Editing Mushi Uta:Volume 2nd Episode 05 (section)

===Part 4===

“I’ve already heard about the situation. Sounds like a troublesome fellow.”

“I’d say she is about as strong as myself. Using the Rank system, she’d be around a Blaze Class Rank 6.”

“What’s that, that’s not a very big deal.”

“However, when she had been captured one year ago, she had only been unranked. Unlike the rest of the unranked small fries who remains unchanged.”

“So, you’re saying that her rate of improvement is unprecedented…”

“That is one of the reasons that they’ve requested for you to convince her. They also felt that it was a waste for the experimental subjects to be turned into Fallen so rapidly. It seems like they really want for her to work for them as a member of SEPB.”

“One other reason is because of that, right. Well, fine. I already have a plan.”

“A plan?”

“…Even so, how did you fail to convince a measly inmate, Aki. You’re too soft as always. There’s no need for us to sympathise with them—”

“She is different from the other inmates… Well, you will see for yourself once you’ve meet her in person. Even for you, this time round it won’t be—”

In contrast to when they met just now, the two youths walking down the passageway now had completely different expressions.

With stern expressions, Daisuke and Aki walked down the passageway briskly.

As they entered deeper into the facility, Arisu realized that the number of people walking by decreased.

All of a sudden, Aki turned around to look at Arisu.

“Are you serious about bringing her along?”

“What’s with that. Is there a reason I can’t tag along?”

“Taking this opportunity, it’s better for her to see for herself as soon as possible.”

Daisuke said while facing the front as he walked, not meeting her eye. Arisu furrowed her eyebrows.

Eventually, the three of them reached the end of the passageway.

There were two elevator doors. Daisuke stood in front of the left elevator door, while Arisu was pulled by Aki to before the one on the right.

“We’re not going together?”

“The third practice hall on the seventh floor is partitioned by reinforced glass. Saying that you have a plan… what is it that you are going to do?”

“You will understand once it starts.”

The two youths completely ignored Arisu’s query. Then, the doors to the elevators opened simultaneously.

Right before they entered, Daisuke turned to look at Arisu.

“…?”

As Arisu tilted her head in doubt, he averted his gaze before disappearing into the elevator. She boarded the elevator on the right with Aki and it slowly began moving.

“Hey, didn’t he come just to convince the Mushitsuki? Why the equipment?”

“It’s probably to prepare for the worst or something. I was only ordered to bring him here, they didn’t tell me anything more. Don’t worry, even he wouldn’t do anything too overboard.”

The elevator soon came to a stop. The door opened, revealing a long passageway. The two of them proceed down side by side.

Arisu spoke out the question she had in mind.

“Aki, you don’t seem to fear Dai—him, right. Even though everyone else tries to avoid him.”

“Hm? I guess so, we’ve known each other for long, we’re comrade in arms so to speak. Besides, no matter how strong he is, it doesn’t change the fact that he is still just a brat.”

“Hmm, so he is that strong.”

Arisu replied in a light tone. Aki looked at her in surprise.

“What is it, staring at me like you’ve seen a freak.”

“No, it’s nothing… Don’t tell me that you’ve been staying by his side without knowing anything about him?”

“Of course, I know. Firstly, he lazes terribly in bed. Next, he’s weak to cute girls. In other words, he’s a closet pervert.”

“I-is that so? I… never knew that.”

“Then, next is your turn. Tell me what you know about him.”

Facing Arisu who plainly ordered him, Aki turned sombre. He looks as if he can’t decide whether to tell her or not.

“Well, tell me.”

Arisu restated. The youth opened his mouth in hesitation.

“He is the strongest Mushitsuki.”

“…”

“At least, that is how the people around views him, and he is in fact abnormally strong to match. It goes without any doubts that he had saved the SEPB from perilous situations multiple times. Most prominently, during that incident two years ago.”

“That incident?”

