Chapter five! Well, half of chapter 5…This chapter is quite long, so I’ve split it in half. The latter half that has uh…the NSFW stuff…so you’ll have to wait till next month XD Small warning though, the parts talking about the state of the military definitely aren’t the most accurate of translations, I had almost no idea what some of it meant, so I only very loosely translated it. This translation was done over a year ago and if I looked at it now I could do better but, It doesn’t have any real bearing on the story, so I decided not to waste too much time on it.
As for now, I’ve gone with translating Setsunasa wa yoru no biyaku, since its the next one along in the series that hasn’t had any sort of translation (The drama CD of Yogoto Mitsu has been translated), though I admit, Michitaka’s story was always the one that interested me the least…
Five-Part 1
“Seikanji. Have you got a moment?”
“Sure. What is it?”
When Kunitaka looked up, his eyes narrowed against the sunlight of early summer, already hot enough to make one sweat.
“These documents. There are mistakes in the calculations…”
“I’m sorry.” He replied to his colleague Nakamura.
Lately, he had really not been putting any effort into his work, and there had been many slight mistakes in the documents. Without Kunitaka noticing.
“I’ll fix them up right away.”
“Have you been feeling unwell lately?”
“No.”
Quickly looking over at them, their colleagues who were also present were whispering about something together.
That affair in which Kazutaka had made a loan had just been written up in the newspaper, “The critical state of the Seikanji zaibatsu.” awfully accompanying the sensational headline. Written up in a newspaper well known for gossip, it read had been vicious. It was like Kazutaka was simply there to delight the newspaper reporters.
As usual, his friendship with Ryouichirou continued, but lately Ryouichirou had been busy, and the time he had to meet Kunitaka had been limited. Still, Kunitaka bore it terribly.
The topic of Ryouichirou’s workplace had not been broached, but if he had no reason to be working at that bookstore, what did he do, and where? Had he been meeting that woman?
Kunitaka, not having the bravery to ask Ryouichirou outright, was vexedly pathetic.
“Ahh, that’s right, there’s a document come from the military police being passed around.”
“A document?”
Seeing the front page, with “Classified” written on it, Kunitaka tilted his head slightly.
“Lately, the anti-establishment movements have become quite active, they’ve made a document listing the dangerous persons .”
“It’s unusual for us to be working together with the military police.”
Although he would not have thought that the military police, who carried out their function interpedently of the army would come and make a request like this, there was no doubt they were calling people’s attention.
It was whispered that among military circles there were people who had taken on certain ideologies, and that it could it be that among those there might have been some who intended to cause a political movement.
“Since seems they’ve gone as far as to use double agents, it’s highly accurate. But this isn’t our work at all…”
His colleague’s gripes were natural, but, having said that, he couldn’t think that they wanted a cause to act on.
In their current state, the position of the armed forces was unstable.
If there wasn’t a war, they became a burden, so by fanning the coals of conflict ,they were trying to establish their value to society. In the drawn out recession, while the whole country was closed off, the breakthroughs of war were wished for by some.
Kunitaka could only think it was utterly ridiculous. Hadn’t the military expedition to Siberia ended in futility?
Afterall, by going as far as to meddle in political strife, the appointment of the Minister for War was always a situation for dispute. Even so, the military demanded an enlargement of the budget, they were trying to expand military armaments.
Kunitaka could understand the reason that the people, tired of eras like this, ran towards the labour movement and socialism. There were capitalists, who greedily sought profit, and on the other side, people who worried about having enough food to eat tomorrow. The difference between rich and poor just kept widening.
Thanks to that, the communism of Russia, separated from Japan by water, spilled across the sea, and rumours of whether or not the communists were secretly plotting to establish a Japanese Communist Party had spread.
“That reminds me, Sublieutenant Asano of the military police is a classmate of yours right?”
“Yes.”
“That eccentric sublieutenant…seems he’s well suited to the work of the military police. There’s barely anyone who doesn’t confess, even the guys in the same unit as him are astonished.”
When Kunitaka thought about Asano torturing activists, he felt ill.
Reading Kunitaka’s expression, his colleague shook his head.
“Ahh, no, he barely tortures them at all. Precisely because he can get a confession, it’s a valuable talent.”
Again, that could be agreed from Asano’s personality. In those situations, Asano became sly and forbearant, and could skilfully draw a confession. Precisely because Kunitaka knew that, he could not let his guard down around Asano.
“Here’s the documents. Pass them around when you’ve finished reading them.”
“Understood.”
Kunitaka’s hand, turning the pages of the document, suddenly stopped.
Narita Ryouichirou.
Those five characters leapt out at him.
…absurd.
As not to arouse the suspicion of his colleagues, Kunitaka once again ran his gaze over the documents.
