kami, Haruto swore he would've gone stark mad.

As days turned to weeks and weeks to months, Haruto began to settle into the monotony of life on the trenches, never moving forwards, save for the occasional raid which he was never included on and the occasional defense against an Ardian assault, but rather holding their position until the order to attack was given. He would find himself, whenever he got the chance, sketching the things he saw, a world turned on its head under the ashen skies above, but also the natural beauty of the countryside whenever he had leave. Though he wouldn't consider himself an artist by any means, his men rather liked it, and if it meant a boost to morale, then that was just fine. However, on one morning in September, everything was to change. The future had come, and he would be taking part in the charge.

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Re: A Lifetime of Change (Historical Vignettes set from 1891 - 2011)
« Reply #9 on: September 01, 2022, 03:44:43 PM »
Over the Top
Warning: This post contains: violence. If this bothers you, turn away now.
9km outside of Saito
UTC 0500
September 21, 1916


The shelling had steadily increased since the seventeenth; once a "mild annoyance", though any newcomer would see it otherwise, now not a moment went by that some explosion was heard nearby as a previously quiet section of the front came to life. It never seemed to stop, just going on and on into the wee hours of the night and beyond, from sunrise to sunset, from midday to midnight. Haruto often noted that he felt as though he could feel his heart pounding against the ground whenever a shell fell short of its target, the Ardian-built and held Fort St. Michael, which was soon to be attacked. Every so often, he would find a fragment of jagged iron or some other metal, nearly red-hot and weighing nearly half a kilo, landed in the trench. He would also frequently see shrapnel shells burst in the air, spraying bullets on the poor troops below as though they were a shotgun. These sights and sounds only increased on the night of the twenty-first.

Haruto could see, off in the distance, hundreds and hundreds of flashes from the guns, shining through the early morning fog. The ground shook like it were a most dreadful earthquake, the air roared like a tempest. It was when everyone had been asked to hand over their personal belongings to Captain Umezaki that he knew, quite simply, that today was the day that they finally went over the top. He stood at the firing line, near one of probably thousands of ladders and tens of thousands of men, waiting for the signal. Today would see Daitō's new army make history, a test of tactics which would, with any luck, break this stalemate at long last. He occasionally heard someone ask how many would live to see the next sunrise, a question he could not answer, nor did he wish to think of it, for to consider their losses would've made him sick.

He couldn't say he felt fear; he knew what was coming, had accepted that he might not make it. After all, it was never hard to die. Rather, it was just another job for him, so if his death came, then it came. Sooner or later, he was going to get killed or wounded, so why give it thought now? It could wait until then. Perhaps the least pleasant part of the wait was simply that he had nothing to do, nothing but to think about what had led him to this point and how he was going to achieve the task at hand. The shells rose to a crescendo, setting both the sky and his mind on fire as they passed overhead. All of a sudden, somewhere down the line, someone broke, started crying, screaming, really. The officer in charge of that segment shouted something along the lines of "Find that man and shoot him! Shoot him!" No doubt, he thought that his wailing would be a danger to the rest of his men, though Haruto couldn't help but feel somewhat sympathetic. Not everyone could handle the rigors of the war.

He turned to look to the man at his side, to Atsuya Sugeno, the corporal who had joined him when they arrived back in April. He was glad to see that he was still alive, and he hoped and prayed that he would survive. He cleared his throat as he rested his right hand on his pistol, an Akizuki Type 33, and his left on his sword, a badge of office and a handy weapon in close quarters.
   "Hey, Atsuya." He said, leaning slightly against the wall of the trench, frequently blinking not out of any anxiety but due to the dust that had been kicked up.
   "Hm?" Atsuya looked up at him as he was cleaning his rifle. "What do you need, sir?"
   "Oh, nothin'. Just checking on you." He said as he patted his back. "Stick with me, we'll stand a better chance of making it through this together."
   "Sounds good. Now, if you don't mind." Atsuya replied as he went back to cleaning.
   "Oh, right. Sorry." Haruto said before turning back to the ladder.
UTC 0700

Everyone found themselves stand at attention on the line, waiting for their orders to be given. Today would be a test of new tactics, rather than striking across the line in a great human wave, they would target weak points in the line, bypassing strongpoints, saving both blood and time, while cutting them off from their headquarters and supply depots, while a force would charge them for a few hours so as to serve as a diversion. This would be achieved alongside new weapons, from air-dropped bombs and great metal beasts (tanks) to flamethrowers and a few machine pistols, which would give them a further edge against their foe. Soon, a call came down the line: it was time.
   "Fix bayonets!" Captain Umezaki shouted off in the distance.
   "This is it..." Haruto said as he readied his weapon. "Finally, we're advancing."
   "Company! One pace forwards!" The officer said, and they stepped forwards. "Stand ready!"
   "Here's hoping we make it home." Grumbled one soldier. Another was reciting a prayer, but most remained silent. Nothing they did would change what was to come.
   "On my signal, company will advance!"
   "Okay, lets get this over with." Haruto said as he grabbed his whistle. A few seconds later, along the line, such whistles sounded, and he would say "Best of luck, everyone." before blowing his as well. With a great roar, everyone charged up the ladders and into no-man's land, where many were cut down. When they said it was a weak point they were charging, that never meant it would be easy to actually make the breach.
No Man's Land
UTC 0710


It was like hell had opened up, releasing horrors beyond comprehension as Haruto and his men rushed forth. Machinegun bullets came at them like hailstones, shells fell like raindrops. As Haruto looked around, he saw men dropping all around like flies, just fading away on all sides. He thus made the decision, like he and his men had been trained, to advance from cover to cover, either in a shell-crater or behind a boulder. At one point, he saw a man fall beside him, the top of his head blown clean off, matter exposed in the crisp morning air. On another occasion, he saw a lad who had been hit in the leg, who continued with great effort, hopping along on the one leg. It was horrible, yet he wasn't too bothered at this point; whether it was simply his fight or flight response kicking in or just because he was desensitized to the violence, he couldn't say, not that it mattered now. What mattered now was to survive, and if that could be achieved, to achieve their Day One objective.

It would not be too long before they reached the enemy line, at which point, Haruto and a few others readied their grenades. On his signal, they tossed them, and a few moments later, a loud *BANG* could be heard, followed by the agonized screams of the foe. Then, with a great yell, they charged into the trench, stumbling over the dead. The few who survived put up a brief fight, but beyond that, the trench was poorly defended. Their intel was correct, and they could commence with the next phase of the operation. The next few hours would see Daitō's finest surge forth, capturing command posts and supply depots while encircling the Ardians in their positions, to be mopped up by the regulars. A nearly perfect operation, and now, the path forwards lay open, to encircle Saito and slowly but surely take it. It seemed like the war could actually be on the verge of ending, and with a decisive victory too, but that was not to be. And yet, Haruto survived, as did Atsuya and Captain Umezaki, too. If they could survive that, then perhaps, they could survive anything.

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Re: A Lifetime of Change (Historical Vignettes set from 1891 - 2011)
« Reply #10 on: September 01, 2022, 10:59:04 PM »
At every turn
Warning: This post contains: violence. If this bothers you, turn away now.
Hirai, Saito
UTC 1800
October 21, 1916


Haruto and his men crept along the streets of Saito's Hirai neighborhood, which, though scarred, still resembled a proper city. Occasionally, much to the chagrin of some, they would hear footsteps, think they were the Ardians, then investigate only to find that they were, in fact, just the relatively few civilians still in the city. Some had been living here their entire lives, their families present in the area for centuries. Others were migrants from other parts of the Ardian Empire, mostly Ardian but some Andean and a few others, brought to the city after the war. What they all shared in common with each other, and what they shared with the remaining Ardian forces in the city, was that they were cut off, trapped in the city, with any Ardian ships entering and leaving the port being both used by the military alone and harassed by gunfire on the part of the Daitōjin army and navy. Efforts had been made by Daitōjin forces to evacuate what parts of the city they held, but they had been met with opposition by some and difficulties otherwise, and thus, the city was still somewhat heavily populated.

Thus, as Haruto's men approached an intersection between two streets, surrounded by a group of buildings two or three stories high, they found themselves in a false sense of security. More often than not, they had run into civilians; since entering the city a month back, they had only personally encountered Gripus once or twice. They'd heard gunfire off in the distance, of course, but for the most part, this part of the front was mostly quiet as the main part of the fighting had moved on.
   "I wish we were out in the Ryōhaku's, fighting the main force instead of mopping up." A private by the name of Daigo Hanamura complained as they walked forwards.
   "Oh, don't kid yourself, the Army's nowhere near them yet. They only just crossed the Nojiri a week ago." Atsuya replied, his rifle slung over his shoulder. "That's at least a good two-hundred kilometers east of those mountains." He noted before saying "Besides, trust me, you've got it easy out here. A warm-ish bed, good food, not to mention you're rarely having to do any fighting... This is far, far better than freezing your arse off in the mountains this time of year."
   "The Corporal's got a point." Haruto said with a nod as he watched the area around them for movement. "It really is-" He paused, crouched, and held up his hand to signal for his platoon to halt. He didn't like what he was seeing, the spot seemed perfect for an ambush.
   "Why are we stopped?" A private whispered in the rear of the formation.
   "Lieutenant's got one of his feelings again, I bet." Daigo replied as he looked up ahead.
   "Hanamura, Asai, take point." Haruto said, concerned that this may be an ambush.
With a sigh, the pair obliged, moving to the front of the group and advancing into the small square. Slowly but surely, they made it through, finding it to apparently be deserted.
   "It's all clea-" Daigo tried to say as gunfire erupted and he fell to the ground, clutching a wound in his chest as he found himself gasping for air. A hail of machinegun fire ripped through the area, soon striking another private further back in the gut, his agonized screams echoing through the city like a shout in a cave.
   "Ambush!" Haruto shouted. "Get off the road, find cover!" He continued without missing a beat, looking desperately for where the gunfire was coming from. When he finally spotted the enemy position, he would turn to a few of his men and ordered for them to provide covering fire, at which point, he and Atsuya would rush push forwards, hoping to be able to silence the machinegun nest if at all possible, and if not, then to rescue their fallen comrade if at all possible.

As they ran, Haruto felt his heart racing, ducking away from fire by both friend and foe. He heard the crack of bullets as they narrowly missed him, he could almost feel one go right above his helmet. He wasn't scared or anything, not really, anyways, but it was a stressful situation he was running headfirst into. Each step felt like it lasted for an hour, each breath dragging out into an eternity, but in time, he would reach the building which had been made the enemy's position. However, before he got too close, he felt as though something had stung him in the shoulder. He didn't pay it any mind, at least until he went to throw his grenade, only to be overcome with a searing pain. He looked to his left shoulder, and much to his surprise, he had been shot. It wasn't like before, when he had been hit with a fragment of a bullet back in 1914, he had suffered a direct hit. Were it not such dire circumstances, he would've considered retreating, but his men needed him. Thus, he grit his teeth, pulled the cord on his grenade, then tossed it through the second-story window where they were taking fire from.
   "4... 3... 2... 1..." He counted down the time from throwing it in his head, hoping it would work. Unfortunately, it didn't, and thus, they had to take a more direct approach to silencing the guns. It seemed quite possible to him that he may have improperly pulled the cord, or that it had bounced off, after all, the pain was quite noticeable. As a result, the pair entered the building quietly and snuck upstairs, careful to minimize any noise they could make. Then, when reached the room where they had been receiving fire from earlier, Atsuya kicked the door in and the pair entered the room, their weapons raised. Haruto then shouted for the crew of three to drop their weapons, otherwise they would be shot then and there. Thankfully, they did so and raised their hands, at which point, they would be led outdoors and eventually behind the line for processing. For his part, Haruto would also return, being taken to a field hospital for his injury and then sent home to recuperate, after all, what good was a soldier who couldn't use his arm?

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Re: A Lifetime of Change (Historical Vignettes set from 1891 - 2011)
« Reply #11 on: September 03, 2022, 05:39:59 AM »
Homeward-bound
Kihoku Line
UTC 1600
November 6, 1916

   "NEXT STOP, ONAN. NEXT STOP, ONAN." Shouted the conductor as the train left the station, crowded with soldiers in each and every car. Unlike back home, there was not a single civilian in sight; the train had been requisitioned by the services for military use only. It made sense, after all, this was still a warzone. Once an instrument of peace, binding many peoples across the land, was now a weapon of war like a rifle or a grenade, only its fight was not directly with the enemy, but against time itself, transporting men and supplies around the clock, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. He had to hand it to the liberation authorities, they had quite the system in place, even if he wasn't particularly pleased to be making use of it.

He looked down at his left shoulder, where just over two weeks prior, he had been shot by Ardian machinegun fire. A single bullet, but it was apparently enough to warrant sending him home. It was a rather close call, he wouldn't deny that, but it still seemed incredibly silly that he was getting sent back home for this.
   "You got incredibly lucky, kid." The doctor said to him, back in October, perhaps on the twenty-first or twenty-second. "Just a few rin[1] lower and you'd be out a clavicle, or worse." He said with a smile, though it was clearly forced. Nobody could work in those conditions and find joy. That was simply the way these things were, being surrounded by death at all times. Even so, it was the thought that mattered, though he still couldn't see why he was going home. Perhaps there was something more to it?

He then watched the terrain as it passed behind him, the train rumbling along its tracks, first towards the small town of Onan and then beyond the Tanzawa mountains towards home. This leg of the trip was one he had made many times already; as it happened, Onan was one of the main places that soldiers went while on leave, during the third week of their cycle along the line. They were decent folks, but generally they kept to themselves. It was lucky that the line only fell into a stalemate again after the town had been liberated, otherwise they'd probably be dead and all that was left of the village would be a giant crater. That would've been a shame, truly a great shame. Shame. Like what he felt about that private, Hanamura.

He'd already written and sent the letter to his next of kin informing them of what had happened to him, about how he had died a warrior. It was more painful than any physical wound to write, after all, he was but a boy, scarcely out of training. He had failed him. He had failed every last one of them. There was a time when he didn't go a week without writing at least one of those letters, usually more. Every last one of them weighed on his soul like a ball and chain, and here he was, the one who got to go home. He didn't deserve it. As the one giving the order to charge, he deserved to be in their place. This injury, it didn't bother him. It was how he was being treated that did. He was being forced to abandon his men, and all because some clerk believed him unfit to serve, at least until he had fully recovered. He certainly hoped that everyone else would be alright until he returned.

Now, all he could do was wait. Wait and watch the land go by.
 1. 1 rin is roughly equivalent to 0.3030mm

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Re: A Lifetime of Change (Historical Vignettes set from 1891 - 2011)
« Reply #12 on: September 05, 2022, 04:33:42 AM »
Changes
Isahaya Station, Isahaya Ward, Shinkyō
UTC 1830
November 10, 1916


Yet again, Haruto stepped off the train and onto the platform, his eyes fixed on the floor so as to avoid tripping. It was late in the day, around six in the evening if his watch, made of brass and stamped with the words "Dai Fusō Teikoku", was correct. It had seen much, that small thing, from the peaks of the Tanzawa mountains to the mud of the Yamanori valley, the halls of the Imperial Army Academy to the streets of Saito. It was blasted by cold wind, showered with debris, and drowned in water, and yet, through it all, it kept going. Wounded, yet determined to see it through. In a way, like that watch, Haruto had been left battered, yet still, he carried on. He looked down at it, the glass covering its face cracked and its case dented in numerous spots, checking to make sure it was still in tune. Perhaps, he thought, he should see about getting it repaired while he was in town? With his salary, he could certainly afford it, though only just. It had carried him this far, so it was certainly worth it to see it back in fully functioning order.

He heard a voice, not far from him, her voice recognizable almost immediately.
   "Haruto!" Said Ayuka, his sister, as she walked over to him. "You're finally home!" She wore a warm smile as she reached to give him a hug, which was unfortunate for Haruto as it brought back the pain in his shoulder, on account of where she had placed one of her arms.
   "Yes... I am." He said, biting back the throbbing pain in his shoulder. "...Mind the shoulder though." He said with a smile. He may not have been pleased to be home, on account of there still being work to be done, a war to be won, but he was glad to see her in good spirits. "Mind helping?" He asked, looking at his luggage.
   "Oh, sure." She said, grabbing one of the bags as they walked out of the station.
   "Huh... Interesting."
   "What is?" Ayuka looked over to Haruto, head slightly tilted in confusion.
   "Oh, nothing." He said. "It's just surprising to see so few civilians in here. I would've thought they'd still be coming and going around this time."
   "Well, that's because the government's asked that people don't take the trains unless absolutely necessary. Freeing up resources for the war effort and all." Ayuka replied as the two exited the station, bathed in the amber light of the setting sun. Upon opening the door, she said "A lot has changed since you were last home, y'know."
   "How so?" Haruto asked, curious and admittedly somewhat concerned. He watched as they passed a couple of police officers, offering a brief nod as they continued along their way to the station.
   "Well, rationing is tighter than it was a year ago, nothing for you to worry yourself with. Everyone has to do their part."
   "...I wish I shared your optimism." Haruto sighed as they stepped aboard the trolley.
Kashiwa-Dōri, Isahaya Ward, Shinkyō
UTC 1856


The siblings arrived home roughly twenty or so minutes after leaving the station, the sun barely peering over the horizon. They returned to find the irori[1] lit alongside some candles, their light peering through the windows of the family home. As was quite obvious, someone was home, probably their mother given she generally didn't have a job of her own. That and their father was likely out on the water with one of the crews, unlikely to get home for at least another hour. Haruto hesitated for a moment before reaching for the door, his mind racing over what he was going to say. She had hoped he would come home unharmed, and yet, here he was, recovering from a gunshot. By the kami, he was going to get an earful about that one, he just knew it.
   "We're home!" Said Ayuka as she opened the door for him; was it simply a matter of courtesy, or perhaps she felt pity for him, her "horribly" wounded elder brother? He was probably overthinking it. Yeah, that was definitely the case. No point in keeping everyone waiting, he thought, and thus he entered the building, careful to remove his shoes first as was the custom.
   "Welcome home, Ayuka, Haruto." Etsuko said, hugging her son to much the same reaction as before. Was it so hard for people to not touch the bandage? "What did those no-good Ardians do to you?"
   "Nothing I can't manage, mother." Haruto said as he winced in pain. "Please, mind the injury though."
   "Oh, sorry." Etsuko replied before asking "Would you care for some tea?"
   "Sure, thank you." Haruto smiled. A few minutes later, it would be ready.
   "You must have a lot to talk about, huh?" Etsuko asked her son.
   "Where do I start?"
   "The beginning's good."
   "The beginning? Well, in that case, there I was, standing in line waiting to board the train, some day back in 1914..." Haruto began. It was going to be a long, long story.

 1. an "Irori" is a traditional sunken hearth fired with charcoal. Once a common feature, they have now become something of a rarity in modern Daitōjin homes.
« Last Edit: October 03, 2023, 07:41:10 PM by Daitō »

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Re: A Lifetime of Change (Historical Vignettes set from 1891 - 2011)
« Reply #13 on: September 05, 2022, 05:53:49 PM »
The Parade
Just outside of the Imperial Palace, Shinkyō
UTC 1100
April 17, 1918


The war was over, after three years and eight months. Much celebration was to be had, for not a week prior, peace had been signed with the Ardian Empire, restoring the border to where it had been prior to the disaster of 1859. He stood in front of his unit, the fighting men of the 91st Infantry Regiment, A Company, waiting for the signal to begin. The last time he had been here was nearly eight months ago, when he was awarded the Order of the Golden Kite, third class, for meritorious action against the enemy during the Battle of Saito. He'd earned that and a permanent scar on his shoulder, which still didn't feel quite right, not painful, just a little off. He couldn't help but remember all of those he met, who were no longer with him. Hajime Adachihara, Jiro Tachikawa, Daigo Hanamura, and so many others who should've been here alongside him.

