Editing Mushi Uta:Volume 5th Episode 19 (section)

=== Part 2 ===
Inside the bus with a gentle melody playing in the background, Kuuga wore a bewitched smile.

"Ehe."

Kuuga boarded a vehicle with a different design than the normal road bus.

Its tinplate toy-like appearance went without saying, but even its interior was intricate. There were lines of golden pillars and the seats were fitted with red cushions.

"Ehehe. You're so cute."

He rubbed his cheeks on the walls painted in vivid primary colors.

It was an ornamental bus that only ran in limited regions. Since it looked north-European, it was mostly used for tourists.

However, perhaps both its production and use in tourism was on the decline. Only Kuuga was on that bus.

"I wanted to ride you for a long time now. No other buses currently use the same type of engine. Ehehe."

As Kuuga spent his time in utter bliss, his surroundings suddenly turned dark.

They apparently entered the shadow of a large building.

"You're still doing it… so gross."

The moment after the bus overtook the shadow, he heard a girl's voice form nearby.

Kuuga opened his eyes wide and turned around.

"…Huh? W-what?"

A girl was sitting directly behind him.

She was a girl clad in a wide-brimmed black hat and a black long skirt. The eyes of this rich lady in a summer retreat, one of them adorned by a teardrop mark, stared at Kuuga.

"What? Huh?"

There shouldn't have been any passenger other than Kuuga. Turning toward the driver's seat, he saw through the back mirror that the driver was surprised as well. But perhaps thinking he’d simply missed her, he simply tilted his head and resumed driving.

"Hah… you really aren't cautious at all. That's so annoying, I want to chop off already."

Sighing, the girl raised a hand. Raising her index finger and middle finger, she made a gesture of cutting something just like when playing rock paper scissors.

"Huh? Chop off? What, exactly?"

"You still don't understand the situation. I'm your enemy. Your ''enemy''."

"Enemy… what? You're an enemy?"

He unconsciously held down the bag on his back. The word "enemy" brought to mind a certain rumor spreading within the SEPB.

"N-no way, are you the comrade of that guy called Harukiyo…?!"

Previously, there was the Mushitsuki called Robber who'd stolen SEPB equipment. He was apparently a comrade of a Mushitsuki called Harukiyo that was against the SEPB, but they thought there were would be no further victims since Sakura had defeated him.

However, even after this the West Central Branch was being monitored by someone.

Apparently, deliverymen other than Kuuga were also attacked during missions.

Because of that, there were rumors that perhaps another one of Harukiyo's comrades appeared…

"Boo."

The rich lady raised another hand, moving both hands like scissors.

"It's something like that—there was someone like Harukiyo's comrade, but I chopped off their Mushi and made them a Fallen. They were annoying and stood in my way."

Kuuga rose from his seat. But even if he tried escaping, there was no way to escape out of a running bus.

Seeing Kuuga was frozen, the girl spoke plainly.

"I won't chop you off just yet."

"…Huh?"

"Honestly, I can chop you off whenever I'd like. —Or rather…"

The movements of her scissor hands stopped at once. The girl averted her melancholic face.

"I just don't feel motivated. It's that thing called a slump? I'm just not in the mood."

"I-is that so?"

Anyhow, she apparently wasn't going to attack him straight away.

But conversely, he hesitated on what to do. —Although he'd received training on how to run away from enemies, he'd received no instructions on what to do when meeting with an enemy in a slump. He obviously couldn't encourage her.

"…So, were you on the AX because you targeted me?"

There was still time until the bus would reach its stop. Since he couldn't escape, Kuuga attempted investigating his enemy.

Cutting the air with her fingers, the girl raised a brow.

"Obviously. Otherwise I wouldn't want to be anywhere near someone as gross as you."

''I'm not gross'', he was about to reply but shut his mouth. Rather than going along with her joke, he needed to prioritize investigating her identity.

"Are you a Mushitsuki?"

He should probably think of her appearing inside a bus that was running suddenly as some sort of ability.

"Yuuko."

Pointing at herself, the rich lady added, "that's my name" coldly.

Perhaps it wasn't her real name, because she said it like it was some foreign word.

