A/N: The video title is Stay High. Fit for the aviation theme of this story. I'm no pilot (not meeting the requirements especially because I wear glasses), but to be honest. I like planes. 

PM Shinzo Abe's address to the nation

"To all Japanese people, this is the dark day for us all. Last night, North Koreans had committed an act of war towards the state of Japan by firing two ballistic missiles, one towards our capital, and one was aimed towards Okinawa. In addition, they also sent warplanes which managed to damage a portion of our maritime defense capability, at the JMSDF Maizuru Naval Base, while our forces along with our strategic ally (the United States) has managed to repel the second attack, which were aimed towards the important city and port of Yokosuka. On behalf of the Emperor, the government, and the people of Japan. I extend my condolences to the families of Maritime Force members and civilians who had fallen in the attack on Maizuru."

"The Jieitai has been put on full alert and as the Constitution has been officially revised by the Diet, it has been authorized for use in combat overseas along with friendly countries, especially, South Korea, which is being attacked by the North Korean forces aimed to reunify the land under dictatorial rule and our most important partner which is the United States of America. As a friend and neighbor of the Korean Republic, the State of Japan will not tolerate any attempt to impose a totalitarian rule on it's people. "

"Now by the time, you will figured out that many of your loved ones, friends, neighbors, acquaintances and associates will and currently engaged in battle to protect our homeland and defend our Korean brothers. The Jieitai will fight as a part of a Coalition force which will took the fight into Pyongyang and do everything it can to hunt down it's leaders to face justice, even if we must go underground for it to be realized. I promised this will be a decisive victory. We will not repeat our forefathers mistakes in the Pacific War. As your Prime Minister, I asked the people of Japan, either in homeland or in diaspora, to give support to our forces with everything we have in our disposal. To brave men and women in uniform, I'll give you my full support and exhortation to fight as you fight to defend the Yamato and those freedom-loving Koreans. Fight in their skies, sea, and land as if that is our own that we can't afford to lose. Show our allies and partners in Asia-Pacific and the Western World you will fight alongside, that Japan today is different than in the past."

"To the North, there will be no negotiation except for a surrender and reunification of Korea under the flag of liberty. Everyone who had commit atrocities will be punished accordingly. I'll end this address by this word; Freedom, Banzai!!" 

Tokyo, April 27th, 2018.

Today is the day Kousei left Tokyo for his initial military training. His luggage is ready and he currently waiting for the JASDF bus scheduled to pick him up. 

"Mum, Dad, Seto-san, pray for me to prevail in trainings and in flight" he said while hugging his stepmother, father, and his piano mentor.

"If there's a keyboard or a piano in your base, don't forget to use it, to keep your skills and for relaxation, okay? Particularly before and after you fly, which definitely will be grueling." Seto said.

"Don't forget to contact me and Mum often, okay?" added Takahiko. "And remember this, Kousei. A soldier fight not because he hates what's in front of him but because he loves what he left behind!"

"Ganbatte (do your best), my son" Yumi said, close to tears.  

"Hai, ganbarimasu! (I will fight hard)" Kousei replied.

"The bus is coming!" Seto said upon looking outside.

"Minna, matane!" (Everyone, goodbye!). Kousei waved his hand to his parents and mentor upon exiting the house and boarded the bus. Meanwhile. Tsubaki and Watari, being his neighbors next-door also said goodbye to their respective parents and boarded the bus.

"Kousei!" Emi, already picked up before Kousei, said upon saw him board the bus. He soon takes seat beside his girlfriend. 

Both soon meet and greeted fellow cadets inside the bus. 

"What? The mighty Kousei Arima was also drafted? And his girlfriend also?" said one cadet, by the name of Enomoto Naoto after being introduced to Kousei and Emi. 

"Because we are at war" Kousei simply answered Naoto. He can only ponders. 

Other cadets were not so starstruck upon seeing Kousei and Emi, already considered as celebrities especially for younger, under-20 folks. For example, a cadet behind Kousei's seat by the name of Hatsuki Yamamoto had simply said "I will be honored to serve with you."

"To be more precise, fly, right?" asked Kousei with a smirk.

"Yes!"

After almost one and a half hour, the cadets arrived at the Hamamatsu Air Base, in the Shizuoka Prefecture, when they will be undergoing their basic and ground class for those for flying training, like Kousei, Emi, Tsubaki, and Watari. Two JASDF senior cadets soon boarded the bus that they are in.

