CH 121
Unreasonable regulations
Translated by Dawn
Unreasonable regulations
The next day.
We went to work at the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
Although it was the summer vacation period, we, as the core of the Japan Revitalization Project, were required to work a few hours.
Work ended before noon, but we all gathered in Director Sayuri’s office to discuss yesterday’s story.
“I see. I understand what you mean. I’ve been having a hard time with the psychic abolitionists. This could be a good catalyst for the establishment of a psychic society.”
Through her desk in her office, Director Sayuri expressed her thoughts in a sincere tone.
“Around the world, psychics began to be born 18 years ago. Psychics are limited to children. However, the time will come when 1 percent of the world’s population will have psychic abilities. If we don’t take action now, we will inevitably create new racial discrimination problems.”
I was relieved that Director Sayuri was in favor of it.
“So you’ll cooperate with us?”
“I am. But I don’t know if the government will cooperate.”
When I wondered if there was something not right, Director Sayuri leaned her elbows on the desk and tilted her center of gravity forward.
“For my work with Diamond Semiconductor, Extraordinary Ability Bureau has been upgraded to the Extraordinary Ability Agency, and I have been promoted to the head of the Agency, the [Administrative Vice Minister].”
But Vice Minister Sayuri didn’t look the least bit happy.
“I owe it all to Naimine Miina and all of you. And sad to say, I am only the [vice-minister] of the Extraordinary Ability Agency, which is an agency within the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. Just as I needed the cooperation of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology to establish the Inou Gakuen, now I will need the cooperation of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.”
“Then, please pass this on to the Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry immediately.”
“We don’t have enough persuasive material.”
With a low growl of frustration, Vice Minister Sayuri leaned her weight against the back of the chair, causing it to squeak.
“Japan is a country where the administration is always slow to react and always takes a backseat. When a problem arises and it becomes too difficult to gather all the information, the government only makes a few minor moves to make up for it. Politicians are not looking at the people, but only at their approval ratings and the number of votes they receive in elections.”
The government’s unreliability had me scratching my head in shame.
If you learned the language, you could see the climate of the country.
And in Japan, things that were time-consuming, labor-intensive, and ineffective were called “bureaucratic work”. In other words, that’s what it means.
“What is it then? The government won’t act unless Kiriha and other combat-oriented psychics are attacked by civilians?”
“That’s just ridiculous. The restriction of access to people with combat abilities is based on the premise that it is a matter of security. They will not move unless there is a serious discrimination problem. On the contrary, they will come up with a convenient interpretation that will allow them to avoid making a move if it will increase the number of people with combat-related abilities. People prefer selfish fantasies to reality.”
I knew that, too, from watching explanatory videos of many modern incidents.
When a new virus broke out one winter, the government was baselessly optimistic that it would subside as the temperature rose, and took no measures, causing a massive pandemic.
Those who wanted to regulate the expression of entertainment content decimated the industry by loudly shouting the lie that violent and sexual expressions encourage criminality in people, but in fact, they had been found to have a calming effect on criminality.
But just complaining wouldn’t get it started.
Anyway, if we didn’t get the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry to act, we would be leaving Kiriha’s future in uncertainty.
Kiriha, the party concerned, stroked her chin as if she were a detective making a deduction.
“The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry doesn’t act unless there is a problem. If there’s a problem, it’s good. But the entry restrictions that are happening now don’t count as a problem. If there are any other problems, we can find…”
Kiriha’s words gave me a hint, and I remembered.
––Oh, by the way, after Ijuin transferred, everyone in the school said.
“Disparity problem among psychics.”
All eyes were on me at once.
“Before the summer break, a student at the same school told me. They said they envied the Big Four/ I wasn’t really aware of it, but that’s how it is. Even though we are the same psychics, we are called the Big Four and treated like stars, and we are paid in the hundreds of millions of dollars. On the other hand, many of the others, especially those with combat abilities, don’t even get jobs.”
The students involved in the Japan Restoration Project receive a base salary and an ability allowance.
The amount of money was unbelievable for a high school student, and they were all living quite wealthy lives.
Even before summer vacation, they were talking about traveling.
On the other hand, students who did not even participate in the project were paid zero yen. Life would be the same as before.
