Editing Mushi Uta:Volume 12 Epilogue (section)

== Epilogue: OPS3 Prologue ==

Anmoto Shiika.

Born in a completely normal household, she was a completely normal elementary schooler.

One day, however, she ended up becoming Mushitsuki by gaining a small dream.

Sometimes, Shiika would imagine herself spending time in a different world—as someone who wasn’t Mushitsuki.

She would graduate from elementary school with her classmates and become a normal middle schooler. She would graduate middle school as well, and although she wasn’t good in either studies or athletics, she should be able to get into her local public high school.

And around now she’d create a few friends, perhaps even get a boyfriend. Her grades and athletics would keep on being below the average and she’d end up desperate in each test. As for club activities, she’d probably be in something like the art club—no, since she never would’ve met her beautiful friend without becoming a Mushitsuki, she wouldn’t get interested in art, so she’d probably enlist to the wind music club.

“—And this is all we’ve heard from the SEPB.”

It would definitely be a completely normal school life.

That was supposed to be Shiika’s life—

But, by turning into a Mushitsuki, Shiika started living in an entirely different world.

“The SEPB’s Central Headquarters hiding Shinpu. The Mushitsuki called C putting the entire country in danger. Sleeping Beauty being woken up by someone called Harukiyo. As well as—”

While not understanding anything, she’d turned many of the SEPB’s combatants to Fallen, and then turned into a Fallen herself.

After this, she lived like a robot for a few years in the isolation facility called GARDEN.

For some reason Oogui returned her to being a Mushitsuki—and since then she spent her days in battle after battle. She was chased, she fought, she got hurt, she hurt others, and witnessed plenty of despair. There were only painful things that people like Shiika would be unable to bear.

“Oogui being able to use the abilities of all Minion Type Mushitsuki.”

However, even within that harsh reality there were many wonderful things that wouldn’t lose even against the peaceful world of her delusions.

Her promise with the Mushitsuki that held the same dream, Kakkou.

The days she spent with her friend called Tachibana Rina.

As well as—her love with the boy called Kusuriya Daisuke.

These irreplaceable events now supported Shiika.

Although she fought and lost plenty, although this reality made her want to run away, she could face it.

“I’m sure some of you are shocked to discover all of that. I feel the same. After all, because of my powers, if we fight Oogui—there’s a chance some of us will die.”

Shiika was entrusted with many things.

With the dream that she shared along with Kakkou, of wishing for a place to belong to.

With Rina’s dream, who wished to create a world where Mushitsuki belonged.

Both already left the stage, but Shiika had to protect their dreams.

“Even so, I’m planning on living and fighting Oogui.”

There was still a hope left even now.

''—Let’s meet next Christmas.

She had her promise with Kusuriya Daisuke who told her this.

Even this reality was way above what Shiika could afford. Even though she now stood on top the stage of a state-of-the-art movie theater and addressed many Mushitsuki, she could stand on her two legs.

All so she could meet Daisuke again.

All so she could settle everything and have them reunite as a normal boy and girl.

Shiika was able to raise her eyes and face the future—

“Operations 1 and 2 have already started. As Operation 3, we must think of a way to defeat Oogui.”

The door to the lecture hall opened and several long coats appeared.

They were SEPB combatants.

The Mushitsuki in the hall—the Mushibane members—stirred, so Shiika raised the volume of her voice.

“We will cooperate with the SEPB!”

She heard nothing about the SEPB coming there. But Shiika continued.

“In order for us Mushitsuki to win, we must succeed in every operation. If even one of them fails—it will be our loss.”

Mushibane’s admins approached the appearing SEPB combatants. They faced each other and were discussing something.

“I believe we are currently very confused about matters… but I would like to draw on your knowledge. We have no time. We must have Operation 3 succeed as soon as possible.”

Concluding it like this, Shiika went down the stage.

Namie, the oldest among the admins, switched with Shiika and went up to the stage. While calling to the clamoring members to preserve their calm, she began explaining their policy going forward.

Shiika rushed toward the other admins.

“Fuyuhotaru.”

A person clad in a black, long coat called to her even before her comrades.

Shiika knew him by face.

After all, this combatant was an opponent that had once nearly killed her.

“It’s been a while since we last saw each other. Well, you might not wish to recall it, though—”

“O-oh, not at all, that is completely fine. Nice to see you again.”

Shiika bowed her head. She felt neither anger nor hatred. However, since Shiika was at her roots a coward, meeting with her past assassin was indeed stressful.

Seeing how awkward she was, the other party smiled wryly. He wore a harsh expression, but when he smiled his mouth looked surprisingly kind.

