Editing Mushi Uta:Volume 7 Chapter 1 (section)

== 1.01 Akatsuki Part 2 ==
The town was located near the capital.

However, since it was surrounded by the mountains and sea, it had a small population.

There was no traffic network. Even the train had only simple iron rails, and no one drove in the highway. Although the ocean was nearby there wasn't a lot of area to swim in, and there was no port for large boats.

With a car it was possible to reach Akamaki City, for example, in two hours. This countryside near the capital was a forgotten town.

Directly in front of the small station was a shopping district. On the rusted billboard in front of the station was a map of the town. The locations of exhibition halls, museums and schools were roughly written on it.

The tower visible from afar was a radio tower that could also receive satellite signals. According to the data, it had been abandoned due to the problem of maintenance fees. There were apparently also talks about moving it to the neighboring town.

The bus setting out from the station was almost completely deserted.

The only passenger was Ogata Akatsuki who'd just come from Ouka City. Carrying a large sports bag, he sat in a double seat on the fifth row to the right.

"…"

This was nothing like Houzawa Town where he'd lived together with his friends Senri, Endou Iori and Sunakozaka Azu. It was much more rural, but the sense of time not passing by was the same.

Thinking of it, he realized that he'd completely forgotten the name of the town.

''Oh well—''

He tried recalling it but soon gave up. He was simply staying there temporarily for his mission anyway. Once he returned to Ouka City he'd never think about it again.

An administrative-like announcement chimed in the bus. But since no one boarded the bus and Akatsuki hadn't pressed the stop button, the bus kept driving through the shopping district.

The man driving called out to him, "You awake, man? We'll be leaving town soon," he asked him.

"Oh… sorry, please take me to the park."

When Akatsuki replied the driver nodded while saying, "Oh, I see. How rare." Apparently not many people used that natural park. Akatsuki resumed looking out of the window.

When he gazed absently at the townscape, his own face was reflected on the dusty glass window.

His complexion was better than when he'd been handed this mission back at his branch. The uniform of the local school he needed to go to in order not to stand out fit him perfectly so there were no discrepancies.

During these last couple of weeks where he did nothing but prepare to leave Ouka City, he thought of everything he could think of. He thought hard about what his boss had told him and of Senri's sad expression.

Just thinking wouldn't do any good. He couldn't understand their true meaning.

However, these last few weeks… since Senri hadn't come to see him even once, he felt lonely. He was also tired of worrying about that.

''Let's stop thinking for now—''

After betraying the Mushitsuki resistance group Mushibane, he joined the Special Environmental Preservation Bureau in order to protect Senri.

Now that even Senri had no need for him, Akatsuki had nothing left.

Even his reasons for fighting Kakkou were becoming vague.

And he had no reason in the first place to join the fights ahead, whatever they were.

Or perhaps Akatsuki was already—more than half-retired from the battles of Mushitsuki.

"Hmm—"

A mischievous voice appeared from nearby.

Busy with his thoughts, Akatsuki thought that perhaps this was another passenger speaking on their phone and so ignored it.

"Has your dream come true yet?"

It was the voice of a girl making fun of him. Hidden beneath her malicious tone was a beautiful voice that never left his memory. It was a terribly nostalgic voice—

"…!"

He came back to his senses with a start.

The bus was as empty as always. No other passengers have boarded ever since they passed the shopping district.

Glancing around the empty bus, Akatsuki sighed. It was probably his imagination. —No, since he could hear it so clearly, it was probably an auditory illusion.

He felt as if he'd heard the voice of the girl with whom he discussed dreams on a bus just like this one.

—''What a nice dream.''

The girl who smiled while hearing about Akatsuki's dream of "not wanting to fight" was no longer in this world.

Thinking about it, perhaps it was since then that Akatsuki had plunged himself into battle.

Why had he started fighting?

If he hadn't tagged along with the girl perhaps he'd have fulfilled his dream long ago. He would be able to live by himself without fighting with anyone.

What had he thought of, that day, as he reached a resolution in opposition to his dream?

Looking at the entrance of the approaching park, Akatsuki lightly shook his head.

He should reach a conclusion only once he came back to Ouka City. If Senri didn't need him even once he returned to the East Central Branch, he could just retire from battle there.

