"Hmm-hmm-hmm~"
Late 1890s, Tokyo.
Early morning. In an ordinary downtown apartment on the streets of Tokyo, Mitsuba stood punctually before her full-length mirror to begin today's outfit selection.
First, a black blouse. Then a pair of navy blue trousers. Then drape on a coffee-colored women's trench coat. A clean, shoulder-length bob haircut. A pair of minimalist silver earrings. Finally, a pair of black rectangular glasses.
"Perfect. Excellent."
Walking to her dressing table, she picked up the lip balm from its case and carefully applied it to her lips. Mitsuba snapped her fingers at her reflection in the mirror.
At the entrance, she changed into those black low-heeled shoes, grabbed the umbrella standing against the wall, and quickly pushed open the door to leave.
Thus began a new day.
---
After decades of Meiji Restoration development, Tokyo's cityscape had undergone considerable changes.
The former dirt roads gradually gave way to cobblestone streets. The streets bustled with dense crowds. Trams passed back and forth. Every so often, you could encounter Westerners with their distinctive appearances. Every few blocks, European-style buildings came into view.
Mitsuba weaved through the streets with her umbrella, soon boarding a tram. She finally disembarked several blocks away, in front of a building bearing the sign "New Era Daily."
Yes, this civilian newspaper office was precisely where Mitsuba currently worked.
And she was the newspaper's chief translator and editor.
"Morning!"
Pushing open the door into the editorial department, Mitsuba closed her umbrella and greeted a female colleague scribbling furiously nearby with a smile.
"Morning, Little Mitsuba."
The two exchanged a practiced high-five. The female colleague looked up, her face full of amazement as she stared at Mitsuba, subconsciously saying:
"Incredible... Mitsuba, you actually managed to arrive at the editorial department *before* work today. Did the sun rise from the west?"
"Even I occasionally feel like waking up early, you know~ Don't always make it sound like I'm late every single day..."
Her tone was quite exasperated. Mitsuba skillfully navigated around the areas of the editorial room directly exposed to sunlight, walking to that corner desk of hers that never got sun—her exclusive spot—and sat down.
"So? What's the story for tomorrow's edition? Did anything important happen?"
"Yes, yes, yes!"
Immediately, a male colleague in reporter attire rushed over, thrusting a messy pile of documents awaiting revision and polishing into Mitsuba's hands.
"Breaking news! Our diplomatic personnel held meetings with Western diplomatic delegations yesterday, negotiating amendments to past unequal treaties!
If all goes well, our nation may successfully abolish most unequal treaties signed with Western powers since the Black Ships incident!
This signifies that we will formally begin to be accepted by Western nations, becoming partners capable of equal diplomacy with them!
Mitsuba, the Editor-in-Chief specifically reminded us just now—this negotiation will definitely conclude in the coming days, and when it does, this news will absolutely become a SUPER hot headline!
You absolutely must rush to finish drafting the article. The wording must be provocative, emotionally charged! When that happens, our newspaper will definitely..."
"More of these boring political topics..."
Lowering her head and quickly skimming through the English and German documents in her hands, Mitsuba sighed helplessly.
"These days, can newspapers not sell unless they include some political angle..."
"We have other topics too!"
Upon hearing this, the male reporter immediately stuffed another document into her hands, excited:
"Breaking news from the Americas! The 'Spanish-American War' previously erupted between the United States and Spain has concluded!
America successfully defeated Spain to obtain final victory! Regarding this, European nations expressed..."
"Isn't this the same thing..."
Leaning back in her chair, staring at yet another pile of new documents in her hands, Mitsuba had lost all energy to complain.
"War and politics, war and politics... Why do I feel like every article I've translated and written since starting here relates to these two topics?
At the end of the day, will ordinary citizens buying our newspaper actually care about this minor war between America and Spain? Don't we have anything more connected to people's daily lives to report?"
"Uh... how about this: a certain Imperial Diet member's daughter is offering a huge reward for finding her lost cat?"
"Ugh, forget it, forget it. No need to read them one by one. Just give me everything, I'll review them myself later..."
"Got it!"
He promptly stuffed the entire pile of documents into Mitsuba's hands and hurried away.
"Ah, right, Mitsuba!"
Meanwhile, a senior female colleague sitting nearby suddenly called out to Mitsuba, winking:
"The Editor-in-Chief came looking for you earlier, hoping you could get some insider information from that Diet member brother of yours again, you know..."
Yes, this was precisely why Mitsuba could arrive late every day, act so "domineering," and yet never get fired from the newspaper.
Beyond her fluency in multiple languages making her the editorial department's most indispensable key translator, the most important factor was her brother who served in the House of Representatives.
According to the Imperial Constitution promulgated several years ago, this island nation had adopted Western political systems, establishing a constitutional monarchy and corresponding Imperial Diet.
Per constitutional provisions, males aged twenty-five and above who paid above a certain amount in national taxes would automatically gain voting rights for House of Representatives members.
So who exactly was Mitsuba's "Diet member brother"?
The answer was her biological elder brother—Tsugikuni Michikatsu.
The year the election law first came out, as the most famous and simultaneously wealthiest dojo master in that small town who paid the highest amount in taxes.
Michikatsu inexplicably gained eligibility to campaign for the House of Representatives, then inexplicably won formal election through the townspeople's recommendation, and finally inexplicably began his days working at the House of Representatives...
Just months ago, Michikatsu had concluded his third term re-election campaign, successfully extending his third term as Diet member...
Truly rather amusing.
"That fat bastard, always exploiting employees. Sooner or later I'll have my brother find some excuse to shut down this newspaper..."
"Don't be like that, Mitsuba~ If the newspaper really closes, all of us would end up on the streets~"
"Jobs are everywhere these days, I could just switch to another newspaper..."
Saying this, Mitsuba picked up the documents before her and began translating them one by one.
"Speaking of which, I'm growing tired of this job too. I originally joined specifically to read those novel and interesting news stories.
How did it become endless boring political war games day after day? Centuries of this and it still hasn't gotten old..."
"Mitsuba!"
Suddenly, someone pushed through the editorial department doors from outside, calling to Mitsuba:
"A man claiming to be your friend just came looking for you. I had him wait in the reception room first. Go check quickly!"