City Series:Volume7 Layer 3

Layer 3: Metal

11/15/1998

16:21

I was reading a book out of boredom in the Officers’ living room when I suddenly felt really thirsty and wandered out to the vending machine just outside the entrance.

Sensei was there glaring at the vending machine.

“What are you doing, Sensei? I’m not going to stand here and let you steal a drink.”

“I-I’m not stealing anything. There’s a drink I want, but the machine won’t let me press the button.”

I noticed the vending machine had taken a stiff wrestling stance.

“Nice form. Sensei, what was it you wanted to drink?”

“Hm? The peach nectar.”

“Why would you want that when it’s so cold out? Oh, and that button’s on the machine’s side. Is that its weak point?”

Sensei is slow, so it was probably blocking her attempts before she could press the button.

“Fine,” I sighed, putting a coin in the machine and hitting the nectar button with lightning speed.

“Okay, Sensei. Grab the drink yourself.”

“Thank you. …Oh.”

After grabbing the can, she held it out toward me.

“It’s nice and warm, isn’t it? Maybe the machine didn’t want you to press the button because the drinks were only just replenished.”

“But I wanted something ‘colllld’.”

“That can be arranged.”

I grabbed her by the collar, had her embrace the vending machine, and pressed the “colllld” button.

She shrieked.

Author Comment:

This chapter was for a special issue.

For the cover story, I think Japanese culture is incredible for inventing and keeping around the “colllld” labels on vending machines.

Record 88: What is That?

10/16/1998

16:01

The athletic festival decided to annoy us all by not being over yet.

And as always, when things went wrong, we were sent out to deal with it. So the next thing I knew, Sensei was pulling me along toward the archery dojo.

“So what is it, Sensei? Is something weird happening at this dojo?”

“Yes, they say some of their arrows have gone missing.”

“Um, I don’t see why they need my help with that. Can’t the club members search for them or you buy some more with your pocket money?”

“I don’t have that kind of money.”

“That doesn’t really address my main point.”

Anyway, I entered the dojo training ground to find Snowy was already there. She briefly rejoiced upon seeing Sensei, but she looked really grumpy when she saw me coming in behind Sensei.

“Oh, she brought you. What are you doing here? Tell me.”

“Um, give me a second to think up something.”

She drew her sword.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! Put that sword away! This is an archery dojo, not your mental killing zone.”

“A true Japanese heart does not distinguish between the bow and the blade. And I am at my wits’ end here anyway, so you can help me blow off some steam. Do not attempt to resist.”

Sensei moved in front of me, spread her arms, and spoke to Snowy.

“Stop that. As a teacher, I can’t just stand idly by and let you do that.”

A rare instance of her saying something worthwhile.

Then Sensei looked back to smile at me.

“Okay, I told her to stop and no one can say I just stood idly by. So I’ll be stepping aside now, okay?”

The questioning tone at the end there infuriated me for some reason, so I slapped her on the back and used a special attack. Sensei shrieked and crouched down and Snowy took a step back.

“So what happened here?” I asked the latter.

“W-well, while the archery club was practicing the human hunt for their festival performance, none of their arrows would hit anyone. Even when they took careful aim with their scope-equipped bows, the arrows would disappear just before hitting.”

“When was this training?”

“Last night.”

I looked up into the sky from below the eaves, but I didn’t see any arrows stuck into the moon or stars which were visible during the day. None in the sky itself either.

“It was cloudy last night,” said Snowy, crossing her arms.

“Oh, then I get what happened.”

I stepped out of the dojo. Snowy frowned, but I kept going.

If you throw a punch with belief in your heart, all things will receive the blow in accordance with the conservation of energy.

My fist punched down an arrow that suddenly appeared in the air in front of me.

Snowy frowned further, so I explained with a bitter smile.

“You remember the Professor’s crazy theory about using light to accelerate and see images from the past? This is the opposite. The arrows lost their light in the darkness last night, which made them reverse-accelerate and fall into the future.”

More and more of the arrows launched last night appeared while I spoke.

“Hey, Snowy. Quit standing there and get out here. This is a great way to blow off some steam.”

I couldn’t believe how many flying arrows appeared. They had a lot of speed and a disturbing number were aimed at head height.

