compnetwork | [ video ]

[ The video feed opens to show the inside of an apartment, with a chair directly facing the camera. The interior of the room has been left untouched, and there are no visible decorations save for a single calligraphy scroll hung on one wall. There seems to be no one on-screen.

A few seconds' silence elapses before someone speaks. ]

... Hello? Is this... transmitting properly? [ Pause. ] Ah, it should be.

[ The camera shakes momentarily before settling down again. A young man comes into view from the left of the screen and sits down on the chair.

For those who have met him before, he seems... older, somehow. His features still suggest approximately the same age, but he looks more tired, perhaps even a little unwell. There are dark shadows under his eyes, and his frame shows vague signs of one too many forgotten meals.

His voice still sounds the same, though - calm and composed. ]

I suppose I ought to introduce myself again...? My name is Takakage Kobayakawa, and you may have seen me about during the Thirteenth Hour in the previous week.

From my perspective, eight years have elapsed since my last contact with this city. If I am not mistaken, only a day has passed here - therefore my momentary absence. I apologize if anyone had tried to contact me yesterday, for I was not present and thus could not take your message.

But in any case, I am here again. It has been a long while.

[ He nods, smiling faintly. ]

If there is anything I need to know and have missed, I would appreciate it if you could take the time to update me.

Thank you.

[ The feed cuts here. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I do. Though certain circumstances in my world's Japan may drive me to seek residency elsewhere.

[Not that... it'll help much...]

[ Is that so...

Given what he has heard of from the other modern folk, it seemed that his realm's future was in fact more bleak. He had expected time to heal, not hurt... ]

I see.

How is the future like, if I may ask? From what I have heard, it bears resemblance to this city.

It does. That's something of a broad question. What sort of things would you like me to tell you about?

[ ... he's suddenly unsure. ]

Well, whatever you feel fit to enlighten me with, I suppose.

[ Pause. ]

Though... I'm more interested in how the people are doing, so to speak. Methods of governance, perhaps. Things ought to have changed with time.

The government of Japan... well, there's an emperor still, but he's really mostly a figurehead. The real power is concentrated in the Diet - the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors. The Diet elects a prime minister from themselves. There's also a court system that reviews the laws that are passed in the Diet.

There's also no national army, though the Special Defense Force acts as one much of the time.

[ He listened politely until Naoya finished speaking, but didn't reply until a few seconds later. ]

... I see. [ The land seemed unified, from what Naoya said, but it seemed unnecessarily complicated. ] I suppose you already know of the governance in my era?

Though.. this system. It does not sound too efficient. If there are too many intermediaries, then the leaders will not hear the people anymore...

They're elected by the people, but that's true. The voices of the people often do get lost. If someone causes enough of an embarrassment, though, they tend to step down over it.

Well, I suppose that is somewhat a good thing. [ Different from the daimyos' seats of power. Most of them do pay attention to their people - after all, the citizens' loyalty is what ensured their allegiance.

He sighs faintly. ]

Time does not necessarily change things for the better, it seems...

Not always, no. Certain things are better, though - healthcare has been vastly improved, for example.

[ He nods thoughtfully. ]That is true...

... though perhaps this improvement in technology is what slowly seals off the hearts of men.

Hm... I would disagree. Communication technology has greatly improved connections between people. People know more, and people can connect with those who share their interests even if it is someone across the world. If anything, technology has created an even greater space for people to express feelings, to share with each other, and to form intimate connections.

Where someone with an interest or a disability might have never found anyone else like them in your time, in mine it's a simple matter of looking for them. People can use improvements in technology to create better lives for themselves and others.

Of course there are people who would take advantage of that, but they become known simply because they are loud about it. Meanwhile, in the background, there are people who can be saved from their former statuses as the downtrodden and lifted up to stand on an equal footing. Technology cares not if you're a peasant or a king - you're all equal when no one can see your face.

[ ... is that so...

He listened to Naoya carefully. After the other finished speaking, he took a while to respond. It was a lot to run through his mind, after all. ]

... I see. [ He nodded slightly. ] That is true... but then again, this presents to me as somewhat of a double-edged advance.

[ But then again, wasn't everything a double-edged advance? ]

Perhaps this is mere cultural difference, but actual physical interaction seems more... sincere, somehow.

That's true. There is that loss. But such communication methods are being implemented in smaller and smaller devices, so that people can be connected even while they're outside.

Face to face communication is no less important in my view. It takes being with a person to truly know them. But I'm somewhat biased towards seeing the positives in such things. After all, I make my living by programming them, both at home and in this place.

[ He nodded again, but couldn't shake off the nagging doubt that lingered.

Somehow, the concept still seemed too unnatural to him - the magic of the modern folk was immensely convenient, yes, but it was magic nonetheless.

And as with all things supernatural, they crept into the minds of the people. Who knew what repercussions this would bring? ]

Well... I suppose that is true.

Humankind will always foster relationships. It's those relationships that are part of free will. They decide whom to bond with and whom to ignore. I doubt that technology will ever change that.

Humans, for all their technological prowess, are still very much like they have always been.

[ You speak as if you are not one.

Of course, he has enough common sense to not voice that thought, merely settling for a tilt of his head. There didn't seem to be much he could contribute at the moment. ]

[He's long thought of himself as an observer in many ways. Among them, but apart from them. He's pushed and shaped and fought tooth and nail both with and against them, but none of them can understand.]

In any case, was there something else you were wondering about?

[ The strategist shakes his head. There didn't seem to be much to ask just yet - and the conversation was starting to get a little too taxing. ]

Not at the moment. Thank you for answering my questions.

You're quite welcome. Feel free to contact me if you have other questions.

[ video ]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject