2.1
An upscale residential area in Shirokane, Minato-ku.
In a corner of the area, a large historical mansion stands out.
The exterior of the house does not look old at all, as if it has been repeatedly renovated with a lot of money. A mere politician would never be able to live there.
There are several surveillance cameras installed at the entrance of the house, which gives the house a mysterious atmosphere.
After checking the magnificent nameplate “Sakayanagi” with a sideways glance, I pressed the doorbell and the first person to answer the door was an elderly man who appeared to be a servant of the mansion.
Since I had already made an appointment with him, I was allowed to pass through the gate without any trouble.
The spacious tatami mats, which smelled of rush grass, didn’t seem to be damaged.
It was obvious at a glance that the tatami mats were regularly reupholstered and that a lot of money had been spent in this area.
Going further into the room, a western-style room was revealed, and we were told to sit on the sofa and wait for the next meeting.
I thought about how I should behave toward the people I’m about to meet.
I choose to sit on the sofa and wait without hesitation.
As someone who works for Naoe-sensei, who has a project for the future, I have no intention of making myself look small.
As I stare at the steam from the tea that eventually arrived, the person I was waiting for appeared.
“Thank you for waiting.”
The first impression I got instantly was of a thin, slender man.
He had a quiet voice and didn’t have the arrogant attitude that many rich people have.
“Nice to meet you. My name is Ayanokouji. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to meet with me.”
His demeanor was unassuming, but with the bare minimum of courtesy.
The fact remains that I’m the interloper and the one making the request.
“I’m Sakayanagi. I have heard about you from Naoe-sensei several times.”
“I hope he didn’t say anything bad.”
“No, not at all. He said that you’re a very talented person. And when I heard that you’re the same age as me, I felt a sense of embarrassment.”
For a man who’s been walking down the winner's track since birth, why would he care about the people below him? If he’s just being modest, I’ll give him credit for being a good liar in his own way.
“Thank you very much. But I hear that you’re also quite famous.”
First of all, I would like to confirm the authenticity of Sakayanagi's humanity and truthfulness.
“No, I still have a long way to go. My father was great, but that's really all there is to it.”
He didn’t take advantage of my compliments and smiled bitterly as if he was troubled.
We continued to exchange probing words for a while, but this impression didn’t change. Since he showed no sign of wanting to end the conversation, I thought it would be better for me to step in.
“The reason I’m here is because I remembered that Naoe-sensei had told me that I should turn to you when I have a problem. I’m ashamed to say that I came here to ask you for help.”
Rich people don’t welcome such a way of starting a conversation.
This is because money is at the root of most of their problems.
They want to invest, start a business, and so on, but they don't have the capital.
“How can I help you?”
Sakayanagi's face changed slightly, though he didn’t seem alarmed.
“I'm thinking of starting up a project. But I’ll need a lot of money to carry it out.”
“I see. So what issue do you have for me…? No, I think you came to ask me for a favor.”
“I’m not asking to receive money from you, whom I’ve never met before. However, I would like to ask you to do something similar. I would like you to act as a liaison between me and the business world.”
I pulled out a new document from a clear file that I’ve prepared myself and presented it to him.
Sakayanagi didn’t reach for it, however, and kept looking at me instead.
Although I can’t read his expression, I assume that he’s still wary of me.
No, he must be.
Even though he’s heard of me by name, I was a stranger to him.
I’m not a politician, nor am I known to the public.
If I were a stranger to Sakayanagi, he wouldn’t easily read my files.
It's the rich man's fate to get into trouble if he finds out about it.
“I see. You're not asking me for a loan, are you?”
Yes. I can't just barge in and ask him to give us money. Of course, the only reason for my being here is to get him to approve our project. The important thing is not to bow down and ask for money, but to convince many people to invest in the project.
However, if I don't even have the opportunity to propose that, it’ll end up being an impracticable theory on the table.
“We want to start this project to save the lives of as many children as possible and to provide them with a proper education. I believe that we can provide such a facility with your help. I’m one of many that were strongly impressed by the Advanced Nurturing High School that your father realized.”
Children, education, life.
It’s inevitable that these words would stick in Sakayanagi's mind.
This man's father is in charge of high school education and is truly a leader who guides children.
When it comes to children, he will not allow any lax loopholes here where he does not even look at them.
“Then, shouldn’t you consult with my father instead of me?”
“That may be the right course of action, but the world of politics is not so simple. Kijima-sensei is the one who introduced the existence of the Advanced Nurturing High School to the world. Your father must have had a close relationship with him. If that’s the case, how can I, a member of the Naoe faction, a rival of Kijima-sensei, ask for his advice?”
“Did you ever consider the possibility that I might be on good terms with Kijima-sensei?”
“Of course it is possible, but I’ve never heard anything about it. I just thought I'd take a chance.”
There are some lies in my story, but most of it’s true. Even if this man's father is a powerful individual who knows what he's talking about, we can't tell him what we’re planning since he’s a member of the Kijima faction.
