September 1926
Tsujido Beach, Kanagawa Prefecture
Looking up at the sky from the sandy shore with Enoshima in view, a motorized paraglider danced gracefully through the air.
The Space Force Military Academy had incorporated motorized paraglider training into its initial pilot training program.
"That's it! Perfect, Amamano! Keep it up! Next, make a right turn and gradually descend!"
"Yes, Captain!"
At an altitude of about 100 meters, this was Amamano's first time flying. Below, five outboard motorboats stood ready for rescue in case of an emergency landing at sea.
The tandem setup had Amamano in front and Takashiro Soryu behind, their bodies pressed close together—inevitable in a motorized paraglider.
'C-Captain and I are this close...'
Amamano was part of the Space Force Youth Academy's first class. She had enrolled at 10 years old, sent away from her impoverished rural village to reduce the number of mouths to feed. She hadn't returned home since.
Her village was poor. Born the youngest of eight siblings, three had died before even starting elementary school—all girls. Looking back, she wondered if they had been killed to ease the family's burden.
At the Youth Academy, she had struggled to communicate. Back home, conversation had been rare.
She had only attended school for two and a half years, pulled out in the middle of third grade to help with farm work. Days were filled with labor—farming, laundry, making straw ropes. As a child, she had wondered if there was any future in such a life.
Then, one day, a tall young man in a sharp navy-blue uniform visited her classroom.
"Hello. Are you enjoying your studies?"
He told them they were needed. That they were valued. For the first time, she felt wanted.
That young man—Lieutenant Takashiro (at the time)—would occasionally visit, patting her head. His praise made her study harder.
She later learned that the novels in the library were written by him. She devoured them, losing herself in infinite worlds. She picked up new words—"tsundere," "sweet romance"—and imagined possibilities beyond her village.
Two years later, motorcycle and go-kart lessons began, taught by that same young man. Wanting more praise, she gave it her all. His surprised "Amazing!" made her heart soar.
She even got to compete in England. Though she wished he could come, he was too busy.
"You'll do great, Amamano. I know you'll win."
His gentle encouragement sent her off. He even taught her useful English slang.
And just as he had hoped, she brought home the championship trophy.
"Well done, Amamano."
Her reply?
"Hmph, that was nothing. Don't treat me like a child."
'Why can't I be honest? I want him to praise me more... Is it because the others are watching?'
Lost in thought, the paraglider touched down on the sand. Her precious time alone with Captain Takashiro was over in a flash.
"Alright, next up is Takaya Noriko. Get ready."
Captain Takashiro was fair—praise came to those who earned it. Now it was Noriko's turn. Knowing that didn't make it easier.
And so, motorized paraglider training continued for the students at Tsujido Beach.
After this, glider training would begin.
Amamano wished these peaceful days could last forever. But the tides of history would not allow it.
October 1926
Mass production of bipolar transistors succeeded, with a monthly output of 30,000 units. Their size and performance matched those available in Akihabara in the 21st century. Immediately, work began on the 8-bit computer whose design had already been finalized.
Small, high-performance radios were also now feasible—a major advantage for military operations.
"With field-effect transistors also nearing completion, once integrated circuit technology is established, we'll be able to use workstations for Space Force development. Progress will accelerate rapidly!"
Photocopier development was also underway. Without semiconductor technology, it relied on a fully analog process: shining light on a document, capturing the image on a photosensitive drum, then transferring toner to paper. Since each scan produced only one copy, multiple copies required repeated passes, making it time-consuming. Still, its practical use would revolutionize information sharing.
(To simplify the mechanism, the optics were fixed while the document moved.)
Separately, inkjet plotters were being developed for large-format printing, ideal for blueprints. These would pair with workstations. For I/O specifications, IEEE 1284 (parallel port) was chosen since USB controllers didn't exist yet.
Bit by bit, the Space Force's development environment was advancing.
December 25, 1926
Japan was plunged into mourning.
His Majesty the Emperor had passed away.
And the Regent ascended the throne as the new Emperor.
The turbulent Showa Era had begun.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
T/N: If you like it please vote with power stone please. More stones equals faster release.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A/N: Thank you for reading Chapter 47!
The tumultuous Showa arc is finally here!
The next update is scheduled for May 26 (Friday) around 7:05 AM JST! There'll be a short wait, but thank you for your patience!
I'll continue working hard to bring this story to its conclusion. If you found it interesting and want to read more, I'd be thrilled if you could bookmark it or leave a rating!
If you didn't enjoy it, feel free to rate it "★☆☆☆☆"! I'll use your feedback to improve.
Your thoughts and comments are always welcome and help guide my writing!
Criticism like "the pacing is too slow," "I don't understand what's going on," or "this feels derivative" is also greatly appreciated!
I'm a bit worried whether those who aren't familiar with history are still enjoying the story. I'd love to hear your thoughts on that as well!
When my motivation is high, I'll even sacrifice sleep to keep writing!
Thank you for your continued support!