Yakusoku to eiyo - 約束と栄誉

[Shelco]

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Location: Planet Kyushu, Kyushu system, Kusari teikokku

Date: August 8th, 802 A.S.

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Discipline and order, both important parts of one's life in the empire of Kusari, where those that obeyed the Tenno's word and the orders of their officials would be pleased to hear of their progress. Most people were very devoted to their loyalty at times, others were not, the Nomad war has carved a hole into the once strong empire, Kusari was the second most suffering house under the influence of the infected Tekagi. The economy was heavily going down and a visible amount of disappointment and sadness were somehow carving their ways through the minds of the people. While many worked to fix what was damaged, others have already lost their faith, everything was oppositional to the day Yukiyama was born. The smiles have disappeared and the music has been silenced. The people that were opposed to this very clear and uncomfortable truth the most were the soldier of the imperial Kusari Naval Forces.

Yukiyama was sitting at the table with her parents, the mood was... dull, as there was an uncomfortable silence filling the dining room most of the time. Usually Fujimoto was the one making it interesting with his experiences in the Naval Forces, but not for a while. The war has changed the way the people were serving the Tenno, the overall will to serve out of dedication has shrunk with the new responsibilities that came. Back then many people aspired to join, it was honorable and highly seen as such by the people. A soldier of the Naval Forces would have been very respected, the people were patriots and the soldiers were treated like the true defenders of this patriotism. But all this changed, with the many destructions that have occurred, people lost their jobs.. their lives and their future, many citizens became homeless with their working place demolished. 'But this state would have had to be temporary, no nation would ever be in such a state forever.' was a common mindset to keep up a slight bit of motivation. "Sit straight, Yukiyama, this is not one of your friend's tables." Her father said with an annoyed voice, Yukiyama was resting her head on her right arm while picking around in her bowl, slowly looking over to her father who was keeping his look focused on her. She understood the message and sat herself up correctly the way he wanted her to, letting out a sigh while doing so. He was referring to Yukiyama's school friends who were not as disciplined as her and thus Fujimoto often told her to not to be around them for too long, but today this seemed to be less about trying to raise her the way he thought is right but simply let out his inner anger. "I don't know how often I will have to tell you this, wakai on'nanoko-" He laid his chopsticks down and gestured with his hands while speaking, just as always. "A healthy way of sitting will benefit the condition of your back so you will be able to help your husband at home, men don't like women that cannot take care of themselves or the house, did you understand that?" He finished and still looked at her. "Hai, otōsan." She replied, her voice being less enthusiastic as it used to be. Mitsuha was watching the whole situation from the other side of the table, she shook her head slightly when Yukiyama continued eating and looked at her for a brief moment. Mitsuha's glance looked rather sad, she knew that Fujimoto was bothered, but not like this, Yukiyama disrespecting traditions and rules was not beneficial.

An hour later, Yukiyama was sitting in her room, leaning on the windowsill that was at her bed on which she sat and was looking outside the rainy weather with a bored face yet again. Nothing to do and nothing she has not yet seen already, neither inside nor outside. Her father was sitting in his bureau and did his paperwork, it was much more than usual. Suddenly, Yukiyama heard some slight footsteps coming closer, it was her mother who entered her room a moment later. "Musume... how are you my little star?" She asked her kindly and sat down behind Yukiyama. "Nothing..." Yukiyama replied, since she was basically having her face rested on the windowsmill, her jaw was not able to open completely so that all of her words came out muffled. Mitsuha slightly tilted her head. "Nothing? You are never that bored." She said and started to brush Yukiyama's hair. She raised her head to speak more clearly. "Today at school we had to be quiet for a minute because one of my classmate's daddy died at work" She suddenly let out. Mitsuha stopped brushing her hair and stroked Yukiyama's cheek instead. "That's horrible, my dear, what happened?" She asked her with a slight tone of sadness in her voice. "We have to do that all the time someone dies." She added, her childish innocence in her voice made it impossible to react too negatively to what she said and her mother continued with brushing her hair. She didn't respond to that though, as she didn't know what to say, was it smart to talk with a 6 year old girl about death? Or did she know enough and it would make her feel like a baby now? Unclear of the answers, she preferred to stay silent."Will daddy die too?" She asked after a short pause, making Mitsuha stop brushing her hair as she gasped a little out of surprise. "Iie, Iie, he won't my dear, don't say things like that." She stroked her cheek again. "Tell your friend I feel sorry for him, hai?" She said and stood up from her bed, walking towards the door and turning around where she saw Yukiyama just nodding slowly before turning back to look outside again.

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