Editing Mushi Uta:Volume 5 Chapter 1 (section)

==1.03 Chiharu Part 3==

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Gently swaying…

Lightly floating…

Kusuriya Chiharu's daily life felt like that.

Although she didn't have a father.

Although her mother was always busy and didn't really look after her.

She was fine because she had her younger brother Daisuke.

She went to a school where she had plenty of friends, after school she played however she'd like and then returned to the cramped apartment.

Such days continued.

And nothing changed since then.

It was a pleasant world where she gently swayed and lightly floated just like clouds in the sky.

That was the entirety of the world composing Chiharu's surroundings.

''"Wha… Chiharu! In front of you!"''

"What're you doing, Chiharu?"

Being pulled by her arm, Chiharu came to a stop. 

A car zoomed pass in front of her eyes at a great speed. 

She seemed to have reached an intersection at some point on her way to Shiou Elementary School. Absentmindedly gazing into the air as she walked, she apparently proceeded through the pedestrian crossing even though the light was red.

"…"

As Chiharu stared in puzzlement, her brother Daisuke looked back to her with an astonished face.

"W-what?"

"Ehehe. Thank you, Daisuke."

"Wah, why are you smiling, so creepy…"

As the light turned green Daisuke crossed the road with quick steps.

"Stop following me. It's embarrassing to go to school together with your sister."

"Why is it embarrassing? It's normal."

Chiharu walked a bit behind Daisuke.

Looking at his back and walking, she noticed that Daisuke has grown taller again recently. She had thought he was shorter than her, but looking closely there wasn't much difference. His backpack seemed a bit tight. She should loosen the straps a bit when school ends and they reach home today.

Shiou Elementary School was built on top of a large hill. The Kusuriya siblings came from the foot of the hill, so they walked up the road on the slope.

''"He's at the age where siblings being close to each other is something embarrassing. He'll get made fun of."''

A voice separate from Chiharu's consciousness spoke inside her head.

It was her mysterious roommate Aria Varei.

The other Chiharu with the exact same voice and tone was inside her as usual.

''"Isn't that also why he doesn't call you 'onee-chan'?"''

Chiharu puffed her cheeks.

''No way, it's just a rebellious phase–''

She protested against Aria in her mind. Since Aria shared her consciousness, she could communicate just by thinking.

"Yeah yeah. But you know—"

While looking at Daisuke's back, an urge swelled inside of Chiharu.

A sweet aroma drifted from him.

That aroma grew stronger daily, increasingly shaking Chiharu's rationality—

About a month has passed since Aria started inhabiting inside of her.

''"You sure controlled yourself well. Even though you have such a delicious dream right in front of you."''

Daisuke abruptly looked back at her while walking the road up the hill.

Chiharu came back to her senses with a start.

He saw through her 'appetite'–was what she thought.

"Don't come to school tomorrow."

"Eh?"

"Didn't you catch a cold or something? You seem to be out of it lately. Your face's pale, too."

Bluntly asserting this, Daisuke again turned to the front and kept walking.

Since she didn't have a robust body in the first place, Chiharu often caught colds and had fevers, taking days off school. It appeared that Daisuke thought she ruined her body again and worried for her.

''See, Aria—''

"Ehehe."

Chiharu talked to her neighbor in her heart.

''Daisuke's a kind and good kid—''

"You're laughing again… so creepy."

Saying this, Daisuke fastened his pace again. The distance between the two grew farther.

While Chiharu was grinning in a good mood, she kept watching his back.

Although they were far, she could clearly see that her brother's backpack had small tears on it. They had been increasing continuously for a while now. Even Daisuke himself had band-aids on his knees and cheeks.

''"I don't know if he's a good kid or not, but I do know that you and him are two peas in a pod."''

"Eh? People say we don't resemble each other though?"

Chiharu asked Aria back with a small voice. That voice probably didn't reach Daisuke and there were only a few other students around. Anyway, Shiou City has been troubled by its declining population that kept getting worse as years went by.

''"You're exactly the same in that you're stubborn and never complain. When you get colds it's because you endure everything until the very limits and so you make your surrounding needlessly worry about you, right?"''

"Uh…"

It was right on the mark.

''"Even your brother is actually suffering. But he'll never tell you about him being bullied by his classmates."''

''Right—''

It seemed that Daisuke had become a target for ridicule and violence. Chiharu came to know of it by secretly probing into the lower grade classes.

Furthermore, she heard that Daisuke never retaliated. That was probably why the other party only got more daring and the bullying never stopped.

She also knew why he was being bullied. It was because he had no father.

When Chiharu's mother was pregnant with her while she was still young, she overcame her parents' objections and ended up eloping with Chiharu's father. However, he had passed away in a traffic accident even before Daisuke was born.

Left to support the family alone, her mother was pressed by her job for their livelihood and could not attend during parents' day at school. That was also one of the reasons why Daisuke became the target of slander.

The fact that only Daisuke was bullied and Chiharu wasn't was, according to Aria, "because of your personalities". This was apparently because "even if you were bullied you'd stay bright to the extent it would seem like you didn't even notice it", while Daisuke was "unsociable and cheeky". 

She couldn't bear the fact that only Daisuke suffered just because of this even though they were in the same circumstances. She thought of listing up the boys hurting Daisuke and spanking them hard at some point, but she also felt a bit lonely that Daisuke was not relying on her.

''"He should just fight back even a bit. It's because he doesn't that they'll keep bullying him."''

"That's why I'm always saying. Daisuke's a good kid who understands other people's pain."

