Editing Mushi Uta:Volume 1st Episode 04 (section)

===Part 5===

A witch visited Patricia who was afflicted with sickness.

She said as such.

Here is a potion made by an angel, as well as one by the devil. If you drink the angel’s potion, you will lose all your loved one, but in return your sickness would be cured and you would live on. On the other hand, if you drink the devil’s potion, your illness will remain and you will die. However, you will always be remembered by your loved one. Now, which will you choose?

And so, Patricia replied like this.

I want the devil’s potion.

And the witch granted her request.

Thus, Patricia entered an eternal sleep under the watchful eyes of her loved one.

Even so, Patricia never felt lonely, for her loved ones would regularly come to visit her on the hill where she rests—.

“…”

Closing the picture book, “Potion of Magic”, Mari gazed out the window peacefully.

When morning came, the attending doctor made his usual rounds, finished his usual consultation with few words and left. Mari found it laughable how he had tried not to let his discomposure show.

Mari was completely calm. But, inside her heart which resembled a lull sea, a small ripple propagated. Slowly but gradually, the ripple expanded.

A sardonic smile appeared on her face.

She recalled the exchange she had with Sensei the night before.

—This is not the end. If you underwent operation…

Mari laughed off his words.

—Can my body even withstand the operation?

And his words were quashed. It was only this moment that Mari felt like ridiculing him for his honest to a fault nature.

Mari had already discovered the truth of her condition through her own research. For her heart which had weakened till the point where she required an operation, it would not be strange for it to stop anytime. That day might be tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow… whenever it was, Mari was sure that that day would not be too far off. The frequent pains she experienced recently are an indication of the fact that the countdown has already started.

In the room devoid of people, Sensei appeared.

“…”

He seemed to be saying something to Mari who was staring out of the window, but his words could not reach her.

In Mari’s heart, a new wave spawned. The waves overlapped with each other, causing their heights to grow even taller.

—Can it… come true…? My dream… really…?

Who was it that had muttered that while crying.

“How idiotic…”

Sensei did not seem to have heard her soft mumbles. He muttered a ‘Eh?’, to which Mari closed her mouth once again.

''I want the devil’s potion.''

The words of the protagonist of the picture book came into her mind before disappearing again.

I don’t need the devil’s potion… If it was me, I’d choose the angel’s—.

A silver morpho butterfly descended by Mari’s side.

“…”

Looking at the morpho butterfly which rested on her shoulder, Mari had a certain thought.

One could even call it an angel’s whisperings.

The thought that randomly came up in her mind was extremely ridiculous—dreadful even. But, the sweet angel-like whisperings within her head generated new waves in her heart.

—See you tomorrow.

She thought of Arisu’s pure and innocent smile. To Mari who was trapped in the enclosed hospital room, Arisu’s bright smile seemed to belong to that of angels.

Mari wanted the angel’s potion.

In that case, who was Mari’s angel…?

“I want the angel’s potion…”

A smile formed naturally on Mari’s face.

“Mari…?”

She wondered what kind of smile she had on her face at that time. Sensei had been startled upon seeing that face.

''I want the devil’s potion.''

I want the angel’s potion—.

The voice of Patricia and herself mingled in her head.

Then, Mari noticed the presence of a certain object on the bed.

It was the small box.

That reminded her that she had cleanly forgotten about her intention to hand it over to Sensei.

“Sensei.”

Mari turned with a smile to the young man in white coat. Sensei who seemed to be embroiled in his thoughts looked up.

“Yes?”

Mari held out the small box to him who was obviously forcing a smile.

“This is, for me?”

“Yes. This is a present from me to Sensei.”

He looked surprised for a moment before revealing his joy. He opened the small box and took out what was inside.

It was a silver necklace with a gold ring affixed on it.

Previously, while Mari went out for a ''hunt'', she came across the necklace on display and developed a liking for it. The favour she requested from Arisu was for her to buy it in her stead.

“This is another proof that I had lived…”

In contrast to Mari who had a serene smile, Sensei had a look of pain.

“The other proof, I leave with Arisu… If she knew what my dream was, surely she would hate me for it.”

“Hate you…?”

The young man knitted his eyebrows. Mari shifted her view from him to the scenery outside the window.

“…Yeah, I know it for sure.”

