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みぅです🤍🥀 第19話、読み終わりました……。 重かったです。最初から最後まで、ずっと胸が苦しかった。 議員の「汚いAV女優が」って一言で、あの人の命が軽く扱われてる感じがして、すごく嫌な気持ちになった。あの台詞、読んでてグッと来ました。 あと、AV新法の話がすごく生々しくて。現場の人が声を上げても、政治家は「お前の話は聞く価値がない」って顔をする。その構図が、この作品の世界の「闇」をちゃんと描いてるなって思いました。 でも、それでも星島さんは立ち上がってて。彼女の「居場所を守る」って言葉が、すごく響きました。 あと、成瀬さんの「自衛官の子」ってだけでいじめられた話……あれは本当に辛かった。正義を貫こうとした人が、最後にああなってしまうのが、やりきれない。 でも、このお話、ちゃんと「見えない暴力」を描いてる。それが、すごく好きです。 私、こういう……重い話、好きです。心がギュッてなるけど、その分、ちゃんと考えさせられるから。 続き、楽しみにしてますね🌙
On a weekend in September — a time when the nights had finally begun to lose their sweltering heat — Fumiyo Asakawa, a member of the House of Representatives, returned to her home in her constituency.
As she was driven to her house nestled in the hills by an elderly private secretary from her local office, Asakawa spoke to someone on her smartphone, her face twisted in an unmistakable scowl.
“I’ve told you this over and over: just handle it within the legal framework. That isn’t my responsibility. Huh? Oh, really? But you know, Ms. Hoshijima, the reason the shoot got cancelled was likely because you had issues with the trust the production company placed in you. Anyway, take that kind of talk to the government office.”
Ending the call, Asakawa clicked her tongue loudly and muttered a spiteful remark.
“Honestly, what a pest. A filthy AV actress, of all people.”
Eventually, the car arrived at a sprawling Japanese-style mansion standing in solitary isolation; Asakawa had the secretary carry her suitcase and other belongings inside, then opened the front door.
Once the secretary had finished hauling the various items into the entryway, Asakawa spoke to him — a man slightly older than herself — in an arrogant tone.
“That’ll be all for tonight. I want to relax at my family home for a change. My parents are away on a trip, so I can enjoy some quiet time all by myself.”
The secretary gave a respectful bow and said: “Understood. I will come to pick you up at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow, then. The luncheon with the prefectural chapter’s secretary-general is proceeding as scheduled.”
The secretary returned to his car and drove away from the estate. Asakawa brought her luggage into the ground-floor living room, took a shower, and then — clad in a bathrobe — went up to her room on the second floor.
As Asakawa sat on the sofa in her spacious room, sipping brandy from a glass, a deep, low-frequency rumble echoed in from outside the window.
A heavy, throbbing engine roar — accompanied by a high-pitched, metallic screeching sound like claws raking against the ground — penetrated the windowpane.
Asakawa endured the noise for a while, frowning in annoyance, but when she realized the deep rumbling was growing steadily louder, she rose from the sofa.
“What on earth is this? Is it construction work? Even so, doing it in the middle of the night is outrageous. Which contractor is this?”
The rumbling sound grew even closer. Asakawa pulled back the curtains and opened the window. Then, in sheer astonishment, she let her brandy glass slip from her hand and fall to the floor.
Right outside the window, the face of a massive beast — standing about a meter tall — loomed into view. It resembled a bear.
Its yellowish fur was marked with black stripes similar to a tiger’s, and short, sharp fangs peeked out from the mouth on its slightly protruding muzzle.
Even more bizarre was the object covering the beast’s head: a dull, silver-colored metal piece resembling a helmet from a suit of Western armor.
The beast — large enough to easily reach the second-story window of the detached house — wore metal gauntlets on its forepaws, from which sharp, pointed metal claws extended outward.
Too shocked even to scream, Asakawa staggered backward. At that moment, the massive beast’s right foreleg swung high and smashed into the exterior wall of the second floor.
The wall crumbled like spun sugar; the beast’s foreleg punched through the wall of the room where Asakawa stood, slamming her body against the far side.
With the sound of shattering bone, Asakawa’s body was crushed flat, plastered against the interior wall amidst a spray of blood.
Then, the beast’s left foreleg smashed into the house’s exterior from the opposite side, pulverizing the second floor and sending roof tiles sliding to the ground one after another.
Growling low in its throat, the beast backed away, maintaining its stance.
Just outside the estate grounds, a young woman stood watching the entire scene from the shadows.
With light-brown, medium-short hair and dressed in a T-shirt and denim miniskirt, she appeared to be in her early twenties; gazing at the second floor of the mansion — now crushed like a paper model — she murmured to herself.
“The first one. Marina … I’ve avenged you.”
Then, her expression rigid, the young woman walked away, vanishing into the darkness.
From the woods where the giant beast had disappeared, the low, rumbling roar of its movement could be heard gradually fading into the distance.
The next morning, before heading to the Watari Lab, Miyashita was summoned to the office of the commander of the Metropolitan Police Department’s Public Security Mobile Investigation Unit. Upon entering, she found a chair already positioned opposite the commander’s desk and was instructed to sit.
As Miyashita sat facing him, the commander abruptly spread out a stack of large-format photographs.
The photos showed a luxurious, traditional Japanese-style house with its second floor completely crushed and mangled. While Miyashita blinked in bewilderment, the commander placed another print — this one dark and blurry — on top of the others.
“Assistant Inspector Miyashita, what does this look like to you?”
Miyashita squinted at the out-of-focus image and tilted her head.
“A bear … perhaps? But there are silver markings all over its body — it looks almost as if it’s wearing armor.”
“So that’s how it looks to you, too. But if it is a bear, it would have to stand ten meters tall when rearing up on its hind legs.”
“I’ve never heard of a bear that huge.”
“And a bear clad in metal armor, at that. I’ve never heard of such a thing either. This footage was captured by a security camera by chance; as you can see, it’s too blurry to draw any firm conclusions.”
Miyashita tore her gaze away from the photo and turned back to the commander.
“If it involves a mysterious giant creature, that’s a job for the Watari Lab team. But why come directly to me this time?”
The commander slid another photographic print across the desk toward Miyashita. It showed a young woman with light brown, medium-short hair standing beneath a streetlamp.
“Is she the suspect?”
Miyashita picked up the photo and asked. The commander crossed his arms and furrowed his brow.
“I can’t say for sure. She almost certainly wasn’t the one who actually destroyed the building. But we identified her easily enough.”
The commander then turned his laptop screen toward Miyashita. It displayed a grid of headshots featuring young, attractive women; the woman from the photo was in the top row.
Miyashita leaned in to look at the screen and tilted her head.
“What kind of site is this?”
“It belongs to a talent agency — specifically one specializing in adult film actresses. Her stage name is Mina Sakuma.”
“An adult film actress?”
“Technically, an aspiring one. It looks like she hasn’t made her debut yet. There’s someone else I want you to contact through Watari Lab, too.”
The commander switched the screen to display a bust-up shot of a different woman — this one with long hair and a more mature look.
“Her name is Sakuya Hoshijima — or rather, that’s her stage name. She’s an adult film actress as well.”
Miyashita tilted her head, looking even more puzzled.
“You mean this woman, Hoshijima, is a suspect?”
“No. That’s actually not the case.”
The commander sighed and continued his explanation.
“The house that was destroyed belonged to Fumiyo Asakawa, a member of the House of Representatives. Her body was found in the wreckage on the second floor — crushed into a mangled mass of flesh. But the incident took place in her home district of Hiroshima Prefecture, and we’ve already confirmed that Sakuya Hoshijima was in Tokyo that day.”
“Then why is there a need to contact this woman?”
“A few weeks ago, a woman tried to file a request of search for missing person for Mina Sakuma at the local police station. That woman was Sakuya Hoshijima. Of course, since she wasn’t a blood relative and Sakuma was a twenty-year-old adult at the time, the police didn’t accept the request.”
“Aside from both being JAV actresses, there doesn’t seem to be any connection. Why is a matter like this coming to the Public Security Mobile Investigation Unit? And what’s the deal with it coming through the Watari Lab?”
The commander leaned over his desk and spoke to Miyashita with a serious expression.
“This stays between us. Don’t mention it to the other members of the Watari Lab, either. Understood?”
Miyashita nodded silently, and the commander lowered his voice.
“We’ve received an unofficial request from the Ministry of Defense to investigate Mina Sakuma’s background.”
“From the Ministry of Defense? Why?”
“I wasn’t given any explanation for the reason, either. In short, it’s top secret. We’re having the Watari Lab conduct a search for someone. Sakuya Hoshijima is coming to visit the lab this afternoon; the arrangements have been made through an introduction from the local precinct. Assistant Inspector Miyashita, I want you to assist Hoshijima without drawing attention, while simultaneously investigating what’s going on behind the scenes. Being a woman yourself, you should find it easier to handle certain aspects of this.”
“It sounds like trying to grasp at clouds.”
“Under the current circumstances — where neither of them can be considered a suspect — the police can’t take official action. But if the need arises, then go out and grab those clouds — or even the stars — if you have to. That is the job of those of us in Public Security.”
“Understood.”
Miyashita rose from her chair, saluted the commander, and left the room.
When Miyashita arrived at the Watari Lab later than usual, Watari — looking uncharacteristically flustered — hurried over to her.
“Hey, Ms. Miyashita. I got a call from your commander, but what’s this about a missing person search?”
As she set her bag down at her desk, Miyashita offered a wry smile that conveyed her own bewilderment.
“Oh, so you’ve already heard? To be honest, I don’t know the details either. The commander just told me to cooperate without asking for the reason.”
Looking visibly agitated, Watari paced around Miyashita’s desk like a restless bear.
“And on top of that, I hear the person visiting is a JAV actress. I’ve never met or had any dealings with that sort of person before.”
Toyama speaks to Miyashita with a beaming, happy expression.
“Ms. Miyashita, is that JAV actress a beauty?”
Miyashita grimaces slightly as she replied to Toyama.
“You seem awfully happy about this, Dr. Toyama.”
“Oh, it’s not really like that. But come on, Prof. Watari, what’s the harm? Helping to find someone … it’s all for the sake of world peace, after all.”
Watari also grimaces at Toyama’s buoyant tone as he speaks.
“More importantly, how is the image analysis coming along? Have you figured out the identity of that giant beast?”
Still wearing a grin, Toyama operated the computer at his desk and projected that blurry photograph onto the large screen mounted on the wall.
“With image quality this grainy, it’s nothing more than speculation. But if I had to guess, I’d say it’s a cave bear.”
Tsutsui, who had been listening intently, murmurs: “A cave bear?”
Toyama switches the image on the large screen. It now displays the fossilized bones of a massive bear.
“It’s a species of large bear that lived during the Late Pleistocene. They’re believed to have gone extinct 24,000 years ago, and they were the largest bear species in history.”
Matsuda gazes at the large screen and asked Toyama: “Does that mean a survivor was found?”
Toyama shook his head.
“No, not necessarily. Recent research has confirmed that cave bears and modern grizzly bears interbred in the distant past. The genetic makeup of today’s grizzly bears contains traces of cave bear DNA.”
Matsuda asked again.
“What kind of bear is a grizzly bear?”
“You know those large bears in North America with the somewhat lighter-colored fur? The ones we call ‘grizzlies’ in Japan.”
Tsutsui let out a sharp, squeal-like gasp.
“That huge, ferocious bear? You mean an ancient version of that? That’s terrifying.”
Toyama’s expression turned serious.
“It might not be impossible to isolate just the genome segments carrying cave bear traits from the grizzly’s DNA and recreate it — provided we use modern genetic engineering technology.”
Lunch break ended, and as everyone returned to the Watari Lab, the atmosphere was thick with a restless, uneasy energy — though for different reasons for each person.
Watari was stroking his beard even more frequently than usual, while Miyashita was agonizing over how to interact with Sakuya Hoshijima.
Matsuda and Tsutsui were still scratching their heads, unable to fathom the connection between that massive bear and a JAV actress.
Only Toyama seemed different; he kept glancing at the wall clock, a beaming, anticipatory grin spreading across his face.
The landline on Watari’s desk rang, causing him to jump out of his chair with a loud clatter. He picked up the receiver tentatively; it was a call from the main gate security booth informing him that a visitor had arrived for the laboratory.
“Ah, yes, I’m expecting the person. Please show her in.”
Watari’s voice was completely strained as he spoke.
A few minutes later, there was a knock on the lab door. Matsuda stood up from his desk and opened it from the inside.
Standing there was a woman who looked to be in her mid-twenties — and was surprisingly petite. She wore her straight black hair loose, letting it fall to her shoulder blades, and was dressed elegantly in a pale green, long-length, short-sleeved dress.
With her well-defined features and large, expressive eyes, she had a striking, glamorous air, yet she was ultimately a cute woman who didn’t seem particularly unusual.
“Excuse me, is this Prof. Watari’s laboratory?”
When she asked in a clear, high-pitched voice, Matsuda stammered his reply.
“Y-y-yes, this is the Watari Lab.”
“My name is Sakuya Hoshijima. Thank you very much for agreeing to cooperate with us.”
With those words, Hoshijima bowed deeply. Watari rose from his desk and walked over to the doorway; his movements were awkward, with his right arm and right leg — and his left arm and left leg — swinging in unison.
“I-I-I am Professor Watari. Please, come right in.”
Hoshijima closed the door, stepped up to Watari, and held out the large paper bag she had been carrying.
“It’s nothing fancy, but please — everyone, feel free to enjoy it with your tea.”
Watari accepted the bag with a somewhat strained expression.
“Oh, you really didn’t have to go to the trouble.”
Hoshijima smiled brightly.
“Not at all. I’m here to ask a huge favor, so this is the least I could do.”
Matsuda spoke to Watari.
“Since she’s been kind enough to bring this, shall I make some tea?”
Watari nodded repeatedly.
“Yes, good idea. Would you mind doing that, Matsuda?”
“Oh, I’ll help out too.”
Saying this, Hoshijima headed toward the kitchen area with Matsuda. Matsuda hurriedly protested.
“No, I can handle it myself. I couldn’t possibly let a guest help…”
“But I’m the one asking for a favor here, so please, let me do at least this much.”
As Matsuda and Hoshijima disappeared into the kitchen, Watari let out a deep sigh and spoke quietly to the others.
“You know, when I heard she was a JAV actress, I imagined someone outrageous might show up — but she’s just a perfectly ordinary woman.”
Tsutsui wiped sweat from her forehead and added, “I was nervous too. I sort of expected someone … well, really flashy.”
Miyashita murmured softly, “This might actually make it easier to talk woman-to-woman. That’s a relief.”
Watari headed toward the reception area, saying, “She’s far more polite and level-headed than the students these days. It just goes to show, we shouldn’t judge people by their profession.”
They decided to sit down together in the reception area — where two three-seater sofas faced each other across a low, long table — to sort out the details of the situation.
As Matsuda arranged the plate of cookies Hoshijima had brought and set out enough teacups for everyone, Toyama eagerly stepped forward and beckoned to her.
“Ms. Hoshijima, please come over here. You can sit right next to me …”
Watari strode over, grabbed Toyama by the ear, and yanked him away from Hoshijima. Toyama cried out in protest.
“Ouch! That hurts, Prof. Watari.”
“Shut it! The three men will sit against the wall. The ladies on the opposite side.”
Following Watari’s instructions, the men took their seats on the sofa against the wall, arranged from the back as Matsuda, Watari, and Toyama. Opposite them, the women sat down in the order of Tsutsui, Miyashita, and Hoshijima.
Watari cleared his throat lightly and spoke.
“Let’s start by introducing ourselves. I am Watari, the head of this laboratory and a professor in the Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science. Next to me is an associate professor from the Faculty of Biology …”
Toyama raised his voice, addressing Hoshijima directly across the table.
“I’m Toyama. Single, in my thirties, never been married. By the way, my hobbies are …”
Watari cut him off with a voice like low, rumbling thunder.
“There’s no need for unnecessary details! And this is Matsuda. His day job is with the Ground Self-Defense Force.”
Prompted by Watari, Tsutsui and Miyashita each stated their names and professions to Hoshijima. Hoshijima leaned forward slightly and spoke.
“My name is Sakuya Hoshijima — though that is a stage name. As you likely already know, I work as a JAV actress.”
As Hoshijima sat up, her ample bosom jiggled noticeably—even through her clothes.
Tsutsui and Miyashita stole a sideways glance at Hoshijima’s chest, then looked down at their own. Neither woman had a figure that could be considered meager by modern Japanese standards, yet they felt a sudden, unsettling pang of unease.
Watari steered the conversation to the main topic.
“Now, Ms. Hoshijima — is this the person you want us to find?”
When Watari placed a photo of Mina Sakuma — captured on a security camera — on the table, Hoshijima nodded vigorously.
“Yes, that’s her. But where did you get this photo?”
Watari chose his words carefully. Because the incident was so bizarre, the partial collapse of Asakawa’s home had been reported in the news as having an unknown cause.
“We understand it was taken near the scene of the accident where the Diet member Asakawa’s home was partially destroyed.”
Hoshijima’s expression clouded over, and she murmured:
“That accident news really shocked me. I’d actually spoken to her on the phone just an hour before it happened.”
Miyashita’s eyes widened as she looked at Hoshijima’s profile. She didn’t say it aloud, but she was screaming it in her mind:
“It connects!”
Miyashita tried not to antagonize her and asked Hoshijima in a calm tone, “You spoke to a Member of Parliament on the phone? Have you known each other for a long time?”
Hoshijima shook her head and pulled a stack of papers from her handbag as she spoke.
“No, it was only recently. We JAV actresses — well, the entire JAV industry — were basically duped by that person. Do you know about the New AV Improvement Act?”
