Rising Rays of the New Century: Tale of the Japanese Empire

Part 4: The Space Wars

"Itsuki! Gunshots are as common as one or two in this city! Dead bodies as well! If you think too much about it, you'll be paralyzed! Why don't you quickly take the Mapo Tofu to Table 4!?"

"Ah, y-yes!"

The owner shouted angrily from the kitchen. The girl named Itsuki quickly brought the Mapo Tofu to the designated table.

"Thank you!"

"Wooh, looks tasty."

Two men with East Asian features who sat at the table picked up their chopsticks and reached for the Mapo Tofu in front of them. Meanwhile, faint gunshots could still be heard. The men started whispering in Korean. Itsuki eavesdropped on their conversation.

"The clash between the Chinese and the Latinos is intensifying in District 4. Tonight, the battle on Malacca Street will be the climax."

"The liberalization of gambling, the struggle for the gold vein, and the new frontier of the undeveloped territory, Mars is already being consumed by the chaos of Earth..."

"There is constant gang and mafia warfare happening somewhere every day in this city."

The men were concerned about the security on Mars. By the end of the 22nd century, humanity had expanded its operations throughout the Solar System. Each of the space cities became a melting pot of diverse races, and their security was deteriorating. Especially on Mars, which had possessed the same atmospheric composition as Earth due to the genetically modified plant called "Midori Sakura" from the 28th century, the entire planet became a human activity zone. In the capital city of 20 million people, Suiryu, individuals of different ethnicities established their territories, vying for dominance and engaging in conflicts. With a population of 1,4 billion, Mars had become the most dangerous planet in the Solar System.

Mouri Street, District 4, Suiryu

After finishing her part-time job at a Chinese restaurant, the young girl, Itsuki Okubo, dashed through the street where gunshots had been heard moments ago on her old bicycle and emerged onto a bustling main street. Numerous Japanese cars were driving along the road, but there was one conspicuously eye-catching sound truck among them.

"To the citizens of Suiryu, we are Martians! Let us strive for liberation from the control of the International Federation Space Development Organization dominated by the Japanese and the establishment of a new nation, the Martian Republic!"

Speech could be heard from the sound truck's speakers. It seemed to be a sound truck from the "Martian Independence Movement," which had been gaining popularity in recent years. However, Itsuki ignored it and parked her bicycle near a certain building.

Looking up at the building, she saw a cross standing atop a steeply sloping roof. It was a Protestant church in the Japanese district of Mars. Itsuki opened the front door and entered the chapel.

"I'm back, Pastor-san."

"Welcome back, Itsuki."

Although the lights were on, the chapel had a somewhat dim atmosphere. A strong-looking man dressed in subdued-colored liturgical vestments stood there. The man, called the Pastor, noticed Itsuki and smiled at her.

"Sorry for being late! I'll prepare dinner right away!"

Apologizing for her delayed return, Itsuki hurriedly ran towards the house adjacent to the church. Next to this church, there was a home where Itsuki Okubo, a 15-year-old girl who served as the assistant pastor, lived together with Pastor Sumiichiro Kashiwa. The two were not related by blood; they were just nominal housemates. Ten years ago, Sumiichiro had taken in Itsuki, an orphan of unknown origin, and their shared life began. Since then, he had raised her as a surrogate father figure, and Itsuki admired him as her "adoptive father."