Editing Mushi Uta:Volume 4 Chapter 4 (section)

==4.02 Chami Part 4==

The ''gokin'' sound of metal twisting echoed in the damp underground parking lot.

“''Huu…! Huu…!''”

Taking deep breaths, Chami put her weight behind the spanner. With each push, the metal pipe bent even further, till finally it broke from its support and liquid started to flow from the pipe.

She paid the utmost precaution not to produce any sparks. With that in mind, she tried to complete the work as fast as she could.

“''Huu…! —Ow!''”

The spanner slipped and fell out of her hands. Its front portion scraped across her arm, causing fresh red blood to spill.

“''Haah''… ''Haah''… damn it, what kind of shitty job is this. How the heck do you expect me to do this? This kind of menial labour is just impossible with my physique…”

Spitting out her gripes, she returned to work once more.

She had already completed her preliminary investigations regarding ‘URBAN’.

First off, this underground parking lot.

Although there were two separate entrance leading to this parking lot from the tower and the dome, the underground space was actually connected. Water and gas pipes stretched throughout the lot and there was also a boiler room further in.

In addition, the electric, water, gas, and other utility systems had pretty much been completed in the floors aboveground. Only a portion of the upholstery works which has not been completed, and in fact plenty of tenants had already started their preparations on each floor. It seems that the construction had met an impasse just right before the unveiling of the place.

The breakers for the power generator of the tower and the dome had been installed beforehand too. They probably intended to resume work whenever, seeing as how the large high voltage power generator appeared ready to operate anytime. Chami had opened one of the breakers to check, but she could probably had found that out through the power company. She must complete this ‘setup’ before soon.

“''Haah, Haah''… this place sure stinks.”

She was running around the underground parking lot and breaking the pipes lining the wall. From the portions of the pipe that broke, liquid spurted out stalwartly. The foul-smelling liquid formed a layer on the ground of the underground parking lot.

“Really, she sure thought up of something dreadful… what a weird trait for her to take after me. That’s right, after all, petty tricks like this are all I am capable of.”

While muttering to herself, she walked with a splash to another location. She approached another pipe attached similarly to the wall and started to push at it with the spanner.

“…”

If there was even a small spark, that would be the last of her. ''The End''. Chami’s life and ambition, boring things like those would cease without anyone even knowing.

Using the principle of lever, she twisted the pipe from its joint. The bolt supporting the pipe broke off with a ''pakin'', cracking the pipe. Gas spewed out from the crack in the pipe vigorously.

… Chami grinned as sweat formed on her forehead.

“''Kukuu… Hahaa''.”

A heavy laughter rised up from her throat and she continued on her work. She was possibly high from the sharp odour coming from the surroundings. Or perhaps, the stress of doing such life-risking work had popped a few screws off of her head.

“I wonder if I’ll continue to do this kind of thing forever. This kind of cheap ruses which no one ever knows and notices… Well, it’s not like I would be able to do much more than this anyway.”

She completed the work along with her self-derision and walked up the slope leading to the surface with tottering steps.

“If those leads at the centre of the story had seen my actions, they’d probably go, ‘Eh? You did all that? That looks really tough, isn’t it’. After all, I’m no more than just some small-time villain. I already knew that from five years ago… ever since I looked up at that panel with you.”

After exiting to the surface, Chami took a deep breath of the fresh air. However, her hazy consciousness did not seem to clear up.

“…”

She walked towards the tower absentmindedly.

Entering the entrance, she walked up the frozen escalator.

Chami had reached her limit using her ability on the youth around Anmoto Shiika and Kanata. Along with the multitude of other people that became her pawn under her Mushi’s ability, Chami’s concentration ability was greatly reduced.

She recollected the happenings five years ago dreamily.

After becoming a Mushitsuki, she was swiftly detained and inducted into the Special Environmental Preservation Bureau as a member, and it was then that she knew that she would spend her whole life serving the organisation. Losing both family and friends, Chami was left all alone in the world. Lacking any outstanding ability or talent, she despaired at her life that was left to the whims of others to use.

She had just been assigned to a meaningless mission a few days ago. Walking along the streets like an empty shell, she spotted a filthy bench in front of the station.

—''Kuhuu''.

There was a newly unveiled large department store in front of the bench. Looking up at the large panel display installed by its wall was a character laughing.

It was a small cat.

That cat with a dirty exterior was irrefutably laughing at the screen. However, part of it appears to be crying as well.

Chami was surprised and looked up at the screen as well.

What was displayed was a ridiculously beautiful scenery.

An adventure film spanning the entire world. An out of the world fantasy. A love story with freedom and love as its theme. —All of which were stories that couldn’t possibly be Chami’s life.

—''Kuhuu… Kuhuhuu…''

Chami sat down next to the small cat that was shedding tears while laughing.

—What’s with you? Are you laughing? That looks disgusting.

With a scowl, Chami said. When she touched its head on a whim, the small cat shuddered in surprise. Looking at that frightened form, it reminded her of herself and a bout of laughter welled up in her. …Indeed, Chami was frightened as well. About how she had become a Mushitsuki. And how her life would end without her being able to do anything.

[[File:Mushi Uta 4 p273.jpg|thumb]]

—You’re shaking.

Chami materialised her own Mushi. It looks like the cat could see it as well.

—People like me are known as Mushitsuki. How about that? Aren’t I revolting as well?

The cat lightly nodded. Then, Chami burst into laughter.

—''Ahaha!'' What’s with you? Even someone like you understand what I’m saying? That’s weird, jeez… Fine, I shall make you my very first servant. It wouldn’t be bad to have you help out for SEPB’s mission.

Chami could still remember what she had thought of at that time as clear as day.

That even a cat like this had its own wish.