''"Is that so… Personally I think it's somewhat different. It's something like… yeah, you're scared. Extremely scared. None of the Aria until now were this scared."''

Chiharu tilted her head.

Scared? Chiharu never thought of Daisuke as scary. That went without saying.

''"You siblings really are similar. Daisuke's not retaliating not because he's scared of the other boys. —No, rather I don't think he's scared at all. It's just like you not being afraid of me, Chiharu."''

"That's obvious. Daisuke's a strong kid who'll never lose against any bully."

''"…Never mind being strong or not, it's not just that. Your brother is just like you – he's not scared to get hurt in the slightest. He's not scared of the 'enemy' or even getting hurt. Since he doesn't care about himself at all, he doesn't even hate the other party. Just like how you don't hate me, Chiharu."''

At some point Aria's tone became serious.

''"However, on the other hand, or should I say as a result of that… Anyway, he's thoroughly scared of what ''does'' scare him. Chiharu, what do you fear? You'd do anything in order to avoid that, right?"''

Hearing that, Chiharu held her tongue.

The thing she was scared of.

She wanted to avoid Daisuke becoming a Mushitsuki–to avoid giving him a life full of agony and despair just like the Fusion Types of the past.

And in order to protect him–just like Aria said, Chiharu would probably do anything.

For the sake of that, she wouldn't mind no matter how much she got hurt, or how hungry she got due to Aria's dream-seeking nature.

"…It's too difficult so I don't really understand."

She didn't like confirming it so she tried saying this. Aria didn't mind it however and continued.

''"Your brother is surely the same. He won't do anything when he's attacked, but if–when he finds some 'reason', I wonder what'll happen. I'm afraid of that. He doesn't fear any enemy and doesn't mind himself getting hurt. If someone like that turns into a Mushitsuki and finds a reason to fight… I can't even imagine how strong he'll become."''

"And that's why I'm saying I won't turn him into a Mushitsuki."

''"E-even if you don't want to, look, this and that is different. Even you would like to try feasting such a delicious dream, right Chiharu? Just gulp it all down in one bite, right?"''

"No way. I'm not some kind of Dracula."

''"If Daisuke becomes a Mushitsuki, even his wounds will heal in a flash. Isn't it a bargain?"''

"Really?"

''"Because Fusion Type Mushitsuki literally become one with their Mushi, they're slightly different than other Mushitsuki. It's like their bodies are remade from scratch? Ah, but it might be useless in the case of disease. Since a person's bodily functions become weird due to their bodies being remade even I'm not sure what would happen. I've never turned any sick person into a Mushitsuki."''

"My reply's still no, though. You won't deceive me like that."

Aria's "''tch''" of disappointment overlapped with the sound of bells.

They could see Shiou Elementary School's main gate. 

Daisuke passed through the gate a step ahead and entered the premises.

"Ah, I'll be late—"

Wanting to pursue him, Chiharu's legs suddenly stopped.

A purple glow suddenly passed her line of sight.

How long was she there?

How long was it like this?

[[File:Mushi Uta 5 p091.jpg|thumb]]

In front of the school gate—

A tall woman wearing a crimson long coat—

Was gazing intently at the running Daisuke—

—Standing completely still.

"Uu…"

Cold sweat emitted from the pores of Chiharu's entire body. Her thoughts were paralyzed just by glancing at the woman once. The reason for this was bottomless fear.

"Uuh…"

Her body frozen with fear, she couldn't move an inch as if she was affected by sleep paralysis.

Having become one with Aria Varei, Chiharu's instincts informed her that this woman, who was covered by purple glowing scales, who fluttered her crimson long coat, who wore sunglasses that concealed pupils shining in the colors of the rainbow, was definitely not a mere human–no, she wasn't even human at all.

After seeing off Daisuke with a gaze that looked as if she was licking her lips, the woman turned her rainbow-colored eyes to Chiharu.

"—How do you do? You have quite the lovely appearance ''this time'', Aria Varei."

The woman whispered with a charming voice. She walked closer to Chiharu without making any sound.

Chiharu's heart beat violently. She couldn't stop shivering and couldn't make a voice.

''"Oh boy, so you found out after all. As I thought, you'd never miss such a delicious dream, Elvioréne."''

The Aria inside of Chiharu replied in a light tone.

It seemed the woman could hear Aria's voice. While walking slowly, Elvioréne jeered.

"Before it ripens to the best flavor—"

''"—There's still some time."''

"If you don't it consume it when that happens—"

''"—Then you will."''

"For the times we desire the same dream, this is—" 

''"—Our rule."''

"For you to go to sleep again—"

''"—For you to keep on eating."''

"Let us conduct a competition."

''"Let's have a competition."''

Elvioréne finally reached next to Chiharu. The woman brought her lips close Chiharu's ears as her teeth chattered with her face downcast. Feeling her sweet breath, the hairs on the nape of her neck bristled.

"You can't lose to Aria's sweet-talk, okay Chiharu-chan?"

Chiharu's shoulders trembled with a start.

"Your brother Daisuke-chan… please give me his delicious dream."

She left this whisper with a smile.

The oppressive presence which seemed to coil around Chiharu was gone.

As if she was a nothing but a daydream, Elvioréne suddenly disappeared.

Although the bells indicating the start of school reverberated, Chiharu—

"…Elvio…réne…"

Couldn't move even a single step, frozen stiff.

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She was able to remember a little.

From the period when Ayukawa Chiharu was still Kusuriya Chiharu.

The memories of the time when Aria Varei still inhabited her body.

"What's wrong?"

A white mask designed like a squirrel turned to face her, catching the distracted Chiharu by surprise.

