Editing Mushi Uta:Volume 5 Chapter 1 (section)

==1.00 Chiharu Part 1==

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Gently swaying…

Lightly floating…

Every day was peaceful and warm.

Ever since she was young, she had always been bursting with curiosity and lacked what were known as a sense of danger and protective instincts. She believed that people around her thought of her as quite a risk-taking child.

Therefore, when she found that ''blue cocoon'', she wasn't afraid at all.

Just like when she chased the fishes swimming in a creek.

Or when she chased the butterflies she caught sight of at a paddy field. 

In the empty vacant lot, she touched it.

The fingertip that touched it became numb, and ''something'' from the cocoon slipped into her body.

''Ba bump''.

She heard a throb. It wasn't her heart but the sign of another life.

—Her body was split into two by an unseen power.

That was how she felt. It was the feeling as if she was thoroughly split into two starting from the top of her head down to her toes.  

The next instant, ''she'' who split from her stood in front of her eyes.

It was a mere illusion with no substance.

Precisely because it was ripped out of her, it looked exactly like her. It only had an ever so slightly meaner-looking face than her.

When ''she'' looked at her past self—meaning at her own face, she made an indescribable expression.

''"Whoops, seems like my host this time is quite the stupid-looking brat. What a complete failure."''

The drooping eye corners which she had from birth now slanted even more despairingly. She added the reaction of putting a hand on her forehead and looking up at the sky.

Having someone with her face and voice make fun of her made her angry.

''Sorry for looking stupid, really—''

She remembered to puff her cheeks just like the fearless child she was.

Her other self headed for her in a resigned manner, holding out both hands. 

For some reason she held out her hands too.

Their slender fingers intertwined.

She couldn't feel anything.

Yet, a very faint warmth was conveyed through it. A relieving, pleasant warmth.

With that she realized.

Although her other self had a bad mouth and a bad attitude—and adding to that, although she knew that the one in front of her was nothing more than an illusion, she had a clear premonition.

It wasn't a bad person.

''"Oh well, nothing I can do about it. Nice to meet you, my host. My name is—"''

"Chiharu."

Hearing a voice from behind, she turned around.

A small silhouette with the setting sun at his back appeared.

She couldn't see his face as his back was facing her, but she realized who it was from the outline of his shadow, his voice and his presence. 

"Daisuke."

The 6<sup>th</sup> year elementary school student, Kusuriya Chiharu broke into a broad smile.

"Did you come to get me?"

"Mom got worried so she told me to look for you. Let's go back already."

"Coming!"

''"My name is Aria Varei—wait a minute! Are you even listening?"''

By the time Daisuke had called out to her, the illusion of her other self disappeared. However, she could still hear her own voice in her ears.

"With such a cute brother, I'm the happiest person in the world!"

"Wha-… S-stop! Don't hold my hand!"

''"H-huh? No way? Did you not hear me? Can you possibly not hear me? I tried showing off because this is our first time meeting but was it all for naught? Aria is super shocked!"''

Waving her little brother's hands, Chiharu chuckled while walking through the residential area bathed in twilight.

''I can hear you—'' 

She mentally stuck out her tongue.

This was her payback for being called a complete failure just now.

She didn't know if the voice she could hear was an illusion, a daydream or perhaps something else. Even so, she didn't want anyone to disturb her during this time.

"I told you to let go of me! It's embarrassing for siblings to do this! Chiharu!"

Gently swaying…

Lightly floating…

They swayed to and fro in their peaceful daily life.

The thing that secured the happy days of the risk-taking child Chiharu was the warmth of her brother's hand.

It was only for this moment when she had her brother all to herself that she did not want to let go of his hand.

''"W-what, so you ''can'' hear me! Your acting almost made me cry! Teasing the host should be my duty, don't take other people's jobs!"''

Although her other self was reproaching her, that voice also seemed somewhat relieved.

"I won't let go. You're too weak, Daisuke!"