Everyone on Watari’s team looked blank and shook their heads.
Hoshijima spread the documents out on the table and explained.
“It’s a new law that was passed this June. Its official name is …”
Hoshijima picked up one of the sheets and read the title aloud.
”‘Act on Special Provisions Concerning Performance Contracts, etc., to Prevent Harm and Aid Performers in the Production of Sexual Activity Videos, in Order to Contribute to a Society That Respects the Dignity of Citizens Regarding Sexuality’…”
Watari and the others, who had been listening intently, let out a collective, audible sigh.
Watari’s eyebrow twitched as he remarked, “That’s a terribly long-winded name for a law.”
Hoshijima pursed her lips and continued.
“It’s commonly known as the JAV Improvement Act. But because of this law, a lot of JAV actresses — myself included — lost our jobs; our incomes plummeted, or in the worst cases, dropped to zero.”
Watari turned to Tsutsui and asked, “Ms. Tsutsui, as a newspaper reporter, surely you know something about this?”
Tsutsui shook her head, looking apologetic.
“Oh, no — this is the first I’ve heard of it. If it’s a new law, wouldn’t that fall under the Political News Department? I’m a reporter for the City News Department.”
Hoshijima continued, rattling off details while glancing at some documents.
“The process of enacting the law was completely absurd, too. It first came up in April of this year. The bill was submitted on May 25th. It passed unanimously in the House of Representatives plenary session on May 27th. It passed the House of Councillors plenary session on June 15th — with only one vote against it. Then it was promulgated on June 22nd and went into immediate effect the very next day, June 23rd.”
Tsutsui, who was looking up information on her tablet, blurted out, “That is an incredibly fast pace. It didn’t even take three months.”
Miyashita spoke to Hoshijima, looking somewhat confused.
“So, you’re saying you’re in trouble because legal regulations have been imposed on — well, JAVs, or adult videos?”
Hoshijima grimaced and shook her head vigorously.
“At first, the talk was about the need for special protections for eighteen- and nineteen-year-olds who had just reached adulthood. You know — the age of majority was lowered from twenty to eighteen starting this April 1st.”
Watari spoke up, looking as if he were relieved to finally hear something he could relate to.
“Ah, right. At my university, too, freshmen become legal adults immediately upon entry, so we have to be careful about a lot of things.”
Hoshijima nodded vigorously and continued.
“That’s when feminist groups started raising an outcry, warning that young women — newly considered adults at eighteen or nineteen — were at risk of being coerced into appearing in adult videos. Hearing their appeals, some opposition lawmakers decided to draft a special law to address it. At that stage, neither we actresses nor the adult video industry as a whole were opposed to the idea. In fact, we were actually in favor of it.”
Miyashita nodded emphatically as he spoke.
“Ah, I see — it’s about the right to rescind contracts entered into by minors.”
Matsuda asked Miyashita, “What exactly is that?”
“Minors generally can’t enter into contracts without a guardian’s consent. There’s a legal provision stating that if a contract — say, one involving predatory business practices — is made with someone known to be a minor, the guardian can unilaterally void it. Until this past March, eighteen- and nineteen-year-olds still held that right of rescission, but that changed on April 1st. Contracts for appearing in adult videos would fall under that same category, you see.”
Tilting his head again, Toyama asked Hoshijima, “I’m still not quite getting it. Doesn’t that just mean you can no longer scout women of that age? Why would someone with a long career like yours be in trouble?”
Hoshijima replied, “No, that’s not it. For one thing, companies participating in the ‘Proper AV’ framework hadn’t been hiring anyone under twenty for years — since around 2016 at the latest.”
All five members of the Watanabe Lab spoke up in unison.
”‘Proper AV’?”
Watari stroked his beard and asked Hoshijima, sounding a bit hesitant.
“Is there such a thing as being suited — or unsuited — for the JAV industry? Look, Ms. Hoshijima, I’m sorry to ask, but none of us here know anything about the business. Could you explain it to us from scratch?”
Hoshijima nodded and laid out several printouts from the websites of various organizations on the table.
“Well, back in the Showa era, it seems actresses were sometimes treated pretty terribly. There are some real industry veterans who’ve been around since then, so I’ve heard stories. By the 2010s, the distribution of movies and TV dramas shifted from just DVDs to the internet, and JAVs started being sold through those channels too. But it wasn’t just established JAV production companies anymore; there was a rise in individuals making similar content and uploading it online.”
Hoshijima pointed to the printed images from two of the organizations’ websites.
“With those newcomers, there were frequent issues — like coercing women into performing or disregarding their human rights — that nearly turned into a major social problem. So, existing JAV production companies and content makers banded together to take action. First, the production companies formed industry associations. That’s what these are: the Japan Production Guild and the Second Guild.”
Watari looked at the papers and spoke.
“So, they’re like labor unions for JAV actresses?”
Hoshijima shook her head.
“No, the production companies are more like talent agencies specializing in JAV. To begin with, we JAV actresses aren’t employees of the agencies we’re signed to. We’re independent contractors; the agreement we have with the agency is strictly a service contract.”
Tsutsui raised her right hand slightly and asked Hoshijima in a tentative tone.
“Um, Ms. Hoshijima? Sorry for the basic question, but are talent agencies and the companies that actually produce JAV works different things?”
“Yes. The companies that handle filming and production are called ‘JAV makers’ — that’s the term we use. Agencies, on the other hand, handle management. They act as our representatives when dealing with the makers — negotiating appearance fees and revenue splits, managing our schedules, and so on. Once the money comes in, we pay a management fee to the agency. That’s how the relationship works.”
“I see. So, is there a separate industry association for the makers, then?”
“Yes. That would be the Japan Video Ethics Organization. They’re a self-regulatory body that screens whether or not a JAV title is suitable for distribution.”
“Hmm … but isn’t that just the industry policing itself?”
“To avoid that kind of criticism, the two agency associations and the makers’ self-regulatory body all belong to a separate third-party organization as corporate members. Let’s see … it’s the one listed on this paper here: the JAV Human Rights Norms Organization.”
“Huh? Another industry association?”
“No, this organization isn’t an industry association. It’s a third-party body independent of both sectors of the industry. They monitor agencies and makers to ensure they aren’t violating the law or infringing on actresses’ human rights; if such violations occur, actresses can file a direct complaint with them to seek redress.”
“I see — so there’s a pyramid-style oversight system in place? In other words, ‘proper JAV’ refers to works produced through the framework of these industry associations and self-regulatory bodies by participating JAV companies?”
Hoshijima smiled broadly and nodded.
“Exactly! That’s right.”
Watari let out a deep sigh.
“I’m amazed. I’d always assumed JAVs were made by organized crime groups or antisocial forces.”
Hoshijima replied with a wry smile.
“That might have been the case back in the Showa era, I suppose. But the industry has been cleaning up its act through initiatives like this since around 2016. I debuted as a JAV actress in 2018 — after these self-regulations were already in place — so I’ve never seen or even heard of things like forced appearances or violations of actresses’ human rights.”
Toyama spoke with a thoughtful expression.
“I get that part, but from a buyer’s perspective, there’s no way to tell if something is ‘proper JAV’ or not.”
“Oh, actually, you can.”
Hoshijima took out her smartphone, tapped the screen deftly, and pulled up a webpage displaying a specific mark.
“We get a title card or a mark issued by yet another organization — the Intellectual Property Promotion Association — to certify that a work is ‘proper JAV.’ For streaming titles, that title card appears at the very beginning; for things like DVD packages, that mark should be displayed somewhere.”
Looking at the logo that included the words “Proper AV,” Matsuda said with admiration:
“So that’s what that was for? I always wondered why that title card kept popping up …”
Tsutsui and Miyashita spoke up at the same time.
“Huh?”
Miyashita stepped up close to Matsuda.
“Mr. Matsuda, did you just say ‘popping up all the time’?”
Matsuda hurriedly waved his hands in front of his chest.
“Oh, no, well … right, I just meant I’d heard a senior member of my unit say that once before — haha, ahaha.”
Miyashita looked at Matsuda with a still-skeptical gaze, then turned to Hoshijima.
“So, conversely, does that mean video productions lacking those on-screen captions or marks aren’t ‘proper JAV’? That they’re illegal?”
Hoshijima tilted her head slightly as she answered.
“Whether you could go so far as to call them illegal is likely a case-by-case matter. They’re what are commonly known as ‘doujin AV.’ However, one thing is certain: the human rights and personal safety of the women appearing in them aren’t properly guaranteed. It’s producers of that sort who have been responsible for the issues — like coerced appearances — that have plagued the industry for years. The biggest problem with that ‘JAV Improvement Act’ is that it lumps them together with the proper JAV industry, which has spent years eliminating the risks of human rights violations.”
Watari crossed his arms and asked Hoshijima:
“I see; I more or less understand how the industry works now. But, Ms. Hoshijima, how does that connect to your request for us to find Mina Sakuma?”
Hoshijima’s expression suddenly turned grim as she pointed to the paper containing the text of the new law.
“It all stems from the section highlighted here. Under the ‘JAV Improvement Act,’ filming is prohibited for at least one month after the contract is signed, and the release or promotion of the work is banned for at least four months after the contract takes effect. Furthermore, performers can unconditionally terminate their contracts for up to a year after the work is released. In other words, even after a title is finally released, if an actress has a change of heart and decides to cancel her contract, the production company is forced to halt sales and recall the product from store shelves and streaming sites.”
Miyashita looked skeptical as she spoke.
“Don’t 18- and 19-year-old ‘new adults’ deserve that level of special consideration?”
Hoshijima’s expression hardened as she replied.
“That’s what we were told at first, too. But once the law was actually enacted, it turned out that these regulations applied to all JAV actresses, production companies, and titles — regardless of age.”
Tsutsui exclaimed in surprise.
“Wait, really? That means it would take at least five months from signing the contract to the actual release, right? And on top of that, the company bears the risk of having the product pulled for a full year after release. That makes it impossible to run a business, doesn’t it?”
Hoshijima answered with a look of sheer exasperation.
“Exactly. And the penalties are severe: up to three years in prison and fines of 100 million yen for corporate entities. What’s more, it becomes impossible to use a substitute if an actress suddenly falls ill, and even a last-minute change of filming location — say, moving from one studio to another due to unforeseen circumstances — could potentially violate the law. It is impossible to produce content under such stifling regulations while facing the risk of criminal penalties. Since this new law went into effect, dozens of planned shoots have already been forced to cancel.”
Tsutsui frowned and said, “That’s strange. If a law is going to have that kind of impact, they really ought to consult with industry associations beforehand.”
Hoshijima spoke with a tone of bitter exasperation.
“I pressed Diet member Asakawa on that very point. She claimed they did consult with them. But the only group the lawmakers actually consulted was the AV Human Rights Standards Organization — the one I mentioned earlier. That organization is just a third-party watchdog; they don’t know the ins and outs of the industry, and they certainly don’t represent its interests. Hundreds of lawmakers drafted this law under the mistaken impression that a third-party watchdog was an industry association.”
Toyama sighed and said, “That’s appalling. Is it even possible for something so sloppy to happen in the Diet?”
Tsutsui looked at her tablet screen and said, “The ‘JAV Improvement Act’ was a bill initiated by lawmakers themselves. Even we only just grasped the industry’s structure after hearing your explanation, Ms. Hoshijima; I find it hard to believe the lawmakers understood it. People with absolutely no knowledge of the industry listened to the one-sided claims of feminist groups, took them at face value, and wrote the law.”
Hoshijima held out her smartphone screen and spoke in a somber tone.
“Many JAV actresses have seen their incomes plummet and are losing their jobs; the very thing we feared most has become a reality.”
A shady video streaming site was displayed on the smartphone screen. With trembling fingers, Hoshijima clicked on one of the videos.
Suddenly, a title appeared in bright red letters: “How Many Times Can She Cum? An Endurance Race with an Active JAV Actress!”
As the video began, the screen showed a full-body shot of a demure-looking woman in a swimsuit; the scene then quickly cut to a dark, warehouse-like space filled with mattresses.
A row of men, their faces hidden by masks, stood clad only in their underwear — so many of them that they couldn’t all fit in the frame. One by one, they pounced on the actress. She screamed shrilly, while the men watched and guffawed.
Even Miyashita, a police detective, who had witnessed many brutal crime scenes, found herself instinctively looking away partway through. Tsutsui closed her eyes and covered her ears with both hands.
When Hoshijima stopped the video, tears welling in her eyes, Watari asked with a look of stunned disbelief: “What is that?”
Wiping away her tears, Hoshijima replied:
“It’s an illegal adult video. It certainly wasn’t a legitimate production. The actress in it went by the stage name Marina Tomosaka; she was a junior colleague at the agency I used to belong to. And the person Marina was closest to — a junior colleague one year her junior — was Mina Sakuma.”
Miyashita gasped.
“So, Ms. Hoshijima, are you saying Mina Sakuma held a grudge against Diet mmber Asakawa?”
“That might be the case. Although, it was only ever covered in a very small way online.”
Hoshijima switched her smartphone screen to an online news site. She clicked on an inconspicuous headline further down the page, and upon seeing the article’s title, everyone in the Watari Lab let out a soft gasp.
The headline read: “Suicide by jumping from a Shibuya rooftop; deceased identified a JAV actress Marina Tomosaka.”
Tsutsui, still looking pale, asked Hoshijima: “Why go as far as suicide? Wasn’t she just a JAV actress doing a side gig in an online video?”
Hoshijima replied, her voice unsteady.
“Actresses like us — in the ‘proper’ adult video sector — are strictly prohibited from appearing in any other kind of production. That framework exists specifically to distinguish us from illegal content like that. If it’s discovered that we’ve appeared in a non-sanctioned production, our agency terminates our contract, and after that, no agency or makers within the legitimate framework will ever work with us again. It’s essentially a permanent banishment from the industry.”
“Then why did Marina end up in a video like that?”
“When the JAV Improvement Act was enacted, Marina was an exclusive contract actress. I was a freelance one.”
“Huh? ‘Exclusive’? ‘Freelance’?”
“Oh, is that industry jargon? Professor Watari, should I explain?”
Watari nodded repeatedly.
“Yes, sorry — could you?”
Hoshijima continued. “Broadly speaking, there are three types of JAV actresses. ‘Exclusive’ actresses — also known as standalone actresses — appear only in productions from a single studio. As a rule, they shoot just one film a month, but in return, their fees run into the millions of yen. Then there are ‘project-based standalone’ — who can appear in as many films as they like for various studios; that’s the category I fall into now. The fee per film is in the hundreds of thousands of yen, but since there’s no limit on the number of shoots, a popular actress can actually earn more than an exclusive one. Finally, there are the standard ‘project actresses’ — girls who might appear in just a single film without even being credited by their stage name, or who simply play background roles as part of a crowd.”
Miyashita asked Hoshijima while searching for the video site they had just been looking at on her smartphone.
“In that case, surely Marina knew that appearing in that kind of video was a career-ender for an actress? So why did she do it?”
“This is what I heard from Mina. She looked up to Marina like an older sister, so Marina had confided the full details to her alone. You see, if a shoot for an exclusive actress gets cancelled, her income drops to zero. Exclusive actresses can’t just go and make appearances — like at promotional events for past DVD releases — without the maker’s consent.”
Hoshijima furrowed her brow, her expression turning somber again as she continued.
“After the JAV Improvement Act came into effect, all the shoots Marina was scheduled for were cancelled, leaving her with no income. That was when she received an offer via a social media direct message, and it seems she decided to take it.”
Toyama asked hesitantly: “You mentioned that exclusive actresses earn over a million yen in fees, right? Didn’t this Marina have any savings?”
“Marina had a younger brother — two years her junior — and they grew up in a single-parent household, struggling financially. Just when her brother was saying he’d give up on further education because of their family’s finances, Marina became an exclusive actress; she persuaded him to go to school after all.”
“To university?”
“No, a vocational school for IT. It’s a famous one that churns out top-tier programmers, and the tuition is apparently much higher than at many ordinary universities. Marina paid for all of it. She used to say that in the future, her brother would strike out on his own and open an IT firm, and she’d work behind the scenes there —she was even studying things like bookkeeping for that purpose.”
“So, did she reach a point where she couldn’t pay his tuition anymore?”
“She said that was exactly what was going to happen if things kept going the way they were. That’s what I heard from Mina.”
“I see. I understand the situation.”
Watari spoke in a grave tone.
“But surely she knew what she was getting into when she agreed to appear? Why did it end with her committing suicide?”
Hoshijima answered, tears welling up in her eyes again.
“The condition Marina agreed to was that the shoot was for personal, private use — that the footage wouldn’t be released to the public. She was deceived. She probably didn’t even know the nature of the video until she actually got to the location. In that video, Marina was genuinely resisting from the very start. I’m a woman and a JAV actress myself, so I can tell. Then, the promise was casually broken, and the unedited footage was released on underground websites the very next day. It’s no wonder she felt she had no choice but to kill herself!”
Miyashita located the video site on her smartphone screen and nodded slightly as she spoke.
“I heard about this from a colleague in the Community Safety Division a while back. The police view this site as a problem, too, but since the server is located overseas, Japanese law doesn’t directly apply, so there’s nothing we can do about it.”
Hoshijima spoke with rising intensity.
“If they were only cracking down on illegal sites like that, those of us in the proper JAV industry wouldn’t oppose the JAV Improvement Act itself. But in reality, that law has cut off the income of proper JAV actresses and driven them into a corner. Some might even be tempted by offers to appear in illegal adult videos — that was our biggest fear, and now it’s actually happening.”
Miyashita’s expression turned somber as she asked Hoshijima another question.
