Mushi Uta:Volume 7th Episode 27

Episode 27. The Dream-Foreboding Gathering

The campus of Horusu Seijou Academy Middle School was enveloped in the vibration and heat of the many students moving.

“A meteor shower?”

While walking along with her uniformed classmates in the corridor, Ichinokuro Arisu turned back. Her long hair tied into a ponytail behind her head jumped.

“You didn’t know? They’ve been talking about it on the news every day now. —Ouch.”

Bumping shoulders against another student and scowling was Arisu’s classmate, Saionji Ena. Her short hair and short skirt were characteristic, and she was especially stylish among their classmates.

“You’re talking about the Perseid meteor shower, right?”

Kujou Takako, who was also walking by Arisu’s side, spoke in a calm tone. Just like all other students of Horusu Seijou Academy that included many children of the rich, her well-bred mannerisms were apparent.

On the other side of the students who all walked in swarms to the same direction, she could see vivid, blond hair. Kasuou, AKA Mitake Anneliese, was groaning, “Ouch. T-this is way too narrow. Please go over there. …I’m tellin’ you you’re in my way!” and the male students next to her were thrown to the wall. While her surroundings became noisy, the blonde girl with an elegant smile vanished ahead.

“Yup. It’s something to do with the weather and cycles, so apparently, we can see it really clearly this year! It’s supposed to the best possible conditions or whatever, so we have to watch it, right?”

“Right, I do seem to recall seeing or hearing about that on television.”

“A meteor swarm means you can see shooting stars in the sky, right? So romantic.”

Seeing Ena and Takako with a sparkling expression, Arisu smiled too. This would be a heart-pounding event for middle school girls.

“Our last middle school summer vacation! Endless stardust streaming the night! Oh, this feels like a fateful moment! If I let it pass, I’ll regret this my entire life!”

As Ena especially loved all sorts of festivals and events, she grabbed Arisu’s and Takako’s arms, her eyes full of zeal.

“We’re definitely going, right?! Let’s engrave this summer’s memories into our hearts! We’re all going to advance to the High School section anyway, so there’s no need for any entry tests!”

“Were will we stay over? If it’s for a day, I think my parents will allow it.”

“Excellent! How about you, Arisu? You have to clear your schedule for that day!”

Following the nodding Takako, Ena also stared at Arisu’s face.

“…”

Arisu returned the expectant gazes of her classmates.

Saionji Ena—was her friend.

However, thinking back, when she’d first met her, something about her atmosphere was a bit different.

The lively Ena was sociable, had good grades, and her circle of friends was vast. Arisu would often see her chatting familiarly even with students not only from other classes but from other schools as well.

On the other hand, though, she thought that Ena had no close friends. As she always hung out at different places with different friends, Arisu’s first impression of Saionji Ena was “a migratory bird”. Although this girl could skillfully respond to any situation, she was like a swallow who couldn’t find a place to relax—

And one time, that migratory bird stopped at Arisu.

—Hey, we’re going out with some people from class, what do you think? Maybe we’ll do a class get-together?

When she became a 2nd year student, the changing of classes made Arisu and Ena classmates.

At the same time—the seat of Arisu’s precious friend, Hanashiro Mari, vanished from Horusu Seijou Academy. The vestiges of this girl who passed away from her sickness after only fourteen springs were completely gone.

—I’ll abstain. Have fun together, alright?

Faced with Ena’s carefree smile, Arisu rejected this invitation faster than she could think.

Although it was a mere empty seat, yet another proof Mari lived had vanished. Everyone forgot about her lone classmate and were having fun—

This was obviously unfair toward Ena. For some reason though, as Arisu saw her, she felt as though her chest constricted in pain.

Even if they became friends, they’d end up separated at some point.

If she was going to taste the same pain she had when losing Mari, she’d rather not be anyone’s friend.

She remembered even thinking that.

—Alright. See you, then!

As Ena readily stepped back, she went to hang out with other classmates.

Let’s meet tomorrow.

Mari, who said this, would never smile at Arisu again.

However, Ena—kept inviting Arisu.

—Won’t you come hang out?

Every time she saw her being overly familiar with classmates, Arisu grew angry and kept refusing her invitations. However, whether or not she knew Arisu’s feelings, Ena still kept inviting her, day after day.

—Can’t you read the room? I don’t have the slightest intention to go hang out with you.

—You’re the one who should notice already. You’re the first one to ever refuse me. This hurt my pride. I’m stubborn.

It already became a battle of attack and defense, but the first one to fold was Arisu.

Ena was a migratory bird.

She would definitely leave Arisu soon anyway. Thinking this, she intended on socializing with her once.

However, as she tried contacting Ena, Arisu soon realized why she felt such rejection toward her.

Since Arisu acted so curtly, Ena’s active persistence reminded her—of the period where she was made to visit Mari enclosed in her sickroom. She realized that she’d been avoiding Ena because she felt anxious facing her own wounds.

As the pair of them originally had so much energy and stamina, it took no time for them to move and stay together. When they added Kujou Takako who was always in her own little world there, it felt like they all supplied what the others lacked.

Just like that, Arisu’s heart hurt by Mari’s death was slowly recovering its previous form.

“Arisu?”

She apparently had unconsciously sank into silence. Ena peeked at Arisu’s face, puzzled.

For a moment, Arisu cast down her face—and soon raised it, grinning.

“We’ll obviously go see it. It would be no exaggeration that say the summer night sky is ours!”

Arisu and the rest passed through the outside passage, arriving at the gym. The students moving from the campus all took lines according to their classes.

“Yes! If Arisu’s coming, Kusuriya-kun’ll come as well! That’s goes without saying!”

Ena made a fist pump and turned around.

The boy walking behind Arisu’s group raised his face. He had such an average appearance that it almost seemed as if it was calculated from the average of the other boys around. The band-aid stuck on his cheek was his sole distinguishing feature.

“…”

As that boy, Kusuriya Daisuke looked at Ena’s face, he soon averted his gaze. He made no reply and pretended he heard nothing.

Ena’s legs stopped in place.

“Ena? Why’d you stop like that? If you stand here, you’ll get in people’s way—”

“Kusuriya-kun… ignored me…”

“T-this is bad, Arisu-san! Hurry up, we must give her artificial respiration!”

“Eeeek! D-Daisuke! Come here quickly to give her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation!”

Arisu and Takako panicked while Ena was barely moving her mouth, frozen.

These three stood in corridor while the other troubled-looking students passed next to them, including Daisuke.

“Ignored… again…”

“Aah, Ena’s collapsing! Hold yourself together, Ena!”

“T-this is bad, Arisu-san! Her pulse’s gotten weak!”

The shrill noise of a microphone reverberating pierced through the gym. The teacher’s voice called for everyone to form lines.

While hugging the wide-eyed, collapsed Ena, Arisu glared at Daisuke’s back.

“Doing something like that to my friend… you better remember this, idiot Daisuke!”

“Arisu-san… are you having a fight with Daisuke-san again?”

Being faced with Takako’s look that was a mix of worry and exasperation, Arisu mumbled.

I’m always having a fight with him.

However, this time alone—the circumstances were just a bit different.

“Ahaha… ehehe… Kusuriya-kun… wait… hehehe…”

“D-Daisuke’s not there, Ena! Actually, stop squirming like that, it’s disgusting!”

“Is there a doctor in the house?!”

The voices of Arisu and the others shouting in the center of the gym overlapped with the announcement to start the ceremony for the end of the first term.

Part 1

From the roof, one had a full view of the students going back home after the ceremony.

“Ah, there she is. I just need to monitor her, right?”