The area was silent as His Imperial Majesty stepped out onto the gate of the palace, looking down upon the victorious Imperial Army, the glorious men who had done battle with the Ardians for nearly four years and had come out on top. His uniform, dark blue in color, was adorned with many medals, as he was the head of many an order. A servant passed unto he who sat upon the Celestial throne, who was blessed in his rule by the kami, a paper upon which was written a short address. Whatever it was, he was too far away from Haruto to hear, as only those closest were likely to catch wind of anything he said. It didn't matter though. Well, it did, but his presence was required more than to actually listen. When the speech was concluded, a signal was given and Haruto unsheathed his sword and rested it upon his shoulder, awaiting the order to march.

To his left and right were soldiers, holding aloft the Nissho Toban and Gessho Toban, respectively. Behind him, towering above the rest, was the Nishiki no Mihata, the Emperor's banner, which his unit was to carry during the parade as the first detachment of the 91st. A few soldiers carried smaller banners, hoko affixed to halberds, bearing tomoe, a symbol of Hachiman, the tutelary god of warriors. Then, in an instant, the drummers began to play their tune. It was time.
   "Parade... Attention!" Commanded their General, the victorious Marshal Daisaku Higasayama, who was honored by His Imperial Majesty to serve as parade organizer. "Ceremonial march past!" He shouted so that he could be heard. "Form battalions! Distance by a single lineman! First battalion will remain in the right, remainder... left.. turn!" He ordered as everyone made ready. "Slope.. arms!" He said as the rest of the soldiers placed their weapons upon their shoulders. This was it, finally, they were actually going. Haruto's moment of fame, even moreso than earning the Golden Kite. It was time to make this a show to remember. "Eyes to the right, forward, quick march!" Marshal Higasayama ordered, and they were off, marching under the banners of the Emperor like the great heroes of the restoration. The band played the Kangun kōshinkyoku (lit. "Military March") as they marched, ten-thousand banners on the wind. They honored their Heavenly Sovereign, they brought glory to their homeland and their families, but most importantly, they had earned peace in a time of war. Though he wondered whether it was truly worth it, he was glad that they could finally rest.
Akiōta-Honmachi[1], Hatsukaichi[2], Izumi Prefecture
UTC 1800
April 17, 1931


Haruto was sitting upon a park bench in the city of Hatsukaichi, upon the gentle shores of the Mutsu inland sea. He was distracted, no, lost in thought, thinking back on the old days, on his time in the service. Back before the drawdown in military forces, when he was given an honorable discharge. Back before when he moved here, to the fair Hatsukaichi, so far from his old home. Back before he met Machiko, had Isao, Yuna, and Ikuko. It had been thirteen years since the war, thirteen years since he had to set foot on the battlefield. Instead, he had taken up journalism, now working as a writer for the Hatsukaichi Shimbun. He was glad he was able to be off today, after all, it meant he could finally complete his promise to someone he cared deeply for.

After but a moment, he stood up, seeing the sun going down. They had to get going, otherwise he simply wasn't going to hear the end of it. That was the last thing he wanted.
   "Alright... Yuna-chan, it's time we got going!" He called out, to no response. Odd. She was probably hiding, as she often did when they came here. He glanced up at the cherry tree he had sat under, realizing that, as he had suspected, she had climbed it. However, he chose to play along for a moment, after all, she had clearly worked hard to get up there, so he figured he would let her have that victory. "Where did she go..." He said before "looking" behind the bench. "Perhaps behind here?"
   "Chichi-ue[3], up here, up here!" Said Yuna as she descended from the tree.
   "There you are..." Haruto said as he helped her get down. "Y'know, you're getting way too good at hiding for me... I'm gonna have to start steppin' up." He said with a warm smile. "Still, it's time we start heading home, don't ya think?"
   "Yes, lets go home!" She said in her often-times cheery manner. With her confirming that she wished to go home, they left the park, although it really didn't depend on her at this point. It truly was worth it, all he had gone through years ago, to see that smile upon her face.

 1. Akiōta-Honmachi (安芸太田-本町) is the pre-war name of Akiōta-Cho (安芸太田町), and is the site of the Hatsukaichi Memorial Park (廿日市市記念公園).
 2. Hatsukaichi is located on the eastern coast of the Mutsu inland sea.
 3. "Chichi-ue" (父上) is a term for one's father, usually seen among younger children. Like other titles using the -ue suffix, it has largely fallen out of use in the modern day.

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Re: A Lifetime of Change (Historical Vignettes set from 1891 - 2011)
« Reply #14 on: September 05, 2022, 10:14:27 PM »
The New Era
Omi, Hatsukaichi, Izumi Prefecture
UTC 0855
November 20, 1932


It was a cool morning in the city of Hatsukaichi, the sky overcast with a high chance that it would rain later in the day. The house, which doubled as a textile shop, was crowded as Haruto's family as well as a few neighbors stood around the radio, waiting for the news. All they knew was that there was that the Imperial Palace was going to issue a statement at nine-o'clock, that and it was an important statement. Of course, rumors abounded among those gathered, mostly about the Emperor's health, which had declined in the last few weeks according to previous reports. Some questioned whether he had passed away, others if he had recovered. A few thought it was unrelated, likely some ceremony that was getting broadcast for the public. Whatever the case may be, they were going to find out soon enough.
   "Are you sure it's this station?" Jiro, now a commander in the navy, asked Haruto, who was busy going adjusting the dial on the radio. "Don't you think it'll be on YHK[1]?"
   "They said it would be on all stations, it doesn't matter which one we use." Haruto replied, shooting a glare at his elder brother. Just because he was a commander didn't mean he could commandeer the radio.
   "Yes, but YHK will have it first, and this is supposedly very important news." Jiro pointed out. It was clear that he wasn't going to stop until they changed to it.
   "Fiiine." Haruto sighed as he turned the dial to the frequency for YHK, and just in time too, as it was soon to be nine.

Nothing but static filled the air, which wasn't too surprising as, despite having been in the area for years, YHK's signal wasn't always the best here. With a smug look on his face, he was about to say something about how he was correct again, however, he would be interrupted before he even got the chance to say anything. As it turned out, the signal was good, but the station had gone quiet ahead of the statement being made.
   "This is Shinkyō. You will now hear a message from His Highness, the Chancellor." the voice rung out in a somber tone from the small box atop the table. Everyone at that moment went silent, awaiting to hear what was to be said.
   "At eleven-o'clock on the nineteenth of November, last night, His Imperial Majesty fell into respiratory arrest and in spite of every effort being made to assist him, he did not wake. I therefore have the solemn duty and displeasure to inform our good subjects, our children of the Empire, that His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Keiyo, has passed away. His grandson, the former Crown Prince, shall be enthroned in one month as Emperor of our state. The period of mourning that is to follow the celebration of Emperor Keiyo's life shall last for two weeks, during which time flags will be raised in mourning. Tennō Heika, Banzai!" said the Chancellor, Toshikatsu Heishi, before the broadcast cut out.

Some wept for their departed liege, but overall, most just remained in stunned silence. The era which they had all been born in had just come to an end, and now, there was no telling what was to come. Would it be an era of peace, or one of strife? Would the Empire even survive? Everything seemed to have suddenly been cast into uncertainty, all because of one death. Haruto silently prayed that it would be a peaceful age; he wasn't sure he could bear to see this beautiful land turned to ruin now, not after everything he had worked to build. He looked up from the radio and at Jiro, who was seemingly in a similar state of shock.
   "It's so horrible... They lost their father—their grandfather—and not only that, they have to move forwards immediately." Said Machiko from the corner of the room. "I just hope we can all do the same."
   "As do I... As do I." Haruto replied after a moment, placing his hand on his brow. "But I am certain we will, in time."

 1. Can you hear me Now? — YHK, or the Yamato Broadcasting Corporation, began radio broadcasts on the 20th of November, 1924 in the Shinkyō region. By 1932, it had expanded its service to the Mutsu Inland Sea via a few subsidiaries. By 1945, it could be picked up throughout the Empire, though mostly in the south of the country.
« Last Edit: May 03, 2023, 07:58:18 AM by Daitō »

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Re: A Lifetime of Change (Historical Vignettes set from 1891 - 2011)
« Reply #15 on: September 07, 2022, 03:39:58 AM »
Delivery Service
Hatsukaichi, Izumi Prefecture
UTC 1630
December 06, 1934


An ice-cold wind swept the streets as the waves crashed against the beach. Rain or snow was expected later that night, based on how the clouds looked, but that didn't stop anyone out at this hour. If anything, it was further motivation to get what work they had left in the day done before it was too late. For the Kimuras, it was no different, as deliveries had to be made, even if the usual person who was doing them was stuck at home, having fallen ill the day before. Instead, they had Yuna handling this delivery[1], the package being a few sheets of cotton cloth. Of course, she wasn't entirely on her own, as her mother was helping her to prepare for the delivery.
   "Now, Yuna-chan, remember, you're to go to 5-chōme-21 Masuda, in Akiōta-Honmachi. Got it?" Machiko, her mother, said as she wrote down the address on a sheet of paper, just in case.
   "Got it." Yuna replied with a nod, though she hadn't been paying attention at the time.
   "In that case..." Her mother said in a gentle voice, attempting to be patient with her but still hoping she understood. "Please, repeat it."
   "Uhh... 4-chōme-31..."
   "...No. It's 5-chōme-21 Masuda, not this supposed '4-chōme-31' that has appeared out of nowhere." Machiko said with a sigh. She shouldn't be too hard on her, it was getting late, and she was up early helping her father. Even so, it was imperative that she got the delivery right, as it was for a long-time client of theirs. "The address is on this piece of paper. If you need a reminder, it's on there." She said as she handed Yuna the paper.
   "Thank you." Yuna replied; she felt mildly embarrassed that she hadn't paid attention, but she would rather make it right than actually say anything. "Can I go now?"
   "I suppose so. Just remember, get home before sunset, and stay safe."
   "I will!" Yuna said; she had already walked off before her mother had finished, but she still got the gist of it. The clock was ticking, and she aimed to be on time.
UTC 1643
Yuna found herself walking along the riverside, watching the boats go up and down as she made her way towards Akiōta-Honmachi. This was by no means an uncommon sight, since a lot of travel throughout the region was still over water. After all, it was a far quicker trip across the inland sea by boat than to go all the way around by rail, or so Yuna's father told her. He'd apparently taken the route fairly often back in the day, many years before she had been born. She was certain that the trip into Akiōta would be a lot quicker if she could get a ride on one of those vessels, but that was entirely dependent on if a pilot would take her.

As it happened, as she continued to walk, one such pilot would pull up alongside her and call out to her. He seemed friendly enough, and it wasn't entirely uncommon for people to get such rides[2], but she wasn't sure if she could even afford it. She didn't really get to take more than a few more steps before he said something.
   "Hey you!" the pilot called out to her, waving. She stopped and looked over at him, mildly startled that he was actually speaking to her. "You out on an errand? Where to? I can give you a ride if you'd like." He said with a smile. She would, of course, take him up on the offer, as it would shave off a good twenty or thirty minutes on her job. She would promptly take a seat aboard the vessel, sitting in the "ancient" seiza fashion, which is to say, resting on her legs.
   "Thank you, sir." She said with a bow, after which she placed the box beside her.
   "Well, aren't you the polite one." He said, impressed by her manners. It was good, in his eyes, that someone still clung to the old ways. "What do ya have there, hm? Wait, lemme guess. Textiles?" He asked her in a calm manner.
   "Yes, sir. Cotton, to be specific. I'm to take it to Akiōta-Honmachi." She paused, deciding that he may as well know why she was doing this instead of her elder brother. "You see, my brother was supposed to do it, but... he caught a cold, so I came home early to do it for him." She looked away, a little embarrassed because that wasn't the only reason she had volunteered to do it. "...and because I was going to buy him and sis souvenirs with some of the money." She admitted as she began to notice her discomfort with the boat. As a result, she wound up sitting normally, as at least that helped to a degree.
   "There ya go. No point trying to sit all proper-like." The sailor said as he pointed to bits of gravel that were sitting on the boards. "I move gravel, you see. It's pretty much impossible to get all of it out after each shipment, so I usually handle that at the end of the day."
   "Why?" Yuna asked, somewhat curious. She wasn't entirely certain if this—helping other people get around—was something he did regularly or not, after all.
   "Eh, we usually take whatever work we can get. I may mostly move gravel, but having a bit of extra work on the side never hurts."
A few minutes passed, and the boat slowly approached Akiōta. If the sailor had anything else to say, she had missed it, at least until now. Instead, she spent her time going through her coin-purse, since she'd likely have to pay for the trip.
   "Alright, this is your stop." the boat's pilot said.
   "Thank you for the ride, sir." Yuna said before asking "How much do I owe you?"
   "Were you an adult, I'd say about eleven, but... eh, I can't bring myself to take the money from you. Take care now." He said as she got off the boat before moving on. She had finally arrived, and not a moment too soon. She would, after getting off the boat, pull the box up over her shoulders and walk into town.
Akiōta-Honmachi, Hatsukaichi, Izumi Prefecture
UTC 1706

The district was crowded today, which itself wasn't too unsurprising since many were buying gifts for the holidays.[3] The walls of many buildings were covered in posters for various political parties and local initiatives, from the nationalist Kokuminkutō to the communist Kyōsan-tō and everything in-between. It was a peculiar time in Daitō, though Yuna, being a mere child, didn't know it yet. A time of political instability, owing to the vacuum left following Emperor Keiyo's death, a brief moment between democracy and dictatorship. To her, this was practically how it had always been; it wasn't good, that's what her parents said, but it was normal to her. She took a moment to check the address on the note her mother had given her, then she would ask around trying to get directions to it, eventually enlisting the help of a police officer to find it.

A few more minutes passed as she walked through the streets before reaching her destination. It was a small apartment block, two or three stories tall and built in the Giyōfū[4] style, like the cities of far off lands. Outside was a small garden, probably owned by the landlord, where a great many flowers would've grown in spring. It being winter, however, they were instead snow-covered and left barren. There was a certain beauty to it even now, though why, Yuna couldn't quite put her finger on. After a moment, she would enter the building then find the specific apartment the client lived in, at which point she would knock on the door.

A woman would answer the door, likely the wife of the client, easily older than Yuna's mother based upon appearance alone. She checked the note she had been given, confirming that it was the correct location and the correct family, just in case she got the wrong apartment, and as it turned out, it thankfully was. It would've been really awkward if she had gotten the wrong address after checking.
   "Miss Hanamura?" Yuna asked. "I'm here to deliver five sheets of cotton cloth." She reported in a clear manner, careful not to trip over her words.
   "Ah yes, please, come in." She replied, ushering her indoors. When she had entered, she would place the box on the floor and opening it so that the client could inspect the wares. A "few" more minutes passed before she would receive her answer. It felt a lot longer than that for her, though, but it could've either been her being eager to get out of the room, which smelled heavily of tobacco, or because she wanted to achieve her "personal task" of buying gifts for her siblings.
   "Alright, that seems to be everything. Thank you for bringing it here." The lady said as she held some of the cloth. "In any case, here's your payment, and stay safe." She said as she handed a few bills, adding up to the correct amount for the goods.
   "I will." Yuna said with a bow before she got up, took the box, and left the room.
UTC 1749
After finally leaving the apartment, Yuna made her way into a small shopping district tucked away in Akiōta-Honmachi. The sun was now resting above the horizon, the clouds turned the faintest shade of pale orange. The district itself was quite crowded; given that it was late in the day and most people were now off work, she wasn't close to being surprised, but it did mean that unless she was quick, she would probably be stuck in a line for at least twenty minutes, if not longer. She decided, therefore, to visit a few stores that didn't have any lines starting to form, or at least that didn't have large ones just yet. She would peruse through one, deciding she would pick up some sweets for her little sister, but also a little something for herself.
   "Chocolate, ten sen[5], box of caramel, ten sen, small box, five sen, notebook and pencil, ten sen..." She said under her breath as she looked through the prices. She then checked her coin-purse. She could afford the notebook and either a bar of chocolate or a small box of caramel. Sure, she could go without the notebook, but it could also be used for school... It was a decision which mattered to her a fair bit, so she spent a bit of time pondering what to do with it. Ultimately, she chose to buy the caramel and notebook, since it would be easier to share the former and the latter had some use beyond her drawing, which, if she was being honest, was the big reason to buy it.

Having made her purchase, she would start her long trip home, walking over the Agata bridge which spanned the Watari river and overlooked the city. From here, one could see as far as Enojima, some six-and-a-half kilometers away, where a naval academy had been set up decades prior. She took a moment to look out on the water, at which point, she felt inspired to try and draw her view. She pulled out the notebook, opened it to the first page, then grabbed her pencil and started sketching the horizon. Then, she'd make a rough outline of a few islands off in the distance, most notably Enojima but also Ikijishima and Maejima. Yes, that was good. She'd then make a rough outline of a few of the ships, then she'd start adding details to the islands, then the ships... It went on for nearly half an hour before someone interrupted her.
   "That's a nice doodle." A boy said to her, looking over at it. This left Yuna shocked that someone had come up to her, but moreso it was embarrassing to her. Not that it was called a doodle, though that certainly irked her mildly, but the idea that it was "nice". To her, it was barely worth keeping, rather, it was merely something to help her pass the time.
   "It's a sketch, not a doodle." She said, turning her head to look at him. He was a fair bit taller than her, at least by half a head, and spoke in a soft, friendly sorta way. "And I wouldn't call it 'nice' either."
   "I dunno about that, it's certainly better than anything I could do." The boy said, looking a little closer at it. "It's actually quite nice."
   "Well, thank you in any case, but... agree to disagree?"
   "Sure. In any case, don't you think it's a little bit late to be drawing that?" the boy asked, looking out on the water as the sun began to set. Yuna did the same and realized, after a moment, that she was running late. She wasn't going to hear the end of this for at least a week, if not more, and not only that, she probably wasn't going to be allowed to handle deliveries for a while either.
   "Oh no..." She said under her breath as she nearly dropped the notebook before stuffing it away.
   "What?" The boy asked, his eyes narrowed and his head tilted ever-so-slightly to the side.
   "I just remembered that I need to get home before sunset, nothing to worry about." Yuna replied as she started making ready to leave.
   "I see... Well, in any case, take care, Yuna Kimura."
   "Wait, how did you-" Yuna was confused, to her knowledge they had never met, so how did he know her name?
   "Eh, your first name's on the paper, and the cloth you're using to hold that box has your last name on it, so I just put two-and-two together." The boy answered, cutting her off in the process.
   "Oh, right." Yuna said with a slight chuckle as the two walked off, going their separate ways.
As she walked, Yuna tried to remember if she had actually met him before. If they had, they certainly hadn't spoken before, she would remember that much anyways. That question, like many others, would have to wait until after she got home and after she got scolded for being late again. For a moment, she thought she might be able to get a ride back home from the gravel-boater she had met earlier, but that was probably out. It was instead time to just get home when she did and face the music.

 1. A chore like any other — In those days, it wasn't entirely unheard of for children to handle deliveries for family-run businesses, with it being seen as a chore like any other.
 2. A trip at sea — Transport on the waters of the Mutsu inland sea was an important part of life for those living on waterside communities in the region back then, with rides costing anywhere between 8 and 20 sen. However, prices often depended on the owner of the boat.
 3. Holiday Spirit — Contrary to the popular narrative, Christmas was not introduced in the 1950s as a result of Daitō's alliance with Tytor. Rather, it has been "celebrated" in the country since Christianity was introduced many, many centuries prior. Before the restoration, these celebrations were limited to smaller communities, however, after the Keiyo restoration, it gained mass appeal and effectively became divorced from the religion it originated with.
 4. Imitating others — "Giyōfū architecture" (擬洋風建築, Giyōfū-kenchiku, "pseudo-Occidental-style architecture") was a style of Daitōjin architecture which outwardly resembled Occidental-style construction but relied on traditional Onishi techniques.
 5. So many coins! — the sen is the smallest unit of currency in Daitō. A one-sen coin is valued at 1/100th of a mon, equivalent to the penny in its value as compared to the mon.
« Last Edit: October 19, 2022, 04:37:25 PM by Daitō »

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Re: Lifetimes of Change (Historical Vignettes set from 1891 - 2011)
« Reply #16 on: September 09, 2022, 01:52:54 AM »
Kunan Ishin
Omi, Hatsukaichi, Izumi Prefecture
UTC 0723
January 22, 1937


Outside, the wind blasted the house, carrying with it snow which blanketed the land. Nobody would be going outside in that sort of weather, not for a long trip anyways. The fire of the Irori, thankfully, kept the house warm; defiant against the conditions outside, it served as a beacon of comfort in these trying times. And most trying they were, for in Shinkyō, the capital, a different storm had been unleashed but three days prior. The Gigun, the "Righteous Army" of Marshal Hisayuki Sonyu, had struck, taking key points throughout the city, or at least that's what the broadcasts were saying. Though the city was far, far away, its ripples could be felt even here in the city. It being a major port on the inland sea, it was seen by many as being of great importance, as holding it meant control over the ports and a significant link in many a railway. It was why members of the so-called Righteous Army had taken up positions throughout the city, not that the Kimuras were complaining.