They were at the underground parking lot of a business hotel under construction. The main building above only consisted of steel beams for now, but the premises were strangely spacious. Once construction is completed, it would probably be a fittingly large building.

Meanwhile, the underground parking space was apparently one step ahead in construction. The space spanning four storeys underground already had temporary lines that divided parking spaces drawn.

"No… I just recalled more of the past. Only a little bit though."

Remembering why she was there, Chiharu feigned calmness. She wore a similar white mask designed like a deformed cat to hid her face.

"I see. You should tell Chami about it later."

The girl wearing the squirrel-mask–Sugitsu Aya–said so seemingly disinterested, before turning to the front and resumed walking. Chiharu followed suit.

The place they were headed to is where Mushibane's assembly was scheduled to be held.

Aya came here to learn of Fuyuhotaru's plans for the future and Chiharu snuck there to make contact with that very same girl. Since Aya was treated as one of Mushibane's executives, Chiharu was able to enter the premises without undergoing a stringent check as her companion, arriving at their current location.

"Still, it's quite dark and ominous. Can you hold my hand, Aya-chan?"

Chiharu and Aya were walking down what is supposed to a ramp leading to the underground carpark. It seemed the wirings for the illumination was still imcomplete so only the emergency lights were on. The meeting place was in the lowest floor.

"I wonder if Fuyuhotaru's Mushi really glows like a firefly. It sounds pretty."

"It sure sounds cute from the name Fuyuhotaru. …That's not what I was talking about though・

The ones heading underground weren't just Chiharu and Aya. People who wore animal masks just like them, and those who didn't mind and revealed their faces, and at times cars with smoke-covered windows were also heading down.

Conducting a secret assembly like this in a sealed space felt dangerous, but according to Aya there were plenty of escape routes since it was still under construction. They have also secured escape routes in case of an attack apparently. After all, the owner of the building is a collaborator of Mushibane.

"Chami-chan was angry until the end, huh. I wonder if she was worried about us?"

Chami effectively agreed to Chiharu's request to let her meet Fuyuhotaru.

But, she had had a violent quarrel with Chiharu in order to reach this conclusion. Chami probably wanted to avoid the danger of losing Chiharu before being able to draw any information out of her. But she wanted to directly ask Fuyuhotaru–Anmoto Shiika about her brother no matter what.

In the end, Chami folded in to Chiharu's selfishness or rather tantrum. 

But there were some conditions.

Chiharu's face was known by Shiika and Aijisupa. Therefore, she couldn't remove her mask nor show anyone her real face.

She was also to never leave Aya's side as part of the conditions. In the unlikely event that she tried to escape, Aya would kill her. It was obvious from her expression that this was not a mere threat.

—''Even if you do meet Fuyuhotaru, it doesn't mean you can approach and talk to her. It would be too rash to be worth it. …But I do want you to retrieve your memories as soon as possible. In a certain sense you can only act so rashly now that we just disappeared and the SEPB has yet to search the entire country.''

Chami, staying to rest in the hotel for her injuries, told this to Chiharu.

''If your lost memories contain something about the mystery of Mushi then it's worth making this bet. Since we don't even know Kakkou's whereabouts, if you retrieve your memories by meeting up with Fuyuhotaru it would be great. In exchange, if you don't end up recalling anything, you know what'll happen.'' 

She didn't know. In case she didn't remember anything, what sort of punishment would Chiharu receive?

At any rate, they had this kind of exchange, and that was how she was allowed to go along with Aya.

"I don't dislike the angry Chami."

Walking on the front, Aya said without even looking back.

Chiharu's expression stiffened.

"I-is that so. You sure like Chami-chan, huh."

"Chami's always angry."

"…"

"Be it about the Mushi, or Mushitsuki, or SEPB, or Mushibane, she doesn't like it when someone else takes action. Because she wants to be the one who does it."

Aya's tone was indifferent and monotonous. But, Chiharu could tell she completely trusted Chami.

"…Say, what's your dream, Aya-chan? For some reason I became extremely interested in it suddenly."

Chiharu queried towards the back of the girl wearing a school uniform.

She was girl whose every action was mechanical and emotionless. As such, Chiharu wanted to peek into the wish hidden in her heart.

"I wanted to meet someone who would look only at me. Because being all by myself is lonely."

This time she replied with a clear answer.

"But, even if it doesn't come true–I don't mind."

"Huh?"

"Even if there was a person who really looks at me, I'm sure I'll soon become annoying to them. It's surely because I will just be pushing my self-conceit onto them." 

For some reason–Chiharu's heart throbbed.

"And so I like Chami. Because she's cold sometimes and kind sometimes. And so when she's kind I feel very happy. Chami looks not at me, but at something much bigger–But sometimes she also looks at me. Even though I know I'm only being used, I like her."

Aya's spoken words were monotonous and had no hesitation. It was probably something that she found unnecessary to explain even if Chiharu didn't ask her. 

"I believe that I'll someday die to help Chami. Since she has plenty of other pawns and only looks at the future, she wouldn't come to a stop and will soon forget me. But someday, by some whim, she would end up recalling me for a bit. Yeah–just like that cat. And just for that moment, I will do anything for Chami."

"Y-you'll die…? No, Aya-chan—"

"I hate being loved the most. It's annoying. But if I'm someone's umpteenth favorite and they'd end up recalling me for an instant, just for an instant–I will like them." 

Perhaps she was no longer even aware that she was talking to Chiharu. The words coming from her were so pure to that extent.

Without knowing what to say, Chiharu tilted her head.

And so, she frankly voiced what she thought.