Her brother desperately tried shaking her hand off, yet Chiharu kept holding it tightly. She was still stronger than her brother who was one year her junior.

Below the orange sky, she walked alongside her brother.

That was the day Chiharu first met with that abnormal being.

With the main culprit responsible for the birthing of the disaster-bringing Mushi. 

The vagrant blue cocoon that wanders continually in search for a safe haven.

And its name was—Aria Varei.

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Dispensing with the preliminaries, how are you?

I, Ayukawa Chiharu, am in the height of my youth.

Starting next month, I'll be a third year high school student. I have lots of friends, and I promised to work along with everyone in the student council. I've also been confessed to by a classmate. Ah, but I turned him down. It's not like I hate him, but I just feel like dating someone with half-hearted feelings is being rude to them. It's just that, really.

—But you know, I already gave up all of that. I already gave up forgetting everything and living happily. My enjoyable days of paradise ended yesterday. 

Because I remembered.

I recalled the time when I wasn't Ayukawa Chiharu but Kusuriya Chiharu.

And your name as well.

…Right, Daisuke?

"Nnn…"

In a hotel bedroom in the suburbs of Nishito City.

In front of a large mirror, Ayukawa Chiharu rose to her full height.

In the mirror was her 17 year-old grown form. Having retrieved her lost memories from before five years ago, she also recalled that her drooping eyes were something she was born with. Her hair was long but her bangs were cut short evenly. She was taller than the average height of her classmates, her body thin and slender.

''And you're already sixteen, huh—'' 

While looking at the mirror, her "narrating" habit that continued for who knows how many years naturally showed itself.

Until now it was a delusion without any addressee. 

But now it was different.

She clearly recalled who she was addressing.

''I wonder what sort of face you're making right now, Daisuke—''

"You awake already? If you are then come over here."

She heard someone knocking on the bedroom door. A blunt voice without a shred of fondness called to her.

Chiharu energetically opened the door and went to the living room.

"G'morning! What a great day!"

"Hah? Nothing's great about it. Not to mention I'm injured over here so I can't even move—"

The petite girl sitting on the sofa looked in her direction. At that moment her expression turned cold.

The girl dressed in school uniform seated on the floor also glanced at Chiharu. However, apparently losing her interest immediately, she returned to finely ripping a tissue in her hands—Chiharu had no idea why she was even doing that, but anyway she returned to her previous activity.

"You…"

The petite girl—Konomura Chami—raised her fingers to her brows and frowned. She was shorter than Chiharu by about half a head and the ends of her short hair were pointed up. On her face that wore glasses with thin lenses there were also band-aids. Bandages wrapped around her stomach could also be seen from the hem of her long-sleeved T-shirt.

"Haah… oh well. C'mon, get over here already."

"Eh? Is that your only reaction? How cold, how lonely, Chami-chan!"

Chiharu, who was boldly exposing her bare skin—as she was wearing a bikini swimsuit, held her head. That swimsuit was found inside the closet, meant to be used for the indoor pool.

—Yesterday was a day that could be said to be the turning point of Ayukawa Chiharu's life.

Or perhaps, it would be more accurate to say it was the day she had finally recovered her true self.

For five years she spent her days peacefully in middle school and high school. Her mother remarried to one her past classmate, so she ended up changing her family name to Ayukawa, and she spent her days happily as the vice president of the student council.

However, Chiharu always had some doubts inside her about this happy everyday life. She always felt guilty about getting the "main role" on the stage known as youth.

And she finally recalled the reason for that.

It happened because of the fight inside the giant tower built as part of the Nishito Mega City Project, 'URBAN'. It was the decisive fight planned by the girl in front of her, Konomura Chami, who faced against her fate of having nothing more than a supporting role. Being involved in a battle against the government agency known as the Special Environmental Preservation Bureau, the shock from the battle caused Chiharu to recall the past.

Why did she always felt so unbearable during such peaceful days?

Why has she always felt such anxiety and uneasiness amidst that happiness?

Chiharu now knew the reasons for that.

