The Last War

War began as soon as Keitaro and Toko returned to Tokyo. The Americans attacked without quarter. As this would be the final battle, there was no need to hold back.

The Japanese managed to hold the line. Rome was once again turned into a battlefield as the full might of Tokyo and New York’s armies clashed.

The two sides were equally matched, victory would likely be determined by a few key battles, giving one army the momentum they needed to push.

Unfortunately, however, the Americans were thinking far beyond that…

Keitaro was the first one to notice it as they were traveling to the frontline. “Hm?” He saw something way up in the sky. It was the American airship, the Columbia, flying through the air above the battlefield. “What’s up with that?”

But as Toko, Musashi, and Tomoe went to look, the airship quickly started losing altitude. It just kept falling and falling.

“What the hell are they doing!? It’s going to cra–!” That’s when it hit Keitaro. They were trying to make it crash into the Japanese line.

These airships used hydrogen, a highly explosive gas. If it crashed, it would decimate their troops in a massive explosion. The Americans were effectively using the Columbia for a kamikaze attack.

Keitaro immediately picked up his radio. “Yamashita! The airship! Do whatever you can to save our troops!”

But there was no response.

“Damn it!” Keitaro slammed the radio down. There was nothing he could do except watch in horror as the massacre unfolded before him.

As Japanese soldiers desperately tried to scramble away, the Columbia hit the ground, lighting fire just before unleashing an inferno, sending shockwaves through the air and swallowing countless men in hellfire.

A mushroom cloud of black smoke rose over the battlefield. Buildings were toppled, and those who survived were badly burned, or even worse, still on fire.

It was the most deadly single attack of the entire war.

However, the real loss was strategic. The chaos caused gave the Americans the perfect opportunity to strike, breaking through the Japanese defense, encircling troops, and taking supply lines.

With this insane gambit, the Americans had managed to turn the tide of the war, putting Tokyo at a massive disadvantage.

Once Keitaro got in contact with Yamashita, it was decided that all they could do was retreat to a more defensible position, but with such a massive hit to their forces, hope was becoming distant.

***

The Japanese army was never able to recover from their crippling loss from the Columbia attack. The Americans were now simply better organized and more numerous. As the battle was just about to reach Tokyo, a decision had to be made…

“If we fortify these locations, we’ll be able to hold…” Yamashita showed his plan on a map.

Tokyo’s high command had gathered for a strategy meeting, perhaps the most important one they’d ever had.

“How likely are we to succeed?” Keitaro asked, his eyes down.

Yamashita took a moment to answer. “It’s hard to say… Ultimately, it’s a gamble, but we’d just need to whittle down New York until we can launch a counterattack. ”

“Hm…” Keitaro’s gaze didn’t move.

This would be the first time they’d be fighting on their homeland. Before long, Tokyo would be turned into a battlefield, all for just a chance at victory. Keitaro didn’t like the idea. It was noble to fight for one’s home, but he didn’t want to turn Tokyo into a wasteland like Rome or Paris on a gamble.

However, he had a backup plan. He didn’t want it to come to this, but it was better than watching Tokyo be destroyed.

“We’ll surrender…”

“S-sir!?” Yamashita almost choked hearing that.

Tokugawa was just as surprised, he didn’t even have the words, and Okita was cold but furious. The only one who seemed to understand was Toko, her face solemn.

“I’m sorry, but this is our only option…” Keitaro bowed his head.

“What do you mean!? We can’t surrender!” Yamashita slammed his fist down on the table. “That’s certain death, not just for Tokyo but for you too!”

“And what the hell do you think we’ve been doing all this time!” Okita yelled, enraged. “We didn’t fight just so you could give up!”

“Under normal circumstances, I’d understand, but these aren’t normal circumstances. If we surrender, we’re finished.”

“Calm down, all of you.” Keitaro sat up straight. “You’re forgetting something important. They don’t need to take Tokyo, they need to destroy our Cores. Tokyo may surrender, but me and Toko will not.”

“What are you talking about!?” Yamashita roared.

“We’ll go into hiding, waiting for a chance to take down Jack and Ella.”

“Are you stupid!? Do you know how dangerous that will be!?” Okita was about ready to punch Keitaro out.

“Any less dangerous than fighting to the death?” Keitaro adjusted his collar. “Look, this saves Tokyo while giving us a good chance at victory.”

Yamashita, Tokugawa, and Okita still hated the plan. Surrendering was a humiliation they didn’t want to endure, but as they thought in silence, they all came to the begrudging realization that Keitaro had a point.

Yamashita slumped into his chair. “Fine… If that’s truly what you want…”

“I’ll protect you two as best as I can…” Okita had calmed down, but he was still clearly vexed by this.

“Maybe it’ll be for the best…” Tokugawa mumbled.

Keitaro looked over at Toko. She was greatly saddened by this state of affairs, but she trusted that this was the right course of action. With a nod, she showed Keitaro that she understood fully.

***

The newspaper headline read, “Tokyo Surrenders, New York Conquers Kosma.” With a huff, Musashi threw it aside.

“What’s wrong, Musahi?” Keitaro said as he put on a straw hat. He had changed into some farmer’s clothes.

“What do you think!? Tokyo’s fallen and now we’re stuck in this dump!” Musashi motioned his arms to emphasize their surroundings.

Before Tokyo’s official surrender, Keitaro and Toko escaped and were now hiding out in an abandoned farmhouse in the outskirts of Tokyo with Musashi and Tomoe.

“Calm down, I told you I had a plan, right?” Keitaro picked up a canvas bag as he reached for the front door. “Anyway, are you coming with me?”

Musashi sighed as he stood up, ready to follow Keitaro wherever he went.

“Watch the house while we’re gone!” Keitaro called out as he left.

“Okay…” Toko said as she played on a portable game console.

“Mmhm,” Tomoe replied as she read a book.

Keitaro and Musashi stepped out into the blazing sun. What had once been a prosperous, beautiful farm had fallen into ruin. The fields were overgrown with weeds and shrubs. The infrastructure and equipment had also fallen into disrepair.

But they weren’t planning on becoming wheat moguls. This was just to serve as their hideout temporarily, and Keitaro had made preparations in advance for just a scenario…

“It should be around here…” After walking for some time, Keitaro stopped next to a massive dead tree. “Ah, here it is!” He pulled out a shovel and started digging.

“What are you doing?” Musashi asked.

“I told you I had a plan…”

It wasn’t long until Keitaro hit something hard. With a smile, he bent down, pulling out a steel box.

“What’s that?” Musashi knelt down, trying to get a better look.

Keitaro smirked. “Let’s just say its contents will help us along our way…”