"I also like you, Aya-chan. I don't know which place you are though."

She said to Aya's back, grinning.

She couldn't really understand Aya's sensitivity to being liked the most. She thought it was the result of a very difficult reasoning, but more than anything it was frank.

Chiharu could only call her a mysterious girl, but at the very least she didn't hate her.

"I see."

Aya suddenly stopped in place. She turned around and lifted her squirrel mask.

"If so then I'll also start liking you."

She said, looking at Chiharu with her black eyes. She immediately put on her mask again and started walking. 

Surprised, Chiharu came to a stand still.

"I-I'm not sure what to think about that way of being liked・

She was confused by her sudden words–still not understanding the meaning behind her words, Chiharu hurriedly rushed following Aya.

But, she was assaulted by an unexpected impact and lost her balance.

"Ah—"

She had bumped into a small person rushing down the road.

The other party staggered even more than her. Unable to stop his momentum, his head bumped into the wall.

"A-are you fine? I'm sorry!"

Chiharu rushed towards him flusteredly as the white masked figure separated himself from the wall unsteadily.

"[Rin has self-destructed]—[Rin has received 12 damage]…"

"Huh…?"

From his youthful voice, he appears to be a boy. But, the exposed skin from his cube shirt and leather pants made him seem quite delicate.

"Sorry, miss… [Rin apologized]—"

Rubbing his forehead beneath the mask, the boy lowered his head. With that, he just disappeared running down to the next floor without waiting for Chiharu's reply.

"We have to hurry, it's about to start."

Without even looking at the boy that went pass Chiharu, Aya turned around to her.

"R-right."

Now that they've walked for several minutes, they finally reached the lowest floor.

"Wow…"

Chiharu unconsciously raised a small voice at the bizarre scene spreading out in the gloomy underground space.

A large amount of people were standing at the parking lot supported by countless concrete pillars. There were many who hid their faces with white masks, but it was obvious that many of them were young boys and girls judging from their uniform and figure.

There were also people who seemed to be adults here and there. Some were watching over the situation from the window of their cars, while that were also those sitting against their motorcycles.

Aya pulled the overwhelmed Chiharu by her arm, cutting across the crowd to get to the center of the underground parking space.

"U-umm, Aya-chan… I think we shouldn't stand out too much."

"It's because my eyes aren't too good."

Chiharu could feel the gazes of the masked people gathering on them as they walked straight to the center, yet Aya didn't seem to mind them at all. Some people called out "yo, Gensis" upon seeing her, but she ignored all of them. 

There was a scaffold used for construction work farther back in the parking lot. An iron plate was laid out above the pipes built with three stages. 

Chiharu and Aya stopped right in the middle between the entrance to the underground parking lot and the scaffold.

A clanging sound echoed throughout the parking lot.

As the many white masks watched attentively, several men and women revealed themselves atop the scaffold.

—It's starting.

"The second one from the left is my older sister, Sugitsu Matsuri."

Most of the people on the platform did not wear any masks. When told so by Aya, Chiharu looked over and saw a girl who had the same atmosphere as her looking towards them.

"She certainly resembles you, a beauty."

"I wouldn't go that far… here's fine."

Saying so with an unchanged tone, Aya crouched down. Uncaring of getting her clothes dirty, she fiddled with a lump of coal on the ground as if to say she had no interest in what was happening.

"Fuyuhotaru has appeared."

How did she tell despite looking downwards?

When Chiharu glanced up, a familiar-looking girl appeared just like she said.

She looked just like when saw her at Nishito City station–and when she ran into her at Urban Tower as well; she was a girl who seemed so ephemeral one would think she'd disappear upon touch. Even the ribbon on her bangs was the same as back then.

Anmoto Shiika.

The kind girl who had given money to Chiharu despite being a complete stranger.

And as Chami mentioned–the one with the most powerful ability amongst the Mushitsuki, Fuyuhotaru.

The people in the white masks started clamoring just from Shiika's appearance. Rather than being surprised, they showed fear, with several people even drawing back.

"Shiika-chan…"

Among the executives that moved away, only one stayed near Shiika. Chiharu recognized him too.

It was the boy known as Aijisupa. In contrast to the disturbed white masks, he wore an expression lacking a single shred of interest. He looked as if he was about to yawn.

"Everyone, please be quiet."

A voice rose from the edge of the platform. It came from a middle-aged man dressed in a suit.

"That's Munakata Kaiji. He's the owner of this building and also something like Mushibane's patron."

Aya explained while squashing pieces of coal with her fingers.

"Today, we have gathered the remaining members of the South and West, a large portion of East and the few members of North, as well as each area's executives. Obviously, there are also many who are unable to attend, but it is more imperative that we stop Mushibane from breaking up as soon as possible. North's Leader is also absent, but we have confirmed that he will abide by the decisions made today." 

The deep voice of the man known as Munakata reverberated throughout the underground parking lot and the clamoring gradually quieted.

However—

"As one who usually worked behind the scenes however, I have prepared this place here today in order to bring a halt to the falling apart of Mushibane. Ever since we lost Lady, the function of Mushibane an organization has collapsed. For all of us who have lost our leader, surely we will fall to the subjugation by SEPB in no time. My personal opinion is that there is only one way to prevent that: which is to reorganize Mushibane—to operate in a new form under a new leader."

Munakata spoke clearly and turned to face Fuyuhotaru.

"And so, I would like to nominate Fuyuhotaru as our new leader."

In an instant, the underground parking space was drowned by an uproar.

Voices of confusion and anger echoed about, creating a scene of disorder.

