Editing Mushi Uta:Volume 14 Chapter 2 (section)

== 2.02 Harukiyo Part 2 ==

It was easy for Harukiyo to summarize his life.

''Everyone died except for me—

This sentence was all it took.

Each and every time, Harukiyo was assaulted by accidents and misfortune. And every time the people related to him were drawn into them and died. No matter how much Harukiyo tried saving them, it was useless.

Harukiyo called those events “disasters”.

His life was beaten down by these “disasters”, yet existed to celebrate this world.

Therefore, even him becoming a Mushitsuki was just par for the course. As he gained power in order to surpass even stronger “disasters”, he became stronger and enjoyed life even more.

Meaning, he didn’t have the slightest interest in the fights between Mushitsuki.

Although it just so happened that he got involved with Sleeping Beauty, he didn’t care about Mushi and Mushitsuki.

Even so, for some reason—

“Please secure a certain object and deliver it to a certain place.”

The woman introducing herself as Akasegawa Nanana’s secretary who was holding a teddy bear said this.

Although he had no interest in Mushitsuki, their secrets constantly came to him—

This seemed to be his fate.

Sometimes it was due to meeting up with key people by coincidence.

Sometimes it was information brought in by his friends, who were all weird but powerful.

Sometimes it was through cooperating with the SEPB in his search for Sleeping Beauty.

Harukiyo knew plenty of secrets about Mushitsuki. However, just because he knew about them it didn’t mean he was going to do something about it.

Why was it?

Until now—he’d been unable to find the reason.

“I would like to entrust you with securing of the primal Mushitsuki, Alpha, as well as his transport to a safe location.”

On top of the windy dome’s rooftop, the secretary spoke.

Alpha—

Harukiyo knew about his existence.

It was a product owned by Akasegawa Nanana that even the organization known as the Kanon Cult had once snatched away.

Akasegawa Nanana was a millionaire who served as the Chairman of the conglomerate called the Akasegawa Group. Since the period when she fought against the Round Table, the secret club serving as an authority in the business world, overlapped with the period she obtained Alpha—he had to imagine that Alpha’s origins were tied to the Round Table.

Harukiyo didn’t know as far as Alpha’s identity.

It didn’t interest him.

“This happened during the execution of Operation 3. C—not the one who became a Super Class Rank 1, but her original personality of Horiuchi Erii, tried using herself to eliminate Alpha.”

The secretary explained this dispassionately.

“Although the attempt had been just barely stopped, it later took our utmost efforts to keep him inside a vehicle equipped with a life-support system… and we were unable to move him from a certain place. Since the Mushibane and SEPB Mushitsuki who protected it also made a desperate retreat, they did not have the time to recover Alpha.”

Harukiyo and Ume exchanged glances. Haruka hurriedly lay down on the roof, sleeping.

“Akasegawa has invested a hefty sum into Alpha till now. We do not know why C would want to erase Alpha, but if C targets him again—we must do something to protect him. Because we have yet to make any profit out of Alpha.”

“…”

“Currently, Alpha is kept isolated to hide him from C, but the battery powering the life-support system will not hold out for long. We must move him to adequately furnished facilities as quickly as possible. As for the fighting forces required to do so… Akasegawa has judged you to be the only one capable of this, Harukiyo-sama.”

Ume, who until now remained silent and listened to the conversation, stepped in front of the secretary.

“Say, miss. Who’s Alpha?”

For a moment, she was silent at this question that struck at the very core.

“…I cannot give any further details other than saying he the first Mushitsuki who appeared in the world.”

“Ho. Is it really that important?”

“It could become a huge clue regarding what Mushi are. And as I have explained just now, since Horiuchi Erii had been willing to erase him even at the price of her life, we can reason out that he is hiding another important secret.”

“If he’s a clue, why not ask this Alpha guy? Like, ‘who are you, man?’”

“Alpha is in a constant loop of sleep and awakening. Also, he is missing parts of his body, making him weak, so he can’t withstand forceful awakening or questioning induced by medicine…”

“What do we have to gain from helping that Alpha guy?”

“We will pay you a suitable sum. Other than cash, we can even supply you hard-to-get items and the like after consultation.”

“Money, huh. But this country’s money’s about to go bust anyway, right? With how things are.”

“If you wish for it, we can pay with other country’s money. As long as the rich do not vanish from this world, the human called Akasegawa Nanana will never lose her funds again.”

“Wow, so confident. Hey, Harukiyo, this lady says she’ll give us money.”

“Wake up, Haruka. We’re going.”

Harukiyo held up Haruka with one hand, shaking her. He ignored the secretary right from about the middle, and Haruka didn’t wake up even after being shaken.

“Sorry. I don’t hate money, but I’m not feelin’ like it right now. This sorta thing happens, right? Times like when you really want ramen but can only find curry restaurants.”

“…There is something else we can supply to you.”

The secretary said. Although Akasegawa Nanana was an upstart who had nothing but money in her mind, she apparently didn’t actually think Harukiyo would be tempted by money.

