Editing Mushi Uta:Volume 13 Chapter 2 (section)

== 2.05 OPS3 Part 10 ==

“Let us assume that this girl really has, just like Snow-san says, C’s—Erii’s personality.”

Inside the limousine on the way back to Akamaki City, everyone focused their gazes on a single person.

Appearance-wise, she was Ebina Yuu.

However, the eyes that glared at Shiika were both like and unlike Yuu’s. Her expression definitely belonged to someone else—they were exactly the same as the Mushitsuki called Erii.

“We have new doubts in that case, then. You supposedly split off your personality to protect it from destruction before getting swallowed by the power of the Original Three, right? —This alone sounds unbelievable, but in that case, why were you near Alpha?”

While looking at her cellphone, Lucifera spoke.

They put Erii in the center seat inside the limousine, and Shiika faced right directly from her. On both sides of Shiika were Akasegawa Nanana and Lucifera, while Erii was being sandwiched by Aijisupa and Namie.

There were no restraints. It was because Shiika asked this, saying that it wasn’t necessary.

In one corner of the wide limousine was also the combatant called Kabuto, clad in black goggles. He’d met up with them in Kurobishi Town to inform them of the progress of Operations 1 and 2.

The progress of the two other Operations—was unsatisfactory.

“Regardless of the fact that Alpha’s hiding place was exposed, you have done nothing to Alpha himself… meaning, her aim is not Alpha. She hid near Alpha, and, immediately upon getting in contact with us, stole Ebina Yuu’s body for some reason. What’s her goal?”

The reason Erii appeared next to Alpha.

Shiika had a rough idea of this truth. She glanced back at Erii’s eyes and bit her lips.

“Erii… is bearing a grudge against me.”

“Meaning she targeted you?”

Asked this by Nanana, Shiika nodded.

“Why—”

The next question rose from the seat at the very back of the limousine.

From Ayukawa Chiharu.

“Why does she hate Shiika-chan?”

Shiika felt her shoulders stiffen. She couldn’t get herself to look at Chiharu.

She didn’t know the reason C hated her for sure—

But she couldn’t answer Chiharu, who clearly hated her as well.

“—For Kakkou, Fuyuhotaru’s existence is nothing but a curse.”

Shiika startled at these sudden words.

The one who answered this was Namie. Smoothing up her hair, she looked at Erii with a side-glance.

“She had this childish thought.”

“…A curse?”

As this word came out of Chiharu’s mouth, it felt a hundred times heavier.

Kabuto, who until now remained silent with his arms crossed, opened his mouth.

“C’s a Mushitsuki that was caught by Sleeping Beauty and Kakkou together. Even after she joined the SEPB I heard that she did well at Central Headquarters, but—everything changed after the night of the meteor shower. Sleeping Beauty fell asleep and Kakkou came back to the East Central Branch… and C was dispatched to the East Central Branch again. This was just to demonstrate her strength and she was soon pulled back to Central Headquarters, though.”

“For C, Kakkou was special and she was convinced that he alone succeeded Sleeping Beauty’s dream after she retired from the battle between Mushitsuki.”

Kabuto was a current member of the SEPB’s East Central Branch, and Namie was an ex-member of that same branch. C was a former colleague to both.

Chiharu asked expressionlessly and with a calm tone.

“Sleeping Beauty’s… dream?”

“To end all fights and save Mushitsuki.”

Nanana, who knew Sleeping Beauty well, spoke. Chiharu frowned.

“My brother—Kakkou succeeded that dream and was trying to save Mushitsuki, then?”

“It’s just a childish wish. Kakkou only ever thought about surviving. According to Branch Head Haji—the Branch Head at the time, it was apparently because he made a promise with Fuyuhotaru.”

Hearing Namie’s words, the memories of young Shiika rose to her mind.

''—So you can’t give up your dream as well.

Shiika made this promise with the boy who was about to turn her to Fallen.

“Even after Kakkou came back from Central Headquarters, he never spoke about Sleeping Beauty even once.”

Kabuto said.

“That fact urged C even more. Although there was no way he’d forget Sleeping Beauty who was so close to him, he seemed to be bound by his promise with Fuyuhotaru…”

“And then—the very person who cast this curse, Shiika, had been revived from the Fallen state.”

Understanding the situation, Aijisupa muttered this and looked at Shiika.

Namie nodded.

“One thing for certain, C’s heart was not calm at all.”