Persons under surveillance for instigation of socialist movements.
Under that heading, a name he could not mistake.
Birthplace, the Azabu neighbourhood, 29 years of age. Tall figure, and his artificial ryr was noted as a distinctive trait.
His parent’s names, birthday, academic history, and his current location. All information Kunitaka knew, but it did accord with the Ryouichirou he knew now.
Unexpectedly, that was the moment he connected that the Ryouichirou of the past and of the present were the very same person. However, was Ryouichirou really part of the anti-establishment movement?
Kunitaka vacillated between disbelief and acceptance.
Ryouichirou always had a straight, solid sense of justice, it was entirely possible that the man was Ryouichirou.
Those proletarian magazines hidden in his bookshelf. His strong reaction to seeing Kunitaka dressed in military uniform.
The lie about working in the bookshop, that might have been to conceal his involvement in the socialist movement.
If that was the case, to have an association with Kunitaka, who was in the military, was too dangerous to Ryouichirou.
To revive a friendship from mere nostalgia was a fools doing. At the very least, Ryouichirou was not a person who couldn’t figure out something like that. If there was need, he could investigate the fact that Kunitaka liked theatre, and purposely make his way to that theatre, and manage to contrive a reunion.
Bakun, bakun, the sound of his heart trembling echoed queerly in his skull.
“……”
Kunitaka could only think, Ryouichirou needed to get close to him for a reason.
So he could be betrayed again?
Like that time, would he once again be betrayed by Ryouichirou?
–
The night air held humidity, damply coiling around the desk.
I want to see you.
He’d said that to Asano, and it had not been an easy thing.
Kunitaka knew Asano’s telephone exchange number, but this was the first time he’d rung it. Asano had been most surprised, but quickly acquiesced to Kunitaka’s request.
Kunitaka felt like it was just as if he was had sold over his self-respect to the devil. Of all things, he had no way other than to implore this man.
“To have an invitation from you, well, I’m happy.” The corners of his mouth bent slightly, and Asano, seated across from Kunitaka, gave him a brief glance.
“I wanted to talk to you discreetly. Is my invitation an annoyance?”
“By no means. So, in this way, I’ll listen to what you have to say with pleasure.”
Did she sense the indications that they was about to talk in secret, the waitress bowing, please take your time, and hurriedly leaving the tatami-matted room.
The hollow echo of the bamboo water feature in the garden was frightful.
“Are your family well? The other day I saw a magazine article about Kazutaka though.”
“As ever. He has no intention of finding a job, and just lounges around at home.”
“Hmm. You want him to follow in the footsteps of his serious elder brother.”
“I think it might be good if he took a job separate from the Seikanji companies. I think, if Kazutaka understood the strictness of society a little better, might it not settle his behaviour?”
Kunitaka really did not want to talk about the main issue at hand, and so, today, was unusually loquacious
“Do you have a something in mind?”
“A member of the Diet I know is looking for a secretary. Despite appearances, Kazutaka is quite bright, he should be able to work as a secretary.”
“Taking care of everyone like that, it’s tough being the elder brother huh. But today, you have a favour to ask of me, right?”
Abruptly, the heart of the matter was breached, startling Kunitaka to the core.
“This is indeed fun. To think to see you, who is so proud, about to bend your knees before me…”
“I still have no intention of doing that.”
“Stop acting tough. Tell me this business of yours immediately.”
Kunitaka, at that, sank into silence.
“What is it? Something you can’t say?”
“It’s not that, but…” At his continued hesitation to speak, Kunitaka was giving Asano grounds for suspicion.
As much as possible, he should downplay his connection to Ryouichirou as a minor thing to Asano.
“The other day, a warning notice from the military police regiment was passed around. Regarding the anti-establishment movement.”
“Ahh, that?,” Asano said carelessly, bringing the sake cup to his mouth.
“Well…there was a small thing that bothered me.”
“What?” demanded Asano in a rude tone, and drained his cup.
“I noticed it had the name of someone I know…would you happen to know anything about it?”
At those words, Asano looked at Kunitaka. His gaze burned, coiling around Kunitaka, but there was no way he would give in by looking away. Kunitaka stared straight back into Asano’s eyes.
Suddenly, Asano opened his mouth. “Narita Ryouichirou?”
Kunitaka was taken aback.
“You…knew?” Unexpectedly, his voice shook.
“Giving up already? What a boring guy.” Did he enjoy seeing Kunitaka so shaken? Asano was disrespectful, as always.
“If you’re going to negotiate, get your hand together! Coming with your body alone, how unlike you.”
“I only came to see you.”
“Aren’t you saying just wonderful things? Very well then, I’ll tell you what I know. What on earth do you want to know?”