She nodded.

Mari knew better than anyone else how sincere Arisu was.

“Because Arisu is kind, even for my request, she will…”

Sensei stared doubtfully at Mari who wore an innocent smile. But at the presence beyond the door, he immediately disappeared.

After a few more knocks, the door opened.

A familiar girl entered the room. She had mentioned yesterday that she would be coming in the morning as today onwards was a consecutive holiday.

“Arisu.”

Mari welcomed her close friend with a smile.

Arisu froze for a moment, as if she was charmed by her smile. But, she soon came to her senses and took a seat.

The morpho butterfly took flight from Mari’s shoulder.

“Hey Arisu, listen to me. I am…”

“Nn?”

Arisu lifted her face. Facing her directly, a pain ran through Mari’s heart.

I am actually a Mushitsuki. And also, soon… I’ll drink the angel’s potion—.

“No, nevermind…”

Stopping before she was about to speak, her face twisted slightly. She clenched her fists holding the sheets.

She must not tell her. Arisu should not know about it. For some reason, Mari thought so.

“My dream, can I entrust it to you?”

It seems like Arisu could not comprehend the meaning behind Mari’s question. She returned a blank stare to Mari.

Mari shook her head, laughing frailly.

“Sorry, that was nothing…”

Arisu tilted her head with a, ‘Is that so?’, and laughed amusedly.

“I guess Mari’s kind of weird after all.”

“That may be so, but not as much as you, Arisu.”

“Y-you’re kidding right. Is there really something strange about me?”

The two continued their conversation all the way till night-time.

As the end of visitation hours arrived, Arisu stood up from her seat.

Mari stared absentmindedly at Arisu who was about to leave.

“Hey, Arisu.”

Unconsciously, she opened her mouth.

“If I was gone, would you be sad?”

Arisu widened her eyes, and then her eyebrows rised immediately. It was an expression that Mari only saw for the first time.

Both of her cheeks were hit with the sound of a smack.

Mari had no idea what just happened. Her eyes stared in astonishment at Arisu’s face right in front of her.

Arisu had lightly clasped Mari’s cheeks with her hands. In that position, she continued to held Mari’s head. The warmth of her hands was transmitted to Mari through her cheeks.

“I’ll get angry if you say this kind of things again, okay!”

Arisu glowered at Mari with a look of seriousness.

Mari’s sight started to distort. Despite the tears welling in her eyes, a smile formed on her face.

“This is the first time I’ve seen you get mad.”

Noticing her tears, Arisu got flustered.

“Aah, sorry! Is it painful?”

“No…”

Wiping off the tears with her index finger, Mari smiled. It was just for a bit, but Mari felt a warmth sprout in her heart compared to the other times she cried.

“Thank you.”

Arisu blushed.

The huge wave in Mari’s heart seemed to subside a little.

And goodbye—.

She added in her heart.

Arisu pronounced with an ear-to-ear grin.

“See you tomorrow!”

Mari’s heart throbbed.

I see, that’s right—.

In response to Arisu’s feelings, Mari sent her off with the greatest smile she could muster.

I’ll still see you tomorrow, right—.

“Yup, see you tomorrow!”

With that, Arisu left.

And so, Mari’s tears stopped.

The attending doctor came for the pre-night consultation. He informed her, ‘Your family will be visiting you tomorrow’. He probably intended to reveal the severity of Mari’s current condition to her at that time. And then, he would recommend for her to undergo surgery despite the futility of it. Mari merely replied with a, ‘Is that so’.

After the attending doctor left and the lights off, Sensei appeared in the dim room.

“Hey, Sensei… what happens to a Mushi after its owner dies?”

He bit his lips when he heard that.

“The Mushi… will disappear as well. That’s because people’s dream fade away as they die.”

“That doesn’t make sense.”

Mari muttered as she gazed out of the window. She could see the slowly revolving Ferris wheel as it changed colour.

“Don’t you think that there are some dreams that remain even after their owner has died?”

The young man did not respond, plunging the room into silence once more.

Mari gazed at the Ferris wheel tranquillly while time passed.

The colour of the Ferris wheel changed once again.

When the needle of the clock pointed to one o'clock.

Mari lowered herself from the bed quietly.

“…!”

Unable to exert strength in her legs, she tumbled on the floor.