“It was a primary school girl. The SEPB set out to capture that girl who was a Mushitsuki. However, that girl was too strong. She was far stronger than anything the SEPB’s ever faced before or even imagined. It was due to her that several dozens of our members were turned into Fallen. For the SEPB of that time, a damage of that scale pretty much meant that they were wiped out. All at the hands of a single girl… by Fuyuhotaru.”

Arisu widened her eyes.

Fuyuhotaru—that was the name that Daisuke mentioned in his nightmare. The name that he told Arisu to never speak of again.

“The worst thing was that at the same time, a revolt was happening on the inside of the SEPB. The East Central Branch tried to usurp the Central Headquarters. However, that ended up in failure. …In addition, almost all of the members that participated in the coup d'état were turned into Fallen. All by hands of a lone Mushitsuki.”

Arisu stared straight at Aki.

“That was none other than him. Concurrent with subjugating the coup d'état, he also succeeded in capturing Fuyuhotaru. All this was accomplished by him alone. One could even call it a national-level crisis. I was also one of the personnel who participated in the mission to capture Fuyuhotaru, but there was nothing I could do. She was someone who possessed strength equivalent to a disaster. …And yet, he was still stronger than that girl.”

Arisu could almost see the fear bubbling up at the thought of that time from his side profile.

“I still remember clearly how he looked like when I first met him. It was as if he saw the whole world as his enemy. The other Mushitsuki fear him not only because of the fact that he is stronger than anyone else. It is also because he does not falter for even a second when defeating his enemies.”

But then, the youth’s strict visage flipped around all of a sudden to form a smile.

“But, like I mentioned earlier, the usual him is just a brat that behaves like how he is just now. You’ve mentioned it yourself too. I also wanted to know what was it that made him so merciless as such and tried to find out, but… lately, I’ve been wondering. Perhaps, I will never be able to understand him. Why is he the way he is… even though there are Mushitsuki like her too.”

“''Her?''”

Aki did not reply her and only smiled as if to gloss over the issue.

“Well, in any case, it may be impossible for someone like me to be able to understand him. For all I know, he might actually be a real monster—”

“If you speak any further, I’m going to hold you in disdain.”

Arisu realized that she was unconsciously glaring at Aki.

''—No matter who it is, anybody would be afraid of monsters, that’s all.''

Arisu recalled how Daisuke looked when he said that. She could not view him the way he spoke about himself seeing how he hid his expression behind an ironic smile.

“…My bad, that was a slip of tongue. Forget I ever said that.”

Aki raised both of his hands with a bitter smile.

“That’s right, it may be difficult for me, but if it’s someone the same—someone as strong as he is may be able to comprehend his thoughts.”

“…”

“You seem pretty strong as well. He did mention how you were the first to stop a straight-on attack by him.”

“Well, I guess I can do that sometimes.”

“If it’s you, then maybe… you can understand him.”

Looking at the side profile of the youth muttering to himself, he seemed to be brooding over something.

They reached the end of the passageway.

The door opened before the two of them.

It revealed a wide room. Large machines lined the floor and monitors were placed everywhere. A large number of adults in laboratory coats turned to look at them. There was a large glass window installed at the end of the room.

All of the adults stared at Arisu and Aki. Their gazes were as if they were going to swallow her whole.

“W-what’s with these people…”

“They’re bursting with curiosity at you. This is an observation room for gathering data, and all of them are observers. In the eyes of such people, Mushitsuki like us are nought but guinea pigs.”

Aki whispered to her softly.

“Get into standby, Blaze Class Rank 5 member, Aki.”

“Yes.”

Following the order, Aki moved towards the glass window inside with Arisu in tow.

“You just sit down here obediently. No matter what happens.”

“What do you mean no matter what happens…”

Beyond the glass was a vast hall that was as large as Arisu’s school gym. In the centre of the hall, a block of reinforced glass partitioned the hall into two areas. The inside of the hall was dark and she couldn’t really see anything.