"So, Yuuko… were you the one who attacked our branch members' deliveries recently?"

"Yup."

She readily confessed it.

"Why would you do that?"

"I was just ordered to do so by Aki. We have to protect against the second coming of Hunter or something, I don't really get it. We were monitoring a delivery sent to Akamaki City. Your package doesn't seem like it though."

"Aki?"

He knew that name. He was an elite from Central Headquarters who once released a Mushitsuki captured by the SEPB and betrayed them. Aki would definitely know the location of the West Central Branch and information about its members.

"You're also heading to Akamaki City. You're carrying something, right?"

Kuuga's expression stiffened.

The SEPB had many members and many strong Mushitsuki. Their influence spread to all directions, but they shouldn't have been fighting against any other organization.

However, recently the Mushitsuki called Harukiyo was meddling in their business.

If what Yuuko said was true, then perhaps another opposing organization had been born.

Mushitsuki were gathering forces and fighting each other—he had this nasty premonition.

Without answering about his package, he asked a question of his own.

"U-umm, err… what is Aki trying to do by betraying the SEPB?"

"Apparently he's gathering a lot of Mushitsuki. He said he was going to oppose the SEPB and stuff. Only Aki is really fired up, though, so I feel like there's a huge difference in enthusiasm with those around him."

"Gathering Mushitsuki…"

"Although apparently that woman could do even by herself even without his help. I feel like if Aki picked up a fight with the SEPB he'd be into it too deep to be able to retreat. And that woman doesn't seem to realize what Aki's been doing yet. …Oh well, it doesn't really matter."

Saying this with a flippant tone, Yuuko lowered her scissor hands. She watched the scenery flowing outside the window with bored eyes.

"That woman?"

"A girl called Rina. …Ah, the more I recall about this, the less motivation I have."

"…?"

"I'm pretty strong and stuff, so I acted freely until now. But her power's just unfair. I fought her with the intent to kill, but even so she easily defeated me, then asked me 'will you not come with me?' with a full smile and invited me along… no one could reject that. What's up with me not even hating the one that defeated me? Seeing her face, I lost all reason, pride and all that."

For just an instant, Yuuko wore an expression that was half-crying, half-smiling.

"I have the feeling I understand the true fear of those who have unfair strength. If someone like that was at your side, you'd always depend on them. Because we'd feel saved by them. Even so if they pushed you away, you'd feel rebellious, but… Rina accepts everyone. When she saved me, it also felt like—something inside my heart was chopped off."

Yuuko again raised her hands and brought her index and middle fingers together.

"I lost both the need to get stronger and my motivation to do anything. I mean, Rina now protects me and all that. No matter what I do, I was already saved so nothing'll change. …Therefore, I will probably always just halfheartedly do what I'm told and keep living like that from now on."

Kuuga couldn't really understand her, but she apparently had her own worries.

"I think I can't keep going like this, but I can't get away. I mean, it's comfortable and easy. But, like I thought… I feel like everything's pointless."

Apparently even the enemies of the SEPB had their own complex circumstances.

And so he voiced the suggestion that came to mind.

"Then why don't you come to the SEPB?"

Yuuko's expression froze.

"…Hah?"

"If you feel like everything's pointless for you right now, what if you come to the SEPB? It's a relatively harsh place, but since everyone's desperate it's a fun place. Also…"

If Yuuko became his ally there would be no need for her to attack him anymore. It would be a bargain for someone like him who couldn't fight. —It was that simple of a thought.

"At the very least there's no salvation there."

He said while grinning.

He only knew the West Central Branch, but other branches were probably the same.

The government agency called the SEPB were not allies of justice or anything like that. There was no guarantee of safety, so everyone was desperately protecting themselves. The sense of camaraderie was also thin, so plenty of them used other people to protect themselves.

Therefore, everyone was starving.

Everyone dreamed of a future wherein they would be saved.

Being unable to trust one another despite being fellow Mushitsuki felt a bit lonely—even so, everyone was able to feel they were the same in the truest sense.

"I don't really get it."

Yuuko raised an eyebrow and glared at Kuuga.

"Why would I purposely go to where I can't be saved?"