“Mari!”

Sensei lifted Mari up.

Like a bursting dam, her heartbeat rose wildly. The pain and difficulty breathing made her face twist up.

“''Haah…! Haah…!''”

She blacked out for a moment as she wheezed.

—See you tomorrow.

Even as light faded from her eyes, all she could think of was the time she spent with Arisu. She went over each and every conversation they had, from the day they first met up until today.

“Mari!”

At Sensei’s voice, Mari regained consciousness.

Still out of breath, Mari flashed an ironic smile.

It’s not just my body… even my heart is becoming hollow.

When one utilises the power of their Mushi, they pay the price of having their dream consumed. When one’s stamina and willpower burns out, their power as a Mushitsuki rapidly weakens as well.

Mari quickly reached out for the glass bottle on the shelf. But before she could do so, Sensei took it.

“You must not took anymore of this. This will only cause your symptoms to worsen.”

“''Haah… Haah…''”

Clutching her chest, Mari glared at Sensei. However, she immediately turned away and headed for the closet. Stripping off her current outfit, she put on the white coat placed within.

“I don’t need that anymore…”

“Where are you going…? Don’t tell me, you’re going out with that body—”

Ignoring the young man, she grabbed her crutch and approached the window.

[[File:Mushi Uta Bug 1st p249.jpg|thumb]]

Mari felt a slight pressure on her arm.

Sensei glared at Mari with a strict gaze. Mari could tell from his expression that only tonight, he would not allow her to go out even if he had to use force.

“You can’t go out. I won’t let you go, Mari.”

“This is first time I see Sensei get angry. But you were too late. Just earlier, Arisu had already gotten angry at me.”

The morpho butterfly flew to the side of the smiling Mari. The feelers extending out from the transforming butterfly became one with Mari’s sick-ridden body. The crutch also turned into a spear, with the four wings of the butterfly coming together to form a single blade.

Energy filled Mari’s entire body. The pain in her chest disappearing, she turned around to face Sensei.

“Sensei mentioned this before, right. The person known as… Kusuriya Daisuke? You said that he’s a strong Mushitsuki, but who is stronger between him and the current me?”

Mari focused her sharp glint at Sensei from within the hat and muffler.

“Right now, I… feel like I would not lose to anyone. Even if it’s against one of the Original Three, Aria Varei—even if it’s you.”

She knew that he had taken a gulp.

Taking advantage of the moment when he softened the grip on her arm, Mari leapt out of the window.

“Mari!”

With the silver spear in her hand, she jumped right over the hospital’s fence.

The thought of preserving her strength never even crossed her mind. Running from shadow to shadow, she scurried across Akamaki City in the night.

Borrowing the power of the Mushi to exceed her body’s limits, Mari could feel something fading inside her heart. But, even so, she did not stop for a single moment.

See you tomorrow—.

She thought of Arisu’s smile.

I… want to live—.

And of her own dream.

“''Haah… Haah…''”

The rate of her heartbeat rising, Mari’s face twisted.

Mari and Arisu, dream and friend; the two differing thoughts clashed violently within her.

Mari was at a loss.

She must make a decision.

But, before she decide, there was something she must know no matter what. She could not choose without knowing that first.

If she cannot make the decision, she would be left with nothing and no hope.

“I’ll find you for sure tonight… definitely…!”

Who knew how long she had ran.

As she was running through an alley, the spear started to glow, prompting her to stop.

Over at the dim walkway in front of her, a single boy stood. He looked only slightly older than Mari. The side profile of the boy illuminated by the light from the expressway seemed razor-sharp.

The boy had noticed Mari. By his feet, a Mushi as tall as an adult appeared. Having over hundreds of abnormally long legs, its long and narrow wriggling body resembled that of a centipede.

“Elvioréne’s Mushi…”

Mari rushed forward to the boy unhesitatingly.

Facing the attacking Mari, the boy’s movements were agile. With no intentions of counterattacking, he turned around and ran into an alley opposite the expressway.

“I won’t let you escape…!”

In terms of running speed, Mari was vastly superior. Turning around the corner, she had already caught up to him.

While running, the boy was speaking into a mobile phone. Mari swung the spear down at the centipede running alongside the boy.

The silver scales released gouged into the ground.