“Let me ask you frankly. You do not want Kijima-sensei to know about this information, do you? Is that correct?”
“I don’t deny that.”
“If that’s the case, then I’m a little confused. Ayanokouji-sensei doesn’t know whether I’m on Kijima-sensei’s side, Naoe-sensei’s side or neutral. Are you sure you are willing to share such a plan with us? If I look through the material, I’ll get information. I don't think you know who you’re talking to.”
“That's true. If you were to say that it’s because you trust me, who you have been speaking to for but a few minutes, then that would be a bad joke.”
Sakayanagi nodded without hiding.
“However, there is one thing I believe in as a politician, and that is that I have full trust in Naoe-sensei. Naoe-sensei knows the weight of words. If you were the kind of person who would divulge this to Kijima-sensei or your own father, Naoe-sensei would never advise me to turn to you in a time of need.”
“...You trust Naoe-sensei, don't you?”
“Most politicians will join one faction or another in the near future. No matter what faction you are in, once you have decided to support a particular person, you just have to trust them til the end. I don't think there should be a shred of doubt in that.”
“I see… Naoe-sensei has you by his side.”
Sakayanagi said happily and sat back down a little deeper.
“As you know, my father has a close relationship with Kijima-sensei. Did you ever wonder about my connection with the Naoe-sensei?”
“Of course, it’s not that I have not wondered,” I said.
“I respect my father and I see him as my goal at the same time. I don't know if I will follow the same path or a different one, but I want to at least explore different possibilities. That’s why I’m learning with Naoe-sensei, who’s considered a good opponent to Kijima-sensei. My father doesn’t oppose this, but rather silently supports me.”
“You seem to be very open-minded that even your enemies agree to help spread your knowledge. And at the same time, he seems to trust you to keep your mouth shut.”
In a position like this man's, it would be likely that he would follow in his father's footsteps.
When you have a relationship with a hostile organization, you have the opportunity to obtain information about them, but you also have the risk of passing some onto them as well.
However, it’s true that Sakayanagi has gained Naoe-sensei’s trust, as shown by how he likes him.
“Which is why I’m now more convinced of this. I hope you will take a look at it.”
“I was going to ask you to leave as soon as possible depending on what you wanted, but that's no longer the case.”
“I certainly appreciate your spirit and belief. I will take a look.”
Finally, Sakayanagi picked up the material and looked it over.
After reading through them, Sakayanagi muttered without thinking deeply.
“It’s true that hundreds of children are abandoned every year in Japan. I don't accept that reality, and it's not a bad thing that politicians are trying to do something about it. In fact, we should welcome it.”
“You mean you sympathize with them?”
“Of course I sympathize with them. This is exactly the kind of issue that should be on the agenda of the government, not a private citizen like me... I hope that you will take up this issue and work on countermeasures.”
“If I could do that, I would. But the country’s mechanics are not so simple. The issue with the abandonment of children has not been eliminated. There are still children in single-mother families, single-father families, and poor families who cannot receive the education they seek, and the cycle of poverty shows no sign of stopping; additionally, the disparity in society continues to widen. Is that right?”
“...Yes, that's right.”
“If you watch TV, you would know that mothers who give birth secretly in restrooms at train stations have to be buried in the dark. This is not an uncommon story. The law isn’t well established and the situation isn’t acceptable,
I can only imagine how regretful it must be for a mother to end her child’s life out of concern for the public's opinion. Of course, there are those who can be ruthless against unwanted births, but not all of them willingly want to become criminals. If there’s a generous place where people can help with open arms, the number of people who grieve will be minimized.”
If this project comes to fruition, it could save the lives of 10, 20, and eventually over 100 children. No, it will be more than that.
“I’m sure that you, who’s closer to our side, understand that being a politician doesn’t mean that everything goes as you wish. Whether you’re a member of the Japanese Parliament or a local councilor, your title states that you enact laws, decide budgets, and enact ordinances, but no one listens to young politicians while those who hold the real power work for their own personal agendas. Or do I... No, you want me to continue to forsake the lives of children until I've been a leading politician for 20 or 30 years and have a say in the matter?”
Sakayanagi, who’s currently listening, would feel just as guilty for his inaction.
I will emphasize that strongly.
“But… still you’re a congressman. You’re the one who should face the country and fight against it. How are you going to proceed if you don't put this on the country’s agenda in the first place?”
“We’re politicians and civil servants, but we’re also Tokubetsushoku.
We don't intend to make a profit, but we can move in any way we want.”
“You work privately to save children?”
“I believe that now that Naoe-sensei is paying attention to you, and now that you’ve started your career as a politician, the people around you will listen to your voice. That’s why I believe that having you build a pipeline to the business world will be a step toward realizing this goal.”
“It’s true that, unlike ordinary people, the color in people's eyes changes just because you’re a politician. If what’s written in this project can be realized, there may be people who’ll raise their hands…”
Being the second generation to a great father, this man is at least far more capable than Kamogawa and others.