The girl grasping the rails and looking down had a high-pitched voice, like some anime voice actress. She was looking at Saionji Ena who just exited school, holding her bag.

“Yeah.”

The one nodding was Kusuriya Daisuke, sitting on a bench.

“…”

Arisu puffed her cheeks, glaring silently at Daisuke. However, he didn’t even look at her.

“What a poor young lady. —To think Oogui set her eyes on her.”

“There’s no need to worry. No matter how small, if something unusual happens around that girl, inform me immediately. There’s no need for you to sympathize with the monitoring target or wanting to protect or save her.”

“Yessir.”

Pouting, Isa Himeko turned around. Clad in fashionable clothes, her figure with a backpack that had something resembling bat wings got her the feeling of a cute imp. She apparently just became a middle schooler.

“I really am worried.”

Arisu repeated yet again the argument that Daisuke had rejected once.

“Why is it Himeko-chan? It should be someone stronger from the SEPB…”

SEPB, full name Special Environmental Preservation Bureau, was a government agency. The organization was made to isolate and conceal the supernatural beings known as Mushi. They all united the people possessed by Mushi and gave them the mission to capture further Mushitsuki.

“Because she’s the best fit for this mission.”

Kusuriya Daisuke’s reply was curt. He was a combatant from the SEPB, and stayed at Arisu’s side after being sent to monitor the extremely rare case of a person being possessed by another person’s Mushi.

“I already told you it’s not enough for me to understand! Why’s Himeko-chan the best fit?”

The girl called Isa Himeko was a Mushitsuki. When Arisu and the rest once met her by chance, she’d been captured by the SEPB. At the time she was a mere scaredy-cat, crybaby elementary schooler.

“I don’t want HQ to know until we confirm it’s Oogui. Since this girl’s only just been dispatched to real combat she has no missions, so she’s free. Also, the teacher in charge of her training had unusually given her praise, so thinking in terms of power as well, it’s much better than leaving it to anyone else.”

“Yup, let me handle it!”

Himeko energetically thrust both hands ahead. A green mist erupted from her open hands, assuming the shape of a millipede. The green millipede ran lightly across her arms, shoulders and waist.

“I’ve been taught much more than I wanted to about the usage of my ability! Not only can I show people scary things, but if I use it on myself, normal people get so scared upon seeing me that they faint. No one even noticed me when I came to this school. —I’ve practiced lots so I can protect Kou-chan!”

“…Eh?”

“I mean, Kou-chan’s way too cool so he’s popular with girls, y’know? I don’t want any sneaky thieves, so I used my power to protect him!”

Isn’t this just called being a stalker?

Arisu stopped the words about to come out of her throat upon seeing Himeko’s wide smile.

“N-never mind that, is that really fine though? Kouta-kun doesn’t look like the kind of boy who’ll cheat on you.”

Himeko suddenly looked serious. She averted her eyes and mumbled with a tone completely unlike her.

“If he ever does cheat on me… I’ll curse him for life.”

“…”

“Alright, here I gooo!”

Immediately resuming her cheerful expression, Himeko started skipping away from the rooftop.

Kouta was the boy currently seeing Himeko. Arisu was glad that the girl wasn’t dyed in the colors of a ruthless SEPB combatant and remained a maiden in love, but had the feeling that there were some new worries.

“L-looks like she got all sorts of power-ups, I’m relaxed. She’s reliable… I guess?”

“I actually became more anxious instead. Will she herself become a monitoring target someday…?”

The summer wind blew through the middle school rooftop. Daisuke’s bangs shook as he sat on the bench while Arisu, who stood before the fences, had her skirt lightly lifted.

“Are you really not going to tell the SEPB?”

Arisu turned back, asking Daisuke.

Although this was such a sunny day, the Mushitsuki boy kept staring at his feet.

“Tell me why. Isn’t the goal of the SEPB to conceal Mushitsuki from the world? Isn’t their job beating Oogui?”

The Prototype Mushi birthing Mushitsuki, the Original Three—

Whether human or monsters, their identities were shrouded in mystery. Oogui was one of them, and those targeted by her became Mushitsuki.

That being was currently after Saionji Ena. —It was only recently they found this out from a certain individual. Oogui ate people’s hopes and dreams, turning them to Mushitsuki. Meaning that Ena had that much of a dream.

“Ena’s my friend. I’ll do anything to stop her from becoming a Mushitsuki. If you don’t make me agree with hiding this from the SEPB… I’ll ask them to cooperate through Kasuou or C.”

Arisu looked overhead.

In the pure blue sky, there was a small silver glow. It was a butterfly with wings that had otherworldly beauty, a Morpho butterfly. It was the Mushi that belonged to her friend who died from an illness, now inherited by her.

“I had enough regretting not knowing anything back when Mari died. This time—I have to save Ena.”

As Arisu bit her lips, Daisuke slightly raised his face.

“The SEPB—can’t save Ena.”

Arisu widened her eyes.

“Since this will risk a lot of victims, they’ll simply watch from the side. They’ll just send a few monitors and then capture Ena once she becomes Mushitsuki.”

“Wh—”

She couldn’t understand what Daisuke was saying. Arisu kept pressing for an answer.

“Why’s that! They fought against one of the Original Three… Sanbikime, right? At this place called Aoharima Island! Then why aren’t they fighting Oogui!”

“Who knows. Even that Aoharima Island fight barely has any records left. Even if it was the exception—I feel like the SEPB’s avoiding fights with the Original Three. Oogui’s a lot more prominent than Sanbikime… and yet there are exactly zero records of any fight against her.”

“I-isn’t that strange?!”

“They’re probably scared of the fatalities incurred through battle with Oogui. …There was incident once where the SEPB was nearly destroyed. They probably don’t want to lead a united charge of Mushitsuki against an unknown monster—or so I used to think.”

“Used to think? Meaning, there’s another reason?”

“It’s like you said. Central Headquarters sent many forces to Aoharima Island to annihilate Sanbikime. Meaning—they’re not scared of fighting the Original Three. Even so, since they’re not fighting Oogui, there might be another reason.”

“…”

“What if—the upper-ups of the Central Headquarters know about Oogui’s ability?”

She could control and reproduce the power of all Minion Type Mushi borne by her—Arisu and the rest knew this secret about Oogui.

“Oogui’s definitely strong, but if we fight her with great numbers, won’t we somehow—”

“You know nothing. It’s way past that level already.”

As Arisu hounded him, Daisuke’s sigh attacked her. She pouted, groaning.

“If this ability became known among Mushitsuki it’d be real bad. I haven’t told even my superiors about it.”

“Daisuke’s superiors… meaning, that South Central Branch whatever? Oh, right! If Central HQ’s a no go, how about asking help from your branch? This isn’t the time to tell me that’s not their jurisdiction!”

“Yeah, if I tell my branch head about this, we might end up fighting against Oogui. He’s got views that are the complete opposite of Central HQ in a certain sense, and I trust him. He’ll definitely think up of a plan to beat Oogui.”

“That’s amazing! If he’s that reliable, there’s no need to hesitate—”

“In exchange—around half of currently living Mushitsuki will not survive.”

Arisu’s expression froze. Meanwhile, Daisuke wore a cynical smile.

“He won’t care about Ena in the least, and after however many years it takes to hunt down each and every Minion Type Mushi, we’ll definitely beat Oogui. —He’s a person who can kill all Mushitsuki today to make sure no Mushitsuki is born tomorrow. You still want his cooperation?”

“…”

She would obviously not nod.

She’d never allow this way of fighting. However—it was true that this method might perhaps beat Oogui.

“Then… what are you planning on doing?”

Arisu’s voice was shaking. Was he telling her to just sit and twiddle her thumbs while watching her best friend become a Mushitsuki?