Haruto and his family found themselves, on that frigid January morning, eating breakfast together as they waited for news on the situation. They were serenaded by the lovely songs played over YHK, even if the signal was weak owing to the storm. So instead, he and Machiko found themselves talking about the coup. About how it was affecting... everything. More specifically, how it had affected their family. With much of Haruto's folks still being out in the capital, they were certainly worried for them, especially given his brother's affiliation with the plotters.
   "Okay, enough about Ayuka. It's good that she's out of the city and all, but what about your parents?" Machiko asked as the music continued. "You hear anything from them?"
   "Afraid not. How I figure, they probably cut the phone lines, so if we're going to be hearin' anything, it'll be after this mess is sorted out." Haruto responded after a moment, taking a second to swallow a morsel of his meal. "Knowing them though, they're probably keepin' their heads down, at least that's what I'd hope they do."
   "And what about Jiro? Last I heard he was up in Awara, still aboard the Takao."
   "I mean, I got the chance to talk with him last night over the phone." Haruto pointed out as he placed his chopsticks over his dish. "But I can't say I know any specifics. Only that he's waiting for this 'plot' of theirs to succeed."
   "Must you be so critical of them?" Machiko asked, whether it was born out of a genuine desire to know why he felt that way or because she supported the plotters, only she knew. "I mean, what we need is their guidance and the stability it will bring."
   "I don't disagree, it's just..." Haruto hesitated a moment. "It's just I wish it hadn't gone this way. We all thought Kōki[1] would do something, anything to end the turmoil we've faced these last few years." He noted before saying "And I say that as someone who has actually seen Sonyu-san in person. I don't doubt he will do a good job, I'm just in shock it actually came to this."
With a sigh, Machiko said "We all are, but even you must know, deep down, that this was something that had to-" before being cut off.
   "May I please be excused?" Yuna asked as she finished her breakfast. She didn't much care for all of this political talk, especially at a time like this. It always dominated every adult conversation, it seemed. Even with the accident[2] earlier that month in Kabira bay had been overshadowed by some scandal in the cabinet and now a coup, even with such a horrible loss of life. She just didn't get how they could stand to talk about it.
   "Go ahead, dear." Replied Machiko before she turned back to Haruto. As Yuna left the room, she overheard her mother say "As I was saying, at this point, it was something that had to happen. One way or another, we need strong leadership.
   "On that, we can certainly agree." Haruto nodded.

A few minutes passed, the conversation continuing as Yuna read a book, required reading by school and all. Some other nonsense about politics, what a bore. At the very least, she could still hear the radio playing, so she didn't have to completely hear what they were talking about. That was, at least, until it cut out. Perhaps it was due to the weather, she thought, but that turned out not to be the case. Instead, it was something planned, as evidenced by a new voice coming over the radio.
   "This is Marshal Hisayuki Sonyu." The voice said. "I am speaking to you, the good citizens of the Empire, from the Imperial Palace in Shinkyō" he continued in a calm fashion, his voice clear though interrupted marginally by static. "At 11:00 PM last evening, I presented to His Imperial Majesty a request to see that Prime Minister Makoto Kōki be stripped of his office following repeated failures to put an end to this disorder that has befallen our Empire. I am pleased to report that His Imperial Majesty, the Reigning Emperor, has agreed to this request and has ordered that the Prime Minister resign immediately."
It was somewhat of a surprise that the Emperor had actually agreed to the demands of the Righteous Army, after all, would this not damage the Emperor's position? That was, of course, unless the Emperor had actually given his support to Marshal Sonyu at some point... But that would be silly, wouldn't it?
   "In his place, I have been appointed to exercise the office of Prime Minister effective noon, today. I vow to you, to our Heavenly Sovereign, and to the Kami, that I will fulfill these duties with a vigor unseen for many an age." Sonyu said over the radio; he possessed a certain gravitas, a certain way with words which instilled a feeling that he was right to have taken this action. A charisma that few others had. "Furthermore, I have instructed that the Ministry of Justice commence an investigation into a number of bureaucrats and politicians, as well as the heads of the Zaibatsus, for their corrupt actions over the course of the last twenty years since the end of the war."
There had been many calls for such actions to be taken, to tackle corruption within the government and civil service, so whether this was merely pandering or genuine belief that they needed to be dealt with, it did not matter. If he wouldn't move against them, someone else would.
   "In the coming weeks, I pledge that stability will be restored, at which point we can begin to restructure the Empire into that which was mandated by the heavens since the Age Divine." Sonyu declared over the radio as everyone listened; not a single person in the house said a thing, whether they were interested in politics or not. One could genuinely hear a pin drop, it was that quiet. "But be warned, there are those who would seek to undermine our national revival, who would see us cast into the shadow of the Ardians once more, or who would have us face a similar fate to the Azukishimans, our culture, our very soil and grain turned to ash and stripped away." He continued. ""We must be ready to face all challenges that would rise up against our most magnanimous and dutiful Sovereign, and we must all work together to bring about this, the Kunan Restoration, and to honor a legacy which spans millennia. May the Kami watch over us as we undertake this most noble of goals."

Everyone was left silent, for words mattered little now. The road to the future had been left open, though much was soon to change.

 1. Kōki — Makoto Kōki was the final Prime Minister of the Shakai Taishūtō regime that had held power since 1928. He was viewed as weak by members of the Kōdōha faction and was overthrown in 1937. He later committed suicide in 1940 at the age of 52 years old, though it is entirely possible that he was actually purged.
 2. 1937 Konpeki-maru disaster — There was a ferry accident on the 2nd of January, 1937. Due to high winds, the steamer ferry Konpeki-maru capsized in Hatsukaichi's Kabira bay, sinking completely in just five minutes. The accident claimed the lives of over forty of the vessel's eighty passengers, many of whom were students returning from the nearby Enojima naval academy.
« Last Edit: September 23, 2022, 11:57:16 PM by Daitō »

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Re: Lifetimes of Change (Historical Vignettes set from 1891 - 2011)
« Reply #17 on: September 12, 2022, 08:12:23 AM »
Daitō Seisen
Omi, Hatsukaichi, Izumi Prefecture
UTC 1100
June 24, 1939


Some said, on the 17th of April, 1918, that the scars of war between the Ardians and the Empire of Daitō would heal, that the flames of war would never again wash over the land. They said that there would be a peace unending, yet that sentiment had been proven wrong in the late 20s, when the Empire had seen conflict with the Tytorians for the sake of the Miyako islands, out in the Tōkai[1], where Yuna's uncle had fought, much as he had in the last war all those years ago. In the aftermath, the Empire had seen a period of much rearmament, for it was said that there could be peace through strength of arms. The sinking of the Tōhō Maru last month had proven, however, that such peace was not a certainty.

In the aftermath of the January 22 incident, which brought about the Kunan Restoration, much had changed. No longer was Ardia seen as merely a rival by circumstance, with whom the late Chancellor, Toshikatsu Heishi, had claimed that "after the war was over, they would be invited over for tea", but rather something more, far more dire. Where once, a possible partner were it not for conflict back in the 1850s, now there was a great demon who scoured the land, who had made slaves of former kin and stranger alike. Conflict was now inevitable with this great evil, to purge the imperialist powers of East Ardia and to bring about an age of peace not seen since days of old. That was what the Daitō fukkatsu dōmei[2] had claimed, and it was what had been taught to man and woman, child an adult alike. They called the coming conflict "Daitō Seisen", or the "Great Eastern Holy War", for it was not to merely be a battle of ideologies, but for the very souls of those now in chains. A just war, if such a thing even existed.

To Yuna, the most surprising thing since that day had been her father's acceptance of it. Though she was still far too young to understand the specifics of what he had gone through, he had always been clear that what he had seen, back in the last war, was something that should never be repeated. Yes, he was, as they said in the paper, a war hero, but in spite of it all he never seemed politically minded. Not to her, anyways. Sure, he did attend some rallies for now-Prime Minister Sonyu, but surely that was less a matter of actual agreement and more merely him going as a courtesy. Yet here he was, now frequently speaking of how it was their patriotic duty to do everything for the Restoration, that if it came to it, they would fight to the last man. She didn't take any issue with the rhetoric, after all, it was Imperial doctrine, the words of the divine as relayed through their liege. What reason could she have to question it?

Such thoughts raced through her mind as she sat at the table alongside everyone else in her family. It had been announced just a few hours ago that the Prime Minister or perhaps a Prince was going to make an address to the nation very soon with regards to the rising tensions between the Empire and Ardia. Everyone had their own theories; some hoped, however optimistically, that a settlement had been reached. Others grimly acknowledged that had likely been declared, and that the great struggle had begun. Thus, she, her parents and her siblings all sat around the radio, patiently awaiting what was to come, silent so as to not obscure what was to be said.
   "This is Shinkyō. You will now hear a rescript from His Imperial Majesty, as relayed by the honorable Prime Minister, Baron Hisayuki Sonyu." A man, one of the many presenters for YHK, said over the radio, composed but speaking with a solemnity which foretold what was to come. He didn't seem sad by any means, but whatever it was, it was not something he took lightly.
   "We, by the grace of Heaven, Emperor of Yamato, seated on the throne occupied by the same dynasty from time immemorial, enjoin upon ye, Our loyal and brave subjects:" the Prime Minister began reading the rescript, his voice somewhat obscured and perhaps distorted by static over the radio. "We hereby declare that a state of war exists between Us and the Empire of Ardia and her allies. The men of Our Army and Navy shall do their utmost in prosecuting the war. Our public servants of various departments shall perform faithfully and diligently their respective duties; the entire nation with a united will shall mobilize their total strength so that nothing will miscarry in the attainment of Our war aims." He continued as everyone listened intently to what was being said. War had arrived once more, hopefully for the last time. "To ensure the stability of East Ardia and to contribute to world peace is the far-sighted policy which was formulated by our Great Imperial Sire and our honorable former Chancellor, and which We lay constantly to heart..." the speech seemed to drag on forever and was... heavy in its use of formal speech and archaic phrases. No doubt an artifact of the more formal speech used among the Kazoku, of whom the Prime Minister was a member.

Yuna nonetheless listened patiently, after all, this was something that was going to affect everyone, not to mention it was to undoubtedly be a seminal moment in history going forwards. She couldn't just ignore it, that would  be foolish at best. Her father sighed at the mention of the declaration; he was one of many who had long expected that this would happen, the peace in 1918 didn't go far enough in his eyes. She didn't know yet what would change, for she had not lived through the last war. Her parents had, of course, but she didn't. But if it were to be anything like the last war, they would be safe here. The Mutsu was far away from the frontlines, out of range of enemy bombers if they wanted to make it back, and there was no way the Ardians would throw away their lives like that. All they had to do was kick in the door and they would surrender.
   "Eager for the realization of their inordinant ambition to dominate the good peoples of East Ardia, whether they be Onishi or Phuebran, Andean or Feng, Ardia and Heyra, by resuming their vile assault on Toshikawa, have agrivated the disturbances in East Ardia..." the broadcast continued, eventually finishing with "The hallowed spirits of Our Imperial Ancestors guarding Us from above, We rely upon the loyalty and courage of Our subjects in Our confident expectation that the task bequeathed by Our forefathers will be carried forward and that the sources of evil will be speedily eradicated and an enduring peace immutably established in East Ardia, preserving thereby the glory of Our Empire." and finally "In witness whereof, we have hereunto set Our hand and caused the Grand Seal of the Empire to be affixed at the Imperial Palace, Shinkyō, this twenty-fourth day of the sixth month of the seventh year of Kunan, corresponding to the 2,599th year from the accession to the throne of Emperor Shin'ō."

A moment passed before her father turned to her brother, Isao, a soft expression upon his face as he knew what was to come. It was every man's duty to do their part for the Empire in times of war. He knew it and did so back in the last war, and now he, like his father before him, was faced with sending his son off, likely to die. He had less than a year until then. Seven months, really, if he didn't consent to his son joining, although that was Isao's wish. He swallowed what feelings he may have had at the time, knowing well that his son wished to join the navy as his uncle, the Captain of the Agano, had suggested.
   "Listen, son, I... I know there is nothing I can do to talk you out of joining up, so I will ask you to instead stay safe." Haruto said with a sigh. "Go ahead and enlist if you wish. I will not stand in your way."
   "Haruto!" Machiko raised her voice; sure, she had supported him joining, but that he would change his mind so quickly was what bothered her. "So the Prime Minister says we're at war, and all of a sudden you're alright with our son throwing his-"
   "It is his duty, Machiko. l don't like it anymore than you do, you know it to be the case, but in case you have forgotten, we are at war." Haruto cut her off, his voice authoritative and stern while he slammed his fist on the table. "Were I allowed, I would sign up right now. The Empire needs everyone to do their part."
   "We should probably excuse ourselves..." whispered Yuna's younger sister, Ikuko, to her.
   "Yeah, lets go." Yuna whispered back as the two left the room. Isao, for his part, stayed put, waiting for a chance to get a word in between his parents arguing. It seemed as though not only were Ardia and Daitō at war, but so were their parents.

 1. Upon the waters — "Tōkai" translates as the "Eastern Sea" and is congruous with the Dauntel, Northern Antalin, and Western Kyne
 2. A Party like no other — The "Daitō fukkatsu dōmei", or DFD, alternatively known as the Yamato fukkatsu dōmei, or YFD, is the ruling party of the Empire of Daitō. Founded in 1937, it has, save for a brief period in the 1990s, held power in the Empire, first dictatorially and now as merely the dominant party among a few.
« Last Edit: October 08, 2022, 04:50:00 AM by Daitō »

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Re: Lifetimes of Change (Historical Vignettes set from 1891 - 2011)
« Reply #18 on: September 14, 2022, 06:12:07 PM »
Chopsticks and Arrangements
Furue, Hatsukaichi, Izumi Prefecture
UTC 1000
December 16, 1943


It had been nearly three months since Yuna had last made the trip to Furue to see her grandparents, her aunts and uncles, and her cousins. Far too long, as far as she was concerned. When she was a child, she and her family would often travel across the bay, whenever the tides had receded enough that it was possible to walk, anyways. That was many, many years ago now, back in the mid-30s. With the rise of the DFD, as well as her growing older, she found herself with less and less time to make such voyages, but now that she was out of school, she could finally make the voyage whenever she wished, provided her schedule was empty enough anyways. Today was one of those days, and as a result, she found herself plodding along through the mud and sand, reminded of days gone by.

In particular, she was reminded of a day back in 1935, the day she made the voyage for the first time without any adult supervision. She, Isao, and Ikuko had been tasked with bringing a watermelon all the way across the bay, a distance of a bit over one-and-a-half kilometers, as an offering to the family's ancestors. Her brother had taken the lead, like a little officer, giving out commands to her and Ikuko, who had taken up the rear. Unlike their brother, they had been quite excited that day to make the trip, which led to a sharp reminder that he was, back then, not a very kind person. In fact, he was quite mean in those days, as they were reminded by the bonk on the head that he gave them. It wasn't okay, of course, but she couldn't help but laugh at the situation now. Besides, it turned out that the kami had a funny way of teaching lessons, even if they often dragged others into it too. They all wound up tripping in the mud and wound up covered in it on that day, leading to them struggling to explain what had happened when they arrived.

A bit over thirty minutes later, she had arrived in the small hamlet of Furue, just across the water from home, where she met her sister, who had been staying there for the last week to help their grandparents. Off in the distance, the bustling city of Hatsukaichi lay, home to a great many people. Even in wartime, though there was some rationing, it was a beacon of light and more importantly rich in food and supplies. Here in Furue, it was similar, given the close proximity and all. It had been over four years since the war began, and it seemed like they may end up surviving the war relatively unscathed. Sure, there had been talk that the Ardians had attacked Yakushima in the Sea of Azukishima, and sure, the mainland was under a blockade save for a route that hugged the coast, but otherwise, things were well. In any case, her mind soon turned to what she and her extended family were having for lunch. Probably something simple like Rice and fish, even if she wished there could be more than just that.
UTC 1200

Yuna found herself looking down at her chopsticks as she, her grandmother, sister, and cousin sat down to eat for a bit. Her uncle and her grandfather were out in the water gathering seaweed for dinner, having already eaten before them. It was just the four of them on this cold winter day. They had gotten to talking about the war; well, really, everyone but her cousin anyways. It was strange to think that she felt the same way about such matters all those years ago, and yet here she was, talking about it herself. Perhaps it was simply because Isao had joined the navy back in '39, or perhaps it was simply because now that she couldn't distract herself with school, she had to keep her mind occupied. This train of thought was, however, interrupted by her cousin before too long.
   "Wow, that's far!" Exclaimed the child as she looked at the chopsticks, or was it her hand? It was kinda hard to tell, truth be told.
   "Hm?" Yuna looked over at her cousin. "Whaddya mean, Hiyori-chan?" She inquired, confused by what she was talking about.
   "Yuna-nēchan[1], you're going far away to get married." Hiyori replied with much glee.
   "Oh, I am?"
   "Yep!" Hiyori said before looking over at Ikuko, positively beaming. "And you're staying nearby, Ikuko-nēchan."
   "They say girls who hold their chopsticks near the ends wed far away."[2] Their grandmother, a woman by the name of Rin, said in a kind, friendly sorta manner.
   "Really?" Said both Yuna and Ikuko as they compared how they held their chopsticks.
   "Where did you come from, O-bāchan[3]?" Asked the youngest of them to their grandmother.
   "I came from Mihara, as it happens." Rin replied as she took a bite of her rice.
   "That's a village over, isn't it?" Ikuko said in a semi-joking fashion before saying "Women who end up in Tsukishima must be using tongs.", at which point a moment of silence would pass.
   "Says my dear sister as she shifts her grip on her chopsticks." Yuna said, unamused as she broke the silence.
   "Well, marrying close to home isn't exactly exciting or anything." Ikuko replied defensively, bowing her head slightly and looking away in embarrassment. At that, they would continue their meal, or at least attempt to before being interrupted by the door sliding open, followed by a rapid series of footsteps. Then, yet another door—the door to the living room—slid open and Yuna and Ikuko's aunt emerged, seemingly nearly out of breath.
   "What is it, O-kāsan?" Hiyori tried to ask her mother, although evidently she didn't hear it. She was instead entirely focused on Yuna, for what reason, uncertain though it was clear she would find out soon enough.
   "Yuna-chan, you need to hurry home now." Yuna's aunt, Haruna, said. "I just got a call, a boy all the way from Kyūre is asking for your hand in marriage."

For her part, Yuna went silent upon hearing this news. She was surprised, to say the very least. Sure, it was common to get married at her age, but it was so abrupt that she didn't know what to say. Marriage? Now? Did she even have a say in the matter, or had it already been decided for her? It wasn't as though arranged marriages were banned, nor were they even remotely uncommon, but still. The thought that it was happening so soon was just a complete shock. What more, she now had her younger sister patting her on the back, or perhaps it should've been described more as swatting her back given how hard it was.
   "Rice gruel isn't gonna get stuck in my throat!" Yuna exclaimed as she got up from the table to a slight extent.
   "Well, no, but your words sure did." Ikuko replied with a giggle. She seemed happy for her, at the very least, though Yuna wasn't sure how she should feel about the matter for herself.
   "Yuna-chan, how old are you again?" Asked her grandmother as she got up from the table.
   "About nineteen... Well, eighteen, really." Yuna said in a slow manner, still processing what she had been told as she looked over at her.
   "You can always turn him down, but at least go and meet him." Her aunt said in an attempt to reassure her. "I very nearly turned down your uncle, but... well, that's a story for another day."