However, the centipede had swiftly climbed onto the wall, avoiding the blow.

Spinning the spear around, Mari launched a second attack. But, it seemed like the centipede had been expecting the attack. Sliding onto the ground without making any sound, it also dodged the second attack.

This person has experience fighting…!

Clenching her teeth, Mari let loose a consecutive series of slashes. However, not a single one of them hit.

“I don’t have the time to waste on a single opponent like you…!”

Spitting out in irritation, Mari swung the spear with greater strength. The silver scales released from the spear destroyed the path the boy was running on, sending him and the centipede rolling on the ground.

“''Kh…!''”

Mari was just about to thrust her spear at the defenceless Mushi, but—.

“!”

A sudden piercing pain struck her heart. Unable to breathe, her whole body stiffened up as if struck by lightning. She felt something vital in her body breaking.

The spear stabbed into the ground.

“''Haah! Haah!''”

Supporting herself with the spear stabbed into the ground, Mari grabbed her chest.

“…?”

Having escaped from a pinch, the boy looked at Mari warily. He then quickly stood up and ran down the alley.

“Wai-…!”

Mari pulled the spear from the ground and continued to chase after the boy. However, it was as if the lightness of her body previously was a lie and her limbs were currently as heavy as lead.

My body is already so weak… that not even the Mushi’s power can support it…?

Dragging along her broken body, Mari bit her lips.

Even my body… wouldn’t allow… this last bit of wilfulness…!

Her face twisting, she continued down the alley using the spear as a crutch.

Please…! Just a bit more… I only need a bit longer… because this is the last time…!

When Mari exited the murky alley, a large piece of land greeted her eyes. Rusted steel frames and construction machines were discarded haphazardly, giving the impression of a graveyard of scrap metal.

“''Haaah, Haaah…''”

In her hands, the silver spear emitted a radiance brighter than it ever did.

“Looks like it’s not just because its dream is being consumed. …It’s sick?”

Further in the scrapyard, the owner of the centipede muttered.

“That doesn’t matter. This is the Hunter, isn’t it? In that case, we will just take our revenge for all the anguish it’s caused us.”

Said another boy who commanded a gigantic Mushi which resembled a Hummingbird Hawk-moth with long triangular shaped feelers.

“Isn’t it just a kid. Eh? It’s a girl?

Sitting atop one of the construction machine, a blond-haired male spoke in a light tone. A Mushi with mottled wings and a needle on its round abdomen hovered above his head.

Furthermore, in a corner, there was a timid-looking boy. Mari had some remembrance of the boy. He was the Mushitsuki who Mari had let escape a month ago. When he met Mari’s gaze, he cowered and ran away into a back alley.

“…”

A young girl walked towards the centre of the scrapyard. Her age seems to be around that of Mari. But, her beautifully sculpted face in addition to the sharp gaze which seemed like it could cut through darkness would cause anyone to take a gulp. Next to her, a Mushi with a small but thick and round shell followed with its mouthpiece wriggling. There were seven red spots on the shell.

“''Haaah… Haaah…''”

The hand grabbing onto her chest tightened.

It was a trap. It was clear that they had intentionally led Mari to this place.

“You are the Hunter, right.”

The girl at the centre spoke in a dignified and resounding voice. Her voice filled with vigour broke the tense atmosphere.

“Now, tell us the reason why you are hunting the Mushitsuki on these streets.”

Hunter—that was what they referred to Mari as.

A smile formed on Mari’s face even as she remained out of breath.

“…You people…”

Mari took several deep breathes. The palpitations of her heart gradually relaxed.

It’s alright… I can still go on for just a bit—.

She filled her arms with strength, grasping the spear tighter.

The girl placed her hands on her waist and talked.

“We are a group of friends who had met on the streets and banded together to escape from a ''certain organisation''. However, we would never have thought that there would be another Mushitsuki that would hunt fellow Mushitsuki apart from them—”

“All four… have Elvioréne’s Mushi. ''Fufu'', I’m glad…”

As Mari’s smile deepened, the four youths eyed her suspiciously.

To Mari who was in a rush for time, finding four Mushi gathered together at one place could only be referred to as good luck.

The girl frowned.

“Elvio… réne?”

