Island of the Sun

Chapter 3: The Bustle of Ginza

The airplane overcame several bouts of turbulence and arrived safely above Tokyo. Below, a new city light spread out, different from the ruins of the old city. It was an inorganic and orderly city, built by people with suppressed emotions in pursuit of order and efficiency.

The airplane landed at a massive landing field located in the center of the city. A black limousine was parked there quietly. Several men stood around the limousine. They were men with cold eyes who showed almost no emotion.

Akari and Yume were urged by the guards to board the limousine. The interior of the limousine was luxurious, but wrapped in a silence that was somewhat suffocating. Outside the window, rows of high-rise buildings could be seen. People were walking in an orderly fashion, expressionlessly yet efficiently, to "go" to their respective places. On their faces, neither joy nor sorrow, anger nor love, could be seen.

“This place is...”

Yume whispered quietly. The unfathomable loneliness of this city seemed to resonate directly in her heart.

“Ginza. Humanity's new center.”

Akari replied. A strange sense of discomfort from this city was also surging in her heart. It was a scene far removed from life on the island.

The limousine proceeded toward the center of the city. Eventually, they arrived at a corner of a group of towering buildings. This was the place once called "Ginza." However, its radiance was completely different from what it once was. There were no glittering neon lights or the bustling voices of people. All that existed was inorganic light and the shadows of people moving quietly.

When the limousine stopped, the men opened the doors. They urged Akari and Yume toward the entrance of the building. The interior of the building was even more inorganic. White walls and white floors. And elevators moving silently.

The elevator ascended to the top floor. During that time, Akari held Yume's hand tightly. Yume's face was slightly pale. She was sensitively sensing the lack of emotion that this city possessed.

When the elevator doors opened, a vast space spread out before them. In the center of the space, a huge hologram display floated, and around it, many people were working quietly. They were the "administrators" of this city.

Standing among them was a man. He was the highest authority of this city and also the representative of the "King" of Arcadia. His name was Zenon. No emotion could be read on his face. His eyes were cold and clear, just like data itself.

“Welcome, Yume. And Akari.”

Zenon said in a quiet voice. His voice contained no welcome, no hostility, nothing at all. It just had a mechanical ring to it, as if he were stating a fact.

“I have been waiting for you.”

At Zenon's words, Yume braced herself. She instinctively feared the lack of emotion that this man possessed.