From another room, her grandmother called for her. Apparently she needed her for something, and she wanted her presence immediately. As a result, Yuna got up from the table and slowly walked into the next room.
   "I want you to have this; I made it for the day you wed." Her grandmother said as she took out a package from one of the cabinets. Inside was a red kimono, upon which were numerous flowers. The material used, fine silk, proved easily that it was not only special, but also rare on account of rationing. "I hope it'll work out for you." She said as she handed it to Yuna before saying "Now, before your wedding, I want you here often so I can teach you a few things, but for now, you need to get going."
   "I will, obāchan... Thank you." Yuna said with a bow before leaving. She would catch a ride aboard a fishing boat back to Omi, and then she would start walking home. It was a long trip, but she hoped it would be worth it.
Omi, Hatsukaichi, Izumi Prefecture
UTC 1600


The trip took longer than it would've otherwise, on account of Yuna being left distracted by the news. Yet through streets and over fields, she continued along the way home, ostensibly to meet her suitor, though she was having doubts about it. She got to thinking about where they had supposedly come from, Kyūre, apparently. Site of a major naval arsenal, that's what her uncle, the esteemed captain of the Agano, had said during one of his many visits. Major dockyard too, so there were probably a lot of sailors and soldiers over there if she were to guess. Perhaps he was one of them? Beyond what her uncle told her about the town, which he didn't even live in when he was on leave, she barely knew anything about it. The distance made travelling there impractical, and she hadn't even visited her family in the capital, let alone left the area around Hatsukaichi before. The furthest she had actually travelled was a day trip to Enojima with her school. She saw a pair of feet in front of her, on account of her looking down at the ground along her way home, then she looked up and saw someone familiar.
   "N-niisan?" Yuna said as she saw her brother standing before her. "When did you get home? Better yet, why are you home?"
   "Oh, Yuna-chan..." Isao said with a sigh. "The Agano's in port for repairs, so I thought I'd pay a visit." He pointed out before asking "What are you doing out here, anyways?" as the band of his cap, which emblazoned with "EMPIRE OF YAMATO" on the front, glistened ever-so slightly in the afternoon sun.
   "I... I got a call, someone's proposed." Yuna said, looking out over the river.
   "Proposed as in a business proposal or as in..?" Isao asked before putting two-and-two together. "Oh. Uh... Congratulations, Yuna-chan."
   "I... don't even know who he is though." Yuna said as the two walked along the path towards home.
   "That certainly a problem." Isao noted. "If you'd like, I can talk to them first, let you know what I find out."
   "I appreciate that." Yuna smiled slightly, though she couldn't help but feel nervous as they approached the house.
Inside, she could see a few silhouettes, those of her mother and father, as well as a pair which she didn't recognize. Probably the suitors, assuming they hadn't already left. She could hear them speaking as she looked through a panel of glass on one of the doors, ever uncertain of what she should do. The right thing, the proper thing would've been to introduce herself, but she wasn't so certain if she had it in her. It wasn't any fault of theirs, of course, she was merely nervous and apprehensive.
   "It seems to me, based on what he said, my son met her when he was studying in school." Said the elder of the two men. "Still, it was rather difficult to find your family, even in spite of being a war hero such as yourself, Kimura-san."
   "Oh no, you're perfectly fine. When the war hit and they started rationing everything, our business went under." Haruto responded with a smile as he leaned slightly back. "Besides, it's not all bad. I found work in a shipyard after all."
   "She should be home any minute." Machiko said as she brought everyone some tea. A knock could be heard a few seconds later as Isao decided to make his presence known, as well as to simply say hello. "Speaking of which, I think that might be her."
It was certainly a disappointment to her when it turned out it wasn't Yuna, but rather her son who had recently returned home. Such disappointment was only slight in nature, after all, he had just returned home from the Battle out in the Azukishima, but given they had been expecting Yuna owing to how important this was, it was perhaps justified. A few more minutes passed as she listened to them speak and watched them through the window, however, she would not enter, choosing instead to go for a walk.
UTC 1716

As she walked along the hilltop, looking down on her home below, she struggled to make a decision. It would've been easier if she had actually said hello, but that option was now off the table. She wasn't even sure if she was cut out for marriage, after all, she wasn't exactly the most attentive person, let alone skilled enough to run a household. She certainly wasn't sure if marrying him was a good thing or not; he seemed like the quiet type from what he had seen, while her father appeared friendly enough, but she still didn't know enough about him. What he likes and dislikes, what his favorite things to do are, where they had supposedly met before. She didn't even know his name. On the other hand, when she saw him, she didn't feel particularly bothered by the thought of marriage to him. She thought back on what her aunt had told her, about how she could refuse his proposal, but she didn't know if she wanted to or not.
   "Sorry to bother you." Someone said from behind her, breaking that thin line of thought she had been trying to process.
   "Yes?" She asked, turning around. It was them. The suitor and his father, that is. Perhaps now was a good chance to actually get to know them.
   "We... uhh... seem to be lost." The father said.
   "Do you know which way to the street-car station?" The younger of the two asked, embarrassed by his father's failure to follow directions. He could've sworn they passed it at least once by now, but instead, here they were, looking for a street-car out in the woods.
   "Certainly. Please, follow." Yuna replied as she beckoned for them to follow. "I'm not surprised you got lost, even as a native I still sometimes lose my way out here."
   "Lost enough to look for a street-car station out in the countryside?" The younger of the two said with a slight laugh.
   "A nice sailor tried to show us the way, but..." The elder said before being interrupted.
   "Ah yes, Isao Kimura-san. He's a bit of an odd one, you see." Yuna said, mildly poking fun at her brother. He deserved it to an extent and only just to that extent, after all, she would've thought he'd join the Army and try to become a pilot, yet here he was, a pilot serving aboard her uncle's ship instead. In any case, she would wind up leading them to the nearest station, about a kilometer away from where they were now. Athough she didn't reveal who she was—she admittedly suspected that they already knew—she found it remarkably easy to get along with them and actually wound up enjoying their conversation. Still, she had practically burnt whatever bridges they had, given that she didn't even say hello while they were actually home. A few more minutes passed, and in time they would reach the station, at which point they would part.
UTC 1843

When Yuna had made it home, she was expecting a lecture over how late she was. She was supposed to have been there not one hour ago, not two, but at least three hours ago. To her knowledge, she had practically sabotaged the proposal, even if, following the conversation out on the hillside, she had started to like them. Much to her surprise, she was wrong. Quite wrong. Rather than being angry at her, they were overjoyed to see her. Apparently, they had received a phone call from the suitor, probably from the train station, saying that they had gotten the chance to meet her and that she had shown them the way to said station. She knew they knew who she was. Furthermore, the offer was still on the table, so now, all that was left was for her to accept it. She knew what she was going to do. She was going to accept it, however, she still had a single, rather simple problem.

In spite of it all, she still didn't know their names.

 1. Etiquette lesson, Part One — Unlike what foreign media would have you believe, terms such as "Nēchan", "Nēsan", "Niichan", and "Niisan" can be used to refer not only to one's elder siblings, but anyone who was born in the same generation as a sign of respect. Common examples include between a younger and older cousin and between two friends, provided the latter is older and seen as something of a brother or sister.
 2. Superstitions — it was a commonly-held superstition back in the early 20th century that a woman who held her chopsticks with the blunt edge close to their hand would marry far away, while those who held them closer to the tips would marry someone nearby.
 3. Etiquette lesson, Part Two — "Bāchan" is used when a grandchild addresses their grandmother. The "O-" prefix is used to exalt nouns, and although it is no longer common, it still appears in honorific terms for family members into the modern day.
« Last Edit: September 30, 2023, 01:51:17 AM by Daitō »

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Re: Lifetimes of Change (Historical Vignettes set from 1891 - 2011)
« Reply #19 on: September 17, 2022, 08:00:11 AM »
Underway
Himi Line, Izumi Prefecture
UTC 1300 - 1500
February 02, 1944


As the train pulled out of the station with a great rumble, it left behind the world that Yuna had known her entire life. At first slow but gaining speed, the noise is so great that even with her ears covered, she can still hear the engine resound through the cabin and the horn bellow forth. In an attempt to keep her mind off of the noise and the events that were to soon transpire, she finds herself thinking about the last month, even as the train passed street after street and building after building. It was hard for her to believe that it had already been a month and a half since that day in December, when she had met her husband-to-be for the first and only time. It felt as though it were merely yesterday, even as every waking moment since then had been spent preparing for this very day.

One day. That was all that it took for her life to be turned upside down. It took some getting used to, but she had to accept that to live was to change, even if it meant something as drastic as this. She hoped that everything would work out, of course. It would be foolish of her not to. She also hoped and prayed that her new life would be filled with joy, that and that she would remain strong in the years to come. Yet in spite of it all, she was still nervous, and with good reason. Save for the occasional visit from her Uncle and her brother, whose ship was primarily based in Kyūre harbor, she was going to a place where she knew nobody from home. Completely isolated, save for a precious few days, from her old life. She could now do nothing to change what was to come, even if, in spite of her worries, she wished to see this through. In a way, it was an adventure to her, even if she felt somewhat anxious about it. Still, even if she wanted to go back, she couldn't now. She could only watch the signs and landscape around pass behind her. At first, it was merely the signs which drew her attention.

First Hatsukaichi passed behind them, home no more. Then Kaitaichi and Niimi, where she had been twice before many years ago. Then came Yanai and Ikata, who she only knew of from her father, who had taken this route many times on his way home during the war.

Soon enough, she turned to the land around her. In lieu of drawing it, she instead painted a picture within her mind, one of her in the car, watching the world go by. She thought of the rails below them and the sky above. She imagined the boats sailing off, not merely to Kyūre, but to some great trading city, a metropolis resplendent in wealth, surrounding a palace for a great lord. Perhaps she too was on her way to such a magnificent city, where peace abounded since millennia long gone. But even so, she knew that wasn't likely to be the case. It was a military town, after all. Nonetheless, she saw ferry and fishing boat share the sea with vessels of trade and of war, all bound together under the blue sky and the sun.
   "It sure is a long[1] trip." Said Ikuko as she tightened her bow before fixing her hair.
   "Indeed it is." Yuna said with a nod before looking down at the floor, once again lost in thought as footsteps drew close.

A pair of men in uniform walked along the aisle of the car. One was the car's attendant, a young fellow in a dark gray uniform and cap. His jacket had a pair of brass pens stuck inside of it and he wore an armband, red in color and with some text in white. Of course, as it was on his left arm and she and her family were sitting on the right, she couldn't quite make it out. The other man was a member of the Military Police, which was given away instantly by his distinctive white armband with red text on it. His uniform was standard for the military and he carried a wooden truncheon, hooked to his belt by a loop.
   "The train is approaching the port. Please, close all blinds on the ocean side." The attendant said as they passed through the car. Almost immediately, everyone closed the blinds on the right side of the train as it approached a tunnel. Unfortunately, someone didn't close their window alongside the blind, which led to the cabin filling up with smoke and causing just about everyone to cough their lungs up.
   "Someone must've left their window open." One of the passengers said between coughing. "How could they be so inconsiderate?" Another asked. Suffice to say, it wasn't a pleasant experience in the slightest. So unpleasant, in fact, that disembarking the train felt almost like a vacation a few minutes later.

Even during Victory Day parades, Yuna hadn't seen this many soldiers and sailors in one place. She couldn't go more than three steps without nearly bumping into one, which wasn't really a surprise based on what her uncle had described the city as a few years ago. He spent a fair bit of his time there when his ship was in port after all, though his family lived in Hatsukaichi, not far from Yuna's old home. Still, it was quite the change from the stations she was used to, which, in all fairness, were only a few. Other than that, the station itself didn't feel out of place from any other in the region, and in fact, it reminded her a fair bit of the station closest to home, where she had embarked on this voyage but a few hours prior.
   "Kyūre! Kyūre!" An announcer at the station said as people boarded and disembarked from the train, proceeding towards the exit.

Before they could leave, Yuna and her family reached a checkpoint staffed by two individuals in uniform. They were obviously law enforcement, but they weren't Kenpeitai, weren't Military Police. Rather, they belonged to the smaller naval police force, the Tokkeitai, or Special Police Force, which was not to be confused with the Tokubetsu Kōtō Keisatsu, better known as the Tokkō, or Special Higher Police. Not that it was easy to mistake an officer of one group for one in the other, since the Special Police Force's officers wore blue naval uniforms while the Special Higher Police wore regular clothing. Furthermore, as these individuals demonstrated, they wore armbands similar to the officer on the train, though theirs were colored red and featured white text. Before they could leave, they'd need to have some basic information about their reason for visiting be recorded, merely a formality since there was a war going.
   "Names?" The elder officer asked Haruto, holding up a notebook and a pencil.
   "Haruto Kimura, accompanied by Machiko, Yuna, and Ikuko Kimura." Haruto said, looking back on his family. Though Yuna couldn't tell it, he wished that Isao were here as well, but he was out fighting the Ardians instead.
   "Kimura, Haruto... Machiko... Yuna... and Ikuko." The officer repeated as he wrote down their names as well as a few features they possessed to aid in identifying them if they were ever to find themselves on the wrong side of the law and tried to flee. Again, merely a formality. "How long do you plan to be here?"
   "Just a few hours, well, for most of us anyways. Yuna will be here indefinitely."
   "Alright... And why are you here?" The officer asked, once again writing down what he had been told.
   "Well, I would think it obvious given she's staying here and all, but since you asked, we're here for my daughter's wedding."
   "Oh, congratulations." The officer said before adding "Alright, move along."

As the family left the station, a pair of loud explosions reverberated throughout the city, taking Yuna by surprise for a moment and causing her to flinch. She wasn't sure what had caused it, only that it was somewhere relatively nearby. Nonetheless, her father does, by the looks of it, know what caused it. After all, he had heard that noise quite often back in the day.
   "Just when I thought I'd forgotten them... The navy's gotta be running drills." He said as they exited the station. Not thirty seconds went by before another bang could be heard, and sure enough, smoke began to rise from a mountainside, one of many in the area. At least nine, hence the name of the city. They walked over to the bus, powered not by gasoline owing to rationing, but rather by a large wood-gas generator mounted on the back. As they boarded the vehicle, Yuna couldn't help but wonder, in these final moments before her new life was to begin, where in the world she had been taken. A first impression is everything, and between the great many soldiers and now the gunfire, it was clear this was a very different place from Hatsukaichi, from home.

 1. Are we there yet? — The trip from Hatsukaichi to Kyūre in the 1940s covered a distance of just thirty kilometers. In spite of this, owing to the engines used on the Himi Line during those days, as well as regulations in place to save fuel, it took over two hours to make the voyage.
« Last Edit: October 19, 2022, 12:19:26 PM by Daitō »

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Re: Lifetimes of Change (Historical Vignettes set from 1891 - 2011)
« Reply #20 on: September 20, 2022, 07:01:10 AM »
Shinzen kekkon
Hiroioki, Kyūre, Izumi Prefecture
UTC 1600
February 02, 1944


Just a few more meters. That was all Yuna needed to climb before she and her family would reach the top of this slope. Technology had already failed her today, so she wasn't in the mood to be late for her wedding because her own legs had failed her too. It wasn't a joke that her new family lived up on a mountain; the Hiroioki district was, after all, in the foothills of Mount Takimine, overlooking the city and its port. Even if it weren't for her being there for her wedding, she felt inspired to keep going, if only to see the view from the top. Still, it was a struggle even for her father, one he had likened to going across No Man's Land, albeit in a less than serious manner. Frankly, it was a miracle that they only reached the top feeling short of breath, given that they were carrying a good deal of luggage with them. Still, when they finally reached the top, they were met by an older woman, around the same age as Haruto, give or take two years, who wore a warm smile on her face.
   "I see the bus couldn't make it up the hill again?" The woman asked them, which received only a nod from Haruto as they came to a sudden stop. Unfortunately for Yuna, this meant bumping into her sister in a badly-timed moment of distraction as she watched a bird fly overhead.
   "Ah, Fukazawa-san!" Machiko said weakly, surprised to see her this far away from their destination. Owing to the distance, she had been forced to use her daughter's umbrella as a walking stick. Why did she even have that umbrella? Well, it had looked like it was going to rain, so she figured it was better safe than sorry, not to mention it'd save the groom's family a bit of extra money.
   "Hello, Fukazawa-san." Haruto said, removing his hat and offering a bow. "The weather is rather pleasant today, wouldn't you say?" He said, glancing back at Machiko for a second. As he said this, Yuna began to make her way to the front of the group, wishing to introduce herself.
   "I suppose... Regardless, all that matters is that everyone is healthy—Happy and healthy, I mean." Said "Fukazawa-san" with a nod.
   "While I may be lacking in my own ways, I am honored to join your family..." Yuna said with a bow as she reached the front of the group. What she didn't know at the time was, much to her embarrassment, she was not, in fact, her soon-to-be mother-in-law, but rather, someone else entirely.
   "I'm Hiroyo Fukazawa, Iwao's aunt." The woman said, in pat correcting Yuna, but also introducing herself properly, since it was their first time meeting. "As it happens, my husband and I have been given the honor of serving as matchmakers during the ceremony." She says with a smile. She isn't in the least bit surprised that Yuna had thought she was her mother-in-law. Such was a more common occurrence in these arranged marriages than she'd care to admit, and as a matter of fact, she had been in both positions before.
   "You do know your husband's name, right?" Haruto asked Yuna as the group began to move along the road once more.
   "She is certainly lacking in many ways." Said Machiko with a sigh, disappointed thus far.

The family, now accompanied by Hiroyo, continued along the path, climbing a far more gently inclined hill than before. It was also not much farther, which undoubtedly made things easier, but just far enough that Yuna could take a moment to enjoy the sights and sounds of the area. Green trees and grasses, steep terraces, the running water of the not-so-distant Oyao river, and buildings of many colors overlooking the Mutsu Sea, all bound together under the pale blue sky, dotted with clouds. Were she not so worried about what was to come, she would've actually enjoyed it, for it was truly a beautiful place. Still, she didn't have long to take it in, as in time, they reached a flight of stairs. At long last, they had made it.
   "This way, please." Hiroyo said, pointing up the stairs to a house overlooking the area before she approached the house.
   "Wow..." Ikuko stared out over the land below. "Look how far we've come." She said with much joy; when Yuna got the chance to look, she noted that it seemed, given where the station was, that they were out on the very edge of Kyūre. In a way, it reminded her, though only in passing, of where her grandparents lived, being out on the outer edge of Hatsukaichi, though that was a much greater distance than this. Once again, her train of thought was interrupted, this time by the matchmaker.
   "Everyone, they're here!" Hiroyo shouted as she opened the door, allowing everyone to enter. Even if there had been a chance to back out of this, even if she wanted to, now there was no going back. In a way, it lifted some of the trepidation which she felt during the trip over, though really she was mostly worried about making a mistake during the ceremony. Well, that and the fact that she was marrying someone she had only met once before. That certainly played a significant role in it.
UTC 1633

The living room was fairly quiet as everyone made what few remaining preparations for the ceremony. Mostly, that involved finding a seat, straightening their outfits, or otherwise getting a chance to talk. Most of the work was being handled by the priest, who had been diligently—and silently—performing a ritual to purify the family shrine, as well as laying out a paper which had some incantation written upon it. Everyone else had their places; Yuna and Iwao sat behind the priest, to their left and right were their matchmakers—Iwao's Aunt and Uncle—and behind them, the rest of their families. Everyone—with two exceptions—were in traditional garb, almost invariably consisting of a kimono, and in the cases of the men, a black, crested haori alongside a pair of skirt-like hakama pants. The fathers of both Yuna and Iwao, Haruto and Daisaku, were different. The two wore their dress uniforms, given that both were technically still within the armed forces, whether Army or Navy, even if they both worked to manage factories. Haruto notably wore his Order of the Golden Kite, its blue-green ribbon draped around his neck as the light glinted off the golden swords that rested upon its enameled face.
   "Please, forgive me." Daisaku said in hushed tones, not wishing to interrupt the priest. "The ceremony is very modest and not very crowded." He admitted as the family waited. It was true, the ceremony lacked many of the bells and whistles that went into an average wedding in those days, devoid of music and guests, as well as lacking a Miko, a shrine maiden, to assist the Priest in his duties. It was too expensive, not to mention such Miko were often busy performing rituals for the wounded in military towns such as these.
   "Don't worry about it. My daughter is quite shy, so I'd say this is for the best." Haruto admitted, looking over to him.
   "Heh... My son is, as well."
In spite of Daisaku's best efforts, the room is rather abuzz with activity. In spite of that, Iwao was one of the few who actually remained quiet in the leadup to the ceremony. Yuna wondered if, perhaps, he had been feeling as nervous as she had on the way here. Obviously, she couldn't really blame him, it was a major change for the both of them. Perhaps not so much for him as it was for her, since she was leaving her old home behind, but still. Nonetheless, the Priest raised his hand, signaling for everyone to be quiet and to pay attention. First, he would lead them in a chant—the very same prayer which was written on the sheet of paper from before—which everyone tried to follow. It wasn't easy, and they were all left trailing behind since, unlike the priest, they didn't have the paper in front of them. Then, called the attention of the spirits, the Kami, to bear witness to the marriage. After that came the san-san-ku-do[1] ceremony, and then finally, the new couple approached the altar. There, Iwao read his vows while Yuna listened, during which time, his aunt and uncle would be thanked for serving as matchmakers during the ceremony. Finally, the priest, Iwao and Yuna, and then at last Daisaku and Haruto would make offerings of evergreen to the Kami, a sort of thanks for blessing the union. Just like that, in the blink of an eye, everything had changed.
UTC 1702

It wasn't every day that people got to eat more than a basic meal. With rationing and food prices being as they were, it was simply not affordable, so anything more would be seen only on special occasions such as birthdays, festivals, and of course, as seen today, weddings. Though certainly, it was lacking some of the finer things—even before the war, certain dishes were simply out of the question for anyone who wasn't rich—it was, by the standards of the time, quite the feast. From what Yuna could see, here at the end of the table, the meal was made up of sake for the drink, which was no surprise, as well as vinegared oysters, soup, stewed vegetables, some maki sushi wrapped in seaweed, and even a red seabream, albeit one that was on the smaller side. It had to've cost a fair bit, certainly more than pocket change, but for such occasions as this, it was probably worth it. Yuna certainly wasn't going to complain, at the very least. In fact, she felt almost comfortable here, now that the ceremony had come to a close and everything was official. As it had turned out, much of her anxiety in the last few months had been over the ceremony itself, though that was still only part of the equation, and it had gone more or less without a hitch.