“Are you also going to just quietly watch Ena become a Mushitsuki?”

“—I’ll take responsibility.”

Daisuke stood up. His profile had a certain kind of resolve in it.

“Since it’s my fault she’s gotten herself a dream—I’ll defeat Oogui by myself.”

“Arisu Axe Kick!”

Along with a dull sound, Daisuke’s head was hit by Arisu’s shoe. “Ugh…” he cried while clutching his head. Arisu stabbed the groaning boy on the floor with her finger.

“Don’t be stupid! Have you forgotten how easily Oogui beat you not too long ago?!”

“That’s because I was unaware of her abilities…! Ow, you made me bite my tongue so hard…!”

“So you’re telling you can fight alone against someone using the abilities of all Minion Type Mushitsuki? That’s not taking responsibility or anything! That’s just suicidal!”

“I’m a Rank 1…!”

Rising up, Daisuke glared at Arisu.

“I’m the number one strongest Mushitsuki! If it’s impossible for me, it’s impossible for anyone!”

“The number 1 strongest Mushitsuki? —How much do you think that’s worth?!”

Arisu’s hand grabbed Daisuke’s cuff. She brought his frozen face closer.

“You’ve been beaten by Oogui and crying from a single kick by me—even if you call yourself the strongest Mushitsuki, that’s all you’ve got in the end, right? Aren’t you making a mistake about your strength, trying to carry everything by yourself?”

“Then who else can do it?! I’m the only one! Also, I wasn’t crying!”

“We can do it with everyone.”

As Daisuke shook off Arisu’s arm, she stared him straight in the fact.

“We can fight with all Mushitsuki together. If we do that, we can easily defeat Oogui.”

Daisuke became speechless for a moment. But he soon wore a wry smile.

“All Mushitsuki together…? What are you even saying? We’d never be able to do something like that!”

Arisu was not shaken.

“Who decided we couldn’t?”

“Mushitsuki aren’t that strong! All of them have their hands full fighting their own Mushi! You’re not even a Mushitsuki so you can’t understand!”

“You’re just pretending to understand! Mushitsuki are strong! Much more than you think!”

“Isn’t that the opposite of what you said just now?!”

“There are weak parts and strong parts! Mushitsuki have both of those, right?”

As Arisu looked at him, Daisuke scowled.

“Are you going to preach to me about Mushitsuki? I’ve seen many more Mushitsuki than anyone else. —I know much more about Mushitsuki than you!”

“No, you know nothing about Mushitsuki.”

Daisuke stared back at Arisu as she dropped her voice.

“Hey, did you know? Kasuou’s birthday is approaching.”

“…And?”

“C told me she made a new friend at school.”

Daisuke spoke in a disinterested manner.

“I have no need to know all that.”

“No, you do.”

“…”

“Mushitsuki, too… are people.”

Daisuke was a Mushitsuki. While drawing lines between normal people, there was something he forgot.

Arisu finally realized what that was.

“If you go on like this, you might even forget the day of the week.”

Daisuke stayed silent. That silence affirmed Arisu’s question.

Arisu let her expression soften. She grabbed the silent boy’s hand and pulled him closer.

“C’mon, let’s go. It’s going to start if we don’t hurry up.”

Daisuke made a suspicious face, but—this time, he didn’t shake off the girl’s hand.

Part 2

Arisu and Daisuke walked through the mountain road, weaving between verdant trees.

“Eek.”

Missing her step on the stairs made from logs buried in the ground, Arisu lost her balance. Daisuke instantly grabbed her arm and caught her.

“Keep yourself together. Your athleticism and reflexes are supposed to be your forte.”

“S-shut up. I just barely avoided remedials with my scores last term…”

Puffing her cheeks, Arisu separated from Daisuke. However, the boy stared at his own hand that caught Arisu with a satisfied face.

“…Were you really this light?”

“Hmm? Did you just say something?”

Arisu turned around and Daisuke sighed.

“No—never mind.”

“Less talking, more walking. If we don’t hurry, the others’ll get there first.”

“The others? Is anyone else coming other than us? To such a place?”

“Hehe, I’m so excited. Don’t be so surprised you suddenly end up stripping naked.”

“How would something like that happen just from me being surprised…”

Continuing to climb the narrow mountain road with exposed ground, the red sunset started casting long shadows of trees.

The pair arrived then.

“—Oh, such delicious air! And the scenery’s amazing too!”

With sweat covering Arisu’s brow, a sight of a vast scenery dyed in the colors of sunset was revealed to her.

Passing through the mountain road, the pair arrived at a plain about as wide as a gym. Gouged out of the belly of the mountain, this open space was enclosed by half-dome made of wooden fence.

Along the fences were several benches and a rusted board that gave an explanation about the mountain and the scenery beneath.

“Hey, Daisuke! Come closer!”

“Hah… why did we need to come all the way here?”

As Arisu came rushing in front of the fences, Daisuke wore a displeased face.

The place they came to was a climbing course at Kurobishi Town’s national park. Since it was close enough to the capital for a day trip, she heard that it was bustling with visitors during free days.

However, since it was the middle of the week and quite late, the observation platform Arisu and Daisuke came to was empty of any hikers. If anyone was there, they’d probably be suspicious of Arisu and Daisuke coming there still in their uniforms.

“Err, Neiko-san’s… oh, over there! Look, the lights are already on.”

Leaning on the fences, Arisu pointed at the distance.

A large panorama scenery could be seen from the observation platform. They could see the camelia garden that was part of the park at the foot of the mountain, the promenade lined up with statues, as well as the fan-shaped outdoors stage cut into the forest that was used for events.

On the other side of the park, one could see the entirety of the Kurobishi Town townscape. Ahead of the lines crisscrossing the dusk time town should be Arisu’s residence of Akamaki City.

Arisu was pointing in front of the city.

There was the outdoor stage, where the lights were on and people crowded close together as black lumps.

“We can only see the stage’s lights from here. What a waste of the ticket Nene gave us.”

Daisuke let down the sports bag he carried on his back and mumbled. Putting his elbows on the fence and looking down, his gaze was cold.

“Don’t worry. I have a portable radio here, so we can hear the music from it. Apparently, the local radio station’s doing a live broadcast.”

“No, I still don’t get it. I’m saying that we could’ve gone to the stage if we wanted to hear them sing. At the very least Nene didn’t give us a ticket to the observation platform.”

“I don’t want a person who completely forgot we were invited to Nene’s farewell concert tell me that.”

Saying this, Arisu hung the flat radio from the fence. The host of some minor local radio station was speaking clumsily about the situation at the stage.

Arisu’s Mushitsuki acquaintance, Yomori Nene, was about to start her outdoors concert.

All members of her band, called Crawl Live, were Mushitsuki. All of them including Yomori Neiko had been captured by the SEPB and had had their activities stopped, so they decided to hold one last concert.

“I can’t really see it, but there’re a lot of spectators. She said they were selling tickets in secret from the SEPB though… are they really that amazing?”

“Who knows.”

“Oh, they’re saying it on the radio. The legendary indie band is disbanding so close to their major debut… Neiko-san’s nothing to sneeze at! She should give up disbanding and debut.”

“As if it’s that easy, idiot. Central Headquarters will never allow it. Even for the other branches it’s impossible, depending on the mission.”

“Then she should move to another branch. —You’re totally getting ready to say ‘As if it’s that easy, you idiot’ again, aren’t you?”

As Arisu joked around, Daisuke’s face stiffened. He looked down the illuminated stage and mumbled.

“No—if she wants to, it’s possible.”

“Eh?”

