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Chapter 63 – Named Figures of the Army

“May I borrow a bit of your time, Reiko-sama?”

“…!!”

I reflexively reacted strongly to the familiar voice.
When I turned in that direction, I saw three military men. 

On the far right stood Nishida. 

Don’t be fooled by that easygoing face. 

He’s a revolution-loving man who would gleefully drag Japan into the abyss.

“I deeply apologize for addressing you so suddenly. My friends here asked me to introduce them, so I approached you. Is something the matter?”

“N-No. It’s nothing at all. Are those gentlemen the ones you wish to introduce me to?”

He seemed slightly suspicious, but I recovered quickly enough that my inner feelings weren’t noticed.
Well, it looks like he did pick up on my wariness toward him to some extent, but he doesn’t seem to mind.

Or rather, he probably just thinks I’m a child being cautious of a group of adults approaching her. 

At least, I’d like to believe that.

Also, as he showed during his greeting to me at the start of the send-off party, Nishida is strangely polite.
Part of it might be that he’s accustomed to dealing with nobility, but I think it’s more likely due to him having switched his figure of worship to my older brother.

But right now, the focus is on the two people he wants to introduce.

One of them had a spiky head and round glasses I recognized from my past life’s vast ocean of the internet.
He looked younger than in the photos I’d seen online, but there was no doubt.

“Nice to meet you. My name is Hattori Takushirou. I’ve been acquainted with Senior Ootori Ryuuya since our days at the military preparatory school. It is an honor to finally meet Reiko-sama, whom he has often spoken of.”

Even the one I wasn’t already wary of turned out to be someone I should be cautious of.

Well, in a sense, I don’t need to be cautious in the usual way—but there’s no denying he’s a dangerous person.

More importantly…

“My name is Tsuji Masanobu. I don’t have much direct connection with Captain Ootori Ryuuya, but I was granted this opportunity to deepen our acquaintance. At the same time, I am deeply moved to meet Reiko-sama, whom everyone has spoken of.”

“Um… Hattori-sama, Tsuji-sama, how exactly did Ryuuya-ojii-sama describe me?”

I asked just in case, but instead of the two, it was Nishida who stepped forward half a pace.

(Hey, you weren’t invited to answer!) 

I screamed internally, but he only smiled a broad, slightly unnerving smile.

I seriously wanted to ask, “Are you high on something?”

“I’m fully aware that I’m overstepping my bounds, but I was the one who told everyone that it was Reiko-sama who illuminated the path that Senior Ootori Ryuuya now walks.”

(It was you! You’re the reason for all this! And look at the kind of dangerous people you’ve attracted!)

My heart was on the verge of erupting, but I forced it down with all my might and gave them a smile.

“I may have mentioned this the last time we met, but Ryuuya-ojii-sama was simply kind enough to take the foolish ramblings of a child like me in the most favorable light. As you can see, I’m still just an elementary school student.”

“You’re too modest. The Ootori family is widely known as a treasure trove of prodigies and geniuses. Reiko-sama and the others of the next generation are already gaining recognition among those in the know. Now that I’ve had the honor of meeting you like this, I’m convinced it’s all true.”

“Yes, exactly. I look forward to your continued guidance and support for Senior Ootori Ryuuya as well,” Tsuji added unnecessarily, and the two of them nodded. Nishida is such a pain.

I mean—seriously?

(Wait, what? I haven’t let anything slip, right? At most, it’s just that Koshiro-kun showed a bit of musical talent, didn’t he?)

I tilted my head slightly in a cute, innocent way and decided to ask just in case.

“Why is it that all of you hold us in such high regard?”

“We do not see Reiko-sama as a child, but approach you as equals—as adults. And Reiko-sama answers us with a full understanding of our words. Furthermore, you seem to have known exactly who we are from the beginning.”

“It’s not something we should say so openly, but for an eight-year-old child, these things are extremely difficult,”

The three of them exchanged quick glances, and then Hattori, speaking on behalf of the group, stated it analytically.

(Yeah, that’s true. Thanks, ultra-genius staff officer.)

Because I mostly talk to the adults of the Ootori family or the smart kids, I had completely forgotten how out of sync this is with the general public.

All I could do was let out a dry laugh.

“Ahaha, I’ve heard rumors at school that the Ootori family’s education is strict, so I imagine that’s the reason. Father always tells me to be aware that someone is watching at all times.”

That was the excuse I gave, but none of the three in front of me seemed to believe it at all.
Still, the age difference meant they had enough sense not to press too hard, which I was honestly grateful for.