“Dioresutoi’s Mushi are just hindrances… Of course, that goes the same for Aria Varei’s Mushi such as my own… However, the one which numbers the most and are the most unpleasant… belongs to that woman, whose appetite is as voracious as he mentioned…”

While catching her breath, Mari muttered in a soliloquy. The girl and her friends stirred in unease.

“Is there something that you know? Something about us Mushitsuki… about the Mushi!”

“I do know… Mushitsuki of Elvioréne… even the fact that you people are the most beyond salvation amongst us… As long as you are around, Elvioréne will indefinitely… ''Fufu''…”

By this time, Mari already had no idea about what she was talking. Whether it was because of the lack of blood flowing into her brain, or that she have overused the power of the Mushi and had lost most of her dream, Mari could only hear the violent beating of her heart from within.

Their expressions changed.

“Just what in the world do you know? Spit it out!”

“Anyway, all of that doesn’t matter to me…”

Mumbling those words, Mari readied her spear once more. The first target in her sights was the girl’s Mushi. With seven red spots on its back, it reminded one of a ladybird.

Kicking off the ground, Mari rushed at the girl.

However, three Mushi cut into the space between Mari and the girl straightaway. The centipede crawled along the ground, the Hummingbird Hawk-moth flew directly in front of her and the mottled bee buzzed overhead with its needle primed.

Mari was unfazed, swinging the spear horizontally in a straight line.

Silver scales gushed out from the spear.

Gouging a gash on the ground, the blast sent several metal beams flying away.

“…!”

However, Mari saw three figures pass by in the edge of her vision.

At the same time as when Mari attacked, the three Mushi split off and escaped into her blind spot. The centipede and the Hummingbird Hawk-moth restrained Mari’s spear with their fangs and antennas respectively.

The needle of the bee closed in from above her.

Right now, I… feel like I would not lose to anyone—.

Mari had said that to Sensei.

The conviction behind those words had not dissipated even in the least, even as the flame of her life is currently on the verge of extinguishing.

“Wha-…!”

The gasps of surprise from the youths overlapped.

Displaying inhuman strength, Mari forcefully swung the spear around. Along with the two Mushi clinging onto it, the shaft of the spear smashed the bee onto the ground. The three Mushi rolled turbulently on the ground.

But in the next moment, Mari was hit on her back by a shockwave.

“…!”

Catching a glimpse behind her, she saw a ladybird with its wings opened. She could feel an invisible shockwave being released in her direction.

''Pssh''—.

Mari knew that something has cracked somewhere in her body. Her knitted hat blown away, revealing her long hair.

To the previous her, a weak shockwave like that would not even cause her as much to stagger. However, just one blow from the ladybird now was able to cause something important inside her to break.

“''Aaaaah!''”

Mari released a beast-like howl.

Widening her eyes, she turned around and threw the spear with all her strength.

[[File:Mushi Uta Bug 1st p259.jpg|thumb]]

A silver light pierced through the darkness.

“Rina!”

The blond youth shouted. The mottled bee rammed into the ladybird, pushing it out of the way.

The shining spear penetrated the bee’s torso, skewering it into the wall of the building. The momentum of the spear was so strong that it caused the surrounding structure to collapse.

“''Guah!''”

“Ryuuji!”

The scream of the girl called Rina echoed in the back alley. The three of them ran towards the blond youth.

“''Haaah! Haaah!''”

Having difficulty breathing, Mari staggered towards the wall where the spear was impaled in.

“It’s not him either… faster… the next Mushi…”

Mari pulled out the spear. The body of the bee fell onto the ground, scattering bodily fluids everywhere before disappearing into a haze.

“I don’t want to die… in a place like this without finding anything…!”

The spear hanging off her hand, Mari walked in a half-dead manner towards the girl’s group.

“…‘I don’t want to die’?”

Embracing the fallen youth who was ashen pale like a doll, Rina lifted her face. Her tears-stricken face was distorted with anger.

“Just because you are afraid of dying alone, how many people do you think you’ve dragged along?”

Rina and the other two had the same look as they glared at Mari.

“I will absolutely never forgive you…!”

Mari grasped her right arm which was holding the spear with her left hand. —Like water spilling from a glass, strength was leaving her arms.

“I don’t have much time…”

Mari did not have the luxuriance to deal with these small fries at a place this. After defeating Rina and the rest, there was still a Mushi that she must find no matter what.

