Editing Mushi Uta:Volume 9 Chapter 4 (section)

== 4.01 Nihei Part 1 ==
What he was doing was, in the end, nothing more than revenge.

Gaining little money and buying little things.

He simply found some convenient words like “three-way satisfaction”.

Good for the seller.

Good for the buyer.

Good for society.

These words symbolized this country’s old-school, moldy merchant spirit.

But there was nothing like that in modern business. A limited amount of people would compete over large amounts of money that would make one’s jaw slacken, and there was nothing good or bad about it.

And these were the kind of people that moved the country.

A world that acted in accordance with the rich—

This era was made like that.

Money held unlimited power.

That was why those who held a lot of money were rulers, and no matter who cried or wailed, they couldn’t hear them from their spot above the clouds. They controlled fates like gods, not caring what happened to those people caught up in it—right, just like they didn’t care about Chouya Nihei’s father being swallowed by that large wave.

Nihei’s family used to run a small pawnshop.

His friendly father often lent money out of his own accord to neighbors who had troubles. He’d actually saved many people like this, so those who heard about it came to the pawnshop—thus starting the never-ending loop that led to no profit. The Chouya family always stayed poor, but those who came to their shop were always full of smiles.

When a large corporation tried to evacuate them for their land development project, they refused because they thought about all the troubled people. As the appeal for evacuation turned to land sharking in no time, and after receiving plenty of harassment, they ended receiving only a meager compensation as their land was stolen.

Nihei would never forget what happened then. Bad reviews about things that never happened started spreading about them, and the people always smiling were replaced with complaining customers. The young Nihei being violently attacked made his father finally give up. His mother was unable to bear it all and left home, his father collapsed of anxiety and was hospitalized even now.

Their savings were used to pay his father’s bills. The money Nihei made by working part-time or selling stuff online by himself he used to temporarily enter a high school. Since he’d been taught the value of everything since he was young, it could be said that his father’s pawnshop saved him.

Such were the times. He didn’t think of his own environment as particularly misfortunate. There were probably countless other unfortunate events even outside those that attacked the Chouya household.

Because of that—Nihei continuing his act as a merchant was a form of revenge.

He also felt like he shouldn’t begrudge the thing called money.

His father had proved that it wasn’t bad at all.

However, the system of the present meant that a million friendly merchants could be crushed under the foot of one ruler who was humming as he worked.

Nihei swore that he would someday show to these rulers.

He would burn into their eyes the scene of a good trade that made no one cry.

Thinking this, Nihei continued his own style of merchant work.

However, in the end—he didn’t have quick enough of a wit or business acumen to rise to the position of a ruler, and he hadn’t enough courage or aspiration to stir the world from above. After all, he vaguely realized that his ability as a merchant was only on the “so-so” level.

More importantly—he really admired them.

Those laughing rulers, sparkling from high above the cloud. Not even minding the fact that they were stomping his family underfoot, he fell in love with their overwhelming power—but didn’t have the capability to acknowledge it.

That was why Nihei kept screaming in a high voice.

The business he was conducting was something splendid that wouldn’t let anyone cry.

Someday he would make these rulers turn to look at his way of doing things.

Business operating with three-way satisfaction would move the world—

Acting this tragedy in the thin line between reality and delusion, he was like a Don Quixote.

While tricking his vanity with the pretext of revenge, his adventure continued.

Even as he found the fight between two rulers—Akasegawa Nanana and Munakata Kaiji—he could only fret and watch from a distance.

And Mushitsuki—

While meeting these bizarre beings that ate dreams, he kept his vain journey.

Money that made people smile, and money that controlled people.

Unable to grasp either one, unable to find any solution.

Nihei felt like laughing at himself.

''There’s no way a half-assed merchant like myself could approach Mushi—



A pedestrian scramble near the train station was dyed by the sinking sun.

“Thank you very much!”

At a road slightly removed from that intersection, Nihei Chouya saw off his customer with a smile. Having obtained a hairclip for cheap, the high school-aged girl distanced herself with a smile.

Dressed in a shirt with a gaudy pattern and cheap jeans, as well as wearing sunglasses, Chouya Nihei opened up an extremely suspicious street stall. He hung clothes and accessories on the guardrails and arranged all sorts of junk and magazine on clothes spread on the ground. A sign made of carboard saying “also buying unwanted items” was fixed in place by a rock.