"A-Aya-chan! Things look bad!"

Covering her ears, Chiharu looked towards Aya squatting by her feet. However, she merely rolled another lump of bitumen around with her fingers in feigned ignorance.

All of a sudden, the place was hushed by an unexpected movement. 

Shiika had took a step forward.

With just that, everybody became speechless. Although she only looked like a lovely girl which made Chiharu want to pet her head, it was apparently different for the others. What had silenced the disorder was a pure emotion—fear. 

"U-umm…"

When Shiika uttered timidly, not a single person dared to make a noise.

"I'm… not strong like Rina, and I can't really… order you around and stuff like that, so I'm not sure if I can be a leader or something. But since Munakata-san told me to speak about what I think to all of you, I think I will do so."

She spoke with her face downcast amidst the perfect silence.

"—I do not want to fight against the Special Environmental Preservation Bureau."

The moment she uttered this sentence…

The area was enveloped by an obvious cold tension.

It was probably due to shock that no one let out any voice. Shiika also seemed to understand this. She said her next lines before disorder would reemerge.

"Most of the SEPB members are Mushitsuki just like us. So why must we fight against them, our fellow Mushitsuki?"

Her face was still downcast, but she kept going desperately.

"There is this person called Shirakashi Ubuki. She is the one who rescued me from the SEPB. Although she is one of their members, she told me that she loathes fighting. However, the SEPB had deprived her of her birthplace, and forced her to obey their orders unwillingly. —I believe that most of the other members are also like that. Despite none of us wishing so, we are forced to fight one another・

"—Stop with the lip service."

The voice of someone that felt like they could not hold it in any longer rose from the side.

It came from one of the executives who stood on the platform, a rough-seeming guy. He seemed to be injured, as he had bandages wrapped around his head.

"That's Kandori Youichi. The East Leader. His codename is Sinica."

Aya promptly explained.

"Are you an idiot? How can you say that when we've just been attacked by the SEPB the day before yesterday? Even if we don't want to fight, those in SEPB feels differently!"

"The person who attacked me that time・he also seemed to be suffering. He called himself a worthless soldier…"

"Huh? Don't fuck with me, I almost died there!"

Before Youichi could close in to Shiika, Aijisupa wordlessly stood in his way. Both of his arms were wrapped in a white mist along with the ''Pssh'' sound of air escaping.

Keeping a side-glance at Youichi who flinched in place, Aijisupa turned toward Shiika. 

"It seems like you should've started on a more practical note. Do you want me to explain in your stead?"

"U-umm… will you please?"

"I don't mind if it's this much."

Aijisupa turned to face the audience again, and started explaining with a plain apathetic tone. 

"Her idea is this. What we do won't change from the time when Rina–Ladybird was alive. We'll get to the Mushitsuki before the SEPB and protect them. But, even if we do end up fighting during the process, Mushibane won't initiate any attacks to the best of our ability. We'll protect the Mushitsuki and promptly withdraw. There will be times when we can't avoid going on the offense, but those will be the exception. To speak in a way such that even idiots can understand, we'll protect them, and then run away–that's all we'll do."

"To not go on the offensive, you say・"

"Of course, devoting ourselves to defense without defeating the enemy is impossible unless we're stronger than them. Thus, we'll cut down on most of the combat personnel and use only a selected few. Or rather, those who charge in recklessly solely based on their emotions will just get in our way. All the other members will coordinate with each other to best support the combat personnel, while securing the Mushitsuki to be protected."

Aijisupa declared indifferently while glancing at the glaring Youichi.

"Anyhow, you've probably all thought 'we won't lose as long as we have Lady' up till now. From here onwards, abandon any of such naïve thoughts."

"Aijisupa-san, there's no need to…"

Shiika tried to cut in, but Aijisupa paid no attention. Youichi clenched his teeth.

"You want us to run away and do nothing while watching our comrades get picked off…!?"

"Are you saying you wish to be defeated along with them? That's exactly how it's been so far. But from now on, get it in your head that it'll be none other than your own fault for failing to protect your comrades. If you don't want feel that way, then get stronger. Get stronger and protect your comrades, that way, you'll also be able to protect yourself."

Even Chiharu could tell how detached he felt from his tone.

"You're free to follow Lady to the grave if you want to, but I can't stand you saying that everything is 'because Lady's gone' and basing your death on her name. I wasn't able to protect her, but I'll at least fulfill my responsibility. By protecting this girl."

He spoke indifferently with a cold tone, but Chiharu finally realized.

More so than anyone else here–Aijisupa was enraged.

He was angry at these people who weren't able to protect the person known as Lady. And towards himself too to the same extent, for being unable to do likewise.

"There will definitely be sacrifices. But if we devote ourselves to defense, we'll be able to reduce them to a minimum. Over the course of our sheltering, there'll also be strong Mushitsuki joining us as allies. We can build up our power. And ultimately—"

Aijisupa turned to look at Shiika.

Shiika nodded and raised her head. Completely opposite from before, she declared succintly toward everyone in the parking lot.

"We will find the Original Three and defeat them."

This time…

A perfect silence enveloped the underground parking space.

"In addition, I intend to find out what the Mushi are. I wish to stop the fights between Mushitsuki and instead, begin a battle to defeat the very concept of Mushi itself."

Shiika bit her lips.

"I believe it will be an extremely painful fight. Much more so than fighting against the SEPB… I do not want to see any more Mushitsuki lose their dreams."

Saying this, Shiika–the strongest Mushitsuki who had spoke of herself as weak, deeply lowered her head.