“Does he really participate in a political movement like that?”
“Do you think the military police are that stupid they would mistakenly print his name?” At his contrary reply, at once, Kunitaka felt like all hope has been lost.
‘The socialists?”
“That’s hard to define.” The man shrugged, and gulped down his sake. Kunitaka reluctantly changed seats and refilled his cup.
“Since Narita’s lot don’t belong to any specific labour association, they can move around more freely. Therefore, they’re a nasty problem.” There, Asano took a breath. “Their aim is instruct the labourers in socialist ideology, and make a society without differences of social status and rich and poor. For that sake, they’re introducing it to each labour union among the labour movement. That alone is dangerous, but the problem with them is that they’ve joined together with the socialist movement.”
No difference between social status and rich and poor, an ideal society. Without reason, Kunitaka’s chest hurt at those words.
“Actually, now, there are movements like that. Of course, due to that, the authorities have become desperate too.”
“He’s such a major player you remember his name?”
“Rather than a leader, he’s a planner. There has been an investigation, but Narita is well aware of his role. If the movement gains momentum, and the authorities see it as dangerous, he will be quickly crushed.” Asano smiled cynically ,and looked up at Kunitaka.
His dried throat was clamouring in thirst. Unable to bear it, Kunitaka gulped down the sake placed in front of him.
“Why do you know so much about my business, and about him?”
“Do you think I would overlook someone connected to the Seikanji house?” Asano quickly gave Kunitaka the answer he wanted.
“Furthermore, if they become such a dangerous organisation, they will require a detailed investigation. One that will go as far as to expose him too.”
“However…”
“Even if you think about it, look. It’s an unlikely talk, the worst case scenario that people associated with the Seikanji zaibatsu become involved. Narita’s name was raised from the very early days.”
So, it that how it was?
“In order to crush the anti-establishment movement, a great number of trumps are being laid out. In order to do that, things here and there are being thoroughly investigated.”
“If he were caught, would Narita receive the death penalty?”
Unexpectedly, Asano burst out laughing. Kunitaka was startled by his laughter, so unfitting to the dark atmosphere.
The military police’s investigation was rigorous. If Ryouichirou was caught, whether or not he could emerge once again in light of day, sound in limb and mind, was doubtful.
His missing eye, was that due to the torturing of the military police?
“What’s so funny?”
“If we take it that Narita has been drawn in, it will be when he commits some crime. If he is seen as a dangerous person, the death penalty would be unavoidable.”
“Wha-“
“How about you too think about things as questions just a little bit more. Even be that it may you are also in the military, there’s no way the authorities would talk that readily to an outsider regarding their plans. Get yourself together a bit more.” His reproving tone held a tinge of pity, Kunitaka flared up, flew into rage.
“You mean to say I’ve lost my calm?”
“Even though I can see that, it can’t be helped .You’re not aware of it, but when it comes to talking about Narita, you get a different look in your eyes. The day has come where you’re running around for something other than your house.”
While Kunitaka realised that Asano has seen right through him, his opposition was due to lingering obstinacy.
“It’s nothing really, he’s just the son of our driver, as far as it goes, we were childhood friends, so it weighed on my mind. If he were caught, it would grieve his parents.”
“Hmpf, as one would expect, the next head of his household is too kind.” Asano smirked.
“Don’t tease.”
“Have you been seeing Narita recently?”
“Yeah, a few times.”
Asano’s expression instantly changed.
However, it quickly disappeared.
“If that man is your lover, not just a childhood friend, then well, that’s a different story. If that’s the case, how interesting…”
“Well I never!” Kunitaka immediately responded.
His lover?
That definitely shouldn’t be the reason.
It was ordinary feelings of affection when Ryouichirou held Kunitaka, not anything more than that.
“You’re giving me a weird feeling, Seikanji.” Said Asano in a severe voice.
“We are soldiers. It is an absolute that you and others, in particular, protect the nobility and his majesty the emperor. We are here in order to protect the current system, with the emperor at top.”
That was to say-
The meaning he implied there was simple.
“If needed, you will arrest Narita. That is your duty, as a military officer. Making arrests for thought crime, wouldn’t that be quite the shortcut to your aims of being a splendid military officer? Asano laughed cynically.
There was no way he could do a thing like that. Kunitaka tightly clutched the fabric of his military uniform.
“That man’s life…I just-”
“Do you want to save him?” Asano sneered at Kunitaka’s words.
Kunitaka’s silence was proof.
“By your own words, do you understand how close to impossible they are?”
“What is?”
“You are the fourth generation of the Seikanji Earl. The heir to the Seikanji zaibatsu. Furthermore, an army lieutenant. A noble, a capitalist, in a military position, to the labourers, you can only be an enemy.”