“The other side is unable to see through to this side. This door over there leads to the hall, but it has never been used before.”

Just as Aki was speaking.

A figure appeared from a tunnel by the side of the wall.

It was Daisuke. He was wearing the familiar jet-black coat and a handgun hung from his right hand.

When Daisuke stood in front of the reinforced glass, a female voice rang out from the speaker.

[Test subject 2587 shall enter the training premises.]

A high-pitched alarm resounded noisily, causing Arisu to stiffen at the suddenness.

The alarm stopped just as randomly, causing the area to be enveloped in a tense atmosphere.

''—Just what is going to happen now…?''

Trembling, Arisu noticed a movement in the corner of her eye.

At a space in the hall where the illumination does not reach.

A pair of white legs appeared from beyond the darkness.

“…!”

Arisu’s breathing paused momentarily.

Standing before the illumination was a lightly-dressed girl. Her neck was wrapped by chains, and both of her arms were bound by restraints.

That was undoubtedly the girl Arisu met at the entrance room.

“That girl…!”

However, different from when Arisu met her the first time, she had a sharp glint in her eye. Looking at her eyes with her emotions fiercely suppressed, Arisu felt a chill run down her back.

The girl smirked. It was directed towards Daisuke who stood beyond the reinforced glass.

[No matter how many of you show up, my will will never change. I will never approve of you guys, SEPB…!]

The coldness of her voice shocked Arisu. Just how much anger was behind the voice for it to sound so icy.

[Just because they are Mushitsuki, you would capture these innocent people and lock them up here… And that’s not all, you guys even force them against their will to capture other Mushitsuki just like themselves. If you ask me, I’d say that rather than the Mushi, you guys are the real monsters!]

Daisuke did not even move an iota receiving her rant, only staring at her calmly.

Aki’s face twisted.

“More than ten members have tried to convince her one-on-one. However, all of the attempts ended in failure. That was because…”

Daisuke turned to face their side. He lifted his chin in the direction of Arisu and the rest who he should not be able to see.

[Understood. Let the other inmates in.]

“Wha-…?”

Aki uttered in surprise.

Several people dressed in the same light clothes as the girl appeared from behind her.

There were several dozens of people, all of them with chokers and arm restraints. They gathered around the girl facing Daisuke.

“This number… are almost all of the inmates gathered here? What the hell are you planning to do!”

This must have been beyond his expectations, as Aki became restless. On the other hand, the adults in coats watched over the situation in silence.

[Everybody…!]

The girl was caught by surprise as well, widening her eyes in astonishment.

[Rina…!]

[Are you alright, Rina!]

[Rina!]

Surrounding her, the inmates shouted chaotically. Rina must have referred to the girl with the sharp gaze.

“What? What is happening…?”

Arisu looked towards the youth next to her. Aki still appeared to be bewildered, but he swept his gaze across the hall and spoke.

“All these people are the Mushitsuki that the SEPB had captured… In the year that Rina had been imprisoned, all the Mushitsuki had gathered around her somehow. It was till the extent that even some the bureau members held the same opinions as her. As a result, they could not treat her roughly. This in turn affected the persuasion of other inmates.”

Arisu could accept that explanation readily.

She had felt it from the time they first met, be it her words or her expression—all of it held a charm which attracted people.

[What’s your intention? Are you planning on convincing all of us at the same time?]

Rina flashed a provocating smile towards Daisuke. Having gained allies, Rina and the other inmates seemed to have grown even more rebellious.

But—.

[K-Kakkou…?]

Out of the blue, voice erupted from behind Rina.

[Kakkou…! It’s Kakkou!]

[Run, Rina! That guy…!]

Voices that sounded like shrieks spread like wildfire, plunging the hall into a state of panic. All of their looks of fear were fixated at none other than Daisuke.

“Kakkou…?”

Arisu furrowed her eyebrows.

