"The Japan Meteorological Agency has sent a report. Mount Fuji's eruption is already approaching VEI 5!"
"And the pressure in the magma reservoirs underground and inside the mountain keeps rising. At this rate, it could reach VEI 6 in less than twenty-four hours."
The National Diet Building, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo.
The closed-door meeting originally convened to prepare the establishment of the Supernatural Countermeasures Headquarters had been urgently suspended. More than half the attendees had left, leaving only the central figures of the political world. Even the Prime Minister, who had previously kept himself out of sight, had appeared.
"Didn't those experts say Mount Fuji's eruption could never reach the level of Tonga Volcano?!"
His face livid, the Prime Minister abandoned all decorum and raged:
"Damn it! What experts? All they spout is bullshit!"
The reporting official wore a miserable expression. Spittle sprayed his face, but he did not dare wipe it off. He murmured:
"The Japan Meteorological Agency recommends immediately issuing the highest-level volcanic eruption warning for Fujinomiya City, Gotemba City, Fujiyoshida City, and the other cities at the foot of Mount Fuji."
Japan's volcanic alert system had five levels. Level one reminded the public to follow news about active volcanoes; level two restricted access around the volcano; level three prohibited climbing; level four instructed elderly people with limited mobility, people with disabilities, women, and children to evacuate. Only the highest level called for everyone to evacuate.
"Of course you should issue an evacuation warning immediately! Do you need to ask me about something so trivial?" the Prime Minister snapped, bristling with anger.
"Also, the Japan Meteorological Agency is asking whether we should take precautions and issue an evacuation warning for Tokyo before Mount Fuji's eruption rises to VEI 5."
"Urgh..."
The Prime Minister looked as though something had lodged