Those words were heavy, like a blade that had been deeply thrust into his heart.
“Being saved on the whim of a bourgeois like you, would that make than man happy?” Asano’s words, as cruel as they were, were accurate.
Kunitaka, as the eldest child of the Seikanji family, had great expectations placed on his future as an elite military officer. A man who aspired to the socialist movement, it was a matter of course that their positions and ideologies were too different.
The things the socialists wished for, were a society without difference of social position and wealth.
From the point of view of the other person, fired up by class struggle, Kunitaka couldn’t be anything except an enemy.
Asano gave a low laugh at Kunitaka, who was unable to conceal his shaking.
“Anyway, if you want to save that man…shall I let him escape?”
“Eh…?”
“If you said you would become mine, I’d find a way to let that that man escape.”
Having reached this point, and he still intended to joke?
“Stop it, this is idiocy.”
“Further inside, there is a bedchamber. If you’re prepared, I can save Narita at anytime.”
“Cut it out!”
In Asano’s gaze, oozing with the light of lust, Kunitaka lost his presence of mind.
“Or else…that man…isn’t he worth exchanging that pride of yours?”
He couldn’t answer. Kunitaka’s grasp of his own feelings was not so firm that he could answer right there on the spot. Looking at Kunitaka, his brow deeply furrowed, Asano laughed.
“A fitting resignation for a serious man like you, going against order like that. Anyway, if you want to save that man…that is, you…”
“Stop screwing with me !”
“You think I’m screwing with you?”
The food on the stand was thoughtlessly shaken off.. The dishes and remaining sake flew everywhere.
Both of his arms arrested by Asano, Kunitaka’s eyes went wide.
“Let go!”
“Nowhere is there any reason for me to stop.”
“I have the right to stop you-“
“The right? Are rights are necessary? Didn’t I say I was attracted to you?” He wasn’t going to finish up his word games anytime soon. At Asano’s indifferent tone, Kunitaka’s fear only worsened.
“That’s enough!”
“Don’t you want to save Narita?” he spoke into Kunitaka’s ear, and Kunitaka could not help but to be frozen in place.
“What are you-“
“Even a child should be able to understand what I’ve said. Whether you become mine or not. If you want to save Narita, this is the only path left.”
“This is idiocy! Let go of me!”
In order to save Ryouichirou, he had to compensate his body, is that what Asano had said? In order to save someone who was no more than the son of their driver. Wasn’t Ryouichirou merely someone he had spent time with in his childhood?
No, that wasn’t it at all.
He wasn’t that mere someone. At last, they had been able to meet. Kunitaka did not want to let go of him again.
This heart…the heart that adored Ryouichirou, could not stop…
“…ugh”
Asano’s tongue traced from the nape of Kunitaka’s neck to the base of his throat, his body froze at the repulsive sensation.
Was there only this way, to save Ryouichirou? To give his body over to this man?
He felt dizzy.
Of course, he could present his body to Asano. That would be a very easy thing.
However, there should still be another way. Another plan remained to Kunitaka, that wasn’t here, readily surrendering to Asano.
“Let go!”
Kunitaka raised his low voice, and pushed Asano aside. He was poor at the classical martial arts, but the drills of his time at the military academy had not been useless.
“Seikanji…”
“I…have no interest in this kind of behaviour! I might have to eventually bargain with you, but I won’t do it in this way!”
There had to be another way to save Ryouichirou.
“As if you could.” Asano gave a low laugh, like he saw through Kunitaka’s assertion.
“Making you mine, easy.”
“Cut it out!” Kunitaka shook off Asano’s hand.
“Seikanji. Do you really think you can save that man? Narita is immersed in that foolish ideology, right down to the marrow of his bones. Despite knowing he’s been left to swim free, he can’t be pulled from that worthless movement.”
“There must be a way to save him.”
“That’s called foolish conceit.” Asano resolutely condemned Kunitaka. Asano’s eyes, staring steadily at Kunitaka, gave off a strong light, cornering him.
“I don’t care if it’s foolish.”
“Speaking with such determination, you have quite changed. Are you that fond of that man?”
Kunitaka gave a start, and Asano glared at him.
“Give it up, Seikanji. A person can’t save another person.” Asano’s mouth opened, and a cold smile drifted across his features. “Once a person has fallen into hell, he can only crawl around in that hell. He can’t be saved.”
“Shut up!”
“Ideals are the same as opium. They can only bring about a sweet dream that can never be realised. If you wake up from the dream, only pain remains. Even though you understand that, you would fall into hell with him?”
Kunitaka thrust Asano off him, and fled that place.
Seikanji Ichizoku Translations 