“I can understand why Mina Sakuma would hold a grudge against the member of the Diet. But that bill passed with near-unanimous support. Out of hundreds of lawmakers, why target Fumiyo Asakawa?”
“There was a group of lawmakers who first called for the drafting of the JAV Improvement Act, and Asakawa was their representative. When we grew concerned and requested a meeting, she was the one who insisted it was strictly about regulations for 18- and 19-year-olds following the lowering of the age of adulthood. But when the law was actually enacted, the content was completely outrageous. No matter how many times I called to protest that this wasn’t what we’d been told, she simply refused to listen.”
“What was the situation regarding Mina Sakuma’s work?”
“Mina had just had her debut confirmed. She lost her parents when she was young and grew up being passed around from one relative’s home to another — or so I heard from her directly. Apparently, she suffered sexual abuse at the hands of those relatives during that time. That’s why she was emotionally unstable at first; it took a while for her to settle in. Marina and I were close, so I naturally became friends with Mina, too, and she opened up to me about it once. But the project that was supposed to be her debut was cancelled because of the fallout from the JAV Improvement Act.”
Watari let out a long, heavy sigh.
“Her debut was crushed, and the senior colleague she looked up to like an older sister was driven to suicide. Ultimately, it was the fault of lawmaker Asakawa, who proposed the JAV Improvement Act. It wouldn’t be surprising for a young woman barely out of her teens to think that way.”
Everyone fell silent for a moment. Then, Watari spoke.
“I think we have a general grasp of the situation now. Let’s wrap things up for today. Ms. Hoshijima, thank you for your time and effort. We will take on the search for Mina Sakuma. You look exhausted. Could you come back here at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow?”
Hoshijima bowed deeply.
“Understood. Thank you very much.”
Toyama darted over to Hoshijima’s side the moment she stood up from the sofa.
“Ms. Hoshijima, let me walk you to the school gate. And if possible, maybe we could exchange chat app IDs …”
Watari grabbed Toyama by the ear and hauled him away from Hoshijima.
“Ow, ow! What are you doing, Prof. Watari?”
“Stop loitering and get back to work! Oh — Ms. Miyashita, you escort Ms. Hoshijima to the main gate.”
The next morning, just before 9:00 a.m., the five members of the Watari Lab gathered in the lab, lined up their chairs in front of Watari’s desk, and reported the information they had verified.
Miyashita spoke first, flipping through a binder full of documents.
“I was able to corroborate the suicide case Ms. Hoshijima mentioned using records from the local police station. A JAV actress performing under the stage name Marina Tomosaka fell to her death from a building. Since her shoes were found neatly arranged on the roof along with a handwritten suicide note addressed to her family, there is no doubt it was a suicide.”
Next, Tsutsui spoke while swiping through the screen of her tablet.
“I looked into the legislative process for the JAV Improvement Act through a senior colleague in our political news department. The bill was handled by the Cabinet Committee, but it was put to a vote after just one day and passed unanimously. As for the content of the law, it seems the actual articles were already fully drafted by the time it was submitted to the committee.”
Watari frowned and asked: “So, was it Diet member Fumiyo Asakawa who drafted the articles?”
Tsutsui gave a slight shake of her head, looking puzzled.
“That’s the strange part. The excessive regulations that ignore reality — the ones Ms. Hoshijima mentioned — appear to have been suddenly inserted later on by a group of lawmakers from the ruling Liberal Commons Party. It seems Asakawa had already been shut out of the process by that stage.”
Toyama chimed in.
“How did a bill spearheaded by ruling party lawmakers end up with such absurd content?”
Tsutsui answered. “An NPO called the Anti-Pornography League is providing full cooperation to that specific group of Liberal Commons Party lawmakers, and the organization’s lawyers likely drafted the initial text of the bill.
“You’ve got to be kidding,” Watari said, his eyes wide with astonishment.
“Judging by the name alone, that group seems opposed to adult videos. Did they actually let the very group pushing for restrictions decide what those restrictions would be?”
Tsutsui nodded with a sigh.
“It was right before the House of Councillors election, you see. The ‘JAV Improvement Act’ was fast-tracked and passed just half a month before voting day. It was probably a convenient way to show voters they were taking action for something good.”
Watari spoke while repeatedly stroking his beard — a habit of his when deep in thought.
“If Sakuma Mina is involved in the attack on Diet member Asakawa in any way, she’d likely direct her grudge toward that ‘Anti-Pornography League’ or whatever they call themselves. Is there a chance their office could be the next target?”
Miyashita nodded vigorously in agreement.
“We should probably keep a close watch, just to be safe. I’ve already looked up their office address from the corporate registry. Why don’t we pay them a visit once Ms. Hoshijima gets here?”
Just then, the landline on Watari’s desk rang, signaling Hoshijima’s arrival. Watari instructed the main gate security booth to let Hoshijima in, then hung up and turned to Matsuda.
“Let’s head out right away. Matsuda, get the van and drive.”
As soon as Hoshijima arrived at the lab, the whole group piled into a van and headed for the offices of the Anti-Pornography League.
Matsuda took the wheel, with Watari in the front passenger seat; Toyama and Hoshijima sat side-by-side in the middle row, while Miyashita and Tsutsui occupied the back seat.
The organization’s office was located in a coastal district of Edogawa Ward, at the eastern edge of Tokyo bordering Chiba Prefecture.
Since the expressway seemed to be congested, they took surface roads instead; during the drive, Toyama turned to Hoshijima — who was sitting right next to him — with a serious expression.
“I’ve done a bit of research on the JAV industry online since we last spoke. Is it true that JAV production companies make new actresses undergo plastic surgery?”
Hoshijima answered with a carefree smile.
“Yes, it’s true. Though, of course, that’s only if the person herself consents to it.”
“You mean changing their faces?”
“Hahaha, no, nothing like that. It’s just things like getting double-eyelid surgery, breast augmentation with silicone, or liposuction for girls who are a bit heavy — that sort of level. But we really receive at reputable clinics recommended by the agencies to feel safe; medical mishaps in plastic surgery can be pretty scary, after all.”
“I see. Ms. Hoshijima, this is a very important point, so I’d like you to answer carefully.”
Everyone instinctively pricked up their ears at the unusual seriousness in Toyama’s tone. Then, following his next words, everyone except Hoshijima recoiled in shock.
“So, Ms. Hoshijima, your bust … you know, the result of plastic surgery?”
Hoshijima burst into laughter and answered nonchalantly.
“Oh no, mine is all natural. Even though I’m petite, my chest developed really well from early on. By the time I was in my third year of junior high, the boys around me were already calling me ‘Big Tits.’”
Toyama asked another question with a beaming smile.
“So, do all the small-chested ones get silicone implants?”
Tsutsui cleared her throat loudly enough to be heard, but Toyama and Hoshijima didn’t seem to notice at all and kept chatting away.
“Well, that really depends on the person. It’s up to the individual, of course, but the agency has its own policies too. Let’s see … take this girl, for example.”
Hoshijima pulled up a JAV actress’s profile on her smartphone and showed it to Toyama.
“See, she’s officially an A-cup, but she has that ‘lolita’ look, right? She’s popular in the ‘schoolgirl’ genre, so the agency probably decided there was no need to go through the trouble of making them bigger.”
“Oh, you’re right. That look definitely works better for that vibe.”
Miyashita cleared her throat loudly enough to be heard, but Toyama and Hoshijima still didn’t notice and continued their conversation.
“It’s not like bigger is always better for men, right? What kind of size do you prefer, Dr. Toyama?”
“For me … well, you know the old saying about how the perfect size is one that fits in a male palm with just a little bit spilling over? Something like that, I suppose.”
“So, a D-cup by today’s standards? In that case, how about the girl in this photo?”
“Oh, yeah, exactly — that’s the kind of size I like.”
Tsutsui and Miyashita both cleared their throats loudly at the same time, but the pair remained completely oblivious and kept on chatting.
“By the way, Ms. Hoshijima, what’s your cup size?”
“I’m an H-cup. Maybe that’s why I’ve been getting so many offers lately for roles playing a married woman.”
Finally, Watari twisted his upper body around from the front passenger seat and spoke up loudly.
“Look, sorry to interrupt — Toyama, Ms. Hoshijima — but could you save that sort of technical discussion for another time?”
The van pulled into an area crowded with small, two-story apartment buildings, not far from Kasai Seaside Park.
Guided by the address Miyashita had looked up, they arrived at a unit in a dilapidated, weather-beaten apartment complex. Given the nature of the people they were dealing with, the three women — Hoshijima, Miyashita, and Tsutsui — decided to visit the office themselves, while the three men waited in the van.
It wasn’t just old; the building gave no indication that anyone actually lived there. They found the unit — marked by a grimy piece of cardboard with the organization’s name handwritten on it — at the corner of the ground floor, but pressing the doorbell produced no sound at all.
Miyashita muttered as she repeatedly pressed the buzzer, even though she knew it was futile.
“That’s strange. I called ahead to let them know we were coming. You’d think there would be someone staffing the office at this time on a weekday.”
As the three women stood there for a few minutes, the heavy thud of footsteps echoed toward them. Three long-haired men in casual attire surrounded Hoshijima, Miyashita, and Tsutsui.
“What the hell are you doing here? Who the hell are you?”
The men intimidated the women, speaking in a tone reminiscent of yakuza gangsters.
“You want us to call the cops for trespassing? Is that it?”
Miyashita sighed, then took her police badge out of her inner jacket pocket and flipped it open.
“I am the police. We notified you that we’d be visiting today, didn’t we?”
The clicking sound of two pairs of high heels approached from behind the men, and two middle-aged women appeared.
One of them, wearing a gray women’s suit, spoke to the men.
“Oh, it’s fine. You’re from that Watari Lab, aren’t you? I’m Sagawa, the secretary-general. This is Yamada, a board member. Shall we hear what you have to say?”
Instead of inviting the three of them into the office, Sagawa led them out to the parking lot beside the apartment building.
They began talking while standing right there. Although the three were annoyed that she hadn’t even offered to let them inside, they chose not to voice their complaints.
Miyashita showed Sagawa a printed photograph of Mina Sakuma and asked:
“Do you recognize this woman? Have you seen her around here lately, for instance?”
Sagawa stared intently at the photo before giving a vague reply.
“Now that you mention it, she might be one of the girls who’ve been hanging around our office lately.”
Hoshijima reacted sharply to those words.
“Girls … plural? Is that what you said? It’s not just one person?”
Sagawa looked at Hoshijima and twisted her lips into a sneer.
“Oh, you’re that JAV actress who’s always badmouthing the JAV Improvement Act on social media, aren’t you? So, what is it? Did you come here to harass our office?”
Miyashita extended her arm to stop Hoshijima as she tried to step forward. She said to Sagawa:
“We’re simply looking for someone. This woman might be in danger.”
Sagawa retorted with a sarcastic smile.
“We’re in danger all the time. When we campaign to eradicate sexual violence against women, we get attacked by men out there. We get death threats constantly, too.”
Miyashita replied in a perfectly calm voice.
“Oh, that sounds terrible. Have you filed police reports?”
“No. If we filed a report for every single incident, there’d be no end to it.”
“Actually, you really ought to file reports. Otherwise, the police won’t be able to take appropriate action when a real emergency arises.”
Sagawa’s tone became clearly irritated.
“Never mind that — why don’t you do something about the women loitering around our office?”
Hoshijima could no longer contain herself and spoke up to Sagawa.
“It was your organization that swapped out the clauses in the JAV Improvement Act, wasn’t it? Do you have any idea how much trouble that’s caused for the prper JAV industry? So many actresses have been driven into financial ruin — one had even committed suicide.”
Sagawa retorted with a sneer.
“We merely provided assistance. It was the lawmakers from the Liberal Commons Party who actually drafted the legislation.”
“My point is that the women themselves — the ones who matter — aren’t being protected. Isn’t that a problem for your organization, too? It means you haven’t achieved any real results.”
“Huh? We achieved results ages ago. The JAV Improvement Act was enacted, after all.”
Hoshijima was left speechless by the reply.
“But isn’t protecting women the actual result …”
Sagawa spoke with that same faint, mocking smile.
“Our job ends at establishing laws and regulations. What happens to women like you after that is a matter for the police and government agencies.”
Hoshijima, her face flushed red with anger, started to move toward Sagawa, but Miyashita stepped in, blocking her path with her back.
Handing her business card to Sagawa, Miyashita spoke in a tone he strove to keep calm.
“In that case, please contact me if anything comes up. Good day.”
Miyashita grabbed the arm of Hoshijima — who still looked like she wanted to say something — and hurried away from the spot. Tsutsui followed close behind.
Once they were out of sight, Yamada whispered to Sagawa.
“Um, shouldn’t we have heard a bit more of what they had to say? They mentioned a suicide, after all.”
Sagawa replied as she started walking toward the office unit in the apartment complex.
“Actually, isn’t that a good thing? Even if they realize it now, once the law passes, the victory is ours. At this stage, having one or two women who cling to the JAV industry die serves as a perfect object lesson.”
They returned to the Watari Lab van parked a short distance away; after receiving directions from Miyashita, Watari spoke in a calm tone.
“Well, I had a feeling that might be the case. It seems there was simply no opening for dialogue. Let’s head back to the lab for now.”
Matsuda started the car and headed toward the coast, where the highway entrance was located.
After driving for a few minutes, Matsuda suddenly hit the brakes. He pulled the car onto the shoulder and stared up at the sky through the driver’s side window. Sensing something unusual, Watari asked, “Matsuda, what is it?”
Matsuda pointed to a spot in the sky and replied, “Look at that. Something strange is heading this way.”
They rolled down their windows and leaned out to look in that direction; a low, rumbling sound reached their ears.
Two large helicopters came into view. They were massive machines, each featuring two main rotors arranged in tandem. Thick wire cables dangled from the underside of each, and the pair was carrying a load between them.
The large object suspended beneath the two pitch-black helicopters was covered in tent-like fabric. Watari asked Matsuda, sounding puzzled.
“Helicopters aren’t exactly a rare sight. What about them?”
Matsuda answered in a low voice, “Those are military helicopters — heavy-lift Chinooks. And by the looks of it, they belong to neither the Self-Defense Forces nor the U.S. military. They seem to be heading toward that apartment complex we just left.”
Watari’s head snapped up. He said to Matsuda, “Matsuda, take us back to that place.”
Matsuda quickly made a U-turn. The two black helicopters passed directly overhead.
The two choppers hovered over the baseball field right next to the apartment complex and began to descend.
As the suspended object touched the ground, the end of the wire rope detached, and the helicopters began to rise again.
The large tent-like fabric was slashed open from within, revealing the form of a beast ten meters tall. It had fur patterned like a tiger’s and silver armor covering various parts of its body.
“Gwaaaooo!”
As the massive, roaring bear leaned forward, a deep, rumbling engine sound split the air.
The tent fabric that had been draped to the ground fell away completely, revealing its full form.
The bear’s body itself stood about seven meters tall, yet it lacked anything below the waist.
Only its upper torso was fixed atop a wide, dark-green armored vehicle. The vehicle’s tracks began to clatter and churn; carrying the giant bear’s upper body, the tank-like machine crushed the baseball stadium fence and lurched out onto the road.
As the tracks climbed over the low concrete curb surrounding the stadium and tilted sharply downward onto the road, chunks of asphalt, gouged out by the treads, were kicked up into the air.
The surface of the vehicle’s hull was covered in gentle, diamond-shaped protrusions, and its cockpit was invisible from the outside.
When power lines obstructed the giant bear’s path, its clawed gauntlets severed them from above. Residents of nearby apartments and people inside shops paid no mind, assuming the noise came from heavy construction machinery.
As the giant bear severed a few more lines, the surrounding area began to lose power. A ramen shop owner, who had been in the middle of prep work, stepped outside to check the situation; upon spotting the bizarre sight of a kaiju-like giant bear riding atop a tank, he let out a thunderous shout.
“Waaah! What the hell is that?”
Drawn by the sound, windows in the surrounding low-rise homes flew open; upon spotting the grotesque monstrosity — a fusion of a massive bear and a tank — slowly advancing down the street, throngs of people began to scream in unison.
Some scrambled frantically outdoors, while others locked their windows and huddled in the corners of their rooms.
With the metallic clatter of tank treads grinding against the pavement, the giant bear approached the apartment building housing the Anti-Pornography League’s office.
Alerted by the commotion outside, a man from the group opened the entrance and stepped out. Looming directly before him was the broad, dark-green armored front of the vehicle; looking up, he saw a colossal beast clad in silver metal armor — reminiscent of an ancient Roman soldier — raising its foreleg.
The bear’s right foreleg — encased in a gauntlet tipped with hooked claws — slashed sideways, tearing open the wall of the apartment’s second floor.
The man fled, shouting in panic, while his colleagues, Sagawa and Yamada — realizing something was amiss — stuck their heads out the doorway. Pale with terror, the pair darted through the narrow gap between the apartment wall and the armored hull, diving into a car parked next door.
While the tank-bear hybrid was in the middle of turning, the two women started the engine of their compact car and pulled out onto the road.
Just as they attempted to drive away in the direction opposite the beast, the car came to a halt. A figure stood blocking their path, arms outstretched wide to the sides.
It was a young woman with light brown, medium-short hair: Mina Sakuma.
Yamada, in the driver’s seat, honks the horn repeatedly, but Mina Sakuma stands her ground, showing no signs of moving.
The armored vehicle carrying the giant bear completed a turn and began moving toward the car occupied by Sagawa and Yamada.
Yamada tries to force the car forward, steering around Mina Sakuma, but more women of a similar age appear from the alleys on both sides; they lined up beside Mina Sakuma, blocking the road and standing firm to bar the way.
Completely blocked by the group of six young women — Mina Sakuma included — and terrified by the giant bear closing in from behind, Yamada leaps out of the driver’s seat. She kicked off her high heels and ran barefoot toward a nearby alley.