"I wanted to comfort you thinking that you'd both be tired after all that! Well? Look at this nice body that would make any guy swoon! Look, here's a sexy pose!"

She leaned forward, heading towards Chami who was furrowing her brows in the living room. She even added a blowing kiss.

"S-stop being an idiot."

It was surprisingly effective. Chami's cheeks became lightly flushed.

"Since we're both girls it wouldn't make me happy at all! More importantly, come over here already and explain some stuff! Even though I've done my best to run away with you from 'URBAN' yesterday I didn't get any explanation!"

"Hey Aya-chan, did it comfort you?"

Ignoring the angry Chami, she called toward the girl dressed in school uniform sitting on the carpet.

That girl, known as Sugitsu Aya, was the one who took care of Chiharu and the wounded Chami last night. She seemed to be one of Chami's comrades. With her long black hair and fair face, she was a Japanese-style beauty that invoked the image of a Japanese traditional doll.  Her fingers that kept shredding the tissue paper were long and slender.

Raising her almond eyes to look up the swimsuit-wearing Chiharu, Aya soon lowered her gaze again.

"If I break down something slowly like this, it makes me very relaxed."

"Huh, is that so? That's not what I asked though…"

Trying to go to the other side of the table, Chiharu flinched.

An eerie creature was hiding behind the sofa. Its azure body resembling a metallic armor was split into three parts, with its head and torso relatively small compared to its rear. Below its elytra emitting a metallic luster, a soft-seeming belly was continually rumbling. Its orange-colored sharp feelers and legs emitted a creaking sound while moving. 

Judging just by its shape it looked like a ground beetle, but it was greatly different. Chiharu would never want to even try that, but if she were to wrap her hands around it she wasn't sure if her fingertips would touch. The creature gulped down cluttered cans of juice rolling on the floor with its elastic mouthpart.

As if reminded by Chiharu's response, Chami spoke to the girl at her feet.

"Don't let your Mushi out for such a long time, Aya. You're wasting energy."

"Aluminum is its favorite dish."

"…You don't listen to what people are saying at all are you. Or rather, did your personality change?"

''Mushi''—

About ten years have passed since these mysterious life-forms were discovered in Japan.

Since they visually shared many similarities with real life insects they were named "Mushi"<ref>“Mushi” is the Japanese word for “insect”.</ref>. However, the existence of Mushi couldn't be explained by physics, and regardless of the fact that many people witnessed them the government officially denies their existence.

The Mushi possessed boys and girls, growing by eating their dreams. Those possessed by Mushi were named ''Mushitsuki'', and although they were treated as nonexistent, they were also the targets of fear and discrimination. Those who became Mushitsuki could use their Mushi's supernatural powers, but at the same time their vitality, mental energy and wishes of "I want to be like that"—i.e their dream would be devoured. 

Having one's dream consumed meant the drying up of their physical and mental energy, leading the host along with their Mushi to weaken and die. Even if that doesn't happen, once their Mushi is killed, the backlash of losing that which became a part of them would turn them into a walking corpse, a Fallen.

"Gas can be replenished from the air, but it can't be done like that with metal…"

The muttering Aya was a Mushitsuki, and the thing behind the sofa was her Mushi.

It wasn't just Aya; even Chami sitting on the sofa was a Mushitsuki. The latter even belonged to the governmental organization that secretly work to search for and apprehend Mushitsuki, the Special Environmental Preservation Bureau. That was, until yesterday at least.

In contrast to Aya and Chami, Chiharu wasn't a Mushitsuki. She was a completely normal civilian with no special power. 

"I'll ask again to be sure, but there's no mistake about you being the older sister of Kusuriya Daisuke, right?"

Staying seated on the sofa, Chami did not even turn around. Accordingly, Chiharu could not see her expression. 

Not understanding the meaning of her question, Chiharu tilted her head. But she soon understood and nodded.

