REIWA JIGOKUHEN - Chaotic Disturbance of Reiwa Era

Chapter 119 - A Step into the Future

Dalian: near Zhoushuizi Airport

Upon returning from Hawaii, Captain Oba had a book in his hands titled "Love Letters of War," which surprisingly contained the letters exchanged between him and his wife Mineko. He, who had survived the war and lived for about 20 years, had passed away of natural causes, but the letters were discovered during the making of a film about the guerrilla warfare that took place on Saipan Island.

As he turned the pages, the words on the letters brought back vivid memories of his life as a young officer in the Toyohashi Infantry Regiment, his marriage to Mineko despite opposition from both families, and the harsh and acrid landscapes of the battlefield. He also recalled the growth of their eldest son and the times when he had written harsh words in anger or had been warned not to visit brothels out of curiosity. Everything felt nostalgic.

'However...'

Ooba closed the book carefully and took a deep breath. The feel of the high-quality binding reminded him that it belonged to a different era, making him acutely aware of the fact that the letters of a private officer were now being treated as historical documents. This cruel reality proved that the modern world had already outlived his own. Moreover, his wife, with whom he had lived until last year, now rested in the Oba family tomb. If he were to go and visit, he would be faced with a meeting with himself.

"What should I do?" he muttered, taking heavy steps forward. Although he wanted to return to his hometown, it was no longer the same place he remembered. After eighty years, he could hardly imagine easily adapting to his homeland. The place he had seen after the Battle of Saipan was like another world, and his second son, whom he had never met, had become an old man. His own footprints seemed to be an invisible barrier preventing him from returning home, and even if all the problems were solved, he felt that he could only manage to return for the Bon Festival.

If so, then there's no other option but to start a new life, like an adventure tale crafted by Commander Tsuji. The shrewd government of Reiwa seemed to anticipate the situation of these soldiers, as they established a liaison office in Dalian. That's where they're headed now, for an interview about employment or entrepreneurship after being discharged from reserve duty, but it all seems too much of a hassle. However, all their hesitations were suddenly disrupted by a strange, tickling music that echoed out of nowhere.

"Emergency, emergency, this is an emergency!"

"Takagiya has just received a massive shipment of canned pineapples!"

"And it's a special discount. Let's all have some pineapples!"

On top of an American truck that seemed to be confiscated, a man who appeared to be of Korean descent was saying all sorts of cheerful things. The truck had a banner with a drawing of a cat and pineapple, and it was piled high with yellow fruits and canned goods with Roman letters. People walking down the street were attracted like a magnet.

"You should try some pineapples too, Captain."

"I just came back from Pearl Harbor, you know."

Ignoring the invitation from the fat driver, Ooba smiled and declined. Hawaii was known as one of the major pineapple producers, with over tens of thousands of tons produced on the island of 300.000 people. About half of that was shipped to Japan in refrigerated ships during the Reiwa era, but there was still an abundance of pineapples left, and he had eaten enough of them to get tired of it.

However, if they managed to transport them quickly to Dalian, it might be considered quite a feat. In fact, canned pineapples that were almost worthless over there seem to be selling like hotcakes in Dalian. Seeing such robust business sense, he feels that he can't afford to mope around.