“Hey, Yamada! So that’s your true colors, huh? You’ll pay for this later.”
Sagawa hurls this curse at Yamada’s retreating back and slides into the driver’s seat. She tries to speed off immediately, but in her agitation, she failed to realize the car isn’t in “Drive,” causing the engine to roar loudly without the vehicle moving.
Meanwhile, the Watari Lab van arrived behind them and watched the scene unfold from a short distance away. Hoshijima spotted Mina Sakuma.
“Mina! That’s Mina over there!”
Everyone from Watari Lab, along with Hoshijima, got out of the van and observed the giant bear while keeping themselves hidden in the vehicle’s shadow. Watari muttered, his lips trembling.
“What on earth is that? It’s clearly artificial.”
Hoshijima suddenly broke into a run, dashing away from the van toward where Mina Sakuma stood. Just as she neared the armored vehicle — and before Matsuda, who was chasing her, could stop her — the giant bear twisted its body and swung down its left foreleg.
“Hey, you! Watch out!”
A uniformed police officer on a bicycle shot out from a side alley, thrusting himself between Hoshijima and the armored vehicle. The clawed gauntlet on the bear’s foreleg sent the officer and his bicycle flying; Hoshijima narrowly escaped the same fate as Matsuda yanked her back just in time.
“Mina!”
Hoshijima screamed her name, but her voice was drowned out by the giant bear and failed to reach her.
Sagawa finally realized she needed to shift into drive; with bloodshot eyes, she glared at the six women standing in a line across the road, blocking her path.
“You fucking sows!”
She slammed her foot all the way down on the accelerator. Intent on mowing the women down, Sagawa gunned the vehicle forward.
Mina Sakuma and the others noticed the move and quickly leapt to the sides of the road. Sagawa’s vehicle sped forward just as the giant bear’s gauntlet slashed through the air a hair’s breadth away.
The armored vehicle roared past the six women. They watched the grotesque object pass by with calm composure; there was no sign of fear.
A cylindrical object, fifty centimeters long and mounted on the front of the armored vehicle’s hull, rose up from the surface. The next instant, with a sharp whoosh, a small rocket shot from the tube’s muzzle.
The rocket struck the rear of the car Sagawa was driving, punched through the back window, and exploded inside with a dull thud.
Sagawa’s car lurched upward for a moment, then came to a halt, tilted at an angle. Gray smoke billowed violently from the shattered windows. The windshield was stained crimson by blood splattered from within.
The armored vehicle carrying the giant bear spun on its tracks, pivoting 180 degrees in place before heading toward the coast.
It rumbled past the police officer lying bloodied on the road. Matsuda grabbed Hoshijima by the arm and shoulder, pulling her into the shelter of a nearby utility pole.
Ignoring the three of them completely, the tank-like vehicle carrying the giant bear drove off. Miyashita drove the van, while the other members of the Watari Lab moved to avoid the vehicle’s path.
As soon as the vehicle disappeared around the corner, Hoshijima rushed over to the officer lying on the ground.
“Officer? Are you okay?”
The young officer, lying on his back in a pool of blood, opened his eyes as Hoshijima cradled his face and shook his cheeks gently. He murmured in a hazy voice:
“Am I … dreaming? Is that … Sakuya Hoshijima?”
Hoshijima called out loudly, trying to keep him conscious.
“It’s not a dream. It’s the real Sakuya Hoshijima.”
A faint smile touched the officer’s lips as the color drained rapidly from his face, and he murmured … “Ah, it’s the real Sakuya. Seeing you for the first time … I can die with no regrets now.”
“What are you talking about? It’s too soon for that. You have to see my next work before you go.”
“Yeah, you’re right. I’ll look forward to it …”
The police officer’s eyes closed, and his head slumped, rolling sideways onto the ground. Matsuda pressed his fingertips against the man’s neck and silently shook his head.
The tank carrying the giant bear rolled into the spacious grounds of Kasai Rinkai Park. Ignoring the ten police cars pursuing it with wailing sirens, it moved slowly toward the waterfront.
The two large black helicopters from earlier returned overhead. Two thick wire ropes descended from the underside of each helicopter, and the magnets at their tips latched onto the tank’s hull.
Protrusions on the tank’s surface retracted the wire ropes — magnets and all — into the vehicle, locking them firmly in place. Suspended by the four wire ropes, the tank carrying the giant bear was airlifted out over the sea.
The police officers who had rushed to the scene could do nothing but stare at the spectacle in stunned silence.
Later, after night had fully fallen, the members of the Watari Lab and Hoshijima finished giving their statements at the local police station and entered the waiting room one by one.
The station chief had already received communications from the Metropolitan Police Department, the Ministry of Defense, and other relevant agencies; furthermore, as they were treated strictly as witnesses, the police handled them with courtesy.
When Miyashita entered the room second, she found Matsuda already there, playing a short video on his smartphone and watching it intently, replaying it over and over.
When Miyashita glanced over his shoulder, she saw the tank carrying the giant bear. It was the footage Matsuda had quickly recorded on his smartphone earlier.
“Mr. Matsuda, that’s the tank-like vehicle from before, isn’t it? Did you figure anything out?”
Without even turning toward Miyashita, Matsuda kept his eyes glued to the screen and muttered as if talking to himself. “I felt like I’d seen it somewhere before — that it might be the ‘20-X’.”
“What’s that?”
“It resembles the hull of a new tank the Ground Self-Defense Force was once developing. But something like that shouldn’t exist. The development project was cancelled, after all.”
Miyashita excused herself, saying she needed to use the restroom, and secretly contacted the commander of the Public Security Mobile Investigation Unit on her smartphone from a corner of the hallway.
“Commander, this is Miyashita. It’s still unconfirmed, but a connection is starting to emerge. There’s a possibility that Mina Sakuma is moving in tandem with that massive creature. Also, the armored vehicle might be part of a new tank model once under development by the Self-Defense Forces. That would explain why the Ministry of Defense asked us to track down the JAV actress. Yes … yes, I understand. I’ll continue gathering information.”
When Miyashita returned to the conference room, Tsutsui and Toyama were already there. Hoshijima arrived next, and finally, Watari entered the room.
“Alright, everyone’s here. Let’s call it a day. Things are going to get busy starting tomorrow. We’re going to investigate that artificial monster thoroughly. Let’s call it the ‘Beast Tank’ for now.”
Hoshijima rushed over to Watari — standing so close their bodies were practically touching — and asked:
“What happened to that young police officer?”
Watari answered with a grim expression.
“Apparently, he was pronounced dead at the hospital where he was taken. It’s a relief that there were no civilian casualties — aside from the direct victims and the officer himself — but …”
“That’s not good enough!”
Hoshijima suddenly shrieked and grabbed Watari’s dress shirt with both hands.
“Why do so many people have to die over some business with a JAV actress? Why did innocent Marina and that earnest police officer have to die?”
Tears streamed down Hoshijima’s face. Still clutching Watari’s shirt, she collapsed to her knees and sank to the floor.
“I don’t really understand the details, but you’re an important person, aren’t you, Professor? Then do something about it! Stop anyone else from dying! Sob … sob… waaaah …”
Watari bit his lip as he looked down at Hoshijima, who had burst into tears like a child.
As the group exited the police station’s back door and headed toward the van in the parking lot, they were immediately surrounded by waiting members of the press. About twenty reporters jostled to thrust their voice recorders and cameras forward, shouting a barrage of questions.
“You’re from the Watari Lab, aren’t you? What exactly is that monster?”
“There are reports that a number of young women — apparently adult video actresses — were seen at the scene. Is there any connection?”
“Someone in charge, please answer us. What is going on?”
Matsuda and Miyashita shielded Watari from the reporters, slowly ushering him toward the van. Toyama, too, urged him on, placing a hand on his back.
“Prof. Watari, please, get in the car. The President has always insisted that we not say a single word to the media.”
But Watari spun around and walked straight up to a television camera. A crew member’s eyes lit up.
“Are you Professor Watari? Just a word, please.”
Watari stared directly into the camera lens and shouted out in a single breath:
“Novel Renaissance! You’re watching this somewhere, aren’t you? I want to settle this directly. Come out and face me openly.”
The reporters erupted in a clamor. Without another word, Watari turned on his heel and strode away toward the van.
Looking pale, Toyama brushed aside the reporters’ microphones and whispered to Watari:
“Prof. Watari! Isn’t that a bad idea? Won’t the President and the authorities come down hard on you for this?”
“Look at her.”
Watari pointed to Hoshijima, who — still teary-eyed and supported by Tsutsui — was about to climb into the van.
“That young woman — with absolutely no one backing her — is fighting the injustices of the world all on her own. How could we, grown men, possibly keep our mouths shut just to save our own skins?”
The next morning, the entire Watari Lab team gathered at the laboratory. An official from the Ground Self-Defense Force Staff Office were scheduled to visit, so Watari had instructed Hoshijima to come to the lab that afternoon.
At 10:00 a.m., a GSDF officer with the rank of colonel — a man named Satake — arrived at the lab. Dressed in an ordinary suit rather than his uniform, Satake greeted Watari, then looked around at everyone and spoke in a commanding voice.
“Everything I am about to discuss today must be kept strictly confidential. At this stage, the information is classified within the Ministry of Defense.”
As the team nodded, Satake instructed Matsuda to project the screen of his laptop onto the large wall-mounted display.
“The GSDF currently operates three types of tanks. First is the latest model, the Type 10.”
An image of the tank appeared on the large screen.
“It is called that because it was officially adopted in 2010. The model preceding it is the Type 90.”
“And the oldest model, adopted in 1974, is the Type 74. Designed during the Cold War era and with individual vehicles nearing the end of their service lives, they are currently being gradually phased out.”
Next, Satake displayed a CG illustration of a tank on the screen. The surface of its hull was densely covered with raised, diamond-shaped protrusions.
“In anticipation of the mass retirement of the Type 74, development of a new tank was underway, aiming for official deployment in 2020. It is known as the ‘20 X.’ Second Lieutenant Matsuda, are you saying this is what you saw?”
Matsuda stood up from his chair, snapped to attention, and replied.
“Yes, sir! I cannot say with absolute certainty, but the appearance was strikingly similar.”
Satake turned toward Watari and continued speaking.
“However, the development plan for the 20X was ultimately cancelled. There shouldn’t be any actual vehicles in existence — not even prototypes.”
Watari stroked his beard as he asked, “Why was development cancelled? If the Type 74 is being phased out, wouldn’t that leave you short on tanks?”
Satake replied with an impressed look.
“I appreciate your quick grasp of the situation. Government policy dictates a gradual reduction in the total number of tanks. At the peak of the Cold War, the Ground Self-Defense Force had around 1,200 tanks, but that number has already dropped to 500.”
Toyama asked in surprise, “They’re cutting them back that much? What for?”
Satake answered, “The majority of our country’s tank units are stationed in Hokkaido. This was because, during the Cold War, we anticipated a scenario where Soviet forces might invade and occupy the island. However, the Cold War ended, and the Soviet Union itself collapsed in 1991. We judged that the Russian Federation — its successor state — likely possessed neither the intent nor the capability to invade us. Based on that assessment, we have significantly reduced our tank fleet. The plan is to eventually cut the total number down to between 200 and 300 tanks.”
Tsutsui blinked in surprise and said, “So, does that mean the new tank wasn’t needed anymore?”
“Yes, exactly. However, about eight months ago, it was discovered that data containing the 20X blueprints had been copied and removed from the database. Since the data concerned equipment whose development had been cancelled, the higher-ups didn’t view the incident as critical, though they did conduct a quiet investigation. That investigation identified the person who took the data. It was this individual.”
The large screen displayed the face of a woman with a sharp, determined look, appearing to be around forty years old. Upon seeing her clad in the camouflage uniform of the Ground Self-Defense Force, Matsuda involuntarily raised his voice.
“Is that … Lieutenant Colonel Naruse?”
Satake asked Matsuda with an intrigued expression.
“Oh? You remember her?”
“Of course, sir. The fact that I am currently serving as a commissioned officer is entirely due to the guidance I received from Lieutenant Colonel Naruse during my time at the Staff College.”
“To be precise, she is no longer a lieutenant colonel. Eight months ago, she was urged to resign from the Self-Defense Force. Just prior to that, she secretly made off with the ‘20X’ data.”
Matsuda stood up so abruptly he nearly kicked his chair over and spoke to Satake.
“I find that hard to believe. Someone as brilliant and upright as her stealing data … But if that was discovered and led to a recommendation for resignation, surely the data would have been recovered?”
“That wasn’t the reason for the recommendation. She had committed an act of violence against a civilian while off-duty. Then, just before leaving the service, she abused her authority to access the database and took the 20X data. Since it was material from a cancelled development project, security seems to have been lax.”
“Violence against a civilian? That’s also hard to believe. Against whom, and in what situation?”
“Former Lieutenant Colonel Naruse’s elementary school-aged son had committed suicide by jumping from the school roof. During a meeting with members of the local board of education regarding the incident, she reportedly lashed out and struck one of the members. Fortunately, she didn’t inflict any serious injuries, so it didn’t escalate into a major scandal, but the Self-Defense Force urged her to take responsibility and resign. That is the sequence of events. It happened while she was stationed at Naha Garrison.”
Watari asked Satake, speaking from beside Matsuda, who had fallen silent in a daze.
“Someone used that stolen data to build the chassis of a tank known as the ‘20X.’ An adult video actress named Mina Sakuma was spotted at the location where it appeared. So, the Self-Defense Forces have concluded there is a connection between the two?”
Satake frowned as he replied.
“The SDF had been secretly tracking the movements of Former Lieutenant Colonel Naruse. In the process, we recently discovered that she was in contact with that JAV actress. However, we have no idea what kind of connection exists between a former SDF officer and a JAV actress. After all, the SDF lacks police powers.”
As he put away his laptop, Satake said to Watari:
“Given the situation, the SDF cannot intervene directly. The Watari Lab has been granted special investigative authority by the Cabinet Secretariat, hasn’t it? I would like to ask you to investigate the details on our behalf.”
Watari stood up and said to Satake:
“Understood. We, too, have mysteries yet to solve. Why did a cave bear — likely created through genetic engineering — merge with a tank? We may well ask for the SDF’s cooperation ourselves at some point.”
Hoshijima arrived at the laboratory in the afternoon. She had been investigating the young women who were standing near the “Beast Tank” the day before.
Hoshijima informed everyone in the Watari Lab that the five women — aside from Mina Sakuma — also appeared to be JAV actresses.
“I only saw them from a distance, so I can’t say for certain, but I believe they are newcomers or have only a few credits to their names. They belong to different agencies, though.”
Watari stroked his beard and muttered:
“So, it seems people facing financial hardship due to the adverse effects of the JAV Improvement Act are gathering there. Someone must have connected them with that former Self-Defense Force member.”
Miyashita spoke up.
“You suspect Novel Renaissance is behind this, don’t you, Professor Watari? Do you have any evidence?”
Watari replied with a self-deprecating smile.
“I don’t have any concrete proof. But if there are people in this world capable of creating — and actually building — such a tasteless toy, that secret society is the only one I know of.”
Tsutsui spoke while looking at the laptop screen spread out on her desk.
“I asked a reporter from our Okinawa bureau to look into it, and it seems the cause of the suicide of former Lieutenant Colonel Naruse’s son was bullying at school. Since we’re a national paper, we didn’t run a story on it, but the local paper did carry a small report on the suicide itself.”
Matsuda leaned forward across his desk and asked Tsutsui:
“Bullying? What kind of bullying, specifically?”
Tsutsui answered with a somber expression.
“The reporter from the Okinawa bureau did some digging. According to what he found, the boy was harassed by his classmates almost daily because he was the child — or rather, a relative — of a Self-Defense Force member. I’ll put the photo up on the large screen now. This is the son.”
A full-body photograph of a boy, around ten years old and smiling innocently in a child-sized replica soccer club jersey, appeared on the screen hanging on the lab wall. Tsutsui explained:
“His name is Shu Naruse. He was in the fourth grade of elementary school at the time.”
Toyama interjected: “Why don’t we try contacting the boy’s father — that is, former Lieutenant Colonel Naruse’s husband?”
Matsuda shook his head slightly as he replied:
“He is no longer with us. Ms. Naruse’s husband was also a Self-Defense Force officer; he died in the line of duty three years ago.”
Miyashita asked Matsuda: “Died in the line of duty? As a police officer myself, that hits close to home. What were the circumstances?”
“Ms. Naruse’s husband was an Air Self-Defense Force pilot. At the time, he was the captain of a U-4 multi-purpose support aircraft — this one right here.”
Matsuda projected an image from his computer onto the large screen on the wall.
He continued: “On the return leg of a mission delivering supplies to a radar site on a remote island, the plane crashed into the sea following a bird strike. The co-pilot managed to eject and was rescued, but Ms. Naruse’s husband stayed inside the cockpit to stabilize the aircraft until the co-pilot could escape; his body was later recovered from the wreckage.”
Toyama asked Matsuda, looking puzzled: “What exactly is a bird strike?”
“It’s when an aircraft collides with a bird — usually a large seabird — while in flight. For instance, if a large bird gets sucked into a jet engine’s intake, its flesh and bones can tangle in the turbine, causing it to seize up. That leads to sudden engine failure, causing the aircraft to stall and crash.”
“Even Self-Defense Force planes crash because of something like that?”
“Even fighter jets like the F-15 have crashed due to bird strikes. It’s an unavoidable accident — something a pilot can’t prevent no matter how careful they are.”
“Are there really that many Self-Defense Force members who die in the line of duty? Even without a war going on?”
“The numbers vary by year, of course, but even recently, we see about ten to twenty fatalities annually.”