Even so, she looked around the room at everyone who had been there. Obviously, both families were present, but even so, as was painfully obvious given that a spot had been left for him, her brother was, unfortunately, absent. The tides of war had pulled him away from them not even a month prior, with his ship, the Agano, having completed its repairs. By now, He was probably off near Heyra, doing battle with local forces. Even if he wasn't, he certainly wasn't going to be able to be present here. She figured, therefore, that she could at least send him a letter, him and Uncle, since they wouldn't be back in port for a few months.
   "What a wonderful feast." Entaro, Iwao's Uncle and one of the matchmakers, said with a sigh. Even if he'd seen dozens over the years as part of his job, this one was particularly special.
   "It sure is." Haruto replied, looking over the table as he poured himself a cup. "I mean, just look at it all."
   "Please, give my regards to your folks when you get the chance, Kimura-san." Natsumi, Iwao's mother and now Yuna's mother-in-law, said to Machiko. "It was so nice of them to get us all of the nori and vegetables we can eat."
   "Y'know what?" Machiko replied. "I think I'll do it first thing when we get home."
   "It's a shame O-niisan couldn't attend..." Ikuko said with a sigh as she looked over at his spot at the table. She too missed him, his warm smile and his friendly, if blunt, demeanor.
   "Eh... It's so hard to get everyone together these days, especially if they're serving." Daisaku pointed out with a nod. "Even with Gripus on the run—mostly on the run—there's still work to be done."

It was good to see that everyone else was enjoying themselves, yet in spite of that, Yuna and Iwao merely looked on as they listened to these endless conversations. Neither of them had even touched their meals yet, and they had scarcely either spoken since before the ceremony had occurred. Indeed, though neither knew it of each other, they both felt as though they were outsiders in their own home, even on this most special of days and even with the feast being in their honor. Of course, for Yuna, it was also because she had become rather engrossed in one of the many conversations going around the room, but still, neither dared to speak up.
   "Yuna-san, Iwao-san, please eat." Hiroyo said, turning to the both of them. "We've used up all our rations for this meal and then some, you see."
   "O-okay..." Yuna said with some hesitation as she grabbed her chopsticks. She was about to grab something, but then she looked over at Iwao, who had seemingly not heard what his aunt had told him. Instead, he was staring at his chopsticks, still resting on their holder, with his fists clenched, or perhaps he was gripping something. She was worried if he was angry or perhaps feeling overwhelmed, though she didn't dare to ask. She didn't wish to interrupt anyone else, of course, but mostly it was because she didn't want to make things worse for her husband, since she didn't know why he was feeling the way he did. Nonetheless, she did her best to enjoy the meal, and a few hours would pass before it was time for everyone else to go home.
UTC 1856

As the hung low on the horizon, Yuna walked alongside her family towards the edge of the yard. Given that, barring any unexpected trips, this was going to be the last time she saw them for a little while at least, she figured it was best to see them off. She is, of course, saddened to see them leave, but even so, she does the best she can to hide how she feels about them leaving. In a way, it was like she was saying goodbye to her past, though of course, it wasn't really that final farewell. They would see each other again, given time, but it was still a ways off. Before they left, however, Ikuko would whisper something to her, something about Iwao.
   "Lucky for you, he seems like such a reserved guy." She said, leaning close to Yuna for a moment.
   "Well, nobody would be noisy at a wedding, y'know." Yuna replied, which caught the attention of her parents for a moment.
   "Nobody, you say?" Machiko asked, glancing at her husband.
   "That was only one time..." Haruto said with a sigh.
   "It was our wedding, Haruto." Machiko replied in a most stern fashion as they descended the staircase. And so, four became three and passed out of sight. Yet though she said farewell to her old family, she was soon greeted by a member of her new family. Iwao's sister, Azumi, as it happened. Though she was calm at the moment as she looked at Yuna, her glare seemed sharp enough that it could pierce iron, let alone her soul.
   "Yuna-san." Azumi said in a rather direct manner.
   "Ah. Yes, nēsan[2]?" Yuna asked, turning around to look at her.
   "I would've preferred for Iwao to have chosen his bride more carefully." Azumi said in response. Her voice carried an air of disdain for her sister-in-law, and of course she came off as rather abrasive too, certainly quite direct like her brother, but... worse. Regardless, this had left Yuna stunned into silence, unsure of how to react. "Anyway, take care of our mother, would you? I'll visit again soon."

And with that, still remaining silent, Yuna watched as her sister-in-law walked away, taking much the same path as everyone else had. Perhaps she was just in a foul mood, or perhaps that was how she normally was. Regardless, though she wanted to believe there was more to it than her just being, simply put, unnecessarily judgmental, this was quite the bad first impression. Even so, until she got to know her better, she thought it would be best not to judge the book by its cover, so to speak, and so she elected to treat her with respect, even if it meant being more cautious around her. Once she too had left, Yuna would return to the family home, for there was still much work to be done, even with the day's celebrations fresh in her mind.
UTC 2100

Daisaku and Natsumi, Yuna's parents-in-law, found themselves sitting in their bedroom, taking a few minutes to unwind from the many, many events of the past day. Well, really, it was just Natsumi who was resting, sitting under a blanket on her futon as Daisaku busied himself with putting away various parts of his uniform. Mostly his medals—the Ardian War Medal and the Miyako War Medal—but also an aiguillette, owing to his position as a supervisor for the arsenal over in Hikami, not too far from the town. Between the Kyūre and Hikami arsenals, he had pretty much spent his entire career behind the lines, even getting a degree in aeronautical engineering so he could work with aircraft, and on the government's sen too.
   "Well, now that she's here, y'know you can rest, have her take over." Daisaku remarked as he placed one of his medals in its box before standing up.
   "Yep." Natsumi nodded. "It'll be nice to get back to normal again, though."
As Daisaku walked over to a cabinet, intending to put his medals away, he caught a glimpse of Yuna, standing there in the doorway. She had been waiting for them to finish talking, not wishing to interrupt them, but with it being clear that they had finished, she walked into the room. Careful not to bump into a small brazier that was keeping the room warm, she would then take a seat on the floor.
   "O-tōsan, O-kāsan[3]." Yuna said with a bow. "It is an honor to be a part of your family." She continued, which prompted Daisaku and Natsumi to bow in turn. In part, it was merely tradition, something to be done on the night of a wedding. On the other hand, however, they genuinely were happy to welcome her into their family, even if things had been rushed ever-so-slightly.
   "No, no. The honor is ours, Yuna-san." Daisaku said, looking up at her.
   "I'm afraid I hurt my leg a month back and it's not all better just yet..." Natsumi said with a sigh as she too looked over at Yuna. "...as a result, I'll be counting on you a lot, Yuna-san, at least until I recover."
   "Of course." Yuna said, more than happy to help. "Even if we weren't family, I'd be happy to help in any way I can." She said; from an early age, she had been taught to lend a helping hand wherever possible, just as one might expect of others when the time came. With that out of the way, she realized that there was some work which could yet be done, not to mention it would better to have it done sooner rather than later. As a result, it was off to the kitchen with her, off to clean up after the day's feasting.
UTC 2109

First things first, Yuna needed some sort of light. It was, after all, rather dimly lit in the room, and a few candles simply weren't going to cut it. As a result, she would reach up to the overhead lamp and turn the knob, after which she would try to get started, only to be interrupted by an arm reaching past her for the blinds.
   "That's far too much light shinin outside, y'know." Iwao said before reaching for the day's paper. "Out there, in the dark, vile creatures lurk, searching for such illumination."
   "What?" Yuna asked, confused by what he was saying. "What sort of creatures?"
   "The worst of all, our neighbors." Iwao said with a laugh. "Seriously though, they're awfully fussy about that sorta thing."
   "I'm sorry." Yuna said, looking down at the floor as he tore a sheet from the paper.
   "Don't worry about it." He stated as he twisted the paper before sticking it in the brazier for but a moment. "Besides, it made fetching water for the bath easier, at the very least." He conceded as he stepped outside. Yuna followed, wanting to see the city below this late at night. It was, therefore, something of a surprise that it was pitch black, even in the city proper. As Iwao was quick to point out when pressed about it that, as a wartime measure, blackouts were being instituted in the city as an added precaution. It wasn't as though the Ardians would be reaching this far, so the practice was, at least at that point, mostly in place to protect ships in the harbor that may've been silhouetted against the city. Still, it was so strange, seeing a lively city gone dark and all but impossible to see. Yet another thing on the list that she would need to grow accustomed to, by the looks of things.

 1. Ceremonial drinking? — The san-san-ku-do ceremony, or "three-three-nine-times", is a ceremony held in Teido weddings which sees the bride and groom drink three cups of Sake three times. Each cup is larger than the last, with the ritual being said to represent three oaths taken three times.
 2. Relatives by law, Part One — Though not usually related, siblings-in-law would and still do refer to each other much as they would were they related by blood, with terms such as "nēsan" and "niisan" being commonly used by the younger of the two. Even so, like with one's actual siblings, when talking to them directly, it would still be permissible to call them by their actual name.
 3. Relatives by law, Part Two — As with ones siblings-in-law, it is common to refer to ones parents-in-law as though they were your actual parents.
« Last Edit: October 19, 2022, 12:19:40 PM by Daitō »

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Re: Lifetimes of Change (Historical Vignettes set from 1891 - 2011)
« Reply #21 on: October 19, 2022, 06:17:56 PM »
Reasons
Hiroioki, Kyūre, Izumi Prefecture
UTC 2200
February 02, 1944


   Tick. Tock. A clock carried along its seemingly-endless task of keeping the time, overlooking the dimly-lit bedroom, its white enamel face, covered by a glass sheet, reflecting that light which struck it. Iwao was absent-mindedly reading a book about aircraft; his father, Daisaku, had raised him to be at least mildly interested in them, on account of his job down at the Hikami Aircraft Factory anyways. At the time, he was, if the image in the book were anything to go off of, the Zayasu A5A Reisen, formerly the "king of the skies" wherever it flew, now quickly becoming a dated relic of the early war. Now, as his father might attest, that was merely the march of progress, you make something new, the other side makes something to counter it, driving forwards innovation and ultimately enriching humanity. Aye, to his father, the sound of aircraft flying over was as the sound of dreams come true. But that life was not one that he had been called to, rather, here he was, a lowly clerk in the Kyūre Navy Court Martial, doomed to early mornings and late evenings. It wasn't all bad, he told himself. In just three more years, he'll be able to get a job at Hikami himself, he figured.

   The door to the room slowly slid open as Yuna walked in, carrying with her the kimono she had worn at the ceremony earlier that day. She stayed still for but a moment, taking in the room, capturing the moment. Her father had taught her to always enjoy the little things in life, the sort of things he'd missed back in the Ardian War. A quiet moment, undisturbed by that which surrounded them, the pale light of the full moon, the birds singing their songs. Even so, at least in this case, it was also a matter of practicality, as she was still learning where everything was in her new home, something which she would no doubt be dealing with for some time to come. As she glanced around, she saw that the futons had already been placed on the floor, as well as that there was a rack from which she could hang the kimono.

   "Thank you for setting out the futons." Yuna looked over to him as she walked over to the rack. The only response she received was a nod as she hung the kimono upon it. She recalled what her sister had said about him, that he seemed rather reticent, reserved. Then again, he did seem rather engrossed in his book, so maybe, like her with her drawing, he'd often tuned out the rest of the world and focus on that? Who knew for certain. Well, other than himself and anyone who knew him, anyways.

    Yuna heard the book close with a subdued *thud* as Iwao turned to look over to her. "Oh, Yuna-san?"
   "Y-yes?" She answered, realizing, or at least so she thought, what was about to happen. She'd been told what to say at this moment, yes, but she didn't know if she was ready for it.
   "Did you bring an umbrella with you, by any chance?"
   Yuna dropped what she was doing and walked over to him, sitting on the futon opposite from him. "Yes." She answered, gripping her outfit as she did so. She was once again nervous, though she couldn't make sense of why. Mostly. "I... I brought a new o—"

   "You mind if I borrow it?" Iwao asked as he stood up and walked over to grab it. This surprised Yuna, since it wasn't what she had been told he would say. Maybe he misremembered, or was her grandmother that outdated in how she saw these sorts of things? Nonetheless, she watched in silence as he grabbed the umbrella from a pile of her belongings off in the corner before he walked over to the window. "Gotta say, this is quite the nice one your parents bought you. Surprised you can even get one this nice these days." He said as he opened the window, letting the frigid wind in before reaching the umbrella through, handle first, and hooking it around something.

   A few seconds later, he returned, a string of dried persimmons and the umbrella in tow. "Here, you must be hungry." He said as he pulled a pair off of the string, handing one over to Yuna before sitting back down and taking a bite out of his. Yuna still remained silent, confused by this turn of events, as she looked first down at the persimmon and then back up at Iwao. "What, are they too bitter?"
   "N-no. It's just... You didn't eat much during the wedding." She whispered as she glanced down at the dried fruit. "Had me worried you don't actually eat anything." She noted in a semi-serious manner as he took a bite out of it.
   "Oh, I do, I do."—he coughed, nearly choking on a seed that tried to go down wrong—"I even swallowed the seed just now. Don't you worry."

   A couple of minutes passed as they talked and ate, taking the chance to get to know each other just a bit better. Things like what their favorite music or color was, who their favorite author was, that sort of thing. For some reason, Yuna couldn't help but shake the feeling that they had met before, somewhere. Not on the hilltop all those months ago, but somewhere else. Where, though?
   "Come to think of it, have we ever actually met before?" She wondered aloud, glancing off to the side as she spoke.
   Isao was quiet for a second, pondering what she had asked. With a nod and a smile, he asked, "Have we met? You mean you don't remember?"
   "S-sorry, I tend to get a little distracted." Yuna murmured as she played with her hair for a second.
   "I don't blame you. It was a long while ago." Iwao reached out to place his hand on her cheek. "But I remember it, remember you well. How you drew the coast off Hatsukaichi in winter." He said with a smile. "I'm so sorry that we rushed this, but... I'm glad you're finally here."
   The two shared a kiss, albeit briefly, before retiring for the night. A chapter of Yuna's life had come to a close, and with it, a new one had begun.
« Last Edit: January 30, 2023, 04:33:53 AM by Daitō »

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Re: Lifetimes of Change (Historical Vignettes set from 1891 - 2011)
« Reply #22 on: December 25, 2022, 09:46:56 AM »
Guests
Hiroioki, Kyūre, Izumi Prefecture
UTC 1300
March 16, 1944


   The sun hung high in the sky, bathing the house and the land in its brilliant light. Nearly a month-and-a-half had passed since the wedding, and things hadn't gone the most smoothly since then. As she cleaned the stove ahead of dinner, Yuna found herself reminded of her first day on rationing duty and the issues that had arisen on that day. February 8th, a cold day, made all the worse by the near-constant bickering between two of her neighbors. Whether it be because one thought the other was eyeballing how much to give out or accusing each other of taking extra for themselves, it was quite the stressful outing, that was certain. She recalled wishing that night that the Hiroioki Tonarigumi didn't assign her to work with them again, at least not for a couple months. Furthermore, she found it difficult to get to know the other neighbors; though it was likely due to her somewhat shy nature, it nonetheless made adjusting ever-more difficult. She hoped that what Natsumi told her—that it would just take time—would prove true, though it certainly felt like it wouldn't at this rate.

   Still, it wasn't all bad; for the last two weeks, she had been assigned to deliver the mail, which had allowed her to at least get used to Kyūre—the Hiroioki and neighboring Uchigami districts in particular—as well as providing her with ample exercise. In a way, she actually enjoyed it, though she could never quite find time to actually draw the area. It was either too late, she was too busy, or she was too tired. Maybe she'd be assigned to work which didn't take as much time out of her day, then she'd be able to do so. Who could say for certain, other than the folks actually deciding the next fortnight's assignments?

   As she continued to clean, she found herself listening to the radio. Between the news, music, and the occasional radio drama, it provided some reminder of home; she fondly remembered how in the dead of night, Isao, Ikuko, her parents—everyone—would gather round to catch the latest chapter of Tanko no Naka. She thought of her parents enjoying the works of such composers as Yamada and Setoguchi as well as more modern songs such as Koi wa umibe de; perhaps, she thought, they too were listening to the same music over YOFK, in a way tying them together even across such a vast distance. Well, not as vast as it was to Shinkyō, or so her father had told her. She always wondered what it was like in the capital, where her father had spent his formative years. It must be like Hatsukaichi, but on a far, far grander scale.

   The door slid open and two people entered, one vaguely familiar, the other not so much. Yuna looked up from the stove to see who exactly had arrived. It was Azumi and... someone else. Far younger. Probably her child. Probably. Well, regardless of what work she had to do, however little yet remained, it was rude of her not to at least say hello.
   "Welcome home, nēsan." She said, removing the mask she had been wearing while cleaning. She didn't want to inhale any soot from the stove, after all, but now that she had all but finished, it was improper of her to speak with that rag on.
   Azumi looked her over for a moment, her chin lifted in contempt for her sister-in-law. "How plain." She said, handing her a bag of rice before walking into the living room.
   Yuna was left perplexed by the statement; on one hand, she hoped that she was talking about the rice, or perhaps that she had spoken with the mask on, but deep down, she knew better. It was clear to her that her sister-in-law didn't like her, though she couldn't really figure out why. They had only spoken once or twice, and not for very long either. Frankly, as far as she knew or cared, for that matter, there was no reason for her to have such disdain for her, yet here she was, her usual self.
   "Plain?" She asked, playing dumb to what Azumi was talking about. "Good rice like this is practically a luxury these days."
   "I was talking about you." Azumi stated in a stern fashion as she turned to look at her with a glare. "And here I honestly thought a a city girl from Hatsukaichi would have some sophistication... Oh, how wrong I was." She said, looking her over. "Tsk tsk... That look simply won't do. Drab, threadbare trousers... Are you wearing rags!?