"I ask of you. Please lend me a hand. I'm sure it will be a very tough battle, much more than not retaliating to attacks, much more than fights between Mushitsuki… Much more than having your Mushi killed and become a Fallen and even more than losing your lives. But if anyone is willing to help me—"

Chiharu noticed that even as Shiika kept her head lowered, her shoulder was slightly shaking.

She was afraid of fighting.

It was probably frightening to invite other Mushitsuki to such a battle.

Yet, Shiika endured the anxiety and fear and tried to face ahead even so.

"I swear that I will never give up… not until the fighting stops."

Now that the air reverted to deathly silence, the voices of people whispering began to spread throughout like ripples. 

Youichi seemed like he was desperately suppressing something inside of himself. His face distorted and his fist shook. Confused voices of, "can we even do that…?", came from the surroundings.

"Hey, Aya-chan."

Chiharu smiled at the girl squatting by her side.

"As expected, Shiika-chan really is a kind and good kid."

Aya only replied, "is that so", indifferently.

Shiika still had her head lowered.

The atmosphere of bewilderment had yet to settle down. No voice had raised to agree with her. Aijisupa clicked his tongue and reached out to make Shiika raise her head.

"…Do you also not mind weak, good-for-nothing Mushitsuki?"

A voice with a tinge of reserve sounded out from near the entrance to the parking lot.

Turning back, Chiharu saw a person show up from inside the crowd. She wasn't wearing a mask, exposing her sharp eyes. She was also apparently injured as her right arm was in a cast supported by her neck.

The suited woman who seemed to be in her early twenties had an anguished look, but did not raise her head. 

"Despite the fact that I had once sworn to protect you but failed… will you still accept even someone like me…?"

Everyone on the platform turned to look at her. Munakata raised a voice in surprise.

"Namie?"

She continued her appeal with a shaking voice.

"I wasn't able to protect you. Although I had sworn four years ago that protecting you was my justice, I wasn't able to accomplish it. Will you still take this powerless me who cannot even bear to face you alongside you to this fight…?"

Shiika lifted her face.

She was baffled for a while, but perhaps recalling something from her words, she widened her eyes in surprise.

"You're… the person from back then…?"

Seeing that Shiika remembered, the woman known as Namie bit her lips.

Even Shiika seemed to be hesitated for a moment. Yet before long, the girl timidly asked.

"Will you help me…?"

"…!"

The woman looked up for the first time. The next moment, she was dumbfounded to see Shiika deeply lowering her head.

"Thank you very much…!"

Gradually, Namie's expression warped. Large beads of tears started falling from her eyes.

"This time surely…! I will be sure protect you…! I will protect you without fail…!"

The woman squeezed out a trembling voice.

Aya spoke by Chiharu's feet.

"That's Takakuwa Minori. She was on the verge of death when Lady saved her, against the objections of her comrades. She has finally regained her consciousness only recently. —I don't know what happened to her four years ago, but she seemed to have been monitoring Fuyuhotaru at the Fallen facility in Hashiba City up till last year."

Chiharu knitted her eyebrows.

"She used to be a member of the SEPB's East Central Branch. Quite the veteran Mushitsuki. Calling herself weak is unthinkable. She was apparently once even designated Blaze Class Rank 3."

'She seemed to have caught Chami's eyes when she heard about her, but guess she ended up being stolen by Fuyuhotaru huh', add Aya in a seemingly bored tone.

The other white masks also appeared to know about Takakuwa Minori. The commotion was growing larger. 

"…I have a condition."

The one saying it as if wringing the words out of his throat was Youichi.

"I don't mind if it's anyone else, but I'll never forgive that piece of shit…"

As Chiharu watched on, the boy's face distorted with hatred.

In front of none other than Chiharu—Youichi shouted so.

"I will definitely kill Kakkou!"

"…!"

Chiharu had never witnessed this emotion before—such an intense hatred, murderous impulse directed at another person.

"No matter what, I will slay the one who killed Lady, Kakkou! And it's not only just her! Do you even know how many of our comrades were done in by him, Fuyuhotaru! —Rather, you should also abhor him, isn't it! Say, why don't we start by destroying him! Everything can start from then! Now's our chance!"

Seeing the boy rave on like that in front of her eyes, Chiharu felt a shudder welling up inside of her.

The instant Kakkou's name was raised, the underground parking lot turned into a crucible of angry roars. People unanimously spat out abusive language directed at him.

The one they were currently cursing was none other than Chiharu's brother.

Her brother, Kusuriya Daisuke, gathered hatred from that many people.

"Uuh…"

She could barely withstand this shock by covering her ears.

Only by using her utmost effort did she manage to stop her legs from folding.

If this really was the hatred that Daisuke gave rise to, Chiharu had no choice but to accept it—

"Our chance? What do you mean, Sinica?"

As the puzzled Munakata asked this, Youichi returned a warped smile to him.

"Since yesterday, that scumbag—Kakkou went missing! Even the SEPB can't get in contact with him!"

"…!"

Including Chiharu, everyone present gulped.

"Right now, while he is cut off from the support of the SEPB, we will be able to slaughter him if we manage to find him first! How about it, a once in a lifetime chance! As long as we manage to kill Kakkou, I'll help you with whatever it is you're doing!" 

The white masks raised loud, angry roars all at Youichi's words.

"Sinica…! Where exactly did you get that intel from—"

Even Munakata's question was erased by the people's voices.

Shiika bit her lower lip sadly. Aijisupa looked down at the white masks with a cold expression, and Namie who walked closer to Fuyuhotaru looked around vigilantly.

