At the dawn of the Seika era,
in order to regulate unwanted messages that presented a bad influence to society,
the Media Cleansing Act was passed.
The libraries armed themselves in order to protect freedom of expression
from the extreme censorship of the Media Cleansing Committee.
The conflict between the two continued to escalate.
In the 31st year of Seika, a lone girl plunged herself into the middle of that conflict.
What's with the sulky face?
Do you still have something against me?
Do you...
want to go out with me?
So, how did you respond?
I told him to let me think it over for a while...
You bum.
But!
It's the first time anyone's asked me out.
First time?!
Well, I understand how you feel...
So, is dating him an option?
He's serious, he's got good grades, he's handsome, and he's taller than you.
By most people's standards, he's infinitely close to perfection.
On top of that, his father is the chairman of the Library Commission.
You didn't know?!
You're too ignorant.
But dating him for those reasons feels a bit wrong...
If it's not with someone I like...
A virgin!
We have a virgin here!
Shut up!
Don't make fun of the situation!
Do you have someone you like then?
L...
Yes, someone you like.
Not really.
Then why not!
I'm really curious how you two would turn out.
I don't want to do this to indulge your curiosity!
All we need is the suspect's library check-out record.
It is our duty to protect the library user's privacy in accordance with Article 32 of the Library Act.
Our library cannot break the law just to help the police.
But it can be used to help make the suspect confess!
The public will understand too!
I believe the law must not be bent just to suit the situation.
What's wrong with him?!
Three people have been killed already.
What an attitude...
Stop it.
We're the ones asking them to disclose information unlawfully.
We didn't have a chance to start with.
The Hino Nightmare.
You've at least heard of it, haven't you?
It happened twenty years ago.
Yes. I was in grade school then.
That man, Inamine Kazuichi, is one of the survivors.
It was said that the delayed police response had been due to reports
that erroneously attributed the attack to the Media Cleansing Force.
You claim to protect public order, and you kill people to do it?!
There were 12 casualties.
He lost his wife and his right leg.
The attackers were too well-armed.
There were suspicions that the Media Cleansing Force intervened,
but the investigation was stopped without producing a clear result.
Since that day, the Library Forces armed themselves in self-defense.
He's still at the forefront of that battle.
The former CEO and current Chief Advisor of the Nobeyama Group, the largest trading company in the country,
Nobeyama Sohachi, has passed away earlier this morning in a hospital in Odawara.
According to a press release by the group of doctors...
Why would you sit next to me?!
Sense my discomfort!
The Museum of Information History that Mr. Nobeyama operated is being closed.
With that, a decision was made that the Kanto Library Force will receive ownership of the books.
It's a private library in Odawara that collected historic publications regarding the Media Cleansing Committee.
Unbelievable.
It's unthinkable for a Library Force member not to know about the Museum of Information History.
But they don't even teach that in the lectures!
It was left untouched because it was privately owned.
But to the Cleansing Committee, the place is full of documents they want to eliminate.
We're expecting interference by the Media Cleansing Force and other supporting groups on the day of the hand-off.
The closing of the museum is set on the day of Mr. Nobeyama's funeral.
The book transfer will be done on that day as well.
The entire Task Force will join the operation.
We will move into the site the day before.
Members of the Kanagawa Prefecture Defense Force will join us there as well.
The books will be transported by air using a helicopter.
The first flight will take off from the museum at 0900.
The Defense Forces will work on securing the perimeter until the hand-off is complete.
Also, LFC Kasahara will escort Commander Inamine, who will attend the funeral.
That's all.
Just me?
What's going on?!
Tell me the reason!
Escorting key personnel is also one of the Task Force's duties,
so it's nothing special to send some of us to do it.
But why me alone?!
It's to give you more experience.
Then why is Tezuka not included?
Does he not need the experience?!
Don't dupe me!
Fine.
I'll tell you since you seem to be able to handle it.
I judged that you won't be of any use.
Are you satisfied?
Instructor Dojo, you don't trust me?
Why do I do this when I already know the result?
Have you done anything that inspires trust?
You look like an abandoned dog.
I'll never want him as my owner.
And who's that owner?
Are you serious about your comment that Kasahara is of no use?
Sure, she's an ignorant idiot,
but her overall training results are not much different from mine!
It's hard to believe I'm hearing this from you.
Are you, as an instructor, using a double standard?!
Yeah...
I hear they're getting nervous down in Odawara.
In the worst case scenario, it may become an incident even worse than the Hino Nightmare.
Is it that bad?
I heard that the entire Defense Force will be armed with submachine guns.
And I've never heard of something as extreme as the deployment of the entire Task Force.
But I'm not included in that entire Task Force.
For this mission from which some of us may never come back!
Why was I...?
Hey, stop sulking.
Don't worry.
The Library Force is different from twenty years ago.