“If you’re going to get in my way, I’ll just kill all of your Mushi. Just like how I’ve done so thus far…”

“You’ve got to be kidding me!”

Rina stood up.

“The one that’s going to die is you!”

Mari aimed at the three Mushi and dashed. The opposing Mushi also directed their attacks at Mari.

But, at that moment.

Mari’s spear started to shine even brighter. The four wings forming the spearhead flapped greatly, producing a large quantity of silver scales.

“…!”

Approaching unnoticed, a large group of people in white coat had surrounded the area. They were all dress uniformly, with a large goggle covering most of their face and a white long coat with belts hiding their body. In addition, each of them had a Mushi by their side.

“Target confirmed! Capture it!”

Following the command, the Mushi of the people in white coat all attacked Mari and the rest at once.

The Special Environmental Preservation Bureau…!

Having heard from Sensei, Mari knew of the identity of the attackers. They belonged to an organisation that captures and isolates Mushitsuki, in order to make true the official stance of the government in which they are ‘non-existent’.

“Where are you looking at, Hunter!”

“…!”

The ladybird facing Mari spread its wings. Mari instantaneously swung the spear in response.

The shockwave hit Mari in her chest squarely.

''Pssh''—.

For a moment, Mari’s heart stopped.

Time froze. All sound and pain disappeared from Mari’s surroundings.

—See you tomorrow!

The image of Arisu’s dazzling smile burned into her mind cracked a little.

“''…Auu!''”

Rina recoiled as she cried in pain.

Once again, time began to flow.

The single strike released by Mari scraped off a part of the ladybird. Taking advantage of the moment she flinched, the people in white coat moved in to hold down Rina.

“Rina!”

“Don’t worry about me… the two of you just escape…!”

Numerous Mushi were also headed towards Mari.

“…”

Mari swung her spear wordlessly.

Silvers scales released from the spear blew away those Mushi.

That ladybird… isn’t it either—.

Muttering in her heart, she brandished her spear repeatedly and broke out of the encirclement.

“…”

Blowing away several Mushi, Mari dashed into a back alley.

…Isn’t it? What… isn’t it…?

Wondering in confusion, she just ran through the darkness at full speed.

“''Haah… Haah…''”

Her breathing sped up steadily. Conversely, her running speed started to drop steeply.

“''Haah, Haah, Haah…''”

Slowing down from a run to a walk, Mari continued to advance along the dark alley with her head drooping.

“''Haaah! Haaah…!''”

The sound of her breathing and her drumming heartbeat irritated her deeply.

I… was searching for something… But, what is it…?

She could not even exert any strength into the hand grasping her chest anymore.

Her memories and dreams were fading. On the other hand, an unspeakable terror and emptiness began to encroach her heart.

I… must find that something… If not, there will be nothing left for me…!

Her face twisted. She felt herself being slowly cornered by pain and sadness.

—I’ll get angry if you say this kind of things again, okay!

She could hear somebody’s voice.

However, she could not remember who did that voice belong to.

The important and irreplaceable ‘something’ inside her scattered like petals and faded away successively.

I… don’t want to disappear… just like that…

Ultimately, Mari’s legs completely lost strength and both of her knees slumped onto the filthy ground.

“Have you already reached your limit… Spear-type of Aria Varei?”

Suddenly, she could hear a voice.

“…!”

Faster than she could think, the Hunter instinct of her body reacted. In a kneeling position, Mari thrust the spear in the direction of the voice.

She could feel a response. But—.

“Don’t waste your energy on useless actions…”

Due to the glaring neon display behind him, she could only see the silhouette of the owner of the voice.

Mari’s spear had definitively plunged into something. It was stuck into the torso of the human-shaped silhouette. There was a laceration at the spot where the spear had gouged into.

However, the human-shaped silhouette regenerated back till its original state right before her eyes.

Seeing that, Mari’s fragmented memories began to fit into pieces.

“The Undying… Mushitsuki…”

Mari muttered.

“Is this… real…?”

There was no response from the silhouette.

The Undying Mushitsuki—indeed, that was what Mari had been searching for since forever.

Mari had met the young man in white coat and became a Mushitsuki.

Sickness and Mushi… she passed her days living in fear of death caused by these two factors. In addition to that, everyday was empty and monotonous.