While he shows a good-natured side, he refuses to give easy answers.
“There are ways to raise funds. As you said, you’re allowed to work on the side, right? We can appeal not only to the domestic market but also to the world by sending out messages on the Internet.”
“You want me to appeal to the fact that our country’s laws aren’t keeping up with the current times? It would be a disgrace to Naoe-sensei's face, not mine. This is a matter that needs to be pursued in the strictest confidentiality at this stage. That’s why we need the help of people in the business world. We need your help.”
“...We’re willing to introduce you to people in the business world. But whether it will really work or not is another matter.”
People won’t be pleased if only the beautiful aspects are laid out. They would be rather wary.
“So what do you think we should do?”
“Don't lie...expose all of your thoughts and objectives, Ayanokouji-san.”
If we could do that, we would have no trouble.
“I understand that it’s difficult to comprehend. But I’m not thinking about making a profit at all, it’s enough if I can save the children.
It’s not like I want any credit, would you believe such a person?”
Certainly, I would laugh it off if such an individual appeared in front of me.
“He wants status and honor, he wants to make money. That's why he saves children. It’s a blunt way of putting it, but I think many will be more likely to believe me if someone said this. And you’re a member of the Japanese Parliament. If they know that this is the foundation for aiming higher, I think some of them will think that they will receive great interest when you eventually become a big shot.”
“...Indeed.”
“Of course, it would be better for the children if there were no self-interest at all, that is unquestionably the ideal, but... What are you looking for, and what are you trying to achieve with this project?”
“Status, honor, and money—certainly indispensable things you’ll want eventually.”
It’s absolutely necessary, as this man says.
But there's a big reason why I'm interested in this project.
“Japan cannot compete with the rest of the world as it is now. However, we cannot catch up with the global world if we just watch how the top countries develop their human resources. That’s why we want to give a thorough education to our children and raise them to be geniuses who can compete with the world. That's what we believe. We don’t just save lives. I want to turn those lives into something of high value in this world—that is my true purpose.”
The forced rescues and education—this can be hard for the world to accept.
“A child’s education is left to the parents. You believe that children whose parents were absent could be raised and educated for your ideals.”
“It’s not for me. It’s for the future of Japan.”
The Japan which rose in the aftermath of war and bubble economy is gone and is now on its descent.
Japan has already been ridiculed as one of the still developing countries, and we must put an end to this situation.
“What do you think when you only see elderly politicians? Would you believe that these old people, who are over 70 or 80 years old, have any real feelings for Japan? All they care about is what they can do while they’re alive. I, too, may change my mindset to such a problematic attitude. But not now. Now, as a representative of the youth, I’m concerned about the future and want to save it. That’s why we must take action as soon as possible.”
I found myself speaking passionately.
Was I misled by this man's shrewd thinking, or did my instincts as a politician kick in?
“Does Naoe-sensei know about this?”
“No. This is all my personal opinion.”
I can't confirm here.
But Sakayanagi seemed to understand and nodded once after looking me in the eye.
“It seems that my father's and my educational philosophy and your philosophy are very different. However, that isn’t a bad thing. In fact, it’s one of the most important approaches. It’s an important case to judge which is right. The situation is very similar to how I’m standing near Naoe-sensei right now.”
The man's father is in charge of the Advanced Nurturing High School.
It’s certainly one of the newest endeavors.
But as Sakayanagi says, it’s very different from my policy.
“As you wish, I will introduce you. But I have one condition.”
“What would that be?”
“When this project actually comes to fruition, please let me stand by and watch how you execute it.”
“Is that really all you want?”
“That is very important to me. I will learn a lot from you.”
“I promise you. Once the facility is actually built, you’ll be free to come and go as you please. All I ask of you is for you to see the results of your work.”
It's a small price to pay for a connection to the business world.
Besides, I’m also interested in many things, such as the structure of the Advanced Nurturing High School.
I also may be able to find out some information about Naoe-sensei's rival Kijima-sensei.
Information is power, whether it’s for our friends or enemies.
But I wonder if it’ll go so easily.
The man in front of me is beaming from start to finish, and even though he has some negative opinions, he seems to be on our side from the very beginning.
Is there any possibility that there’s more to it than what meets the eye?
Just because Naoe-sensei recommended this project doesn’t guarantee that there isn’t another person behind it.
If what we’re trying to do gets leaked due to this man…
I may have rushed to get the money, but I may have overstepped the mark a bit.
Even though I’ve done some research on this man in advance, I haven’t been able to examine him as closely as usual due to lack of time. It's dangerous to lean on faith…
But we constantly have to be prepared to take this kind of risk and deal with the outcomes.
“If you’d like, I’d be happy to have dinner with you soon. I'd love to hear more about your high school education.”
“I was also hoping to hear from you about politics in addition to this project. I would be happy to go out with you.”
The invitation to dinner and other events makes a mere shallow relationship seem more realistic.
Let's go for round two.
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