I punched them all down while humming and thinking about how the athletic festival would be over soon.

I had to tell the archery club to do their human hunt during the day.

Author Comment:

I had a friend who did archery and it apparently takes a lot of concentration.

I think the tranquil atmosphere at those places is extremely valuable.

Record 11: All of a Sudden

04/18/1997

11:12

The 1st terms’ academic tests had begun.

During the break between 3rd and 4th period, I sat on the windowsill of the 2nd story classroom with my legs hanging outside. Everyone else was busy reviewing, but this wasn’t the kind of test that took problems out of the textbooks and knowing when to just give up was an important life lesson.

Then Sensei spoke from the front of the class.

“The next test takes problems straight from the textbook I’ve been using with you. Aren’t you lucky?”

Yeah, it was definitely time to just give up. For me and only me this time.

Whatever, I decided, looking up into the sky.

Then I heard a voice from below. It was your voice.

“That’s dangerous, you know?”

You must have been walking between classes. You held a music textbook and came to a stop among the walking students to look up at me.

“What? Were you thinking of jumping from there?”

“Kyah! You’ll see my underwear!”

Oh, she just threw a pebble at me. Ow. Ow ow ow. Stop that. Ow ow. That is not a pebble. It’s a dang rock. Practically a boulder.

Anyway, I sighed and placed my hands on the windowsill.

“Is your music test up next?”

“It is. We have to perform our Words. Hey, are you listening?”

“Yeah, I am. I’m listening like you wouldn’t believe. See, you don’t believe me. …Hey, stop trying to run away while I amuse myself.”

You looked back and breathed an exaggerated sigh.

“Here’s the thing.”

“Yeah?”

“No, never mind. I’m too ticked off right now.”

“What, you won’t even answer me now? I’ll shout to the whole school you don’t play fair!! Wait, I just did.”

You clicked your tongue, spread your feet a bit, and raised you right index finger.

“Listen. I don’t want to hear another word out of you.”

“You got it.”

“That was three words already.”

I really wished someone would make you play fair and restore my social standing, but you remained as unfair as ever.

“I’m sure you’ve heard, but the top scorers on these academic tests will be given preferential treatment on the Mountain entrance exam.”

I had indeed heard that, but even so…

“Huh, that’s news to me. What’s your point?”

You frowned, looked up at me, and started to speak.

“––––”

But you turned your back to me and continued walking toward the music room.

You knew all too well that inviting me to the Mountain would have led to me saying “this sure is sudden” and then following you like we were going right away.

You still looked somewhat conflicted, but I knew you would get over it eventually. And sooner rather than later.

“I should probably study.”

Waiting until you invited me wasn’t really fair, so I decided to stop being so unfair and start doing things that would surprise you.

What should I do? I wondered while looking up into the sky.

The sky was blue and cloudless.

I felt like it would absorb me and, when I looked around, I realized I had fallen onto the roof.

The bell indicating the beginning of the next test rang.

Author Comment:

For some reason, Sensei spends her break time in the classroom.

She’s probably talking with the students, but wouldn’t that make her late for her next class?

Also, I think you can see the special sort of connections found in a school in the way you can look out the window and immediately spot someone you know.

Record 50: Movement

02/04/1998

18:32

The evenings were indistinguishable from night in the winter. And there I was on top of a train crossing the Great Tokyo Fault. I looked to the side and saw Lady with me in the cold wind. She was making some adjustments with her keyboard hooked up to the electrain’s transformer.

“The Chancellor’s Officers have such a variety of jobs to do, don’t we? It seems weird for a student to be compressing the inside of a train because it’s too crowded.”

“To be fair, this is pretty unique to Tokyo. So how far can you compress it?”

“Up to eight times by speeding up the internal space’s music.”

When Lady began playing her keyboard, I heard what sounded like wind or something moving below the roof. That had to be the sound of the inside being compressed.

Lady continued playing in order to stabilize the music.

“But what are you doing here?” she asked. “I could have handled this on my own.”

“That is a very good question.”

“Wait…don’t tell me you’re here to look up my skirt in this wind.”

“Hold on. I’m not so bored I would come all the way out here to see something I can see anytime I want.”

“I’m not going to even think about what that last part means, but did you see it or not?”

