Editing Mushi Uta:Volume 10 Chapter 2 (section)

== 2.04 Kanon Part 3 ==

Kanon came to the abandoned railway far from the station.

Several dozen other people also gathered in this empty area with rows of rusted containers. The sun sinking in the west turned orange.

“…”

Sitting with hugged knees on top of a container, Kanon looked at a building visible far away.

Tall buildings could be seen at the suburbs. Comparing that region to this town, it was curious that it was dark. There were no lights and it looked strangely dirty, or rather—the surrounding air stagnated, strangely feeling like it was dead.

“That area’s the Abandoned Land.”

Ichi approached Kanon from behind.

“Abandoned Land?” the confused Kanon asked.

“There used to be a lot of love hotels and brothels here. They said that public security was bad and apparently the government bought it to reopen it. But soon after came the recession, and they sold it back to the original real estate company.”

“Oh.”

There were apparently some complex circumstances. Curious about that the lonely atmosphere, for a while Kanon just stared at the so-called Abandoned Land.

“Soon the full moon will come out.”

With a start, Ichi’s words caused Kanon’s heart to clench.

“R-r-right.”

“Is your childhood friend not coming today?”

“D-dunno…”

Kanon awkwardly looked away.

It didn’t look like Tamaki was going to come. Perhaps she finally abandoned ship.

“Hmm. Well, doesn’t really matter. I can’t wait for tonight.”

Saying this, Ichi and the rest went away. Kanon called to them.

“W-wait…!”

Ichi turned back.

They all purely sought salvation and protected Kanon. Thanks to them there was no need to worry about shelter, clothes and food, and above all else, Kanon never felt lonely even once during that entire month.

Was it possible to somehow repay them?

Obviously, it was impossible to really erase their Mushi.

Keeping the lie—would be impossible as long as Tamaki didn’t come back.

Resolve alone would not solve anything. This powerlessness caused tears to well up Kanon’s eyes.

“Umm, Kanon is…”

No, perhaps these tears were actually due of fear.

''They’re gonna kill me for sure…

As the time approached, Kanon felt the need to atone. Just like how a death row convict felt.

At least in the end, Kanon could give a proper thanks and then be killed.

“T-thank you for everything…”

Fear and resignation mixing within, Kanon bowed while wearing a half-crying, half-laughing face.

“Since Kanon is unable to do anything, the only reason Kanon survived this month was thanks to all of you… p-please take care of yourselves and keep being lively…”

The boys and girls looked surprised.

But soon Ichi suddenly averted his face as though embarrassed.

“Idiot…! We’re all doing this just for ourselves so don’t mind it. Also, do you think I’d just leave once I’m not a Mushitsuki anymore?”

Apparently, they misunderstood. They thought that Kanon was regretting Ichi leaving.

“Ah, no, that’s not what Kanon…”

“Even if I’m not a Mushitsuki anymore, I’ll be staying here.”

“Eh?”

“Just straight up leaving once I’m normal… will leave a bad aftertaste. I mean, since you’re useless I really can’t leave you alone, it’s too dangerous.”

As Ichi spoke embarrassedly, the other comrades laughed at him. —Kanon couldn’t understand what was happening.

“But, it’s a bit strange.”

Ichi mumbled.

“After Lady Bird was gone, we’ve all left the new, weakened Mushibane… and ended up gathering with someone even weaker.”

“Lady… Bird?”

“The previous leader of Mushibane. She was super strong and super reliable. But she’d been killed by the SEPB. The new leader’s also supposed to be strong but doesn’t really look like it… we’ve been too anxious, so we bowed out. —But that’s wrong. Perhaps we were just trying to leave everything to other people.”

Ichi smiled. It was a somewhat happy-looking smile.

“I have to protect myself on my own. As well as what I wish to protect. —I feel like I’ve forgotten something so basic.”

When Kanon met with Ichi, the boy’s severe expression was thorny and scary. A month passed and there were no traces of that within his kind smile anymore.

And although he wasn’t scary anymore—he looked much more reliable than when they first met.

“That’s why, even if I no longer have the power of Mushitsuki… I’ll protect my friends.”

It wasn’t just Ichi.

Without noticing, even the Mushitsuki near Ichi and the other people around were all watching Kanon. They all made fun of each other and laughed.

Shaking…

Some deep emotion started shaking from within, making Kanon bow.

“T-thank you so much…”

“Haha, stop that already, idiot.”

Perhaps becoming embarrassed, Ichi and his friends got off the containers.

Left alone, Kanon sat with hugged knees and head buried between them, looking at the floor.

“Ta…Tama-chan…”

A sharp pain throbbed within Kanon’s chest for the first place.

The visible narrow space began shaking.

Ichi called Kanon a friend.

''What can I do—

After finally gaining friends for the first time, Kanon was deceiving them.

“K-Kanon’s sorry…”

Kanon apologized to Tamaki among the doubts.

Being called a friend brought up some improper thoughts.

This was going to waste her actions of saving Kanon from the brink of destruction. Even so, a horrible thought rose to mind for just an instant.

That was—

“Kanon doesn’t want to lie anymore…”

To expose the truth.

Something that the liar called Kanon should never think about.