“I’m currently being borrowed by the Central Headquarters. Then when I finish my mission and go back to the East Central Branch… I might be able to pull along a few members along with me. Rather, it’s my branch head who wants to do that. He told me to have my eyes on prospective members while I can.”

“…”

“We can use her. Kasuou as well. Even C will keep on growing. Rather than leaving someone unused just because they’re difficult, we can make those three into a team and get to many places and be able to do almost all kinds of missions.”

“…How unusual of you. You actually praised Kasuou and the others.”

As Arisu stared at Daisuke’s face and said this, he averted his gaze.

Right now, what expression was he wearing?

“Right. When you finish with Mari’s case, you’ll end up going back to Ouka City.”

“…”

“And if those three also go along with you… I’ll feel lonely.”

So stupid, she added with a smile. —Or so she thought, but Daisuke was silent. With an unchanging expression, he was looking down at the townscape with the setting sun.

“It doesn’t mean you’ll never meet them again.”

Arisu startled and looked at Daisuke. His mouth moved mechanically.

“As long as we’re alive, we’ll definitely meet again somewhere.”

Were these words directed at Arisu? As she doubted this, his gaze turned to the distance.

Arisu smiled.

Perhaps caused by the red sunset, Kusuriya Daisuke—commonly called the Rank 1 demon—showed her a different facet from his normal. Although he was always alone and never showed anyone his true feelings, Arisu felt that he accepted her, even if only a little. It made her extremely happy.

“You know, Daisuke.”

I’m glad you’re here—

She really thought so.

She wanted to talk to him about something, so she brought him to this empty, quiet spot.

She still hesitated, but it was Daisuke himself who showed her his true feelings.

“What?”

Perhaps thinking he was being ignored, Daisuke turned around with a slightly displeased expression.

The setting sun at the boy’s back was blinding, making Arisu narrow her eyes.

“I’m—”

As long as we’re alive, we’ll meet again.

That was true.

Even so, she felt as if she was scared of even saying even one goodbye, and so delayed the answer.

“I might have realized the reason why Mari left me the Morpho butterfly.”

Daisuke’s expression froze.

That face was—just like the first time she met him at Horusu Seijou Academy’s art classroom.

After meeting him, she kept investigating her dead friend together with him. The times when they could see nothing but mist ahead were hard—but also very fun.

“You know The Magic Potion, right? That picture book from Mari’s sickbed.”

Meeting many people, she was involved in many incidents. She wanted to know more about Mushitsuki and encountered them, and it almost always turned into a battle.

However, while doing that, Arisu—started loving Mushitsuki.

Embracing a dream and becoming Mushitsuki, fighting to make one’s dream come true, living desperately with doubts…

Arisu’s best friend, Hanashiro Mari, also lived like that.

“Mari wanted to live. That was Mari’s dream…”

While looking for Mari’s feelings, she met Kusuriya Daisuke.

She met many Mushitsuki.

She also met the unusual Mushitsuki called Harukiyo.

And—she met the Undying Mushitsuki.

A single keyword popped up many times during all of that. That was the picture book called The Magic Potion.

“She couldn’t do anything against her illness… and had to give up on her dream… but she was still unable to give up…”

Hanashiro Mari was a lonely girl.

Right—she was so lonely that no one other than Arisu even knew her.

Even within the girl’s own family, her existence was being treated as some rare being.

“So she hesitated. The angel’s potion and devil’s potion… which should she choose?”

Daisuke was listening to her words attentively.

“Whether to keep living as the ‘Hanashiro Mari’ in my memories—”

Or else—

She wanted to keep going but found herself speechless. Hanging her head, Arisu’s lips quivered.

If her past friend wished for it, the other choice was the cruelest for Arisu.

“Or else—taking over your body and consciousness and come back to life as ‘Ichinokuro Arisu’, right?”

Arisu raised her face.

Daisuke’s eyes looking calmly at her reflected her own face that was on the verge of tears.

“The angel’s position or the devil’s potion. —Are you saying you know what she chose?”

Arisu clenched both fists on top of her chest. However, she couldn’t gather strength in her arms.

When she’d became able to use the Morpho butterfly’s power and even became able to fuse with it, her body would always be horribly sluggish the following days. However, recently her fusion with the Mushi was smooth and there were barely any aftereffects.

Gradually, however—she felt her body’s senses weakening. It wasn’t just her being unable to use her strength, but at times even her mental state felt hazy.

Arisu used the power of Mushitsuki despite not being one.

That abnormal situation couldn’t continue for long.

“…”

Arisu shook her head.

“What do you mean?”

“I just wonder if—Mari hadn’t kept hesitating until the very last moment.”

Looking at Daisuke raising a brow, Arisu opened her mouth.

“And she’s still hesitating even now.”

Daisuke widened his eyes.

A Mushi of a Mushitsuki who died from an illness still kept existing.

It took Arisu as its host, at times taking control of her with Mari’s consciousness.

She took this was meant in order to protect her in times of danger, but this was actually in order to take over her body.

A Mushi with nothing but contradictions.

As if they were being invited there by that Morpho butterfly despite not fitting, Daisuke appeared, Harukiyo appeared, and she met the girl called Rina. Those who were supposed to be the strongest Mushitsuki, were all summoned by a single Morpho butterfly.

“Perhaps Mari… still hasn’t found the answer…”

Hanashiro Mari’s doubts.

They twisted the common sense of the beings called Mushi and even confused other Mushitsuki.

How far will this chaos born from a miniscule doubt continue to infect and spread?

Would it even stop with a single city or the country?

“Even like this… Mari’s got no answer…!”

Tears overflowed from Arisu’s eyes.

Mushitsuki kept hesitating and living—

The moment she realized this, Arisu wanted to save them.

At the same time, she was scared and sad.

Even when the Mushitsuki called Hanashiro Mari lost her life—even while she was hesitating—she kept wishing to live—

“…”

Daisuke didn’t attempt to console the endlessly crying Arisu. He looked like he was slightly biting his lips, but he soon opened the sports bag at his feet.

“Dai…suke…?”

Loud music erupted from the radio as if gushing out of it.

Neiko’s band performance started.

“So Hanashiro Mari didn’t reach an answer?”

Arisu’s sight was dyed in black.

Daisuke wore his SEPB long coat vigorously. He equipped the mechanical goggles on his face and drew his large automatic pistol.

“—Is that her answer?”

The sun sank.

The high-volume concert echoed in the observation platform. The lights illuminating the outside stage made the gun pointed to Arisu’s head glimmer.

Daisuke’s readied handgun.

It was being aimed at the Morpho butterfly.

“A deceased person can’t reach any answer. The continuation of Hanashiro Mari’s dream—will end right here.”

“No!”

A loud voice even Arisu herself wasn’t expecting leapt out of her throat.

“Mari’s there! She’s still hesitating inside the Morpho butterfly!”

“Then are you going to wait for her answer? —Can you wait with that weak body of yours?”

So apparently he’d noticed the changes to Arisu’s body. Despite this surprise, she also inappropriately happy at this. —Because he was looking at her much more than she expected.

“Even if she reaches an answer, choosing the angel’s potion means you’ll stop being you. And if she chooses the devil’s potion, you’ll be separated from Hanashiro Mari. —If you’re going to end up parting from her anyway, better to do it right now.”

“It’s not better! It’s not the same at all!”

“Or are you—going to commit suicide along with Hanashiro Mari’s dream?”

Arisu’s heart leapt.

Even if the Morpho butterfly reached an answer, she would end up separating from Mari.

However, if she never had an answer, if the current situation continued—Arisu would wither away and both the Morpho butterfly and Mari’s dream would vanish without trace.

But even so—she felt that it was wrong to part right now.

Arisu had not come there to talk with Daisuke about that.

