Editing Mushi Uta:Volume 1st Episode 02 (section)

===Part 1===

The sun began to retreat behind a group of faraway buildings.

Along with the darkening sky, the fluorescent lamps lining the courtyard automatically lighted up.

In the distance, a circular display of light could be seen.

It belonged a large Ferris wheel situated at a plaza near the sea. The Ferris wheel boasted of being the tallest in Japan, and was one of the most popular date spots in Akamaki City.

“Anyway, as I was saying, your Mushi is the first of its type seen.”

At the voice coming from right beside her, Ichinokuro Arisu shifted her sight from the window.

Arisu was walking along the corridor of a general hospital. Passing through the reception and the elevator, she had arrived at the fifth floor.

As it was just before the end of visitation hours, there were not much people around. Visitors were mostly on their way home, and patients also returned to their rooms. Nurses occasionally walked around, tending to their business.

“Heh.”

“Don’t ‘Heh’ me. This is about you, so why don’t you pay more attention.”

Kusuriya Daisuke said in displeasure. He was a boy with no distinct features, one who wouldn’t leave any impression even after having conversed with once.

“It looks like I’ll have to start getting used to explaining things in such a way that even an idiot can understand.”

“''Arisu elbow~!''”

Arisu elbow found its way to Daisuke’s solar plexus, causing him to cower in pain and clutch his stomach.

She continued to walk down the corridor with a look of aloof. Behind, she could hear someone asked, ‘What happened to you? Are you alright?’, and the reply, ‘I-it’s nothing’.

After she took a few more steps, Arisu was impacted by a blow to her head. Daisuke had hit her.

“How dare a freeloader raise his hands against his master, are you asking to be disciplined?”

“Who are you referring to as my master. I feel the same; if I could, I’d want to stop babysitting you as soon as possible.”

“''Arisu double punch~!''”

Arisu ended the confrontation by driving both her fists into Daisuke’s stomach. Leaving him behind crouched on the floor, she briskly walked down the corridor.

Arisu had just met Kusuriya Daisuke a few days ago, their meeting triggered by a certain incident.

A certain entity was deeply involved with the incident, one that was the prime subject of rumours.

The ''Mushi''.

Referring to monsters that infest humans and feed on their dreams. They were named Mushi due to their external appearance resembling those of insects<ref>“Mushi” is the Japanese word for “insect”.</ref>. Having surpassed the level of rumours by now, Mushi and the people who were infested by them, known as ''Mushitsuki'', strike fear in the hearts of people.

However, Arisu knows the reality.

The fact that Mushi really exists.

Even as their aspirations and ideals are being consumed day by day, Mushitsuki strive to live on. They march forwards, bearing the fear of dying from having their dream being completely consumed by their Mushi someday.

Arisu did not know anything about Kusuriya Daisuke. She only knew that he belonged to a secret government organisation that captures and isolates Mushitsuki known as the Special Environmental Preservation Bureau.

Due to the incident in which Arisu was involved a few days ago, she was suspected of being a Mushitsuki and thus, she was to be placed under “observation” by Daisuke. As a result of negotiations with the Ichinokuro family, it was decided that Daisuke would stay in the Ichinokuro house.

“…”

Arisu came to a stop in front of a certain room. The blank nameplate outside of the room signified that the room was currently unoccupied.

The door was opened abruptly.

It had been opened by Daisuke from the side, with no consideration for Arisu who stood motionlessly, as if she being in the way.

“Get in quickly. A nurse will spot us.”

Even under Arisu’s glare, Daisuke remained cool. Although he usually hides under the guise of a normal middle school student, once in a while, he reveals a terribly icy look. She was curious as to what kind of life he had led, but the chance of him revealing it himself was as good as none.

“Get out of the way.”

Pushing Daisuke aside, Arisu entered the room.

There was a prior guest already in the hospital room. Within the darkness, a silver light danced.

It was a single morpho butterfly, however, it was not a normal butterfly. It had four antennas and its body was cladded in brilliant scales that seemed to emanate light.

It was the Mushi which followed Arisu. At the same time, it was the Mushi whose original host was Arisu’s close friend who breathed her last in this room one year ago.

The butterfly landed on the windowsill and closed its wings.

“So, this is the room that Hanashiro Mari was in.”

The sound of the door closing came from behind her.

Like the majority of Horusu Seijou Academy’s students, Mari hailed from an affluent family. As such, this private room differed from other six-person rooms; even the bed was a luxury item made of woodgrain. In addition to a large television, a fridge, and a nurse call line, there was even a painting hung above the bed. However, under the receding evening sun rays, everything appeared faded and only a cold stillness hung in the room.

—Ichinokuro… Arisu?

Arisu could almost see Mari tilting her head in puzzlement on the bed.

—I’m sorry. I don’t even know the names and looks of my classmates…

During Arisu’s initial visit, Mari had not even known who she was.

That was only to be expected, as even for Arisu, that was the first time she had seen Mari. Since her admission to the school, Mari had not attended even a single day.

“The Mushi that was supposed be Hanashiro Mari’s.”

Daisuke said as he leaned against the wall with his arms folded.

“It should have disappeared the moment its host died. Yet, why did that Mushi infest an unrelated person like you… No matter whatever it is, just tell me anything you remember that could be a clue.”

Looking at the side, Arisu realised that the bookshelf which was there previously was gone. It had been brought in for Mari who loved books.

“…”

Arisu did not know anything. Even the fact that Mari had been a Mushitsuki.

Silence filled the darkening hospital room.

After a while, she realised that Daisuke was silent.

Lifting her face and turning back, she found him with his arms crossed and head facing downwards. His eyes were closed.

“Hey.”

At Arisu’s low voice, Daisuke raised his head. It seems that he had dozed off.

“Just like the previous case with Harimoto-kun, it’s not like you care about what happened to Mari, right.”

Arisu spoke the words that just came into her mind. Harimoto referred to the Mushitsuki responsible for the previous incident who had already been brought in by the organisation Daisuke belonged to.

“…”

Daisuke let out a big sigh. Seeing his calm countenance touched Arisu’s raw nerves. But when she wanted to snap back, she realised that he looked terrible.

“Are you feeling bad somewhere? It seems to me that you look somewhat tired.”

He looked surprised for a moment, but immediately reverted to his original expression and got up from the wall.

“If you can’t think of any clues, then let’s go already. Someone will see us.”

“What’s with that, jeez.”

It was just as she stood up, her cheeks puffed up.

<br>

—Isn’t it beautiful, that Ferris wheel—.

<br>

She heard Mari’s voice.

Hit by a wave of dizziness, Arisu turned around.

She looked beyond the morpho butterfly shimmering with a silver sheen. Outside the window, a colourful and dazzling Ferris wheel could be seen.

“The Ferris wheel…”

Memories flowed out from the recesses of her mind.

Looking at the Ferris wheel out of this exact window together with Mari, they had made a promise to ride it together someday. Though, which one of them had been the one to suggest that they do so—.

“What’s the matter? Did you remember something?”

“Eh…?”

Called out to by Daisuke, Arisu snapped back to reality.

Just now, something important crossed her mind for an instant. However, she could not remember what was it about despite how hard she racked her brain.

She gazed out of the window. Over there, a circular display of light shined vividly in the darkness of the night.