“You… do not die…?”

The spear fell from Mari’s hands.

However, in that everyday life, the appearance of a certain girl completely changed everything.

—See you tomorrow.

Ichinokuro Arisu.

She had acknowledged Mari and accompanied her every day. She was Mari’s first ever friend, the one who always promised to meet her the next day.

Thanks to Arisu, Mari managed to gain some hope. For the first time in her life, she had a reason to live. That was to attended school together with her—.

She wanted to live.

She had thought that her dream was nearly within reach.

However, that was but an illusion.

“Did you… drank the angel’s potion…?”

Despair and hope.

Just what was the point of living for Mari whose life swung between those two extremes on a whim?

To disappear just like that, isn’t it just too cruel?

“The “Potion of Magic” eh…”

The silhouette muttered. The voice sounded like that of a young man who still had some remnants of adolescence. However, the emotions behind the voice seemed to belong to that of an old man.

In her hazy view, the silhouette looking down on Mari appeared to her as the Patricia that appeared in the picture book. It was a different Patricia which had drank the angel’s potion instead and lived a prolonged life.

—A witch visited Patricia who was afflicted with sickness.

She said as such.

Here is a potion made by an angel, as well as one by the devil. If you drink the angel’s potion, you will lose all your loved one, but in return your sickness would be cured and you would live on. On the other hand, if you drink the devil’s potion, your illness will remain and you will die. However, you will always be remembered by your loved one. Now, which will you choose?

And so, Patricia replied like this.

I want the devil’s potion—.

“Hey, tell me… how does it feel to not die…? What do you, who managed to live on, think? I… I…”

As her life burns out, a certain thought came up in Mari’s mind.

“I… want the angel’s potion…”

It was an extremely dreadful notion; an awfully cruel method.

“…I want to see… the continuation of my dream…”

But, to Mari who could not escape from the clutches of death, this was the only method left to her.

The method for Mari to live on.

To Mari, her angel was none other than her close friend, Ichinokuro Arisu. From her, Mari would receive life.

“That’s why, I… will become Arisu…”

She looked at her hands which were covered in silver patterns.

The morpho butterfly which is the manifestation of Mari’s dream.

If Arisu inherits the morpho butterfly in which Mari’s dream lie, perhaps—.

“Because that girl is kind… she will definitely listen to my request…”

Her hands trembled. A frail smile formed on her lips.

“Indeed, you could say that I have drunk the angel’s potion…”

The silhouette muttered. The soft voice almost sounded dry and weary to her.

Mari had thought that she must meet the Undying Mushitsuki no matter what.

At first, she intended to curse and shout at him when they met. To Mari who was sealed to the fate of dying, the fact that there was someone who could not die was unpermittable to her.

Mari raised her head.

But now, such thing doesn’t matter anymore.

Tonight, Mari had cut off her hesitation for the sake of meeting the Undying Mushitsuki. If that person was no longer bound to the fear and unease of death, then they would no doubt have the answer to Mari’s question—.

“You may have the choice to choose between the two potions before you presently… If so, then let me question the you who have drunk the angel’s potion.”

The tone of the silhouette changed. It questioned Mari directly.

“Having gotten a new lease of life, who would be by your side?”

Mari widened her eyes.

The insides of her head were completely dyed white.

—See you tomorrow!

The smiling face of her close friend came into her mind before disappearing.

In her vacant consciousness, the scene that appeared in a flash, that was—.

The figure of herself from before she met Arisu, imprisoned in the small hospital room where there was nobody and no one ever came to visit—.

“You… mustn’t be deceived by the devil camouflaged as an angel.”

That voice no longer reached Mari’s ears.

She slowly covered her face with her shivering hands.

Ah, I see…

She finally became aware of her misconception.

“I had been mistaken… over what was important…”

She murmured blurrily.

Just the slightest bit of strength welled up in her legs. That was undoubtedly the final bit of strength she had remaining in her waning life.

“…I must go…”

She stood up and walked.

—See you tomorrow!

That was what Arisu said.

Mari must keep this promise that she made with her precious friend no matter what.

The silhouetted person did not stop Mari as she walked away.

Patricia had replied as such.

I want the devil’s potion—.

“I…”

Mari’s mutterings melted into the darkness of the alley.