Editing Mushi Uta:Volume 2nd Episode 07 (section)

===Part 1===

Under the clear skies, a buoyant music wafted through the air.

The moment one walked passed the gaudily decorated school gate, they would be faced with the specially installed stage. The band on stage was probably a recreational one formed by students as the accompaniment did not match the tempo of the vocals, but even so, the music still created a jovial atmosphere.

Long tents were positioned along the school building, where assorted signposts were placed before them at regular intervals. Most of them sold food and beverages, but there were also game stalls such as a shooting range.

In addition to the students in uniform, there were a lot of people in casual clothing as well. They mostly consist of students from other schools as well as nearby residents. They mingled along with students handing out fliers as well as the costumed mascots advertising their respective stalls.

Arisu, Ena and Takako had come here to the Private Honami University Affiliated Middle School’s cultural festival.

“Hey, Arisu! They’re having a frisbee tournament at the field. Wanna join with me? We’ll sweep home all the prizes!”

Ena, dressed in a punkrock style wearing a hole-ridden jeans and skirt lined with chains, coupled with a jacket and wristbands, pulled Arisu’s arm. In her hand was a pamphlet that she got from the organising committee tent just now.

“Frisbee, huh. With your fearsome dexterity, I fear that you might really dominate the game.”

Holding a drink on one hand, Arisu laughed. The miniskirt, jacket and boots she was decked out in were all overseas branded goods.

“Arisu-san. It is bad manners to eat and drink while walking, you know.”

Takako opined to Arisu while walking with her hands behind her back. The casual wear she was in was a rare sight, a combination of hot pants with a cardigan and leg warmers.

“Speaking of which, Arisu… isn’t the colour of that drink out of the world? I wonder just what did they put in. Even I wouldn’t dare to try that.”

“It’s surprisingly good, though. Not to mention, didn’t you just wolf down that charred-black yakisoba just now, Ena.”

“Yea, it was really burnt to a crisp. Well, but that’s how you’re supposed to enjoy the festival food. Aren’t you gonna eat anything, Takako?”

“Erm, I don’t really like this kind of food… By the way, isn’t it about the time to meet up with Daisuke-san?”

Reminded by Takako’s words, Arisu looked up at the clock installed on the school building. As she mentioned, there were barely any time left before the appointed three o’clock.

“You’re right. Well then, I’ll see you guys in a bit. I’ll contact you when I’m done.”

“Hey, can we really not follow along? I’m kind of interested in Kusuriya-kun’s acquaintance as well. It’ll be fine if we just accompany you to the meet up place, right? Please?”

“Nope… Well, if it’s only until there then it’s fine I guess. So, you guys coming along?”

“I wonder what kind of person Daisuke-san’s acquaintance is.”

They walked across the lively festivities and entered the school building. After changing for the indoor slippers, they walked down the corridor packed with each individual class’ attraction.

The location that Daisuke had specified seems to be in the building next door. The three girls proceeded down the corridor lined with signboards.

Outside of the window, an out-of-season morpho butterfly flitted along at the back of the three girls near the ceiling.

“Hey hey, what should I do if that friend is a girl? Or even worse, if they’re not just friends, but share a deep relationship… Ah, I don't think I will be able to recover from that.”

Clinging onto Arisu’s arm, Ena moaned towards the heavens exaggeratedly. Takako laughed in response.

“It might be that he wants to introduce his girlfriend to Arisu-san.”

“''Ah!'' No way! That can’t be, Kusuriya-kun is our property!”

“Who knows, maybe she might be his fiancée?”

“''Nooo!'' That can’t be!”

“''Ufufu'', what if they’re already married.”

“''Hiii!'' …Or rather, that can’t be the case. Takako, do you really enjoy seeing people suffer that much…?”

Kusuriya Daisuke. The freeloader at the Ichinokuro house.

Arisu had not come here to the Private Honami University Affiliated Middle School to have fun at their cultural festival. It was to meet with one of Daisuke’s acquaintance. That person was a student at this school.

She did not hear the specifics from him, but he did mention that the person was ‘someone with a few screws loose in their head’.

“I don’t think their lovers. He did say that they are not even friends.”

Ena and Takako looked at Arisu questioningly at her words.

“Eh? Really?”

“That sounds somewhat forlorn.”

They proceeded down the corridor on the second floor and headed towards the special classroom block.

Different from near the school gate or the field, this block seemed to be quite devoid of people. There was still the presence of people on the first floor which was connected to the gym, but the second and third floors were completely silent.

“…Hey, Ena. Is it really this way?”

“The second Arts room, right? This is the right way. …I do wonder why the surroundings are so deserted though.”

“That must be it.”

The place Takako pointed to was the deepest and darkest area.

“…”

An awkward silence descended amongst the three of them.

There was indeed a sign that read, ‘Arts Room 2’. However, affixed to that sign hanging was another signboard that read, ‘The Fortune-telling Society’s 100% Accurate Divination Booth’.

The door was covered by blackout curtains, and a black curtain was drawn over half of the corridor’s window.

It was as if only that area was isolated in darkness.

“W-will you be alright, Arisu? There’s some kind of abnormal atmosphere around here.”

“It’s eerily quiet over here.”

“L-let’s check it out for now. We’ll all look at once, okay. D-don’t leave me alone here, please.”

The three girls took a gulp and stood in front of the blackout curtain. With Ena at the bottom, Takako in the middle, and Arisu at the top, the three of them drew back the curtain along with the door.

Inside, they saw Daisuke’s ‘acquaintance’.

“I’m overjoyed at your visit after such a long time. ''<nowiki>*</nowiki>Lick<nowiki>*</nowiki> <nowiki>*</nowiki>Lick<nowiki>*</nowiki>''”

“…”

All expression disappeared from the girls’ faces.

Hit by a sense of giddiness, Arisu recalled the events that led up to this situation.