"An idea?"
"Yes. Regarding the masks."
Jin broached the possibility of redesigning the masks.
In Mitsuho, the only available masks were made by folding gauze into a rectangle, attaching strings, and hooking them over the ears to hold them in place.
"A design change?"
"For instance, something like this."
Taking a notepad from Reiko's pochette, Jin sketched out a design and showed it to her.
It was a stylish, fashionable look—the kind predominantly worn by young people in twenty-first-century Japan.
"I think offering different colors would work well, too."
"Ah... That is quite interesting."
Serin Wanabe studied the sketch with keen interest.
"Let's see... it's called 'three-dimensional tailoring,' if I recall. It contours snugly to the face to minimize gaps."
Jin added in conclusion that it was far more aesthetically pleasing as well.
"What do you think? Don't you think this might help them catch on a bit more?"
After pondering the idea for a solid three minutes, Serin spoke.
"I think it's wonderful. There is no question that the adoption rate would rise."
Hearing Serin's assessment, Jin felt a wave of relief.
"Thank you very much. I'm glad to hear that."
Serin then turned to Jin and Elsa with a question.
"However, how do you plan to manufacture masks with such a design? If the production cost is too high, it will hinder widespread adoption."
Jin, however, already had a solution in mind.
"That shouldn't be a problem....Tell you what, I'll bring some over once we finish the prototypes."
Reassured by his confidence, Serin nodded in agreement.
"Understood. I shall look forward to it."
With that settled, Jin and Elsa took their leave of the Iris Clinic.
"Jin-nii, do you have a plan for the masks?"
Elsa naturally knew they could manufacture them on Hourai Island. The real question was whether they could be made locally in Mitsuho.
"Yeah, I do. 'Non-woven fabric.'"
"...Ah, I see."
Non-woven fabric was defined under Japanese Industrial Standards as "a sheet-like structure produced by interlocking or bonding fibers together without weaving or knitting them." It excluded conventional paper, felt, and knitted materials.
While Jin did not know the exact industrial manufacturing process, he reasoned that if short fibers were strained and settled much like traditional papermaking, a non-woven fabric could be produced.
Furthermore, he thought, why not simply make the straining mold in the shape of a mask from the start?
He intended to return to Hourai Island for the time being to discuss the matter with Saki.
Jin was confident that as long as the general process was mapped out, Mitsuho—which already possessed skilled papermaking techniques—would be more than capable of manufacturing them.
"Before we do that, though."
"What's next?"
"I'd like to go see Akitsu."
Akitsu resided underground in the Sahara. The only way to reach her was via Warp Gate.
Either way, it meant returning to Hourai Island first.
With their next destination decided, Jin and his party headed for the airfield.
Boarding the Hurricane, they left Seki Town behind.
"It was a brief stay, but this trip was mostly just a preliminary survey anyway."
"Mm."
Leaving the piloting of the Hurricane to Hope, Jin, Elsa, and Reiko used the onboard Warp Gate to return to Hourai Island.
"Welcome home, My Lord."
Laojun's voice greeted them upon arrival.
"Where are Saki and the others?" Jin asked.
"They have not yet returned from Planet Hehl," came the reply.
"Well, that figures..."
Jin figured there were plenty of fascinating novelties over there to keep them occupied.
"Oh well. I think I'll go pay Akitsu a visit."
"Understood....Yes, right now is a convenient time."
It seemed Laojun had checked in on her via Peeper. Although only on occasion, Akitsu, in her role as Educator, provided instruction to visitors from Mitsuho; at the moment, however, she appeared to be free.
"I'll stay here," Elsa said, opting to remain on Hourai Island, so Jin took Reiko and headed toward the Warp Gate Room.
Passing through Shinkai, they arrived at Akitsu's underground residence.
"My, Jin-sama, welcome."
"Jin-sama, it has been quite a while."
Akitsu and her attendant, John Dini, warmly received Jin and Reiko.
"Hey, Akitsu. How have you been feeling lately?"
"Very well. John looks after my maintenance, so there have been no issues whatsoever."
"Glad to hear it. How about you, John?"
"Yes, sir. I am capable of running self-diagnostics, so everything is in order."
Both expressed how deeply reassuring it was to know they could rely on Hourai Island whenever something went amiss.
"That's a relief. Well, there was actually something I wanted to run by you today, Akitsu."
"Yes? What might that be?"
"Right. Moving forward, I'd like to introduce the production of non-woven fabric to Mitsuho. Do you think that's feasible?"
"Non-woven fabric, you say?...You mean fabric made from cotton or papermaking fibers?"
"Exactly. It has a wide range of applications, and it could serve as a brand-new industry for Mitsuho....What do you think?"
Akitsu smiled warmly.
"Thank you so much for thinking of Mitsuho. From a technical standpoint, I believe it is entirely feasible."
"Is that so!"
While complex industrial goods and magi-devices were produced in the Factory, many goods—starting with traditional paper—were crafted through home-based cottage industries.
Examples included miso, katsuobushi, paper, raw cotton and cotton goods, as well as various wooden crafts.
"In that case, we should be all set."
Jin explained that while the raw materials would be new and the process slightly modified, he wanted Akitsu and John Dini to oversee the instruction for the locals.
"Please, leave it to us."
After all, providing such guidance was the very purpose of Akitsu's presence.
"We'll be researching the exact process on Hourai Island from here on out, but I don't expect it will keep you waiting long."
"Understood."
With that, Jin successfully laid the groundwork for introducing non-woven fabric to Mitsuho.
By the time Jin returned to Hourai Island, most of the Jin Family members had returned as well.
Among them was Saki, who bounded up to him with eager anticipation.
"Jin! I hear you're looking to develop a brand-new material?"