"Yeah, you're right. Ehehe."

"Also, I understand by looking at you."

"Huh?"

"You're weak, incompetent and they send you for all these useless missions, right? Then nothing would change about the fact that I would just do what I'm told."

"A gofer, huh. Perhaps I am one."

Kuuga nodded.

The appearance of the enemy called Yuuko cranked up the difficulty level, but the fact this was an easy mission to deliver a package was unchanged. If the enemy appeared, he just needed to run away to his destination.

"This kind of job is the same whether you do it or not. All the really strong ones are social outcasts anyway. Weaklings like us make no difference."

Kuuga finally understood what caused Yuuko's apathy.

Whether they were there or not, nothing would change—

Something that everyone worried about at some point.

While they had this doubt they could still work hard. And it could even give birth to antagonism or competitiveness.

But Yuuko had met the overwhelming presence of Rina, and that doubt changed to "conviction".

Meeting up with Rina saved the girl—while at the same time taking something important from her.

"…"

Kuuga himself was someone removed from the center stage. In most likelihood no one would focus on him from here on.

So he finally understood Yuuko's worries.

However—

"Now, let's switch!"

The bus stopped.

"If I don't deliver this within the day, Chika-chan'll kill me. Since I couldn't use the AX, I gotta hurry!"

Kuuga rose from his seat energetically.

Yuuko raised the brim of her hat.

"…You're not listening to me."

"I did listen. Both of us suffer because we're outcasts."

Grinning, he walked to the bus door with a light gait. Midway there, he turned once more toward the seat, and he saw Yuuko still staring at him and didn't seem about to get up.

Had she given up on chasing after him? It would really help him if she did.

"Bye-bye."

Waving his hand, he got off the bus.

The bus had stopped in front of a certain shopping mall on the suburbs. He could see a flower garden inside the premises.

Riding on his electrical kick scooter, Kuuga took the road along the premises.

If he couldn't use the path AX took, then after taking a bus, it would take him less time if he took another route to the neighboring town.

"Is this package really that important?"

He softly touched the bag on his back.

If what Yuuko said was true, an object that a new opposing Mushitsuki organization viewed as dangerous was being sent to Akamaki City.

He didn't know if that was what he was carrying right now.

However, Sakura had never asked him to deliver something she'd created. Whether or not she'd foreseen this situation, he knew this wasn't a normal delivery.

"Hmm, oh well. Anyway, if I complete this mission, I'll get ''that''."

Dropping his smile, Kuuga faced forward.

No matter what package he carried, it wasn't any different of what he always did.

Delivering a package to a place.

That was all.

"If it all goes well, I'll reach Akamaki City by evening or night."

He stopped his kick scooter at a red light.

A red car passed in front of him. It was a mail truck.

Looking at where the truck came from, he saw a red mail box in the residential area.

As he did, an older woman came in front of the mail box in a light jog, gripping a normal envelope in her hand.

"…"

Kuuga raised his tie, looking at the digital clock on it. After thinking for a while, he averted his eyes from the green light.

He used his kick scooter to approach the woman standing in front of the mail box.

"Should I deliver that to the postman?"

While grinning, he called out to her.

Being suddenly spoken to, the older woman seemed terribly surprised. She looked at Kuuga suspiciously.

"I know the post's normal route, is all. If I take a shortcut, I'd be able to catch up to them."

Even after the mail truck left, the woman didn't drop the envelope into the mail box. She would probably not make it in time if it wasn't the postman just now.

"Who are you?"

The woman raised a brow quizzically.

"I'm a deliveryman."

He wore an innocent grin.

"Oh, but when I say I'll deliver it, you have to believe in me."

He couldn't deliver any package unless he was entrusted with it. Without the trust of the requester, the job known as a delivery would never come to fruition.

The older woman was confused. Since a complete stranger was trying to get her to give one of her belongings, this was the obvious response.

"I'll definitely deliver it."

Kuuga kept his smile.

A smile was something mysterious.

Even with someone you met for the first time, it would infect them with the same expression just like magic—

"…Then, please do so."

What the older woman wore was a slightly troubled kind of smile. She took the envelope she grasped so importantly and handed it to Kuuga.

