Scarlet Snow, Pale Water

Chapter 4: Meeting in the Freezing Capital

February 19, 1936. The final day of the election campaign.

In the station square swept by a freezing winter wind, a street speech for the proletarian party was underway. Just as the crowd began to stir at the candidate's cry of "Workers' rights! Relief for our starving villages!", the roar of "Cease speaking!" from the Tokko police echoed through the square. The candidate was dragged off the podium, and the people were dispersed by the batons of the police force. Words were suppressed by brute force.

Late that night. A heavy snow—the likes of which the capital had not seen in decades—began to fall.

Koji and Yukino were picking up the torn remains of leaflets, walking down a dimly lit boulevard in dejection. Beneath a streetlamp, in the silently falling snow, stood a soldier. A man clad in military uniform, his eyes sharp and piercing—Shintaro Nozu. On his way to a hiding spot for the upcoming uprising, Shintaro had happened upon Koji and Yukino.

"A futile effort," Shintaro said coldly.

Koji stopped and glared at Shintaro. "What did you say?"

"I mean what you are doing," Shintaro gestured with his chin to the bundle of torn leaflets Koji was carrying. "I saw your rally today. Do you truly believe this country can be changed by words so easily crushed by the dogs of the Tokko? Do you think a mere dozen seats in parliament will buy tomorrow's bread for the starving farmers?"

"It will change," Koji stepped toward Shintaro. "We have swallowed mud and talked to people, one by one. Against those who silence others with force, we have connected through words. Tomorrow, when the election results come out, our words will surely be the first step in moving this country!"

Shintaro laughed coldly. "Too slow. The lives starving to death and being sold away today cannot wait for your 'slow-acting words.' The bloated pigs who monopolize wealth while leaving the people to die must be swept away by this very hand. A swift sweep by force—that is the only justice that can save them now."

"What kind of salvation lies in a world built on violence and submission?!" Koji shouted. "A revolution born of force will only breed a greater violence to surpass it! A justice that begins by casting others out will always end by crushing the weakest among us!"

"Naive, you idealist," Shintaro whipped his cloak around and walked into the darkness. "While you dream your dreams under the name of words, we will shed blood to change reality. Tomorrow, you shall see which one history chooses."

In the snowy night, only the cold sound of Shintaro's military boots echoed in the darkness, before fading away.

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