A/N: The song in this video is called "Coat of Arms" by a Swedish power metal band, Sabaton. Yes, I like their military history-themed songs.

Tokyo, April 25th, 2018. Two hour after the air raid warning. Kousei's house.

After an agonizing two hours, the city's air raid siren finally signaled "All clear", which permitted citizens to went out from the shelters.

Expecting damage, Takahiko opened the door of the underground shelter. Instead all outside seems back to normal.

Yumi checked her phone for news updates.

"Thank God for AEGIS" she said, relieved that the missile attack on Tokyo was foiled by the US-made missile defense system, based on the Aegis naval combat system mainly installed on destroyers and cruisers in the US Navy, along with destroyers from the Kaijou Jieitai/JMSDF , ROKN (Republic of Korea Navy), RAN (Royal Australian Navy), and frigates from Norway and Spain, and which the land-based version had been acquired and made operational by the Japanese Ministry of Defense.

Meanwhile. Kousei managed to call Emi upon exiting the shelter.

"Emi? Thank God you're alive!!"

"Kousei! What happened?" Emi called, seems doesn't understand the reason between the air raid siren.

"North Koreans fired a ballistic missile, possibly a nuke towards Tokyo. But our defenses foiled the attack and what I have heard, the warhead was taken out but the delivery system (body of the missile) barely missed the Rainbow Bridge. This is war."

"Missile defense? To be honest I somewhat skeptical about that program, despite I got an uncle in the Defense Ministry and one other in Diet. Wait a minute.. Kousei, go see the news. Those people also combined missile and air attacks towards some Kaijou Jietai (JMSDF) facilities..

Oh, and my Otoo-san called me. Along with that, I also need to make sure Takeshi and Nagi is save. Onegaishimasu, Kousei-kun."

He also later called his mentor (and second mother figure to him along with Yumi), Seto Hiroko, and she told him about a possibility of a draft.

"If you are drafted, honor the call. I'm sure that your parents will approve your choice for this country. If you don't serve, I don't think there will be audience to watch you perform (she refers to the grim consequence of North Korean rule)." said Seto on the phone.

After that, he called his half-brother.

"Are everyone safe, brother? All lines are overwhelmed by the emergency warning system!" asked Daigo on the phone.

"Thank God they are all safe and sound, Mum, Dad, Risa, Nana, all inside the house. Where are you?"

"Still in the hospital, when the siren comes, as you know, everyone must be ready for casualties."

"Have you heard about a possible SDF draft?"

"Yes, my supervisor had said about that. But as we are medical workers we are exempted from such thing, either. The government has guaranteed that."

"Alright, I must go back to work and checked up some equipments.. Onegaishimasu!" Daigo ended the call.

Breaking News

"Just recently at 20.40. North Korea has launched two Pukkuksong-2 (KN-15) intermediate-range ballistic missiles, one targeting Camp Smedley Butler, a United States Marine Corps base in Okinawa, and another targeting Tokyo. All missiles were confirmed as "successfully intercepted and destroyed" by AEGIS Ashore missile defense system and failed to hit their intended targets. Five minutes after the detection of the missiles, North Korean forces launched a massive attack on South Korea with up to 3 million soldiers and approximately 450-600 modern warplanes. Along with the invasion towards South Korea the North Korean air force has raided the JMSDF Maizuru District base, which sunk destroyer Asagiri and submarine Kuroshio. The attack also damaged destroyer Shimakaze, Takanami, and destroyer escort (frigate) Ooyodo. A second wave of North Korean planes, believed to be targeting Naval Support Activity Yokosuka (a combined US-JMSDF naval base) or the city were repulsed by the combination of ground based defenses and air forces from both the JASDF and the US. The government and Diet had commenced a special session as a response to the attacks and to sign into law the revision of the Article 9 of the Constitution."

Tokyo, April 26th, 2018. 07.00 hour. Watari's house

"Moshi moshi"

"This is Tsubaki, Watari, do you know that the government had signed a draft law for both men and women aged 18-35? (conscription)"

"Yes, my Otoo-san already told that before he go to work. He said for today keep checking the mailbox for government sounding letters. And you know, I might get drafted. We are at war now. In that case, both Okaa-san and Otoo-san had told me, well, to honor the call."

"I already receive the letter. I was drafted, Watari."

He felt shocked upon listening to the fact that his girlfriend has been drafted into the SDF.

"Alright, I will immediately checked my mailbox for that letter. I will call you soon. Daisuki!" Watari ended the call.

And as he expected. he also receive the draft notification letter.

Tokyo, April 26th, 2018. 09.00 hour. Okutsu University campus.

Kousei and Emi arrived at the ground of their school. Both are drafted. The campus's ground are currently used as one of the receiving station and physical examination for prospective SDF draftees.

Soon. "Watari, Tsubaki, are you got drafted too?"

"Of course!" Both answered.

"Anyway, how about Daigo?" Tsubaki asked.