[Blaze Class Rank 1 member, Kakkou. Please execute your mission.]

A commandeering voice echoed in the hall.

[Understood.]

The one who replied was none other than Kusuriya Daisuke who had his face hidden behind the goggles. Arisu was shocked.

[Rina!]

[Kakkou…!]

[Rina!]

[K-Kakkou…!]

Between the two extremes of shrieks and angry cries, Daisuke and Rina stared at each other in silence.

''—Just what are the two of them…!''

Arisu was unable to even speak.

The mysterious girl, Rina, and Daisuke with a ruthless expression.

It was as if they were exact opposites.

Rina was probably a presence that instilled courage in her fellow Mushitsuki; that was evident from the behaviour of the people around her currently.

In contrast, the way Daisuke was reflected in their eyes was as if they were looking at a slaughterer looking to deprive them of their dreams.

A Mushitsuki that provides, and a Mushitsuki that robs.

The two polarising Mushitsuki stood face-to-face separated by the reinforced glass.

[I see. You are the infamous… Kakkou. The vilest and the worst Mushitsuki!]

[…]

The girl was overflowing with rage and hostility. Conversely, Daisuke was unchangingly expressionless.

Without warning, Daisuke opened his mouth to speak.

[Don’t you want to defeat this vilest Mushitsuki?]

The hodgepodge of voices in the hall came to an abrupt stop.

[Anyone is fine. If any of you can defeat me, then I’ll release every single one of you.]

Compared to how he was at school normally, it was a low voice that Arisu thought did not seem to belong to him.

The hall was wrapped in stillness. Then, a commotion interspersed with fear and doubt was raised.

[Do you really think that we would believe your words? Having locked us up all this time… just what are you planning now.]

[It’s up to you guys whether to believe it or not. Are you going to do it? Or are you not?]

At his words, Rina and the rest turned to face one another.

“What the heck is he thinking…”

Their hesitation reached up to where Arisu and the others were at. Aki groaned.

Having made up her mind, Rina readied into a stance.

[It’s not like we have any other choices, right. …Fine, bring it on, I’ll face you myself.]

[However. Anyone except for you, Rina.]

[Wha-…! Why—]

[F-fine… I’ll do it]

The one who raised his hand in place of Rina was a young man with short hair and a sturdy-looking body.

Several minutes later.

The short-haired young man was brought by several bureau members to in front of Daisuke.

[Y-you will really release everyone if I win, right?]

At the same time, the tension in the room Arisu was in rose.

“If it comes down to it, make sure that we can electrocute the inmates whenever.”

One of the elderly man ordered. The people sitting in front of the displays nodded.

“…”

Aki frowned towards the hall with an austere expression.

[Ah. I have to mention this before however.]

[…?]

[Do not expect me to hold back in the least.]

His words marked the start of the battle.

A green checkered beetle appeared out of nowhere and descended onto Daisuke. The moment it touched his handgun, the checkered beetle morphed into feelers that combined with his handgun and body,

The short-haired young man also materialised his Mushi. It was a large Mushi with alternating black and white stripes on its long and narrow body. With thin blade-like wings and an abnormally long and slender mouthpiece, it closely resembled a mosquito. A green fluid dripped from the tip of its mouthpiece.

The young man’s Mushi had been first to move. The moment it flapped its wings, its huge body already flew over Daisuke’s head.

''—It’s fast…!''

Arisu couldn’t even capture the moment the mosquito accelerated with her eyes.

Daisuke had not even readied his handgun and remained standing still. Behind him, the huge mosquito was flying at alarming speed.

Looking at how Daisuke did not make a single move, the young man must have thought he had a chance of winning and flashed a grin.

“It’s dangerous…!”

Arisu reflexively shouted out loud.

Having circled to his back in an instant, the mosquito accelerated aiming for Daisuke’s back.

But in the next moment, Daisuke jumped. Leaping into the air with superhuman leg strength, he did a somersault mid-air. The mosquito’s sharp mouthpiece barely grazed his coat.