“Oh, this one? I’ll give it to you real cheap. You can trade it with an extra copy of a card you already have.”

The group of elementary schoolers had their eyes on a trading card. After clamoring for a while, they bought several cards together. Kids these days were quite rich and he was able to profit.

“A great wristband, isn’t it? It’s not too flashy and you won’t get found out even if you wear it to school. ‘Wow, isn’t he surprisingly fashionable?’—you could appeal to the girls in your class, even.”

A group of three high schoolers poked their shoulders and made fun of one another. While mouthing the name of a girl from school they were interested in, they bought the wristband.

“This is the latest issue. Eh? No, I didn’t pick it up, it’s all nice and clean. Mister, if you have any other magazines as well, we can trade for ‘em. Oh, a newspaper? Then it’s only a discount.”

A middle-aged man looked like he was on his way back from work said “Oh, you’re so shrewd,” while laughing and handed Nihei a newspaper and several coins. In exchange he went with the weekly magazine.

“Oh, you’re looking to sell? Thank you very much. —Oh, these are all rather pricy cosmetics. Hmm, nope, can’t do it. In those kinds of shop, they usually remove this—this tag here—after selling the product. Since it’s still attached, it means that… I should wash my hands off of this while I can. Yeah, goodbye.”

He waved with a smile toward the group of middle-school girls leaving in a hurry.

Next a couple of about college age came.

“Welcome, look at everything we have.”

Even while smiling amiably, Nihei glanced ahead. A group of housewives was looking toward him, whispering among themselves. Also, on the other side of the intersection, he could see a homeless person and yet another homeless person starting to glare at Nihei, as if he was encroaching on their territory.

''Probably enough for today—

If someone reported about his to the police or if he contended with the homeless, he would stick out like a sore thumb. Nihei wasn’t quite a “big shot” like Shiika or Nanana, but if he caused a scene, he might end being caught in the SEPB’s net.

“Sorry, I’m closing up shop for today! My stomach started hurting.”

Several days passed since Nihei started making small money like this.

The following day after escaping the Akasegawa Offices, it was fortunate that a free market was being held in the neighborhood. Bargaining with people putting out their shops and trading their clothes, he was able to attain some money. After getting some good finds, he earned his day’s wages by selling various stuff on the roadside.

Since it was urgent, the high-quality although dirty suit and dresses didn’t sell for much. Simply getting replacement clothes and food drained their budget to the bottom.

For honest people, there were many ways to double 100,000 yen.

However, being an escapee and making money from zero—even if they had some money, it was extremely difficult.

“If I buy enough dinner for three people… nearly all of my current savings will be gone.”

Nihei carried a bag full of his wares, getting away from the capital’s noise.

“If I had just a bit more capital—well, can’t do anything about it.”

Buying groceries on the way back, he walked around town.

“…Apparently they’re not going to officially announce the retirement of the Akasegawa Foundation’s chairman for a while.”

While walking in the road lit by the sinking sun, he read the newspaper traded to him by the office worker. He couldn’t see any news about Nanana being dragged off of her throne.

The Akasegawa Group’s Chairman suddenly being shuffled away would be an unbelievable scandal. Since it would also have an effect on their stocks, they probably planned on keeping it a secret until they decided the next chairman.

“…!”

It wasn’t about the chairman retiring, but there was an Akasegawa Foundation advertisement. The agency business’s merchant ads and prize rewards and such were all listed. Seeing one of them, Nihei gasped.

There was a drawing of a sunglasses-wearing teddy bear with speech balloons.

“My type is a girl who likes drinking alcohol! If you hook me up with one, I’ll give you a present!”—.

The ad said that they were looking for people who liked alcohol to develop new items. One person would be chosen from among applicants and receive a cash reward.

Nihei knew that this ad was a fake. Because he noticed this was the exact same bear carried by that robotic secretary.

''If you bring me Nanana, I’ll give you lots of money—

That was what she was actually saying. It was directed at the allies of the alcoholic girl—meaning Nihei or Shiika who ran away with her.

In a purposely massive font was written an amount of money with many zeroes in it.

This was an amount of money Nihei had never touched before. If he had that much money, never mind him being able to open a shop on his own, he could even try opening up a large business—

“…Nooo! What am I thinking about!? I shouldn’t look! It’s like poison to the poor!”

