Hollow

[4:30 a.m.]

Kobe, Japan. Kusonoki conglomerate office.

Hiroshi ishikawa entered his office, closing the door behind him. The room was quite traditional and resembled something more akin to a Japanese den than an actual work space. The walls were painted a soft cream colour. At the back, there was a painting of a sakura tree. His office, which seemed out of place in the modern building. It had an old traditional Japanese feel to it and resembled a room from an old castle. The reason behind this odd choice of decor became evident when one noticed the various paintings and figures that adorned the walls — anime figures and paintings.

It was nearly five the morning, and Kazu hiroga was soon to arrive. Hiroshi walked over to his desk and sat down, his thoughts were now swirling with the events to come. He had never personally killed anyone before, even though he had ordered plenty of the "clean-up" operations that Kazu had done.

Hiroshi wasn't a violent man, at least, not outwardly. He had never killed anyone with his own hands. The mere thought left a sour taste in his mouth. But at the same time, he felt no remorse ordering the "clean-up" operations. In his mind, it was just a necessary part of the business, nothing more. He had seen Kazu and his team at work before, and it didn't bother him much.

Hiroshi leaned back into his chair. While Kazu had never botched a "clean-up job", he could never shake the sense of anxiety that came with this part of his job. It always felt like there was a possibility that it could all go wrong at any moment.

A knock sounded from the door and Hiroshi knew immediately who it was. The only person allowed at this time of day was Kazu hiroga, there was no one else.

Rising from his seat, Hiroshi called out to whoever was at the door.

"Come in."

He called out, his tone steady. The automatic door opened and Kazu stepped into the room. Hiroshi was immediately greeted by the sight of the man's full-black body suit. The full-black body suit Kazu was wearing was no ordinary suit. It was crafted from advanced bulletproof material. The suit was made in a single, one-piece design, making it incredibly comfortable and easy to move in. Its pockets, strategically placed, provided ample storage space for various types of items and equipment.

The suit's mask was connected to the main body through a pipe, allowing the user to breathe more easily while wearing the suit. The mask itself was completely transparent, offering an unobstructed view of the surroundings.

The suit also had other advanced features such as an integrated communication system, night vision and thermal vision, and was equipped with a life-support systems including an oxygen supply alongside an in-built heater.

Kazu had pale olive skin, a common sight in the population of 2109. His body was lean and toned; not overly muscular, but one could clearly tell the man was well-trained, his eyes sharp and alert. His hair was black. He also had a robotic arm which was another distinguishing feature, its sleek metal design giving him somewhat of a dangerous aura. It was a full robotic prosthesis, blending metal and synthetic materials in perfect harmony. The arm was slender and flexible, yet it seemed to hold an incredible strength and dexterity.

The fingers were long and slender, each one moving in precise, almost human-like motions. The outer casing of the arm was a glossy black plastic material, giving it a sleek and modern appearance. The elbow joint was flexible and allowed for a full range of motion. The arm also had additional features, such as built-in tools that could be activated with a simple mental command, and its surface had sensors that translated touch into electrical signals, allowing Kazu to feel sensations in a manner that closely mimicked normal touch.

Kazu came to a halt just a few steps in front of Hiroshi's desk. He gave a slight nod to him and said with a respectful tone, "Hello, Hiroshi-san."

"Kazu" Hiroshi nodded in return. "Please, take a seat." He gestured casually to a chair across from him. Kazu promptly obliged, sitting down without a word. A moment of silence passed between the two men, each one waiting for the other to speak first. After a moment, Hiroshi spoke up.

"Are you prepared?" He asked simply.

"i am, my team is coming here in a moment. Shall we go?"

"Let us begin, but before that, how long will it take to get to Yokohama?"

Kazu replied with a straightforward answer, "It's fine, actually. We can take the ongoing supersonic train, which is functional here. The journey from Kobe to Neo-Tokyo and then from Neo-Tokyo to Saitama will only take about 25 minutes max. And the remaining 75 kilometers will take no more than 20 minutes by road. That is, if everything goes as planned."

Hiroshi had used the supersonic train a few times before, so this was not a new experience for him. He nodded in agreement. "Alright, that sounds good. Let's use the train then."