“…”

Finally realizing the reason behind C’s hatred, Shiika felt her chest constricted.

That day, Shiika made a small promise and parted with that boy—with Kakkou.

After this, his existence grew much larger than Shiika had imagined. While she spent her time as a Fallen he fought to the death, met many people, parted from them, and shouldered many feelings.

The more he fought and survived, the more people were born to support that strength.

As he got hurt and managed to survive, he looked ahead, finding hope for Mushitsuki.

However, something stood in that hope’s way—

The small promise he made with Shiika.

“My brother… how was he, actually?”

Chiharu asked Namie and Kabuto.

“Shiika-chan and Sleeping Beauty… who did he think of as he fought?”

The two Mushitsuki exchanged glances.

“I do not know… that man never opened his heart to anyone.”

“And the lone person he trusted, Branch Head Haji—cannot currently speak.”

“He would probably say he was a lot of trouble.”

Nanana jeered.

“They simply imposed their selfishness of him. Sleeping Beauty or C, all Mushitsuki are the same. I don’t even want to imagine how much weight he was carrying on his shoulders.”

While lightly striking her own shoulder with her cane, she shot Chiharu a side glance.

“And now you’re trying to force that very same weight on Shiika this time, aren’t you?”

Chiharu was silent. She didn’t even turn to look at Nanana’s glare.

Shiika couldn’t say anything.

“…”

It was useless.

Kakkou kept his promise to Shiika.

She couldn’t pretend she didn’t see the path he’d taken this far—and the burden he was carrying.

Not just Kakkou.

''—It’s like my dream.

The one who said this was also a Rank 1, Shiika’s very first friend.

Tachibana Rina’s feelings also bore on Shiika—

“—Erii. Please answer just one question.”

She felt about to be crushed, but Shiika looked right into Erii’s eyes.

“Is Yuu-chan safe? Is she fine despite her current state?”

Shiika had to confirm this most and foremost, even before inquiring about Erii’s goal.

Back when Erii appeared as an assassin to intercept Shiika, Ebina Yuu was there with her as well. It wouldn’t be odd for Erii to regard Yuu as an enemy as well.

“…”

Erii neither confirmed nor denied. She just averted her face, wordless. Her gaze looking to the distance could only capture the limousine’s white ceiling.

“Let me state this clearly.”

It came from Lucifera. She was receiving mails from time to time.

“The possibility of Erii’s aim being Snow-san—is low.”

“…Eh?”

Shiika looked at Lucifera’s face without thinking.

Unusually, Aijisupa’s expression also changed. He furrowed his brows, looking puzzled.

“What d’you mean?”

“The fact that Erii bears a grudge against Snow-san is the truth—even now she’s glaring at her with murder in her eyes, but still. But her actions aren’t logical. After appearing in front of the hated Snow-san, she ran off—and even after being dragged to Kurobishi Town, she made no attempt of anything against Snow-san. That’s odd.”

Nanana argued against Lucifera’s words.

“Then that’s even stranger. Among all those there, the most important ones would be just about Shiika and Alpha, right? Even so, Erii didn’t do anything to either of them.”

“No, there’s another important thing.”

Lucifera removed her gaze from her phone and looked toward the end of the limousine.

The girl being stared at grimaced. She gripped the necklace hanging from her neck.

She was Ayukawa Chiharu.

“Sanbikime.”

Shiika widened her eyes.

Mushibane’s members and even Kabuto all looked at Chiharu, astonished.

Lucifera returned looking to her cellphone and spoke.

“Chiharu-san… you’ve been hiding it, but you’ve been acting strange for a while now. What’s the matter?”

“Sorry, Lucy-chan—for staying silent until now.”

Chiharu raised her face and spoke.

“For a while now… Aria’s scent has been getting stronger from somewhere far.”

“…!”

Lucifera’s face froze.

Everyone who was unable to take in the situation could do nothing but pass their faces from Chiharu to Lucifera.

“What do you mean? Sanbikime? Aria? Explain already!”

Even hounded by Nanana, Lucifera did not remove her eyes from her cellphone.

“This is bad. It’s a really bad situation. If it’s become like this, it’s too much for us to handle. We need Snow-san and the others to help too—”

“Would you mind explaining already!”

“We need your help. Before Sanbikime births a new Mushitsuki—or perhaps, before C appears there—”

Lucifera looked at Shiika.

“Please help us retrieve Sanbikime—Aria Varei.”


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==Notes==

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