Buying people with money was outrageous.

It wasn’t something people should do, and Nihei’s pride as someone who believed in three-way satisfaction would never allow it.

“I’ll just throw it away! Doryah!”

Crumpling the newspaper, he almost flung it away. —Even so, he couldn’t let go of it.

Something that shouldn’t be done?

Against his pride?

Was that—truly so?

Wouldn’t it be allowed just once? Also—Nihei had a reason why if he did it, he alone would be forgiven. He and no-one else had that authority.

“…I shouldn’t just throw out the trash. We could use it for insulation against the cold as well.”

While nodding to himself, he put the rolled-up newspaper back into his bag.

While avoiding people’s sights and making sure he wasn’t being followed, he reached an old bungalow.

It was the area’s assembly hall, but was used only very infrequently. Since the small building’s rain shutters were fully closed, the knob of the entrance knob was covered in dust.

“Oh, welcome back.”

As he went around to the back of the house, Shiika welcomed him. She was wearing the dress he’d gotten for her.

The other girl there, Akasegawa Nanana, didn’t even turn to look at him. She sat between the building wall and the thicket, staring absently at a certain park.

“I’m back. Ah, being greeted by such beautiful ladies heals my tired heart. Oh, this is dinner. And I’ve gotten other things we might need.”

“Thank you. …I’m sorry, I wish I could have done something as well.”

“You promised not to say that, daddy.”

“Da…? I-I’m sorry for everything…?”<ref>Apparently a reference to an old tv skit. The scene is a sick father apologizing to his nursing daughter who then replies with the quote.</ref>

“Well, Shiika-chan, you just have to look after Nanana-chan.”

The three of them stayed overnight at the assembly hall. Having “bought” some lockpicking skills before, Nihei had opened the lock on the backdoor and they would spend the nights inside. Since it probably served a shelter in cases of disaster, there were beds, not to mention water and electricity.

Since they were intruders, they didn’t turn on the lights, but soon the water bills would come. It was only a matter of time before the owners found out that the water was being used. They would come to pay the bills one day, so they probably didn’t have a lot of time to spend there.

“Umm… have you gotten in contact with Mushibane today?”

“Nope, sorry. Nobody’s at the camp picking up. Maybe they took the initiative after Munakata-san betrayed us and changed their hideout, or maybe it was Munakata who stopped all of their lifelines such as electricity, water and gas. Even if we try to find our comrades, it would be difficult on our own, as we don’t have Halen-san’s member registry. There’s no use in hiding if someone like me is able to find them alone.”

He did have a cellphone for emergency contact, but since they suddenly got out of the party they’d inadvertently left it behind. And since Shiika was wearing a dress at the time, she’d given it to Aijisupa.

“I-I see.”

Shiika’s shoulders dropped and she lowered her head. Nihei also lowered his gaze following that—

“This mark…”

At the girl’s feet was a strange symbol drawn there. It was made of a slanted arrow pointing downwards and crisscrossed by two lines.

“Oh… yeah. This is just a good luck charm for us to quickly unite with everyone.”

Looking embarrassed, Shiika ran her fingers through air. She drew the same thing that was at her feet.

“Coatl Coatl Para Emile.”

A magic spell that would make anything come true—“Coatl Head”.

It was a fad that exploded in popularity all over the country a while ago, and then passed like a storm. It was only for a short while, but it was popular even within Mushibane as well. By drawing this mark and chanting the words, any wish would come true—

“Right, I can go to that handyman!”

Nihei raised his face. He recalled the person who told him to spread that spell far and wide.

She was the person who once saved him. That girl would definitely be able to help them, no doubt.

Nanana’s shoulders twitched.

“Right! I think her name was Ikarino Kirari-san.”

Shiika’s expression also started sparkling with expectation. Nihei nodded.

“I do feel bad that I can’t even thank her for helping me before… but maybe she knows someone from Mushibane. If she could at least introduce us—”

“Hehe… heheheh.”

Hearing this sudden low laughter, Nihei and Shiika startled and turned to Nanana.

The girl that barely spoke at all these last few days was laughing with her shoulders shaking.

“Kirari, dear old Kirari… you should definitely call her. When she sees how low I fell she would be exhilarated. And then she’ll come here and—smother me to death. Yahah.”