Murderous intent directed at Kakkou filled the underground parking lot.

"Shiika-chan—"

The people's anger and hatred were about to rip Chiharu's heart apart.

Yet, she couldn't ever accept that. She wanted to believe from the depths of her hearts that her brother was not such a horrible person.

"Shiika-chan…!"

She desperately looked up at the girl on the platform.

Even when about to be crushed by the wave of white masks that was trying to reach Fuyuhotaru, Chiharu looked only at Shiika.

If even by that kind, strong girl hated him–Chiharu could finally accept it.

"Shiika-chan!!"

She shouted, forgetting herself.

Shiika raised her face with a twitch. She looked around at the thong of people.

"Is Dai—Kakkou really such a…!"

Chiharu's voice was drowned out by an explosive roar. 

A large hole suddenly opened in the ground near the scaffold Shiika was standing on. Not to mention the ground supposed to be there, several dozen pillars and the wall also evaporated without leaving any trace

"Silence, you idiots. You ended up like this because you're an untrained mob."

A Mushi fluttered while leaving white traces behind it, landing atop Namie's shoulder.

Aijisupa sighed in the ensuing silence.

"Just when we are about to enter a 'fight to not fight'… we've gotten quite the short-tempered comrade."

"You as well. Since you're at Fuyuhotaru's side make an effort to respect her will. She can't speak up."

Shiika stood flustered in the center of the two quarreling people. Aya added "someone of the level of Rank 3 protecting the Rank 1 Fuyuhotaru… well, it's fine as long as they don't stand in Chami's way" in a mutter.

"I've made a promise with Kakkou-kun."

With the gazes of the white masks gathering on her, Shiika calmly began to speak.

"To never give up our dreams…"

No lies could be felt from Shiika's voice that sounded as if she was reciting a song. She believed in the fact she believed in the other party and they believed her too—

"Ever since we made that promise four years ago, Kakkou-kun kept fighting. Now he might perhaps be nothing but an enemy, but he is also trying to end the battle. That's why when I'm able to find the Original Three, at that time—"

Shiika clearly asserted with an unhesitant tone. 

"I believe we'll be able to combine our powers with Kakkou-kun – with the Special Environmental Preservation Bureau."

Silence.

Just like the calm before the storm.

"Not only do you not want to fight the SEPB… but you also want to combine our powers with them…!"

"Frankly speaking I'm also not sure about Kakkou or whatever. But we have to put up with that. Because if we can't surpass our hatred now, living past the battles ahead would be impossible."

The words uttered by Aijisupa became the trigger.

Including Youichi, a large amount of the white masks all raised voices of anger. There were people advocating to take revenge against Kakkou, with some of them also blaming Fuyuhotaru.

"Staying here any longer is dangerous. Let's get away."

Aya rose up. Pulling the dazed Chiharu's hand, she turned her body.

"B-but…"

Chiharu turned toward Shiika on the platform.

She realized more than enough about Mushibane's hatred toward Daisuke.

But hearing Shiika's words, she once again didn't know anything about him.

The girl that said she had made a promise with her brother and wanted to one day combined their powers – Shiika definitely knew the real Daisuke. She realized that, but she was yet to ascertain if Shiika's attitude was due to her overcoming her hatred or due to some other reason.

"Do you really think we can approach Fuyuhotaru like this?"

Aya was calmness itself.

"Also, you've shouted Fuyuhotaru's real name just now. —Even now some people are looking at us."

"…!"

"If the executives know of it we'll be in trouble. Let's run away while the place is in disorder."

Contrary to her looks Aya was strong. Chiharu had no choice but to be dragged along to the entrance of the underground parking lot. 

"They're following from behind. Quickly."

Aya said without looking back, heading up for the expressway that connected to the surface.

"R-right!"

Chiharu ran strenuously as she was out of breath.

While climbing the gloomy road, bright sunlight shone in. They could see the exit of the underground parking lot ahead.

"Gensis? Is the assembly over already?"

Seeing Aya's figure, two white masks standing in the boundary between the parking lot and the surface raised their voice. They were the guards in charge of doing body checks to those who entered the building.

"Yeah."

Asserting this shortly, Aya tried passing through the exit with Chiharu.

But just before that they heard a voice from behind.

"Wait! Stop them! There's something we need to check!"

Turning around, there were two white masks rushing at them from behind.

Aya's legs stopped.

Although puzzled, the white mask guards stood in the pair's way.

With the exit in front of their eyes, Chiharu and Aya became sandwiched between four people.

"What does this mean? Did you do something, Gensis?"

"Gensis… who's that with you? She used another name to refer to Fuyuhotaru just now, but if that's her real name only the executives are supposed to know it…"

Aya left Chiharu's hand she was grasping. Her almond eyes calmly gazed at the white masks.

"…"

"Why won't you answer?"

"A-Aya-chan…"

In contrast to the tense Chiharu, Aya's expression was unchanged.

"Hey, contact the executives and make sure. Call Halen or Sinica—"

"I won't let you contact them."

Asserting with an unchanging tone, Aya swung her left hand to the side.

At some point a small ground beetle alighted on her fingers. It instantly swelled its body and clung to Aya's left arm. Black gas started spilling from its elastic mouthpart.

The white masks grew agitated at this preparation for battle. They also materialized their own Mushi.

"You… what're you doing! Do you intend to betray us, Gensis!"

"You can just shut up and let us pass. I never thought of Mushibane as comrades, but it wasn't like that with you right? I'll just warn you for now."

Aya's words were completely unchanged from the usual. Just by that she felt intimidating.

