Editing Mushi Uta:Volume 2nd Episode 08 (section)

===Part 3===

The Ichinokuro residence was located in the centre of Akamaki City, at the high-end residential area.

Many of the students from Horusu Seijou Academy lived near the new residential area on the hill near the station. However, being a distinguished family with long-standing history, the Ichinokuro house resided in the centre of the city with large premises.

In the darkened streets of the residential area, Daisuke walked along the long fence of the Ichinokuro residence. Thereupon, a voice came at him from above.

“Yo, Kakkou. How’re you feeling?”

A shadow jumped down from the fence light-footedly without making a sound.

A head of brilliant blond hair appeared from the darkness of the night illuminated by the street lamps. It was a girl about the same age as Daisuke with upwards slanting eyes like that of a cat. She was wearing the same Horusu Seijou Academy uniform as Arisu. Her identity was that of Kasuou, a member of the Central Headquarters sent to relieve Daisuke from the monitoring of Arisu.

“The worst.”

“Hm? Did something happen? You sure look under the weather.”

She walked up next to Daisuke who continued without turning to face her. Despite her elegant features, her manner of speaking was very coarse. —It seems that he had an affinity with people who spoke crudely today.

''That Harukiyo fellow… I should probably keep quiet about him to Arisu. I have a feeling that he’s dangerous—.''

With such thoughts in mind, he glimpsed to the side towards the girl.

“Nevermind, that was nothing. More importantly, Kasuou. How was Arisu? I sure hope nothing strange happened.”

“She’d be well-behaved. —Or so I wanted to say. I went close to her out of a wee bit of curiosity and found her muttering all to herself the whole time. It was something along the lines of, ‘Daisuke that idiot… he doesn’t even know how I feel. Really, just what is he thinking’. ''Gahaha''. It was just as you said, she sure was furious.”

“…I did made fun of her close friend, of course she’d be angry.”

It seemed like Arisu still held a grudge. This further fanned the flames of irritation from having let that youth called Harukiyo escape earlier.

“Huh? Isn’t that kind of wrong? I’ve only observed her for one day, but I’ve already grasped hold of her personality. Looks like the great me is pretty suited to be part of the surveillance team.”

“Stop daydreaming. …But, what do you mean. Is there some other reason?”

“Nope, not telling. After all, it seems far more interesting to leave it be.”

Kasuou spouted incomprehensibly, causing Daisuke to feel a headache building up.

“Just spare me the trouble already… I’m so done with this mission that I wanna escape elsewhere already.”

“Oi oi, isn't it for this mission that they moved the Blaze Class Rank 1 you to the surveillance team? Not to mention, the one acting as your substitute is me. That means that rather than secrecy, fighting strength is more important for this mission. Isn’t that interesting. If you’d like, how about passing the mission onto me. I’ve just finished a long-term mission too as well.”

“If it was left up to a battle maniac like you, you’d probably get into a fight with Arisu within a day and end up destroying everything in the surroundings. You had better act like we don't know each other even if we meet in school. Another thing, I’m no longer Rank 1 anymore, I was just demoted yesterday.”

“Huh? You kidding me? So I guess the next Rank 1 is gonna be me.”

“You keep thinking that. What can someone unranked like you who only have the ability to destroy things do. In short, someone like you is only useful if it’s for a day… Rather, what kind of shoddy mission is it that even requires your help?”

“Do you actually dislike me that much…? That was completely uncalled for. However, I can’t tell you about my mission as that is confidential.”

“Well, not like I’m going to force it out of you. —It’s fine up to here for today. Thanks for the help. I think my head is going to explode if I continue to hear someone talking like that any further.”

“Aah? Then, would this be better? …Ah, ah, I look forward to seeing you again tomorrow then, Kusuriya-kun.”

Kasuou changed her tone out of a sudden. She came to a stop and smiled with a grin.

“It sure is pretty hard for us both to feign friendliness outside of the mission, isn’t it?”

“…You’re probably overdoing it on that part.”

Seeing Daisuke heave a sigh, Kasuou spitted out with an endearing smile on her face, ‘Shut it, I know what I’m doing’.

Right before he was about to enter the gate, Daisuke thought of something and came to a stop.

“Kasuou.”

“Yes?”

About to return, Kasuou turned back.

“Can you take over the monitoring for tomorrow as well. The whole day, starting from morning.”

“Well, it’s not like I mind, but… does Kusuriya-kun have something on?”

“There’s something I want to check. And also—”

Kasuou looked back in wonder at Daisuke who was hesitating for words.

“What… reason are you fighting for?”

“Huh?”

Seeing the girl widen her eyes, Daisuke was at a loss for words.

Hanashiro Mari, a Mushitsuki that resembled him, was dead.

It was as if it foretold the future of Daisuke himself. No matter what he did, or how strong the feelings he held, in the end—.

“What if for example, there’s an enemy right in front of your eyes, but also civilians asking for help next to you as well. What would you…”

Not knowing what he was speaking about anymore, his mouth came to a shut.

Nevermind, that was nothing—just when he was about to say that, he took a gulp.

Kasuou was glaring daggers at him. Her blue iris pierced right through him as if they were knives.

“Obviously I’d slaughter the enemy.”

“…Yea, I guess you’re right.”

“Don’t you dare lose your balls, Kakkou. Surely you didn't forget how you became Blaze Class Rank 1, huh? Rather than help one or two person, you’ve turned several ten, hundred times the number into Fallen. And that is not going to change now, or ever.”

Clicking her tongue, Kasuou stared straight at Daisuke.

“You said that you were demoted from Blaze Class Rank 1, right. Do you still not get what that means?”

“…”

“If you ever hesitate, or come to a stop… If you run away, that is when I will come to butcher you myself personally.”

[[File:Mushi Uta Bug 2nd p213.jpg|thumb]]

Watching the blond figure disappear into the darkness leaving those words, Daisuke heaved a long sigh.

''It’s just as Kasuou said. What is wrong with me… this whole time, ever since morning—.''

Was it because of the dream about the past.

Or was it because of the slap by Arisu.

''Be it letting the clue found after long last slip away, or even showing weakness… what a display of pathetic blunders.''

Pulling open the antique wooden gate, he entered the premises.

Walking along the stone paving, he approached the main building.

“…”

There, he encountered Arisu.

She must have been waiting for him to return. Dressed in her pyjamas, Arisu stared down at Daisuke with her arms crossed imposingly.

She did not open her mouth and a heavy silence descended between the two.

''Shouldn't you be the one apologizing. Damn it, that’s the problem with brats…''

Grouching on the inside, he said with a sigh.

“Fine fine, that was my bad. For insulting Hanashiro Mari.”

“…”

“Shouldn’t this be enough to appease your anger? This should be fine, right. Oh, and I am taking a break from school tomorrow—”

He closed his mouth halfway.

Arisu had sucked in a deep breath. Then, she bellowed at Daisuke fiercely with all her anger.

“Stupid Daisuke!”

Daisuke was stupefied. Arisu then walked down the corridor with an extremely peeved look.

The headache that he felt from just now throbbed more and more heavily.

''What a terrible day.''

''Nothing I did went the way I wanted it to.''

''There’s so many things that I don’t even know.''

“I don’t even get what's going on anymore…”

''For now, I’ll just go to sleep and forget about everything.''