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Chapter 88 – Spring Bullet Tour? (10)

At long last, the forced march of my spring break reaches its final checkpoint.
I’ve arrived in Kariya, Aichi Prefecture. This is where Toyoda is located.

Officially, the investment in Toyoda Automatic Loom Works is said to be based on recognizing the potential in the automatic loom invented by Toyoda Sakichi.
Apparently, it’s an incredible and even revolutionary machine—but since I’m not well-versed in machinery, I don’t fully understand it.
What I do know is that from this company, that “Toyota” will eventually be born.

That said, after originally suggesting it based on a simplistic idea, I did my homework in this world and had a change of heart for a while.
I planned to stop at simply offering support, assistance, and funding.

After all, before Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, there was Toyoda Shoten, and its backers were from the Mitsui zaibatsu.

What made Ootori decide to get involved anyway was largely because Torasaburou personally had a relationship with them as a fellow inventor.

And since Torasaburou said he wanted to stop by and show his face as a fellow engineer, we decided to drop by on our way back during this trip.
Besides, it’s not easy to get back to Tokyo from Hokuriku in a single day, so I figured we might as well.

Still, this is Mitsui’s territory—and since relations between Ootori and Mitsui are poor, even if we’ve technically gotten permission, digging too deep into someone else’s wallet is never a good move.

The matter of Toyoda also carries another meaning: by approaching a company connected to Mitsui, it serves as a way to establish a different pipeline to Mitsui, with whom we have poor relations.
That’s why we ended up getting involved with what is essentially a new company.

However, on the train, Torasaburou told me that the founder of Toyoda apparently doesn’t have any intention of making cars, which made me reconsider a little.
Maybe someone else will join the company, or perhaps one of their engineers will start building them.
It might even be someone else in the family—like the second generation—but those details aren’t something I retained in my memories from my previous life.

Because of that, I felt the urge to give things a push, just in case.
Since Ootori exists in this world—something that didn’t exist in my previous life—the flag to trigger the founding of Toyota Motor Corporation might not get raised at all.

And once I noticed that possibility, stepping in felt almost like a duty to me.

So here we are, in Kariya, Aichi Prefecture, where Toyoda Automatic Loom Works is located.
The area that would eventually become Toyota City is somewhere entirely different. Naturally, this isn’t Toyota City, and just like in my previous life, the name “Toyota” doesn’t even exist yet as a place name.

I came here with the intention of carving the name “Toyota” into the map of future Aichi—but in the end, I wasn’t needed at all.

“Ooh! Sakichi-san, long time no see!”

“I’ve been waiting for you, Torasaburou-san!”

The conversation that started continued for a while as if I weren’t even there.
They must have exchanged at least a thousand words.

“Oh, right! I almost forgot. This spring, I’ve been taking my niece around to observe different industries. Hey, go on, give your greeting.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Ootori Reiko of the Ootori Count family. I apologize for the sudden visit and any trouble we may have caused.”

“Well now, thank you for the polite introduction. I’m Toyoda Sakichi. Since Torasaburou-san didn’t introduce you, I couldn’t greet you even though I wanted to. Sorry about that.”

“Oh, not at all.”

“So I’m the bad guy now?”

Torasaburou let out a hearty laugh, which made it clear how close the two of them were.

“Oh, right. This girl has something she wants to talk to you about, Sakichi-san. Could you hear her out?”

“You’d like to talk? What is it, Reiko-sama?”

“Please, no need for the -sama, Toyoda-sama. It’s not exactly something formal, but there’s something I’ve been curious about and wanted to ask.”

“Oh? And that is?”

“Torasaburou grand-uncle told me that you and he are good friends, but I was wondering why that is. Even though you both work with machines, the type and purpose of those machines are completely different. So I was curious why you get along so well. When I asked him, he just said to ask you directly, so I thought I’d take this opportunity to do just that.”

“I see. It’s true that Torasaburou-san makes machines centered around automobiles, while we make weaving machines, but when it comes to casting and machining technology, there are actually many points in common.”

The way he added some hand gestures as he spoke made things easy to understand.
It was clear he was treating me as a child worthy of being spoken to properly.

