Living with Memory of Steel (Part 1)

by Masahiko Kimoto

  There are a bunch of jobs that are only available for people with MoSE. MoSE guarantees the food on the table. They are considered to be assets of the society. They are sincerely elites and the target of respect.

  Apart from a particular group of people, there is no one who doesn't respect MoSE. The particular group include people like Earthlight who are against the monopolization of technology.

  The public opinion of the accident leans toward criticizing Earthlight that supports the Riot Police.

  It's not surprising to see guests who are involved in the A-B-A-H-S supporting ASIT and Riot Police.

  A little noise and flashes of cameras from the media --- as if they are claiming this is their undoubted right and not taking peeping pictures --- are wrapping around three guys. They are not as muscular as the Riot Police promptly at the work site. They're in the upper positions, with thin bodies and glasses. Their eyes are slightly looking downward, jostling through the crowd. The chairman of the ASIT joined the three, exchanging two or three words and walking in line.

  Reji finds.

  Murase and Junrock from Earthlight are tugging along the executives of ASIT.

  Many possibilities of the reasons as in why they are here are running through Reji's head. It might be only me who knows that they are the members of Earthlight. If they are going to create a scene, do I have to prevent it?

  However, his body doesn't move. He might lose them after going down the stone stairs. It's also not certain that they're going to kick up a fuzz. The Riot Police shouldn't be tracking Earthlight, so it could be okay to let them do whatever. Several reasons come up, but they all seem lame. Still, he doesn't have the courage to break down the reasoning.

  "Ha! Why are you being nervous?"

  Sekiba talks to Reji, standing next to each other.

  "I can smell adrenaline coming off from your back."

  Reji can't answer.

  "You don't have to fear anything. 'They' wouldn't do anything. They have no intention."

  "Why...?"

  "Do you mean why I know that? Ha! Because there is no benefits to it. They don't get anything for doing such things. It's better to show a sincere attitude toward the dead to gain good image from the public. However, they can't stand on a stage. This is the best they can perform. Or they could be just showing their good faith."

  "Good faith?"

  "Yeah, it is good faith. I think highly of their act of claiming their belief even though their implementation is rather childish.

  Sekiba says, laughing. That's the way a person with authority laugh. That's the laugh of someone with overpowering power, standing in front of someone with nothing.

  Reji finds his laugh similar to that of A-B-A-H-S.

  Sekiba puts a hand on Reji's shoulder.

  "You..., can you fight for something?"

  He leaves with that comment.

  Reji still can't move.

  Melting tranquilizer on his tongue, Reji walks into the inside of the main building of the funeral.

  There are not so many guests around. He can find only Akimichi's relatives and close friends. Akimichi's parents are standing at the very back. It's the first time to see his parents, but they seem so normal. They must have been absolutely proud of his son with MoSE certificate.

  Reji wonders if he should talk to them or not. The lady who looks like his mother notices Reji and walks toward him.

  "Excuse me, but are you Mr. Reji Kogure?"

  "Yes, I am."

  "I've heard of you from Akimichi. You were with him ...on that day?"

  The faces of Murase and Sekiba flow from the right to the left in his head. Reji wonders if he was treated as being there on the spot or not.

  "Well, um."

  "I have a motorbike left behind by Akimichi..."

  That motorbike must have been crushed down. They might have collected up all the broken pieces.

  "I gave some of them to his motorbike friends just then. Would you please take some, Mr. Kogure?"

  The mother goes back to the further end of the room and bring a narrow box. It is a liner-boost module.

  "I'm not sure if this can be used or no."

  "I'll take it. I'll run with this part. That would make me feel like I'm driving with Akimichi-san."

  "Please be careful for accidents. That would make your parents so sad."

  "Yes... Yes, I will."

  Reji looks up to see a large picture of Akimichi that is displayed in the front.

  Akimichi is smiling in the picture. That smile can look like a relief of giving up something.

  The outside suddenly becomes noisy. Reji goes out from the building with the boost in his hand. There is a large wagon in front of the gate. People are fighting, grabbing each other. A large figure pushes a small shadow figure into a car. At around the same time, the wagon took off.

  Reji recognizes the wagon. That's a modified advertisement car of Earthlight.

  He runs to the parking lot, throws the boost underneath the motorbike and starts a motor. If Earthlight is going straight into Shinbashi, there is a shortcut that would make him go ahead of the car.

  Going through the narrow street next to the funeral, He enters a high way. His motorbike zips aside to the other side of the four lanes between cars. He sees a tail lamp of the wagon ahead. The direction is right.

  Even though, it's still in Tokyo, there are torn-down houses that are left from the city development and those for people who make vegetables in their gardens when he darts down a side street. Reji keeps on going on the bare ground, winding in and out among the half-made concrete blocks that are left behind.

  He gains the traffic data and wanders around the neighborhood. It is confirmed that a large car is approaching on the high way in the traveling direction. He speeds up into the road with the high speed linear drive. His motorbike spins around 90 degrees.

