REIWA JIGOKUHEN - Chaotic Disturbance of Reiwa Era

Part 4: Total War System | Chapter 39

Strange Days

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Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture: Private house

On March 9, Tomoko, who witnessed the sudden disappearance of Mars, returned to her parents' house in Hiratsuka. The war suddenly started amidst the time-space cataclysm that has not yet been understood as a phenomenon at all. Since the recent speech by the President of the United States, which ended any hope of peace and economic stability, an unusual atmosphere had begun to prevail in the city.

However, there were a few places that were the opposite of what she had imagined. Big bombers dropped incendiary bombs, and food and other commodities were controlled, just as they had learned in history class. But the news said that instead of evacuation, a massive population concentration and agglomeration would begin. And in the old war, men were drafted with red papers or went to work in factories or coal mines, but in the current war, her father and brother are at home, holed up in there.

"Hey, your mother's protruding navel!"

"Yeah, how do you know that, creep!"

The sound of a comic or something was coming from the living room. Her brother was watching TV in his disheveled outfit. The lineup on each station was almost the same as before the time-space cataclysm, although the percentage of news had increased. The only difference was that there were more reruns and the TV commercials were now all public service announcements.

"Hey, Tomoko, this is interesting."

"Whaat?"

"What's wrong?"

"You're getting a lot of attention, aren't you, brother?"

"It can't be helped. Cars don't sell these days."

At a confused Tomoko, her brother sighed and blurted out. Her brother worked at a car dealership. He is still being treated as a stay-at-home and is being paid at least a paycheck. But these days, it is difficult to buy food, drink, or clothing with it. The only thing he can use it for is content on the internet.

"The government also tells me to stay at home as much as possible."

"Then let's do something more constructive."

"Like what?"

"Like... studying."

"You know what, Tomoko, that's a good point."

Before she knew it, her father had returned home and was back in the living room, looking a bit cheery. Then, in a bag on the table, there were canned sardines, alfalfa rice, and other groceries that seemed to be well-preserved. She didn't know where he got them.

"Then a notice came out a while ago. The SDF is going to recruit a wide range of temporary auxiliary members from all over society. They are going to hold a briefing session at a community center, so why don't you go?"

"I'm sure there are many who do that... but I'm just a salesman, you know?"

"You shot a gun in Guam a long time ago."

Her father laughed, then turned somewhat serious.

"The same goes for the small society of the SDF. Even if you are in a field that doesn't seem to be related to the SDF, you may be appreciated in some strange way."

While listening to the conversation between her father and brother, Tomoko suddenly realized something. She was not sure why she felt no concern at all about her brother's situation, even though they were not on bad terms with each other.