“T-to death…? Nanana, do you know her?”

“I do. I know her very well. After all, I’m the one who put her entire life to waste. There’s probably no one in the entire world that hates me as much as she does. She definitely wants to kill me even more than Christy.”

At Nanana’s creepy prophecy Nihei and Shiika became speechless. Seeing her face, it didn’t seem like she was lying—

''—Thank you for using our services.

He didn’t think that the girl who said this while smiling kindly could do anything like that.

Ever since then he recalled her from time to time.

That girl with the star hairpin looked like a truly good-natured person.

It wasn’t an empty bluff to hide her lack of talent like Nihei. He could feel that she possessed clear will and faith and helped people while expecting nothing in return.

“Really? I don’t think that girl would do anything like that… but, thinking about it, she’s also related to Munakata-san. Maybe reaching out to her is quite dangerous.”

“O-oh. That’s right… but if we keep hiding somewhere like this, there will definitely be some chance to get in contact with Mushibane, right?”

“You really are positive, Shiika-chan. That’s somewhat unexpected.”

To be honest, he thought that Shiika would be the first to complain about their runaway lifestyle. Normally she appeared weak.

“I’m… already used to running away.”

Shiika looked abashed as she fidgeted with her gingers. He thought this wasn’t anything to feel ashamed about, but said nothing.

“Also, I’m not alone. —It makes me remember the time when I ran away with two other people.”

“…Yahah.”

Nanana burst out laughing.

“…So stupid…”

Nihei started getting angry.

Despite this being a difficult situation, Shiika was smiling. Even so, Nanana still kept going with her insolent attitude.

The three of them ate the meal bought by Nihei on the spot. Entering the building, it was completely pitch-dark, but at this place the city’s lights still reached there.

They wordlessly got out the bread and vegetables from the bag and ate them.

Nanana took one bite of the sandwich and mumbled something. “…” Her words remained in her mouth and she put what she was eating to the side. She made no further attempt to eat.

“Eat up.”

Nihei grabbed the sandwich and pressed it against Nanana’s shoulder.

“…It tastes bad. It’s dry rabbit-feed.”

“It’s fine, eat it already.”

“How about you eat it?”

“Just eat already!”

“I don’t need it!”

Nanana shook off Nihei’s arm. The sandwich fell from his hand inside the water puddle nearby.

He couldn’t bear it any longer. He grabbed Nanana’s arm.

“Stop it already! Who do you think you are…?!”

“You’re hurting me…!”

“Nihei-san, stop…!”

“I paid for this with my very last money!”

He ended up shouting. Seeing Shiika widen her eyes, he regained his senses.

“—Ah… no… I still have things to sell, so it’s not that…”

“…”

“If I sell those, we can still… somehow manage…”

Nihei’s words couldn’t console them at all. There was a heavy silence.

“Even though you were all gung-ho about letting you handle our money… what a useless guy.”

Nanana sighed, her face tired.

“What—did you say?”

“Hmph, you were lying when you said I was your client, right? Weren’t you thinking I had some hidden assets?”

“Hidden… assets?”

“Too bad. Don’t expect any of that. All of my money was kept in the Foundation.”

As if saying “serves you right”, Nanana started cackling.

What is that woman speaking about—

Passing through anger, he was now just exhausted.

Even though Nihei and Shiika have protected her to this point—she still thought they were doing it for her money?

She couldn’t think of anything but money.

She could value things only based on money.

Such an incarnation of money was right in front of him—

“Sorry for you as well, Shiika. Munakata probably won that auction ages ago. I can’t give you anything.”

Nanana looked to the side and laughed. As she did Shiika puffed her cheeks in apparent anger.

“What is it?”

“…”

“Spit it out.”

“…”

Shiika stopped eating her onigiri and mumbled with a peevish tone.

“I told you we’re friends, and yet you still…”

Nanana widened her eyes.

Nihei also was speechless. Shiika was apparently angry because Nanana hadn’t noticed she was helping her as a friend.

But Nanana didn’t seem to understand this even after hearing her words.

“T-that’s your reason…? You decided that all by yourself…”

“…”

“Didn’t I tell you I no longer have anything to give you…? Didn’t you hear me?”

“I don’t need anything.”

“T-then, what should I give you…”

“…”

“I don’t get this… Yahah, are you an idiot…? What’re you telling me to do… what do you want…?”