Hiroshi had originally considered using a plane instead of a car from the ruins of Tokyo to Yokohama, thinking it would be faster. However, upon checking the weather, he realized that the weather there was not suitable for a plane, so they decided to go with a car instead.

The weather in Tokyo, especially in winter, was very prone to unexpected changes, particularly with the current heavy snowfall. Taking a plane could be very dangerous.

"Very well, then." Hiroshi said. He took a few last minutes to finish up some paperwork on his desk and then stood up. They both walked outside of his office together.

The hallways were relatively quiet, and only a few employees were present, all of them busily working on their respective tasks. Some looked up to greet Hiroshi, others simply carried on with their work. Kazu walked next to him, a stride in his steps, alert and professional.

Even through Hirsohi was just a assistant manager — he got his own office.

As the two men walked through the building. Kazu couldn't help but observe the office spaces. Unlike Hiroshi's office, most of the others were quite modern in their design. The corridors they passed through were well-decorated, with expensive-looking carpets and potted plants giving the place an air of sophistication. The walls and ceilings were mostly white, painted in an off-white colour that was easy on the eyes and there were no windows.

In comparison, Hiroshi's office had an antique feel to it, and it had a completely different style from the rest of the building, something very much out of place.

After walking for a small white they reached an elevator, entering it, Hiroshi pushed the button for the ground floor. As the elevator door's slid close, it started to descend.

The elevator they stepped into was impressively spacious, and its walls were finished in a mirror-like material.

A soft, ambient light emanated from the overhead ceiling, providing sufficient illumination to read without the need for glasses.

The floor was tiled in a pristine black hue, which perfectly matched the elevator's interior. Furthermore, the elevator employed magnetic levitation technology (or maglev) for its smooth operation. This was achieved through the use of a maglev track that was embedded into the building, with coils strategically placed along the length of the elevator shaft.

The maglev track allowed the elevator cabin to float freely, eliminating friction between the cabin and the track, thus enhancing the smoothness of the ride.

The result was an incredibly smooth, seamless ride without any judders or jerks. As the elevator continued its descent, the walls of the cabin provided a clear and magnified reflection of Hiroshi and Kazu's faces.

It allowed them to check their appearance without the need for a mirror. The elevator was whisper-quiet, and apart from a slight hum, no other noise could be heard. Kazu, leaning back against the wall of the elevator, looked at Hiroshi with a contemplative gaze.

He asked, "If you don't mind me asking, Hiroshi-san, why are you specifically coming with us this time instead of just giving us the orders and relaxing at home?"

Kazu knew that it was unusual for a higher-up like Hiroshi to personally come on a mission like this. It was usually just Kazu leading his team and carrying out the orders. But this time, Hiroshi had specifically asked to come along and even insisted on it. Kazu was quite curious about the reason for this change.

Hiroshi glanced over at Kazu, having noticed the questioning look on the other man's face. A faint smile appeared on his face, and he spoke with a tone that suggested that he had been expecting this question.

"I want to see things in person for once," he replied simply. "Normally, I would be content to just order you and the team and wait at home, but this time... I felt the need to be present myself. That's all there is to it. Is it strange?"

Kazu shrugged softly, accepting Hiroshi's answer with a nod. "No, it's not strange," he replied. "I just find it a bit unusual since you've never wanted to accompany us before. I was just wondering if there was a specific reason. But I see, I understand."

Hiroshi continued, "Yeah, that's the reason, honestly. I'm just feeling a little bored and I have a lazy fuck as a manager giving me a headache. It's a bit tiring to deal with him day in and day out."

He paused for a moment before continuing, "Plus, joining you guys will give me a bit of a break from all the corporate bullshit. I also want to see the Yokohama office for myself."

"i guess it's time for me to finally touch some grass." Hiroshi added.

Hiroshi's last comment, "about time I touch some grass," was met with a puzzled look from Kazu. This popular Internet phrase was quite outdated by now, having faded away as a meme in the early 2050s. Kazu, clearly out of the loop on this particular slang, tilted his head slightly and asked, "Touch some grass? What does that mean exactly?"

