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Chapter 68 – Confrontation with a Genius (1)

Late July.

Around the time the Amsterdam Olympics were about to begin, I had invited a certain individual to the top floor guest suite of the Ootori Hotel—that is, the VIP room.
Above that was the hotel’s popular observation restaurant with a panoramic view of the imperial capital’s center.

The reason for choosing such a location was because it felt inappropriate to invite them to the Ootori main residence.

The invitation was arranged by my nominal father, so on paper it looked like he had extended it.
But I had asked him to allow me to join as well—because the person we had invited was someone I needed to be present for.

This person had been hospitalized with otitis media(ear infection) from May to July and had only just recovered.
But if we missed this opportunity, he would soon be heading to Manchuria for a long stay.

And there, he would become someone who alters history.

“What do you think? We’ve gone over everything—I’m fine handling it alone, you know.”

“No, I’ll speak. Rather, could I ask you, Father, to act as a witness?”

“I don’t mind that. But it would’ve been better if Ryuuya were here.”

“My brother?”

“Yeah. That guy was drawn to Ryuuya’s theory of total war and said they had built a rapport. But even Ryuuya said he couldn’t read that guy’s true nature. He’s a formidable opponent.”

(Whaaat? Even my brother couldn’t see his depths? Just how deep is this guy? Well, I’ve got my material and my weapons ready—it’ll work out somehow.)

“I’ll be fine. I’ve got a trump card, after all.”

“Well, with this much confectionery piled up, even he should be satisfied.”

Laid out in front of the two waiting guests was a mountain of sweets—some ordered from famous shops, others specially made by the hotel.
Among them were rare Western-style confections not commonly found in Japan.

Of course, there were also traditional Japanese sweets, with no compromises—Toraya’s yokan included. The lineup was more than sufficient.

Just as the two of us were gazing at the mountain of sweets, Shizu’s voice announced the guest’s arrival: “Your guest has arrived.”

Then, without a sound, the door opened, and a man barged in briskly, nearly shoving Shizu aside in the process.

He wore a mix of Japanese and Western clothes, like a student from the Meiji era, but he was clearly a man nearing forty.

“Ootori-sama, I, Ishiwara Kanji, have come at your summons. I’ve been greatly looking forward to tasting these rare sweets.”

Saying that, his gaze finally fixed on me.

He probably didn’t come just for the sweets, but I’m sure he didn’t expect me to be here.

(First strike was successful against the natural disaster—no, genius.)

“My name is Ootori Reiko. My father is always in your care. Today, I wished to express our gratitude, which is why we’ve invited you here like this.”

“No, no, I’m the one who’s being terribly presumptuous by barging in. I’m deeply honored. But I must say, this is quite the surprise. I never expected to be summoned not by Ootori-sama, but by his daughter, the young Countess. I’ve been caught off guard, I admit. So then, Ootori-sama, what’s the plan for today?”

I thought I had pulled off a surprise attack, but he didn’t seem shaken in the least.
On the contrary, he looked between me and my grandfather with a gleam of amusement in his eyes.

“For now, let’s just enjoy the sweets together, the three of us. No need for any difficult talk when we’ve got good desserts in front of us.”

“Quite so. As expected of Ootori-sama.”

At my fatherly grandfather’s words, Ishiwara Kanji broke into a wide smile.
It was obvious at a glance—he gave off a unique charisma. 

At the same time, I could tell he was the kind of person people would either really like or really dislike.

But judging from the tone of my grandfather’s voice, he was genuinely enjoying himself. 

So it seemed their relationship was a friendly one.

“I’ve heard that you and my father are quite close, but I see now it’s true.”

“Reiko, I’m not that disliked in the military, you know. I’m just a bit of a background figure.”

“You’re hardly a background figure if you say so yourself. Young Countess, Ootori-sama and I are both disliked by the rule-bound types. In short, it’s a bond of kindred spirits.”

“I see. Then please, help yourself without hesitation. I selected these based on the preferences Father told me you have.”

“How thoughtful of you. And there are so many Western sweets I’ve never even seen before. Well then—let’s dig in!”

With that, he dove into the sweets with both hands, as if trying to grab them all at once.
His enthusiastic eating was oddly satisfying to watch, but he was a bit too rough with some of the more delicate confections—it made me feel a little sorry for them. 

Admiring how they look is part of the joy of sweets too, at least from a girl’s point of view.

“Mmm, delicious. This one’s good too!”

Unaware of my thoughts, the beaming middle-aged man happily devoured sweet after sweet.

(To think I’d end up having a sweets party with some old guy. And not just any old guy—Ishiwara Kanji, no less.)

Still, both my soul and body were craving sweets, so I wasn’t going to be outdone.
I reached out, started eating, and joined in fully. 

Thanks to this, Shizu had even given me permission to not worry about dinner tonight.

So, no regrets or concerns.

About an hour later.
Our three-person sweets party came to a close, and it was time for tea. 

My grandfather had a bit of alcohol, while Ishiwara Kanji sipped tea that Shizu had prepared, adding a mountain of sugar to it.

Then, with a small clink, the teacup was placed back onto the saucer.