Nanana hugged both knees, mumbling to herself while staring at the ground.

That was an extremely bizarre scene.

Shiika called her a friend as if it was obvious and sulked, and Nanana who said she couldn’t understand it. Nihei, too, couldn’t understand them as he was watching.

“I got it… I understand… Later, I’ll give it back to you a thousand times more… I’ll make some money and give you lots… right, that wouldn’t be enough…”

Nanana’s muttering was already a bunch of nonsense.

“But—”

Shiika mumbled as if suddenly recalling.

“I did want to meet this Alpha person…”

“H-hey! See, what I said was right! You were looking forward to me winning this, right? It’s no longer possible though! Yahah!”

Unlike Nanana’s words when she raised her head, she looked to be relieved.

But Shiika calmly shook her head to the sides.

“No, it’s not that… I just have a lot I want to ask Alpha.”

“Like how they became the first Mushitsuki, for example?”

Shiika shook her head again at Nihei’s question.

“What was your dream? —That is was I wanted to ask.”

“…”

“If they’re really the first Mushitsuki just like Munakata-san said… perhaps they know how Mushi came into being. I don’t really understand Enclosure, Bubble and Paradigm Shift and all that, but perhaps amazing things happened just because that person became a Mushitsuki.”

As she spoke gently, Shiika’s profile looked calm. Perhaps she was imagining herself talking with the first Mushitsuki Alpha.

“But—I thought that the real beginning was that person’s dream.”

A dream.

Purely something like the crystallization of wanting to become someone or wanting something to happen.

Something that Nihei didn’t have.

“I wonder if it all started just because that person dreamt of something… if it’s true, it has a very amazing—how do I say it, a very amazing kind of power.”

The cowardly Nihei couldn’t fully wipe off his fear of Mushitsuki.

Even after he saw Chronicler’s interviews, that hadn’t changed.

No—seeing Shiika now, he felt like he finally understood what Chronicler had been asking in the interview.

What sort of people Mushitsuki were?

Wiping away the fake truth of fear, he felt as if he could see their true form.

“—Even if it’s their fault Mushi were created?”

Nanana narrowed one eye.

“It’s stupid to doubt it. Alpha lies at the source of the three movements of Enclosure, Bubble, and Paradigm Shift. —Meaning, Mushi were born in that period more than a decade ago.”

Turning back to Shiika, Nanana wore a twisted smile.

“It isn’t just that Alpha knows what Mushitsuki are. —It’s possible that Alpha themselves are the reason Mushi were created.”

“…”

“Meaning, even you being a Mushitsuki—is their fault.”

“—Yeah.”

To Nanana’s cornering words, Shiika nodded.

“If that’s true, then just like I said… I want to know what dream they possessed.”

Looking at Shiika smiling, Nihei—felt envious of Mushitsuki for the first time.

Were all Mushitsuki as pure as Shiika?

Did all of them possess such unshakable wills that half-hearted people like Nihei never would?

“…I wish I had more money.”

Without thinking, Nihei started to speak.

“Then I could compete in Sotheby’s auction and rescue Alpha.”

Without exaggeration, these were his true feelings.

He wanted to know more about the people called Mushitsuki.

That was why—he thought of rescuing the first Mushitsuki, called Alpha.

That was neither him being stubborn nor any kind of bluff, but his true opinion—

“Yahah. You?”

—Being made fun of by Nanana over this invited his anger.

“…What is it?”

“For someone like you it’s impossible no matter how much you have, obviously.”

''You’re being really stupid'', her tone seemed to be saying, as if she was sincerely tired of it.

“How come you don’t understand what Sotheby is?”

“Eh…? Do you know, Nanana?”

Answering Shiika’s question, Nanana smiled as if it was obvious.

“It’s been quite a while since the auction started. He gave us so many hints. Try thinking a little.”

“W-what do you mean?”

“Sotheby’s the lookout… he’s also a traitor, and poor, pitiful, and sly ruined merchant… he’s trying to sell off his own role… Yahah.”

“…?”

“However, a self-proclaimed merchant like you would never be able to understand it.”

Nanana glanced at Nihei with challenging eyes.

Nihei grimaced. —It was just like Nanana said. She seemed like she had some idea about Sotheby’s identity, but Nihei knew nothing about it.