   "And more importantly, how long are you planning to keep wearing occidental blouses like a schoolgirl!? Don't you know that going around dressed like that is not only a bad influence on our rising generation, but it brings shame on Iwao and our family as a whole?" She ranted. Maybe she was just angry at the world. That would explain a lot.
   "I'm sorry, I don't have anything else and I haven't had the time—"
   "—Then make something, now!" Azumi said, taking a seat. "And for the record, don't think for a second that rice is a gift. It's for me and my child." She said, shutting the door behind her.

   Well, that could've gone worse, Yuna quietly admitted to herself. On a scale of one to ten, where one was exceptionally pleasant and ten was an actual fight breaking out, she'd say it was somewhere around a five or six. Unpleasant, but nothing she couldn't handle. Much as she hated to admit, though, Azumi was right about her clothing. She needed to make some more, seeing as, like she said, it was practically reduced to rags now. Only problem: despite being raised by a family which ran a textile shop, she was about as good at sewing as a fish was at walking. Well, maybe that was an exaggeration, but she was by no means a pro, or really anything more than a novice, really. Still, no time like the present to learn, she figured. She could almost make out her mother-in-law admonishing her for her behavior, though it was, naturally, muffled by the walls.

   As she looked through the cabinet for a kimono to take apart—owing to the war, rationing had required that anything that could be reused should—and resew into something new, she thought about what she was going to do. Not so much about the outfit; she had something in mind for that already. No, she was thinking more about how she would handle her sister-in-law's presence. It was clear now that they were going to struggle to get along, and that she would be around more often than initially thought. She'd just have to enjoy the moments she wasn't around more. Still, she knew she was never quite so good at sewing as her younger sister, so it was frankly quite clear this would be a struggle. She thought, as she pulled out one of them out and placed it on the floor, of how many mistakes she used to make, of her grandmother's reprimands, and finally, of how she was going to achieve her goal.

   Staring down at the kimono, its pale-green hue contrasting with the brown tatami flooring, she came to realize something quite important: despite having a vague idea of what she was going to make, she had no clue as to how to actually make it. Not even a hint of one. Just... Great. She had to do something, but she couldn't ask for help. That would reflect poorly on her and, by extension, her family back home in Hatsukaichi. No. She was on her own this time. No advice, no help, just her. Briefly, she opened the door to the living room by a small amount, little more than an inch or two, attempting to get a look at her sister-in-law's outfit. As she looked, she took note of certain aspects of the outfit, things such as the belt she wore, alongside a few other things. From there, it would be as "simple" as just cutting and sewing. At least, it should've been.

   It wasn't as though she had no experience with tasks like this, far from it, in fact. Her grandmother had made sure of that. Rather, the issue was three-fold. For one, she hadn't actually done any work like this since she was around fourteen years-old, meaning she had been out of practice. Usually it'd be up to Ikuko or her mother to do this work, since she was comparatively awful at it. Secondly, due to the war, regulations had been put into place mandating specific designs, ones which would require less material due to shortages and would allow for greater flexibility in the unlikely event of an air raid. Third and finally, she constantly kept second-guessing herself. Was the cut along the sleeve the wrong angle? Was another along the waist too high? It was far, far more difficult to focus than it should've been for anyone else. All she could do was power through it, so to speak, that and try to remember what she was taught.

   Cut, unfold, cut again. Fold then sew. Sew in a waistband and then it's complete. That was all she could remember. Problem was, she wasn't entirely certain where to make some of the cuts, beyond the first ones, which she had already completed. It'd have to be a process of trial and error. She was just about ready to get started when she heard a door slide open from behind her. Oh great. Now she'd have to deal with her "sister" and her complaining again. She turned around, but no, it wasn't who she thought it was.
   "Oh, hello there." Yuna said in a gentle tone, greeting the young child who had joined her in the room, ultimately distracting her from her work. "You must be Azumi's child, uhm..."
   "I'm Kahori Arihara." The child responded in a friendly, though calm manner.
   "And I'm Yuna Umeki, Kahori. Pleased to meet you."
   A few moments passed as Yuna tried to get back to work, however, before she could proceed, Kahori asked her "Yuna-chan, can I borrow some thread?"

   While she might need it later, Yuna understood why her niece wanted it. There was barely anything for a child as young as her to do, and to be fair, it was a slow day, other than what had happened a few minutes prior. With a nod, she looked over to her sewing box, opening a drawer before plucking a small length of string, red in hue, before handing it over to Kahori.
   "Is this okay?" She asked, to which she received a nod from her guest. With that settled, she could resume her work.

   A few hours passed, during which time Yuna would work to finish her new outfit, something more suitable for someone of her age. She would, of course, also spend time talking to her niece, who contented herself by playing with the string she had been gifted. As she was sewing one of the segments together, she would hear the clock ring, marking the time. It read 3:00, around time to collect the day's rations. She was just about to get up and get them herself when she saw Azumi leaving the house, purse and ration-cards in tow, which meant she had more time. She seemed far more pleasant than before. Perhaps she had gotten whatever had been troubling her off her chest?
UTC 1736

   By the time Azumi had returned, it was clear she was once again in a poor mood. Certainly better than before, less rude anyways. She was even willing to take care of preparing the family's meal for the evening, though Yuna noted that it seemed more that she wasn't willing to let her do it. At least it let her finish her outfit. Just a few more stitches to make and that'd be it, thankfully. Unfortunately, it did look rather amateurish, which, in Yuna's defense, it was. But as they say, practice makes perfect, and she had plenty of time to practice. As she made the final stitches in her dress, she could overhear Azumi and Natsumi discussing what to make. Something about a soup to go alongside their rice.

   Now that she had finished her new clothing, Yuna was, ultimately, left with nothing to do. She couldn't get involved in preparing dinner, if only because her sister-in-law refused to allow it, and she wasn't in much of a reading mood either. She did, however, notice that Kahori had all but fallen asleep, thus being done with the thread she had borrowed. She also noticed that she had some leftover material, not needing the pockets... She could work with that. With a gentle nudge, she would ask if she could have the thread back, at which point, she would get to work on a gift for her niece.
UTC 1906

   The sun had now just set beyond the horizon, and with it, both Daisaku and Iwao had returned home; the former, from his job at the Hikami Arsenal, the latter from his work down in the Navy Court Martial. When they entered, food was already prepared, sitting on the table waiting for them. They were joined by Kahori, who had gotten up to greet them, something which had surprised the elder of the two.
   "I see Azumi and Kahori are home." Daisaku said with a smile, patting his granddaughter's head before putting his hat and scarf up on the coat rack before taking a seat. "Just the two of you, though?"
   "Welcome home, O-tōsan." Azumi replied.
   Daisaku grabbed his bowl from the center of the table before placing it in front of himself. As he did so, he said "Well, in any case, please, feel free to make yourselves welcome as long as you'd like.", all-the-while Kahori went around the table, showing off the bag Yuna had made for her.

   "Thank you." Yuna said, looking over to Azumi. "Because of you, I was able to fix my kimono."
   "Don't worry about it." Azumi replied before saying "I'm sorry for being so harsh earlier, it's just... With my mother having a leg injury and me struggling to make ends meet as of late, it's been rather stressful." as she finished serving dinner. "With you being brought to a place you don't know, I've... had to worry about you as well. Seeing you in that outfit earlier just set me off, I suppose because I thought you didn't care. Perhaps I could stay a while, help out."
   "Sis, you don't need to apollogi—"
   "Y'know, Yuna-san, why don't you go home for a little while? Back to Hatsukaichi, I mean."
Once again, Azumi was full of surprises. This time, however, Yuna couldn't quite figure out why she said that. It wasn't as before, when she was being direct about how she felt; maybe she was actually, for once, being nice to her for a change.
   "That's... not actually all that bad of an idea." Daisaku admitted. "You ought to visit your parents once in a while, at least while you're able."
   "Oh! Can I?" Yuna asked, albeit rhetorically given that her father-in-law had already said as much.
   "Sorry we hadn't thought of it sooner, Yuna, but I agree, a visit for two or three days would do you good." Natsumi pointed out.
   "Give our best to the Kimuras." Iwao chimed in. It seemed like everyone, even Yuna, had agreed that it would be a good idea. Even so, Azumi was left exasperated by the rest of the family's reactions to her suggestion. She had hoped it would be a permanent stay there, but... this would have to do.
   "Thank you so much, Azumi-san!" Yuna said with a smile, positively beaming at the prospect of visiting her family. Of getting away from her, too.
   "Erm... O-of course. I'm... glad for you." Azumi said, nearly choking on her own words. Just a few days...

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Re: Lifetimes of Change (Historical Vignettes set from 1891 - 2011)
« Reply #23 on: December 27, 2022, 09:13:47 AM »
The Castle of Hatsukaichi
Omi, Hatsukaichi, Izumi Prefecture
UTC 2016
March 28, 1944


   "Yuna." A voice called out through the void. "Yuna, wake up!" It called again, startling Yuna awake. It had been a long train ride, and she had, as a result, been left exhausted. Still, with drowsy eyes, she glanced around the room, thinking for a moment she was still in Kyūre, still with her new family. Dark wood, worn tatami mats, sliding doors with glass, and of course, some familiar faces. No, she was not in Kyūre.
   "I'm awake, I'm awake." Yuna said with a yawn.
   "Come on, now, I get that you're tired, but it's almost Eight-O'Clock. Food's ready." Machiko said, nudging her a moment as she looked over at the table. As she did so, Ikuko took a seat next to her, but not before placing a bundle of cloth on the floor.
   "Welcome home, Yuna." She said with a hug.
   "Sheesh, that's a lot of Senninbari[1]... Haven't seen so many since... Well, since Saito." Haruto said, marveling at the pile.
   "Ah, those. Ikuko, make sure you add a few stitches before you head off to sleep, will you?" Machiko requested.
   Ikuko looked over at the pile; she knew she shouldn't just put them on the floor, but with work keeping her out for so long, she was, simply put, exhausted. "Okay, okay... There's a lot of 'em."
   "Hey, on the bright side, you were born in the year of the tiger. That means you'll be extra popular." Haruto said with a chuckle and a smile before grabbing his bowl.

   It was hard for Yuna to believe how little things had changed. Sure, it had only been almost two months, but she had expected things to be different now. It was comforting, knowing that she could have somewhere to go if things got bad, but also that everyone was doing well. In a way, it felt as though she had awoken from a dream where she had moved to another town. But her she was, she thought as she looked up at a sign she had written many years ago, in the "Castle of Hatsukaichi". Even so, something—no, Someone felt missing. It'd been ages since the last time any of them had seen her elder brother, and the last time any of them had heard from him, he was getting deployed out near Heyra. That was back in December, though. And before then, the last time they had seen each other was further back, in June or so. She, like everyone else in her family, was worried about him; how could she not be?

   A few minutes passed, yet nobody seemed to acknowledge his absence. Perhaps it was simply because everyone was as hungry as they were, as evidenced by the number of empty clam shells sitting in a number of cups on the table. Clams... A rare luxury these days, but one afforded to Yuna's family, owing to her father's status and his yearly stipend. Even with it, though, they were rare since the war began. Simply too expensive on most occasions, Haruto had said, given that he wanted to support the troops in every way he could. If it meant skipping out on some luxuries, then so be it.
   "Come to think of it, Yuna..." Haruto spoke up, finally breaking the silence in the room. "...Did you write to Isao, sent any postcards?" he asked, finally acknowledging their missing family-member.
   "Yeah, I wrote." Yuna answered, swallowing a morsel of rice. "I haven't heard back from him, though." She said with a sigh, looking down at the table. She could hear her sister sigh; she probably had the same luck. "Let me guess, you too?"
   "Nothing." Ikuko perked up, adding "He's probably stationed on some remote island out in the Tōkai. They are, or so I've heard from some of the others, probably too busy to be writing letters."
   "More likely that Yuna just wrote the wrong address." Haruto joked, spurring a chuckle from everyone else. "Really, though, he's probably fine. If he wasn't, we would've heard something by now. Just... pray, I guess."
UTC 2156
   As the hour drew late, Yuna and Ikuko found themselves talking as they got ready for bed. Mostly about life in Hatsukaichi and Kyūre, but also about some of the people they met in the last two months. Since Yuna had married, Ikuko had signed up to work in the Women's Volunteer Corps, which consisted primarily of manufacturing for someone as new as her. It was hard work, with her shifts occasionally lasting into the early hours of the morning, but it was also fulfilling, not to mention the benefits were quite good. It just also meant that the job took a toll on her, having to work from sunrise until well-past sunset most days.
   "So, Ikuko, how's the volunteer corps treating you?" Yuna asked, rhetorically of course. She hadn't personally joined it, seeing as she had been in school until fairly recently, and in the meantime between graduating and her wedding, had mostly helped around the house and did some work for her extended family.
   "It's not too bad. The hours were difficult at first, but I'm getting used to it." Ikuko nodded as she took a seat on her futon. "I bet I smelled a bit of motor oil when I got home, though."
   "That's gotta be rough. Is it dangerous?"
   "A little. One of my coworkers nearly lost a finger once and is currently stuck at home recovering now." Ikuko sighed, looking over at her sister. "Still, it's not as cold as farming seaweed in Furue, so it's not all bad."

   For a moment, Ikuko paused, mustering up the courage to say anything else. There was more keeping her there than just the benefits, though she didn't want her parents knowing about it. Not yet, anyways. Finally, blushing in embarrassment, she admitted "Sometimes, a nice lieutenant sneaks me some ration coupons for lunch."
   "Sounds like someone has a crush." Yuna teased, much to her younger sibling's protestation. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone." She smiled as she looked out the window for a moment.
   "Thanks, Yuna."
   "Not a problem. Just be careful not to be telling anyone else about that 'army secret'." Yuna said with a brief, subdued laugh as she started stitching the Senninbari Ikuko had brought home. She figured it'd be nice to do it for her, and besides, it gave her a chance to practice after the fiasco earlier that month. In exchange, she had Ikuko do her hair for her, that way she could focus.
   "So, Yuna, how's life been? Is Kyūre a nice place?" Ikuko leaned in for a moment, inspecting the stitching. Just eighteen stitches, no more, not this year anyways.
   Yuna was silent for a second, thinking about how to put her experience tactfully. "I'm still just trying to sort things out. It's a little difficult, but what more can be said?" She answered.
   "Difficult like when you and I swapped Senninbari that one time?"
   "We did?"
   "Yeah, when that classmate of yours signed on with the navy last year... What was his name... Haruki Ikuta, I think?"
   "Oh, him." Yuna said with a bit of surprise. She'd almost forgotten about him; they hadn't gotten along so well when they were younger, but... They had fostered something of a friendship towards the end, so to speak. "That hothead needed those stitches sewn by someone from the Year of the Ox to calm him down."
   "What was that about secrets?"
   "You know what I meant." Yuna sighed. "In any case, we ought to be getting to sleep." She said, turning out the light.
   "By the way, Yuna... How do I put this..." Ikuko said as she laid down. "You... uhh... Have a bald spot of some sort."
   "What!? Where?" Yuna asked, but received no answer. It was probably a prank... Hopefully. Regardless, if it wasn't, she could find out in the morning.

 1. Senninbari — Senninbari, or "thousand-stitch belts," are long strips of white cloth sewn with 1,000 stitches or knots of red thread. Considered a good luck charge, women sent them to soldiers deployed to war. Each of the thousand stitches was supposed to be sewn by a different woman, however, as tigers were considered ferocious fighters, women born in the Year of the Tiger (as according to the Zodiac) could add a number of stitches equal to their age.

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Re: Lifetimes of Change (Historical Vignettes set from 1891 - 2011)
« Reply #24 on: December 31, 2022, 08:10:03 AM »
Sayonara, Hatsukaichi
Omi, Hatsukaichi, Izumi Prefecture
UTC 0630
March 29, 1944


   As the old clock ticked, Ikuko was the first to leave. Another day at work in the factory with the WVC; she took pride in the work she did, for without women like her, the boys fighting on the Peninsula wouldn't have the ammo they needed. That left Yuna and her parents alone in the house, though even so, that too would not last. Haruto was, after all, getting ready to go into work as well, overseeing a factory in the city's industrial district on behalf of the army. Machiko was, at the same time, helping her husband get ready for work, which included packing his lunch—leftovers from the night before—before handing it to him. Yuna, for her part, had spent the last hour packing, seeing as she'd be leaving back for Kyūre that evening. As he finished tying his boots, he'd reach into his pocket and pull out a 50-mon banknote; for an ordinary person, it'd be unthinkable in times such as these, but Yuna's family was well off. Haruto had been wise to save his pension up for a rainy day, and he had received a stipend from the army up until 1940 owing to his medal from the last war. Between that, his speaking tours in the region post-war, and him insisting that they live beneath their means for as long as Yuna could remember, they were comfortably well-off, enough that he could afford such an expense.
   "Here." He said with a smile. "A gift. Spend it how you want."
   "What? I-I can't!" Yuna said, surprised by the gesture.
   "Go on and take it, Yuna." Her mother reassured her. After a moment's hesitation, she took the bill and put it securely in her pocket.
   "Now listen, Yuna. Emergency measures are gonna be put into place next month." Haruto told her as Machiko handed him his bag. "Short trips will be restricted, so... Take care of yourself." He said with a nod as he adjusted his cap before leaving the house. Yuna wanted to say she would, yet she couldn't find the words. Just knowing that, for the foreseeable future, this would be the last time she saw him... It was surprising. She hadn't so much as heard anything about it until now, too. It had to have been a recent announcement.
   "...You too." She finally said as he walked through the door. At that, Haruto turned his head, and with a smile, he nodded before continuing along his way.
   After a moment, once Haruto had left the yard, Machiko turned around and said "Well, in any case, I'd best be off. Got some duties with the Woman's Association to fulfill."
   "You're heading out too, ma?"
   "Mhm. Once you've got your things packed, just set them in the corner over there." Machiko said, pointing to a spot near the entryway. With that, she too was off to work, and the house was silent. Yuna would spend a few minutes packing; she travelled light, since it being, by comparison, a short trip to and from Kyūre. At least it made her life somewhat easier. As she finished, she took one final look around the house where, at least for the last four, maybe five years, she had been raised. The old calligraphy she had done in art class, some of the drawings she'd made to entertain herself and Ikuko, her father's war medals upon the shelf. A few photos of their family, going back to the late-1890s. And tossed to the side, she spotted the local circular, detailing the new policy on travel that her father had mentioned.
   "The rails are for our soldiers. Our great nation is fighting a war it must win. With the threat of air raids looming, let's make wiser decisions for the country." it read at first, displaying a drawing of East Ardia with Daito marked out. The railways have their hands full carrying these passengers! Let's refrain from all non-emergency travel." it continued; on the right side of the pamphlet, a drawing of a soldier's boot on a rail, tied by rope to various passengers, which read "Who is keeping our soldiers' feet tied?

   So it was true then. Not just something that her father had heard from a co-worker, but a genuine shift in government policy. If pamphlet weren't convincing enough on its own, then the words "Yamato Fukkatsu Dōmei, Prefectural Branch Hatsukaichi Railway Association" marked alongside the seal of the party, as well as the seal of the Omi Tonarigumi, was. And if that was the case, then there was now a genuine worry that the region would be in the crosshairs. What nonsense, Yuna thought, as she moved her suitcase over to the corner. Sure, there'd been reports on the radio of bombings out in the Satsunan Islands and in Saito, but in the Mutsu? Ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous. But if that's what the government wanted to believe, then who was she to question it? With all of that in mind, she'd finally leave, deciding to get in some last-minute shopping before she returned to Kyūre.
Akiōta-Honmachi, Hatsukaichi, Izumi Prefecture
UTC 1121


   Several hours passed as Yuna wandered the streets of the home she once knew. How many times, she thought, had she walked down a given street, seen the gentle waves on the Watari, heard the comings-and-goings of trolleys and pedestrians alike, smelled the cooking of local restaurants, and felt the gentle breeze of March against her face? How many trinkets had she seen in the windows of the stores? Heard the music of street performers? While the world went on, in spite of the war, there was a time when it seemed like there was life in the city, a prosperous time, a better time. Where children once played, now they sung patriotic songs. Where musicians practiced their trade, it seemed like another officer of the Kenpeitai stood. So many shops, once fixtures of the town, were now gone, boarded up and abandoned. The war had not come here, not in a real sense anyways, yet it had a stranglehold on everyone and everything here. Even Kyūre, a military town, was more lively than this.