"I will take care of it."

Carefully receiving the envelope, he put it in the mini cross-body bag he carried on his back. When he opened his bag, a pole-shaped package became visible for a second.

Putting the bag on his back again, Kuuga started the scooter. He headed directly further inside the residential area on the opposite direction the mail truck had left.

"I need to hurry a little or I won't make it."

Mumbling this, he picked up speed.

Passing by a gathering of elementary schoolers that looked like they were on their way back home, he overtook a bicycle, then swerved so low he almost fell in order to take a sharp turn.

"Whoa."

He was barely able to jump over a cat leaping out of a bush.

"A shortcut!"

Avoiding the road, he leapt onto an empty lot. While parting the grass left to grow wildly, he used an abandoned car as a ramp to leap over the barbed fence.

This was the West Central Branch's beloved kick scooter model, but none were able to use it as expertly as Kuuga. It was his one and only advantage, even acknowledged by others.

"Ouch…"

Since he cut through the grass, his face and arm were covered in scratches. Yet the face grimacing in pain soon changed to a smile.

He found his target mail box.

"Here!"

Parking in front of the bright red mail box, a rectangular vehicle showed from the other side of the road. It was the mail truck.

Kuuga brought the envelope from his bag, opened the lid and put it inside.

"Thank you for your hard work."

Standing next to the mail box, he welcomed the postman. The deliveryman getting off the truck returned the grinning boy's smile. He retrieved the envelope that Kuuga had just put inside.

As Kuuga saw off the leaving postman, his surroundings turned darker for an instant.

A large truck passing near the mail truck blocked the sun.

"Gross."

A cold voice echoed from directly next to him.

"Uwaaah!"

A girl was crouching on the other side of the mail box Kuuga was standing next to. She had both arms on her knees and held her chin, looking bored.

"W-when have you…!"

"I don't really get what you're all smiles about."

It was Yuuko. Although he'd supposedly left the girl back on the tourist bus, she once again showed up.

He stepped back without thinking and looked at the watch on his tie with a surprise. Carrying the folded kick scooter in hand, he quickly walked away from the mail box.

"I probably used too much of the battery. I have to get on the bus."

Stealthily checking his back, Yuuko was actually following him.

"D-don't come after me."

"I'll do whatever I want to. —Say, what were you so happy about? Weren't you just running an errand now? She could have sent it tomorrow. Nothing would have changed."

"Something would have changed. That person wanted to see her grandson as soon as possible."

"…Hah?"

"That letter was meant for her son and his wife and their kid living in the capital. She wanted to say she was living here happily and ask them if they would come back in the summer. —You two are probably busy, but won't you come for a visit? Since this summer will be hot you can come to cool off for a bit…"

Yuuko went silent.

"The same goes for the mother and son I helped at the station. The father has moved to work in Akamaki City. This weekend, all three were going to an amusement park. Have you seen that his cap was signed? It's a memento the parents and child bought on their baseball trip."

"No way, you… do you have an ability that allows you to read object's memories?"

"Nope. It's just my own delusions."

He returned a smile. Yuuko stopped in place, astonished.

"Even if I had that ability, looking inside an object is violation of privacy. This is a deliveryman's common sense, you know?"

"So that's why you're only imagining it? …Way too gross."

Mumbling this, Yuuko again began walking after Kuuga.

"It's only half my imagination. The other half is true."

"The heck?"

"Every delivery is packed with feelings for the addressee. My job is delivering these emotions without letting a single drop spill."

It was just that simple kind of job.

Taking a package full of feelings and delivering it to the destination was natural. Kuuga was nothing more than a deliveryman doing that natural thing.

They approached the nearest bus stop.

The shadows of the pair walking through between the houses were lengthened to the end of the road.

"Chika-chan—my comrade apparently underwent lessons by a combatant teacher."

While feeling the heat of the setting sun on his back, Kuuga touched the surface of his bag softly.

"She was told that everyone's dreams are connected somewhere."

"…!"

For some reason.

He felt that she gulped from behind him.

"…Rina also said similar things."

He heard her mumbling. Kuuga wore a smile.