Hiroshi chuckled at Kazu's confused expression, realizing that the other man was not familiar with the phrase. He replied with a hint of amusement in his voice, "It's an expression, Kazu. In the early 2000s, there was a saying that if you spent too much time online, you needed to touch some grass. A reference to going outside in nature and... well, literally touching grass."

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Understanding the meaning of the phrase now, Kazu let out a soft 'ah' of realization.

"So, it's a way to say 'go do something real, instead of just staying inside all day'?" he asked. "But isn't it... a bit outdated? I haven't heard anyone use that phrase in like ever."

Hiroshi shrugged. "Yeah, I know, i brought a ebook a few days ago. It's like a documentary for all the memes that have existed since the year 2000 so 109 year's of meme history. I learned about this from there."

Kazu raised an eyebrow at this. He was a bit surprised that Hiroshi would actually be interested in something like meme history. "Yeah..sure."

Then Kazu added, "even if one went out, there's no point. As far as I know I haven't seen a single bug in this city for years now."

"That's true," he responded. "We've basically removed all bugs from the country, haven't we? But there are still animals outside, right? I miss seeing birds flying around. It's almost like we're living in some kind of concrete jungle."

"Cause we are. Speaking of nature, I'm planning to visit a bio-dome with my girlfriend."

Bio-domes, or biodomes, were large, enclosed structures designed to mimic the natural environment. Constructed in various sizes, they could simulate different biomes and ecosystems, ranging from tropical rainforests to deserts to tundra. Their main purpose was to provide an enclosed space where plants and animals could flourish and be protected from the outside world.

Over the years, they had become increasingly crucial, as the flora and fauna had died out in Japan and the ecosystem in Japan were on the brink of ecological collapse.

"Oh, really?" Hiroshi looked at Kazu with interest, his curiosity piqued. "A bio-dome, huh? That's a good idea. I haven't been to one in ages."

"that's surprising. Most rich people make their houses in them, better oxygen, air quality etc."

Hiroshi shrugged, a wry smile on his face. "True, I suppose if you have the money for it, you get to breathe fresher air than the rest of us." He paused for a beat then added with a hint of sarcasm, "maybe I should get myself a private dome too. That's for sometime else though."

"i would love to breath fresh air too..but the corpo's have ruin—"

"I don't think bad mounting the conglomerate in their own building is a good idea, Kazu."

Kazu raised an eyebrow at Hiroshi's interruption. He had been about to launch into a familiar tirade about the corporate conglomerates, their greedy practices, and the environmental destruction they caused.

"Also, you are the one who works for them, despite your complaints about what they're doing."

Kazu responded, "True. I currently am working for them, and you do as well. It's hypocritical of both of us to lecture about the damage they caused when we're just cogs in the system."

"That's true," Hiroshi admitted, sighing softly. "Ahh who cares, we can move to Mars if Earth goes to shit."

Hiroshi and Kazu's conversation was abruptly cut short as the elevator reached the ground floor with a soft ding. The doors slid open, revealing the ground floor.

As Hiroshi and Kazu exited the elevator, Hiroshi looked around the bustling lobby of the building. The ground floor was a massive lobby, filled with floating chairs, 3D shows playing on large screens embedded in the walls, and numerous ceiling-mounted heaters emitting warmth throughout the room. The cozy ambience was enhanced by strategically placed fake plants, creating a relaxing atmosphere.

Just like the exterior, the interior was designed with a modern flair, the walls covered in a shiny white finish that mirrored their reflections.

The floor was a polished white as well, matching the walls with a perfect contrast. It was a busy place, with employees quickly passing by — it was morning already (about to be) and it was etiquette to come atleast twenty or thirty minutes before the workday officially started.

A few security guards stood near the entrance, monitoring the flow of people in and out of the building. The security guards were dressed in suits similar to Kazu's but much more heavy-duty.

Unlike Kazu, these guards were equipped with an exoskeleton suit that completely covered their bodies. This suit was connected to neural chips implanted in their brains, allowing data transfer between the suit and their nervous system. In essence, the suit had become part of their body, enhancing their physical capabilities considerably. It was a remarkable piece of technology, enhancing the guards' strength while also providing a form of protection against any potential threats — these were members from the elite security division of the Kusonoki conglomerate — the rose branch.