  The driver of the wagon sees Reji's motorbike jump into the road and wrenches the steering wheel to the left into the side road.

  This is what Reji wanted.

  He turns on the linear drive mode again and turn left at the road that is ahead. The road that the wagon has driven into meets into the one ahead with a circular arc. It's the same time when Reji goes into the intersection and the wagon's sudden brake screeches.

  A navy sedan catches up from behind and stops.

  It seems like the driver has given up, the door of the wagon opens and a girl steps down.

  As expected, it is Akari.

  Reji steps down his motorbike and runs to Akari.

  "Akari, are you okay?"

  Akari's turns her head with her body facing back. She glares up at him.

  "You shouldn't have done it."

  She mumbles with a hoarse voice. Her head turns around. She starts walking to the sedan. Sekiba is waiting for Akari, standing next to the driver seat of the car.

  Reji sees her back go further in a distant with his mouth wide open.

  He doesn't realize Murase and others are looking down at him with icy eyes.

  *****

  Monday afternoon class is somehow making him lazy.

  It's been more than half a year since he entered the last compulsory education, a high school.

  If a student isn't aiming for a higher level, it is fairly easy to enter high school and get decent education without putting too much effort.

  With a middle grade of junior high school, he enters a mediocre!!high school and spend a mediocre school life.

  He doesn't have any dissatisfaction for that.

  The policy of relaxing the compulsory education ended up only creating the polarity of academic ability. Capable people are capable, but incapable people are incapable. This has only made the gap more extreme. In order to solve this issue, the government has made an education enhancement policy that stretched the compulsory education period to 12 years including the high school as the revolution of the next 15 tears.

  Also, in order to deal with the increase in the aging populat
ion, it was necessary to have the decent labor force (people who pay for the tax and pension). The society has changed in a way that even high school graduates can get some kind of job. This was due to the government propaganda, instigation using the media, improvement of payment for physical laborers, using a subsidy, etc. This can be the most successful policy for the last 50 years in a way.

  At the same time, a large number of foreigners have been sent back to their countries. On top of that, there are people who can't even join the lowest class and those who choose not to be in the society. The public safety has been deteriorating. There was a need to maintain public security under this situation, which served as a factor to set up the riot police with powered exoskeleton.

  Anyway, many of the young people can have a lazy school life without worrying about their future lives. The gap between people's living standards is less obvious, but the gap between their motivations might have become bigger.

  Reji lives without strong motivation just like other many students.

  "It doesn't mean my life is boring."

  Reji's hands are off the keyboard. He's staring at the autumn sky idly.

  His small high school is in the city. There are several Platanus trees with green large leaves at the school ground. Sparrows and crows are dancing around its branches.

  A willy-nilly wind makes the branches swing and the birds scatter away at the same time.

  Questions are sent to the panel on the desk. He jots down answers without thinking much and looks outside again. These questions are made to match the speed of solving these questions for the individual student. The difficulty of the questions is set in a level that the students can solve with a little effort. This way, students are pushed out to the society very effectively.

  This is a well-made system.

  Even a high school student like Reji can understand the Prastabilierte Harmonie of the system.

  No one doubts such fantastic system.

  Next question. He presses a key again.

  This normal high school students don't have psy-connect abilities. Only normal students and teachers are there.

  Using the old keyboard and the interface of the display panel, he operates his computer. The concept of a computer has been changed since 50 years ago, but when normal people refer to a computer, they mean this type of device.

  When a psy-connect started to be known in the public, it's used to be called Psychological Connection or Neural Connection, but a name psy-connect has become the most common name for it.

  The problem is that there are only limited people who can master psy-connect. The connection system called the first generation can be used for anyone with a head gear and a monitor. The reason why many people don't use this is due to their hesitance toward new invention. This is not too bad.

  The second generation psy-connect is more convenient but can be implemented by only around 10% of the whole population. Generally speaking, the former people are considered as psy-connect competent. In order to become a MoSE, psy-connect ability is required. It doesn't mean all of the people with psy-connect ability can become a MoSE, but this ability is more than good enough to divide the elites and normal citizens and also a troublesome matter in terms of society.

  The scenery Reji sees outside the window shows the season that is definitely heading toward the winter. His dad always mentioned that a year flies by as people get older. Reji notices that time seems to pass faster compared to the primary school days, but he can clearly tell different seasons when he look outside the window. This makes him feel he isn't wasting his time.

  "It's not like my life is boring."

  He murmurs again.

  He doesn't have any complaint against the school, and he also has some friends. It's true that the relationship with his school friends seem a little superficial, but this can't be helped. Different students take different classes, so there is no sense of fellowship that can be built by seeing the same faces all the time. His friends are from various junior high schools. There is no one who he has known for a long time. The friendship isn't deep, but keeping a comfortable distance.