Even Tsuji didn’t pull any of his typical Tsuji stunts with a little girl.

As for why Tsuji was even here—it’s because he graduated at the top of his class at the military academy and was seen as highly promising even within the army.
Nishida had taken the initiative to reach out to promising young officers, and Tsuji was one of the results.

Whether he stayed in the military or not, apparently his passion for spreading his vision of reforming Japan hadn’t changed.

In other words, this time Hattori wasn’t a set piece—Nishida was the one who brought him along.
As expected of Nishida. 

He’s an extremely competent hazardous material detection device. 

I really wish he’d go all Pied Piper of Hamelin and gather up all the dangerous types to toss them into the sea.

Still, if I’m going to keep moving around in a flashy way from here on out, then maybe the time has passed for using “I’m just a kid” as a shield. 

That thought is a bit depressing.

But the world, of course, wasn’t going to cut me any slack.

“Hey, Reiko. Sorry for dragging you into such an adult-oriented gathering.”

It was while I was taking a break with some juice after having a cheerful (if dangerous) little chat with Nishida and the rest of the troublemakers.

“Not at all. Everyone here is so distinguished, it’s been a great learning experience. And with all the sweets, I’m more than satisfied.”

I don’t really want to use refined, upper-class speech with my older brother, but with two spiky-heads-in-glasses standing behind me, I don’t really have a choice.

And of all things, it’s Nagata Tetsuzan and Tojo Hideki—just hearing their names is enough to make me shiver if I let my guard down.
But both of them are wearing warm smiles on their intelligent-looking faces.

Yeah. In moments like this, I really am grateful to be a little girl.

“More importantly, Onii-sama, who are these gentlemen?”

“These are Colonel Nagata Tetsuzan and Lieutenant Colonel Tojo Hideki, who have taken great care of me.”

“Pleased to meet you, Miss Ootori Reiko. I’m Nagata Tetsuzan.”

“A pleasure. I am Tojo Hideki, as introduced. Miss Ootori Reiko.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you both, Mr. Nagata, Mr. Tojo. I am Ootori Reiko. Thank you for always looking after my uncle.”

These two don’t seem inclined to treat me like a little girl either, so I’ll act accordingly and play the mature part.

Still, their expressions don’t change much from a gentle smile.
At their age, it’s natural for them to look at a child with a sort of fatherly gaze. 

If a child puts on a prim little act and offers a proper greeting, this is probably the normal reaction.

No—I want to believe it is.
For the sake of my mental health.

“So, Ryuuya-ojii-sama?”

Still, I make sure to drop a prompt.
If it were just a simple introduction and greeting, that would be fine, but in his public role, my brother avoids unnecessary actions as much as possible. 

He may be sweet when it’s just family or the two of us, but never in front of others.

Those two ultra-cheat-level elite men are surely the same.

And just as I expected…

“Yeah. It’s still a ways off, but Reiko will eventually be in a position to carry the Ootori name. These two will also, in time, bear the weight of the Imperial Japanese Army—no, of Japan itself. That’s why I thought it would be best for you to get to know each other early on.”

“I can certainly understand the two of them, but I believe you’re overestimating me. If anyone should carry on the Ootori name, it’s Ryuuichi-san, not me.”

“That may be true. That’s why I’ve already introduced them to Ryuuichi. But since Ryuuichi is aiming to become a soldier, when it comes to matters of economy and industry, it’ll likely fall to either Gentarou or you. I’ll be introducing Gentarou at a later date, so today, I brought these two here.”

“Ryuuya-kun may say that, but truthfully, I just wanted the chance to speak with you, Reiko-san. If you don’t mind, would you indulge an old man’s selfish whim?”

A serious-looking man showing the utmost sincerity and a touch of playfulness—how could I, a proper young lady, possibly turn him down?

So, I had no choice but to respond with a beaming smile.

“Not at all. The pleasure is mine. I look forward to speaking with you, Nagata-sama.”

And with that, I ended up having a rather long conversation with the strongest man in the Imperial Japanese Army and his close companion.

But on my side, I had to watch every word I said with utmost care, so it completely wore me out.
I think I might start to hate these cheat-level guys.

Masanobu Tsuji

Graduated top of his class at the Army Academy, so his intelligence is cheat-level.
His initiative and capacity for causing trouble are super-cheat-level.

At this point in time (December, Year 28 [1953]), he entered the Army War College.
He’s in the same class as Prince Chichibu.

His formal connection with Hattori in the historical record begins around the time of the Nomonhan Incident.