“Wait just a bit more! At least until Mari reaches an answer on her own—”

“Hanashiro Mari’s already dead. But you’re still alive.”

Arisu widened her eyes.

In her eyes, rather than one being thrust into a cruel decision, Daisuke looked like he was panicking. She finally understood why.

He was trying to protect Arisu—

And not just that.

He was probably trying to save yet another girl still living now.

“It’d solve Ena’s case as well. When I finish my monitoring mission, I’ll vanish from Horusu Seijou Academy. —Once I’m gone, Ena’s going to wake up from her silly dream.”

Arisu wore a weak smile.

“…Daisuke, you idiot…”

The boy who until now never revealed his true heart, lightly bit his lips.

Arisu opened her mouth wide, shouting so loud that it competed with the radio.

“Are you going to carry all this burden yourself and just disappear?! Give me a break, you idiot! You’re always thinking of stupid things like that, so you never notice the simpler things!”

“What are you—”

“If you disappear, Ena will forget her dream, you say? There’s no way! A dream that’s so easily forgettable is what turned you guys into Mushitsuki?!”

Daisuke’s finger on the trigger completely froze. Although he wore goggles, she could still tell his face twisted.

“—Even I!”

As Arisu tried to keep yelling, she ended up unconsciously closing her mouth.

The pistol directed at the Morpho butterfly was shaking.

He was also hesitating—

Hearing the boy’s voice shaky as never before, Arisu noticed this.

The boy’s figure with his gun directed at the silver glow held aloft was just like a child who got lost and was about to start crying.

The strongest Mushitsuki, Kusuriya Daisuke.

He, too, was just a boy—

“Even I don’t want to break my promise to Hanashiro Mari…! But that’s the only thing I…!”

A promise with Mari.

Hearing this for the first time, Arisu raised a brow. However, something happened.

“…!”

The silver Morpho butterfly emitted a violent glow. Perhaps responding to its own danger, it transformed its body midair, extending tentacles toward Arisu on the ground.

“Mari…?”

The Morpho butterfly pulled out the silver rod from the shaken Arisu’s skirt. It fused with the rod that unfolded with metallic sounds, producing a silver lance.

The Morpho butterfly’s revolt did not stop just with this. It fused with Arisu’s right arm and right leg, ignoring her will to make her grasp the silver lance.

“W-wait, Mari—”

Arisu’s voice of restraint was soon blocked by another voice.

“—You liar…”

The one disturbing Arisu’s words was none other than her own mouth—

With its right half glowing in a silver pattern, Arisu’s mouth spat out another person’s voice.

“You said you’ll grab my finger…”

“…!”

Daisuke stiffened his face. By the Morpho butterfly fusing with Arisu, he couldn’t aim at her with the gun.

“Ma-Mari!”

“You said you’ll look for my dream’s continuation…”

A voice coming from the same mouth drowned Arisu’s voice.

That voice belonged to—none other than Hanashiro Mari.

Violent anger swirling in her chest, Arisu’s consciousness was forcibly taken away.

“Ma… ri…!”

“—Welp, looks like my timing’s real bad.”

While Arisu had her five senses diminishing, a figure appeared in her vision.

“Wha—”

As Daisuke turned around, speechless, that individual spoke in an overly familiar tone.

“It’d be a problem for you if the one you dumped appeared like that, eh? Do I just have bad luck ‘cuz of the number of strokes in my name? Should I change it? I rather like writing Sehateno Harukiyo as 世果埜春祈代, but whaddya think?”

A blazer that looked like a remodeled one from some high school, messy bangs that looked like blazing flames, and a fire-pattern tattoo on one cheek. With these, the boy who was nothing but conspicuous—Harukiyo—appeared on the observation platform as if he was just out on a walk.

“—It’s just awful. If you’ll allow me to be blunt, you’ve got no taste, alright?”

Another person appeared from the mountain road.

Daisuke turned again—and was again speechless.

The one appearing was the girl controlling a large ladybug, Rina. The lights reaching from the outdoors stage reflected on her powerful gaze.

“Why are you here—”

Daisuke readied himself at these unexpected appearances. Ahead of him was Hanashiro Mari, to the right was Harukiyo, to the left Rina. Enclosed by powerful enemies on all sides, he couldn’t hide his shaking.

“Hey, that’s so nasty to hear from a woman I’ve never heard before. What am I gonna do? No, wait, who the hell are you, even?”

“I came here thinking I was tricked, but now it actually looks quite convenient. I can now finish off both Hunter and Kakkou at the same time. Well, there’s also an uninvited guest here.”

Daisuke gasped and turned to Arisu.

So you called them—

As the boy was about to ask this, Arisu couldn’t even nod.

“You told me you’d watch me until the end…!”

The words flowing from Arisu’s mouth were Mari’s anger.

No—

Inside her distancing consciousness, she desperately shook her head.

“I don’t have time to play with you. Go away!”

“Ah? Why’d I need your permission to be here? If you keep being stupid like that, I’ll burn you down.”

“It was the right call to come here alone. Now I can clean up this trash without restraining myself.”

I didn’t call all of them here for that—

Arisu’s desperate plea sank into the depths of Mari’s anger.

Part 3

The high-volume performance of Crawl live streamed from the radio hanging from the fence.

However, the fact the ground shook was not because of that.

The girl wrapped in a silver glow in front of Daisuke, Ichinokuro Arisu—no, the personality who encroached Arisu’s body—shed a tear.

The spear shining the girl held in hand swelled explosively. The wings that became its tip expanded, spreading enormous amounts of scales. The shockwave emitted from the spear shook the observation platform.

“I finally… finally remembered… right, I—”

The girl with the right half of her body glowing in silver, Hanashiro Mari, raised her face. Her tears flew off to empty air, and her hair missing its hairclip was fanned by the wind.

“I couldn’t choose until the end…!”

The blowing storm of scales seemed to reflect Mari’s heart. It violently rejected anyone else, and was filled with anger, hatred and envy directed at everyone. To not get blown back, it took everything they had to step in place.

Mari’s expression covered in the silver pattern broke down. Unlike the shockwave that spread so much energy around, her smile looked so thin that it might get blown away.

“Give up on my dream to remain myself… or make my dream come true and become Arisu—in the end, I couldn’t choose either! After all, Arisu is just as important as my dream!”

Her dream, wanting to live.

The one and only friend she knew, Ichinokuro Arisu.

Having wavered between these two, hesitated, and—left this world without an answer, the girl wailed.

“Therefore, I chose—to delay my answer…”

The silver Morpho butterfly was Hanashiro Mari’s hesitation given form.

The hesitations of a single Mushitsuki spread chaos and involved so many Mushitsuki.

That chaos reached its peak—as Mushitsuki who never should have met were drawn to this place.

“Ugh…!”

Daisuke became wrapped in a crimson explosive wind. He covered his face with his heat-resistant coat.

A Great Yama tiger beetle made of flames lurched toward the night sky. Smoke like from a rocket launch instantly scorched all the trees around, turning them to black ash.

“Oh, so after all this you’re the one trying to arouse me? Sorry, but I’ll be the one to say it this time. You’re dumped! —I can’t handle such an annoying woman, so I refuse.”

Harukiyo the flame devil sneered. While wrapped in hellfire, his pupils gazing at Hanashiro Mari also held within them flames of hostility that could scorch.

“The woman I fell for was a disaster incarnate of a Mushitsuki who’d even rip her best friend to shreds with a smile. You half-assed woman who keeps hesitating even after death, begone. —That body’s already reserved for me, though. Can you leave it behind?”

Daisuke widened his eyes. While protecting his body from the heatwave that instantly burnt even the bench and board to ashes, he turned to look at Harukiyo.

