Editing Mushi Uta:Volume 15 Chapter 1 (section)

== 1.00 The Others ==

Akamaki City, who could be called the center of the country, fell into a mysterious state of chaos.

Although all citizens had been issued an evacuation order, the reason had to yet to be revealed. The mass media was gathering information as well, but it was clear from everyday news that they were unable to grasp the core.

This sudden situation made the entire country restless.

However, none of this was relevant for Taiki, who was nothing more than a normal high-schooler.

Also, he lived far from Akamaki City anyway. The only thing he cared about regarding the situation was seeing whether more of his classmates would take a break from school.

No—to be honest, there was something else.

These last few days, he dreamt about the people called Mushitsuki night after night.

Tachibana Rina.

Harukiyo.

He dreamt about Mushitsuki with these names.

Taiki had no idea why he started having these dreams.

And now, on his way back from school—

“You will tell me… why I’m having these dreams?”

The girl who was waiting for him there said she would give him that answer.

“Yes.”

The person called Ikarino Kirari nodded. She was a beauty with her bangs cut in a slanted line, and looked to be about the same as Taiki’s age. For some reason, she wore the same school uniform.

“W-what are you saying? Why would you even—”

“Because I know… what dreams you’ve been having.”

She first appeared to him a few days ago. At the time she was together with a foreigner journalist. She had introduced herself as his interpreter.

“You know—my dreams?”

Ikarino Kirari appeared to Taiki alongside the foreign journalist for an interview.

She said this was related to Taiki’s cousin—one Kusuriya Daisuke.

Now, however, she talked about something completely different than that so-called interview. After Ikarino Kirari so stubbornly clung to Taiki, this time she was apparently going to interpret his dreams for him.

While the cautious Taiki drew back, Ikarino Kirai spoke.

“It was about Tachibana Rina—and Harukiyo, right?”

“…!”

Taiki gulped and froze.

She got to the crux of the matter perfectly.

Until now Taiki lived a completely normal life without any serious difficulties. His only worries could be said to be about his grades in school related to his future. Obviously, he only knew Mushitsuki as an urban legend.

And he suddenly started dreaming about these Mushitsuki.

In his dream, they were all fighting against an enemy called C.

They challenged her, lost, and ran away, but even so they kept fighting intensely—

“—Takashiro Taiki. Your parents are in good health, and you have two little sisters called Noa and Ririe.”

Kirari spoke all of a sudden. Taiki was startled.

“According to the city database, you have no criminal record. No major illnesses, either. I did find a small record from your health insurance when a driver took his eyes off the road, hitting you and causing a bone fracture when you were young. According to the school records, your grades are the average of the average, and there doesn’t seem to be any problem with your conduct…”

Hearing her narrate this so indifferently, Taiki felt a chill run up his spine.

Had she investigated him?

That was without a doubt a crime. There was probably nothing as creepy as having a complete stranger check out his life.

“I have no intention of disturbing your peaceful life.”

Ikarino Kirari really had the gall to say something like that after being so creepy.

“However, I believe that’s something you have to obtain from your own choice.”

“Ha… what? W-who are you?”

He couldn’t understand what the girl was saying at all.

She appeared out of the blue, investigated him and then told him to make a choice.

In all honestly, this girl looked to him like someone deranged and disturbed.

“I’ve said this before, but—won’t you tell me about your dreams in more detail? I will definitely be able to help you solve all your questions and worries. Also…”

Ikarino Kirari suddenly looked up the sky.

“I think I can tell you why you’re the only one unable to hear the bells.”

Bells?

Just before, his classmates also said they could hear bells.

They said it was a very pretty sound.

“S-stop this.”

This was Taiki’s limit. He was just a normal student, after all.

He became scared at the girl’s incomprehensible actions and words and started walking in a fast pace. He walked past Ikarino Kirari who stood there to block his path.

“Since you’ve dreamt about Tachibana Rina and Harukiyo, you’ll definitely dream about her, too.”

While he passed by her, Kirai spoke.

“Sleeping Beauty, Arisu.”

Taiki’s shoulders twitched.

It was a name that came up countless times in his dream.

“S-shuddup. Don’t come near me ever again…!”

Grimacing, he started running.

He could hear the sad voice of the mysterious girl called Ikarino Kirari from behind him.

“In the end—”

Taiki left the place running, while Ikarino Kirari stayed in place.

And as he went—

“She hasn’t woken up…”

The girl’s whisper passed and vanished between them.