“Let’s not jump to conclusions. In the interest of eliminating all misunderstandings, they were white.”

Her keyboard case proved its effectiveness as a blunt weapon by hitting me in the side of the head. Hey, hey, hey, hey! I only saw them once, so I don’t deserve to be hit this many times!

After raising the case overhead once more, Lady stumbled forward and fell.

“Eh?” She fixed her skirt and slammed the case into me again.

“The train’s speeding up.”

“Because I sent high-speed music into it. Eight times speed.”

That meant it was my turn. I could punch the speed, after all. So I stood up.

“You finish your adjustments. I’ll keep on punching until then.”

Author Comment:

She’s casually doing some crazy things.

And can she even decompress them when she leaves?

Record 57: But I Won’t Forget

03/28/1998

21:16

The Officers’ living room air conditioner hadn’t been working well recently. Senpai dusted it to try and put it in a better mood.

“Oops. I cut it.”

I looked over to see the air conditioner leaning backwards with one of its corners cut clean off. He really can cut anything, can’t he?

“Hm, now I am worried about it. I should go buy some medicine.”

Senpai started to leave, so I quickly pointed at the safe in the corner of the room.

“You can get the money from there and charge it as an Officers expense. I just did the same after buying a manga magazine with a misleading cover.”

“I will not be misled and I have a personal purchase to make as well, so do not worry.”

“I see. But what’s this personal purchase?”

Senpai laughed quietly with his back turned.

“My half-life is coming up soon. And I am exhausted from all the deskwork gathering materials related to next term. I am worried I need more iron.”

Instead of responding, I took a look around. We were the only two here.

No one else had heard him.

Then he left the room. He opened the door and said one last thing.

“Do not worry. Because I will worry enough for the both of us.”

Author Comment:

This is close to the beginning of the air conditioning story.

It probably has to do with Senpai’s nature, but it feels like the protagonist and Senpai can be really unreserved in how they speak with each other. I bet they actually don’t discuss these kinds of things with You.

Record 52: And to Play

02/20/1998

20:18

The end of the school year was approaching and the Tokyo Chancellor’s Officers was receiving a 2nd Special Duty Officer. Not only that…

“It’s a transfer student from Kansai, which is in such a tense state of late.”

Our living room felt so cramped when decorated with chains of colored paper and a confetti ball. I stayed by the wall, watching the girls make a big fuss.

“I wonder what kind of person they are. I hope it’s a cute girl,” I said.

“Your overly honest instincts are going to get you into trouble one of these days. Get even further out of our way.”

“Yes, you should really learn your place. And look in a mirror.”

“I might think better of you if you weren’t like this, you know? You’re such an idiot.”

Wow. They were insulting me in stereo with a center speaker.

“I wonder what kind of Kansai person is coming.”

“I bet they’re a really good straight man.”

Maybe so, I thought while looking out the window. I noticed something running away in a hurry, making me wonder if something had happened.

The others noticed too and stopped working. In order to calm everyone’s nerves, I demonstrated my highly refined wit.

“ ‘They say they’re redoing their fencing next door.’ ‘Really? En garde!’ ”

No sooner were the words out of my mouth than the wall behind me was blasted away for the punchline.

I looked back while being crushed like paper and saw a big red American car driven by a tall blond guy with a pompadour.

“Huh? This is the Tokyo Chancellor’s Officers’ living room, right? Anyway, they called me the Boss at my old school. Nice to meet you all.”

Everyone pointed down toward me. And…

“That’s a wall, not a fence.”

Author Comment:

The Boss’s introduction chapter.

With Senpai being the way he is, I think the Officers were mostly girls until now.

It was probably a relief for the protagonist to have another boy with them.

Even if that boy arrived with a really powerful tsukkomi.

Record 74: An Ocean of Metal

07/30/1998

3:43

Maybe it’s because we traveled all over for both work and fun during the first half of summer break, but the Boss’s car has a cold. So after work today, we brought some canned peaches to the car clubroom where the Boss hangs out.

“This is not my kind of ocean.”

The clubroom was a lot like a workshop, but the floor had been dug out and filled with an ocean of tools and screws.

The tool ocean’s waves washed in and out while the Boss wore an aqualung and performed nursing maintenance on a red Caddy with a wet towel on its head.