“Even when I enrolled in the auction you were only looking from the side. You didn’t have the courage to bid.”

“…Shuddup.”

“Say it plain and clear. You’re scared of handling great amounts of money, right? That’s why you’ve created that excuse of three-way satisfaction and ran away.”

“I’m different from you lot who treat money as nothing but numbers… if we’re talking about making deals between people, then no one else could—“

“Yahah. What a poor loser.”

Nanana looked at Nihei as if she was observing him from above.

“You’re reaching too high, you idiot. Yahah. Stupid Nihei!”

Shaken by Shiika’s words, she was probably just venting her anger.

However, Nihei right now wasn’t calm enough to just let it go.

“You little…!”

“Stop!”

Shiika stopped Nihei from trying to grab Nanana.

The momentum caused Nanana to look down on the lunch box trampled by Nihei, and she mumbled something under her breath.

“Nihei-san, stop this…! Nanana as well!”

“Yahah. Idiot, idiot, idiot Nihei! You loser!”

''Loser—

For an instant, the image of his dad losing his shop passed through his mind.

Being bought off by a large business, even his family fell apart.

And Nanana called him a loser.

“—”

“N-Nihei-san?”

Nihei unconsciously let go of Nanana, instead grasping Shiika’s arm.

“It’s already too late—she’s way beyond saving.”

“Eh…”

“Let’s run, Shiika-chan. We’ll never escape if we keep this girl with us. I mean, she’s the one Christy’s after in the first place.”

“Nihei-san… are you being serious?”

Shiika’s gaze caused him to lose his nerve.

“—Why’re looking at me like that?”

“…”

“Am I the one at fault here? Why do I have to endure this? Or do think you can’t rely on me?”

“T-that’s not…”

“I understand! You also make fun of me, right? After all, I talk big while I only making chump change every day!”

Shouting like this made him even more pathetic.

He actually understood this.

Everything that Nanana said was the truth—

“Oh, but you shouldn’t mind any of that.”

Nanana leered at him again.

“It’s true you’re useless, but… no one could possibly save us from this situation.”

As Nanana laughed offhandedly, her pupils weren’t even viewing Nihei or Shiika.

Despair.

That was the only thing reflected in the girl’s eyes.

“The only thing that can save us would be a revolution large enough to overturn this entire country—and that would be impossible without another Paradigm Shift.”

Paradigm Shift—

Nihei obviously knew this term.

The reversal of all values.

A trigger that would change everything to the next era, a complete twist.

He would obviously not be able to accomplish anything like that—Nihei knew it well.

“…!”

Nihei let go of Shiika, turning around.

“Nihei-san…?”

“—I’m going to cool off for a bit.”

Picking up the newspaper that fell to the floor, he left through the assembly hall’s back entrance.

“I’ll be right back, so stay there.”

“R-right.”

“Don’t… move from there.”

“…? Okay.”

Leaving the dazed Shiika and the cackling Nanana behind, Nihei ran away from the assembly hall’s premises.

He walked through the dark residential area.

If he wasn’t mistaken, there was a convenience store with a public phone in it.

“I’m—not making a mistake.”

He mumbled.

In the newspaper he held was the ad with the teddy bear.

“That girl’s the worst. She’s just money-obsessed…”

While mumbling to himself, he hastened his pace.

His heart was beating so loudly it was about to burst.

“It’s no longer possible for me… why do I have to help her…”

Was it really fine?

Wasn’t he making the wrong choice?

Wasn’t he about to commit an outrageous mistake?

He was asking himself in his mind.

However—he could no longer think of any other way to save himself.

He’d already thrown away boring hopes and appalling ideals.

In the end, he was only a vessel until now.

Never mind inducing a Paradigm Shift to save the situation, he didn’t even have the confidence to make a single coin now.

“That was as far as I could… I was a person who could only reach this far…”

Grasping the newspaper with all those zeroes on it, Nihei came to the convenience store.

Putting the card that remained from his sales today into the phone machine, he pressed the number appearing in the ad.

“If Christy or whoever is going to kill that girl… it’s fine…”

Since he asked for the secretary of the Akasegawa Foundation to be brought to the phone, he kept mumbling while waiting for her.

The secretary came.

As she questioned him with a mechanical tone, Nihei promised to hand over Nanana to her.