Editing Mushi Uta:Volume 10 Chapter 1 (section)

== 1.02 Tamaki Part 3 ==

Tamaki and Kanon. A day passed since the two childhood friends had a bizarre reunion after some years.

They had their second “reunion” near the private school Tamaki was enrolled into. Entering a family restaurant at the shopping district, Kanon bent forward while seated in a four-seat table.

“So was that blond girl from yesterday really you, Tama-chan?”

Nakayama Kanon spoke in a low whisper. Looking at Kanon’s face from up close, Tamaki could see the round, cute eyes. A dirty hoodie, eyes like a raccoon, sharp canine teeth like a kitten’s—Kanon’s appearance seemed to gather all the charms of a small animal.

“Yes. That’s why I’m not a Mushitsuki, but a normal person.”

On the other hand, as she was just on the way back home, Tamaki wore her school uniform. She was actually only a year older than Kanon, but since she was often mistaken for a university student, for other people it would probably look as if the gap was about five years.

“Haah, Mushitsuki really are amazing.”

“The risks are big, though.”

Distancing their faces again, they sat down while facing each other. Since this shop was far from the main road there weren’t many customers, and other than Tamaki and the rest there weren’t even enough people to fill a table.

Kanon ordered omurice, a drink and a pepper salad with bacon. Since Tamaki was not hungry, she just wanted the free drink.

“What a shock, though. You didn’t even notice me, Kanon.”

Throwing her torso on the table and looking at Kanon’s face from the side, Tamaki played with her straw.

“Well, err…”

Kanon was busy holding a spoon loaded with omurice. ''Nom nom'', even this manga-like sound effect while eating remained unchanged from the past. One could say it was cute, but, well, it really was just bad manners.

“Since you grew up Kanon ended up not speaking with you a lot…”

Kanon spoke while eating the omurice.

“…”

Watching that face, Tamaki smiled.

“That’s not true. Don’t you remember?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“…Never mind.”

Tamaki did not forget.

She had obviously forgotten nearly everything about her elementary school classmates and the like.

However, she did not forget about Kanon. It was such an important event for Tamaki, but her childhood friend apparently forgot all about it. That was so typical that it was actually moving.

“You said you ran away from home. So you couldn’t stay there anymore, huh.”

“…Yes.”

“I see. I wondered why you were so far out.”

“Thinking about it, haven’t you moved to the capital, Tama-chan?”

“Mhm, I went to a certain private school in Akamaki City, but my parents lost their jobs. So we moved to another, cheaper school immediately.”

“So we both have it tough.”

“We sure do.”

“But, Tama-chan…”

Still holding the spoon, Kanon grinned.

“You look so mature.”

“Thank you. And you turned even cuter, haven’t you?”

“O-oh?”

It was supposed to be half her opinion and half a compliment, but as she saw Kanon’s ears reddening the ratio shifted. It became about 80% her real opinion. She reached out for the rice grain stuck on her friend’s cheek.

“God, you’re so cute. Yup, super cute. Can I pet you…?”

“Kanon doesn’t mind it… but why are you panting like that, Tama-chan?”

“I’m going to pet you just for a bit… I won’t do anything else.”

Petting Kanon’s head for a while as they ate, Tamaki felt satisfied.

“By the way, what are you doing after this?”

“Hmm…”

“Got money? Where are you staying?”

“Net café and the like… Oh, but Kanon got some money from Onii-chan.”

“Huh? Onii-chan? You’re an only child, you liar.”

The dumbfounded Tamaki raised her head. She could already imagine the newspaper headline: “A runaway girl’s obscene act in search of money”. No, that would mean the headline was lying, though.

“W-wait a moment, you can’t do that sort of thing, okay? That compensated dating thing, won’t they do weird things to you? Only scoundrels do that sort of thing.”

“Eh, really?”

“Geez, you really know nothing about society! We’ll somehow manage with money, so stop with it, please! The sort of guys who’d hand money to you are obviously just perverts. No, rather than perverts, they’re trash! Got it? You’re not allowed to go near one ever again.”

“Uh… wait, so does that mean that Onii-chan’s trash?”

Still holding the spoon aloft, Kanon turned around.

“Eh?”

In a far seat there was a boy with bad complexion. Eyes with dark circles under them were staring at the drink in front of them. Whether the cause was him not having slept for a while or anything else, he looked fatigued and sick. His vintage-style helmet was left on the table.

He was the boy they’d met at the back alley yesterday. Tamaki knew that he was sitting there all along.

“…”

Receiving Tamaki’s and Kanon’s stares, the boy glanced at them. However, he did not deny their words and kept looking at his drink despondently. He passively rounded his back, hugging the small bag with both hands.

“So Onii-chan is… him?”

“Yes, he’d won in rock papers scissors and got second place. Nii for the number 2, so Onii-chan.”

“…? Second place?”

“Because the first is me.”

Leaning over the blinds installed at his table, a boy with a large build peeked his face. Following him other familiar faces also appeared.

They were the four Mushitsuki who assaulted Kanon the previous day.

“Named for 1, 3, 4 and 5—Ichi-san, San-chan, Yon-kun, and Gonsuke.”

Seeing Kanon point at each one in turn, her mouth hung open.