“Hi. Decided to visit, did you?”

That greeting came from the science club’s monkey who was swimming around with a snorkel on.

“What are you doing here, Professor?”

“This place has always been a Mecca for scrounging up parts. Today, I found-”

He was swept away by a large wave before he could say any more.

“What a messy place,” said Snowy, picking up a screw and opening a can of peaches with it. “Very rude if you ask me.”

“I could describe your behavior the same way.”

“What behavior?” she asked, glaring at me until she had her feet swept out from under her by a wave. “Ah,” was all she got out before she collapsed toward the ocean at the exact moment the wave crest burst open and the Professor leaped from the ocean.

The traditional wild girl and the futuristic fool crashed into each other.

Author Comment:

The car club and a sea of tools.

The Boss has already become the face of the club, but he just loves cars, not organizations.

The Professor is there too, but I feel like he exists everywhere at the same time.

Also, I think Snowy used her Mobilized Writing to open the can with a screw.

Record 46: Cheerfully, Cheerfully

01/01/1998

9:29

It was New Year’s. January 1. The start of the year. Call it what you like, but I got up early, killed some time, and then left home.

I walked to the neighborhood shrine.

After climbing the long stone staircase, I entered the small shrine grounds without many other people around. Barely anyone was here for their New Year’s shrine visit yet.

But I knew one of the people here.

“What are you doing here, Professor? Hoping to purify yourself?”

“What’s this? This is the last place I expected to run into an impure idiot like you. Were you looking for the purification popcorn they sell over there?”

“That’s clearly pigeon food, moron. Also, I dread to think what kind of year I have coming when you’re the first person I meet on New Year’s. Fix this.”

“You can rid yourself of that stress by throwing some change toward the god in the little hut over there. The more you hit him with, the more he loves it. Very unscientific, if you ask me.”

“I don’t see what’s so unscientific about someone being into SM, but I also don’t care, so I’ll let it slide this time. Anyway, what are you doing here?”

“Just taking a look at the Sein Frau. I assume you know that the old Sein Frau that sleeps underground here only emerges on holidays.”

“I didn’t know that, actually. And I live here.”

The monkey gave me a curious look.

“How do you not know when she’s a national treasure that was even used as the model for Kanda’s Sein Frau? You are clearly lacking in the brains department.”

“No brains is better than whatever kind of brains you’ve got. Besides, I’ve been burned by national treasures before. We went to view a living national treasure for a field trip last year, but it turns out he only comes out of his burrow at night. What was even the point?”

“Can we get back on topic?”

I nodded and the Professor stuck a hand in his pocket.

He pulled out a 3cm piece of wood.

“This is a part of that Sein Frau’s frame.”

A pair of guard priests immediately grabbed him by the arms and dragged him out behind the shrine. A while after I watched him go, I heard strange screams from behind the shrine. He eventually reemerged, fixed his collar, and pulled a diagram from his pocket.

“And this is a top-secret copy of that Sein Frau’s design.”

A pair of guard priests immediately grabbed him by the arms and dragged him out behind the shrine. A while after I watched him go, I heard strange screams from behind the shrine. He eventually reemerged, fixed his collar, and pulled a screw from his pocket.

“And this is a piece of that Sein Frau’s heart.”

A pair of guard priests immediately grabbed him by the arms and dragged him out behind the shrine. A while after I watched him go, I heard strange screams from behind the shrine. He eventually reemerged and fixed his collar.

I spoke up before the thief could say anything more.

“Don’t you really need to return that heart screw?”

“Not necessarily, actually.” He pulled an envelope from his pocket. “Read this.”

“Sorry, but can I burn it in the fire over there just in case it has a bomb or some other booby trap inside? Also, this isn’t a love letter from you to me, is it?”

“I am unfortunately a lifeform that crosses the boundary of sex in order to reproduce.”

“Wow, really? I thought for sure you were the result of lightning striking some weird mud.”

Meanwhile, I pulled a letter from the envelope.

“Is this from that Sein Frau?”

It was a simple letter. It said she wanted to leave.

“So did you swap out the part of her closed heart that kept her from moving?”

“I imagine she is enjoying the New Year’s film festival in Shinjuku right about now.”

“But why did she send you the letter?”

