Editing Mushi Uta:Volume 11 Chapter 2 (section)

== 2.03 The Others ==

Mikko’s plan was quite simple.

They would split into two groups, draw the Mushi in the premises and lead them to a certain spot.

It was just that.

However, for him—Kii-kun—it really was mission impossible.

“GyaaaAAAHHHaaaAAAH!”

The theme park called Castello del Lago became a horror park full of monsters. Men and women, the young and the old were all collapsed around and Mushi that were only body parts roamed around.

Already several minutes passed with them running to draw the monsters away.

As they ran full speed ahead, there was a line of Mushi at their back.

“How many of these monsters are theeeeere! I can’t do it! I’m gonna dieeee!”

“Cough! Cough! Wheeze… wheeze… I’m at my limit, too…”

“We just started running!”

Kii-kun was whining while Mikko was running unsteadily and helplessly. Daisuke shouted at both of them.

Apparently, the Mushi thought of this three-person group as their prey. Finding their figures, the Mushi still wriggled chasing after them. Their numbers were already getting close to thirty.

[[File:Mushi Uta 11 p095.jpg|thumb]]

Even Kasshi and Rui who parted from them were probably faced with the same situation.

However, he had the feeling they were faring better than him—because they didn’t have to take care of two burdens who were stupid and lacked stamina.

“Eee...!”

Several Mushi appeared from the shadows of the clock tower ahead.

“Don’t stop!”

As Daisuke shouted sharply, he accelerated.

He leapt ahead when a Mushi made only of sickle-like legs tried to stab him. However, the moment before it happened, he ducked to dodge, sliding toward a Mushi that was only a head.

Sharp fangs came to bite him, but Daisuke leapt to the side using a feint. The head Mushi bit into empty ground and the momentum caused it to tackle against another Mushi.

Mushi got all entangled and crashed into shops. There was now empty space in front of Kii-kun and Mikko.

“That was so cool...! Who are you!”

If he mistook one step he’d probably die in pieces.

Kii-kun couldn’t understand how he had the nerves needed to calmly jump into this situation. Appearance-wise, he looked just like any normal boy—

Daisuke came back and ran in front of Kii-kun and Mikko.

“So without their hosts, Mushi are this easy... they’re even below animals, then.”

“Cough…! Hosts?”

“No—never mind.”

A little bit of hope peeked its head.

He didn’t know why, but the boy called Daisuke was apparently much more used to this situation than Kii-kun expected. Their plan might be able to succeed like this.

They would capture that incomprehensible test subject or whatever and solve the case.

If they did this and the situation calmed down, Kii-kun should also be able to understand what happened to his body.

Until then he’d desperately go along with them. —If he didn’t do this, he would probably just be left behind like one of the victims strewn around the area.

He couldn’t stand being left behind—

Right now, Kii-kun was single-minded.

“Cough! Cough!”

“Are you alright, Mikko?”

“Haa, haa… you ignore a woman suffering like this… you sure have some sadistic fetishes… Even if you are a complete pervert, I will still—ow.”

“Tch.”

She really looked to be at her limit. After hitting the girl’s cheek, Daisuke carried her slim body.

“You’re gonna have to run on your own though, Kii-kun!”

“Wheeze, wheeze… I know that…”

Even if he tried bluffing, his lungs already hurt.

Even carrying Mikko, Daisuke’s running speed was unchanged. “Don’t breathe at my neck!” “This is me offering my gratitude. You looked like you would enjoy it… cough.” “What’s wrong with your eyes!” Seeing them argue like that from behind, Kii-kun’s chest pricked.

Mikko was important. She seemed to know important things, she was smart and she was also beautiful.

The knight who would save her was apparently Daisuke. It wasn’t Kii-kun, who aspired to be that part.

“—So, what did you mean by this being different from what you’ve seen?”

“Cough… what are you talking around?”

“Don’t play dumb, you just said this now.”

Daisuke and Mikko began talking.

At a place irrelevant to Kii-kun.

“I do not really remember… but I probably referred to Castello being different from the time I came to play. After all, it is in this state… cough.”

“Are you going to be so evasive about your father’s research, too?”

That was obvious.

Unlike Daisuke, Kii-kun was just a normal high-schooler, and he couldn’t do anything.

He simply frantically followed them, wishing to be saved by someone.

Thinking that, he was really pathetic.

“…But that doesn’t mean I give up.”

He mumbled.

He held no grand dream such as wanting to save someone or change the world.

He simply didn’t want to die. If he ended up like his friends, that were the prey of the dark women despite being such good guys, or else like all the people collapsed around Castello, it would hurt too much.

“Ouch.”

Since he ran while thinking, he stumbled on one of the collapsed people.

He tumbled down and scraped his hurt knee, raising his face.

“Ah—”

Daisuke and Mikko’s backs were already far away.

As he timidly turned around—the large swarm of Mushi was obviously after him.

“Daisuke—help—”

No voice came out.

His hips gave in to fear. Cold sweat erupted from his entire body.

At the head of the swarm was a Mushi with only a head. Although it didn’t have a body, it was large enough that it probably couldn’t be contained inside a classroom.

“No way—”

He did nothing wrong since he was born. Nothing at all.

It wasn’t a tough birth and he was born easily. He suffered no huge wound or illness and his grades were always the average of average. In middle school he was in the basketball club, and once he was senior enough, he became a club regular in his second year.

He was blessed with good friends and he even made the girlfriend he wanted. The latter soon dumped him, though.

Once he thought back to his life thus far, he suddenly noticed.

“Is this what they call having your life flash back before your eyes—”

He didn’t think he could nor did he want to save people.

He had no power to change anything.

He just didn’t want to die.

What was so bad about him having this wish when he couldn’t do anything?

As he wished for this as if to fight back, Kii-kun’s lower torso—

“—”

Was bitten by the Mushi’s head and broke down with a spray of blood.