“That many?”
“Even though they aren’t in actual combat, it’s a workplace where they handle weapons, armaments, and explosives on a daily basis. Accidents during training, in particular, can easily result in fatalities. There are also secondary accidents during disaster relief or mountain rescues.”
Hoshijima asked Tsutsui, looking skeptical.
“In that case, being an SDF member is a noble profession, isn’t it? Why would Shu get bullied just because a family member is in the SDF?”
Tsutsui answered while scrolling through her laptop screen.
“Okinawa has long been a place with strong antipathy toward the Self-Defense Forces. It has a tragic history — it was the site of the only ground battle during the final stages of the Pacific War and remained under U.S. occupation for a long time after the war ended. It seems Shu’s homeroom teacher didn’t just fail to stop the bullying; there were signs he actually incited it. He apparently filled the students’ heads with the idea that the SDF is unconstitutional, so SDF members and their families must be bad people. Shu was apparently nicknamed ‘Iken-kun’ by those around him.”
”‘Iken-kun’?”
“As in iken — unconstitutional. He was ostracized, had his shoes hidden, and had graffiti scrawled on his desk. He might have even been subjected to violence. The teacher reportedly just watched and laughed.”
Watari couldn’t hold back and interjected.
“Hey, hey, what era are we talking about here? Is this happening in the Reiwa era? I heard stories like that back on the mainland when I was in elementary school, but that was over forty years ago.”
Tsutsui scratched his head as he replied.
“It seems that old anti-Self-Defense Force sentiment is making a comeback lately. Take a look at this video.”
Tsutsui projected a video file from a sharing site onto the large screen on the wall.
When she clicked the play button, the footage showed Self-Defense Force personnel in combat gear, carrying large backpacks, marching in a single file along a road in a rural mountain area.
Standing by the side of the road were a dozen or so elderly people holding cardboard placards. Hand-written slogans like “No to War,” “Stop Training to Kill,” and “Protect Article 9 of the Constitution” were scrawled on the cardboard.
Every time a Self-Defense Force member passed right in front of them, the elderly men and women would bare their teeth and scream in voices filled with hatred.
“Don’t conduct killing drills on our land!”
“Get out, you unconstitutional Self-Defense Force!”
“No to war — drop dead, you militarists!”
“That’s awful,” Watari said, grimacing.
“What are today’s elderly people doing? Ms. Tsutsui, is this place in Okinawa, too?”
“No, it looks like somewhere in Shikoku. Say, Mr. Matsuda, you don’t seem surprised at all.”
Tsutsui made the comment after noticing that Matsuda remained completely unfazed while watching the video. Matsuda replied with a bashful smile.
“I’ve been through situations like this plenty of times myself. This is just field marching training. I’m in the infantry, after all.”
“Infantry?”
“What used to be called foot soldiers. It’s training where we carry full gear weighing about 30 kilograms and march anywhere from 40 to 100 kilometers. Over a distance like that, you inevitably end up passing through inhabited areas.”
“So it’s not combat training?”
“We carry our rifles, but no live ammunition. We don’t conduct live-fire training near civilian homes.”
Toyama spoke with an expression that showed he simply couldn’t accept it.
“The Self-Defense Forces gained broad public acceptance thanks to their efforts during the Great Hanshin-Awaji and Great East Japan Earthquakes, didn’t they? Why is something like this happening now? No matter how you look at it, it’s nothing more than harassment against SDF personnel.”
Tsutsui replied with a sigh.
“A senior colleague of mine said that the generation who lived through the postwar leftist student movements has just retired and is living on pensions. It seems these elderly folks, with time on their hands, are instilling old socialist theories into the younger generation. I’ve heard that left-wing activists from the 60s and 70s viewed the police and the Self-Defense Forces as enemies.”
“Oh, I remember hearing something like that from my paternal grandfather, too.”
“And young people today hardly know anything about the history of socialism, right? Apparently, an increasing number of them perceive political arguments from nearly half a century ago as fresh, novel ideas.”
“I see. So, it’s come full circle and seems new again. I suppose that’s the same trend behind the bullying of former Lieutenant Colonel Naruse’s son — the one where the teachers were involved, too.”
Tsutsui grimaced as she continued.
“To make matters worse — and this is the part that’s truly infuriating — since the child had committed suicide due to the bullying, Ms. Naruse demanded a thorough investigation from the local board of education. She wanted punishment for the classmates who had participated in the bullying and for the homeroom teacher as well. But the board members were all reluctant to get to the bottom of it.”
Toyama asked, looking puzzled.
“Oh, right — someone mentioned that former Lieutenant Colonel Naruse met with a member of the board of education, didn’t they?”
“Apparently, during that meeting, one of the board members said something like this to her: ‘The children who were doing the bullying have futures ahead of them, you know; please give that some serious consideration.’”
Upon hearing this, everyone present gasped in shock. Hoshijima spoke, looking incredulous.
“They said that — to a mother whose own child had been driven to suicide?”
Tsutsui nodded.
“That’s when former Lieutenant Colonel Naruse reportedly grabbed the board member right then and there. Though, it seems the board of education didn’t go so far as to involve the police.”
Watari, a vein in his forehead throbbing, spat out the words:
“So, not only do the dead have no voice, they have no human rights either? It’s as if they were saying the human rights of the perpetrators matter more, while the rights of the person driven to suicide aren’t even worth a second thought.”
Matsuda slammed both fists onto the desk and raised his voice.
“To think that someone so level-headed and driven by a sense of justice could lose all composure and sight of herself like that … I can’t even imagine the depth of her frustration.”
“You know, it’s starting to feel a lot like the issues we face as JAV actresses.”
Hoshijima suddenly made this remark; unable to grasp her meaning, everyone else turned to look at her. Noticing their gaze, she offered a sheepish smile and explained:
“Well, it might be rude to the Self-Defense Forces to compare them to JAV actresses, but since both are viewed by the public as ‘special’ or unusual lines of work, we’re both prone to prejudice and discrimination. We often find ourselves unable to voice our opinions — or finding that no one will listen even if we do — so in that sense, I suppose it’s similar.”
Watari stroked his beard as he spoke.
“Neither the law nor the system protects them. Even where protections exist, they fail to function. Driven into a corner like that, and with the very people who should be listening refusing to hear them out … when someone is pushed to that extreme and tries to find a solution, resorting to force becomes the only option left.”
Miyashita asked: “By ‘force,’ you mean …?”
“Assassination or terrorism — in this specific case. That’s the direction the anger took, targeting the lawmaker and human rights activists who spearheaded the JAV Improvement Act.”
Just then, calls came in simultaneously on Hoshijima’s smartphone and the landline on Watari’s desk. Hoshijima walked to the corner of the room to answer hers.
“Oh, long time no see. I’m actually at that university professor’s office right now. Huh? What do you mean? No, wait a second …”
Hoshijima walked toward Watari’s desk. Watari, still holding the landline receiver to his ear, beckoned her over.
“Ms. Hoshijima, a Diet member says he wants to come visit us here.”
“I’m actually on the phone with a senior colleague in the industry about that very thing right now.”
“I don’t mind, but what about you, Ms. Hoshijima? It seems the lawmaker wants to speak with you specifically.”
“Well, I don’t mind just meeting him.”
About thirty minutes later, the Diet member arrived at the Watari Lab.
Upon entering the room, he stood in front of Watari’s desk and handed over his business card.
“I apologize for dropping by unannounced. My name is Hayao Otonashi. I am a member of the House of Councillors, representing the Nippon Renewal Party.”
Otonashi appeared to be in his late thirties; he had a youthful face and a tall, well-proportioned physique clad in a finely tailored suit. Watari returned the greeting, looking somewhat humbled by the man’s polite tone.
“I am Watari, the head of this laboratory. May I ask what brings a Diet member here today, sir?”
Otonashi smiled pleasantly and spoke. “No, please don’t call me ‘sir.’ We Diet members aren’t special beings; we are public servants chosen by the people through elections. Treating Diet members as if we exist on some higher plane — aloof and untouchable — is a toxic political culture fostered by the Liberal Commons Party. Our party’s fundamental policy is to shatter such outdated customs and build a new kind of politics driven by the people.”
“I see. Then, may I simply call you Mr. Otonashi?”
“Yes, please do. I came here today because I heard Sakuya Hoshijima is present.”
Hoshijima, who had been sitting on a spare chair, stood up tentatively.
“Oh — yes, that’s me.”
Otonashi walked over to Hoshijima and bowed deeply.
“I am terribly sorry about the recent new legislation.”
Hoshijima blinked in surprise.
“Huh? Um, Sir— no, I mean, Assemblyman Otonashi — you voted in favor of it too, didn’t you? Back in the Diet?”
“Yes, I did. However, it recently came to light that there were serious procedural errors during the drafting of that bill. You know Ms. Nakagawa from the JAV Production Guild secretariat, don’t you?”
“Yes, I work with her all the time.”
“After the JAV Improvement Act went into effect, Ms. Nakagawa submitted a petition stating that people in the proper JAV industry were facing serious trouble and asking for help. Our party has concluded that the content needs to be amended as soon as possible.”
“Oh, I see.”
“That is why I would like to hear the views of an actress who has been speaking out — someone like you, Ms. Hoshijima — and, if possible, have you join me in petitioning other lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties.”
Otonashi then turned toward Watari and spoke.
“It seems highly likely that a Diet member was killed in the recent kaiju incident. We cannot afford to let there be any more casualties. If there is anything I can do, I would like to offer my cooperation, however humble it may be.”
Watari replied in a slightly more cheerful tone.
“In that case, let’s cooperate. To start with, please hear out what Ms. Hoshijima and the others have to say.”
Otonashi and Hoshijima arranged to visit the Diet Members’ Office Building together the next morning and left the lab in each other’s company to coordinate their plans.
A look of faint relief washed over the faces of the Watari Lab members as they watched the pair leave. Miyashita spoke up.
“It was a surprise to have a Diet member step in to throw us a lifeline like that.”
Watari turned to Tsutsui.
“Can your paper run a story on this? In a sense, it’s a serious human rights issue, isn’t it?”
Tsutsui answered, shifting uneasily in her seat.
“I did try mentioning it to the desk editors in various departments. But they all told me the same thing: ‘We’re a newspaper, not the editorial staff of some third-rate weekly magazine.’”
“Did you explain the situation properly?”
“The thing is, the moment I said ‘JAV,’ they just shut me out completely. My section chief even warned me that if I don’t want to get demoted to some remote outpost, I’d better stay away from the JAV industry.”
Toyama chimed in from the side.
“What about raising the issue on social media or a blog?”
“My company forbids reporters from making personal statements online. If I did that, I’d definitely get fired — and not just fired, but dismissed for cause. I’d never be able to work for a major media outlet again.”
“I’ve been a loyal subscriber to your paper, but if that’s the stance they take, maybe I should stop.”
“Oh, it’s not just my company. Whether it’s newspapers or TV news divisions, all the major outlets are exactly the same.”
Matsuda spoke up, trying to change the subject.
“That said, Ms. Hoshijima is quite a remarkable woman. When I first heard she was a JAV actress, I was worried about what kind of outrageous character might show up.”
Toyama agreed with a wry smile.
“True. She’s sharp, and she has the kind of guts and drive that put most men to shame. We could almost call her a Joan of Arc.”
Miyashita objected to this.
“Dr. Toyama, comparing her to Joan of Arc is a bad omen. After all, Joan of Arc ended up being burned at the stake. Ms. Hoshijima is already dealing with a massive online backlash as it is.”
“Whoops, you’re right about that.”
Watari smiled and said: “When I look at her, she reminds me of Mary of Magdala.”
Everyone else tilted their heads in puzzlement. Tsutsui asked: “Mary of Magdala? Who is that?”
“She’s a woman who appears in the Christian Bible. The Gospels record that she was delivered from evil spirits by Jesus Christ, followed Him faithfully until His execution, and witnessed His resurrection from the tomb.”
“Huh, so there were figures like that besides the Twelve Apostles.”
“Recent research suggests there is a high probability she was a real historical figure. And while Mary of Magdala is revered as a saint in the Catholic and Orthodox churches, she is also said to have been a prostitute.”
“Wait, really? Someone like that is a saint?”
“Or perhaps you’re familiar with belly dancing — that sexy dance from the Middle East? It’s an alluring dance where young women show some skin and sway their hips. She might have been a professional sexy dancer of that sort. The Bible doesn’t explicitly state the details.”
“If I recall correctly, the era Jesus lived in was incredibly strict regarding sexuality, wasn’t it?”
“Yes — it was a time and place with sexual taboos far stricter than anything a modern Japanese person could imagine. A young woman who captivated audiences with her performance while showing a fair amount of skin would have been incredibly alluring to men, certainly, but she would have faced immense public scorn. In today’s Japan, she might be likened to a JAV actress. If I were to compare Ms. Hoshijima to anyone, I feel Mary of Magdala would be the more fitting choice.”
The following afternoon, Hoshijima — impeccably dressed in a pale pink skirt suit — entered the Second Members’ Office Building of the House of Representatives, accompanied by Otonashi.
After completing entry procedures and hanging her ID card around her neck on a lanyard, she visited the office of Aosawa, a lawmaker from the ruling Liberal Commons Party who had played a leading role in proposing the JAV Improvement Act.
Aosawa was not in, so the two were left waiting in the hallway outside. Hoshijima asked Otonashi in a tone of exasperation:
“Is it always like this — being made to wait in the hallway?”
Otonashi replied with a wry smile.
“Well, I’m an opposition lawmaker and only in my first term in the House of Councillors. Aosawa, on the other hand, is a veteran serving his sixth term.”
Just as Hoshijima was beginning to feel the strain in her legs from standing for thirty minutes, Aosawa finally appeared. When Otonashi hurried over to explain their business, Aosawa didn’t even invite them inside; instead, he began speaking to them right there on the spot.
“You’re persistent, aren’t you? And who is that woman over there?”
Hoshijima felt a flash of irritation but masked her emotions and offered a polite, smiling greeting.
“My name is Sakuya Hoshijima; I’m a JAV actress. I was hoping you might hear me out today …”
Before she could finish, Aosawa twisted his oily face into a scowl and barked at Otonashi.
“What is the meaning of this? Bringing in someone from the ‘perpetrator’ side?”
“The ‘perpetrator’ side?”
Hoshijima couldn’t hold back and raised her voice.
“What exactly do you mean by that? The JAV Improvement Act was supposed to be a law created to protect the human rights of us women.”
Aosawa spoke to Hoshijima with a sneer on his face.
“It’s a law designed to protect the human rights of ordinary, decent women. After all, isn’t the very existence of adult videos the reason why women end up being victimized in the first place?”
Otonashi held his hands out, palms down, and addressed Aosawa.
“Sir Aosawa, please calm down. Ms. Hoshijima and the people in the industry aren’t asking for the law to be abolished. They are simply requesting amendments to address parts of it that are causing practical difficulties.”
But Aosawa continued, glaring at Hoshijima.
“I’m sure it is inconvenient — for anti-social forces, that is.”
Hoshijima retorted heatedly.
“In the current JAV industry — at least among those of us participating in the ‘Proper JAV’ framework — we take every possible precaution to ensure we have no ties to organized crime. You attended the hearings held by the AV Human Rights Standards Organization, didn’t you?”
“That group is just part of the JAV industry, isn’t it? I let them have their say, sure, but Diet members aren’t stupid enough to believe what people like that tell us.”
“So, you never had any intention of listening to the people actually involved in the industry from the start?”
“As for the voices of those involved, I’ve spent dozens of hours listening to six different victims’ advocacy groups.”
“No, that’s not what I mean; I’m talking about the voices of the people currently working in the proper JAV industry.”
“Why would I need to listen to that? ‘Those involved’ refers to victims — people subjected to things like coerced appearances. It doesn’t refer to people like you.”
“But those ‘victims’ are just self-proclaimed, aren’t they? I’m aware that there were illegal acts and instances of women being treated inappropriately in the past. But that was all a long time ago …”
Otonashi spoke to Aosawa.
“Most of the people currently identifying themselves as victims are dealing with issues related to independent shoots or illegal online distribution. You heard that clearly from the Anti-Pornography League as well, didn’t you?”
Aosawa wore a brazen smirk again as he spoke. “Is there such a thing as being ‘proper’ or ‘improper’ for the adult video industry? I simply enacted legislation to protect women’s human rights.”
Hoshijima said this to Aosawa, lowering her voice slightly.
“We JAV actresses are women, too. What about our human right to freedom of occupational choice?”
Aosawa snorted with laughter.
“Human rights? Well, this country is a democratic state governed by the rule of law. Homeless people and criminals have human rights, after all. In that same sense, I suppose people in the JAV industry have human rights, too. But that doesn’t mean … Hah, hah, hah.”
Aosawa laughed openly, making no effort to hide his contempt. Hoshijima shouted, her anger flaring.
“That doesn’t mean what? What exactly is so funny?”
Otonashi stepped in front of Hoshijima to calm her down.
“Ms. Hoshijima, please calm down. Sir Aosawa, in any case, please give us some of your time soon. Various facts have come to light that were unknown at the time the legislation was passed.”
Without answering, Aosawa opened the door to his office, stepped inside, and slammed it shut with a loud, deliberate bang.
The two then headed to the adjacent House of Councillors office building.
On the way, Hoshijima muttered, trembling with anger: “We weren’t just denied human rights; we weren’t even treated like human beings.”
Otonashi tried his best to soothe her.
“Not every Diet member is like that. It is a sensitive issue, after all, so let’s take the time to help them understand.”
Hoshijima and Otonashi moved to the House of Councillors building and visited the office of the Liberal Commons Party’s Deputy Secretary-General for the Upper House. The Deputy Secretary-General — a white-haired man with the air of a kindly grandfather — promptly invited them inside.