“We will hold back nothing in support for the securing and subsequent full awakening of Sleeping Beauty.”

Harukiyo and the others froze in place.

It was an unexpected proposal in many different senses. Harukiyo spoke.

“Unless I’m mistaken, that woman’s also rich. Akasegawa doesn’t really need to butt in.”

“No, we are the only ones capable of that.”

The secretary spoke clearly.

“Before Sleeping Beauty went to sleep, she was on the cusp of Maturation. Some years passed since then and she seems to have physically grown, but… it’s impossible to estimate the rate of mental growth. Although she woke up, the possibility for her to Mature again is nonnegligible. Am I wrong?”

Harukiyo gave no answer.

“While retreating from Operation 3, Akasegawa Nanana had thought up several plans for our Group. Among them, the contract with the boy called Shiohara Shachito was included.”

“Shiohara Shachito? You know him, Harukiyo?”

“Nope.”

“He was the last disciple of the girl called Shishidou Inuko. When she was alive, she operated as a Mushitsuki in the SEPB under the codename Asagi, as an instructor.”

“Oh, I do know Wanko. When I lost against the Librarian in cards I had to go confess to her as a penalty game; it was my first time meeting her.”

“Oh, so that’s why you came back half-dead and in tears.”

“Asagi excels at analyzing the characteristics of Mushitsuki. Not only did she write manuals for retraining Mushitsuki as combatants, she analyzed the existing workforce and even tried giving suitable training for each and every member. —There’s the possibility that her last disciple Shiohara Shachito inherited something of her expertise.”

“Meaning, you’d let that brat train Arisu?”

Now realizing that she was trying to say this was an errand from Akasegawa Nanana, Harukiyo grinned.

“Train her—to stop any further Maturation.”

The secretary made a small nod.

“All the other Rank 1s like Kakkou, Fuyuhotaru and even that beautiful and perfect Rina-sama all rampaged shortly after becoming Mushitsuki. As long as one didn’t have a formidable mental strength from the very start, the power of a Rank 1 is too strong. However, after this they underwent training, gained experience and stabilized. And if you say that Sleeping Beauty has no time to gain experience—”

“Then you can just train her, you say.”

“Indeed.”

As expected from the shrewd Akasegawa Nanana. She knew what Operation 2 was about and was even convinced that Harukiyo’s goal was in Sleeping Beauty. And she hurried up to sit at the negotiation table.

Harukiyo had no complaints about this payment.

However—that was only if he hadn’t already fought Sleeping Beauty.

“Welp, sorry, miss. His business with Sleeping Beauty is actually done already.”

Ume spoke Harukiyo’s feelings for him.

“That’s too bad. It would’ve been great if Harukiyo hadn’t fought her yet.”

“Nah, Akasegawa’s offer wasn’t going to cut it in the first place.”

Harukiyo said.

“That woman was going to save Sleeping Beauty even without asking me, after all. —I know enough to at least say that even that miser wouldn’t support Sleeping Beauty just to gain money.”

The secretary might not have known this, but Harukiyo did.

Akasegawa Nanana had once cooperated with Sleeping Beauty. Their relationship was established not only based on the binary of profit and loss, but on Nanana’s personal feelings as well.

“No, Akasegawa Nanana will not help Sleeping Beauty.”

However, the secretary denied Harukiyo’s words.

“Besides, Harukiyo-sama—if you yourself claim your business is finished, why have you carried Sleeping Beauty all the way here?”

Apparently this stubborn negotiator wasn’t about to back down just yet.

Until now apathetic to it all, Harukiyo felt a small anger budding inside him.

“We finally fought and I settled things my way. I got even with her. After that, I settled things with Haji Keigo. Thanks to the liar that man sent me I was able to fight Sleeping Beauty without any interferences.”

The secretary looked back into Harukiyo’s eyes.

“Is that really the only reason?”

“You’re lookin’ kinda angry, what’re you tryna say?”

“If it’s just a Mushitsuki on a rampage, is it any different from a small fry undergoing Maturation? Has what you have been looking for been really nothing other than this sort of haphazard disaster?”

“Disaster”.

Flames lit up in Harukiyo’s eyes upon hearing that word. The surrounding air immediately started sizzling.

“Yeah. It’s just that. I wanted to beat the ‘disaster’.”

“Is that so? If you will allow me to borrow your own words, it also seemed to me like you were looking for Sleeping Beauty for reasons other than profit and loss, just like Akasegawa Nanana.”

“…”

“After all, if you were merely looking for ‘disasters’, you would have had plenty of chances until then. Fuyuhotaru’s birth, Lady Bird’s Maturation, as well as countless others, I’m sure. However, the one who stood against all those was Kakkou and not you.”

“…”

“You being so obsessed about looking for Sleeping Beauty wasn’t because just of her power as Mushitsuki… wasn’t it because you were waiting for her to wake up and give meaning to another kind of strength?”

As the secretary spoke emotionlessly, her bangs caught on fire.

“That’s creepy. Don’t start analyzing people with that know-it-all face.”