“So you mean that it’s…”

“Right, the order Kanon will erase their Mushi. They all decided it last night.”

Kanon said, smiling innocently.

Tamaki pouted.

''Wait… they actually believed that third-rate acting? They really think there’s a power to erase Mushi? Are they sane?

“I made so many friends.”

The smiling Kanon seemed jubilant. —But looking closely, that smile was actually similar to Tamaki’s expression. Eyes full of tears silently entreated Tamaki.

''What should Kanon do?''

“Y-you’re also Kanon’s friend, obviously, Tama-chan. So you’ll stay with Kanon, right…?”

Kanon grabbed Tamaki’s arm. It was actually painful.

“E-eh, obviously? But my house’s far, so I have to go back already.”

Tamaki returned a smile. She tried shaking off Kanon’s hold.

“P-please don’t say that. We’ve met for the first time after so long, right?”

“I’m not a Mushitsuki… so I’m unrelated, right? I think?”

“But I think you do have some, err, responsibility. Fama-chan, wafn’t it you who’f…”

Tamaki tried pushing Kanon’s head away, but her fingers were then bitten.

While fighting, Tamaki decided to look at the others.

The four Mushitsuki group looked at the suspicious pair’s exchange. Having listened to that group’s conversation, they apparently used to belong to the community called Mushibane before. However, although they’d left as a response to the policies of the new leader or whatever, they now had money troubles.

These four were no trouble at all. If push came to shove, Tamaki could use her full powers and escape all of them easily and drive them away.

However, the issue was—

“…”

Tamaki looked at the table for two. Without speaking or doing anything else, the creepy boy—Onii-chan or whatever—simply stared at his cup listlessly without moving.

It was worrying that that Mushitsuki’s strength was unknown. Although she could feel that he was no mere ordinary person, she couldn’t tell whether he was strong or weak. If he was strong and they rubbed him the wrong way, then she couldn’t ensure her safety, let alone Kanon’s.

In the first place—what was the bag he was carrying? It apparently had a Mushi inside, but was it his own Mushi? Judging from the fact he constantly hugged it, he apparently treasured it, but…

“Hey, you. Are you this girl’s acquaintance? Then… do you know about Kanon’s power as well?”

The boy who was apparently fifth in line inquired Tamaki.

Not answering immediately, Tamaki simulated the situation in her mind.

The vintage helmet guy was a problem, but there was an even bigger problem. That being—

“Tama-chan…”

The girl looking at Tamaki with tears in eyes, Nakayama Kanon.

Tamaki’s childhood friend was, well—quite bad at lies.

On top of that, Kanon had no ability to earn any living. It wasn’t what they discussed just now, but it was obvious someone bad would someday take advantage of that.

“…”

As a matter of fact, Tamaki had a bit of a “debt”.

Apparently Kanon forgot all about it, but Tamaki never did.

Therefore, she wanted to help with whatever she could, but, even if she was a Mushitsuki, the things that a mere high school student like Tamaki could do were limited.

What could she even do?

The answer soon came.

Although Tamaki and Kanon were completely different in both appearance and personality, there was a certain common point after all.

Both were liars.

Since they were both here, they could do only one thing.

Tamaki spoke in a calm and collected manner to the Mushitsuki.

“Yes, of course. I also know that she possesses special powers.”

“Oh!”

“See? I told you!”

“She managed to erase Kasuou’s Mushi. So in time, we’ll also…!”

Seeing the four of them look relieved, Tamaki understood.

Before this they hadn’t yet fully believed in Kanon’s ability. Perhaps it was dubious to be suddenly told about erasing Mushi like that.

''So that’s how it is—

They wanted to be sure. That was why they ended up believing a lie that would normally be hard to swallow.

No, it was more correct to say that they were trying to believe in it.

Tamaki and Kanon weren’t speaking of something convenient.

They were the ones who believed in something convenient.

So Tamaki decided to press for an answer.

“But other than that, Kanon’s a normal kid. No, even more unreliable than a normal kid.”

Grinning, Tamaki continued.

“Kanon must be protected. If not, she’d quickly die or hunger. Or perhaps she’d be deceived by someone and beaten up?”

“Yeah, we understand.”

Ichi smiled, grasping his fist.

“We’ll protect her.”

“She’d saved us too, after all. We’re in this together.”

“Don’t worry. Leave it to us.”

Strictly speaking she didn’t think this squad of four would prove to be useful, but the other boy behind them was another thing entirely. Although his abilities were unknown, at the very least he had some money, so while he was their ally, they could leave it to him.

“Yes… thank you.”

It was fine; their lie was not going to crumble.

The only thing that could cause it trouble was if the actual Kasuou appeared. However, that berserker was part of the SEPB’s Central Headquarters in Akamaki City. It was likely impossible she’d come out this far.

At the very least, she could keep her childhood friend safe until the next full moon—

“U-umm, Tama-chan…?”

“I’m so glad for you, Kanon. You’ve got some reliable friends now.”

Wearing a relieved expression, Tamaki gave Kanon a hug.

Then, she whispered.

“Try not to have your lie discovered, right?”

Tamaki’s childhood friend’s shoulders shook—

“Eep…”

Seemingly about to cry, Kanon nodded.