Normally rose branch member's weren't allowed to wear this armour as it looked ugly but since there were only two here, they were given special permission. Apart from the rose branch member's, there were around fourty more normal security personnel here.

Nowadays, most places in Japan that required security had increasingly leaned towards artificially intelligent security guards due to their cost-effectiveness. These robots didn't require salaries or benefits, making them a seemingly attractive option for establishments.

The only exception to this was places that demanded higher levels of security, where humans were typically still preferred.

Japan's population crisis had become a major concern in recent years, with the population hitting an all-time low of 70 million.

The scarcity of manpower had led to a significant increase in the use of robotics in various sectors, as robots were seen as a viable solution to the labour shortage. Many corporations, faced with the challenge of finding enough human workers, turned to AI-powered robots to fill the gap.

Tasks previously performed by humans were increasingly delegated to these machines, which were considered more efficient and cost-effective in the current economic landscape.

The shift towards robotics in various sectors had become a significant issue for the very poor people living in slums or third tier cities.

Jobs that provided a meager living for the middle class had become scarce, and even the lowest-paying jobs and manual labour tasks had been taken over by specialized robots.

While humans were still required for certain tasks, the heavy Lifting that the poor once relied on for income was now mostly performed by advanced machinery, exacerbating the economic inequalities and making it even harder for the impoverished to find jobs to support their livelihoods.

It was all quite grim.

Hiroshi was fully aware of the issues brought on by the population crisis and the increasing usage of robots to compensate for the labour shortage. However, he had little to no interest in these matters. As a high-ranking employee of the Kusonoki conglomerate, he was shielded from the struggles of the common people. His life was one of luxury and power, and the problems of the commoners had little to no impact on him. He had more important matters to attend to than worrying about the declining birth rate or the poor — like what should he eat tonight.

After taking in the lobby, Hiroshi and Kazu made their way towards the exit, walking across the tiled floors.

Despite the morning rush of the usual crowd, Hiroshi was easily recognized. A few employees greeted him by name as he passed by, some even bowing as a polite gesture. It was one of the perks of being a high-ranking executive of one of the biggest conglomerates in asia. Hiroshi, however, simply smiled and nodded back, not showing much reaction to the attention he received. After all, he was quite used to it.

Kazu and Hiroshi finally reached the building's exit, the automatic door opening to let them through. The morning breeze hit them instantly, a crisp chill in the air. It was cold, given that it was winter, and a light layer of frost was evident on the buildings and surrounding roads. The building was located in the heart of Kobe, near the heart of downtown.

The roads around were quite busy, with car after car whizzing by, their tires kicking up dirt and thrash. Pedestrians walked about, bundled up in thick winter coats and hats.

Hiroshi took a deep breath, taking in the fresh air. He was dressed much lighter compared to Kazu, his business suit only protected part of his shoulders.

The air quality in this city was remarkable, second only to the famed arcology in Shikoku, where the rich and affluent resided. Hiroshi, who had never been to the arcology himself, had heard from his father about its splendid beauty – a sprawling garden filled with towering trees, serene lakes, and animals frolicking freely, creating a paradise on earth.

Unlike many other cities in Japan, Kobe was a unique place. It was where the upper middle class and lower rich folks resided, and their financial backing had transformed the city into a mini version of the arcological heaven of Shikoku. The air quality was excellent, the infrastructure was top-notch, and there was a distinct lack of pollution, trash, or graffiti on the streets. The city had managed to maintain its charm despite the decline of the nation, a testament to the wealth and resources of its residents.

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An arcology, or a vertical city, is a self-sufficient urban structure that combines residential, commercial, agricultural, and industrial spaces into a single, interconnected system. These massive, self-contained structures are designed to minimize environmental impact and maximize efficiency by incorporating advanced technology and sustainable practices.

The concept of an arcology was first proposed in the 1960s by a visionary architect named Paolo Soleri. Soleri was inspired by the idea of creating self-contained, urban environments that would integrate living spaces, work areas, and recreation areas within a single structure. Soleri believed that such structures would not only reduce urban sprawl but also help humans live more sustainably and harmoniously with the environment.