They passed through an area lined with secretaries’ desks and entered the reception room. Once seated on the sofa, Otonashi explained the purpose of their visit.
“As we discussed on the phone yesterday, we’ve discovered some issues regarding the drafting and adoption process of the ‘JAV Improvement Act.’ I’ve brought someone directly involved in the industry with me today to discuss this.”
The Deputy Secretary-General replied with a look of bewilderment.
“It’s a bit late to be raising such points after the law has already been passed and enacted, isn’t it? Is this lady a JAV actress?”
Hoshijima bowed deeply and introduced herself. The Deputy Secretary-General asked her:
“So, is this ‘JAV Improvement Act’ causing you some sort of trouble?”
Hoshijima answered earnestly:
“Yes. The regulations are so excessive that work schedules are being cancelled one after another. Many actresses have already been forced to announce their retirement against their wishes, while others have gone nearly three months without any income. It’s not just the actresses, either. The livelihoods of so many people in this industry depend on it — male actors, stylists, hair and makeup artists, camera crews, and countless others.”
“I see — so you’re out of work? In that case, why not apply for public assistance for the time being? You could even view this as a good opportunity to leave the industry for good.”
“Excuse me, but I find the expression to leave the industry for good’ — implying a need for redemption — to be rather inappropriate. All of us actresses in the proper JAV industry chose this profession and continue in it of our own free will.”
“Hmm?”
The Deputy Secretary-General tilted his head.
“Why exactly is the JAV Improvement Act causing such a stir? It sounds like there was an issue with the wording of the articles.”
Otonashi spread out the documents he had with him, ready to explain.
“Specifically, it concerns the special provisions regarding the implementation of Articles 7 through 9 …”
But the Deputy Secretary-General gave a wry smile and said:
“Now, now, Mr. Otonashi. You surely don’t expect us veterans to actually read the fine print of the statutes, do you?”
Otonashi gasped in surprise.
“What? What did you just say?”
“We can’t possibly pore over the details of legislation regarding something as tawdry as JAV. There are heaps of other bills that actually matter to the public’s livelihood. Besides, if there were a problem, it should have been flagged during the Cabinet Committee hearings. Your party has members on that committee, doesn’t it? If there were issues with the articles, the supplementary rules, or the special provisions — well, wouldn’t that be the committee’s oversight?”
Otonashi was at a loss for words.
“W-well, that may be true, but …”
“If a bill passes the committee unanimously, there’s no need for us veterans in the leadership to verify the contents one by one when it reaches the plenary session.”
Seeing Otonashi left speechless, Hoshijima gave up on trying to explain further. The two offered a polite word of thanks and left the Deputy Secretary-General’s office.
As they headed toward the exit of the House of Councillors building, Hoshijima muttered in a deeply dejected voice:
“So, they voted in favor without even reading the content of the law.”
Otonashi replied in an apologetic tone.
“I am just as much to blame in that regard. I did read the text of the provision, of course, but it never even crossed my mind that it could lead to a problem like this. As a way of atoning for my oversight, I will take it upon myself to persuade the other lawmakers.”
Hoshijima had just left the House of Councillors office building, seen off by Otonashi, and was walking dejectedly along the street when a van approached from behind, gave a short honk, and pulled up alongside her.
Matsuda leaned out of the driver’s side window.
“I thought that was you, Ms. Hoshijima. Are you on your way back from the Diet members’ office building?”
“Oh, Mr. Matsuda. And Prof. Watari and Dr. Toyama, too. Were you all out somewhere?”
Watari also leaned out the window to speak to her.
“We were at the Metropolitan Police Department — well, giving them a briefing of sorts. Are you coming to the lab today? We want to hear the outcome of your discussion with the Diet members, too.”
“Yes, I was just planning to head there now.”
“Then hop in.”
Hoshijima got into the van and took a seat; Toyama, looking excited, moved over to sit next to her.
“You must be exhausted. So, did the discussion go well?”
Hoshijima replied with a downcast look.
“Well, it was a bit complicated. I’ll tell you the details once we get to the lab.”
Watari turned his head back from the passenger seat.
“We’ve got some troublesome new information on our end, too. We’ll need to work out a strategy, so it looks like we’ll be heading home on the last train tonight.”
Hoshijima suddenly realized something and asked Watari: “In that case, what will you do about dinner?”
“I suppose I’ll have Matsuda run to a convenience store.”
“Oh, in that case, Professor, I know a place that sells really delicious bento meal boxes. Mr. Matsuda, could we make a quick stop there?”
Hoshijima opened the map app on her smartphone and pointed out the location. Matsuda spoke to Watari:
“A detour like that shouldn’t be a problem, right, Prof. Watari?”
Watari nodded.
“All right. We need to secure dinner one way or another, after all.”
On the way back to the university, the van headed toward an area slightly removed from the city center.
Guided by Hoshijima, the van entered a neighborhood lined with low-rise apartment buildings and small multi-tenant commercial structures. Hoshijima explained:
“There’s a studio around here that we used to use a lot for shoots. Adult video shoots usually take all day, so we’d stock up on bento boxes, snacks, and drinks beforehand. Right nearby, there’s a small shop that serves really good food.”
Toyama asked with keen interest:
“Oh really? Are there studios dedicated solely to adult videos?”
“No, not exclusively. They have various sets for all kinds of photo and video shoots. It’s a tiny company, but since they can accommodate so many different scenarios, they’re popular for low-budget TV dramas and cosplay photography, too. Adult video shoots make up … well, maybe about half of the work.”
The van pulled up in front of a building facing the main street. Leaving Matsuda in the driver’s seat, Hoshijima, Watari, and Toyama stepped inside the shop on the ground floor, sliding open a wooden door — a rarity these days.
However, the shelves were sparsely stocked; aside from a few large bento boxes, there were only a scattering of packs containing assorted side dishes.
An elderly woman hurried out from the back of the shop. Upon seeing Hoshijima, she let out a delighted cry tinged with surprise.
“Well, if it isn’t Sakuya! It’s been a long time.”
“Long time no see. We came to buy some bento, but the place looks pretty empty.”
The woman replied with a dejected look.
“The thing is, we’ve decided to close the shop at the end of this month.”
“Huh? Why is that?”
The elderly owner, dressed in a cook’s uniform, appeared from the back of the shop, bowed to Watari and the others, and joined the conversation.
“Hello there, Sakuya. Well, sales have plummeted lately. To be honest, we just can’t keep the business going anymore.”
Hoshijima asked further, looking disheartened.
“You used to be so busy with orders from that film studio. What happened?”
The owner’s wife spoke up, looking surprised.
“Oh? You didn’t know, Sakuya? That studio went out of business last month.”
“What? Out of business? But there were times when you couldn’t even get a reservation there.”
The owner sighed.
“It’s because of that new law — the ‘JAV Improvement Act’ or whatever they call it — that came into effect about three months ago.”
Hoshijima gasped.
“That law is what shut the studio down?”
The owner nodded.
“You see, about half their bookings were for adult video shoots. The president told me that reservations stopped coming in entirely right before that law was passed.”
“It had an impact even on things like that?”
“Yeah. Thanks to that, our business has dried up, too. We have no choice but to close up shop. Even if we wanted to keep going, the losses just keep piling up.”
“So, what are you two going to do now?”
The woman answered:
“We’re both at the age where we can draw a pension, so if we move to the countryside somewhere, well, we should at least be able to put food on the table. Ideally, though, I would’ve liked to keep working as long as I was physically able.”
Watari noticed two campaign posters for the Liberal Commons Party on the wall by the entrance and asked the owner:
“Are you a supporter of the Liberal Comons Party?”
The owner replied with a wry smile:
“Yes, I’ve been party member since my parents’ generation. Though, I’m a just humble, rank-and-file member.”
The woman added with a wistful look:
“We even tried talking to a party member of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly about that law — asking if something could be done about it. But they just said it was a matter of national policy they didn’t know anything about, and that was the end of it.”
There were exactly six bento boxes left. Hoshijima insisted on paying; she handed over the cash, counted the change, and said to the woman:
“Wait, you gave me too much change. Did you make a calculation error?”
The woman answered with a gentle smile:
“I threw one in for free. You, Sakuya, and your friends have been such loyal customers all this time. Since this is likely the last time, it’s just a small token of our gratitude.”
They left the shop and got into the van; Hoshijima kept glancing back at the shop through the window, looking reluctant to leave. Watari remarked with a sense of deep emotion:
“It’s ironic, isn’t it? A law that the Liberal Commons Party helped pass is the very thing that’s put one of their own ardent supporters out of business.”
Upon returning to the lab and hearing from Hoshijima the full account of what had transpired at the Diet Members’ Office Building, the members of the Watari Lab sighed, a collective “I knew it” hanging in the air.
As Hoshijima finished her story, evening had set in, so they decided to sit down together for dinner with the bento boxes she had brought.
Watari addressed the group: “Tonight’s dinner is a treat from Ms. Hoshijima. She personally vouches for it.”
Tsutsui peered into the bento box and let out a squeal of delight.
“Wow! Salmon, fried food, hamburger steak, and a huge heap of kinpira! Ms. Hoshijima, this must have been expensive, right?”
Hoshijima replied as she arranged the boxes on the reception area table:
“Actually, they’re 650 yen each.”
Matsuda, who was preparing tea, chimed in:
“That’s a bargain. It’s a shame to think a shop that good is closing down.”
As they sat in two rows at the table eating their meals, Hoshijima asked Watari:
“By the way, Professor Watari, you mentioned earlier that there was some troublesome new information. What did you find out?”
Watari took a hearty gulp of green tea before answering:
“There’s a Panama-flagged tanker that’s been anchored in Tokyo Port for the past three months, and Mina Sakuma and her associates have been spotted around it repeatedly.”
“A tanker? Did those girls have any connection to a tanker?”
“It might be a base for the secret society known as ‘Novel Renaissance.’ If so, that would explain the link between the organization and those JAV actresses.”
Hoshijima asked Miyashita: “Couldn’t the police just investigate the tanker?”
Miyashita gave a slight shake of her head.
“We can’t raid it without concrete evidence. Especially not a foreign-registered vessel.”
Watari finished swallowing his food and spoke up.
“There’s one more thing I don’t get. Assuming this whole commotion is the work of Novel Renaissance, why go to such lengths to side with JAV actresses? They even deployed something as elaborate as that ‘Beast Tank.’ I haven’t the faintest idea why.”
Just as everyone finished their meal and Matsuda was refilling their teacups, the room’s lights suddenly went out.
It was already dark outside, and the room was instantly plunged into blackness. Watari looked around and said:
“What is it? A power outage?”
A few seconds later, the overhead lights began to flicker, and the computers on the team members’ desks simultaneously rebooted on their own.
Sensing something amiss, everyone left the reception area, and the members of the Watari Lab moved to check their respective computers.
Toyama muttered, “Are we being hacked?”
Soon, the room’s lighting returned to normal, and the large wall-mounted screen powered on by itself.
Static — like a snowstorm — filled the display for a few seconds; as it cleared, the image of a young girl with long black hair appeared in the center of the screen. She wore a butterfly-shaped mask over her eyes, reminiscent of those used at old-fashioned Western masquerade balls.
While the others stared at the screen in shock, the girl addressed Watari — who alone remained composed.
“It’s been a while, Uncle Watari.”
Appearing to be about ten years old, she had a mask covering the upper half of her face and a typically Japanese complexion, yet possessed striking blue eyes. She waved a hand — extending from the sleeve of a high-end emerald-green dress — and spoke.
“And a pleasure to meet the rest of the Watari Lab team. I never actually introduced myself to Uncle Watari, either. My name is Himiko. Nice to meet you all!”
Miyashita slowly backed away without drawing attention and quietly pressed a button labeled “Trace” located behind the landline phone on her desk.
Glancing back and forth between the girl on the screen and Watari, Toyama asked, “Professor Watari, who is this girl? Do you know her?”
Watari glared at Himiko with an expression of annoyance and replied, “She is the leader of ‘Novel Renaissance.’ She made contact with me once near my home, but since the veracity of the situation was unclear, I deliberately chose not to inform you all.”
Himiko, appearing on the screen, smiled mischievously as she spoke.
“Call me ‘representative,’ not ‘leader,’ Uncle. We’re actually a pretty democratic organization.”
Watari twisted his mouth into a grimace.
“Could you stop calling me ‘Uncle’? I have no intention of engaging in compensated dating with you.”
Himiko shrugged, making a gesture that showed she was exasperated.
”‘Compensated dating’? That’s such an old-fashioned term. You should at least call it ‘sugar daddy.’ Oh well. Anyway, Prof. Watari — with this much time, you’ve probably grasped the general situation regarding this incident by now, right?”
Watari reached his left hand up to stroke his beard and stared intently at Himiko on the screen as he asked:
“That monstrosity — I call it the ‘Beast Tank’ — was that built by your organization?”
Himiko smiled as she replied.
“Nice name; I’ll use that. Yeah, reviving the cave bear through genetic engineering went fine, but … the poor thing had stunted growth from the waist down and couldn’t walk properly. I felt it would be cruel to put it down, and then, just at the right moment, I got my hands on the data for a vehicle that could serve as a wheelchair.”
Matsuda shouted at the screen.
“You mean the 20X?”
Himiko’s gaze shifted toward Matsuda. It seemed she could see the inside of the lab from her end as well.
“So, you’re the guy from the Self-Defense Forces. Right — around that time, I found someone who was getting kicked out of the SDF for an absurd reason, so I had her smuggle out some data for me.”
“You mean Lieutenant Colonel Naruse? Where is she now?”
“Oh, so you managed to track that down, too? As expected of Prof. Watari’s subordinates — you’re sharp. Well, no need to rush; you’ll see her eventually. To think they’d halt the development of a vehicle with such incredible capabilities … the adults in this country are truly hopeless.”
Watari stroked his beard as he asked Himiko:
“You have six JAV actresses with you, don’t you?”
“Yeah, I’m looking after them. You mean these ladies here, right?”
A window opened in the bottom-left corner of the screen, revealing six young women relaxing on sofas in a living-room-style setting. Mina Sakuma was among them.
“Mina!”
Hoshijima shouted at the screen, her face pale with alarm.
“Mina! Can you hear me? It’s me — Sakuya!”
The window vanished instantly, and Himiko turned her gaze toward Hoshijima.
“They can’t hear your voice over there. Taking work away from lovely ladies like that and leaving them destitute — what were they thinking? Honestly, the adults in this country are all idiots.”
Watari raised his voice slightly as he challenged Himiko.
“Why is Novel Renaissance taking their side? What do you stand to gain from doing something like that?”
Himiko smiled as she replied.
“You know the saying: ‘To see what is right and not do it is a lack of courage.’ I heard the whole story from them and just couldn’t stay silent. Well, I suppose you could say I’m settling a grudge they couldn’t settle themselves — doing a service for the world and its people. Something like that.”
Watari shouted back.
“Don’t mess with me! Do you think you’re some kind of righteous assassin? You have no right to pass judgment on people.”
“Pass judgment? Then tell me — who passed judgment to strip those women of their jobs, and how? Did anyone actually listen to their side of the story?”
Watari was left speechless, letting out a low, frustrated growl. Himiko grinned, swept her gaze across the group, and spoke.
“Tell you what. Tomorrow at 6:30 p.m., I’m going to land the ‘Beast Tank’ right here.”
A window opened in the bottom-left corner of the screen, displaying a map. Miyashita stared at it and muttered: “Kachidoki Bridge?”
A red arrow appeared on the map, pointing to a specific location. It was a bridge near the mouth of the Sumida River, which flows through the eastern part of Tokyo’s 23 wards.
Himiko continued: “Hey, Mr. Self-Defense Force guy — could you pass a message to your superiors? Tell them to intercept it using only ground combat weaponry. No fighter jets, no missiles, and no naval gunfire from destroyers. If you can stop the Beast Tank under those conditions, I’ll tell you where those ladies are.”
Hoshijima took a step forward and shouted at Himiko:
“Don’t drag them into this! They take pride in their work as JAV actresses. Don’t you get that?”
“Well, I mean … I’ve never actually seen any of their movies.”
Hoshijima flew into a rage and yelled at Himiko on the screen:
“You’re spouting off without even watching the content?!”
“But …”
Himiko pouted and swayed her upper body like a child throwing a tantrum.
“All their movies are rated 18+. Do I look like I’m over eighteen to you?”
Hoshijima staggered back, completely deflated.
“Huh? That’s the reason?”
Watari slumped forward and muttered: “The leader of a mysterious secret society is surprisingly scrupulous about the strangest things.”
Himiko waved from the screen as she spoke.
“See you tomorrow evening, then. Good luck.”
The screen went dark, and the PCs on everyone’s desks were shut down one by one. Immediately after, the landline on Miyashita’s desk rang. She hurriedly picked up the receiver.
“Yes, this is Miyashita. Yes, I see … I understand. Goodbye.”
Miyashita turned to Watari.
“That call just now came from Saipan.”
Tsutsui’s eyes widened as he asked: “Does that mean that’s where Novel Renaissance is located?”
“No, they probably routed the signal through various internet access points around the world to avoid having the source traced. There was a slight lag in the video feed earlier, too. It’s a lost cause trying to track it.”
At the headquarters of Novell Renaissance, located on the top floor of a building in Roppongi, Himiko — now unmasked — spoke to a woman with a sharp, resolute expression who was seated on a chair in the corner of the room.
“Was that all right, Ms. Naruse?”
Former Lieutenant Colonel Naruse replied with a slow, deliberate nod.
“Yes, I’m grateful to you. Though, I still have a question. It might seem odd to ask this after enlisting their help, but why go to such lengths for those JAV actresses?”
