Editing Mushi Uta:Volume 5 Chapter 2 (section)

==2.04 The Others==

In the mountainous region where one could only hear the murmuring of a creek, a boy's groaning could also be heard.

"Uh… I have to report back to Headquarters…"

Static electricity still crackled in the flowing river.

The ground was gouged and traces of bombardment were engraved in the forest.

In the center of a collapsed rock Rin stood up. The other two members of the Annihilators turned into Fallens. Apparently he alone was able to barely survive.

Just as he tried walking back to Akamaki City, he was taken aback by surprise.

"Don't just go back on your own. I have a minor role to give to you too."

Chami standing with the forest behind her said in a voice with stifled anger.

Konoha was also waiting behind her. On their way there they had eavesdropped on the conversation between Kakkou, the boy called Rin and C using Konoha's ability. 

"R-[Rin encounters an enemy] – [Rin attacks]!"

Disks with a shining pattern appeared around Rin. However, some of them were cracked and their movements were clearly sluggish. 

Chami rushed at Rin from the front.

"Chami…!"

Konoha's shout and the sounds of the disks slicing through the air overlapped. 

The sharp disks cut Chami's cheeks, legs and stomach.

But all the wounds she received were shallow, none of them fatal. —Since her opponent had received great damage by Kakkou before, Chami judged that conversely closing the distance between them was advantageous to her. Nevertheless she was risking her life because she barely possessed any fighting abilities. 

"[Rin's attack hit]! [The enemy received 140 damage]! [Rin's consecutive attack]—"

"As if I'd let you!"

Chami's counterattack was faster than the disks' second attack by an instant. 

"This is my shitty ability! Eat this!"

She shouted while closing the distance.

A crimson brilliance glittered at Rin's back. Spreading its wings majestically, the red queen bee stabbed its sharp stinger into the nape of his neck. It lost its shape like smoke and was absorbed into Rin's body from the point he was stung.

"[Rin was hit by the enemy's attack] – [Rin received no damage] – [No damage]—"

The disks rotating midair suddenly stopped their movements. Rin's face rapidly paled, his body trembling as if suffering convulsions.

The amount she inserted into him was on a whole different level than what she did with Aya or Konoha, a full-powered stinging. As long as Chami's ability hit, the target's mind would become disorderly and they would lose their composed rationality—

"I don't feel like going around and controlling the stage from behind the scenes…"

Not even considering her wounds, Chami slowly approached Rin.

He bit his lips so strongly that blood came oozing out.

The nails of his clenched fist dug into his skin.

Chami now clearly recognized the enemy.

The Annihilators.

Special Environmental Preservation Bureau, Central Headquarters.

And–Miguruma Yaeko.

"I'm well aware that after all we can serve as no more than supporting roles. Even if I don't have Owlet or Aya anymore, those who pretend to be the main roles will not notice at all. Right, my ambition to stand in the center of the stage sticks out too much… What a shitty dream. However—"

Her shaking voice was diverted by anger.

It was so Konoha at her back wouldn't see the single tear streaming down her cheek.

"Being able to show off this long continuing story would help me as well. Miguruma Yaeko who tries to keep the fight going forever… And Kakkou who will never be able to stop it! Fuyuhotaru too! You've all made the same offense!"

She tightly grabbed the face of Rin who stood in a daze with both hands and shouted.

"And so… I will steal the center of the stage from the main roles that never try getting off of it! I will make the other actors prostrate themselves and lower their heads with brute force! It will be like 'how's this best stage I'm showing you! You have no more regrets right! With that comes the final performance of the story of Mushitsuki, let's meet again another day!' Even if you don’t like it I'll play the ending with the credits roll!" 

If she stopped in place even once…

If she looked back even once…

She would be liable to become disheartened about her dream.

But the unseen hands of the person after person who had left her behind wouldn't allow her that. When she was about to give up those such as the laughing white cat or the lonely girl would push her back.

"How dare you… how dare you kill Owlet and Aya… If you do all that and try to force a small role on me then I'll do the same. I'll say a line befitting a small fry. —Please pass it along to your masters pretending to have the main roles."

Tightly grabbing Rin's face, she asserted with a clear voice.

"'Remember this'—"

The muddied consciousness boy responded with a start.

"I will definitely drag you off… Definitely… definitely…!"

Rin separated himself from Chami as she repeated herself in a stifled voice. He went down the creek while muttering something with a dazed attitude. 

Probably due to her losing too much blood, strength left Chami's legs.

"Chami!"

Konoha rushed to Chami sitting on the ground.

"…You can use your ability to see to Shiou City even from here, right Konoha?"

"Y-yes. There really seems to be no doubt that Kakkou's destination is Shiou City. He's moving through the town heading for somewhere."

"I see—"

Chami glared at the direction of Shiou City.

"Will you let me have a look? What made the main character – Kakkou come there, I wonder. Let me check with my own eyes what he's trying to accomplish there."

"Do you think Chiharu will make it in time?"

"If she doesn't I'm in trouble. Because I won't be able to unravel the mystery of Mushi unless she retrieves her full memories. If that doesn't happen I won't be able to win the battle ahead. Also… if my thinking is correct, there's still a way to use Chiharu."

While intently glaring at the sky of Shiou City, she clenched her fist. Her strongly clenched teeth creaked.

"Yes… if she dies I'll be in trouble. I'll never forgive her dying without my permission. Because I'll make anyone and everyone into my pawns."

Konoha nodded. Looking at Chami, she muttered in her usual small voice.

"It's fine… I will also always come along with you…"

"…That's obvious. I'll kick you."

A droplet of water fell atop Chami's cheek.

Night approached and rain began pouring from the gloomy, clouded sky. 

"…!"

Chami felt as if she could see a purple glow from the sky of Shiou City through the gaps of the forest. 

Feeling a chill run up her spine, she shuddered.

She could see an abnormal object between the dark clouds.

It was a much too large and a much too beautiful—

"N…no… way…"

She doubted her eyes but it actually existed in the sky of Shiou City.

"Impossible… That's impossible…! After all there's no way for anyone to tell where ''they'' would show up! A coincidence…? N-no, that's wrong. It can't be that Kakkou knew of it…?"

Next to Chami, Konoha also completely paled. She looked at the sky of Shiou City in shock.

"Why… how…? How could you tell she'd show up there, Kakkou…!"

By the side of the river that was being hit by rain and enveloped by darkness, Chami's muttering kept going on and on.