  In terms of friends, his bike friends might be closer to him. Reji always respected an older neighborhood boy when he was little. It was the respect that inspired him to start riding a bike when he entered high school.

  It's not like he hangs out with a lot of companions, but he's gone out with the group for a long trip on the weekend several times. They don't talk much, but get together and bike around the mountains and watch the sunrise while drinking coffee for no particular reason. It's comfortable to spend a time like that. He feels like they understand each other despite the fact that they don't talk much.

  He relatively gets along with others at school and get on well with his friends with his hobby. There is no particular complaint.

  However, at the same time, he has sort of realized that he doesn't feel satisfied.

  When he wonders if Akimichi was happy with his life, the picture in front of the alter comes up in his mind.

  The similar phrases keep on going around in his head.

  Akimichi died. The funeral and farewell service have finished. He clearly died and disappears.

  It seems like any rituals that are related to death is not for the dead but the people who left behind. Rituals are parts of the process for the people left behind to accept the death.

  He wonders if he has accepted the death of Akimichi.

  Akimichi was a MoSE. Akari Nakazato is the same kind of person who has the ability of psy-connect and prospective elite future in the society. She is in the selected group.

  Still, Akimichi died.

  A lot of people have cried over Akimichi's death and moaned. I'm not sure if their moan is coming from their sadness, but all the people have been aware that his death was a big loss to the society.

  Akari Nakazato has survived.

  Probably many people are relieved that she has survived. Her dad --- I'm sure that's her dad since she calls him dad even though their last names are different --- and other many people care about her.

  But, why did she say things like that last night? What she said sounds like she wanted to be caught.

  Even though, everyone cares about her.

  On the other hand, how about me? I survived, but my death wouldn't have been a loss to the society. That's my life.

  Why does Akimichi have to die?

  --- No, that's not right. Something is wrong.

  --- Akimichi didn't die. He got killed.

  Akimichi got killed by A-B-A-H-S. A-B-A-H-S is an enemy. No one can blame it, but it's an enemy.

  The enemy of A-B-A-H-S is Earthlight.

  It doesn't matter if Earthlight is on my side or not.

  The fact that it's my enemy's rival is important for now.

  Then, I should go with Earthlight.

  *****

  That evening, Reji visits the office of Earthlight.

  Murase tries to send him away, but he finds strange that Reji doesn't make a scene to get into the room, but keeps on murmuring something. Murase has decided to let him in.

  They look at each other at the guest booth in the office. Clare and Junrock sit around them.

  Junrock starts off.

  "Do you know the word, 'dead to shame'?"

  Reji looks up at Junrock.

  "You must remember that you disturbed us, do you?"

  Reji gets it. It's obvious, but he's realized that wagon belongs to 3-3-Cell of Earthlight.

  "Kidnapping is a crime."

  "The girl is..."

  Murase raises his hand to stop Junrock.

  "You are right that kidnapping is a crime. What do you want from us who were about to commit the crime?"

  Reji's eyes are fixated on Murase's face.

  "In straight, is A-B-A-H-S your enemy?"

  The three of them look at each other. After consideration, Murase answers.

  "To tell you the truth, we don't really know yet. Of course, the
existence of A-B-A-H-S is against our policy. We can't appreciate the thing that favorably treats a particular group of people. To answer the question whether it's our enemy or not, we have to say it's not on our side, considering what happened the other day. However, this doesn't mean we are officially against each other."

  "Don't you fight against A-B-A-H-S?"

  "We will, if that's necessary. We will have to fight in the near future."

  That's enough.

  "I want to join your group."

  "Why is that, all of a sudden?"

  "I'd like to avenge Akimichi."

  Murase strokes his chin. Clare raises her hand next to him.

  "I agree."

  "Clare!"

  Junrock raises his voice.

  "Are you against the idea, Junrock?"

  "....How about our ideology? Do you agree with the belief of Earthlight?"

  "I don't know. I'm a normal guy who doesn't have anything with MoSE. I don' think I'm your enemy, but I don't think MoSE is my enemy either. The only MoSE I know is Akimichi-san, but he was a good guy."

  "God! You don't have any interests in politics? I don't want to work with a stupid guy. At the very least, I don't want to think of anyone who is politically apathetic as my company."

  "What do you think, Murase-san?"

  Murase groans and strokes his chin again.

  "What can you do, Reji?"

  "What can I do?"

  "As you can see, this branch is a small but highly capable organization, Everyone has their special skill and a role that they can use the skill. What can you do?"

  Reji isn't really a MoSE like Akimichi nor good at any particular subject.

  "That's out of question. We don't need anyone who is incompetent and useless."

  "Why do you call me useless? You used me to guard yourself from the bullets."

  "If that's all you've got..."

  "You can use me that way! Yeah, that's right. I can be your bullet-proof! This way, I'm not useless!"

  Murase closes his eyes while stroking his chin. After thinking it over a while, he opens his mouth.

  "You should go back to your house once."

  "Does it mean I can't join?"