“You might be getting the wrong idea because of the color of my eyes, but racially and ethnically, I’m Japanese — of Yamato stock. The content industry is one of the few fields where Japan can truly compete on the global stage these days. I couldn’t just stand by and watch a part of it get taken over by foreign interests.”
“Hmm. Your perspective is always on such a grand scale that I struggle to fully grasp it. Still, I appreciate you lending a hand in our revenge against society. Tomorrow is the main event. Let’s go out there and raise some hell.”
Shortly after noon the following day, Watari received a call from the joint task force comprising the Metropolitan Police Department and the Self-Defense Forces.
After hanging up, he addressed the lab members gathered in the room — and Hoshijima — in a grave tone.
“They want us to station personnel at the task force headquarters. After all, our engineering department is currently conducting a structural analysis of that vehicle chassis — the ‘20X’ or whatever it’s called. Ms. Hoshijima, they’ve asked that you accompany us as well, in case Mina Sakuma is found. They assure us it’s a safe location, of course, but I have no intention of forcing you.”
Hoshijima answered without hesitation, her expression fierce and determined.
“I’ll go with you. No — please, let me go. I want to bring those girls back, no matter what it takes.”
They decided to take a short break in the room, and while everyone was having tea at their desks, Tsutsui asked Matsuda a question.
“By the way, that woman named Naruse — she was your former superior, right? What kind of person was she?”
Matsuda closed his eyes and answered slowly.
“In a word, she was a benefactor. I owe it to her that a washout like me is able to serve as a Self-Defense Force officer today.”
“You, a washout? Even though you graduated from the National Defense Academy?”
“Not everyone who graduates from the Academy is a brilliant elite. I managed to graduate, sure, but my grades were always at the bottom of the pack. Besides, the Academy doesn’t really teach you full-scale practical skills; it covers only the absolute basics. It wasn’t until I joined the force and entered the Officer Candidate School that I truly realized that.”
“Huh? ‘Officer’? Does that mean you’re pretty high-ranking, Matsuda?”
“Well, ‘officer’ in the SDF corresponds to what used to be called a ‘commissioned officer.’ I’m a Second Lieutenant in the Ground Self-Defense Force below First Lieutenant and Captain. Above that, you have Class Field Officers, which correspond to Major, Lieutenant Colonel, and Colonel.”
“What is the Officer Candidate School? You graduated from the Academy and then went to another school?”
“Graduates of the Academy become Second Lieutenants immediately are assigned as platoon leaders in the Ground Self-Defense Force. However, to verify if we’re actually fit to serve as officers in the field, we have to undergo nine months of training at the Officer Candidate School in Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture, before we can be officially commissioned into an operational unit.”
“Wow. Becoming an SDF officer isn’t easy, is it?”
“I was particularly bad at driving vehicles. I can say this now, but there was a point where it was doubtful I’d even pass the officer candidate course. That’s why I received extra, after-hours training from Lieutenant Colonel Naruse of the Armored Corps.”
In Matsuda’s recollection, Lieutenant Colonel Naruse sits in the passenger seat, watching over him as he drives a half-ton truck.
“Pick up the pace, Matsuda! What is this sluggish driving?”
Constantly berated by his female superior — clad in a helmet and camouflage fatigues — Matsuda navigated the rough off-road terrain while cold sweat trickled down his back beneath his own uniform.
He hits a large pothole; the front wheel drops right in, the engine stalls, and the vehicle comes to a halt.
Lieutenant Colonel Naruse Naruse barks at him:
“You fool! If there had been a vehicle behind us, how many people do you think you would have killed? Dismount! Give me one hundred push-ups!”
Matsuda climbed out, dropped to the muddy ground, and began the push-ups. Before long, tears of humiliation well up in his eyes, and his movements falter to a stop.
Naruse shouted: “Who told you to stop? Keep going!”
“Instructor!”
Matsuda spoke in a trembling voice.
“I … I don’t think I’m cut out for this, after all. Maybe I should just become a civilian administrative official …”
Naruse grabbed Matsuda by the collar, effortlessly hauling his upper body upward, and says:
“How long do you intend to keep acting like a student? Do you have any idea how much of the public’s tax money goes into training a single cadet? Save the whining for after you’ve actually finished the job.”
Around noon the following day, while Matsuda was walking through town on his day off, he happened to run into Lieutenant Colonel Naruse as she was leaving a nursery school with a young boy.
Matsuda, who was in his dress uniform, snapped a salute; Lieutenant Colonel Naruse, dressed in plain clothes, smiled and said:
“Is today your day off, Matsuda? I don’t mind you letting loose a little, but don’t overdo it.”
“What about you, ma’am? Weren’t you on the night shift yesterday? Are you alright?”
Lieutenant Colonel Naruse, holding her son in her arms, fixed Matsuda with a look that seemed almost like a glare.
“Oh? And since when did you get important enough to worry about a superior officer’s health?”
“No, I didn’t mean it like that. My apologies. By the way, is this your son?”
“Yes, his name is Shu. Actually, this child’s father — my husband — “
“I’ve heard. He died in the line of duty.”
Lieutenant Colonel Naruse smiled gently and said:
“There are plenty of people to replace a Self-Defense Force officer, but no one can replace a parent for a child. In his case, I’m all he has left.”
Still cradled in his mother’s arms, Shu smiled and mimicked a salute toward Matsuda. Matsuda smiled and returned the salute. Lieutenant Colonel Naruse added:
“Well, I appreciate the concern. I’ll be putting you through a rigorous workout tomorrow, though. Make sure you save some energy.”
Matsuda saluted once more as he watched Lieutenant Colonel Naruse walk away, her child still in her arms.
Upon hearing the story, Tsutsui spoke up, sounding surprised.
“Is that so? I never would have imagined that looking at you now, Mr. Matsuda.”
Matsuda closed his eyes, as if reminiscing about the past.
“I managed to safely complete the officer candidate course and receive my commission. I owe it all to the guidance of Lieutenant Colonel Naruse. I have never seen an SDF officer so filled with a sense of mission. To think that something like this would happen to her …”
At 5:00 p.m., Hoshijima and the group from the Watari Lab were escorted to a large Self-Defense Force tent set up inside Hibiya Park.
Inside, communication equipment of various sizes was lined up, and the commanding officer greeted the group.
Watari asked the commander: “The fact that the response headquarters is located here — does that mean you’ve already predicted the path it will take?”
The commander nodded and spread a paper map out on the desk.
“We anticipate the target will head straight along Harumi-dori Avenue from Kachidoki Bridge. It will cross Harumi-dori and enter Uchibori-dori Avenue. Based on the details of the incident provided by the Watari Lab, we have concluded that the target’s destination is here.”
The commander’s finger slid downward. Watari looked at the spot being pointed out and spoke in a low, rumbling voice.
“I see. The National Diet Building.”
“We have finished the temporary evacuation of residents along the route. First, an infantry unit will attempt to halt its advance using anti-tank weaponry.”
Matsuda saluted and asked the commander, “Are we getting tank reinforcements?”
The commander shook his head.
“You know how our tanks are concentrated in Hokkaido, right? We can’t get them transported here in time. That’s why we’ve requested the deployment of Type 16s from the 1st Reconnaissance Combat Battalion.”
Once the commander stepped away, Toyama spoke to Matsuda.
“We’re up against the ‘Beast Tank,’ you know. Aren’t the Self-Defense Force’s tanks coming?”
Matsuda pulled up an image on his tablet screen and showed it to him.
“It’s fine. Four Type 16 Maneuver Combat Vehicles are already standing by nearby. These are them.”
Tsutsui peered at the screen, looking puzzled.
“Aren’t these tanks?”
“No, under JGSDF standards, they’re classified as Maneuver Combat Vehicles.”
Miyashita also asked, looking skeptical.
“How are they different from tanks?”
“There isn’t a strictly universal definition, but a vehicle is generally considered a tank if it meets three criteria. First, it must be equipped with a direct-fire gun with a caliber of 75mm or larger — what we call a tank gun. Second, it must have a rotating turret capable of a full 360-degree traverse. And third, it must run on tracks.”
Matsuda pointed to the undercarriage of the vehicle in the image.
“The Type 16 meets the first two criteria, but since it runs on wheels rather than tracks, it doesn’t meet the third. That’s why it’s classified as a Maneuver Combat Vehicle instead of a tank.”
Watari spoke up.
“What about its combat capabilities?”
Matsuda bit his lower lip before answering.
“Since we have no actual combat experience, I can’t say for certain. However, the Type 16 is equipped with the same 105mm tank gun as the Type 74. Given the well-paved roads in this area, we should stand a chance.”
Then, at 6:30 p.m., the deck of that tanker anchored in Tokyo Port split open like double doors, and two large military transport helicopters lifted off from the hold.
Painted pitch-black, the two helicopters rose straight up, maintaining a set distance between them, as the thick wire ropes dangling from beneath each aircraft pulled taut.
As the helicopters climbed higher, the “Beast Tank” — a tank fused with a cave bear — came into view, suspended by the four wire ropes.
The helicopters flew in a straight line toward Kachidoki Bridge. They lowered the Beast Tank onto the road at the foot of the bridge — now shrouded in the dim light of dusk — and once the wire ropes detached from the hull, the two helicopters flew off in the direction they had come.
Evacuations had already been completed for the buildings surrounding Harumi-dori Avenue, so there were no lights on; illuminated only by the streetlamps, the silver armor covering the cave bear’s body and the deep-green metallic sheen of the tank’s hull gleamed dully.
The cave bear atop the hull reared up vertically and let out a low roar that reverberated across the area. As if that were the signal, the tank’s engine emitted a deep, rumbling growl, and the tracks began to move with a loud, grinding clatter.
The “Beast Tank” began to roll north along Harumi-dori Avenue, heading toward the city center at a speed of roughly 30 kilometers per hour.
Almost immediately, a Ground Self-Defense Force infantry unit armed with anti-tank weapons launched an attack from the cover of the streetscape.
Shoulder-fired anti-tank rounds streaked through the air toward the Beast Tank’s flank. However, the moment they struck the surface, they were deflected wildly off course, crashing into the roadside shrubbery before exploding.
The force of the blast shattered the glass entrance of a nearby building. A unit waiting on the opposite side of the road fired a recoilless rifle. Although the shell struck the tank’s hull, it too was instantly deflected, falling behind the vehicle and exploding.
Amidst the sound of the explosions, two slender objects were launched from tubes on the forward upper hull of the Beast Tank.
These objects unfurled wings in mid-air, taking on the appearance of large radio-controlled aircraft, and vanished into the night sky, flying toward the National Diet Building.
None of the Self-Defense Force personnel deployed in the area noticed the drones.
The infantry company commander leading the interception force radioed the situation to the commanding officer at the makeshift command post inside a tent in Hibiya Park.
“Headquarters, this is the infantry interception unit. Anti-tank rounds are proving ineffective. They hit the target, but are deflected before they can detonate, failing to inflict any damage on the hull.”
The commanding officer muttered to himself while staring at the Beast Tank’s hull on the monitor.
“That is the defining characteristic of the 20X’s surface armor. It is densely covered in diamond-shaped protrusions; portable infantry anti-tank rounds cannot penetrate it and are simply deflected away. To think they managed to replicate this level of performance from nothing but a copy of the design data …”
Before long, the cave bear atop the “Beast Tank” folded its forelegs over its belly and curled its body into a crouching position.
Round, hatch-like covers lining the upper edges of the tank’s hull rose up, revealing a row of transparent, reinforced plastic tubes — each about 80 centimeters in diameter — standing vertically.
Human figures were visible inside the six transparent tubes. Hoshijima, watching the scene on the command center monitor, let out a scream.
“W-what have they done!”
The commander grabbed the radio microphone and shouted: “All units, cease fire! I repeat, cease all attacks!”
Watari, too, stared at the monitor and muttered in a trembling voice:
“So this is what she meant by revealing their location …”
Inside the tubes lining on the Beast Tank, young women clad only in bras, panties, and patent-leather sandals of provocative hues stood in alluring poses, twisting their bodies sinuously as if to flaunt themselves to the outside world.
Mina Sakuma was among them. A woman’s voice boomed across the area from the tank’s external speakers — the voice of former Lieutenant Colonel Naruse.
“What’s the matter? Why aren’t you attacking? Don’t tell me you’re suddenly worried about the safety of these girls?”
A techno track from a bygone era began to blare from the speakers. Naruse’s voice rang out.
“Aren’t these the girls you cast aside — deeming them unnecessary, even intolerable, to society? Why not go ahead and blow them to bits along with the rest? Feast your eyes on this, you hypocrites. It’s showtime. Media — especially the TV networks — make sure you broadcast this live. It’s a scoop of a lifetime. Or what? Are you scrambling to slap a blur over the footage right now? Hahaha … hahahaha!”
The music’s volume surged suddenly, swelling to a roar that shook the entire area. Bathed in the glow of streetlights and police searchlights, the “Beast Tank” advanced leisurely down the road.
Pandemonium had broken out at the makeshift command post in Hibiya Park. The commander was frantically making calls but grew increasingly agitated as no clear instructions came from anywhere.
Meanwhile, the three Diet Members’ Office Buildings behind the National Diet Building were also gripped by an atmosphere of chaos.
Aosawa, of the Liberal Commons Party, sat in his office, trembling as he stared intently at the television screen. His female policy secretary picked up the landline receiver and spoke to him.
“Sir, there’s a call for you. It’s from a Mr. Chen in Macau. Shall I forward it to your mobile?”
Aosawa’s eyes flashed sharply as he issued an order to his secretary.
“No, put it through to my private office. And make sure no one enters while I’m on the line.”
Aosawa rushed into his office, picked up the desk phone, sank into his armchair, and began a conversation peppered with Chinese phrases.
“Ni hao, Mr. Chen. Hahaha, did you see that? No need to worry. We have the Self-Defense Forces here, after all; they’ll clean up the mess. They’re just ‘watchdogs’ we keep fed with tax money for moments like this.”
The person on the other end spoke at length. Aosawa replied with a smirk.
“So, there’s no issue there. We went out of our way to bring every single Diet member into the fold and even pushed through a new law — the ‘AV Improvement Act’ — specifically to make it impossible to do business in Japan. It’ll last a year, maybe. After that, all you have to do is go around slapping those actresses across the cheeks with stacks of cash. Once the actresses are swayed, the technical staff and some of the executives will follow suit. The entire Japanese AV industry — actresses, staff, and production know-how — will all end up in the hands of your associates in the Hong Kong mafia.”
The other party spoke again for a while. Aosawa answered with a laugh.
“Yes, exactly. So, don’t forget the promise of my kickback. When casino operations are approved in Japan, I’ll be counting on your special consideration for my company. Right then — zaijian (goodbye).”
Neither Aosawa nor anyone else in the office noticed the two drones, each about fifty centimeters long, circling in tight loops right near the Diet Members’ Office Building.
The “Beast Tank” advanced leisurely along Harumi-dori, blasting loud music without coming under attack.
Inside the transparent tubes, six JAV actresses swayed and writhed to the rhythm, smiling as they flaunted their youthful, beautiful bodies to the onlookers.
Some leaned forward to push up and display their cleavage, while others lifted a leg high to show off lingerie featuring provocative colors and designs.
The Beast Tank neared the end of Harumi-dori, arriving at a spot just a stone’s throw from the temporary command post. The commander addressed Watari and his team.
“Members of the Watari Lab, please move to the center of the park as a precaution.”
One of the Self-Defense Force personnel monitoring the screens shouted an update to everyone in the command post.
“Target approaching to within 200 meters of the command post’s front.”
The commander shouted into his radio microphone:
“Type 16 Maneuver Combat Vehicles, Vehicles 1 through 4: Deploy to Uchibori-dori. Hold position and await further orders.”
Just as Watari and the others were leaving the tent to head deeper into the park, Matsuda noticed that Hoshijima was nowhere to be seen.
He glanced around frantically and spotted her running in the opposite direction, the hem of her dress fluttering behind her. Matsuda immediately took off running after her.
Before anyone could stop her, Hoshijima sprinted across the park lawn and dashed out onto the road. The Beast Tank was bearing down on her, barely a hundred meters away.
She planted her feet firmly in the middle of the road, spread her arms straight out to the sides, and stood directly in the tank’s path.
Matsuda caught up from behind and grabbed her by the shoulders.
“Ms. Hoshijima! It’s dangerous! What are you doing — this is madness!”
The hull of the beast-like tank loomed right before them. Matsuda watched, breathless. With a piercing metallic screech, the tank’s treads ground to a halt just a few meters from Hoshijima.
Matsuda muttered in disbelief: “It … it stopped?”
The music blaring from the tank cut off abruptly, and Naruse’s voice came through the speakers.
“My, my — what a brave young lady. You must have something to say. I suppose I can spare a moment to listen.”
Standing her ground with arms spread wide, Hoshijima shouted at the tank at the top of her lungs:
“Stop dragging those girls into this!”
Naruse’s voice came back, laced with amusement.
“I’m not dragging them into anything. They’re there of their own free will. It’s the time slot for the evening news on public broadcasting, and with prime time approaching, the commercial networks are likely airing live coverage, too. I’m simply helping the media broadcast the voices of people in the JAV industry.”
Matsuda gasped.
“So that’s why she picked this time!”
Just then, a figure in a suit and helmet came running from the direction of the park, flanked by two police officers. It was Diet member Otonashi. He was clutching a megaphone.
Otonashi stopped right beside Hoshijima, raised the megaphone to his lips, and began speaking to the JVA actresses inside the tubes atop the tank.
“Everyone, I offer my sincere apologies for the trouble caused by the recent JAV Improvement Act. All the lawmakers in my party are currently preparing amendments to review these excessive regulations. Please, don’t do anything rash. I beg of you!”