"He's a medical technician, and as you had see in the news, medical workers (doctors, nurses, paramedics, medical technicians, pharmacists, midwives, etc), are one of the "reserved occupations" which means they are exempted from the draft."

"Kousei! Emi!" called a voice behind. It's Aiza Takeshi.

"Are you draft, too?" Watari asked Takeshi.

"Correct. If you guys were to serve, I will follow. Well, this is for my family, anyway. Maybe having samurai blood indeed help me physically fit, which for pianists like us also a must." Takeshi was long-time considered as the most physically fit from the pianist trio; which are him, Emi, and Kousei.

After that, prospective draftees undertaken their physical and mental test in many empty classes requisitioned for this purpose.

"Okay, your name is Kousei Arima, 18 years old, a citizen of Japan, born in Totsuhara, Tokyo Prefecture, and you are healthy, physically and mentally, right?" said one SDF officer, a Ground one with the rank of Captain.

"Sir, yes sir!" said Kousei.

Then, he was physically examined; hearing, sight, weight, height, reflexes, and overall health, along with a psychological and vocational aptitude test.

In vision examination "Ah, 20/10. Above average. You might have chance to be a pilot in the ASDF." said the examiner.

The conclusion. "Congratulations, we used to know you as a musician, but today, you are now a member of the Self-Defense Forces. We are officially at war, so expect to be deployed at any time, in the GSDF, MSDF, and the ASDF. Choose your path."

"Arigatou gozaimasu, sir!" Kousei replied.

Tokyo, April 26th, 2018. 19.20 hour. a local Korean restaurant, Tokyo, Japan.

"Minna, what's happened today?" asked Kousei inside the Korean restaurant owned by one of Watari's soccer friend, Jeong-san. Kousei, Watari, Tsubaki, Emi, and Takeshi were gathered on that evening, bringing their close friends.

The pianist trio bring their three close friends: Makoto Kawashima, a cellist, Kaori Naehara, a drummer and Aoki Isako, a vocalist.

Meanwhile, Tsubaki and Watari brought Haruka. Jeong, as the son of the owner had been there before the group arrive.

"I was accepted and already signed up with the Kaijou Jieitai (JMSDF)" Makoto said.

"I might be small-framed but those people said I have potential to be in the Kutei-dan (1st Airborne Brigade, JGSDF parachute formation, based in Camp Narashino)" Kaori said.

"I will join the Koku Jietai" Kousei proudly said. "I also will do the same to be in your side" said Emi. "Besides, let me tell one of my little secrets. When I was a kid, I used to dream for being a pilot, then Kousei-kun inspired me to find my real potential in piano instead" Emi added.

"Same for us" Tsubaki and Watari replied.

"How about Jiro?" asked Kousei to Watari. Jiro is also Kousei's acquintainces anyway.

"Family hardship caused him to be exempted from the draft. His father recently suffered a stroke and as the result he must go back to his hometown in Naha to take care of his family and continued his education there" Watari replied.

Kousei and Emi can only pondering in silence about his current issues.

"Oh, buddy, before I forgot, how's Kashiwagi, Tsubaki's friend?" Kousei continued.

Tsubaki soon answered "She's also drafted. she said to me that she had applied to join the GSDF. The draftmen said she might be a good candidate to fly GSDF helos."

"As I said to you before, Watari, I will join the GSDF." Jeong said, definitely eager to fight in Korea.

"Me too" said Haruka. "In addition, they said that I might fit to be a tank soldier. Despite I'm a woman."

Takeshi answered "I'm going to the GSDF too. And I am the only one here to be in the infantry."

"You forgot I also will be infantry, Takeshi" Jeong replied to Takeshi's statement.

"Paratroopers are also infantry, Takeshi. You're not alone." Kaori said, laughing slightly.

"They said I am an officer material in the Maritime Forces, so I took up the offer to join the Kaijou Jieitai. Besides, despite learning to be a musician, I have a quite good affinity for anything related to sea. In fact. I'm also a scuba diver" Aoki said, while showing her diving license card.

"Amazing" most of the group replied in awe, while Kousei and Emi seemed reserved as they are already know for long that she is a qualified diver along with being a singer.

Kousei is surprised how many people close to him has been drafted by the SDF.

"I wonder what those people' next move towards us? Has South Korea holding well? Will China or Russia intervene?" he looked out of the window towards the starry, clear sky of Tokyo.

A/N:

1. This fanfiction is heavily inspired from this School Rumble (not yet watched this anime to be honest) fanfiction about a Japan-Chinese war which saw many characters from that series to be conscripted into the JSDF. Credits to Jack Hamataro Kamiya, the American who create that story.

Source: www.fanfiction.net/s/3801878/1/Brothers-in-Arms-The-Eastern-World-is-Exploding

2. In real life if the missile is nuclear the Americans will definitely retaliate. But as the missile in this story was intercepted the US president decided to not activate his nuclear football and decided to keep the war conventional.