Japan was home to only one arcology, situated in the island of Shikoku. A massive glass dome enclosed the entire structure, protecting it from external pollution. Inside the dome, an oasis of unspoiled nature thrived. Parks, artificial forests, and one of the last unpolluted lakes in Japan were among the amenities within. Central to the arcology was a colossal building housing 250,000 people – a sanctuary exclusively for government officials, employees of Japan's "Big Three" mega-corporations, and the wealthy elite.

In the year 2030, the idea of building an arcology was initially proposed but was promptly rejected. This proposal occurred just before the outbreak of World War III. Following the destruction of Tokyo and the construction of its successor, Neo-Tokyo, the concept of an arcology was reconsidered. The rationale was that the people no longer trusted the government amid the aftermath of the war which lead to riots happening.

The intention behind building the arcology was to provide a secure and comfortable space for people to respite. However, this plan didn't pan out as intended. Shortly after, the emergence of mega-corporations led to their complete takeover of Japan within a few years. Consequently, the arcology transformed into a place solely reserved for the elite, the government officials and the companies employees and their families.

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The two of them walked along the sidewalk, cars passing by them in a steady stream.

Every now and then, a police car would drive past, its blue and red sirens flashing. The police in Kobe were exceptionally efficient, boasting an impressive response time and a conviction rate of ninety-eight percent.

Even petty criminals quickly learned to avoid the city, as the police had become increasingly well equipped and skilled. Many of the officers were cybernetically enhanced, making them faster and stronger than the average person.

The police presence was not overly noticeable, yet one could not fail to notice the occasional patrol car.

Looking up at the sky — well, the glass dome covering the city, Hiroshi let out a sigh.

"No sunlight today either, huh. How many days has it been since the sun last came out?"

"three..four year's, I think," Kazu answered. "The smog has been especially bad today. You can't even see past the glass dome clearly."

"It's gotten so bad that I barely remember what blue skies look like anymore," Hiroshi lamented, shaking his head.

It had been years since Japan's skies had last seen the sun, the thick layer of smog and glass covering the city making it impossible to see anything outside.

He glanced up, trying to make out something, anything, through the dome. All he could make out was a blurry grey haze.

"by the way, where's your team? Shouldn't they be here already?"

Hiroshi's question hung in the air briefly before Kazu responded, "Oh, they are probably still finishing up some last-minute preparations. You know, gotta keep everything in order before the big raid."

As just then their conversation was cut-short again as, a flying vehicle, similar in size to a bus, slowly descended onto the road in front of them. Although there was a law prohibiting flying vehicles from landing on the road, the lack of traffic seemed to make this violation permissible. Hiroshi's corporate influence would likely ensure that any repercussions were handled discreetly.

The vehicle was a large, futuristic-looking bus-like flying car, its streamlined design giving it a distinctly aerodynamic appearance. The exterior was made of a grey and silver material, reflecting the lights from the surrounding buildings. The vehicle hovered silently above the road, its hover fans barely making a sound. When the side door opened, it revealed a spacious interior, comfortable seating for ten people, and a compact area in the front for their gear. From the open door, Kazu team stepped out.

The team was comprised of 8 members in total, all of them outfitted in the same exo-suit armour as Kazu. Each member nodded respectfully to Kazu before turning and bowing respectfully to Hiroshi, acknowledging his status.

As Hiroshi observed Kazu's team, bowing respectfully in his direction, a flicker of satisfaction crossed his face. Although he wouldn't openly admit it, there was a small sense of pleasure in having these people show him a sign of respect. Normally, he would be the one bowing in front of his manager whenever they interacted, despite his position as an assistant manager.

He gave them a nod of acknowledgement and said, "Good to see you all have arrived. Let's not waste any more time, shall we? So where are we going first?"

Kazu chimed in, taking the lead. "To the train station of course, it's a private one so no worries about anyone seeing us."

Kazu's team filed into the flying car one by one, Hiroshi followed suit, stepping into the vehicle alongside them. The door slid shut with a soft hiss, sealing them in.