Harukiyo, just like Daisuke, was supposed to be after Hanashiro Mari. Even so, he now said that he had business with Arisu rather than with Mari.

Not belonging to any organization, the devil unbound by anyone—

When had Arisu managed to create a relationship with someone like this?

“…Guh!”

The pushing flames were struck by a shockwave coming from the opposite direction. It wasn’t just flames. Swallowing even the trees that were no more than cinders, the observation platform was instantly turned into an empty lot.

“Stop with your selfishness already, Hunter.”

The girl standing calmly atop the giant ladybug’s head glared at Mari with sharp eyes. The ladybug flapping its large wings the air around it made bursting sounds. Shockwaves shot in succession let neither the silver scales nor the crimson flames approach her.

“You still can’t calm down even after getting so many unrelated people involved? You’re just a selfish brat. You simply took advantage of your friend’s kindness and raised a tantrum. Release that girl already—”

A large earthquake shook the mountain.

The shockwaves shot by Rina’s ladybug blew away the surface of the observation platform and turned it into a basin. The aftershock knocked off trees, digging into the ground enough to change the topography of the mountain.

“I will not hold back.”

The girl who rescued all Mushitsuki other than herself and revolted against the SEPB, Rina, warned Mari in a low voice.

Rina was also trying to save Arisu—

Daisuke was stunned at this fact.

What on earth was going on?

He could no longer doubt that the one who called Harukiyo and Rina there was Arisu. He knew that she got in contact with them when he wasn’t there, but them being so close until she contacted them was outside his expectations.

“…”

Mari in Arisu’s form slowly moved her face. She seemed to be looking between Harukiyo and Rina’s faces—

And then she suddenly returned a very disinterested gaze back to Daisuke.

“…Haha, not even sparing me a glance? I’ve fallen for you again. Don’t make me regret my rejection so soon.”

“Hunter…!”

Being ignored by Mari, Harukiyo and Rina changed expressions. The flames and shockwaves enveloping the surroundings instantly increased in density.

“You told me you’d stay with me to the end… was that a lie?”

Mari bit her lips.

The girl who shouldn’t be there any more turned imploring eyes to Daisuke.

It wasn’t a lie.

That time, Daisuke truly wished to save her. After all, they were both Fusion Type Mushitsuki, and their strength to not give up their dreams until a moment before death—reminded him of a girl who once had the same dream that he personally handled.

However, seeing Mari right now, the emotion waking up within Daisuke—was rage.

“—Don’t screw with me…”

He slowly lowered his arm from protecting his face from flames, shockwaves and even more silver scales.

“All of you bastards—”

The red lights burning in his goggles captured Hanashiro Mari ahead. A green pattern rose all over Daisuke’s body, and an emerald glow enveloped him.

“Stop involving Arisu just because you want to when she’s not even a Mushitsuki!”

The roar of SEPB Rank 1 member, Kakkou, echoed through the place that used to be the observation platform. The mere impact of his feet stepping forward caused the whirl of energy surrounding him to scatter at once.

“She’s out of time!”

The muzzle of the automatic handgun fused with the Checkered beetle transformed, becoming the jaw of a monster spitting hellfire.

“Arisu’s at her limit! And not just her! All people you’ve involved are unable to move, being twisted… just like you said. This is just—”

Thrust into a mission outside his jurisdiction, Daisuke remained at Akamaki City.

Although he appeared to look for Mari, Harukiyo once tried leaving the town, and yet came back again. Even while gathering more and more comrades, Rina kept obsessing over her archnemeses, Hunter and Kakkou.

Many Mushitsuki had been called by the Morpho butterfly, bound to the same place as if by strings.

“A gathering of lost children…”

Although he’d jumped into the maze, he’d been unable to find the exit. —No, perhaps there hadn’t been any exit in the first place.

Even so, despite this abnormal state, two girls who weren’t even Mushitsuki exposed their bodies to danger.

Ichinokuro Arisu.

As well as Saionji Ena—

“You—took too long to reach an answer.”

Daisuke and Mari.

How many times had the pair exchanged glances like this?

Anger vanished from Mari’s face.

“Right…”

As she closed her eyes, the pattern on the girl’s body expanded its range. The glow covering the right half of her body was slowly encroaching her left leg and left arm.

“In the end—I’m alone.”

As if drawing a square, the four Mushitsuki kept the same distance from each other.

However, their gazes were three against one.

Daisuke, Harukiyo and Rina were all glaring at Mari—the girl holding a silver spear, who kept calm and natural in front of the strongest Mushitsuki.

He thought Mari just opened her eyes again, but the next moment—the girl’s face approached Daisuke from up close. She kicked the ground with superhuman leg strength, instantly closing the distance between them.

“…!”

As he reflexively lowered his body, a silver flash grazed above Daisuke’s head.

The silver spear slanted downwards struck the ground. Along with a tremor, the belly of the mountain was cut into two, creating a bottomless fissure.

It was incredible destructive power. However—he knew all too well about Hanashiro Mari being strong.

It wasn’t just her. He wouldn’t be surprised if any of the Mushitsuki there could destroy this mountain down to rubble—

Having dodged one spear attack, Daisuke thrust his arm at Mari. His arm glowing in a green pattern grabbed her arm holding the spear.

“Is that hand’s weapon a decoration?”

Apparently, Mari had foreseen him aiming for her spear. With flowing movements, she spun her body aside. Daisuke’s arm cut through empty air, and the silver spear assaulted him from the side.

“—Tch.”

Judging it impossible to dodge, Daisuke pulled the trigger of his gun while on his shoulder.

A bombardment sound that sounded like it could rupture eardrums burst near his ears. The bullet spitting hellfire blew back the spear holding unfathomable power.

Even so, Mari’s wild attack did not stop. Successive cutting attacks by the spear assaulted him. Unable to do anything, Daisuke had to step back, striking the spear with all bullets.

Every time their weapons crossed, silver scales and green glows burst around. The shockwaves gouged large holes in the ground, shaved off the cliff walls, and changed the shape of the mountain.

If he let the next attack get past him, and followed with a counterattack—

Mari, as expected, read his thoughts. She stopped the spear she was about to lower on him in place, weaving through Daisuke’s gunfire. Wearing a smile, she leapt to his chest.

“—“

Daisuke’s chest was struck by Mari’s open palm emitting a silver glow. As if shot by a tank, his body was violently pounded against the ground, creating a huge crater. Even that wasn’t enough to kill all the momentum, so his body kept going, knocking down trees, rushing through the distant mountainside.

“Guh…!”

Although his body was strengthened through its fusion with the Mushi, he received plenty of damage. As he grimaced, he could see the figure of Mari coming for a follow up attack—

“…!”

Gasping, Mari took a defensive position. The spear became a shield that spread silver scales, protecting its host.

However, the silver wall was easily penetrated by crimson flames. With the same amount of momentum as Daisuke just now, she rebounded through the mountain path.

“Is that your full power? Are you actually trying to live, Hanashiro Mari?! I think you’re just not dead enough!”

Thrusting his flame-covered fist, Harukiyo laughed. Crimson flames spurt out as if in a delay from the devil standing upright with blazing eyes. The ocean of flames pursued Mari who was rolling through the mountain.

“I’ll scorch ‘em all! Both your stupid doubts! As well as the leftovers of your dreams! Time for you to rest in peace—“

Harukiyo’s loud laughter was drowned.

The devil’s body was thrown aside by an unseen shockwave. Even the vast flames he’d produced were pushed away as though by an invisible wall, burst and scattered.

“Don’t attack so rashly, you big pervert!”

On top of the ladybug with seven spots, Rina howled.

