Editing Mushi Uta:Volume 4 Chapter 3 (section)

==3.01 The Others==

The condominium that Kusuriya Daisuke lived in was located in a residential area close to the town centre of Ouka City.

The entrance to the 16-storeys building was preceded by a classical gate constructed from bricks. A Beetle was parked in front of the hand-pushed double gate.

The sun had already set and the surroundings were dark.

Daisuke alighted from the front passenger seat and spoke into the car.

“Thank you for sending me back, Touko-san.”

“Not at all, now let me go park my car in the parking lot first.”

“Sure. …Huh?”

“Ah, it’s dangerous if you don’t close the door.”

“Eh? Y-yes.”

Doing as he told and closing the door, the Beetle then drove to the parking lot located at the side of the building. After parking at the visitor’s lot, Touko alighted from the driver’s seat. She then opened the bonnet and retrieved a large plastic bag from within.

Carrying the plastic bag, Touko came by the side of Daisuke who stood there motionlessly.

“Sorry for the wait. Let’s get going.”

“‘Let’s get going’, you say… but where to?”

“Ahaha, you don’t have to act dumb. Where else could it possibly be other than Daisuke-san’s apartment.”

“''Huh?'' W-why is that? I didn’t hear you say anything about that.”

Daisuke flusteredly chased after Touko who swiftly entered the entrance.

A mailbox could be seen after pushing open the door. One could tell even without looking that the mailbox for Daisuke’s unit was empty. Entering further, there was an automatic door.

“Daisuke-san, are you eating properly? Your complexion looks poor recently. That’s why, today, I am here to ascertain the physical condition of my subordinate as your superior, so I thought I would prepare a nutritious meal for you to recover your spirit. Erm, can you open the door quickly? This is unexpectedly heavy, erm, faster…”

Walking to the automatic door with teetering steps, Touko looked turned around to look at Daisuke with an imploring look. He could hear from the bumping sound that the bag was mostly filled with cans of beer.

Daisuke sighed in resignation and took the bag from Touko. He scanned the cardkey and authenticated the retinal scan at the side of the door.

The automatic door opened.

“Sounds more like you want to vent your complaints at me while drunk, Touko-san…”

“W-what are you saying! You know, even I have some self-awareness of being the acting Branch director… Eh, ''aah!'' I think I left the number for the proxy driver back at the office…!”

“Your intent to get drunk is showing plainly though… And what nutritious meal, it’s just some Italian takeaways. And you even bought beer, I thought for sure that you were going eat by yourself at home.”

“Let's not speak so distantly, just accompany me for a while, please? Kei-chan from the same year wouldn’t hang out with me anymore ever since she was transferred to the human resource department.”

Carrying the bag of beer, Daisuke entered the elevator. Touko too followed behind with a friendly smile.

They alighted on the fifth floor and continued down the aisle.

“Looks like Senri has not returned.”

He walked passed an unlit apartment and stopped in front of the door next to it.

“Eh? Senri-chan?”

“This is Haji’s apartment, Senri’s living in it. And, mine is just right next door. Akatsuki would come by every day to send Senri to and fro.”

“Eh… ''Eh?'' Haji-senpai lived here? I heard that Senri-chan was staying at Haji-senpai’s place, but I thought for sure that she was stay in a dormitory.”

Most of the staffs of the Special Environmental Preservation Bureau lived in the dormitories provided for the public administration. The housing expenses were cheap and more importantly, there was a firm security system.

This condominium that Daisuke stayed in too belonged to the nation, despite being private management on papers. There were disguised surveillance cameras installed in the entrance and elevator, and there was a squad of security guard on standby 24-hours in another location. Not to mention, the wall of the aisle was especially high to prevent people from spying on which floor and unit did anyone lived in from the outside.

“…Ah!”

“Eh? What’s the matter, Touko-san?”

“Daisuke-san, I just realised a grave fact… T-this is the first time I am entering a boy’s apartment…!”

Daisuke ignored the flabbergasted Touko and inserted the card into the reader. The entrance opened and lit up.

“So, you have never gone out with any guys before, huh, Touko-san…”

“Eh? Ah, no! Err, if you’re talking about dates, then I have gone on many, but… please keep it a secret for me, ‘kay?”

Leaving behind the smiling 23 years-old superior, Daisuke entered the living room. When he switched on the lights, the bland state of the room could be seen. A LCD television was placed on a rack made from pipes and faced the sofa and table.

Touko seemed to have some troubles removing her shoes and entered a bit later.