A cannon-like blast of a gunshot reverberated.

[''Guaah!'']

The bullet shot by Daisuke pierced through the mosquito’s wing.

With a groan, the young man collapsed onto his knees. —The damage sustained by a Mushi is rebounded to their host’s psyche.

The injured mosquito rammed into the wall.

Daisuke landed on the ground and walked towards the young man who was grinding his molar with a look of frustration. —However, he then walked past him and approached the mosquito.

The sound of a cannon boomed out again.

[''Ga… ah…!'']

The bullet tore the mosquito’s leg into shreds.

[''Wha-…!'']

““''Wha-…!''””

Rina, Arisu and Aki’s voice overlapped.

[The match is already decided! It’s our loss! So, just stop!]

[Decide on who is going to come face me next.]

Daisuke said coldly. With another gunshot, another of the Mushi’s leg was blown apart.

[What… did you say?]

[We’re going to continue, until the very last person. —Or, until you pledge to cooperate with the SEPB, Rina.]

The hall and the room were dominated by silence.

On his face turned back to face Rina, there was a smile. As if he was enjoying how he was torturing the Mushi before him.

[[File:Mushi Uta Bug 2nd p053.jpg|thumb]]

“Kakkou… You…!”

Aki glared towards Daisuke in the hall. His look of shock was gradually seeped with anger.

''—Wrong…''

In a daze, Arisu groaned in her heart.

''—This isn’t Daisuke. That person is…!''

[…You are not human…]

Rina broke the silence in a penetratingly cold voice. Pervading through the reinforced glass, Rina glared at Daisuke murderously.

[If you’re targeting me, then fight me yourself! Why are involving these unrelated people, Kakkou! KAKKOU!]

[There’s no way they’re unrelated. Those of you behind Rina, watch closely. As long as you remain here—as long as I am around, there’s no way any of you are getting freedom. I’ll teach you guys that you have no options other than to submit yourselves.]

“Oi, give Kakkou the order to stop! There’s no need for him to go so far!”

Aki turned towards the coated staffs.

“Everything is proceeding as planned. Continue the collection of data.”

The most senior researcher announced indifferently.

“What the hell… do you see us Mushitsuki as—”

[Those who still do not understand, step up. Before this guy’s Mushi is completely destroyed.]

The cannon-like booms continued, further wounding the mosquito. The young man continued to groan in pain.

The hall was absolutely inundated in fear. None of the inmates stood forward, only watching the tragedy unfold before them in terror.

[Stop! Stop it, Kakkou! KAKKOU!]

A Mushi materialised behind the screaming Rina. There were seven red spots on its frightful rugged carapace—giving an impression of a ladybird. Its ominously wriggling mouthpiece looks like it could bite off someone’s head in one go.

The ladybird slammed its body against the reinforced glass. However, that only caused the wall to shake a bit.

[That’s futile, the only one who can break that glass in the SEPB is me. Stand down your Mushi. If not, I will activate your choker.]

[Why are you going so far…! Even though we’re all Mushitsuki…!]

Rina scratched at the glass until her nails bled.

''—My dream is… to build a place of belonging for Mushitsuki.''

The girl who had said that with a pure smile was currently bawling right in front of Arisu’s eyes. At that ghastly scene, Arisu could only stand there in a stupor.

“Kakkou…! Why are you going so far…!”

Aki too was banging his hand against the glass. It was a voice tinged with anger, disbelief and slight loneliness.

“…”

Arisu wordlessly grabbed the metallic fence above the equipment.

A silvery radiance shone above her head. It was the morpho butterfly.

Unrest ran through the room. Aki turned towards Arisu.

“W-what are you doing?”

“What, you ask…?”

Muttering in a subdued voice, she turned towards Aki with a glare. She must have looked ferocious, as Aki took a step back in recoil.