Otonashi dropped to his knees right there and performed a full prostration — pressing his forehead against the pavement.
Hoshijima took the megaphone from Otonashi’s hands and called out to the actresses on the tank.
“Mina — everyone — listen to me. There is a Diet member here who is actually willing to listen to what we have to say. He’s just one person, sure, but he’s listening. So please, stop this!”
Hoshijima continued her impassioned plea through the megaphone.
“Mina, I will absolutely protect the place where you belong! So come back — come back to the place where you belong!”
“The place … where I belong?”
Mina Sakuma’s voice, transmitted from the tube, came through the speakers. Hearing it, Hoshijima put even more intensity into her own voice.
“That’s right — a place where you belong. I haven’t forgotten what you told me before, Mina. It was painful, wasn’t it? Having to go through a childhood like that … Marina told me. She said there was a time at the agency when you suddenly burst into loud sobs. At first, you thought maybe you just weren’t cut out for this line of work, didn’t you?”
Hoshijima raised her voice even higher.
“But they were tears of joy, right? You said it was the first time in your life anyone had ever been so kind to you or treated you with such care. The JAV industry is the place where you belong — a place you finally found after more than ten years of searching, isn’t it? If that’s the case, I’m going to protect it! I won’t let anyone take it away from you!”
The sound of Mina Sakuma sobbing drifted from the speakers. It quickly shifted into loud, wailing cries, like those of a child.
“I want to go back … I want to go back … Waaah! Waaaaah!”
Inside the tank’s cockpit, Naruse was watching the drone camera feed displayed on the monitor.
Two cameras were trained on the window of Aosawa’s office. Aosawa and his middle-aged female secretary stood by the window, gazing anxiously toward the National Diet Building. The secretary spoke to him.
“Sir, please, you really must evacuate. It seems the other lawmakers are leaving, too.”
Aosawa muttered in irritation.
“Damn it, what are the Self-Defense Forces doing? Useless bastards!”
Naruse pressed a switch at hand. One of the two drones dove straight toward the window of Aosawa’s office.
The window shattered into pieces, and the room was engulfed in the roar and flames of an explosion. Aosawa, his body blackened by soot from the blast, staggered to his feet.
As he tried to flee, his ankle was grabbed. His secretary, pinned to the floor by a large metal locker that had toppled over, was clutching his leg and pleading.
“Sir, please help me. Move the locker — please …”
Aosawa stomped his other foot down onto the secretary’s face and kicked her away.
“You fool. Let go! Which life do you think matters more — yours, a commoner’s, or a Diet member’s? Damn it, let go!”
After being kicked in the head repeatedly with brute force, the secretary lost consciousness and released her grip on Aosawa’s leg. Aozawa opened a closet at the back of the room and dragged out a suitcase.
“At least I’ll take this.”
Naruse watched the scene through the camera of the remaining drone. With her finger poised over the switch, she muttered:
“Good grief. You’d leave a secretary who served you for years to die without a second thought? I had considered sparing your life if you tried to save her, but if that’s how it is …”
The second drone slipped through the broken window, flew into the room, and rammed straight into Aosawa. After a muffled explosion, countless hundred-dollar bills flew from the suitcase into the air; amidst that shower of paper, Aosawa’s headless body — spurting bright red blood — slammed heavily onto the floor.
As Hoshijima continued her persuasion, the other actresses in the tubes — aside from Mina Sakuma — began to sob.
The six tubes containing them slid smoothly downward, retracting completely into the vehicle’s chassis.
Inside the cramped vehicle, the six women — Mina Sakuma included — lined up behind Naruse, who sat in the foremost pilot’s seat, and spoke in tearful voices:
“Ms. Naruse, we’re sorry. But we …”
With her back still turned to them, Naruse spoke in a gentle tone:
“You have absolutely no reason to apologize to me. This war was something I started alone, and it was for my sake alone. If anything, I should be the one thanking you. You’ve stuck with me this far. Thank you, truly.”
Naruse then spoke to the outside world through the headset against her cheek:
“I am releasing all the hostages now. Hold your fire while I do so.”
Moments later, a section on the lower left side of the vehicle slid open, creating a gap just wide enough for a person to squeeze through.
Passing through the opening, the six actresses — still clad only in their undergarments — stepped out and hurried to the side of the road.
Self-Defense Force personnel immediately rushed to their side, wrapped them in blankets, and guided them to safety. Hoshijima and Otonashi were also escorted away from the scene by police officers.
Before the eyes of the remaining Matsuda, a deep, low rumble echoed from the engine, and the tank’s tracks began to move slowly.
Matsuda picked up the megaphone Hoshijima had dropped on the road and shouted toward the Beast Tank.
“Please stop this, Lieutenant Colonel Naruse! You may not remember, but I am someone who once received special instruction from you.”
“Oh, I remember you well, Matsuda.”
Naruse’s voice, transmitted through the speaker, held the gentle tone of a mother watching over her child.
“You were commissioned safely — a Second Lieutenant now, are you? That pathetic boy from back then seems to have truly come into his own.”
“Doing this won’t solve anything. What happened to you who was once so full of a sense of mission and justice?”
“I will see my own justice through to the end.”
The Beast Tank’s tracks picked up speed, and the vehicle began to charge straight at Matsuda.
“Matsuda, you must see your justice through. Prove that you can carry it all the way.”
The tank accelerated; Matsuda leaped to the side, narrowly dodging the charge. The megaphone slipped from his grasp, only to be crushed beneath the tank’s tracks and scattered into a spray of debris.
The “Beast Tank” roared past the Sakurada-mon Gate of the Imperial Palace and charged toward the main entrance of the National Diet Building.
An attack order was relayed to four Type 16 Maneuver Combat Vehicles that had been lying in wait near the Nagatacho area.
Vehicles No. 3 and No. 4 emerged from behind the Beast Tank and fired their main guns while on the move. One shell deflected off the armor and slammed into the roadside; the other was swatted down to the ground by the cave bear’s foreleg.
Inside the cockpit, Naruse grinned boldly and muttered:
“So, the Type 16s have shown themselves. They can pull off slalom firing despite running on wheels? Interesting. Let’s see how they stack up against a tracked vehicle. You’ve really got my tanker’s blood pumping.”
Just as the two Type 16s closed in from the left and right, the upper section of the Beast Tank — which housed the cave bear — rotated ninety degrees sideways.
The cave bear’s foreleg smashed down onto the turret of the Type 16 Vehicle No. 4 on the left. Simultaneously, the Beast Tank’s hull slid diagonally, bringing its tracks into contact with Vehicle No. 3 on the right.
With a sharp whish, the rubber was torn from Vehicle No. 3’s tires; the vehicle lost its balance upon impact and careened into the roadside shrubbery.
The cave bear then grabbed the turret of Vehicle No. 4, scooping it up from below and hoisting it high with its immense strength. Vehicle No. 4 was flipped end-over-end before rolling over onto its side.
Naruse laughed and shouted from the driver’s seat:
“What’s the matter? No fight in you? Is this really the cutting-edge hardware the JGSDF boasts about?”
At the command post in Hibiya Park, the commander gritted his teeth as he stared at the monitor. He radioed Vehicles No. 3 and 4.
“No. 3, No. 4, report your status.”
The voices of the respective vehicle commanders rang out over the radio.
“This is Vehicle 4. All crew members are alive with only minor injuries. However, the vehicle has overturned; further combat is impossible.”
“This is No. 3. The second and third tires on the left side have burst. However, we can continue the mission with the remaining six wheels.”
Just then, Watari entered, carrying an open laptop. He spoke to Matsuda.
“Matsuda, the Engineering Department has finished analyzing the vehicle’s structure. They’ve identified a single spot where the armor can be penetrated.”
Matsuda whispered to the commander, who then stepped over to Watari. He nodded as he looked at the CG schematic displayed on Watari’s screen.
“Above the driver’s seat, is it? With this level of energy, if we can land two hits …”
Watari spoke to the commander with a look of concern.
“It’s an area of only twenty centimeters square. Is it actually possible to land two shots precisely in the same spot?”
“It’s not a question of whether we can or can’t; we have no choice but to do it. That is the Self-Defense Forces’ mission.”
The commander returned to his seat and ordered another team member to download the data from Watari’s laptop. The data was copied to the command post’s computer and then transmitted to the remaining Type 16 Maneuver Combat Vehicles.
Once the transfer was confirmed, the commander shouted into his radio microphone.
“Command post to all Type 16 units! Authorization granted to use the new armor-piercing rounds. I repeat: authorization granted to use the new armor-piercing rounds.”
Matsuda hurried over to the commander’s side.
“Sir, does that mean it’s impossible to capture former Lieutenant Colonel Naruse alive?”
The commander replied with a grim expression.
“She is no longer a Self-Defense Force officer. She is nothing but a terrorist. We cannot make the ‘20X’ information leak public.”
Matsuda spoke in a stunned voice.
“Is this … to silence her?”
“Watch your tongue …”
Twisting his trembling torso to face Matsuda, the commander bellowed, his voice echoing throughout the command post: “Hold your tongue!”
Watari approached Matsuda, who had stepped away from the commander, and asked in a low voice:
“What exactly is this new type of shell?”
Matsuda answered with a somber look.
“An armor-piercing shell is designed to penetrate armor; it doesn’t explode on its own. A high-explosive shell detonates upon impact, scattering shrapnel to devastate a wide area. An armor-piercing high-explosive shell combines both capabilities. It punches through the armor, enters the interior of the ‘Beast Tank,’ and then explodes. The crew inside wouldn’t stand a chance of survival.”
The Beast Tank closed in until the main gate of the National Diet Building came into view. From the rear, No. 3 of the Type 16 fired an armor-piercing round at the body of the cave bear mounted atop the vehicle.
The shell punched through the silver-armored back, sending a column of blood spraying into the air from the beast.
Letting out a thunderous roar, the cave bear’s body slumped forward onto the tank’s hull and went still.
Inside the Beast Tank’s cockpit, the panel indicating the cave bear’s vital signs flashed red. Naruse punched the ceiling hard with her right fist.
“Good work, partner. Go on ahead.”
Vehicle No. 1 and 2 of the Type 16 emerged from the roads flanking the Diet Building’s main gate and charged straight at the Beast Tank, positioning themselves with the gate at their backs. Watching them approach, Naruse chuckled with amusement.
“Smart move! Coming straight at me, are you? When we can only see each other head-on, the difference between tracks and wheels doesn’t matter.”
Naruse pulled a photograph from the pocket of her camouflage fatigues. It showed his elementary-school-aged son smiling innocently, wearing a replica professional soccer team jersey.
She placed the photo in front of the cockpit’s control lever and, smiling gently, whispered:
“Shu … Mommy is coming to be with you now.”
Staring at the monitor displaying the view ahead, she gripped the control levers tightly with both hands. Naruse shouted:
“That’s right — fight, Self-Defense Forces! Prove with your own hands that you are essential to this country and its people!”
Inside Vehicle No. 1 of the Type 16 unit, the commander — seated in the rear — was confirming procedures via radio with the commander of Vehicle No. 2.
“Vehicle 1 Commander here. Did you receive the impact point data? Acknowledge.”
“Vehicle 2 Commander here. Data received. We’re ready to go.”
“Vehicle 1 will fire first. You are to fire five seconds later.”
“Vehicle 2, roger.”
The loader of Vehicle 1 inserted a new type of armor-piercing high-explosive round into the breech, closed the breechblock, and shouted:
“Round loaded — all clear!”
The commander shouted the question: “Gunner, status?”
“Impact point confirmed. Aim locked. Ready.”
“Driver, stabilize the hull. Gunner, fire in three seconds.”
“Three… two… one… Fire!”
The armor-piercing high-explosive round fired by Vehicle No. 1 struck near the cockpit of the “Beast Tank.” It bit into the armor and exploded, though it failed to fully penetrate the plating.
Five seconds later, the shell from Vehicle No. 2 struck the exact same spot. It shattered the remaining armor, allowing the round to punch into the Beast Tank’s hull and detonate.
A blast of air and a thin stream of white smoke spewed from a gap in the tank’s upper structure. With just twenty meters remaining to the main gate of the National Diet Building, the Beast Tank’s tracks screeched to a halt, and the vehicle stopped moving.
A few days later, after finishing some errands out of the office, Toyama arrived at Shimbashi Station on his way back to the lab and encountered five young women handing out flyers.
He initially tried to walk past without accepting the offered leaflet, but a large headline reading “We Demand Amendments to the JAV Improvement Act” caught his eyes, prompting him to take it instinctively.
Taking a closer look at the five women, Toyama spotted a familiar face and approached her.
“Oh! It really is Ms. Hoshijima.”
Hoshijima, who had been standing with her back to him, spun around, her face lighting up.
“Why, if it isn’t Dr. Toyama.”
“Handing out flyers? Does that mean the others are …?”
“Yes, they’re JAV actresses from various production companies — my colleagues in the industry. They reached out saying they wanted to help with the petition campaign for the legal amendments.”
“Wow, that must be a huge boost for you. But is it safe to be out here in such a crowded place?”
“Haha, what are you saying? Being seen by people is a JAV actress’s job — and the more people, the better.”
“Haha, I suppose you’re right. Say, is that … someone standing over there holding a sign?”
Otonashi, having noticed Toyama, walked over. He was dressed casually in a T-shirt; looking closely, Toyama saw it bore the same design as the shirts worn by Hoshijima and the others.
Toyama remarked with admiration: “So, even a sir of the National Diet is handing out flyers?”
Otonashi replied with a wry smile.
“I told you not to call me ‘sir.’ Besides, standing on the street is the ABCs of being a politician. I wanted to get back to the fundamentals of democracy —a ppealing directly to the general public.”
“Is that a petition you’re holding there?”
“Yes, we’re collecting signatures from people who support amending the JAV Improvement Act so we can submit them to the Diet.”
“In that case, I think I’ll sign it, too.”
“Really? That would be wonderful — please do.”
Toyama took the clipboard from Otonashi and wrote down his name and address.
“Let’s see … is this all right?”
Otonashi bowed deeply.
“Yes, that’s perfect. Thank you for your cooperation.”
“By the way, what’s happened to the actresses who were in the ‘Beast Tank’ since then?”
“They’re being questioned by the police at home. Well, according to the lawyer handling the case, they’ll likely face no indictment — or at worst, a suspended sentence.”
Just then, a melody signaling noon began to play from the station. Toyama glanced at the time on his smartphone and jumped.
“Oh shoot, I’ve got to go. If I’m late, Prof. Watari will chew me out again. Well then, Mr. Otonashi, Ms. Hoshijima — good luck.”
Hoshijima waved her right hand vigorously at Toyama.
“Dr. Toyama, make sure you buy my new release when it comes out!”
Toyama turned his upper body around and waved back.
“You bet — I’m looking forward to it.”
As Toyama arrived at the university and was briskly walking up the corridor toward the lab, he ran into Miyashita, who had a bag slung over her shoulder.
“Oh? Are you starting your shift this afternoon, too, Ms. Miyashita?”
Miyashita replied with a look that seemed to say, “I’m exhausted.”
“I was at headquarters for a meeting all morning. They made me report on every last detail regarding the current case.”
“Any progress from the Metropolitan Police Department’s end?”
“Far from it — the number of cases we have to investigate has actually increased. You know that ship disguised as a tanker — the one carrying the Beast Tank? We still have no idea what it actually is.”
“Wasn’t it registered in Panama?”
“It turned out that neither the owning company nor its executives actually exist. Apparently, when the Coast Guard boarded it, the ship was completely deserted. They seized the hull and the helicopters, but the trail went cold right there.”
When Toyama and Miyashita entered the lab, they found Watari and Matsuda standing beside Tsutsui’s desk, intently watching her computer screen.
Seeing Tsutsui frowning with a troubled expression, Toyama and Miyashita were drawn to her side. Toyama asked, “Ms. Tsutsui, what’s going on?”
Tsutsui noticed the two of them and pointed to her computer screen.
“You see, a lot of the illustrations I love are coming under fire. I’m something of an otaku myself, you know, so I’m really worried about it.”
The screen displayed a series of colorful illustrations of beautiful young girls — the kind of trendy artwork known as “moe-style.”
Miyashita looked them over and tilted her head.
“Those are ‘moe’ illustrations, right? What’s the problem?”
Tsutsui replied with a tone of deep frustration.
“There are people loudly insisting they should be regulated — claiming they’re sexual or sexist — and I’m worried about what might happen next.”
Toyama also tilted his head as he spoke.
“Is this just an online backlash? If so, maybe you don’t need to take it that seriously.”
“Well, the people saying these things are the type who might actually make it a serious issue.”
Saying this, Tsutsui switched to another browser window. It was a famous video site. Tsutsui started playing one of the videos.
Watari stroked his beard and muttered: “Honestly, I don’t get what’s so great about this art style. I suppose you could call it sexy, but compared to adult videos, it’s pretty tame, isn’t it? Is there really a need to regulate it so zealously?”
The video itself began. It showed a roundtable discussion featuring an opposition lawmaker, a university professor, and the representative of a human rights group for women.
“The very fact that these kinds of illustrations are flooding the market is proof of how this country views women merely as sexual objects.”
A white-haired male university professor responded to the woman from the human rights group.
“It is a trend that needs to be corrected immediately —so many young people making money off this sort of thing while using ‘freedom of expression’ as a convenient excuse.”
An opposition lawmaker — a woman with a full head of white hair — chimed in.
“Banning it by law would be difficult, but we could phase it out through social consensus. In short, if drawing this kind of material stops being profitable, they’ll naturally go out of business.”
The opposition lawmaker continued, a confident smile playing on her face.
“We just need to make it unviable as a business — through social consensus, that is …”
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