Fortunately, he received permission that he could take it easy during his stay in the town. He'd probably heard the illusion because he was thinking about it too much.

He would simply spend boring days in the countryside for a few weeks.

By the time he left this town, the fatigue of his heart should be healed.

"Thank you very much."

Paying the bus fare, he thanked the driver and got off.

The entrance to the natural park was so crude that he wouldn't find it without the signboard. He only suddenly noticed a grassy road that led inside.

Lowering the sports bag from his back, he walked the road surrounded by trees.

"…?"

While he proceeded straight ahead, Akatsuki knit his brows.

At a certain point the forest was destroyed. The trees around were collapsed and cracks ran through the asphalt.

He reached a small pond. As he thought, the place had been destroyed unnaturally and fallen leaves were scattered around. He thought it could be the scene of a direct typhoon hit, but the damage was much too constrained.

"Are these traces of battle…?"

Approaching the fences, he peeked into the pond. He could see koi fish swimming inside the surface filled with floating algae.

''—I've said this before, but the North Central Branch is very stubborn about something.''

He recalled the words of Branch Director Assistant Ishimaki from just before he'd left Ouka City.

''—They use a certain method to ensure such a high mission completion rate. In exchange for helping other branches in troubles that they judge to be comparably safe, they get help from them in missions that seem dangerous in the area under their jurisdiction. As a result, even if there any casualties it's the other branches that suffer. Moreover, they even complain that they'd gotten incompetent members and use the fruits of the victims' investigation to safely complete the mission.''

His superior Ishimaki spent his days disparaging other people. Akatsuki's only impression of him was that of a foolish middle manager, but what he said was true.

''—Rather than obsessing over loss and profit, they trained their sense of smell regarding danger. Since it's probably like that in your case as well, don't go along with them too much. You're only deployed there for a limited time, so you can just pretend to investigate. "I couldn't find out anything, I'm sorry"—just finish it like this. The one who'll get scolded is Goroumaru-kun anyway.''

Incidentally, while talking of this Goroumaru Touko had also been present. She laughed while saying, "That's how it is. My specialty is getting scolded." How could he put it… wasn't the most uncertain part of the East Central Branch their superiors?

Although the North Central Branch viewed it as dangerous, it was a mission he didn't need to get involved too deeply with.

How vague and half-hearted.

For Akatsuki who was in the same position, this was the perfect job.

"Yo, I'm Orion, seventeen years old! Nice to meetcha!"

"Gah!"

Someone suddenly pushed his back. When he turned around in surprise, he saw a girl saluting him.

She was slender and wore a white shirt and necktie that seemed unfitting for the current early spring. She wore spats underneath her short skirt, as well as leather boots and gloves. Perhaps having bleached her hair, the ponytail swaying on her neck was tea-colored. Her eyes which probably looked cute while fully open were half-closed arrogantly.

"North Central Branch, Blaze Class Rank 6 member! My most attractive feature is my curves; aren't they impressive? I'm the angel of the monitor squad, seducing boys with just a sexy look! Since I LOVE the 10-yen chocolate loaded with additives they sell in front of the station, if you ever treat me to one I'll make it really worth your time~~"

The random and hectic girl hugged herself and blew a kiss at him. Her strange way of speaking was extremely annoying.

"I mean something for adults, meow!"

Even as she winked to him, Akatsuki could do nothing but stare in blank amazement.

Standing frozen without knowing what to say, the girl who introduced herself as Orion made a small jump. She once again bowed at Akatsuki.

"Yo, I'm Orion, seventeen years old! Nice to meetcha! North Central Branch—"

"I-I got it! I got it, you don't need to repeat yourself. I am the East Central Branch's Blaze Class Rank 2 member Ogata Akatsuki. I came here by request of your—"

"If you heard me you shoulda said so."

Orion grinned. She stuck her hand in the pocket of her skirt, pulling out objects and hurling them at Akatsuki one after another.

"C'mon, let's go. Lodging expenses! The dormitory key! Material data! Student handbook of the school you'll blend into! A swimsuit picture of me so ya won't get lonely at night! It's a premium!"