“It sure is a simple room. If one ask whether this is just like Daisuke-san, then it sure is just like what you would do. …''Ufufu'', now it’s Daisuke-san’s turn to confess whether or not there were any girls that have entered this room?”

“Too bad, Senri came here before countless times. Because she kept nagging at me to clean up, wouldn’t you say it’s pretty clean now?”

“Looks like your relationship is very good. If only you would clear up your misunderstanding with Akatsuki-san too—”

Touko’s words stopped there abruptly. Putting the bag of beer on the table and turning around, he saw Touko looking at a photograph placed on top of the rack.

It was a picture of Daisuke of when he was younger. A petite girl clamped onto his neck with one arm and flashed the ‘V’ sign. In contrast, there were two other girls on both of his sides who were looking embarrassed.

“That wasn’t a misunderstanding, that about Rina.”

“…”

“Isn’t this photo a violation of regulations?”

Daisuke turned the photo frame down and feigned ignorance. Mushitsuki belonging to the Special Environmental Preservation Bureau were prohibited from leaving behind records of their appearance beyond what was necessary.

But, Touko only chuckled. It was a different smile from her usual sociable one.

“I’ve heard from Haji-senpai. They are the aforementioned… Daisuke-san’s friends, right?”

“…”

“You don’t have photos of your family?”

“…”

“I’m sorry. Looks like I was prying too much into your personal life.”

Touko grinned serenely. Looking at her unreserved face, the sides of Daisuke’s lips rised.

Touko walked towards the rack and sat the photo frame upright again.

“The thing known as a person’s memories are very mysterious. We can remember the big events and happenings very clearly, yet those ordinary days that link them together are considerably hard to remember. For example, the boring route back home every day, or what you spoke with your friend about today et cetera…”

A smile could be seen from the side view of Touko’s face as she gazed at the photograph.

Daisuke looked on silently.

“I do not know what kind of shape does Daisuke-san’s past form, but don’t you think that it would be alright for you to recall those carefree day for just a bit? It’s exactly those carefree days which were the fun times. Those happy times which made you think you met them for the sake of that time… If you can think about it that way, I’m sure that looking back at the past would not be backwards-looking, I think.”

Daisuke returned a smile to Touko who turned back to him. She was probably worried about Daisuke, acting in this way unlike the usual her. Or, could it be that her current self was Touko’s true persona? Either way, it was impossible to surmise her true colours, in a different meaning from what Haji Keigo suggested.

“…I’m going to take a shower. Because I met Touko-san right after my practise, I didn’t even have time to wash off my sweat there.”

With those words, he headed for the shower room.

Daisuke spent the whole day today on combat practice which he had not done for a while. There was a mountain of things for him to do, but the top priority would be for him to collect information from the outside. The movements of the Central Headquarters, news about Fuyuhotaru—Shiika, and also the developments in the various powers, he must look into all these and find a way to handle each situation. The only thing Daisuke can do now would be to prepare his mind and body such that he is ready to move out whenever.

The voice of Touko, which was completely different from just now, came from the living room.

“Then, I shall take care of the preparations for the banquet. Ah, don’t worry about it, I definitely wouldn’t peek at you. Also, Daisuke-san, is any brand of beer fine with you?”

“I don’t even know where to start retorting from, but I’ll just leave it to you, Touko-san.”

Daisuke took off his clothes and entered the bathroom, showering from his head down.

Water droplets gushing from the showerhead pelted his face. It then flowed down to his feet and streamed into the drain.

“…”

Looking down on the hot water droplets dripping from his chin, he recollected the past.

The people he had met with so far, and had parted with.

Daisuke would recall all of their faces every night. However, what always appeared were their angry faces, or of them crying, which eventually faded away.

Their cries and tears reproached Daisuke endlessly. The one who had forced them to make those faces was none other than himself. And now, what moved him to action was most likely that pain.

The people who knew Daisuke—those who knew Kakkou, all called him a demon.

Looking at what he has done, that was the obvious outcome. From the view of those who had been turned into Fallen by Daisuke, surely his figure would have been one of a demon.

He would gladly be called the devil if what he had done would cause the fighting to stop. Because of the existence of the demon, the fighting between Mushitsuki should have stopped due to fear.

And then, after that demon defeats the Original Three, he would disappear when the fighting has stopped in its truest meaning.

He sometimes thought that everything he had done so far had backfired instead. How often had he thought that he should not have been born?

“…”

His fist that was touching the wall slowly tightened.