The mountain air crackled—the moment later, another tidal wave of a shockwave was produced. It swallowed Harukiyo and along with a vast amount of dust he vanished from sight.

“Hunter’s body belongs to Ichinokuro Arisu! Are you trying to kill her?”

Her attention caught by the devil of flames, she stopped focusing on Daisuke. He raised his gun.

A large bombardment sound shook the mountain.

Although Rina instantly turned and produced a shockwave, it wasn’t enough to cancel the flaming bullet’s power. Rina was blown backwards along with the ladybug’s massive body.

“I don’t have time to bother with you right now. If you don’t leave—I’ll turn all of you into Fallen.”

Wiping the blood running down his lips, Daisuke rose up.

With just a few minutes of attack and defense, the mountain scenery was completely changed. Both mountain and valley were erased, and the exposed ground became just basins and plains. He didn’t even know where the observation platform had used to be.

Just because Daisuke purposely moved away from the park section, there shouldn’t any damage to the area of the outdoor concert. —The radio half-buried in the ground played music mixed with noise, so he knew the stage was safe. Music that sounded violent enough to catch people’s attention over the cataclysm and destruction occurring right nearby made the cracked radio shake.

“Never asked for it. Do you really want it? Spare me any pain, though.”

Tearing through the piled dust, Harukiyo appeared as if nothing happened. His clothes were ripped but his burly body only sported a few scratches.

“Aren’t you mistaking something? You’re the one going to become a Fallen.”

Along with a great vibration, the giant ladybug alighted down. Standing on her Mushi’s head, Rina wiped the ashes from her cheeks. The ladybug became her shield to protect her from Daisuke’s gunfire.

“—Hehe.”

Silver scales alighted down. The unharmed Mari slowly stepped in front Daisuke and the rest.

“A Fusion Type, Minion Type and even Special Type are all trying to beat me. I thought you were all weaklings, but it looks like you’re just a little strong…”

Already the silver pattern spread to her entire body, and only a single eye was able to escape the encroachment. Unlike her right eye gleaming with murderous intent, for some reason the left eye’s black pupil was moist—and twisted.

“It’s as though I’m meeting with the Original Three.”

“Haha, that a joke? You dare call me a representative of that trash?”

“Your expression… it really is the same from when we’ve last fought. Do you really find fighting that enjoyable?”

“…”

Special Type Mushitsuki, Sehateno Harukiyo.

Minion Type Mushitsuki, Rina.

Fusion Type Mushitsuki, Kusuriya Daisuke.

The strongest Mushitsuki of each Type that Daisuke knew of, and Hanashiro Mari. —Although their positions drew yet another square, their bodies were now oriented differently. Each faced their own opponent; Daisuke and Mari, then Harukiyo and Rina glared at each other.

There were no allies there.

There were only enemies.

Due to their own circumstances, they hated one another, disliked one another, and hurt one another. It didn’t matter who stood in front of them; if their opponent showed an opening, they’d probably pound them with their full powers.

—If all you strong Mushitsuki held hands, don’t you think they could do anything?

Recalling the words that Arisu said with her eyes sparkling, Daisuke grimaced.

There was no way for that to happen.

Once they touched, there was nothing but battle. He should have fully realized that.

To make everyone’s hearts there as one was as impossible as making the dreams of all Mushitsuki come true—

“It won’t do any good even if you broke the spear, you know?”

Mari giggled. Her eye full of hostility was looking at none other than Daisuke. She probably realized that he was aiming for her spear.

“This body’s already used to the Morpho butterfly.”

Daisuke put strength in his hand grasping the gun.

“If so—”

While slightly leaning his body and assuming a battle position, he asserted in a low voice.

“I’ll target you.”

The one triggered by those words was Rina.

“Kakkou…! Are you being serious right now?”

As Daisuke stayed silent and answering, a green glow rose from his entire body.

“Is that girl—Arisu, not your friend?”

“…”

“Arisu said a demon like you was a good guy! And yet you’re going to…!”

—Daisuke, you idiot!

The girl who did this to Daisuke every day, Ichinokuro Arisu.

Daisuke was at her side because she was his monitoring target.

However, while Arisu was aware of that, she still tried getting close to Daisuke like a friend. It was annoying only at first, and at some point he got used to these surroundings—

“—She’s getting her just deserts.”

Ichinokuro Arisu was kind.

She let her deceased friend borrow her body and she sympathized with Mushitsuki too much. That naivete invited the peak of the chaos created by the Morpho butterfly—a situation like now.

If the battle of these four people drew long, it wouldn’t end with just a single mountain being erased. There was no doubt that the aftershock would reach the town itself, causing an outrageous number of victims.

“She chose to commit suicide with her best friend. —That’s all.”

He would no longer hesitate on defeating Mari.

As a result, if Arisu went along with Mari and left this world—

That was his mission as Blaze Class Rank 1 Kakkou, as well as his reason for being there.

He could hear Rina grinding her teeth.

“Kakkou…! You really are incorrigible!”

“You’re turning out just how I like it, Kakkou! Your big brother’s so happy at your growth!”

“I’ll deal with you lot and look for the answer together with Arisu. —You can just stay like that until we find it!”

“I’ll annihilate all of you right here.”

An emerald glow and silver scales.

Crimson flames and colorless, invisible shockwaves.

Nearly unstoppable amounts of energy were about to be unleashed, each toward their own enemy—

But something happened just before that.

“—Ugh.”

A small groan flew into the ears of the Mushitsuki facing each other.

A hoarse voice that was really easy to miss.

And yet that very small happening—

“—!”

Although they decided to clash, the Mushitsuki all stopped their attacks.

The hostility that reached its critical mass and was about to be unleashed suddenly scattered as everyone’s gazes focused on a single point.

“Uuh…!”

Raising a groan—was Mari.

The girl wrapped by a shining, silver pattern was stuck in place as though frozen. While she readied her spear and wore a cruel smile, she was also leaking hoarse groans from between quivering lips.

“Uuuh—”

No one there should have understood what happened.

Including Daisuke, everyone there shouldn’t have hesitated to attack their enemies.

They all resisted one another and would never operate under the same will.

However—

What made this gathering of the strongest Mushitsuki take this impossible action—

“Ah—”

Mari leaked a trembling voice. None other than herself muttered the name of the one who caused the four Mushitsuki to hold their attacks.

“Arisu…?”

That name.

Most likely—not only Daisuke, but even Harukiyo and Rina, had all been unconsciously expecting it.

Part 4

The right eye not encroached by the Morpho butterfly had been watching all along.

She’d heard all of their exchanges.

“Stop… it… you guys…”

With Arisu’s left eye as the center, the silver pattern encroaching her body was slowly retreating. Her free lips moved, leaking a hoarse voice.

“Arisu—is that you?”

Daisuke lowered his gun. His expression hidden by the goggles couldn’t be seen, but he obviously widened his eyes.

Harukiyo and Rina too looked at Arisu brandishing her spear, frozen.

“Haha, finally wake up, sleepyhead? Or do I gotta knock you out once more for that?”

“Hunter—it’s not you, right? Truly?”

Arisu tried smiling—but the silver pattern encroached her face again.

“—Arisu…! I’m not done yet…!”

Arisu’s mouth moved on its own, spitting Mari’s voice.

Daisuke and the others prepared themselves again, but Arisu held them back with her eye.

Even while her body was stolen by Mari, it was the first time Arisu’s personality had not been lost. Just like Mari said, perhaps the Morpho butterfly got used to her body so much that they could no longer go back.

However—because of that, she could clearly feel the death and fear and doubts blowing into Mari’s heart.