“It was actually just lying on the ground and it somehow ended up in my hands.”

A pair of guard priests immediately grabbed him by the arms and dragged him out behind the shrine.

Author Comment:

An automaton story.

This is linked to the story of Kanda’s automaton.

Japan’s automatons are briefly touched on in the Osaka game.

They’re mostly viewed as machines or tools and no one wants them to have a personality.

Record 24: Treat Old Things with Care

07/22/1997

10:27

The first thing I did after getting back from the Mountain was clean and tidy up my room. After a full day of that, I came to a realization.

“Wouldn’t it be faster to just give up?”

Well, that and that my parents hadn’t been back the entire time. The bicycle in the bike parking was all rusted and everything.

That was worrying, but I still took the bike out to go buy some dinner and rent a video to kill some time. A cheap germanium radio hung from the handlebars and I pedaled alongside the railroad not far from home.

The night sky was full of stars. This was around when Saturn or Jupiter would descend to the city, get drunk off cheap shochu, and make a scene.

I heard a voice from below one of the blue summer gas lights.

“Hey, wait up!”

I had a feeling looking back would get me dragged into something unpleasant, so I ignited my own accelerator. But just as I stepped down hard on the pedals, a powerful grip grabbed the luggage rack.

“W-wait! Why are you running away?”

“Oh, it’s just you, Sensei. What are you doing out at this hour? And in a track suit?”

“Um, no reason. I wasn’t jogging to try and lose weight if that’s what you’re implying.”

“What’s your goal?”

“Lose 2kg by August.”

“I meant how far you’re planning to run.”

She gave me quite the lecture. And as punishment, I had to carry the exhausted woman back to her house.

“By the way, Sensei, did you know it’s illegal to have two people riding a bike?”

“I did, but just focus on pedaling. I am only sitting here and the bike happens to be moving at the same time. I am not riding it.”

It’s best not to argue with crazy people, so I shut up and pedaled.

“Ooh, the wind feels so nice. Jogging was worth it after all.”

“This has nothing to do with jogging.”

“Let me have this. Anyway, how were things at the Mountain?”

“They forced us to study and train while living a ridiculously ascetic lifestyle. I barely escaped without being brainwashed into a responsible, hardworking person.”

Then I spotted an enemy up ahead: Snowy.

Her black track suit was the opposite of what you’re supposed to wear when jogging at night and she was swinging her wooden sword around while she jogged.

If I didn’t know better, I’d think she was a threat to the community.

I caught up to her from behind.

“What is wrong with you? Why are you training first thing after getting back?”

“Because I am not like you. Oh, hello, Sensei.”

“Hello. Care for a lift?”

Why was she suggesting something so dangerous?

Fortunately, Snowy must have been thinking the same thing because she shook her head.

“I have a crucial objective to complete. I cannot afford to take things easy.”

“Aiming to be Tokyo Chancellor?”

Snowy answered that with a chuckle and a sidelong glance my way.

“Heh heh heh. He would never guess I am trying to lose 2kg by August, would he? Because I must fit into my yukata. But I also can’t push myself too hard after what happened.”

“What, you’re on a diet too?”

“How did know!? You used some kind of mind reading spell on me, didn’t you!?”

I wish I could read your mind to know what the hell is going on in there, I thought with a sigh. That was when my bike suddenly slowed down.

I also heard a metallic sound, so I looked down and saw all the spokes had burst. I groaned, tilted my head, and saw a sticker on the frame saying “holds up to 3kg past weight limit”.

“Sensei, I thought you said you only needed to lose 2kg.”

Sensei frantically shook her hands side to side.

“I-it’s probably just old?”

Author Comment:

I often rode my bike around like this.

Sensei tends to be careless, so she’s being pretty careless with her diet too. Snowy is doing it too, but with her, it appears to be more about keeping her ability points from dropping than it is about her appearance.

By the way, a friend of mine had all the spokes on his bike’s rear wheel break off while he was riding it.

He suddenly dropped straight down just like something from a manga.

Record 27: Meeting People

08/15/1997

20:40

I had some free time one summer night, so I patted the free time’s head and decided to take it for a walk.

I knew I still had the bike that was broken by a certain woman the other day.

I searched around and found it wasn’t in the apartment’s bike parking.

