Editing Mushi Uta:Volume 4th Episode 13 (section)

=== Part 2 ===

Kusuriya Daisuke and Saionji Ena entered a large department store near the Akamaki City station.

The two girls who were tailing them also entered the building after them. Daisuke and Ena headed toward the escalator with no hesitation.

"Shopping? Or maybe the movie theater on the highest floor? Never mind which, it's the clichéd date course. They should've put some twist on it."

Approaching the escalator while mingling with the large crowd, Arisu puffed her cheeks.

"If you're curious we can just shout. Why're we going through the trouble of doing all this?"

Putting her hands behind her head, Kasuou complained in an offhand tone. She apparently had no interest in Daisuke and Ena's date, so her blue eyes darted all over the department store.

"I'm here to make sure Daisuke doesn't get too excited and lay a hand on her. A slave's misconduct will disgrace his mistress. And I also feel just a wee bit of responsibility."

"Hah, I don't think Kakkou's got the balls for that. I mean, he won't even attempt to do anything to a heavenly beauty like me."

"…In your case I believe that's the wise thing to do."

"Ah? What did you fucking mean by that. Even if I look like this—"

Kasuou started speaking in a dangerous tone of voice, but suddenly fell silent in response to something. Thinking it strange and following her line of sight, Arisu could see some attendant calling out, "The Sentai show in the kid's square's about to start!" 

Kasuou turned toward Arisu, politely inclining her head. 

"Arisu-san, I remembered I have some very urgent business."

"Kasuou, you… aren't you supposed to be my monitor?"

"Who cares about that. Well then, good day to you."

Leaving an elegant smile behind, the golden-haired girl vanished, mixing with the kids heading toward the kids section.

"Is the SEPB really fine like this…?"

Kasuou was a member of the SEPB, and her mission was supposed to be to monitor Arisu for the whole day instead of Daisuke. Arisu swore in her heart that later she'd tattle about her to Daisuke.

Regardless, now that the problem child warrior was gone from her proximity, she felt lighter. She tried going back to tailing Daisuke and Ena for now.

Yet she could no longer see the two of them. They were probably gone while she'd been preoccupied with Kasuou.

She hurriedly looked around her, but they were nowhere. They'd probably gone to a different floor. As Arisu went toward the escalator, she saw the back of someone unthinkable.

He wore what was probably the uniform of some school. At the very least that tall boy was wearing a blazer she'd never seen before in Akamaki City. Since he was squatting on the floor she couldn't see his face, but she could never forget his disorderly hairstyle that resembled blazing flames.

"Harukiyo…!"

"Huh?"

The boy with a large compress on his cheek turned around. His displeased gaze exerted pressure like that of a wild predator.

Sehateno Harukiyo. He was the Mushitsuki boy that for some reason was snooping about for information on her late friend Hanashiro Mari. According to what she'd heard from Daisuke, Harukiyo would occasionally appear in Akamaki City, operating with his comrades in opposition to the SEPB.

''I don't have any weapons right now… Also, if we battle here—''

She unconsciously readied her body, but thinking of damage to their surroundings, she bit her lips.

"What are you doing here? Don't tell me you were waiting for me to be alone—"

"What does it look like I'm doing?"

"…It looks like you're playing with gachapon<ref>Capsule-toy vending machine.</ref>."

"If you understand then lend me money. This rare piece of shit just won't come out."

Harukiyo angrily extended his arm toward Arisu. It felt like she couldn't object to that.

"C'mon, do it. The other brats are coming. Don't worry, I'll pay you double later."

"…"

Although still wary, Arisu got her wallet out. She never thought she'd be extorted there. Thinking this might be a trap, she forcefully gave him some coins.

"Right on," Harukiyo smiled in satisfaction, turning back toward the gachapon. She could hear the rattling of the lever turning from behind his curled back.

"Ooh…! Oooohhh…!"

He apparently achieved his goal. Raising the capsule overhead, the boy choked in delight.

"SEPB, please catch this guy already…"

As Arisu mouthed the name of the government agency she was rapidly losing trust in, Harukiyo grinned. Putting the capsule in his pocket, he held his hand toward Arisu.

"And now I'll pay you back."

"…Huh?"

[[File:Mushi_Uta_Bug_4th_p031.jpg|thumb]]

Her body couldn't react to this sudden action. Just as Arisu thought she could see a flame flickering in the boy's outstretched hand, a fireball assaulted her.

The flames shaped like a tiger beetle grazed Arisu, burning a life-sized Tokusatsu hero doll behind her.

"W-what're you…"

She leapt away from Harukiyo belatedly. However, a small lump of ashes fell to her feet.

Immediately afterward, she could hear cries of pain from all around. All of the shoppers held down parts of their body, collapsing.

There was something falling from the ceiling in large amounts. Seeing what fell on the floor, Arisu widened her eyes.

"Fleas…?"

There were countless insects that resembled fleas. Yet looking closely these fleas had no legs, and they leapt around using a single needle growing from their mouthpart. Apparently Harukiyo had fried a flea that was about to attack Arisu.

They weren't actual insects. —They were Mushi.

"Hmm, I dunno who's doing this, but they're apparently starting something."

A stream of flames whirled around Harukiyo's body. Baked by the heat wave blowing from him, the fleas leaping around Harukiyo and Arisu were evaporated.

The people bitten by the fleas collapsed to the floor with pale faces. They seemed conscious, but apparently their bodies were paralyzed and so they were unable to move. Perhaps the fleas had used paralyzing venom.

"There's a Mushitsuki around here…? Why is this happening…!"

"Eh, just let it be. Since you're here then Kakkou's nearby, right? Leave it to him. Good work buddy."

Uncaring about the unforeseen situation, Harukiyo was calm. He joyfully brought the capsule out of his pocket and opened it.

''No, right now Daisuke's—''

About to open her mouth, Arisu grimaced. Daisuke was with Ena right now. He probably couldn't take any actions that revealed his identity.

"Harukiyo, there's no way that—you're still aiming for me…!"

"Hmm? I don't mind fighting ya, but you're wrong you know? 'Cuz it seems like it'll take some time to drag Hanashiro Mari outta you. There's no point to attack you right now."

"Don't lie! This has to have something with me being designated a Mushitsuki!"

The flame boy changed his facial expression. A devil's gaze pierced Arisu.

"—What did you say?"

Assault by his pressure, Arisu found herself gulping.

"I can't ignore that. Aren't you just a normal person? It isn't like that morpho butterfly fused with you. But being recognized as a Mushitsuki… ''did'' you fuse with the morpho butterfly?"

Along with the fireballs, Arisu was daunted by a pressure that nearly made her stop breathing. The morpho butterfly landed on her shoulder, but since she lacked any weapon for it to fuse with, it only fluttered its unreliable wings.

—At that moment, in the department store full of anguished cries, the ring for an incoming announcement echoed.

"…Do you know the organization called the Special Environmental Preservation Bureau?"

After the calm chime came the nervous voice of a girl.