Inevitably, there would be discord among the students.
“The economic power disparity created by joblessness is a problem. If the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) is not good enough, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) is fine. Besides, giving people jobs is exactly the way to maintain public safety. Is this not reason enough?”
Vice-Minister Sayuri looked pained at my reasoned explanation.
“Naturally, I will cooperate fully. I’m going to use the name value that the public has attached to the Big Four.”
“Does that mean we can appear in the promotional video?”
“Yes.”
Miina, Shisae, Maria, and Kiriha also came forward next.
“Of course, as a member of the Big Four, I will help.”
“Shisae will do her best, too.”
“If it helps Honey-san and Kiriha-san, I will do unlimited Thoughtography.”
“Since I’m a party to this. I’ll spare no effort.”
“I will be in charge of the first aid team and the players if necessary.”
As Matsumi raised her fist and announced it, Maya and Maiko stepped forward as well.
“I’ll do my best too.”
“I don’t know if Psychometry can help you, but if it can be useful then…”
The enthusiasm of the eight of us was lost on Vice Minister Sayuri, and she looked us in the eye.
“I understand. Then I will approach the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry along those lines, and if that doesn’t work, I will also contact the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare……. Is that all right with you guys?”
Wrinkling her brow, Vice Minister Sayuri’s voice was muffled by a dubious look on her face.
“As I’ve said before, there aren’t three summers in high school. You only have one summer as a freshman in high school. You are required to go to work for the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. If you add more work, that alone will end your summer. Can you spend your once-in-a-lifetime youth on something for others?”
“I don’t mind.”
I responded immediately.
“The first response to a discrimination problem is very important. It takes more than half a century to dispel values once they have spread. We have to make the first move before the abolitionists gain power. I don’t want a society where people are discriminated against because of their abilities. I don’t want my future children to see such a society.”
“Honey.”
“Honey-san.”
As Kiriha and Maria, standing on either side of me, turned slightly flushed, Vice Minister Sayuri looked at me as if she had guessed what was going on.
“Hoo, youth.”
It was a little embarrassing to hear others say that.
Translated by Dawn
Unreasonable regulations
The next day.
We went to work at the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
Although it was the summer vacation period, we, as the core of the Japan Revitalization Project, were required to work a few hours.
Work ended before noon, but we all gathered in Director Sayuri’s office to discuss yesterday’s story.
“I see. I understand what you mean. I’ve been having a hard time with the psychic abolitionists. This could be a good catalyst for the establishment of a psychic society.”
Through her desk in her office, Director Sayuri expressed her thoughts in a sincere tone.
“Around the world, psychics began to be born 18 years ago. Psychics are limited to children. However, the time will come when 1 percent of the world’s population will have psychic abilities. If we don’t take action now, we will inevitably create new racial discrimination problems.”
I was relieved that Director Sayuri was in favor of it.
“So you’ll cooperate with us?”
“I am. But I don’t know if the government will cooperate.”
When I wondered if there was something not right, Director Sayuri leaned her elbows on the desk and tilted her center of gravity forward.
“For my work with Diamond Semiconductor, Extraordinary Ability Bureau has been upgraded to the Extraordinary Ability Agency, and I have been promoted to the head of the Agency, the [Administrative Vice Minister].”
But Vice Minister Sayuri didn’t look the least bit happy.
“I owe it all to Naimine Miina and all of you. And sad to say, I am only the [vice-minister] of the Extraordinary Ability Agency, which is an agency within the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. Just as I needed the cooperation of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology to establish the Inou Gakuen, now I will need the cooperation of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.”
“Then, please pass this on to the Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry immediately.”
“We don’t have enough persuasive material.”
With a low growl of frustration, Vice Minister Sayuri leaned her weight against the back of the chair, causing it to squeak.
“Japan is a country where the administration is always slow to react and always takes a backseat. When a problem arises and it becomes too difficult to gather all the information, the government only makes a few minor moves to make up for it. Politicians are not looking at the people, but only at their approval ratings and the number of votes they receive in elections.”
The government’s unreliability had me scratching my head in shame.
If you learned the language, you could see the climate of the country.