   Of course, Yuna wasn't there just for window-shopping. She had been gifted money by her father, and she intended to use it. It was a single bill, but with that tiny thing, she could buy many things. A doll for her niece, a new pen for her father-in-law, books for her husband and mother-in-law, something for her sister-in-law... She didn't really know what she liked, so she'd wait until she got back to buy something for her. And of course, for herself, a new sketchbook and a pencil, to keep her occupied like in the old days. Prices had certainly gone up now, owing to the war, but even so, she'd still be rather comfortable with a little more than half of what she came with. With her decision made, she would enter a few stores over the next few hours, and with that done, she'd pull out her new notebook and start drawing.

   It wasn't much, just a few sketches to remember the town by. Landmarks, old and new. For starters, Hatsukaichi Castle, with its stark white plaster and wooden beams contrasting with the sky above and the city below. It was surrounded by much vegetation; though its original occupants had long-since abandoned it, it had become acquired by a local group which sought to preserve it for generations to come. As a result, it had, since around the mid-1890s, although it had at the time fallen into disrepair, been repaired and turned into a park, that and an annex to the prefectural museum. That one only took a few minutes; she had gotten used to drawing it as a child, so she didn't really see a need to put so much effort into it. She soon moved on to the Agata bridge, one of several which spanned the river. She remembered, albeit vaguely, drawing the island of Enojima a few years back. For some reason, it had stuck with her since then, yet for what reason, she genuinely couldn't say. As a result, she would spend a little while drawing that as well, from her vantage point all the way out to the sea.

   As morning passed to afternoon, Yuna figured she should head home soon. But before then, she had one last location that she wished to document, a place which, though it didn't stand out on its own, when combined with the surrounding area, with the river and the foot-traffic, was what she associated with Hatsukaichi the most. It was a silly one, admittedly, since it didn't get much use outside of a few events every year, but it was what it was. The Hatsukaichi Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall had been built nearly thirty years prior, at the height of the last war, with the assistance of a Vaguzian architect whose name, unfortunately, Yuna could not remember. It had worn many names over the years, but this one seemed to have stuck, and in all likelihood, it would keep that name until it was, though she somewhat hoped it wouldn't happen, demolished. She would, over the course of nearly an hour, try to capture as many details as she could, from its domes and windows in the Art Nouveau style, to the trees that lined the passage between it and the river; even the boats moored near it would be featured within it. As she finished it, she quietly said farewell to her home. Farewell to Hatsukaichi.

   Walking back home, down the winding streets of Akiōta-Honmachi, she realized she didn't have much time. A nearby clocktower read 4:39 PM, and she needed to be at the station by 6. Not great, but if she picked up the pace, she could make it. Unfortunately for her, however, as she walked past a shop, she saw something which caught her eye. With its black shell and silver-like pressed steel frame, not to mention its value, it was a miracle that nobody had bought it. It was, as it happened, a camera. More specifically, a Rakuyama Phoenix; a licensed production of a Derusmian model from before the war, owing to the ongoing Battle of the Kyne, imports of some of the materials required to make them were harder to come by and were usually prioritized for the military. As a result, that this one hadn't been sold yet was surprising to her. And at its price, going for 29 mon, she could just about afford it and a roll of film. It was the opportunity of a lifetime, sorta anyways, but if she bought it, she'd risk being late. She considered it for a moment, but ultimately decided she could walk a bit faster. Perhaps it could come in handy as a gift for the family as a whole, on top of what few things she had already gotten them.

   Eventually, she would make it home with some effort and would, just barely in the nick of time, board her train. She watched as city passed behind her, and with it, with some sense of finality, her old life. She almost shed a tear, but she needed to be strong now. For her sake. Besides, she'd see them all again, once the war was over. Still, she couldn't help but feel sad now, wishing to go back to the old days, before she was sent away.

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Re: Lifetimes of Change (Historical Vignettes set from 1891 - 2011)
« Reply #25 on: January 07, 2023, 06:11:27 AM »
Belonging
Hiroioki, Kyūre, Izumi Prefecture
UTC 1749
April 03, 1944


   As March faded and April rolled in, Yuna once more found herself in Kyūre. Back home where she belonged, certainly, though now, it felt different. She felt different. More distant; mournful of a life she had to leave behind. Though her in-laws had hoped it would help her adjust, visiting her family in Hatsukaichi had only brought with it more heartache, and try as she might to hide it, she was feeling homesick. She tried to throw herself into work around the house and in the neighborhood, even help out with the family's plot of land on the terrace, but the relief that came with it was merely fleeting. She wished so dearly to return home, to her real home, but... Well, her father put it best. "Emergency measures are gonna be put into place next month." Haruto's words echoed in her mind as she thought of the pamphlet she had seen in her childhood home. Even with her wish to return, now, it was an impossibility. The railroads were being prioritized for soldiers, public servants, factory workers, and students. That and logistics, none of which she fit into. She could try walking, or perhaps hitchhiking her way there, but... She had a responsibility to her new family, mandated by honor and by the divine. That's what she told herself anyways, though it didn't help.

   She took a moment from her cleaning to reflect on the last few days, though it was disturbed quite soon by her niece's footsteps. She was probably playing a game, no doubt with the doll that she had bought for her. It was nice to see that at least someone had enjoyed their gift and had been overjoyed to see her again. Perhaps her hopes were right, Azumi was just the outlier in the family. She hadn't taken her return all too well by comparison, though it was certainly nothing like on the 16th. She'd heard things, nothing major, just that there were issues at home for her, and as a result, she was staying in Hiroioki for the time being. Some kind of domestic dispute with her in-laws. Whatever the case may have been, she wouldn't pry; if she wanted to open up about it, that'd be up to Azumi. She thought, for a moment, that maybe they were in the same boat, to an extent anyways.
   "Ma, can I borrow a brush and some ink!" Kahori said as she ran over to her mother. Maybe she'd met some of the neighboring kids, and they wanted to play with it.
   "I'm not giving you that, Kahori." Azumi plainly stated in the other room.
   "C'mon, pleeease."
   With a sigh, Azumi asked "Yuna, did you put some sort of idea in Kahori's head?" as her daughter tugged at her in a desperate attempt to get her to relent. As this was going on, Yuna entered the room, taking her hood off before wrapping it around her neck. For a moment, she remained silent, first glancing at Azumi, Kahori, and Natsumi, and then down at the table, at the local circular.
   "Mind if I send the circular around, now?" She said in a flat, almost dejected manner, pointing to the table.
   "Of course..." Natsumi responded as Yuna picked up the notice board before turning around.
   "I'll be back soon."

   As Yuna exited first the room and then the house, she could overhear Natsumi and Azumi talking about her, about how she had been for the last few days. It didn't matter much to her; they wouldn't understand even if they tried. Sure, homesickness was part of it, but there was more to it. She hadn't heard anything from her brother for nearly five months now. She had to assume the worst, that he'd died somewhere out over the Kyne. She wanted to hold out hope, believe they would see each other again, but deep down, she knew that having such a hope was foolish. Either she'd hear something from him, or she'd hear something about his death. It was only a matter of time as to which it would be.
   "She's been like that ever since she got home..." She overheard Natsumi say about her as she left.
   "Oh, it's nothing. She's just a child, it'll pass." Azumi said, dismissively.
   "At least try to be nice to her... She's going through a lot, y'know."
   "And you think I'm not?" She heard Azumi point out, albeit faintly as she made her way down the road.

   For a moment, she saw someone on a bike go past her, no doubt on their way to deliver the mail for the day. She would spend about thirty minutes going house-to-house, making sure everyone had seen the recent announcements, including, much like what she had seen in Hatsukaichi, information on travel restrictions going forwards. She briefly stopped outside of her house, where she could hear Kahori still begging for the inkbrush, which continued, of course, to annoy her mother. She would briefly grab a bag from their yard before going out to collect herbs for dinner, which inevitably led her to the terrace. From there, she could see the sun hanging above the horizon as ships went in and out of the port. It was quite far away, and as a result, it seemed very small.
UTC 1823

   As the sun was beginning to set, Yuna found herself picking herbs from the garden, trying to keep her mind from drifting to the fate of her elder sibling. He'd always been getting in trouble as a kid, fighting in school and getting into mischief. She was worried that he had finally gotten in over his head, that he had made one too many mistakes and had paid the ultimate price for it. She hoped not. Maybe her father's joke that she had written the wrong address was true? Or perhaps they were still out to sea, and as a result, her letters hadn't arrived yet? Could a carrier even remain out to sea for that long? She sat down on the ledge as she picked a seed-head of a dandelion before, with a gentle blow, scattering it on the wind. She watched as they were carried aloft on the wind, dancing gently in the evening sun before the water, passing down the terraces before finding their place. Some landed on the soil, where one day soon, they would sprout forth roots and the cycle would continue. Others, upon the stones, never to grow. And some, upon her husband's jacket as he walked past.
   "Ah, I was wondering where you'd gone off to." He said, looking up to her with a smile as he started to make his way up the stairs.
   "Welcome home." Yuna replied. "You're off early."
   "Yep, on time for once." He nodded as he took a seat next to her, placing his bag beside him. Despite being a mere clerk, he had been given more responsibilities as of late owing to an influx of ships, mostly returning from Yakushima, Toshikawa, and Tsukishima, which meant his already long hours had become but a memory, and it was now not uncommon for him to be getting home close to eight. But, thanks in no small part to a few favors, he'd managed to saddle someone else with the workload going forwards, so not all was bad. "You out picking herbs?"
   "Mm-hmm. Thought I'd add some to dinner tonight."

   It was quiet here, far away from the city. In a way, it reminded Yuna of Furue, where her grandparents, her aunts and uncles, her cousins all resided. It wasn't home, yet maybe that was fine? No, no it couldn't be. If it were, then why would she feel so out of place here? Why would she long so dearly to return to Hatsukaichi? Why would her sister-in-law wish to see her go? She couldn't be fine with it, not like that. Even if none of that was the case, so much was different here. There were more soldiers here, seemingly posted on every street-corner. In Hatsukaichi, before she left in February, that was unheard of. She couldn't draw the sea here, lest she be arrested for espionage, while in Hatsukaichi, many an artist would spend their days doing just that.
   "All the dandelions here are white..." She muttered to herself as she looked around.
   "And they aren't in Omi?" Iwao asked, glancing around before spotting something. "Oh, there's a yellow one." He said, reaching out to grab it before he felt Yuna try to stop him.
   "It might've come from far away."
   Iwao turned to look at her for a moment. Yuna was looking away, somewhat embarrassed that she had said it. It appeared, at long last, she had admitted what was wrong with her. "Why are you so gloomy as of late? You're homesick, aren't you?" He said, placing his hand on the back of her head.
   "Am not." She said, pushing him away.

   For a moment, both Yuna and Iwao were quiet; the only noises to be heard were the occasional horn a ship entering or leaving the port, that and the buzzing of bees in the gentle spring breeze. It was a cool breeze, light and soft as it came in from the sea. The silence was interrupted as Iwao, whose eyes had been scanning the horizon, perked up before pointing.
   "Look, over there!" He said eagerly, pointing to a pair of large vessels in Kyūre's natural harbor. Unlike the others, their tops were flat, and upon them sat a large number of aircraft, their wingtips folded upwards. "They're aircraft carriers," he continued as Yuna looked up. "the Hiryū and the Jun'yō."
   "They're... big." Yuna said, mindlessly.
   "And over there—" Iwao pointed off to the side, just a little ways. "—are some smaller ships, cruisers and destroyers. Also some submarines from Achkaerin. And that ordinary ship, docked down there..." he looked to the left. "...is their tender."
   Yuna was still silent, for the most part. It wasn't that she didn't care; in fact, she was fixated on one of the carriers, Jun'yō. It was, after all, the sister-ship of Agano, and seeing it reminded her of her brother. Of him and their uncle, really. Trying to get her attention, Iwao spoke up once more.
   "Huh, would you look at that." He said, still wearing his smile. "Some white-eyes are flutterin' about."
   "Oh?" Yuna said, still watching the ship.
   "Over there." Iwao tried turning her head to look at it, only to find her try to move his hand away again.
   "I can see for myself." She stated plainly as he tried to get her to look. Yet she did not let go of his wrist, for as she looked out on the coast, she saw something pass before her unlike anything she had ever seen before. It was as though a mountain of steel, seemingly towering into the heavens above, had been put out upon the water and made to swim. It was graceful as it split the waves and defied the wind. Even the mighty Akitsukuni and Tōkai, large vessels themselves, would be dwarfed by it. "Iwao, what is that over there..?" She asked. "Is... is that a ship?"
   With a nod, Iwao said "The Fusō." as he looked. "Take a good look, Yuna. It's the greatest battleship in the world, built in Ardia's greatest naval yard."
   "And there are people on it?" Yuna asked, innocently, as she tried to get a better look at the vessel while it steamed into port.
   "Yep. A crew of about twenty-eight hundred."
   "Two-thousand eight-hundred?"
   "Exactly." Iwao said, placing his arm around her shoulder. "Tell her "welcome home", Yuna."
   "Wow. And someone—" she stood up "—has to cook for all those people every day?" She said, raising her hand to shield it from the sun as she stepped forwards.
   "Yuna." Iwao said, concerned as he saw her step absent-mindedly towards the ledge.
   "All those people to cook for... and do their lau—" She slipped as Iwao tried to grab her, only for the two of them to fall. With a thud, they hit the ground on the terrace below them.

   With a grunt, Yuna tried to sit up before she looked over to her husband. He just laid there, laughing for a moment as he picked himself up off the ground, his hand on his left eyebrow. It had hurt, and he was certain he probably had a concussion, but he wasn't too worried about himself. It was only a short fall after all, and more than that, it was one he had made many times before as a child.
   "I-I'm sorry. Did you hurt yourself?" Yuna looked over to Iwao, who was quickly brushing his jacket off.
   "No, I think I'll be okay." Iwao replied as he tried to brush some of the dirt off of Yuna's head. "Y'know, when I said take a good look, I didn't mean that good." he joked as Yuna, wishing to handle it herself, pushed his hand away.
   "I've got it. Please, focus on yourself." Yuna said; she was, in truth, fine with the help, she just didn't want him to see her bald spot. The less he had to worry about, the better.
   "Y'know, all this stress, this pressure you've been under, it's gonna make that bald spot of yours worse." Iwao said as he grabbed his bag. "If you—"
   "Oh, you noticed?"
   "Yeah. Not that I needed to see it, Kahori's been wanting to paint it all day." Iwao mentioned. "But as I was tryin' to say, if you need to talk, I'm always happy to do so. Got it?"
   "Mm-hmm. I do." Yuna replied as they finally began to walk home. That made at least one more person who she could certainly talk to, and finally someone she knew would understand. Were he not working so late, Daisaku would make it three, but that was probably asking too much this time of year. Even so, it was a start, and that was all she needed.

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Re: Lifetimes of Change (Historical Vignettes set from 1891 - 2011)
« Reply #26 on: January 09, 2023, 04:34:15 AM »
Lectures for Survival
Hiroioki, Kyūre, Izumi Prefecture
UTC 1302
May 6, 1944


   Another month passed, bringing with it a dry spell in Kyūre. Even now, the mighty battleship Fusō dominated her skyline; per her father-in-law, she had finally "tasted blood", though, by the looks of the scars on her hull, it had come with a great cost. The newspapers and radio had gone on for weeks about her "fateful duel" with the Heyran battleship Monarch deep in the Rokkenjiman Sea, though it had largely skimmed over the reports of any damage done to her. No doubt the damage done was superficial, of course, and a result of a fresh crew rather than any flaws in the design. Besides, it had shown the Empire to have the better vessels and weapons, and yet, in spite of this, the Battle of the Kyne had taken a turn for the worse. While victory had been achieved for the crew of the Fusō, every day more and more reports came in of merchant vessels being sunk off the coast, for the high seas were no longer safe. And then, there were the rumors.

   It wasn't something Yuna liked to engage in, gossiping about the war, but in a military town such as this, it was hard to ignore. Every day, while standing in line for rations, someone was talking about it. With the influx of troops to Kyūre, not to mention the arrival of more and more naval ships, many had begun to guess that there was a worry the war was about to take a far sharper turn for the worse, especially after there had been sightings of Ardian ships off Yakushima, in the Satsunan Islands. If those islands were to fall, then the blockade of Daitō would become total. No routes in or out, save for by submarine. Furthermore, as the circular said last April, there were now worries that Daitō's heartland would be under threat. It was for that reason that, on this day in May, Yuna was making her way into town, in order to attend a tonarigumi-mandated lecture on firefighting and various types of bombs. Merely a precaution, of course.

   She wasn't being joined by anyone today; her sister-in-law and niece had returned home not long after Fusō sailed into port. She had seemed quite bothered by its arrival, so she guessed that, perhaps, her husband had been drafted by the navy. She could only hope that he was doing alright, though with the war being what it was, she felt the same nagging feeling that she had for her brother, that he was not. Truthfully, as she watched the ships in port, Yuna couldn't help but miss her. While yes, she was often abrasive on her bad days, when she wasn't in a bad mood she could actually be quite pleasant to be around. She didn't blame her for leaving though; she had a second child to care about, not to mention a store to help out at.

   As she drew close to the "lecture hall"—really just the local school—Yuna heard the sound of trumpets coming from the sea. Looking up, she saw, through the trees and buildings, a segment of the fleet depart, Fusō taking the rear. No doubt they were heading off for Yakushima, to await whatever was to come. It was strange, trying to imagine the war coming here. She'd heard stories from her father, tales of the Battle for Saito, back in the last war. Yet when she tried to imagine it for herself, she just couldn't. It was such an alien idea to her that the thought just completely passed through her. Or perhaps her mind simply refused to acknowledge that. As a result, she couldn't help but feel that this lecture she was attending was pointless, and yet, not attending would reflect poorly on her family.
UTC 1441

   The room was crowded and filled with noise as everyone waited for their instructor to arrive. Of course, many people were talking about the war, more specifically the recent sightings of ships off Yakushima. Some were scared of their presence, but others were, admittedly, skeptical of such claims. Yuna, for her part, wasn't too sure what to think as she looked down at the desk, at her notebook and a stack of papers which they would be going through. It was almost as though she were back in elementary school, though of course, the subject matter was far, far more dreadful than anything she had been taught. The local tonarigumi had held lectures like this for years now, and Yuna had, of course, attended a few. Mostly things like food preparation, repairs around the neighborhood, and that sort of thing. There was one month, back in 1942, that she and a few of her class-mates had been taught first aid, though now, everything was becoming far, far more serious. The top sheet was labeled "Basics of Aerial Bombardment"; had she gone to the wrong class?