"I'm Cadet Nisou (First/Technical Sergeant, in this case a 3rd year cadet) Kido Takayoshi. Welcome to the Basic Cadet Training, the first step to becoming an officer in the one of Free Asia's (1) most powerful air force, the Koku Jieitai. One day, your decisions you take or not to take will effect whether people live, or die. We Cadres here as our responsibility, to care towards you and  help you meet challenges as cadets and as officers, and create the warrior spirit in you. To instill courage, push you beyond your limits, and making you a true Japanese airman and woman..."

"Your country and it's people expect you to give your absolute best in your training. And every day, the standard will be higher than before. Especially as we are at war now. Mediocrity and laziness in your actions will not be tolerated, do you understand?"

"Yes sir!" shouted the cadets.

"Our heritage, with names like Minoru Genda, Tateo Kato, and Yoshinao Koidara.." (A/N: The mention of notable WW2-era Japanese pilots and air officers in this case are not intended to glorify militarism and totalitarianism!!)

Upon the conclusion of the welcoming speech by Cadet Sergeant Takayoshi, the cadets disembarked the hybrid-powered bus into the inner part of the base.

The different adventure for Kousei and his friends has began.

Hamamatsu Air Base, JASDF Air Officer Training School, Shizuoka Prefecture, April 27th, 2018.  

The first week, physical training. Second week, weapons training. The next week, survival, airmanship and leadership training.

After the basic, it's time for flying school for those who choose to become pilots.

Basic flying training: 25 hours in classroom, and 25 hours flying using the Fuji Heavy Industries (now Subaru) T-7 turboprop trainer aircraft in Shihuzama Air Base, still in Shizuoka Prefecture. 

As Seto expected, Hamamatsu AB indeed have piano. So, outside class, homeworks, physical, and flight training in Shihuzama, he and Emi still able to keep playing with it. Especially in the weekends when they didn't have any class or flying schedule except otherwise.

Meanwhile, the news of the front were not depressing, nor encouraging: North and South Korea are once again locked in an attrition, back-and-forth battles along the DMZ and surrounding area including in the outskirts of Seoul. Iranian and for lesser extent, Chinese, military support to DPRK significantly offsets massive support from NATO forces and existing Japanese forces to South Korea. 

"Best graduate overall is.. Arima Kousei and Tsubaki Sawabe!!" said the Instructor upon the conclusion of the overall basic training program, while putting the corresponding patch into their flight suits.

Later on, those who are chosen for fighter aircrafts continued to intermediate and advanced training using Kawasaki T-4 Kai jet trainers in Hamamatsu Air Base. Meanwhile, for cadets who were assigned to fly multi-engined aircrafts such as C-130 Hercules, C-1, C-2, and C-3 (2) transports, KC-767 tankers, Hawker 800, and E-767 AWACS, underwent training at Miho Air Base, Tottori Prefecture using Raytheon T-400 (T-1 Jayhawk). 

Months passed. And soon, Kousei and Emi, have been commissioned as second lieutenants, are assigned to the F-15J air-superiority fighters, meanwhile Tsubaki and Watari will fly the strike version of the Eagle, the F-15EJ Strike Eagle.

Upon his first successful flight in the F-15;

"Thank you, Kaori.. You said that "Music is Freedom" I might add this for you up above "The sky is freedom.'"

NOTE:

(1). A terminology which is not exists in real life US foreign policy, but in this universe the  classification exists, which refer to mostly democratic pro-West or non-bloc Asian states with strong tendencies to be friendly or accommodating to the interest of the Western world. Countries fell into the classification includes Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, India, (disputed by experts) Afghanistan and Pakistan. Thailand, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan are also categorized as Major Non-NATO allies by the United States.

(2). Not exists in real life, but imagine the aircraft as an enlarged and four-engined Kawasaki C-2. Basically a Japanese equivalent to American Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, Russian Ilyushin Il-76, or Chinese Xi'an Y-20. This picture is the Kawasaki C-2 (source: wikipedia)

A/N: What do you think about the refined version of Kaori Miyazono's quote with aviation context?

And due to Kousei, Emi, Tsubaki, ans Watari are conscripts. the training would also been accelerated due to the fear of possible Chinese invasion.