A/N: The story title was a tribute to Tom Clancy's Red Storm Rising.

.....

Arima Kousei

"Let's end this day in prayer." Mr. Miyazono was the one officiating the prayer. Despite their age, he and Mrs. Miyazono were still fit to keep up with the store's development.

"Amen."

"Let's eat, everybody!"

"Chocolate always calming for me, thank you for the treat." Just another day finished with the work the small family had done within their scopes.

"When it comes down to complaint" Kenji began. "today is for the first time in this month we got one while you and Onee-chan were out there teaching, Uncle Kousei. At least, he is willing to come here and talk about the problem with us." I saw Kaori's head in a nod. "Unlike others who simply get it inside their social media feed with spite on their mind."

"Good to know, Kenji," I replied as my right hand reached the cup for another sip of the hot chocolate. "You remind me of my mentor."

"Hiroko-san?"

"Exactly, Uncle Yoshiyuki, I can see how much you taught Kenji - and us as well - to solve everything with patience and a cool head. That's what my mentor do when I got into trouble with a new piece. People call me a prodigy, sure, but they don't know the full story. My mum was on the discipline side, while Hiroko-san with the softer side of things."

"Kousei-kun, I just know this after all the time we know each other." Besides Yoshiyuki, Ryouko could only smirk at her husband.

"A strong combination of two different teachers really helps... I believe that's your secret." the wide-eyed Kenji then gazed at Kaori, sipping her own chocolate in the process, who then smiled at her brother. Now you know the truth.

After dinner Mr. Miyazono then took on the remote.

The TV was on the JNN news channel and the three had their attention fully focused on the young female anchor covered the various international topics of interest for the day after the national segment was concluded.

"UN-acknowledged National Unity Government of Myanmar announced the liberation of the country's major city of Mandalay from the Military Junta after a month of heavy fighting supported by ASEAN and Indian air power; with six confirmed cases of Chinese drones and fighter jets supplied to the Junta being shot down in the process..."

"Two days ago" Kenji started, "a couple of Burmese came to the store as customers. They said that they are looking for a return to their land free from military rule. They also said "if Indonesia can transition (from military dictatorship to civilian rule) well, why not our country?""

The news continued to roll, "A joint agreement of the new Iranian government under reinstated Shah Davoud Pahlavi and the newly coronated King Ahmad in Saudi Arabia for oil production recovery had given hope for the stabilization of the global oil prices, as the current above $120 per barrel price means that the post-COVID-19 global economic recovery is still hanging on a balance..."

"Thank God for the Niigata oil and gas field - and Minamitorishima deep-sea mine - " All present breathed a sigh of relief as well after Kaori finished with the sentence. The scramble of rare earth metal for things like batteries and solar panels had added fuel to the fire of energy competition.

The anchor continued, "...On the other hand if to make things more unsettling for the UN, China is at a record low on its reserve supplies of oil. They would normally have resorted to increasing imports from their close trading partner Russia as well as Kazakhstan and the Middle East but with the Alashankou oil facility in the restive Xinjiang Uyghur region that received Central Asian and Russian imports was blown up by the recent cyberattack, many eyes are watching to see what China will do... The Chinese government has not responded to any questions on possible measures they will take to get new oil to aid their own recovery."

Just then the image on the screen changed to that of the United States.

"Oh boy," Kenji's tone significantly chilled the atmosphere around the room we are in. "I can't wait to hear how great our greatest ally is doing."

The news anchor switched notes before talking. "The US economy has taken another slower growth than expected due to an increase of spending this year to the point of Federal government's significant reduction of foreign aid to countries such as Pakistan, India (except military related as part of IPSDC for obvious reasons), Brazil, DR Congo, Afghanistan, and even Israel."