If he relaxed himself even a bit, he felt like he would just lose consciousness. This was likely due to the consecutive sleepless nights he had. Wrapped in the hot vapour of the shower, thoughts of, ‘wouldn’t it be fine if I just don’t wake up like this’, floated through his hazy mind.

Amidst his thin consciousness, Touko’s words from before came into his mind.

Those happy times which made you think you met them for the sake of that time—.

Were there that kind of moments? Daisuke tried to recall from his memories those days when he spent casually with the people he met, days without fighting nor farewells.

The memories of his family. Memories of his parents had already blurred away and the only thing he remembered was the smile of his elder sister.

—I am going to pamper you so much so until you cry at me to stop.

His sister and her friend along with Daisuke were walking along on the way back from school. His sister had said proclaimed that proudly towards her friend which made him so embarrassed that he went home ahead.

And then, it was only a few years later, after he became a Mushitsuki, that he met a girl who spoke with him as equal.

—You’re annoying! Who cares about your circumstances. I’ve already made up my mind to go to the pool tomorrow!

The girl whose selling points were a petite exterior and a huge ego said so, puffing her chest out. By her side were the usual two girls, one of which was always smiling and the other with a slightly troubled look. Daisuke couldn’t help but heave a sigh as always.

And as time went by even further, he met a girl that would be his nemesis whom he was destined to fight.

—''Uwaa'', what a boring response! So lame!

The girl who made such an exaggerated grimace in the classroom, yet still looked beautiful. Daisuke only ignored her sarcasm, and laughed it off composedly.

—Isn’t Senri cute.

The boy who called Daisuke his comrade, said that with a faint smile while staring at Senri. Daisuke could only put up a strained smile and agree with him to avoid his outburst.

Finally—.

—…Okay.

The girl holding onto Daisuke’s hand nodded shyly. However, a smile of happiness could be seen forming from her lips.

“''Hahaha''…”

A surge of emotions welled up in Daisuke’s heart, causing him to burst out in laughter.

Indeed, there were.

There were moments where he had met people just for the sake of that time. Despite fighting against his Mushi that consumed his dreams day and night, there were indeed memories still remaining inside of Daisuke.

“Yeah, Harukiyo. It was just as you said.”

Laughing out loud, he turned off the shower. His faint consciousness became sharp again.

Memories of those days where he met and laughed with them remained in Daisuke’s heart. The warmth that he felt at those times roused his feet to step forwards, regardless of his own feelings.

“Looks like I still haven’t lived long enough. No matter what happens from now on, I’ll live on nonetheless.”

I’ll finish everything.

This has nothing to do with Mushitsuki nor the Special Environmental Preservation Bureau nor fighting.

Not with Kakkou nor Fuyuhotaru.

Until the day that Kusuriya Daisuke and Anmoto Shiika can meet again, just like the other day, as any normal boy and girl.

—Okay, it’s a promise.

Until the day he feels the warmth of that hand once again.

“…''Huu''.”

Tying the towel around his waist, he left the shower room. Having forgotten to take a change of clothes, he headed to his bedroom to retrieve it.

“I see. Yes, yes, I totally get you. The vice-director is just like this, always giving out order so self-importantly while never ever considering our circumstances. What a pain for us both to have such selfish superiors, right.”

He heard Touko’s hearty voice.

“…?”

Wondering if she was on the phone, Daisuke headed for the living room.

“Yea, that’s right. She should have just come here herself if she wanted to hear about it, she didn’t even consider the risk I would be in coming here. How troubling.”

Looking at the scene depicted in front of him, Daisuke was at a loss for words.

Well, Touko lying on the table with an open beer in her hand wasn’t particularly a problem. However, the one who was patting her head with a figure unlike that of an adult was—.

“''A-awawa!'' What kind of appearance is that, Daisuke-san! Y-you can’t do this kind of thing! I oppose sexual harassment!”

“''Uwaa'', Kakkou-san you pervert! What are you intending to do to me?”

Touko covered her face with her hands and faced the other side, while the other youth (he still did not know what was he was a boy or a girl) copied her actions completely. He was someone Daisuke knew.

“Ume…!”

Having a small and thin stature combined with a baby face, it was a youth whose sex was hard to determine. It was unknown if his cheeks were slightly red from having seen the half-naked Daisuke, or if it was because he had imbibed some alcohol along with Touko.

Kusezaki Ume. He was one of Harukiyo’s comrades.

“Why are you here…!”

Daisuke immediately entered a fighting stance. Conversely, Ume remain seated with a grin.