   The door slid open, and in walked a man, his uniform bearing the insignia of a captain in the Imperial Daitōjin Army. His face appeared weathered by years of hard work, and there was a striking scar which ran along his left cheek. He stepped up to a podium and, without missing a beat, spoke up.
   "Good afternoon." He said, looking around the room. While most assembled were civilians, a few soldiers were also present, mostly new recruits from local garrisons. "My name is Daigo Imahori, and today, we will be discussing actions to be taken in the event of an air raid. I realize, of course, that many of you might think this class is unnecessary, so if you will allow me the time, I can explain." He continued, walking over to a map of East Ardia on the wall. "Up until a month or two ago, I was deployed—" he pointed to a spot on the map. "—here, in the north of Toshikawa. Part of a logistics detachment, as it happens. We were primarily stationed out in Maru, and as a result, we often helped out when the city was bombed..." He seemed to go on and on for ages. Just more and more about his time there, though he was certain to include the actual lesson as well. Still, as Yuna listened and took notes, she couldn't help but find the lecture incredibly boring.
UTC 1856
   Four hours passed, but eventually, the lecture itself had concluded. For the last few minutes, Captain Imahori had been going around the room drilling his "pupils" on what they had learned, with the most recent round of questions being on various types of bombs and how to handle them. He was quick to correct anyone who answered incorrectly, just as he was quick to praise those who had been listening closely. Eventually, it came time for Yuna to answer a question, as evidenced by him stopping in front of her desk.
   "Umeki-san." The Captain said, causing Yuna to look up from her notes. "A small crater, what can that be a sign of?" He asked her. Small craters... Could be from a small explosion, so a small bomb?
   "A... small bomb?" Yuna asked, apprehensively. She knew it was right, though she wasn't certain it was the answer he was looking for.
   "Well, yes, but in the context of civil defense, you should always assume a delay-action bomb." Daigo responded with a sigh. "Does anyone here know why delay-action bombs are particularly dangerous?" He then asked, turning to the rest of the room.
   "Because they can hamper relief efforts, cause injury to anyone trying to remove them." One of the soldiers answered.
   "Looks like someone was paying attention. Private..."
   "Fukura, sir. Saboru Fukura."
   "Well, Private Fukura, I guess you're gonna be my star pupil." The captain said with a laugh. "In any case, I think that's all I have for you today. But remember, the lessons you learn here are ultimately only secondary to actual experience. Use them well, and, though I pray you never have to go through such horrors, you will survive."

   With that, the Captain walked away from the podium and left the building, and suddenly, the gossip resumed. For Yuna's part, though she absolutely loathed the class, she would nonetheless take the papers she had been given home for further study. However, at the moment, all she wanted to do was get home.

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Re: Lifetimes of Change (Historical Vignettes set from 1891 - 2011)
« Reply #27 on: May 07, 2023, 07:20:11 PM »
The First Raid
Hiroioki, Kyūre, Izumi Prefecture
June 14, 1944
8:33 PM


   It was an ordinary night on the 14th of June; the radio was playing the usual assortment of tunes as the Umekis, save for Iwao, who was still at work, as well as Azumi and Kahori, who had returned home close to a month prior. The remaining three—Yuna, Natsumi and Daisaku—found themselves eating dinner and discussing the day's events, as well as a few other things. The war, mostly. After all, there was a battle raging in the Satsunan islands, and with it came constant updates about the battle over YHK. While obviously, they were trying to make it seem as though the fight was going strong and that it was only a matter of time before the valiant sons of the empire drove the Ardians back in to the sea, just about anyone with at least half a brain could tell there was more to the story than they were letting on. It had to be quite the fight, based on what some of the wounded had said whenever they returned. Truly horrendous, brutal fighting with no real option for retreat or surrender, not that such a thought crossed the minds of most people. Everyone knew the Ardians were monsters, that they wouldn't take prisoners and were more than willing to kill the innocent, unlike the Daitōjin or their allies.

   On a lighter note, however, Yuna had received word from her husband that the Agano was operating near Yakushima, having returned from Kalasin after a lengthy deployment. She'd even received a letter from her uncle, first congratulating her on her wedding before explaining why they hadn't been able to speak for a while. As it turned out, the typical means of sending mail, that being by ship, had been a bit more intermittent owing to Ardian submarines attacking their vessels, while other methods, such as by wire, were being reserved for purely military use rather than anything personal. It was a relief, then, that last she had heard, back on the sixth if her memory served, her brother, Isao, was still alive and largely unhurt save for a broken rib following a rough landing back in February. Of course though, a week at the heart of some of the harshest fighting Daitō had seen since the Continental War was more than enough to possibly change that, so she instead tried to think of other things. And so, the three ate and spoke, however, just as Daisaku finished his bowl of rice, the music cut out, instead being replaced by... nothing. Nothing but static, anyways. Strange.
   "Did it come unplugged?" Natsumi asked, getting up to check the cord.
   "No, it wouldn't be making those noises if it were." Daisaku said as he put the bowl to the side before getting up. "Y'know, if I didn't know better, then I'd think-" He tried to say before being interrupted by a loud, wailing noise nearby.

   It was a noise which was unmistakable, especially after the drills which had been undertaken as of late. A vile, insidious cry which traveled as far as the sea and which could pierce the mountains. Yuna froze for a moment; she had heard the siren earlier in the day, though that was ultimately a false alarm. At least, that was what her father-in-law had told her when he got home. Apparently, it had sent many of the workers at Hikami into a panic, all over what was ultimately nothing. She hoped and prayed that this was the same, but something about it felt different. She couldn't quite put her finger on what it was, of course; perhaps it was Daisaku's demeanor, or perhaps it was simply the time, but at the end of the day, it felt different, and that was all she could say.
   "AIR RAID WARNING!" a voice in the distance shouted, confirming what she had worried about. Already, from what Yuna could see out of the window, there were a fair few people who were scurrying northeast for the mountains, and she was frankly inclined to join them.
   "-that. I would think that was happening." Daisaku said with a sigh as he turned the knob on the radio. "I guess there's no announcements on it, huh."
   "Iwao's probably still at work..." Natsumi said with a hint of worry in her voice. "...I hope he' alright."
   "Probably sheltering in place." Daisaku replied, grabbing Yuna's arm before she could get out of the house. "If you think about it from the enemy's point of view, it's far more logical to hit the gulf. There's no use in running for the hills."
   "I hope so." Yuna remarked mere moments before the lights went out. With a yelp, she instinctively covered her head, thinking something bad was about to happen.
   "Relax. Look, it's just a blackout. We're safe." Daisaku said with a smile, though it was hard to make out in the darkness.

   It was clear that it was going to be a long night, even if, as Daisaku said, there was no actual danger for them. As it would happen, though word wouldn't reach Kyūre until the morning after, he was practically spot on, as a flight of Ardian B-19s attacked the Imperial Iron and Steel Works up in Sabae, something like twenty or thirty kilometers south of Azumino. Later reports would determine that the attack had done little damage to the site, however, the damage to morale was, in some ways, more important to the Ardians. Regardless though, for the Umekis, they really couldn't go anywhere, and they certainly didn't have a shelter to use; after all, outside of Saito, attacks like this were unheard of, and thus no instructions suggesting they be made were ever issued by the local tonarigumi.

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Re: Lifetimes of Change (Historical Vignettes set from 1891 - 2011)
« Reply #28 on: June 14, 2023, 10:29:50 AM »
Port of Call
Hiroioki, Kyūre, Izumi Prefecture
June 24th, 1944
6:22 PM


   Just around ten days had passed since the attack on Sabae, and since then, life had changed once again. Per recent directives, relayed by way of Hiroioki's circular, bomb shelters were to be built, shared by two households for the duration of the war. Given the attack on the Steel works in Sabae, perhaps the government had been given quite the scare, and with good reason. After all, that was close to the capital, and unlike in 1941, these bombers had been able to return from their missions. Clearly, then, there was a concern that the tides of the war were beginning to shift against Daitō. Not that this recent bout of poor luck would last, of course. To even think that the war would end in defeat was practically anathema to the worldview of the average Daitōjin, and surrender? Unthinkable. Everyone was in this war together, and whatever storm was coming, they would weather it. And so, at the recommendation of the Hiroioki tonarigumi, the Umekis, alongside their neighbors, the Arikawas, had spent the last few days digging out and reinforcing their shelter, located under the hill next to their homes and in the shadow of Mount Takimine.

   It wasn't all bad, this last week. Though Yuna was apprehensive about seeing her again, Azumi and Kahori had returned. Something about her home being torn down to make way for a firebreak, which had prompted her family, the Ariharas, to leave for Izumozaki—further inland—for their safety. The problem with that was, however, that Azumi's son, Hisao, was being taken with them, while no such regard was given for her or Kahori. Such an outdated practice, archaic even, and it was completely unfair to her. He should have been allowed to stay with Azumi, Yuna thought, but following her decision to file for a divorce from the family—not her husband, on account of him being dead—she had no legal claim to custody, owing to a quirk in the legal system. Frankly, it was cruel. No mistake about it. Either way though, Azumi and Kahori returning to live with the Umekis meant they had more hands available to finish the shelter, and with their home being torn down, they also had excess lumber which they could use in making the shelter and for firewood.

   Mercifully though, the work on the shelter was largely complete by the time the sun set on this saturday evening, and so, Yuna had decided to pay a visit to the family's terrace, mostly to get away from the house for a few minutes, clear her head, but also in order to check on the crops. Since the war started, it had been all but mandated that every family grow some of their own food, mostly rice since that was the country's main staple food, although naturally, in major cities this wasn't the case. Hiroioki, being on the outskirts of Kyūre, was not that way. Most every family had been growing rice for years now, even before the war, and certainly before the YFD had come to power. It was simply the way things were, the way they had been for generations, and frankly, it was probably how it would be for generations to come. Still, though it was difficult work, doubly so for someone from the city like Yuna, it was peaceful. And who could forget the view? The glistening waters of the Mutsu in the evening sun, cast over the Naval Arsenal and all of the ships in harbor, both civilian and military. If you didn't know any better, you'd think the war was but a bad dream from up here, and yet, deep down, it was impossible to forget it.

   As Yuna made her way up the steps, she'd see that she wasn't exactly alone. Her niece, Kahori, was standing just a few steps above the family's field, looking out on the water. Truthfully, she was surprised to see her, though she didn't mind the company. It was difficult work, so it was nice having someone, even someone so young, to talk to.
   "Oh, you're here." Yuna said with a smile as she walked. "What're you doing?"
   "Watching the ships." Kahori replied, pointing to the harbor.
   "There's a lot of them in port today, aren't there?" Yuna asked as she stepped into the paddy, inspecting it for any weeds.
   "Yes. Over there's the Akitsukuni—" Kahori said, pointing at one of the larger vessels. "—and the Tōkai. They're the biggest ships in port. There's also a couple cruisers and destroyers, and I thought I saw an aircraft carrier earlier." She continued. The last bit in particular caught Yuna's attention, as it could mean that her brother was in port.
   "The Agano?" She asked, looking up from her work.
   "I think so. Though it might've been the Hakuryū."
   "Come to think of it, Kahori, you're really knowledgeable about these kinds of things." Yuna said with some surprise. It wasn't every day that a child knew so much about warships, especially one so young.
   "Yeah... I learned it from chichi[1]. He's serving on the Fusō, but... He's very busy. That's why he couldn't come see us last time."

   It suddenly hit Yuna that not only was she right, but... Kahori didn't know about what had happened to her father. She was too young, of course, but still... Now it made sense why her sister-in-law had been so agitated earlier. She was, in a way, going through the same thing as she had with her brother, only in her case, there was no happy ending. She needed to pivot away from the subject, and fast. Not because she felt uncomfortable about it—she was, of course—but because she didn't want to accidentally let it slip. That was something which only Azumi could tell her, it just wasn't her place.
   "You know, my brother's serving on the Agano. If his ship's in port, he might pay us a visit." Yuna pointed out as she cut a couple weeds.
   "Really?" Kahori said with surprise, or perhaps excitement. "I can't wait!" She said with a shout, positively beaming at the thought, though Yuna didn't really get it. Probably just because she had grown up around it, but... Just to be on the safe side, she was going to neglect to mention her uncle's position. That might be too much for her. Either way though, she had some work to do, and given the pace, it was going to take a while.


 1. A shortened form of the full "Chichi-ue"
« Last Edit: February 22, 2024, 06:35:17 AM by Daitō »

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Re: Lifetimes of Change (Historical Vignettes set from 1891 - 2011)
« Reply #29 on: October 04, 2023, 08:28:34 AM »
Reunion
Nishiatago, Kyūre, Izumi Prefecture
June 25th, 1944
6:43 PM


   Nearly seven months had passed since he had been in his homeland, Isao thought as he slowly ascended the hill, his figure dwarfed by Mount Suigenchi and of course, Mount Takimine. It wasn't the first time he had been in Kyūre by any means—it was the Agano's homeport, and beyond that, the first stop on the way to Hatsukaichi, to home—but until recently, he'd never had a reason to come all the way out to Hiroioki. But he figured, given all that had happened in the months since his last visit, he owed his younger sister a visit. Of course, that didn't mean he was particularly happy about making the climb, but since the old steam bus had broken down just as it began the climb, he had little other choice. It was just a shame it had to happen now, at the start of summer, when it was getting... quite hot. He may have been a pilot in the Emperor's navy, but even he had some limits. Still, he carried on, holding on to a threadbare strap on his kit-bag, for what kind of brother what would be if he couldn't, after so long without contact, at least pop in to say hello?

   With a sigh, he looked up at the dirt path ahead of him, realizing, solemnly, that he still had a good distance to go. The exercise was good, he privately admitted with a chuckle, but he still couldn't help but find himself annoyed with the situation. How was it that he, a man of his age and physique, was struggling to climb a damned hill, when his father, at the same age, was climbing actual mountains, he wasn't sure, yet here he was, worn out by what should've been an easy task. Granted, yes, he was tired since even on the ground and in port, there was still much work to be done, and yes, he had to still do his regular exercises even now, but... Okay, perhaps he had a good reason for it, even if he didn't like it. Eventually though, through great struggle, he would finally reach the top of the hill, and after nearly going to the wrong address, find his destination.
Hiroioki, Kyūre, Izumi Prefecture
7:01 PM

   Another day of work, taking care of chores around the house and tending to the fields. While Yuna hadn't fully adjusted to her new life, it was becoming easier and easier every day. While it was good that everyone was home, owing to it being a Sunday and all, that only meant that some of the housework she normally had was being shared. There was no rest, not during growing season and especially not when they were expecting company. And so, here she was, drawing water from the well as the sun loomed on the horizon, off to the west over the Kitan Channel, where she could just barely spot the great island of Hashira on a day like this. Oh, what a view. Certainly, it was better than anything she had back in Hatsukaichi, or rather, on the outskirts of the city, but even so, it was still... Unfamiliar. Perhaps, she thought, this is what father felt when he first moved out this ways back in... She wanted to say '19 or '20, though of course, she couldn't say for sure. He didn't talk too much about his old life, about his service, but it had clearly changed him so greatly that he couldn't return to his home, to the capital. Not even after the earthquake, though by then, as she understood, her grandparents had joined them in Hatsukaichi after their business went under. But that was enough time wasted, thinking about the past. There was yet work to be done. All that was needed now was to hook the buckets onto the pole, and-
   "Need any help with that?" Someone said, though who it was, Yuna wasn't particularly certain as she was still too absorbed in her work.
   "S-sure," Yuna replied before looking over her shoulder. "I could-" She stopped upon realizing who it was.
   "It's been a while, hasn't it, Yuna?" Isao said with a smile before grabbing the buckets.

   At first, Yuna didn't know what to say; she had been anticipating this very moment for a long time now, and at times had feared that her brother was dead, and yet words eluded her. And so, after a moment, she finally broke her silence. "I suppose it has."
   "That's it? 'I suppose it has'? Look, if you aren't happy to see me, I can just go." Isao said, giving her a knowing grin.
   With a sigh, she replied "Fine. I missed you... Though you are an hour late."
   "Forgive me, that was a rough climb, y'know. I haven't had to walk up a hill like that in more than half a year."
   "No it isn't, not unless you came by Nishiatago. You didn't go that way, did you?"
   "..."
   "Well, that explains it." Yuna grinned. She'd made the same mistake when she first arrived, in part because they thought the bus would work. It seemed they were still having issues with it. "In any case," She said as Isao hoisted the buckets over his shoulders. "How's life been? Out at sea, I mean. Any news?"
   "Hard, as usual. We recently got back from a deployment up in the Matildas, where we were assisting our boys in Kalasin. Lovely place, from what I saw of it, though it's nothing like home." Isao replied as he looked down on the city. "Other than that, uhh... Let's see... Your uncle's up for a promotion, y'know."
   "Promotion?" Yuna asked.
   "Yep. Full-blown Rear Admiral and everything, supposedly. Only received word when we sailed into port back on Friday." Isao said. "Of course, he's probably going to get transferred, same as me."
   "Probably... Wait, what?" Yuna said, surprised. "Where?"
   "Eh, not too far from here, just up the road at Yanai. Gonna be on dry land for a good while now." He said with a nod as they reached the house. "Anywhere you want this in particular?"
   "Over there, by the barn." Yuna replied, pointing to the barn, not far from the newly-made shelter. With that task being done, at least for the moment, it would soon be time to introduce him to everyone else. And yet, in spite of this, they lingered for a while, getting caught up as they walked along the winding streets of Hiroioki, much as they used to wander the footpaths and trails of Omi and Furue. Yet in the back of both of their minds, they knew that the lives they had lived were now gone, taken from them by the war, by circumstance, and by choice. There was no going back now; Omi was no longer home, though their family yet remained. Eventually, nearly half an hour later, they would return.
7:45 PM

   After introductions had been made, at least for those among the Umekis who had not actually met Isao—Iwao and Daisaku, specifically—it was finally time for dinner. Of course, even those who hadn't met him before today did know of him, but only so much as Yuna had mentioned. In other words, that she had a brother, that he had been serving in the navy, and that he would be coming over today. It was for that reason that the house was tidier than usual, though that was not to say it wasn't usually clean, of course. Simply that it had been made more presentable than normal, since the Umekis weren't used to having company, not since before the war. In any case, they were sure to ask plenty of questions, with Kahori especially interested in his career, which was of no surprise to anyone else.
   "Are you really a sailor on the Agano?" Kahori asked him. "That's a light aircraft carrier, isn't it?"
   "That's right, though I'm actually a pilot by trade." Isao said with a smile, placing his hand on her shoulder. "You really know your stuff, don't you?" He chuckled in a subdued fashion.
   "Papa used to tell me all about ships. Said it was important." She said, much to her mother's chagrin. Of course, Isao didn't know what had happened to him, so it ultimately didn't faze him.
   "Then he's raised you well."

   A momentary silence fell upon the room as everyone ate, though the conversation soon resumed, albeit with a new subject. Related, but still separate.
   "How is the Agano, anyways? I can't imagine it's back here solely to give you a break." Iwao asked. Anyone who saw the ship would know it'd been through the ringer, to put it mildly. It wasn't in the news, of course; YHK generally didn't report on ships being lost, save perhaps for the Hakuryū in 1942, and even then it was due to the actions of the Ardian crew which sunk her, rather than the loss itself. Generally, you were supposed to rescue the crews of ships that you sank, at least according to international law. That's what they said, anyways. But instead, the Ardian submarine which sunk the carrier refused, instead allowing the crew of the Agano, as well as a number of wounded soldiers who had been serving in Toshikawa back home, to drown.
   "Well, we were heavily damaged off Yakushima, but we managed to limp home for repairs." Isao replied. "I can't say when the ship will be seaworthy again, but she's certainly well-made. Still afloat after all that's happened to her."
   "She'll sail again, I'm sure of it." Isao nodded. "Though I understand you won't be joining her?"
   "That's correct. As of next week, I will be assigned to an airbase up near Yanai."
   "That's only, what, eight kilometers, eight and a half away?" Iwao said. "Guess we'll be seeing you more often, then? Assuming you don't get lost on the way to the station, anyways."
   "Ah, you remember... Not my finest moment, that." Isao said, rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment. He glanced around the room before spotting something which caught his attention. "Yuna, when did you get that camera?" He asked, looking at one of the shelves.
   "Oh, this?" Yuna asked, standing up to grab it. "Back in late March, when I went to visit our parents and Ikuko. You have an idea?"
   "As a matter of fact, I do. See, I'm planning on visiting Hatsukaichi tomorrow, and I just so happen to know someone who can get the film developed for a discount. He owes me for helping him with... Eh, it doesn't matter. Point is, I want us to be able to remember this moment.' Isao replied with a nod, reaching out his hand as if expecting to be handed it. "If everyone else is alright with it, anyways." As it happened, nobody objected, and so, Isao would spend the next few minutes fiddling with the camera. Mostly trying to figure out the timer, since the instructions were... rather vague. Eventually though, he would figure it out, and after placing it on one of the shelves, everyone would get into position, and then... *flash*.

   A moment captured in time, of happier days, soon to be past. What would the future hold for those whose images were captured that night at the end of June?
« Last Edit: November 03, 2023, 04:06:05 AM by Daitō »