“I’m Kabuto. I’ve been ordered to help Operation 3 come into fruition by acting as the SEPB liaison. I am not a high-ranked Mushitsuki, but I do believe I will be able to add somewhat to your fighting forces.”

Saying this, Kabuto turned to the other long coats waiting behind. From their posture they could be seen as elites, but they all looked to be nervous facing Shiika.

“Y-yes. Glad to work with you.”

“—It’s decided.”

This time, Kabuto looked toward the boy on the Mushibane side, Aijisupa. The latter sighed.

“If she accepts you then there’s no choice.”

“Eh?” Shiika raised her voice.

“You were against this, Aijisupa-san? I think the SEPB’s going to be a great help if they cooperated with us though…”

“It’s obvious to want to limit the number of dangerous elements. Since you ended up ignoring our warnings and spilled the beans about Oogui’s ability anyway—”

Aijisupa looked at the other Mushibane on the theater.

On top of the stage, Namie’s explanation continued, but among those in the audience many of the members looked aside, glancing at Shiika.

“Now all Mushitsuki are going to realize that the greatest obstacle to defeating Oogui is you. If it becomes a hard battle, I wouldn’t be surprised if they started resenting you instead and try to beat you.”

“I… believe in everyone.”

Shiika spoke with a smile.

Aijisupa went silent, but there was another person who made no attempt to hide her displeasure.

[[File:Mushi Uta 12 p419.jpg|thumb]]

“From where I’m standing, you’re the one we need to worry about the most, Shiika.”

She was Akasegawa Nanana. The millionaire girl spun her cane round and round.

“It’s fine trying to defeat Oogui. However, if she uses your own ability and you see all the Mushitsuki becoming Fallen, will you be able to stand it?”

“…”

“During the fight of the meteor shower, many Mushitsuki were unable to stand it and turned themselves to Fallen. One after another. —Can you say that you won’t do the same?”

Nanana grimaced. She probably recalled that scene that she saw from afar.

“Nanana… have you concealed Oogui’s ability until now because you were worried about me?”

“Wh… as if! Obviously not!”

“Thanks, Nanana. But I’m fine.”

Shiika was entrusted with many things.

So she couldn’t die.

She would live and, along with the wishes entrusted to her—

She had to reunite with Kusuriya Daisuke.

“I’ll live and grant my dream.”

Seeing Shiika smiling, Nanana was shocked into silence.

Kabuto put a hand to his goggles and spoke.

“It appears that Operation 1 has just now infiltrated the Underground Fort. I believe we should also promptly move to defeat Oogui.”

“Yes.”

Shiika nodded and looked at the wall.

Standing there was a girl holding a cellphone, Lucifera.

And standing next to Lucifera was the girl called Konoha.

“Although we have no other way… is it fine to believe a traitor’s words?”

Saying this was Halensis, a girl with white skin and black hair who looked like a classical Japanese beauty.

“I-I didn’t betray you or anything…”

Lucifera tried speaking back, but Halensis kept going on the attack.

“You sure have some guts to say that despite you getting in secret contact with outside people. Was your goal to grasp inner information about Mushibane?”

“T-that’s not… I mean…”

“It’s probably also your fault that the recovered Mimic and others vanished, right? You wanted to pull out some strong Mushitsuki just like that, right?”

“N-no…! We know nothing about Mimic—”

“I already knew, more or less.”

Shiika spoke. Mushibane’s admins came to look at her.

“That Lucifera was getting orders from someone… but I hadn’t tried digging any deeper because nothing bad happened to Mushibane.”

Looking back into Lucifera’s eyes, she then inquired.

“That’s the situation this time as well, right?”

“Uh…”

Instead of the speechless Lucifera, it was Konoha who bit her lips.

“Right… so please don’t—look at me with eyes like those of Kakkou…”

“I-I didn’t really…”

Shiika gasped and averted her eyes.

“Operation 2 is unchanged. —Although, I can’t really believe Harukiyo’s going to fail. If we want to complete our own operation before him, we should hurry.”

Shiika nodded at Kabuto’s urging.

She turned around, looking at Aijisupa, the other admins, as well as the large audience of her comrades.

The dream entrusted to her.

The destiny of so many Mushitsuki.

If she were to speak her mind, this mission was far too heavy to be carried on Shiika’s small shoulders.

But had to raise her face and move forward.

She had to engage this challenge while forgetting her originally weak self.

That was fine; she had support.

“Let us go—to Alpha.”

Thinking of the day she would meet Kusuriya Daisuke again—

Shiika was convinced that she was going to win any sort of final battle.


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