Crossover: Becoming Japan’s Prime Minister? Chapter 21: I Will Become the Prime Minister of Japan!

"Beer's here!"

Wearing a chef's hat and looking about fifty, the ran shop boss smiled as he brought two bottles of draft beer.

He handed one bottle to Shizuka and placed the other in front of Toru.

Toru looked surprised. "I didn't order beer."

The boss blinked and pointed at Shizuka. "She's treating you."

"Let tell you, she's a regular. Every ti she cos here and I ntion boyfriends, she imdiately orders a few bottles to drown her sorrows. I've made a lot of money this way."

The boss's blunt statent made Toru laugh. "You just say that right in front of her?"

"Haha, she doesn't care about that."

The boss laughed loudly and walked away to tend to other custors.

Toru thought for a mont and instantly understood the boss's intention.

It looked like teasing, but in reality, the boss was trying to help Shizuka get closer to him.

The boss was good. Subtle, but effective. Toru thought maybe he was in the wrong profession. He should have been a matchmaker.

Still, although Toru understood, he pretended not to.

So that's how it is. You all see as an innocent university boy you can sche around, huh.

"This boss is interesting."

Toru decided to speak first.

Shizuka raised her glass. "Yeah, he's interesting. His cooking is good too, so I often co here for ran. You drink? Let's have a toast. This one's on ."

Looking at how straightforward she was, Toru raised his glass and clinked it with hers. "I can hold my liquor pretty well."

Just as Shizuka was about to drink, she froze and quickly asked, "You're twenty, right?"

According to Japan's law, you had to be twenty to drink. Plenty ignored it privately, but in public, you had to be careful.

Toru replied, "I went to Shuchiin for high school and got into Tokyo University, but I actually hold Arican nationality."

In other words, Japan's drinking law didn't apply to him.

"Oh, so you're an international student."

Shizuka relaxed and took a big gulp.

Toru followed her lead and drank half his beer.

Shizuka gave him a thumbs up.

The ran shop was now full. Middle-aged office workers around them clinked glasses and complained about work and family.

These small ran shops that doubled as izakayas were perfect for them. Cheap. Relaxed atmosphere.

With alcohol in them, even shy people loosened up. And Shizuka, already outgoing, beca even more talkative.

"Fujiwara-kun, is it okay if I call you that?"

"Sure. I grew up in Arica, so I'm not used to honorifics. You can call by na."

"Haha, I grew up in Japan. If I try to change how I address people, it feels weird."

She paused, then asked, "...What's your major at Tokyo University, Fujiwara-kun?"

"I'm in the Faculty of Politics and International Studies."

"Politics and International Studies? Planning to beco a diplomat?"

Toru shook his head. "Not exactly. My goal is to beco Pri Minister of Japan. But if I need to be a diplomat first to get there, I'll try that too."

He said it seriously.

His eyes glanced at the system interface only he could see.

[Final Mission (Impossible?): Beco the Arican President or the Pri Minister of Japan through legal, reasonable, and compliant ans. Upon completion, receive the final mysterious reward]

When Toru first saw this mission, he was stunned.

The difficulty was absurd. And the requirent that it must be done legally ant only one thing in democratic nations: elections.

Still, he was extrely curious about the final reward.

From that mont on, he had treated this goal as a lifelong mission.

After thinking carefully, he abandoned the idea of becoming the Arican President.

Because he was Asian.

Even if he grew up in Arica and wasn't an immigrant, being Asian was still a disadvantage in national elections.

There had never been an Asian President, and Toru wasn't interested in being the first. It would require massive effort and political cost.

So he chose the second path: becoming the Pri Minister of Japan. Worst case, he could beco a warti leader and go down in history. That was fine too.

His current identity gave him a considerable advantage.

Japan's political world was practically hereditary. Without a strong family background, rising to the top was incredibly difficult.

Most high-ranking officials ca from political lineages.

The Fujiwara family was an old political house. He could use that legacy to enter politics with ease.

The system set a political goal for him and also strengthened him through dating. So Toru nad it:

[Career and Love System]

Seeing Toru's serious expression, Shizuka's smile faded. She asked quietly, "Are you serious, Fujiwara-kun?"

"Of course I am. I even have a career plan."

"First, attend Tokyo University to et Japan's most outstanding young people. They will beco my future connections."

"Then, find a way to make a na for myself so the public knows who I am. This prepares for running for city council."

"After becoming a city councilor, I will join Japan's largest party to build my path into the Diet. Once I beco a Diet mber, I will target cabinet positions."

"From there, I'll aim for party leadership. If I win enough internal votes, once that happens, the position of Pri Minister will be within reach."

(To be continued.)