“So that’s how it is. Then, Toyoda-sama, can you also make cars?”

“Hahaha. I’d like to if I could, but we only share some of the foundational technologies. Beyond that, there are many other things that need to be prepared before you can actually make a car. Do you like cars, Reiko-san?”

“Yes. They’re fast and convenient, and you can go anywhere with them. When I grow up, I want to drive one myself. When that time comes, I’d really like to ride in a car made by you, Toyoda-sama. As you can see from his personality, Torasaburou grand-uncle doesn’t seem likely to build a delicate enough car for a woman to drive.”

“A car that’s easy for women to use, huh.”

“Yes. I believe that you, Toyoda-sama, who can build delicate machines like weaving looms, would absolutely be able to do it.”

At those words, Toyoda-san paused in thought for a moment, then turned not to me, but toward Torasaburou.

“Torasaburou-san, what kind of cars is Ootori working on?”

“Our current focus, as you know, is Ford knockdowns and the trucks we’ve developed ourselves. What we’re working on now is mostly industrial vehicles, centered on trucks. That’s under orders from the authorities. Besides, we’ve got our hands in too many other things. Overall, we’re putting our efforts into precision instruments and machine tools, and there’s a lot we want to do.”

“If you’re that busy, I suppose cars aren’t a priority. Still, for us too, weaving machines come first. I’ll just keep cars as a dream for the future.”

“That’s the way to go. But if you ever decide to do it, let us know. This girl here’s got a pot that money just keeps pouring out of.”

“Torasaburou!”

The words slipped out before I could stop myself, and Toyoda-san looked a little surprised.
Torasaburou was clearly saying it on purpose, laughing as he did, but since I’m just a child, I can’t really stop him in moments like this.

“Hahaha, the mask slips. But you see, Sakichi-san, this girl’s the heir of the Ootori family. She’s not just any child. And what I said about the money isn’t a lie. You’ve at least heard the rumors, right? About the Ootori family having a miko?”

“I’ve heard the rumors, sure. Is it true?”

“Yes. I don’t have a pot that produces endless money, but I’m studying like this so I’ll be able to lead the Ootori family in the future.”

I turned my face and gaze toward Toyoda-san, trying to look as serious as possible. He looked back at me with a gaze that was clearly different from before.

After a few seconds, Toyoda-san let out a small sigh.

“You’re quite the young lady. I’d like my own children—no, even my grandchildren—to learn from you. But, Reiko-san, there’s no need to try and act too grown-up just yet. More than that, just like you said yourself, focus on learning for now. That will surely be of help to you in the future.”

“Yes. I’ll keep that in mind.”

“You know, Reiko, it’s because you talk like such a precocious kid that Sakichi-san gets worried about you. Try to be a little more aware.”

A light but firm knuckle tap came down from above.
Maybe that knock on the head was Torasaburou’s way of giving his final review of this trip.

After that, I also greeted Toyoda Rizarou, who serves as company president, and Toyoda Kiichirou, who is apparently a managing director.
But with those two, I didn’t exchange any words beyond the surface level.

Just like with Sakichi-san, Torasaburou did the talking, and I kept up the appearance of a precocious young lady tagging along for a social study trip.
I’ve started to realize that the mask I wear is beginning to slip more and more during this journey, but there’s no reason to go around revealing my true self. It tends to confuse the people I talk to, so I’ve been holding back.

On the other hand, I also came to realize that even if I revealed my true identity, as a child I have no authority outside the Ootori family, and therefore I can’t take responsibility—so I can’t afford to act carelessly.

Even within the family, I can only do as I please when I have the approval of my Great-Grandfather or Grandfather.
That’s why just realizing that I should probably start moving forward on this front was a major takeaway from this trip.

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿
Toyoda Sakichi:
Founder of Toyoda Automatic Loom Works. Inventor. Passed away on October 30, 1930.
Since the cause of death was acute pneumonia following a cerebral hemorrhage, he may live a little longer in this world, even if major achievements afterward are unlikely.
Toyota Motor Corporation was founded by his son Kiichirou, with his son-in-law Rizarou becoming the first president.