Medium

Meeting with the Sources

= Japan's POV =

- Flag World - Japan -

I let out a groan when my phone buzzed. That phone is for my business, not my private. This is absurd! I want my rest. I need rest. I'm not going to work for a company with no productivity. I picked up the phone and was surprised to see English on it. It was a mass mail sent to all countries by the United Nations.

I read through it (though my English sucks) and buried my head in my hands. One holiday just disappeared.

「祖国？いかがした？」("Japan? Is there anything wrong?") I turned my head to see a man with a white cloth hanging from his face. On the cloth was a mon (family crest) of the Minamoto clan.

「ああ、鎌倉さん...」("Oh, Kamakura-san...") The Kamakura shogunate laughed as he hoisted himself next to me. He was much more muscular than me, but his movements were light and swift.

I couldn't see his face at all, but he seemed to see my expression through the fabric. No wonder he doesn't leave the flag world, he needs the magic to understand what's around him.

"You look tired. Don't you have the day off today?" He asked in Japanese. I sighed. "The UN scheduled a meeting next week." I showed him the screen of my phone.

He cocked his head, "What's the UN?"

I forgot that he doesn't pay attention to any of the newer (which, for him, means after the 14th century) social events.

"Forget it. Let's just say I have to meet about 200 countries in a meeting that never meets a compromise." I was getting annoyed and sarcastic. I felt bad for the UN, but I am annoyed by a lot of things nowadays, starting with overworking and lack of sleep.

"200 countries? In my days, there were only two around me. The Mongolian Empire and the Trần dynasty." The Kamakura shogunate said, probably grinning. In his time, his world only consisted of East Asia. "It must be tough to attend it, eh?"

How I wanted to just yell 'yes!' But I just smiled and shook my head. I couldn't just cry out for myself, especially when it's a temporary global meeting. It should be very important.

"Well then. Good luck to you... Oh, and by the way, have you seen JE?" I shook my head, "No. Why?"

Kamakura sighed, "There was a letter written in another language sent to him. I can't read it... I only read Japanese and Chinese." He handed me a folded paper and an open envelope. On the envelope was JE's name in Japanese, and the inside was written in English."You opened it?" I asked, but he shrugged, "Nah, I gave it to JE. After he read through it, he just teleported away."

I felt guilty reading through other's letters, but that got me curious. The Japanese Empire had had a hard time after the war; He still can't walk straight, and sometimes his consciousness just drifts away. Because of that, he never goes outside alone unless he's going out for a walk in the neighborhood. Even on those occasions, he always leaves a note on the table.

"Hmm? It's from the UK." I skimmed through the letter, and at the end was a familiar name signed.

OK, this is weird. Why would the UK want to talk to JE anyway?

"What do you think?" Kamakura asked worriedly. "Well, I think it's fine." I answered unsurely, "He wouldn't go meet anyone unless he decides it's fine... I think."

The Kamakura Shogunate let out a small laugh. "Yeah, I think so too. It's just that he'll always be the younger one in the whole family despite being one of the most decent."

"He's decent?" I asked. He laughed, "Of course. Look at your family tree. You'll be surprised that I'm one of the better ones."

Oh, great.

I saw the man leave humming an old Japanese tune and stood up to get my car keys. I bet JE would need a drive home.

= UK's POV = 

- Flag World - England -

I didn't think they would respond to my invitation. Turned out they all did, although the atmosphere was colder than ever.

After the encounter, America talked with Austria and Third Reich, making adjustments to where TR would be spending until things were decided. They came to an agreement that he would be living in America's house and promised to not leave there.

Two days after that, my son asked the UN to set up a meeting without telling him the details. It must have taken great effort to persuade him, but the meeting was set up a week later.

Then, what the three (excluding Austria) of us thought was quite simple. We need to know more about TR before taking care of him. So we, or I, send messages to his former friends and his son. Of course, not giving out information about TR.

Now, inside the small room in my house, Germany, Japanese Empire, and Fascist Italy were sitting on the chairs provided. Germany should have just came back from work since he was wearing a suit, but JE and FI were wearing casual clothes.

"So, Britain." When myself, my son, and USSR sat down, JE opened his mouth. "First of all, thank you for your invitation." He bowed his head lightly to show his courtesy. "And then, this better be important."

His English was perfect. Much better than his son's. But his voice was colder than I ever remembered, and his eyes never left me. It didn't take long until I realized that he decided to ignore the other two countries. Oh boy, he despised them.

"Now, now. Relax. You don't need to be that snappy." My son smiled. "And I think you already sense why you guys are here?"

"Certo," Fascist Italy answered. "Of course, the three of us talked about it. That's why we want certification. No?" He was smiling as bright as America. I hated his expression.

Now, I've experienced the Cold War. When my son and USSR were fighting, the whole world was filled with tension. The room now felt no less than that.

"For your information," Germany broke the silence. The tension relaxed a little. FI and JE should have a soft point towards him. "I don't remember anything about my father. I only know what people say about him." He looked up at us, almost glaring. "Is this enough? I have work, you know, and the temporary meeting UN called for is not helping at all."

We must have messed with his schedule a lot. He was clearly irritated and looked like he wanted to leave as soon as he could.

So, the first thing we've got to do is to make the three of them try to talk to us.