"Uwa, uwawa. T-that's too much—wait, isn't a taking photos of yourself a breach of the rules…? Ah, is this the student handbook?"

"Whoopsy daisy. That chocolate's a mistake, so gimme. Got everything? Then let's go!"

Wrapping everything up in her personal pace, Orion returned to the road.

"Please wait a minute! I would like to investigate this area a bit more. I heard that this was where they found the first Fallen in the successive incidents—"

"Wow, you just came here and you're a workaholic already, meow? We're already done investigating so it's a waste of time~~"

Spreading her arms and wobbling like a jellyfish, Orion walked away. Whether she was ridiculing him or not, she was acting far too suspicious.

Although pissed off at her acting so unprofessionally, Akatsuki followed after the girl.

"Since I waited for three hours at the station I wanted to kill some time. I heard that North Central Branch members are all excellent… can't say I'm pleased at the welcome I'm receiving, though."

"You're wrong, mister elite Blaze Class Rank 2 meow. How impressive~~"

"…Could you please stop speaking like this? I feel like I'm being made fun of."

Finally catching up to her, he spoke without hiding his displeasure. Orion grinned.

"In this countryside, even if you act all stiff nothing good'll come out of it, meow. The most important thing is to have fun! Also, I'm just a small fry at North Central, y'know? If you let me get to ya it's your loss, meow."

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"Have you not gone too far with that suffix…?"

"There weren't any victims, so ya can just kill some time and go home. Are all elites like this?"

Akatsuki could do nothing but stay silent. She'd seen right through him.

"Rather than that, you should sink yourself in the rural atmosphere, meow! Fresh air! Blue sky! Your kindly neighbors! Everything's completely different from the city! Allow them to heal your heart!"

Orion wagged her finger around. She felt no anxiousness toward the mission or anything. With his shoulders sagging a bit, perhaps he really was irritated just like the girl thought.

"That being said, if we don't call the branch they'll get angry at me~~"

Orion once again shook her arms. A completely meaningless action.

"As you can see, nothing major happens in this town. Yet lately strange things started happening. You probably know, but the North Central Branch has members with the ability to sense the existence of Mushi. When they ended patrolling the town by chance, they felt Oogui around. —Well, this part happens a lot."

"So you can speak normally…"

"Meow! Naturally, there should have been some Mushitsuki created by Oogui. Yet by the time the member arrived at the scene, never mind Oogui herself, no Mushitsuki was there. And this repeated several times. When they sensed Oogui and headed there, there was nothing. Even though she appeared so much, it looked like not even a single Mushitsuki had been created. There were also no reports of people with Fallen-like symptoms appearing in hospitals. It was the first time that the North Central Branch had seen something like that, so we were really confused."

"A town where Mushitsuki disappear"—

This was the target of the investigation mission handed to Akatsuki, meaning the strange phenomenon of this town.

Since Oogui appeared, it was strange for Mushitsuki to not appear. Even so, there weren't any new Mushitsuki reported at all.

"Since there weren't any victims, we just monitored the situation at first. I've also been in this town for a few years for my monitoring mission, but nothing like this ever happened. Since nothing happened with the investigation, we wanted to drop the state of alert, but—"

"The first Fallen had been found in this park."

Akatsuki continued for her. Orion sighed and dropped her shoulders.

"Meow. Although this was the same phenomenon, a Fallen appeared just this time. What this meant was that—''most likely, there were still Mushitsuki being created.'' Then where have they gone to? And if they were created, the numbers were incredible. If such a large number of Mushitsuki all vanish at once it would become a huge incident. It is a mystery, meow."

"So that means that another sensor was lying in wait and they took some measures before your branch arrived, or something?"

"Our sensor has a wide range, but no mobility at all~~ So there's always a time lag until we dispatch the members there… but according to them, after they feel what seems to be Oogui, a reaction like that of a Mushi appears and then instantly disappears, so it's a bit tricky. Even if there was a Mushitsuki like Asagi who could both sense Mushi and move quickly, they wouldn't have been able to take care of them that quickly~~"

It was indeed so. It was doubtful that Mushitsuki had even been created this far. If a just-born Mushitsuki went on a rampage, they wouldn't be able to avoid combat.

"…This mission really doesn't fit me."