"The thing is" I began. "Takeshi told me, from his American friend, that their main policy of returning industry back to their soil from the previous administration is actually working even with many bitter pills to swallow, such as by cutting some "unnecessary" foreign aid and increasing enforcement for welfare fraud as well as stepped up deportation for uncooperative illegals, with considerations for cases like pregnant mothers and victims of human trafficking as well as several churches and employers who want to give them guarantee for integration and welfare, also means a better use of their taxpayer money, much more with her allies in NATO as well as others like us, Japan and the new partners in this Strategic Defense Coalition are doing better than before in terms like military affairs. What can't be better for them and the world?"

"For that, I agree, Uncle, one of the customers told me that his company did invest more in the USA. All needs time and multiple governments, especially with their people nowadays..."

The screen went on to the footage of various demonstrations across the country and several instances of those which degenerated into riots. "The US government and it's allies was forced to spend more to fix several problems inside the armed forces' development and weapons acquisition and sustainment programs, such as the $1 trillion dollars F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, which has become immersed in an ongoing controversy over a worldwide refit to remove Chinese-sourced components from the fleet citing cybersecurity threats..."

"I think that's enough TV for us. We better head for the music room."

"Well, Onee-chan, I'll stay here for some loose ends."

......................................................................................................................................................

Ryota Watari

It's another day in the gym and while on lunch break, my attention was shifted to one of my colleagues. "Now hear this, brother, if the Prime Minister had recalled military reserves and National Guard for unscheduled training, that means, we have to expect an attack at any time."

"You are kidding, right?"

"Come on, it's all in the news. The only moment where the government called up reserves and Guards, other than back in 1999 and routine trainings, were during disasters like typhoons and earthquakes, especially the one with tsunami and nuclear meltdown in Tohoku a decade ago, or landslide in Atami. For this one, the timing is the Chinese had admitted their impending oil crisis. If you by chance read or watch or listen to Radio Free Asia, you'll know the unfiltered fact on what happened in China."

"Anything other than it?" I asked at the guy, a fellow trainer named Negi Fujita.

"I'm not finished yet. Just saying, for sake of you and I..."

"Go on.."

"They are just like us before World War II, their resources are dwindling and demands are many. I don't want to make you worry, man, but right now it's time to think, and figure out what is likely to be next."

"Now..." my hand reached for my phone, just as notification came from the news service I subscribed to. "Another provocation in Senkaku, great."

"You see, along with Niigata field, Senkaku has been confirmed by third parties to contain oil on it, as much as in the South China Sea."

"My God. If they are really that desperate.... anyway, how do you think I should tell Tsubaki?"

"Well, sit down together, and just tell what we're talking now, slowly but surely. she should understand. You know her better than me, for heaven's sake! I wish for the best, but again, be ready for the worst."

"Thank you, Fujita-kun. You're really helpful."

He answered me. "No problem, anyway, we better be ready, break is about to end."

The day was soon concluded, and as I was lucky to obtain a seat on the train back home, I wondered. "What shall we do if that time really come?"

Everything flew over, and I found himself on the familiar four-story building. Walking along the walkway to apartment number 202. My hand went on the doorbell.

"Hai" called the voice that I came to love even after all the time they had been together.

"How's your day, Watari-kun?"

"Just another day without too many speedbumps on the way, or if I went back to my old soccer time, another win."

"Great! My students are doing well just like your clients."

"Awesome, but right now, I am starving."

"Well, come forth, let's eat!"

After they finished with dinner, we didn't leave the table yet. "For our Valentine." Tsubaki began, "I got something for you!"

"Really?" The reply was rapid, and his eyes went wide when two tickets were there on the table.

J1 LEAGUE - Kashima Antlers vs Jubilo Iwata

"Yeay! Tsubaki-chan, thank you!"

"You're welcome, and we can afford this because we are saving money all the time." She replied. Then Tsubaki drove the point home on how our respective parents instilled the value of saving, something we really were grateful for especially in the unstable post COVID economy.

"Anyway, I hate to change our mood."

"What do you mean?"

"You can beat me after this if you want, but I will still love you."

"Just tell me."

......

A/N: This chapter can be subjected to expansions anytime soon. I hope you enjoy!

Also, Kashima Antlers and Jubilo Iwata are real Japanese soccer clubs.