“This is no analysis. Akasegawa Nanana is determined. Sleeping Beauty might even be called her first friend—but she won’t save her.”

The secretary’s eyebrows, collar, and frill of her suit all started catching fire.

“Sleeping Beauty promised she’d win and sought Akasegawa Nanana’s assistance for the night of the meteor shower. However, as you’re fully aware—it ended up a loss. Akasegawa Nanana was definitely displeased to lose the one she invested into. That is her determination, and her way to finish things with the contract and promise.”

“…What a horrible human being. She doesn’t have any value as a friend.”

“In order to keep being Sleeping Beauty’s friend—Akasegawa Nanana needs to keep being Akasegawa Nanana.”

Harukiyo sneered.

''I see, so that’s the real reward Akasegawa Nanana’s offering.

She was declaring that she would not save Sleeping Beauty.

Saying it was up to Harukiyo whether she’d save her or not wasn’t a deal, but actually a threat.

She used even her friends for a hostage deal—

That brazen, upstart girl really was in her element.

“Meaning that if I don’t help, Arisu’s fated to die from Maturation.”

“Haji Keigo will definitely use her and throw her away. I heard he’s that kind of person. Now that the SEPB has been disbanded, the only place that can train her is the group with access to Shiohara Shachito. And the one holding the decision on whether it will happen or not—is you, Harukiyo-sama.”

“…”

“What? Are you still expecting Arisu-san to do something, Harukiyo?”

His arm pulled by Ume, Harukiyo’s expression crumbled.

The fire engulfing the secretary vanished like a dream.

“No—I’m not interested.”

No matter what she told him, Harukiyo completed his goal.

''—I believe… that his strength holds meaning.

How nostalgic.

That woman’s words that he already forgot passed through his mind.

“Right, if that Alpha’s a beautiful girl I might get excited!”

Ume spoke with a full smile, but the secretary shook her head.

“…He is a young man. Appearance-wise, at least.”

“Bummer. Let’s go.”

His back pushed by Ume, Harukiyo spun around.

He held no interest at all in Mushitsuki or the battles surrounding them. It simply came along with the other things he was pursuing.

It was the same with Sleeping Beauty.

The “disaster” that Harukiyo had attempted to make a preemptive attack on just so happened to be Mushitsuki. It just so happened she was an idiot who wished to save Mushitsuki.

“What a foolish man…”

Perhaps trying a sob story as her very last resort, the secretary’s words continued.

“He is already quite weakened… Even when he wakes up from time to time, he just says ‘let me sleep again’…”

“…”

He’d already settled matters with Sleeping Beauty after searching for her for so long.

This would also be his last time to get involved with the fights of Mushitsuki.

Harukiyo thought so and was about to leave all trouble behind, but—

''Twitch.

His shoulders shook and he stopped on the spot.

Ume and the sleepy-eyed Haruka witnessed his expression, gasped and paled.

“He constantly groans, ‘just kill me already’…”

“—Where is he right now?”

Harukiyo inquired, not even turning around.

“Eh?”

He felt that the secretary, who was on the verge of giving up, was shaken by this.

“You’d better tell me quickly, lady. Otherwise I’ll burn ya.”

Stiff-faced Ume and Haruka hurriedly distanced themselves from Harukiyo.

“A-Alpha is currently at—”

The secretary gave Alpha’s location.

After this, Harukiyo made no attempt to restrain the impulse rising inside him.

His body engulfed by flames, he became a fireball and got down to the surface. He blew away the armored cars still loitering around and flew toward Akamaki City.

While riding the heatwave created by his ability, at times leaping over the roofs of buildings, knocking down power poles—and from time to time also blowing away the small fries known as the Revived—he advanced toward his destination in a straight line.

And several minutes later, he reached the suburbs of Akamaki City.

It was a warehouse district with a garage for freight trains.

Passing through the area filled with many containers, he came standing in front of a certain warehouse. Even the thick door of entry instantly melted by Harukiyo reaching to it.

“—!”

He soon heard many voices.

Several semi-trailers were parked inside the warehouse. Surrounding them were men holding violent firearms. They were probably mercenaries hired by Akasegawa Nanana.

“Eat shit.”

Blown away by Harukiyo’s heatwaves, the men all lost consciousness.

“Lemme say this first. —I’m not here to save you, so don’t get your hopes up. I just gotta say somethin’ to those who get on my nerves to get some peace of mind.”

Melting the semi-trailer’s cargo door, Harukiyo hopped inside.

The insides were a gate to a different world with sprawling, haphazard tubes and electron tubes. In the very center was a rectangular pool shaped like a bathtub—or perhaps a coffin.

A young man was sleeping inside this pool full of liquid.

“I just hate suicidal people like you to death.”

Being touched by the heat produced by Harukiyo, a cloud of steam rose from the water surface.

“Bastards like you suck up all the air for people like me who wanna do our best to live, eh?”

The primal Mushitsuki, Alpha, as well as the flame devil Harukiyo—

That was how this pair met.