"I see. You said you know about Daisuke, but you didn't know about me being his sister. Hmm, don't I have anything? Some sort of proof…"

"I don't need any proof!"

Chami suddenly raised a loud voice.

"I've now finally realized! I know why I've been ordered to monitor you for five whole years!"

Intimidated by the ground beetle, Chiharu circled around the sofa.

"'Since she's someone related to one of the Rank 1, we should keep an eye on her just in case'—so that's what it was? Haa, such a shitty job is a perfect fit for a Rank 10 small fry like me!"

Exposing her anger, Chami also pounded on the table. She then grimaced, perhaps her wounds hurting.

"The SEPB is especially scared of the appearance of a Rank 1 Mushitsuki… That's why they became paranoid and monitored you 'just in case', fearing that since you have a deep connection to Kakkou you might become another powerful Mushitsuki! And those with the possibility of turning into a Mushitsuki are boys and girl in puberty… so your mother not being under monitoring serves as proof!"

"Me, turn into a Mushitsuki…?"

"Shit, they made me do this bullshit for five years… Those SEPB shitheads are underestimating me!"

Chiharu unhesitatingly inquired Chami who was full of resentment. 

"Say, Chami-chan. There's also something I didn't properly ask you about yet."

"Huh? About what?"

"About Daisuke! Chami-chan, you know my brother right? Tell me stuff like where he is now and what he's doing."

"Yeah, I know that demon."

Chami spat out. As if saying she felt bad even letting it out of her mouth.

"Demon? No, I'm talking about Daisuke! Ku-su-ri-ya Da-i-su-ke! Even if it's you, Chami-chan, there should be a limit to how much you can mishear! That was so rude!"

Chiharu lectured her while still wearing a swimsuit and clenching both fists. Chami frowned.

"No, as I'm saying, that demon…"

"Daisuke's no demon! He's a bit dishonest sometimes, but he's a good kid who's kinder than anyone!"

She puffed her cheeks and glared at Chami.

"…"

—Before they noticed a heavy silence befell the living room.

Since no one said anything, she reluctantly repeated it again.

"Daisuke's a good kid who's kinder than anyone!"

Chami stared at Chiharu with eyes as if she had seen a ghost. She diverted her gaze to Aya at her feet as if seeking her help. Aya expressionlessly shook her head to the side. She seemed resigned.

"Umm… well, let's put aside your brother complex, or rather your little brother obsession for now. There's a chance that both of us are thinking of the wrong person. It has to be the wrong person."

"I'm not thinking of the wrong person! Daisuke's a good kid! A good kid's Daisuke!"

"I don't get what you're even saying. Just calm down. …If you ask me then I'll tell you as much as you'd like about the Kusuriya Daisuke I know. But what will you after hearing that? If you just want to meet him after all this time then you're better off not asking."

Chami said in a cold tone, looking at her keenly.

"I only saved you because that's how things went, so I don't care about whatever you want to do or wherever you want to go. I can only hope that there's some amazing find in your retrieved memories that benefits me. But if you end up acting on your own it could be a problem."

[[File:Mushi Uta 5 p035.jpg|thumb]]

Chami said in a bluntly refusing tone. In reality it was just like that.

Yes, Chiharu had retrieved her memories.

Five years ago… 

What did Chiharu, the older sister, do to her one and only brother Daisuke that time?

She wasn't able to clearly remember it yet, but she was only able to understand the sin she had committed.

"It's just like you said, Chami-chan. I want to meet Daisuke… no, I have to."

She had done something terrible to Daisuke in the past.

''—Even though you could've lived happily if you didn't recall it…''

She heard a nostalgic voice from somewhere.

The unredeemable sin she had committed on her brother. That was—

"…I'm the one who turned Daisuke into a Mushitsuki."

Chami and Aya widened their eyes.

"I believe that Daisuke definitely hates me. And so I'm going to ask him this…"

Chiharu wore a cheerful smile.

'''Please kill me'—''

That was the emotion she had harbored five years ago.

The wish that the current Chiharu has retrieved.