We have adequate equipment and training.
The public acknowledges us as people with more actual combat experience than the police or the JSDF.
And I'm a member of it too!
And still...
Enough. Don't you get it?
They excluded you because you're a naive baby who doesn't acknowledge her immaturity.
I'm sorry, I said too much.
Captain Genda was originally going to include you.
The exclusion is a selfish act by Instructor Dojo.
What do you mean?
I'm sorry for acting out of place.
Excuse me now.
You can't blame anyone no matter what you're told this time.
Kasahara-san must deal with her own personal problems.
It's wrong for you to stick your head in and get everyone else involved.
You are a disobedient child who hasn't told her parents about being assigned to a combat-oriented group.
I didn't ask for help.
Like I said, it was selfish on his part.
He's doing you a favor.
I don't want such a favor!
Who made him do it?
It's because I couldn't deal with my own problems, isn't it?
So you do get it.
A person who can't deal with her own problems can't ask to be trusted.
Shibasaki,
help me train for my escort duty.
You're really serious about this.
They know it will be a fierce one too.
What about the first female Task Force member?
She's on something else for a reason.
There she is.
Kasahara!
Pictures of her cannot be published for a reason, so please spare her.
Sorry for that.
What a waste of a good picture.
Captain, who might that be?
Sorry for not introducing myself sooner.
I'm Orikuchi Maki from Sesou Publishing.
We've know each other since college.
She requested to cover this case.
As a member of the mass media, I believe this is an event we cannot ignore.
I intend to write a powerful article that will live up to your actions.
Please look forward to it.
You're leaving now?
Yeah.
Take care of yourself.
Kasahara,
when will you answer my question from the other night?
I'll tell you next time.
Next time?
Yeah.
Next time.
Here they come.
This is the Cleansing Force on behalf of the Media Cleansing Committee.
Try not to hit anyone.
Any casualties will only escalate the battle.
As of this moment, and as stated in notice #7726,
Do you think they'll go that easily?
we are executing the censorship of the documents on behalf of the chairman of the committee, Onodera Shigeru,
The ground troops will have to take the blow if we anger them.
in accordance with Article 3 of the Media Cleansing Act.
I'm not expecting great accuracy from you.
The Kanto Library Force is to disarm itself and surrender immediately!
We just need to pressure them.
Roger.
The Kanto Library Force is executing their right to protect literature
in accordance with Article 4 of the Library Act, and Article 34 of the Library Freedom Act.
If you want to censor these books...
come and get them!
I'll be counting on you today.
Yes, Sir.
I will do my job properly.
Isn't the helicopter going up yet?
Snipers?!
Damn it!
There he is!
Yes!
The helicopter has left the perimeter.
No damage taken.
How many seriously injured are there?
13 cases reported.
We'll carry them in the second helicopter.
There are some who may not survive with first aid alone.
We will provide our press helicopter.
Our battle is to write about the fighting men like you.
We kept one on standby just in case something like this happened.
Sorry about that.
Yes, please.
Frontline ground troops, retreat to the building interior.
Roger.
Go!
Two hours have passed since the battle started.
Komaki! We're retreating!
Komaki!
We're retrieving an injured!
Back us up!
The Kanto Library Force protects the containers that are filled with the entire history of censorship.
The Media Cleansing Force does not hesitate to shed blood over the censorship.
The list of injured continues to increase without giving us any time to think about the validity of it all.
And then the second helicopter arrived.
The helicopter is closing in.
Snipers, switch to submachine guns and back up the landing.
Concentrate on the troops that are in the direction from which the helicopter is approaching.
Put up a barrage!
Tezuka!
All units inside the building,
the helicopter is preparing to take off.
It won't take long.
Hang in there!
We're at our limit!
No more!
He's at his limit too!
Take him to the hospital ASAP!
But...
Hurry!
Thanks...
Hang in there!
Once this one takes off, it'll be our victory!
Operation complete.
Patch me through to the PA system.
Notice from the Kanto Library Force to the Media Cleansing Force.
The Library Force is abandoning all the remaining publications in the building as of 1140.
Use telephone extension 03 to respond.
From the Media Cleansing Force to the Kanto Library Force.
Leave the building by 1210.
We will not permit reentry to the building.
Over.
What's this about?
Isn't there one more container?
That one was made to be abandoned.
It has magazines and books that the Library Force has backups for.
They can't go home empty-handed either.
This is where we draw the line.
It must not be easy to be the righteous hero, with all this formality.
Yeah.
Now you see.
All Cleansing Force members have retreated away from the building.
Good work.
Dojo, Komaki, the squad member you retrieved has been safely transported.
That's good to hear.
Great.
All units,
suspicious individuals have entered Mr. Nobeyama's funeral site.
Commander Inamine is under attack.
All units, retreat immediately!
We're returning to base!
Kasahara!