“There’s no way something like this can be allowed. Why is there a need for him to go so far…!”

In her sights, Daisuke was still attacking the defenceless Mushi. The back that she always saw right next to her seemed to be emitting malice now.

However, there were no changes at all in the morpho butterfly fluttering above her head.

Arisu looked up at the silver butterfly.

''—Mari…!''

The morpho butterfly had once belonged to her close friend, Hanashiro Mari. That Mushi had now been entrusted to Arisu. She could not fathom its true intentions, but it had always protected her whenever she was in danger.

''—Please, Mari…!''

She shouted in her heart.

Even so, the morpho butterfly merely flapped its wings above her. Arisu bit back her molars strongly.

[Stop it, Kakkou! …Please, just stop!]

[Pledge your cooperation! All of you!]

The shouts of the two Mushitsuki intermeshed.

“…!”

Arisu released her hands for the fence at last and kicked off the ground.

She went before the door which Aki mentioned was connected to the hall. There were a multitude of buttons before her, but she just smashed them all at random.

“Oi, stop that immediately! …Activate the choker for the guest—”

“No… you will let her go.”

A low voice resounded in the room.

Having moved without anybody noticing, Aki stood in the centre of the room. In front of him was a staff before a machine that probably operated the chokers.

“If you activate the chokers, I will attack you with my Mushi. Open the door and let her go.”

Countless lapis lazuli spots were on the staff’s body. Looking more closely, they had small legs beneath a smooth and round carapace; it was a Mushi that resembled a leaf beetle.

“You dare… Aki! Don’t think you will get off lightly for pulling this!”

“No need for your threats. Quickly do as I said. This is not just an intimidation. You do know how much we Mushitsuki hate you guys, right?”

Arisu stared at Aki. He looked back at her with a look of pain, one that seemed unbearable.

“She… Rina said to me, someone who had always been her enemy, to build a place of belonging together.”

''—Even though there are Mushitsuki like her…''

''—It was till the extent that even some the bureau members held the same opinions as her.''

Aki had mentioned that before. No doubts he was referring to himself when he said that.

“And also, I… can no longer understand him. Kakkou—I cannot even stop him. That’s why…”

The door connecting to the hall opened.

Arisu turned around. Passing through the door, she ran down the dim stairway. She opened the door that stood at the end of the stairway.

Noticing Arisu and the silver morpho butterfly that burst into the hall, Daisuke turned around.

“Arisu…?”

A deafening alarm rang in the hall.

“…Stop it…”

She was planning to admonish him, but only a husky voice came out.

It had only been for a short moment that she had met the youth known as Kusuriya Daisuke and stayed with him under one roof. She had witnessed before many times the figure of him acting under his mission of capturing Mushitsuki.

However, the him that attend the same school as her was nothing but an ordinary youth. Whether it was during when he was caught up in one of Arisu’s whims, or when he blushed when held closely by Ena and Takako. She believed somewhere in her heart that that was the real him.

Despite that—.

“Stop what you are doing right now!”

Arisu screamed, her eyes turning wet.

“Why is it… why is it that you can do such a horrible thing? Isn’t that person a Mushitsuki like yourself! And yet…!”

Daisuke only faced Arisu with her eyebrows raised wordlessly.

A silence fell between the two, with only the alarm blaring in the background.

Daisuke opened his mouth.

“That is my mission.”

The sound of something within Arisu came to a halt.

“Dai—”

About to shout, however, Arisu widened her eyes.

Perhaps noticing the presence, Daisuke forcefully turned to his back.

The young man who he thought had lost consciousness stood up. The now legless mosquito got up to attack Daisuke’s back.

Daisuke, his attention caught by Arisu for a moment, instantly held up his handgun.

A roar rang out.

“Ah…”

Right before Arisu’s eyes, the body of the mosquito scattered.

All the light faded from the short-haired young man’s eyes. By the time his knees touched the floor, the expression of suffering on his face had already disappeared. It was replaced by a doll-like expressionless look that just stared at the ground.