And in Japan, things that were time-consuming, labor-intensive, and ineffective were called “bureaucratic work”. In other words, that’s what it means.
“What is it then? The government won’t act unless Kiriha and other combat-oriented psychics are attacked by civilians?”
“That’s just ridiculous. The restriction of access to people with combat abilities is based on the premise that it is a matter of security. They will not move unless there is a serious discrimination problem. On the contrary, they will come up with a convenient interpretation that will allow them to avoid making a move if it will increase the number of people with combat-related abilities. People prefer selfish fantasies to reality.”
I knew that, too, from watching explanatory videos of many modern incidents.
When a new virus broke out one winter, the government was baselessly optimistic that it would subside as the temperature rose, and took no measures, causing a massive pandemic.
Those who wanted to regulate the expression of entertainment content decimated the industry by loudly shouting the lie that violent and sexual expressions encourage criminality in people, but in fact, they had been found to have a calming effect on criminality.
But just complaining wouldn’t get it started.
Anyway, if we didn’t get the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry to act, we would be leaving Kiriha’s future in uncertainty.
Kiriha, the party concerned, stroked her chin as if she were a detective making a deduction.
“The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry doesn’t act unless there is a problem. If there’s a problem, it’s good. But the entry restrictions that are happening now don’t count as a problem. If there are any other problems, we can find…”
Kiriha’s words gave me a hint, and I remembered.
––Oh, by the way, after Ijuin transferred, everyone in the school said.
“Disparity problem among psychics.”
All eyes were on me at once.
“Before the summer break, a student at the same school told me. They said they envied the Big Four/ I wasn’t really aware of it, but that’s how it is. Even though we are the same psychics, we are called the Big Four and treated like stars, and we are paid in the hundreds of millions of dollars. On the other hand, many of the others, especially those with combat abilities, don’t even get jobs.”
The students involved in the Japan Restoration Project receive a base salary and an ability allowance.
The amount of money was unbelievable for a high school student, and they were all living quite wealthy lives.
Even before summer vacation, they were talking about traveling.
On the other hand, students who did not even participate in the project were paid zero yen. Life would be the same as before.
Inevitably, there would be discord among the students.
“The economic power disparity created by joblessness is a problem. If the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) is not good enough, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) is fine. Besides, giving people jobs is exactly the way to maintain public safety. Is this not reason enough?”
Vice-Minister Sayuri looked pained at my reasoned explanation.
“Naturally, I will cooperate fully. I’m going to use the name value that the public has attached to the Big Four.”
“Does that mean we can appear in the promotional video?”
“Yes.”
Miina, Shisae, Maria, and Kiriha also came forward next.
“Of course, as a member of the Big Four, I will help.”
“Shisae will do her best, too.”
“If it helps Honey-san and Kiriha-san, I will do unlimited Thoughtography.”
“Since I’m a party to this. I’ll spare no effort.”
“I will be in charge of the first aid team and the players if necessary.”
As Matsumi raised her fist and announced it, Maya and Maiko stepped forward as well.
“I’ll do my best too.”
“I don’t know if Psychometry can help you, but if it can be useful then…”
The enthusiasm of the eight of us was lost on Vice Minister Sayuri, and she looked us in the eye.
“I understand. Then I will approach the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry along those lines, and if that doesn’t work, I will also contact the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare……. Is that all right with you guys?”
Wrinkling her brow, Vice Minister Sayuri’s voice was muffled by a dubious look on her face.
“As I’ve said before, there aren’t three summers in high school. You only have one summer as a freshman in high school. You are required to go to work for the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. If you add more work, that alone will end your summer. Can you spend your once-in-a-lifetime youth on something for others?”
“I don’t mind.”
I responded immediately.
“The first response to a discrimination problem is very important. It takes more than half a century to dispel values once they have spread. We have to make the first move before the abolitionists gain power. I don’t want a society where people are discriminated against because of their abilities. I don’t want my future children to see such a society.”
“Honey.”
“Honey-san.”
As Kiriha and Maria, standing on either side of me, turned slightly flushed, Vice Minister Sayuri looked at me as if she had guessed what was going on.
“Hoo, youth.”
It was a little embarrassing to hear others say that.
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