The white masks seemed perturbed. But seeing that one of them pulled out a wireless transmitter from their pocket, Aya pushed Chiharu's back.

"Run."

"Eh…?"

"Quickly."

Just as she was told, Chiharu kicked the ground. Passing next to the white masks, she aimed for the exit.

"We won't let you!"

She heard a shout from behind.

Wriggling its innumerable legs, a Mushi cut around in front of Chiharu. As she stopped without thinking, a gust of wind passed by her side.

Along with the knocking of light footsteps, the figure of a person landed atop the Mushi in the front. 

It was Aya. —Chiharu had no idea when she had managed to overtake her and jump on top of the large Mushi.

By the point in time she stood on top of the Mushi, Aya held aloft the hand her ground beetle clung to. 

Her long hair fluttering, she swung her left arm directly downward.

"…!"

The tremor caused Chiharu's body to float for an instant.

A white flash surged from the ground beetle's mouthpart, piercing the large Mushi. It was probably something with an extremely high pressure, as nothing was left of the Mushi pierced by the stake shining in pure white. A sizzling smoke rose from the large hole opened in the ground.

"Wha—"

The white masks were astounded. One person in the back lost his strength and slumped to the ground.

"Gensis, you…!"

With an angry voice, two Mushi assaulted Aya.

The jaw of a Mushi tried biting her, yet she evaded it like a cat–no, with even more instantaneous force than that and cut to the side. She thrust her left hand at two Mushi from an angle where both of them were lined up. 

A green stake was launched from the ground beetle's mouthpart. The luster-emitting thick metal stake skewered the two Mushi at once. 

"Guh…!"

Not minding the white masks raising a voice of agony, Aya again raised her arm overhead.

The ground beetle raised its elytra and a large amount of gas came blowing out of its rear. Its orange-colored feelers swayed.

"I warned you."

Heading towards the two skewered Mushi, Aya again waved her arm.

A crimson glow swallowed them. The large explosion burning the Mushi to a crisp kept going and even created a hole that seemed about three times bigger than Chiharu in the near wall.

Chiharu could do nothing but stand still.

Aya's Mushi could probably alter the composition of any substances it had eaten and eject them. She could attack with all kinds of stakes such as gas-state heat rays, masses of metal or super-compressed explosive flames. Even to Chiharu's eyes her ability seemed to be frighteningly powerful. 

"Y-you… are you really Gensis…?"

Only one white mask remained. Raising a voice of fear, he turned around.

Aya stooped down her body like a predator beast hunting its prey, and without a moment's delay pursued the white mask.

"You don't have to chase him. Since it became this noisy the people downstairs are also sure to notice."

Aya stopped her movements hearing the voice echoing from the exit.

"Chami-chan?"

As Chiharu and Aya turned around, they could see a small girl standing there. Holding her still aching stomach, she looked at them with a rigid face.

"So you ended up coming, Chami. Did you worry?"

"Don't be stupid. I was just anxious to have you two alone, and my stomach hurt more than my wounds. C'mon, let's scram."

"Y-yeah."

Chiharu and Aya tried going past Chami to the surface.

Yet Chami didn't move from the spot.

"What's wrong, Chami?"

"Aya. You—"

Chami slowly approached Aya as she was turned around.

"I finally realized. What's happening to you is the same phenomenon as Kanata. Because of the ability I put inside you the balance of your mind and body is messed up. I can't explain your movements and your Mushi's sudden growth otherwise. My ability has effects even I still don't understand… I should've realized this during the time Owlet gained non-catlike intellect."

Saying this, Chami tried raising her hand at Aya.

Yet the one to grab and stop her hand was none other than Aya herself.

"…What are you going to do?"

"Isn't it obvious? I'm canceling my ability. No matter how strong you become, if you break up like Kanata it'll be meaningless. If you become useless then I don't need you."

"I'm fine like this. I feel great lately."

Chami glared at Aya as she said this calmly. Yet she didn't withdraw.

"Also, if you lift your ability I might stop listening to your orders. You need pawns, right Chami?"

"…You still obey me even while knowing about my ability. If I need you I'll come to get you again."

"Liar. You'll never come back. And if I'm removed from the fight you'll never think about me again."

"Idiot…! Even that feeling of 'loneliness' is amplified by my ability. But you know this!"

"Anyway, I'm fine as is. The one to bring me in was you, Chami. Throwing me away is against the rules."

Cutting off the conversation one-sidedly, Aya turned her back to Chami and started walking.

"…Tch, don't regret this later."

She asserted, and suddenly glared at Chiharu.

"Eh? W-what?"

"How did it go for you? There was some result, right?"

She said, and Chiharu hesitated to answer.

Mushibane's new development.

Anmoto Shiika's resolution.

Daisuke who was hated by Mushitsuki.

Now that Chiharu came to know various things, the conclusion inside her only grew further.

"I recalled the past a bit, but… I still don't know a lot about Daisuke."

Hearing Chiharu's half-baked answer, Chami diverted her gaze with a bored "hmph".

"As if you'd understand one Mushitsuki so easily. —Let's go."

She still required plenty to understand Daisuke as he was now.

''To Whom It May Concern, how are you doing—''

The "narrating habit" she grew accustomed to in the days without Daisuke, her brother whom she has forgotten, now surfaced in her heart.

''It will take a little bit more time to find you. But on top of knowing how you are right now I'll definitely meet you—''

Looking at the two Mushitsuki girls walking in the front, Chiharu nodded.

"Right."

After five years she finally recalled the name of the person she had been addressing it to.

''So wait for me, Daisuke—''

Chiharu softly muttered in her heart.