Akatsuki groaned to himself.

Although he was powerful as a Mushitsuki, he was able to employ most of his power on the battlefield. Meaning he was like a tactical weapon. He had no abilities relevant to infiltrating or monitoring.

After her training with Asagi (aka Shishidou Inuko), Senri had started awakening to her sensing powers. She could have excellently performed this mission, but Akatsuki knew fully well the East Central Branch couldn't afford to let go of their one and only sensor.

"But the fact there are almost no victims is the same, meow. Since not even the North Central Branch really wants to do it, there's no way the East would~~!"

For some reason Orion waved her finger energetically again. Akatsuki sighed.

His superiors dispatched him here for a breather. He knew he shouldn't be thinking about poking his head into other branches' affairs.

"Oh boy. Looks like it's going to be a really boring mission…"

"If you're bored why don'tcha play with meow? I'll show you around town. There's this cool art gallery right out of town meow. It's about to close and it's not open on weekdays, but I'm a regular customer~~"

"I'd like for you to stop talking like that, though."

Sunlight fell on Akatsuki's wry smile.

They exited the forest road.

A Hornet motorcycle was parked nearby. It was a standard, two-wheeled type.

"You're the one who seems to be working too hard~~"

"Huh?"

"You're cute when you smile, meow."

Grinning, Orion threw a half-helmet at him. Akatsuki grabbed it and then stared.

"Where are we going? The North Central Branch?"

"Our main office's way too far, meow. We're heading to your new school~~ We might make it in time for afternoon classes, meow."

"I more or less figured it out when you handed me that student handbook earlier, but… do I have to transfer to that school?"

"If you go around this small town with another school uniform you'll actually stand out more, meow. After finishing all the paperwork and greeting and all that you can decide if you want to come to school~~"

Wearing the helmet, Akatsuki sat behind Orion. 

"You can take advantage of the ride and 'accidentally' touch me in all sorts of places, meow." 

"I-I will not touch you." 

Before finishing this exchange, the motorbike sounded its motor engines and launched ahead.

When he realized there was nothing he could do, all his anxiousness was gone.

There were no other people on the road enclosed by rusty guardrails except some old person walking by from time to time. Even the regular bus stops were empty. In front of the station and shopping district he could see the radio tower that was visible from afar. Even further behind it towered the green mountains.

They stopped at a stoplight in an empty crossroads. Stopping even when there were no other cars was out of a sense of obligation.

"It's a nice town."

The Hornet's engine noises mixed with Akatsuki's mutter. He simply said it, not even sure if this was how he truly felt or if he was just being polite.

Nevertheless Orion looked happy. She turned back to Akatsuki, smiling.

"Meow! It's a peaceful and quiet town after all. I look like this, but even I once fought in the capital as a combatant, meow. But I came here for a mission and it was love at first sight! Ever since applying to be moved here, I haven't fought even once. Peace is the best, meow. C'mon, give me a touch. Since I don't get enough exercise I'm getting quite chubby around here~~ Look at all that flab, meow."

"G-green! The light's green!"

Riding pleasantly on the empty roads, they reached the school in no time.

At a glance it was obviously an old, run-of-the-mill school. Its fences were rusted and the net in the sports ground was in tatters.

"I'm gonna catch up on some sleep at the art gallery~~" announced Orion and left. She was apparently enrolled in this school, but it seemed that she didn't take it seriously. And if only customers like her came there, it was no wonder that that gallery was on the brink of closing down.

Left with no choice he entered the school building alone, changed into slippers he found nearby and headed to the staff room.

It was apparently still lunch break, so he crossed paths with several students. After walking idly around the school, he soon found his destination. When he informed the teachers on lunch break that the transfer student was here, they soon called a teacher for him.

The woman, apparently his supervising teacher, told him that "I will introduce you during the afternoon classes, so go to class first." Heading to his class, he entered the classroom, where his classmates were chatting.

There seemed to be only one vacant seat, so he went to sit there. As he looked for a place to put down his bag, the students all focused their gazes on him.

"My name's Ogata. Nice to meet you."

Smiling, he introduced himself to no-one in particular. He didn't know whether or not he would even attend school starting tomorrow, but it was best to stay sociable.