Bottomless fear, like holding one’s breath inside a dark ocean. Feeling enclosed within a thorn-covered jail, anxiousness and claustrophobia. —Such scary emotions always faced Mari.

“Arisu!”

“—Just a bit more!”

Arisu stopped Daisuke with her voice from readying his gun again. The two personalities of Arisu and Mari were contending within her body.

She understood Mari’s suffering well.

Therefore—Even Arisu had wandered into that abyss.

“Wait just a bit more…!”

The silver pattern distanced from Arisu’s face again. But it was soon pushed back.

“I don’t want this…! I’m scared! So I’ll kill those people!”

“It’s fine! I’ll definitely protect you…!”

“No… No…! Once I’ll go back to sleep, they’ll definitely kill me! —Right, you too Arisu, are afraid of me…! You hate me—”

“Have just a little more patience! Please, I beg you… Mari!”

The two girls argued fiercely with only one mouth.

“A little more, you say—you’re an idiot! Even if you hold Mari back, you’re at your limits! If we don’t erase Mari’s personality right now, the Morpho butterfly’ll kill you!”

“Then next time for sure!”

At Arisu’s desperate resistance, the Morpho butterfly strengthened its hold on her body. It slowly raised the hand holding the spear and was about to swing it at Daisuke.

Daisuke and Rina both reacted with caution, but one person alone, Harukiyo, was grinning to himself and watched over Arisu.

He was waiting to see.

Ichinokuro Arisu and Hanashiro Mari. The devil’s blazing eyes were trying to ascertain which of the two would be the most suitable to make his dream come true. If Arisu’s personality was pushed back again, he’d soon give up on her.

“Next time? This isn’t the time to speak of the next time! Right now, you’re already—”

“Next time! Hey, Mari…! Please understand! I will—”

Her arm controlled by the silver pattern, she tried to put it down with her entire powers.

“I will definitely find my own answer as well, next time!”

The arm holding the spear twitched and stopped.

“Whether I reject you… or—accept you.”

“Accept—you say?”

Ignoring the speechless Daisuke, Arisu shouted.

“So please! You also have to find an answer by next time, Mari! Whether you’ll become my memories or become me and keep living—choose between the angel’s potion and the devil’s potion… definitely!”

She felt as if the Morpho butterfly’s power instantly weakened.

“Until then I’ll definitely protect you, Mari…!”

Until the very moment of her death, Mari had been unable to reach an answer.

Even after her friend’s death, Ichinokuro Arisu continued looking for an answer.

The two girls connected by the bizarre Mushi, the Morpho butterfly, would find their one answer across time, but at the very least, it wasn’t going to be now—

“Next time for sure—we’ll compare our answers?”

Arisu’s calm voice echoed in the once more silent mountainside.

There should still be time.

After all—the four Mushitsuki stopped fighting.

Daisuke, Harukiyo, Rina, and Hanashiro Mari.

They were stronger than anyone, yet stopped hurting each other just from hearing Arisu’s voice.

These Mushitsuki finally started connecting, so she couldn’t let it end now—

“…Understood.”

The pattern encroached Arisu’s mouth again, but it was less intense than before.

“If you’re going to find an answer, Arisu… then I will definitely—find one as well.”

As Mari spoke calmly, the pattern drew away from Arisu’s face like a receding wave. The pattern was also gone from her arms and legs, and only the glimmering spear remained.

The storm left and only silence remained.

The mountain broke down, the observation platform was erased, and now the space that transformed into a mere wasteland had four figures just standing on it.

“Good grief—”

The disturbance led to too much damage.

The path that led them there could be called sudden.

Even so, the scene that Arisu always imagined now expanded in front of her eyes.

“I finally got you all together.”

The three Mushitsuki stared at Arisu smiling, her unleashed ponytail shaking with his hair.

“Comparing answers? What are you even thinking about?”

The boy who hid his face with goggles and wore a pitch-black coat. He was the one who received the moniker of the strongest Mushitsuki within the SEPB, Kakkou—Kusuriya Daisuke.

Arisu winked at him mischievously.

“I told you, didn’t I? If it’s impossible for me alone, then all Mushitsuki together—yeah?”

“Wha…! You couldn’t possibly—”

“I didn’t manage to get everyone, but don’t you think those members are enough?”

“What are you talking about? Actually, you’ve got yourself a failing mark today, though it was close. You told me something interesting was gonna happen so now you’ll be willing to risk your life to make me laugh, right?”

Calmly folding his arms, Harukiyo sneered. The Mushitsuki who lived freely without being bound by anyone stared at Arisu with a pressure fitting for his moniker of the flame devil.

With a full smile, Arisu raised her finger. She looked back at the devil’s scorching eyes.

“Leave it to me. Just like I promised, I’ll make your dream come true.”

“Hmm, we’ll see about that. —You’ll end up regretting involving me anyway.”

“You also came, Rina. Aki passed my message to you, right?”

As Arisu moved her eyes, Rina made wore a stiff face.

“…”

“I won the bet, right? They also came here. And they even listened to me, right?”

“Right, I’ll listen to you. However—they tried killing you, you know?”

The girl who resisted against the SEPB and tried saving many Mushitsuki—Rina—looked at Daisuke. Even while her eyes glinted with anger, the girl’s profile was still beautiful.

“They didn’t,” Arisu immediately answered. “After all, he… even during the time he turned his gun to the Morpho butterfly—he looked extremely pained.”

Daisuke’s shoulders slightly twitched.

Rina’s expression was as unmoving as a polished sculpture. And yet her slightly moist lips reflecting the moonlight suddenly moved.

“—I found someone powerful I can rely on. They agree with me, and they began supporting me with money. Because of that, I’ll be able to save many more Mushitsuki.”

Speaking in a mechanical tone, Rina looked into Arisu’s eyes.

“This is an important time. So… I have no idea what you’re thinking about, but I don’t know whether I’ll be there or not for your ‘next’ time.”

“Really? If you do come, I might be able to fulfill the promise.”

—If we ever meet again… will you let me know of the best possible dream?

—Obviously. Who do think I am?

Rina had apparently remembered the promise they exchanged in the SEPB isolation facility. She looked a bit surprised and widened her eyes, but she finally stopped being cautious and smiled amiably.

“I’m weak against something like that. You’re surprisingly sly.”

Rina’s smile as she narrowed her eyes in happiness was so bright that even Arisu, who was a girl herself, felt jealous.

“…!”

Everyone there all looked up at the night sky at once.

A gale blew down from overhead.

A single star floating in the night sky was falling toward Arisu and the rest. They realized that this approaching blinking star was a helicopter. Arisu could see a fluttering dress from the open door.

“Akasegawa Nanana?”

Daisuke muttered this as he put his hands to his goggles, so it possibly had a zoom-in function.

“You called her as well?”

“Yes. This was just in case. I told her to check the situation from afar, but… I never expected she’d do it from the sky.”

“Akasegawa? Never heard of her. You know her? Also, I know it’s kinda weird to say this when this is the first time we met, but I think you’ll look really good in maid clothes.”

“Die. —She’s Akasegawa Group’s Chairman. Yet another absurdly big shot appeared. What is she scheming?”

Daisuke, Harukiyo, Rina.

And there was probably also Akasegawa Nanana.

Receiving the gazes of the people standing at the desolate mountain, Arisu smiled.

“Hey, you guys—”

The three Mushitsuki and the millionaire coming from the sky.

If she combined their powers, there was nothing she couldn’t do.

It shouldn’t be just Arisu who was convinced of this.

Everyone there had undoubtedly the same conviction—

“Have you heard about the Perseid constellation meteor shower?”

Arisu’s lively voice was swallowed into the starry sky.

Notes

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