Where did it get off to?

I had no choice but to visit Sensei’s house. Well, apartment really. She emerged in an apron, so she was probably preparing dinner.

“Sensei, I’m looking for the bike you broke with your fat ass the other day.”

She slammed the door in my face. The free time tilted its head in confusion and wagged its tail.

“Sensei, give this free time some food so it won’t run away.”

The door cracked open and a bowl of cat food emerged.

When I gave that to the free time, some of my memory returned. I remembered taking the broken bike to school because that was closer.

“But what happened after that?”

At any rate, I went to school. I entered the girls’ dorm and openly snuck into one of the rooms.

“Hey, Snowy.”

“What now? Let's Go Sanbiki’s Cutting Edge is reaching its climax. If you need something, be quick about it.”

“Remember when you were 2kg overweight the other day and my bike broke? I was wondering-”

She slammed the door in my face. What was her problem? I had heard that kids these days have trouble communicating, but was it really this bad?

“I guess it is.”

Every single door in the dorm building was shut and locked.

That got even me feeling down, so I took the free time for a walk through the school. Were there any more clues I could find?

Some of the planets had been in the city that night, but they probably wouldn’t have seen my bike.

“But what about the winds?”

“What about us?”

I heard a voice from overhead and looked up to see a night breeze.

She hovered overhead and tilted her head.

“Are you having some kind of problem while taking that free time around?”

“Yeah, I’m trying to find something.”

“I see. Is there any way I can help?”

“I’m actually looking for my bicycle.”

“A bicycle, you say? It must be a nice one then. Unlike the piece of junk without any spokes I saw in the bike parking the other day.”

This time, I slammed the door in the wind’s face.

Anyway, I went to the bike parking and there it was. But what to do about the broken wheels? Using Saturn’s rings would probably be cheaper, but those are mostly meant for off-roading.

“Oh? What are you doing? Could you help me with my job?”

I looked over to see you walking over carrying a bag.

When I looked around again, I found the free time had disappeared at some point.

Author Comment:

The direct connection to Record 24 is a rare thing for Tokyo.

In my initial plot outline, I had planned to connect 8/15 to the final battle, but I remember eventually settling for this instead.

Record 108: I Will Search For That

02/14/1999

23:01

It was getting to be pretty late at night.

I hadn’t heard anything from Senpai who was apparently fighting at Tachikawa Airfield, but what did that mean?

Just when I was getting bored of sitting around, you and Snowy arrived.

“Should you really be back?” I asked. “Senpai apparently got into a fight at Tachikawa Airfield, so I’m just waiting to hear how it went.”

“Eh?”

Your face clouded over, so I asked why.

“We received word from Kansai that a god of war or other large weapon was transported to Tokyo.”

“Are you saying Senpai is fighting that?”

That would be crazy even for him. I got up, but you held out a hand to stop me.

“I will go. You wait here.”

“You’re not much of a fighter, so what can you accomplish?”

“But what if something else happens? We need to leave a fighter here.”

“Snowy’s here.”

“Has Senpai ever said he’s worried about her?”

After some thought, I turned to look at Snowy.

She looked me in the eye with her sword held to her side.

“Tell me,” she said.

I sighed.

“He has said that.” I turned to you. “And he said he doesn’t want to worry you.”

“What about you?”

“Nothing, I think he just didn’t get the chance to say it.”

“I see.” You smiled a little with your eyebrows somewhat drooping. “Then he isn’t worried about either of us and I am the better fit for this job. Don’t worry. Knowing him, he’s worrying for the enemy as he cuts them down.”

You hurriedly opened a cabinet and pulled out a first-aid kit.

“I’ll be borrowing the spare one. I expect I’ll need the iron pills.”

“Why even bother worrying about him?” I asked you.

“Are you not worried?”

Was I not?

I wasn’t sure, so I didn’t answer.

Then you said more on your way out the door.

“You aren’t worried about him either, are you?” I could hear a smile in her voice, but not an accusing one. “But I am. Even if he isn’t worried about me. That’s why I don’t think I’ve caught up to him yet.”

Author Comment:

The way they all try to be so considerate of each other may be their weakness.

Back to Layer 2

Return to Main Page

Forward to Layer 4