He wondered if he could use a locker; all the lockers in the back of the class looked like they were in use.

''Oh well'', he gave up and turned ahead again.

Sparkling lens gazed at Akatsuki.

"His name is Ogata Akatsuki. He is the transfer student who infiltrated our class today."

A forced narrative tone echoed in the classroom. The expressions of the classmates that looked at him with curiosity turned to pity at once.

"At a glance he appears a kind, handsome young man. Yet it is obviously naught but a mask meant to ensnare his prey."

"…Umm…"

Having no idea how to reply to that, Akatsuki wore a strained smile.

A digital camera was aimed at him. Since it had an LCD screen it was obviously some new model.

Holding the camera was a person sitting quietly in front of the desk. She was a girl with short, tied hair and a cute baby face. On the shoulder of the school uniform covering her petite figure she carried a large bag with a logo stating "TRUTH!" printed on it.

"I don't know who you are, but taking pictures of me is a bit of a problem… or more like, I feel embarrassed."

He could only think of such tepid excuses. As a member of the SEPB, he was fundamentally forbidden to leave behind any footage or pictures.

"Everyone was probably deceived by his good looks. Yet only the eyes of Haemori Ako—imbibed with the strong spirit of a true journalist—can discern the truth."

He was completely ignored. The girl apparently named Haemori Ako kept talking.

"He is undoubtedly an agent dispatched from a secret organization in order to hide something."

"Eh?"

He unconsciously gasped in surprise.

Akatsuki heard that no one except Orion knew his true identity.

Was there some exception? Or had his identity leaked through some other way than through the SEPB? Either way, he couldn't allow her to speak like that in public.

"Secret organization… umm, what are you talking about? Speaking about something like this so suddenly…"

"Ogata Akatsuki feigns ignorance. Yet I will pressure him. Do you deny the fact you are a member of a secret organization?"

"Never mind me denying or whatever, there's no secret organization… umm, are you from this class?"

"Trying to pull the wool over my eyes is meaningless. The True Journalist's eyes cannot be deceived. If you still deny, then I will show you the proof."

Still holding her camera, she slid a piece of paper on the desk.

Akatsuki raised an eyebrow. The slip of paper had "Journalism Club registration form" written on it.

"Proof…?"

"If you have nothing to do with a secret organization, then you should be able to fight alongside me in order to get the truth out. Now, if you want to prove you are a mere civilian, write your name there."

Holding the camera, Ako's expression was deadly serious.

"If I don't get club members until the deadline it'll close down…" she added with a mumble.

Akatsuki was getting more and more confused.

Was she simply lying to secure club members? But if she wanted to lie she could've done way better than that. Perhaps she had known about Akatsuki's identity and was trying to threaten him…?

"If you don't sign, it means you're part of the organization. And if so, I will reveal the hidden truth in the name of justice right here and now. Even if you have some dangerous weapons inside that bag of yours—"

"A-are ghost members fine, too?"

He wanted to avoid his bag falling under suspicion. Since he couldn't drop by his lodgings yet, he hid the mission documents and his personal equipment there. No matter what club it was, if joining it shut her up, it was a cheap price to pay.

Hearing Akatsuki's words, Ako nodded with a still-serious expression. She drew out a pen from her breast pocket.

"If so, then well…"

He signed the registration form with the pen he received.

"Sorry for doubting you. Starting tomorrow you will work for the journalism club. For now we will have a meeting at our club room after class, so please come there."

"Eh? No, what I meant was that I'd sign if I didn't actually have to—"

"Welcome to our town."

Still holding the camera, Ako rose up. She was apparently from a different class. She left the classroom and suddenly turned around.

"You can't run away though."

After leaving these words behind, the girl left as Akatsuki stared at her in shock.

Among the clamoring classmates, two girls stepped in front of Akatsuki.

"We've seen Haemori-san say the same thing to every new student. All of them turned her down, though."

"Huhhh? The same thing… she'd said that to everyone?"

"Sorry for not coming earlier. But most of our school isn't like that."

That lame support actually felt like another blow.

"Accepting such an invitation… aren't you a bit too kind, Ogata-kun?"

As they laughed among themselves, it took everything Akatsuki had in order for him to return a strained smile.