"...Sorry for being late.

I had an unusually large number of patients today."

"Thank you for coming, Lieutenant Colonel Irie!!"

Tomitake stood up suddenly and saluted when he saw Irie come into the room.

"Alright, alright, stop calling me Lieutenant Colonel!

I'm a doctor. I just can't get used to military ranks.

Can you call me Director instead?"

"Understood, Director Irie.

Ahahahaha!"

Tomitake, of course, knew that Irie didn't like to be called Lieutenant Colonel, so it was something of a joke.

They laughed casually together.

On the other hand, Takano looked rather fed up with it.

She couldn't stand hearing the same joke over and over, and was even thinking about talking to Tomitake about it.

....But she didn't want to hurt his feelings, so she simply never had the chance.

Maybe it's because of how Tomitake pronounces it, but she keeps hearing "Risa". (Lieutenant Colonel in Japanese: Nisa)

Once she heard it that way, she kept hearing\n"Irie Risa" every time Tomitake said it.

When Takano told Irie about it, he had a good laugh.

Today was just a simple meet-and-greet, and tomorrow was the actual meeting.

Tomitake had already arrived, but there would be more inspectors from Tokyo at the meeting, waiting to hear about the progress that had been made.

"Anyway, I heard the whole village is all up in arms about the dam construction project."

"You can say that again!

The village is in such a mess.

I participated in the local municipal explanation meeting as an official, but... the whole thing was alive with angry shouts and profanities."

After the basic Hinamizawa Dam Project was announced, the village was consumed with uproar.

The government retracted their plans for concessions rather early on.

They made their aggressive stance clear.

They didn't want the locals to take advantage of them by showing their willingness to compromise.

However, that backfired horribly.

As they had historical ties to the land, the government's actions only made their bonds stronger.

Neither the government nor the locals wanted to back down.

"Hee hee hee.

People from Hinamizawa are rather hot-tempered.

Maybe because they're the descendants of demons."

"It's not funny.

That wild meeting lasted all night!"

"I feel your pain.

Ha ha ha ha...!"

"Really, it's not funny, Tomitake-san.

So, what's going on with the dam construction?

Are they really going to submerge this village?"

"Tokyo's applying their pressure to the situation too.

Things might seem clamorous on the surface, but in truth, the supporters behind it are wavering rather hard."

"...I hope their pressure produces results soon.

The whole village is buzzing with action from dusk to dawn, and I worry the villagers' minds are growing agitated.

Sometimes I have to listen to my patients go on and on about their opinion on the dam construction plan."

"Hee hee.

Why do you even listen to them? You're too nice."

"I have to.

I'm a clinic director first, and research center director second.

It's part of my job to listen to them."

"That's very nice of you.

It's admirable."

"I know the people in Tokyo will call off the plan sooner or later, but the villagers don't.

So they have to live in fear that they might be forced to leave the land where they've lived for generations."

"Even if they're told to leave, they don't have money, and a lot of them are old.

Maybe some wanted an increase in the amount of compensation they'd be offered, but the government changed its mind.

I don't think it's possible for them to come to a peaceful agreement at this point."

"There were actually some villagers who were satisfied with that amount and were willing to leave.

However, the Sonozaki family didn't want to change their stance against the issue.

They're actually leading the villagers in the fight against the government.

There are blaring announcement vans everywhere, and ads and flyers are attached to the circulation notices."

"It's a serious matter for them.

I guess I can understand."

"...I hope the construction plan will be called off soon, for their sake.

Once it's called off, this village will become peaceful once again."

"I know that, of course.

Things are moving right along in Tokyo, so please give us a little more time."

"...I've heard a rumor from Tokyo that you're having problems finding a way to pressure the Minister of Construction. Is that true?"

"Oh... ha ha ha...

I'm not sure, but I've heard myself that they are having a little problem with some of the details."

Takano had powerful people supporting her, but they didn't control all of Japan.

There were some things they excelled in, but also other things that they weren't too good at.

Finding a way to put pressure onto the Minister of Construction fell into the latter.

"In all seriousness, though...

We really won't be facing any requests to leave this area because of the dam, right...?"

"Of course not.

I can guarantee that won't happen.

It's just taking longer than we thought, that's all. So please continue your research.

We were told that if things can't be resolved peacefully, then we may have to use drastic measures."

"Drastic measures? What do you mean, Tomitake-san?"

"You don't need to worry about that part,

Director Irie.

Please let us take care of it."

"...I see.

Okay.

Thank you for your work."

"It's fine, Director Irie.

The dam construction plan will be called off.

...It's already been decided.

...Hee hee."

As Takano giggled, Tomitake laughed too.

However, Irie couldn't understand what was so funny, so he felt left out.

......Irie only understood the meaning of those drastic measures when he examined a young boy he had never seen in the village before.