“We intruded into the Central Headquarters database and searched for your address. Now that C-san hasn’t been reinstated, my comrades can at least retrieve information of this level.”

“How did you enter here?”

“When I called on the intercom, Goroumaru-san just let me in.”

“Eh, ah, you didn’t hear the intercom? I thought for sure that it was Daisuke-san’s friends…”

“I don’t have any friends.”

“Please stop releasing that bloodlust, it’s very scary. I’m just here to talk, that’s all. Okay?”

Ume smiled affably. But, Daisuke did not let his guard down. His handgun had been left behind in the bathroom. If it came down into a fistfight, Touko would not be able to escape injuries.

“Stop messing around. Did you forget our fight at Housawa Town? I already know that you guys are cooperating with the Central Headquarters. That—”

“Now, now, Daisuke-san. There’s no harm to just having a conversation, right. After all, we want to get our hands on any kind of information available anyway. …Err, Ume-san, was it? Is oolong tea alright with you?”

Touko poured some tea into a plastic cup with a sociable smile. Ume seemed to be delighted like that of a child and replied with a, ‘Thank you’.

Daisuke glared at Touko.

“Touko-san… I heard from Haji that he had already told you about the matter about Ume before.”

“Eh? I-is that so? It was so long ago that I seem to have forgotten. ''Ahaha'', you know how my memory is like.”

Touko glossed over the matter with a jovial smile. Daisuke did not know what was she thinking inviting over their enemy just like this and displayed a strikingly antagonistic face. He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall.

“Finish it within five minutes. If you’re still here after that, I’ll slaughter you.”

“''Uwaa'', so cold, that makes me a bit sad… Okay, I’ll get straight to the point. There’s something I want to ask you. It should be something that Kakkou-san knows.”

“What is it.”

“What is the dream of Horisaki Azusa-san?”

Ume coolly asked.

Daisuke and Touko’s faces stiffened.

“So, the one displayed in that disk is really her…”

“Well, who knows? But, it seems like all the other branches other than the East Central Branch should have received orders to search for her.”

“What are you going to do after you know of it?”

“…So, you do know, Kakkou-san. We just desire a bit of help from you only.”

The nature of Ume’s smile changed. His previously childish expression now appeared bewitching. The people around Harukiyo were all some kind of suspicious fellows.

Daisuke flashed a sarcastic smile back at him.

“Whether it is his connections with Central Headquarters or this thing right now, to make a deal with someone else isn’t typical of Harukiyo. Tell him to come by here himself if he has something to say.”

“To Harukiyo, this kind of thing is not even a deal. The same with the matter about Central Headquarters.”

“What are you guys scheming?”

“Who knows? It may be world domination for all I know. Ah, but if it was Harukiyo, surely he would say that that would’ve be boring.”

Daisuke glared at Ume who was playing innocent. Touko seemed to have lost the opportunity to speak and could only look back and forth between the two of them.

“Anyway, what we want to know right now is Horisaki Azusa’s dream. Why was it that only the two of them, Centipede and her, have resurrected from the Fallen status—no, what we want to know is if they have actually even been resurrected.”

“If they have actually even been resurrected…? What do you mean, Ume-san?”

“Whether the one there is a fragment or the main body… we need to confirm that no matter what. If it is the main body, surely ''that'' would also be nearby—”

“Say it in a way we understand.”

When Daisuke pursued him for an answer, Ume kept silent. The smile was gone from his face before they even realised it.

“So, you can’t answer any of our questions. …Go back, there’s nothing for us to speak about.”

“We know the current whereabouts of Fuyuhotaru.”

“!”

Daisuke’s heart pounded so heavily it felt like it was drumming his chest. At Ume’s unexpected words, Touko sprang up from her seat as well.

“If Kakkou-san gave you that information, you will tell us Shiika-san’s position?”

“Seems like she’s on the move. If you don’t hurry, she might just go somewhere else.”

“…It’s still too early for me and Shiika to meet. Wasn’t that what Harukiyo said.”

“That’s because she’s in quite an interesting place right now. Perhaps, he wanted to see Kakkou-san’s surprised look?”

“…”

Daisuke stared at Ume who started smiling again in suspicion. Even as he stared into his eyes, he couldn’t see his inner thoughts at all.

Just what are they scheming…?

Seeing Daisuke being on his guard, Ume heaved a big sigh. Slumping his shoulders, he looked up at Daisuke.

“Hey, Kakkou-san. Actually, I have another motive when I come here.”