And that it had its own thoughts.

And that its wish was the same as Chami’s.

—Even someone as shitty as me may have a chance to shine as the main character someday.

She had a feeling that the cat held that same dream as her. The cat, which held the feelings of ‘admiration’, was just like a splitting image of her.

Just how high would she be able to climb till?

Just how close would she be able to get to the ‘heart’?

Holding onto those thoughts, Chami shouted out.

—How about we trudge onwards together along this shitty life!

And then, five years passed.

Although their forms and places were different, the two owls had progressed thus far.

Someday, the main character shall be me—.

“It’s time to stop this sentimentalism. If it goes on, it’ll be just like the ending of the movie. After that will the staff roll and then goodbye? ''Hah'', don’t kid me!”

Dragging along the spanner with her heavy footsteps, she came to the ninth floor.

“There’s still more to come, we haven’t even reached the climax!”

The floor which was converted into an atrium served as both an exhibition hall and free space. The four sides were lined with shops, while elevators were located at the four corners.

By the time Chami reached the front of the elevator, she was already exhausted, and she plopped on the floor. The spanner which fell from her grasps hit the floor, letting out a light ring that echoed in the hall. The wall in front of her was glass-sided, and she could view the passageway connecting the tower to the dome.

Looking down from above, Chami kept a lookout.

There were two figures that were approaching the dome. It was Kanata along with a small-statured girl. She couldn’t see clearly due to the distance, but the face was the same as that of the photograph Konoha secretly took from the top-secret documents.

As expected, it’s Fuyuhotaru… but what the hell are they doing, damn it!

Chami unconsciously slammed her fist into the glass surface.

“W-why’re they practically unwounded! God damn it! God damn useless idiots! Couldn’t they even do anything? Why do you think I planted my Mushi into him! Don’t tell me they were scared!”

According to her plan, the two of them, Kanata and Fuyuhotaru should have accumulated quite some wounds by the time they arrived here.

Kanata—she was able to grasp that the man was zealous towards his mission of the assassination of Horisaki Azusa.

However, she did not have any clues as to why was Horisaki Azusa chasing after Fuyuhotaru. She probably didn’t even treat Kanata as an opponent. That’s why, to Kanata who had lost his ability to make calm judgements due to Chami’s Mushi, there was only one option left for him. That was to capture Fuyuhotaru and use her as a bait to draw Horisaki Azusa out.

The place to draw her out would be here, at ‘URBAN’. He would have figured out that Horisaki Azusa would be around here since this was where she disappeared a few days ago. And, it was probable that for Kanata who had lost his composure, he would not even report back to Headquarters as long as he had not completed the mission.

However, according to her expectations, Kanata should have fought against a certain youth when he was trying to capture Fuyuhotaru. The youth with a headband was supposed to be protecting Fuyuhotaru. The impression that Chami got from him was that he would have been quite a troublesome opponent.

Kanata was supposed to have fought the headbanded youth and get injured, as well as weaken Fuyuhotaru on top of that—that was her plan. She had already confirmed from Konoha that Fuyuhotaru did not any will to fight.

She would then kill the weakened Kanata, and obtain Fuyuhotaru and Horisaki Azusa. But, from the looks of it, the chance of Chami being able to win against Kanata seems low. He was bleeding from his torso, but that only seem to be a superficial wound judging from his firm footsteps.

“God damn it…!”

Chami watched as the two of them entered the dome, then walked down the passageway leading to the tower after a while. —Chami had already confirmed that Horisaki Azusa was not in the dome. Their actions were as she had expected.

However, she saw the figure of a youth walking into the premises alone all of a sudden.

It was the youth with the headband.

It seems that he had noticed the two people walking down the passageway. He scratched his head and then headed towards the tower with a composed look.

Chami reflexively patted her chest.

“So that’s it… they haven’t even fought? You’re late. But, well, fine. This result is alright.”

She released a sigh with a ''haah'' and looked towards the ceiling.

“The actors have all gathered, don’t you agree, Owlet?”

She stood up with a grin and took a lighter out from her pocket. It wasn’t any cheap lighter, but an electric ignition type oil lighter whose flame doesn’t go out unless one closes the lid. With the thought that this would probably serve as a suitable incense to offer up to her deceased partner, she had gotten the lighter.

Pressing the button, the door of the elevator opened. —Chami had checked the breaker for the power generator just for this purpose.

She lighted the lighter and threw it into the elevator. She watched the lighter roll on the floor of the elevator and pressed the button for the underground parking lot.

“Or would it be better to say that the stage had been set?”

With those words, she sat down once more.

By her side, the elevator’s door closed.

“''Huu''…”

She breathed out and lowered her head.

Closing her eyes, she immersed herself in sentimentality once again. But, as she does so, an unforeseen voice called out to her.

“Hey, Chami-chan. What were you doing just now, ditching school for this?”

“…!”

Thunderstruck, Chami turned around in a flash.

An unbelievable person was standing there. It was someone who was not supposed to be in this screenplay that Chami wrote. That girl was not supposed to be present on this vulgar battlefield.

Up till now, Chami had always been on high alert around her surroundings. That was because she was always cautious against having the SEPB realise her scheme. However, she cursed herself for the oversight that she had completely overlooked the one person that even till the very, very last she would not include in the casting list.

“A… Ayukawa Chiharu…!”

Similar as to when they had met in front of the station yesterday, Ayukawa Chiharu was standing there looking extremely carefree. On her slightly inclined face, there was a bitter smile.

“I was thinking about that, Chami-chan. But, if you did that…”

Chiharu spoke with a troubled expression that looked out of place.

“…Wouldn’t this place blow up?”

Chami seemed to hear the sound of her scenario shattering into a million fragments.