“Well then, both my heart and my stomach have been thoroughly satisfied. I can’t thank you enough.”

“Think of it as a kind of celebration for your recovery.”

“Even if it was just otitis media, it can be quite troublesome. But I must say, I was fortunate to have received that medicine invented by the Ootori genius. I’m truly grateful.”

(I see. So even for something like an ear infection, they’re using antibiotics.)

Come to think of it, I wonder just how many people have been affected by the medicine Kouryuu-sensei made.

That alone must have changed history in a major way, yet surprisingly, I haven’t seen much deviation from the history I know.
Probably, the ripple effects will show up more clearly from here on.

And today, the goal was to attempt rewriting history through something other than medicine.

“The one who invited you today is Reiko, the one who prepared the sweets. I’m just her chaperone—don’t expect me to butt in. The two of you should talk freely.”

Just as I was starting to drift into thought, my grandfather said this and stood up at the end of his sentence, moving to a separate sofa off to the side.
Now, on the long sofa with the table in between, I was sitting face-to-face with Ishiwara Kanji.

The half-bald old guy across from me had a constantly amused expression on his face.

(Come to think of it, this man hasn’t treated me like a child from the beginning either.)

Thinking that, I decided to speak plainly.

“The reason I invited you today is simple, Ishiwara Kanji-sama—because I have a request for you.”

“A request from the Ootori family’s countess? I shall listen to it to the best of my ability. What is it?”

“If you’re willing to hear me out, I’ll arrange for sweets to be delivered to you every week by air once you’re stationed in Manchuria this autumn.”

“Well, I appreciate that. And flying a plane just for sweets—how bold and extravagant. But even for the Ootori family, that’s not a small sum to spend on just sweets. What would you have me do?”

Despite the fact that his next post hasn’t been officially decided, I mentioned “Manchuria in autumn” and he let it slide.
That was to be expected—he deliberately ignored it. 

Probably, he’s telling me to show my hand.

So, before replying to Ishiwara Kanji’s words, I quietly took a deep breath to steady myself.

I didn’t feel I could speak otherwise.

“I’ll be direct. Ishiwara-sama, would you please refrain from setting history in motion? If you agree to that, aside from the sweets, the Ootori family will offer whatever support or accommodations you may require.”

For a brief moment, his expression looked genuinely caught off guard—but it quickly shifted to one of curiosity.
No, the corners of his mouth were even more lifted than before.

He’s enjoying this. 

This genius.

(He probably understands what I’m trying to say…)

Thinking that, I waited for his answer. 

After a moment of feigned contemplation, he opened his mouth.

“To say ‘setting history in motion’—that sounds like a prophecy. So you’re saying I’ll do something in Manchuria that shifts the course of history… or perhaps I’ll be involved in some major incident?”

“You will set it in motion. Alongside your fellow comrades.”

Sensing that he was about to dodge the point, I pressed forward quickly, knowing this was the critical moment.

But Ishiwara Kanji’s smile didn’t falter.

“Comrades, is it? As far as I know, neither Ootori-sama nor Ryuuya-kun is involved. Oh wait—Nagata-san was quite fond of Ryuuya-kun.”

“Did you hear that, Father? Have you heard anything from Ryuuya-ojii-sama?”

“Just that Ryuuya’s been involved with Nagata-kun and the Futabakai group. The guy’s smart—on par with this one—but too softhearted, so Nagata and Tojo were always running him ragged.”

My father/grandfather ended his words with a sharp, knowing grin.

At that, Ishiwara Kanji’s expression visibly twisted—but only for a second.

(Those two—Tojo Hideki and this man—they’re like oil and water. He’d probably clash with my brother, too.)

As a history buff, the tangled web of their relationships is fascinating… but now’s not the time to indulge in curiosity.
After all, sitting across from me is, in a way, the most dangerous man in all of Japan.

And then, that dangerous man launched his counterattack.

“Well, let’s stop playing with words. That’s not really my thing. So tell me—was it the Ootori Zaibatsu, the Ootori family, or perhaps the Ootori Priestess herself who received a divine revelation about what I’m supposedly going to do?”

As soon as Ishiwara Kanji said that, I turned my eyes to my father/grandfather, Kiiichirou, who simply shrugged his shoulders lightly.

There are already some rumors circulating—though only within a very limited circle—about the “Ootori Priestess.”
So it wouldn’t be strange for a genius like Ishiwara Kanji to know.

(If that’s the case, then I can still fight.)

Grinning as confidently as I could manage, I answered boldly:

“You’re going to strike oil.”

Ishiwara Kanji

The man behind the Manchurian Incident.
Too sharp for his own good. A man who could see too far ahead. 

Idolized even by Tsuji and Hattori.

Ultimately tripped by his own actions—perhaps a textbook case of how geniuses often neglect the ground beneath their feet.

Or maybe he simply wasn’t cut out to be part of a larger organization, which led to his downfall. Also, an eccentric.

Incidentally, he was hospitalized for otitis media during this very same period in actual history.
On October 10, he was appointed Chief of Staff of the Kwantung Army.

Apparently had an extreme sweet tooth—probably because his brain was constantly demanding sugar.