Medium

Thoughts and Discoveries

= Japanese Empire's POV =

After the war, after the lower half of my body was burned, melted, and contaminated, and part of my head scraped off, I thought I'd die. Maybe I did plea to the others to kill me in my sleep, though they didn't. I have had problems walking and keeping awake since, but I never had many problems. But then, recently, my body condition turned worse. It was never great, even before the war, but now, it's just horrible.

I knew I deserved the whole goddamn thing the US gave me, and I knew no one would forgive me for what I did, just like I'll never forgive the others for what they did. It's too bad they didn't realize that the insistent nature runs throughout East Asia, not just in China and Korea. I'm glad this trait wasn't passed down to Japan intensely.

However, I think the Allies and Europeans should have erased what they had been doing in Asia from history by now. Their citizens should only know about the exaggerated propaganda made to justify their acts. I understand they need to show that they are the justice if they want to achieve world peace... It would have gone better if they hadn't started fighting between themselves after that.

"How can TR be normal? He's a psychopath." America asked in a wondering tone. "You know what he did; you did similar things too."

"Sì. That's why I'm telling you. You haven't forgotten that you did similar things, too, have you?" FI provoked him. "Almost every country was shit then, so maybe he, individually, may have been normal."

Why are they going over whether TR was normal or not? Does that even matter now? Everyone here should know that we can't control what the government wants us to do, nor what the citizens want us to do. We go with the flow. That's how flags had always been.

"Well, I'm sorry if you wanted to hear some terrible things about him, you know more about it than I do." FI said apologetically, "I just told you what I thought about him. He was fine. Although I hated his leader."

"You hated him?" Britain looked surprised. "Why are you surprised? I always thought his words were cheap... Though the cheaper the words, the better. Especially when it comes to propaganda and populism. Bigger numbers, gruesome words, and repetition. Just keep saying stuff over, and over, and over, and someday, it will become the truth. Even if it's proved not by records and statistics." FI let out a weak laugh.

He must have been stricken by his own words. Fascism was one thing we had, nationalism was another. How the mass media and government speeches killed the country! Terrifying. And yet again, it's still happening.

"Those speeches he gave out got me mentally exhausted. TR... I never met him after that speech. I was caught." FI said with a sigh. He must have been remembering what the man had said. I was there, too, but I do agree with FI.

"JE, how about you? When was the last time you saw him?" UK asked me.

"Mmm..." I tried to open my eyes and talk, but somehow, my body wasn't moving. Huh, maybe I'm tired.

"The last time..." I mumbled, my brain spinning, trying to remember, "Three months before I surrendered. Early May?"

"That's, after he... Well, we thought he died in April!" US slammed his fist into the table between us, snapping me into consciousness and making my eyelids move again.

I looked up into his face. His sunglasses had fallen when he stood up from fury, revealing his bright blue eyes, which shone just like the sunny summer sky. I had planned not to get involved with him again, but that failed.

"Uh-huh. Yes." I answered, "Why didn't you say anything!?" America yelled. "I did. During that interrogation. There should be a log mentioning it." 

It was my turn to be shocked. Seriously, I was bloody and injured all over when they interrogated me, and he doesn't remember a thing? Now, that is one reason for hating him; he cares about nothing except for himself. "What did you talk with him then?" TR's son asked from beside me. I noticed from his expression that he was flustered and scared of something. Something which I guess is the loss of his memories.

"He appreciated myself and my diplomats for helping the Jewish people flee from Europe," I answered truthfully.

= Germany's POV =

I thought my friend's father just lost his mind.

"But, but, I heard he was one of the countries that..." I stole a glance at Soviet, "killed them."

The Japanese Empire just nodded, his eyes starting to fall again. "Yes, that's what I remember too." "Then, what does that mean? He should have been mad at you for saving them." USSR piped in. He was so quiet for a long time.

JE opened his eyes a little and slightly glared at him, "He came to me before the massacre accelerated and asked me in person if I'll help them if needed." Fascist Italy seemed surprised by this, too. "I never heard that!" "Of course. You can't just go around and spread such news." JE sighed and held his head.

"I told the diplomat in Lithuania. He granted the request, and the Jews entered the mainland and Manchuria. Later on, the government," He took a deep breath, "The government, found out."

"What government? Your's?" The UK asked, the Japanese man nodded. "Not just mine, his too. The Germans wanted us to stop publishing the visas for 'reasons.' Part of my government was worried that too many foreigners entering the country at once would put pressure on the national budget. We weren't fully recovered from the earthquake and the Great Depression."

He shut up. He's probably not going to give away anything more.

"So, you want to say he was good?" USSR raised an eyebrow, "I never said that, though it would be nice if you guys could start to understand that  what the government decided wasn't necessarily what we wanted to do."

JE lost his posture as soon as he said that and hit the back of the chair. I jumped a little in my seat. The Japanese Empire quickly apologized and sat back straight again.

"He was 12 when the war ended. Do you think a kid would have started the war? Or do you think the environment made him a criminal?"