Mushitsuki who loses their Mushi turn into Fallen, losing their thoughts and emotion—never to regain them. Arisu knew of that as well.

Arisu and Daisuke looked down at the fallen young man in a daze.

And then.

“''—Fu… Ahaha…''”

They heard the sound of laughter. It was a chilly laughter, one that froze the hearts of whoever heard it.

Daisuke and Arisu turned to looked beyond the glass.

Rina was leaning forwards. Her hair dangled over her face making her look like a vengeful spirit, and they spotted her lips curving into a smile.

“What the heck… from the very start, you were going to turn him… turn all of us into Fallen in the first place…?”

''That’s wrong—.''

Arisu shook her head.

Daisuke had only not noticed the mosquito because his attention was occupied by Arisu.

The hall shook violently.

The huge ladybird rammed itself against the reinforced glass ferociously.

“I clearly get it now. What we should do is not to submit ourselves, nor to come to an agreement. —We must fight!”

Rina raised her head. Her eyes were burning with fury and hatred.

“Not to mention, that morpho butterfly… Did you think I would forget? So, you—the Hunter was an ally of the SEPB as well…”

The hall shook repeatedly with intense tremors.

“The Hunter…? I am…?”

Arisu subconsciously muttered.

The body of the ladybird ramming the wall progressively increased in size.

The sound of something cracking with a ''Krr'' sounded out.

A large crack appeared on the reinforced glass.

“Unforgivable… The Special Environmental Preservation Bureau… I’ll crush every single one of you…”

The girl screamed.

“I’ll kill all of you!”

The ladybird spread its huge wings widely.

“Arisu!”

Daisuke threw himself towards Arisu who stood stunned.

An explosion occurred. —That was all that Arisu’s consciousness took in.

Right before her view was shrouded in white, she saw that the reinforced glass partition, the wall and the door connecting to the passageway were all blown away. Sent flying by the powerful shockwave, she lost her sense of direction.

A howl that seemed to shake the air resounded in the facility.

She had lost consciousness for a second. When she came to, she had been lying on the floor.

“''Kuh… uh…''”

She heard the voice of someone gasping in pain.

“…Eh…”

Arisu raised her head.

She came to face with Daisuke who was grimacing in pain. Blood covered most of his face.

Arisu was pinned under a thick shard of glass. By right, the impact of being hit by such a piece of reinforced glass should have injured her heavily.

However, she was mostly unharmed. The reason for that was none other than the presence of the boy between her and the glass.

“Why…! Daisuke…! Even if it was your mission to guard me—”

“It doesn’t matter… whether it’s my mission or not… How could I possibly let you die…!”

He spoke in a feeble voice that could only reach Arisu. At his words, her heart fluttered.

“W-what’s with that…”

He hurt other Mushitsuki mercilessly, saying that it was his mission. And yet, he tried to protect Arisu even if it risked his life.

Daisuke said that that wasn’t because of his mission.

She could not understand the youth known as Kusuriya Daisuke. For who or what reason was he acting so unfeeling, but still willing to risk his life to protect Arisu.

“Just why…! Daisuke…!”

Arisu’s voice was drowned out by the roar of the giant ladybird. It was a roar of excitement at being released.

“Where are you, Kakkou! I’m going to kill you! Don’t think about escaping either, Hunter!”

“A-… Activate test subject 2587’s choker!”

The explosion had revealed the observation room as well. In front of Aki who was smashed into the wall by the shockwave, a staff reached out his hand to the equipment.

“…!”

Rina’s eyes widened, and her body arched backwards.

However—.

Another roar shook the entire hall.

Having been hit by a surge of electricity, Rina kneeled on the ground weakly. However, she was still conscious.

Rather than disappearing, the ladybird must have sensed the danger its host was in. It pummelled its body into the wall in the direction of the observation room. A large tremor rocked the hall, causing large cracks to snake along the walls.