“…”

“Did Kakkou-san never thought about this? No matter the Special Environmental Preservation Bureau or Mushibane… or whether one is a Mushitsuki or an ordinary person, all these labels are meaningless. We are all separated into allies and enemies because of these labels. If we didn’t have those things… don’t you think we could have been friends? Even Lady-san too could have been our friend.”

Daisuke’s face twisted.

“Surely, Kakkou-san had thought so all this time. That the Special Environmental Preservation Bureau was the true demon all along.”

“What are you trying to say…!”

Ume raised a hand towards Daisuke who raised his voice. The cherubic smile on his face truly resembled that of a pure angel.

“Hey, Kakkou-san. Won’t you come with us?”

Daisuke widened his eyes.

—Why… why did you have to be Kakkou.

He recalled the face of Tachibana Rina who had died as Ladybird. If they had not met as enemies, then he wouldn’t have had to fight against the girl who had the same dream as him—.

Silence descended in the room.

“I—”

The voice that broke the silence came from beside Daisuke and Ume who were staring at each other.

“I won’t allow that! Never ever! If Daisuke-san isn’t here anymore, the rest of us would…! I would absolutely not allow that! I will not permit it, Daisuke-san!”

Looking at Touko protesting with tears in her eyes, Ume gave a funny laugh.

“Don’t pay any heed to what Touko-san is saying, Kakkou-san. After all, they just want to make use of you in the end. …You would be able to meet Fuyuhotaru-san much earlier if you came along with us.”

“What, hey… d-don’t put things in such a misleading way! We are just allies with the same goal…!”

“…”

Daisuke wordlessly looked down.

It might be just as what Ume have said. If it wasn’t for the position he had in the Special Environmental Preservation Bureau, he might have been able to rush to Shiika’s side right this moment.

However—.

“Five minutes is up. Hurry up and get out, Ume.”

“…!”

“Speaking about Shiika, I would definitely meet her someday, no matter where we stand. Where we meet doesn’t matter, and I have no intentions of helping you guys out either.”

Ume’s face contorted slightly.

He had exchanged a promise with Shiika on Christmas. As long as he doesn’t forget that, they would definitely meet again.

That’s why, Daisuke had things that he needed to do before then.

“I will continue to fight my battles right here. Continue fighting and fighting until I am stronger than anyone else. So much so that even if the Central Headquarters and Mushibane and you guys and everyone else came together, you would still not be able to oppose me. Whether it is you or whoever, I will use my strength to shut you up.”

He glared at Ume and laughed intrepidly. Ume’s face turned pale as if he was cowering under Daisuke’s gaze.

“Try somewhere else if you’re trying to increase your pawns, I already have a reservation here. After all, my like-minded partner is going to wake up very soon.”

“Daisuke-san…”

Touko looked up at Daisuke.

The man who involved Daisuke in this fight amongst the Mushitsuki, Haji Keigo, is definitely going to wake up very soon. The two of them had started this fight together, and when the fighting ends, he would undoubtedly be by his side too.

“…”

Ume could only be seen biting his lips for a second. He immediately reverted to a bright smile and stood up.

“Fuyuhotaru-san is currently at Nishito City.”

“…!”

“You’re trying so hard to hold yourself back even though you’re actually very interested. —Well, I’ll get going now before I’m killed. Excuse me for the intrusion.”

With that, Ume quickly got up to leave.

Daisuke clicked his tongue.

“…That one seeks somebody who would make use of her.”

Not looking in Ume’s direction, Daisuke spoke out as if to himself. Ume stopped his feet.

“Because her pride is higher than anyone else’s… no, that’s all the more so why she could not stand that she herself did not possess any immense dream. That’s why she thought of lending a hand to somebody with a grand objective… that is her dream.”

“In other words, she seeks a ‘king’… I see, Centipede is the same too.”

Ume too did not face Daisuke as he said grinning.

“Thank you, Kakkou-san. With this, I am confident. …''It'' is unquestionably in the Central Headquarters. And in the near future, ''that'' too surely—”

“…”

“Bye bye, Kakkou-san. It would be great if we can meet again while we are still alive.”

Leaving behind an angel-like smile, Ume left.

Watching the youth leave, Touko muttered.

“Just what is Harukiyo thinking… also, what could ''that'' refer to…?”

“Who knows?”

Replying to her curtly, Daisuke left the living room.

“…I’m glad that you decided to stay behind, Daisuke-san.”

He heard a worriless voice from behind.

—Fuyuhotaru-san is currently at Nishito City.

Daisuke turned around.

“Touko-san—”