"Delivering something is the same. A job that connects people's feeling… that's what I'm doing."

It all started—when he'd picked up a fallen object.

At the time he was just a normal boy without any codename like Kuuga. He had no talent and he looked at the ground with cold eyes.

He believed he was just like Yuuko was now. Although he had a faint sense of uneasiness about his situation, he didn't know any way to change himself.

"I believe that—the world is connected by invisible lines. There are lines connected to the past, as well as lined connected to the possibilities of the future. And there's someone at the end of every line."

One day, he had picked up a love letter.

He knew it was a love letter because the seal was heart-shaped.

He didn't know what to do with it. He was curious about its contents, but didn't have the courage to open it up. At the time he was cowardly and half-hearted.

"And what makes up those lines… is people's varied feelings. I believe that some of them are the things called dreams."

"The heck. I can't see any of that."

"Yup, you probably can't see that. But a certain type of person can."

After hesitating on what to do with the love letter, Kuuga—had sought out the sender.

And he’d found them.

The person he’d found was actually a female classmate he had interest in, so it hurt him a bit.

More importantly, though, he’d been surprised at the girl suddenly crying upon receiving her unopened love letter back. Shedding many tears, she’d thanked Kuuga.

And when a few days later he’d seen that girl walking side by side with another boy—Kuuga had become a Mushitsuki.

"People like me—deliverymen."

Turning around, Kuuga grinned.

At that time, Kuuga touched the connections between people with his hands. He managed to connect that faint line that was about to snap at any moment by his own hands.

That trivial event became his dream.

 That was, preserving the invisible "connections".

"Since I'm dealing with invisible things in the first place, I don't care whether I'm being called plain or an outcast. Because I actually only get easy jobs. But I am sure that—"

He wore a carefree smile toward the silent Yuuko.

"If there weren't any people like me, people would lose their connections… the world would have been destroyed."

Since Kuuga had delivered the love letter and connected that couple, in the future they might wed and bring up children that could save the world.

A single invisible line could save the world.

"…"

Turning his back to the pouting Yuuko, he started walking.

"The things I'll deliver from now are the same. Perhaps it's a final weapon meant to save the world? If so then I, as its deliveryman, might be the messiah. Not only its user, Ichinokuro Arisu."

"…! Ichinokuro… Arisu?"

"Oh no, I'm starting to blush. What will I do if they decide to interview me as a hero?"

From behind the smiling Kuuga, he heard the girl's low voice.

"—Hey, I'll gladly join the SEPB."

A balloon passed way overhead.

For just a moment, a shadow fell on the surroundings.

"Huh?"

He turned around merrily.

However—

"…What?"

The girl supposedly behind him completely vanished.

"Show me those lines or whatever you can see…"

It wasn't said in the same cold tone as until now.

"If you're able to stop me from chopping them off, that is."

The girl's strained-sounding voice came from the roof of a nearby house.

With the wind flapping her long skirt, Yuuko looked down on Kuuga. Seeing the large, black monster standing at her side, he gulped.

Its body was several times Yuuko's size. Its pointed head had nothing that looked like eyes. It resembled the insect known as a conehead cricket<ref>Called in Japanese "decapitation grasshopper".</ref>.

—Excluding a certain part of it.

"Thanks."

A conehead cricket would normally have a mouthpart there. Instead, piercing through its head was a large, rectangular platform. Equipped with thick and sharp blades—was a grotesque guillotine stand.

Yuuko held her wide-brimmed hat against the wind as she spoke.

"I recalled my dream thanks to you. I wanted to chop off all of my restraints and fly away. It might be a dream opposite to yours. I was wrong about being saved."

Her mouth twisted into a clearly sadistic smile.

"I don't need other people to save me. I wanted to move forward using my own two legs."

Kuuga had a very bad feeling about this.

"For some reason I suddenly feel very motivated."

He had the feeling he'd done something completely unnecessary.

"I decided. After completing my final job… after I chop off that package of yours, I'll even say farewell to the place Rina and Aki want to create."

Raising her hand, the assassin with a teardrop sticker under her eyes made a victory sign—no, a scissors sign.