[[File:Mushi Uta Bug 2nd p065.jpg|thumb]]

“Why isn’t it stopping…! Don’t tell me, it’s maturing—”

The words of the staff were cut off halfway. He had been kicked away by Aki.

“The choker had the opposite effect…! If such a strong Mushi as that goes berserk, there’ll be no stopping it…! If you don’t want to die, then stop using it!”

[An emergency has occurred. All combat members, please head towards the third practice hall—]

The voice coming from the speaker faded away into noise. Aki had rendered the operator of the choker unconscious and snatched away the announcement mike.

[…Protect Rina!]

Aki’s voice echoed in the hall.

Right when a large amount of personnel in white coats poured in to subjugate the inmates, the sudden voice caused them to falter.

[Everybody in the facility, listen to me! Rina has defeated Kakkou! I repeat, Rina has defeated Kakkou! The safety chokers are also inactive!]

Aki’s shouting voice reverberated in the hall through the speaker.

“Run, Rina! You will be captured again if you remain here!”

“It’s Rina! Protect Rina! As long as she is alright…!”

The liberated inmates formed a protective layer around Rina.

In addition, there were other bureau members who aligned with Rina apart from Aki. The oppressed and rebelling inmates and the white coats formed two sides which fought against each other.

“Aki…”

Daisuke turned his grimacing face towards Aki.

The gazes of Daisuke, and Aki who said that they were comrade in arms crossed.

“Kakkou… I do not understand you at all anymore.”

Aki said.

“That’s why, I’ll stake on Rina. Rina is different from those of us in SEPB… she truly fights for the sake of us Mushitsuki.”

“You idiot… You are mistaken on what our true enemy is…!”

His voice was so raspy that it could not have reached Aki.

The hall had fallen into complete chaos with angry cries and the sound of alarm in the background. Rina, whose consciousness was cloudy, was ferried away by the other inmates.

The angry shouts and explosions started becoming distant from the hall.

“Don’t go… Just stay still for now…”

Daisuke stopped Arisu who was about to move.

“…You… mustn’t die here no matter what…”

“Why…! He’s your friend, isn’t he! I have to stop…!”

“You’ve seen it too, she’s… Rina is strong… and so am I… But, those of us may eventually have our dreams completely consumed and our Mushi mature…”

Daisuke’s breathing become faint. She did not know if he even knew what was he saying himself.

“At that time… the only one who can stop us… is not any other Mushitsuki… but someone strong… and not a Mushitsuki. It’s you…”

Arisu widened her eyes.

“What’s with that—”

Daisuke ran out of energy. The weight of the glass and the unconscious Daisuke encumbered Arisu.

''Does that mean you only protected me just so that I may defeat you—.''

Rina, Kakkou, and the Hunter—these few words that she had just learnt recently floated in her mind before vanishing.

“Just what the hell are they…”

She slowly closed her eyes.

“What are they… Mushitsuki…”

Arisu lifted her head.

A silver light glinted above Daisuke’s head—slicing through the smoke, the morpho butterfly danced coolly in the air.

The sound of angry cries mixed with screams, followed by explosions.

The Central Headquarters of the Special Environmental Preservation Bureau was in complete disarray due to the uprising of the inmates.

Arisu took in the scene motionlessly.

“Kakkou… I do not understand you at all anymore.”

The youth wrapped in a black coat, Aki said.

Trapped under a huge shard of broken glass, Daisuke groaned with his face blood-soaked.

“You idiot…!”

“That’s why, I’ll stake on Rina. Rina is different from those of us in SEPB… she truly fights for the sake of us Mushitsuki.”

“…You are mistaken on what our true enemy is …!”

Both the faces of Daisuke and Aki who glared at each other at a distance had pained expressions.

“Daisuke…”

Next to the injured Daisuke, Arisu could do nothing but watch their separation—.

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