Editing Mushi Uta:Volume 6th Episode 24 (section)

=== Part 5 ===

That girl left the school gate of Horusu Seijou Academy, walking the road in a carefree gait.

Healthy-looking limbs extended from her middle school uniform. Her ponytail jumped energetically with every step.

“Now then, let’s make our best efforts today and search for Harukiyo!”

Speaking in a lively voice, Ichinokuro Arisu struck the shoulder of the boy walking next to her.

“Right, Daisuke!”

“Yeah, yeah. I hope we find him.”

Turning away and speaking indifferently was a boy with a plain face and bandages on it. He lacked individuality to the extent that it would take a lot of time to search for any distinguishing features, but he was just undercover as the Mushitsuki called Kakkou.

The two middle schoolers began poking each other with a light mood.

“What’s up with that listless response? You need to answer, full of energy, ‘Yes, Mistress Arisu! My body and heart shall serve you in full today as well!’, right?”

“Please, at least while we’re at town, don’t go shouting that sort of stuff…”

“What was that? I always say it at home, though!”

“You do not! Why are you actively causing misunderstandings! What d’you get out of it?!”

Above Arisu and Daisuke’s heads, a silver glow alighted down.

It was the Morpho butterfly Hanashiro Mari had left behind.

This Mushi, so beautiful one could be charmed by it without noticing, merely fluttered around in the air. Without saying anything or doing anything.

“Even if we’re doing this to find clues about Hanashiro Mari, you’re way too excited about this.”

“Way too excited… what d’you mean by that?”

“Are you really looking for Harukiyo just to ask him about Mari?”

“What’s up with that? You’re saying this as if I have any other goal—aha!”

Until now countless Mushitsuki had been called forth by the Morpho butterfly.

One time it was the Blaze Class Rank 1 Kakkou, and another time it was even the Undying Mushitsuki.

The flame devil was also just one of those Mushitsuki.

Including the small fries as well, the Morpho butterfly had played with innumerable Mushitsuki.

But that too—would end today.

“I see. So that’s how it is. Ehehe, so even you act cute at times. Right, you’re an adolescent, after all. You joker, you.”

“I don’t know why, but even though I have no clue what you’re talking about I’m getting pissed off.”

“There’s no special meaning in me looking for Harukiyo, you know? So you don’t have to get jealous—"

“Turn over. I’ll pierce that washboard chest of yours.”

“Arisu Uppercut!”

The pair messing around, Arisu and Daisuke, stopped before crossing the intersection.

Since it was after school, the pedestrian walking was clamoring with Horusu Seijou Academy students waiting for the lights to change.

“But speaking frankly, it’s true that I have some business with Harukiyo.”

“Business?”

“Yup. Harukiyo’s really strong, right?”

“Well, he is. But what about it?”

“I believe that his strength—”

The Morpho butterfly fluttering above the heads of the uniformed boys and girls suddenly changed its movements. However, Arisu and Daisuke didn’t notice the change.

''Tsss.

The scent of air being scorched filled the crossing.

''”I believe that his strength has meaning.”

At that moment, several things happened at the same time.

The Morpho butterfly emitted an abnormal glow.

Daisuke turned back with sharp gaze, reaching out to his back.

Several of the students waiting for the signal muttered, “Hot,” in low voices. The edges of their uniform were scorched, raising white smoke.

The crossing was filled with tension.

“W-what? What’s going on?”

Raising a voice of confusion and looking all around her—

Was Ichinokuro Arisu, completely unchanged from how she was moments ago.

The Morpho butterfly had shown the abnormal glow for a mere instant. It then resumed fluttering lazily about as if nothing happened.

Even the congestion of the students was soon under control. There were only a few students who raised their brows over some singe marks on their uniform or looking down at scorched black marking on the ground where no one was.

“No—it’s nothing.”

After looking around for a while, Daisuke lowered his guard as well. However, he was probably unhappy with that explanation as he still glared at passersby with eyes unlike his docile self.

“What’s up with that? Geeze. Don’t scare me like that. After all you’re always acting so suspiciously.”

“For just an instant I felt some murderous intent—wait, who’s suspicious? When have I…”

“Yeah yeah, it’s fine, let it go and listen to me. Doesn’t it seem like Mari’s Morpho butterfly invites only strong people? Meaning, his strength has some meaning—”

Ichinokuro Arisu and Kusuriya Daisuke’s conversation rose to the wind, vanishing into the clear sky.

As the light turned green, the Horusu Seijou Academy students all started moving at once.

“—Oh boy.”

Mixing within the crowds of middle schoolers, a single boy alone stood in place.

That boy, with a hairstyle like burning flames, looked down at his own palm.

Along with the stench of burning, a fire lit on Sehateno Harukiyo’s cheek. His compress burned away, turning into black ash that streamed into the air and vanished.

“It’s true what they say about first love never coming true.”

Clenching his hand, he turned on his heels.

The power forged along with deadly “disasters”.

Did this sort of thing have any meaning?

Since he only ever thought of how to beat misfortune, he’d never considered such unnecessary questions.

Should he, or should he not—

Considering just this hindsight-based opinion, he didn’t even attempt to discover any meaning.

“Despite how I look I really am the type of person to feel regrets, huh. I’m surprised at myself. Also, wanting to take revenge—is quite illogical, yup.”

Stopping his attack due to hearing unexpected words—that wasn’t what happened.

In the first place, if he really wanted to kill Ichinokuro Arisu, he’d have chosen a time when Kusuriya Daisuke wasn’t with her. As long as that guy was there, no matter how much Harukiyo concealed his presence, he’d have to get pretty close.

Even so, what really dumbfounded him—

“I feel so exhausted. I’ll go back to sleep at that Custodian’s place. Even if he takes a hell lotta rent. Oh well. Anyway—”

Scratching his head, he mumbled to himself.

By relaxing his attention, the flames of rage also passed away.

“I’ll sleep and think ‘bout it later.”

This might be the moment to quit.

In truth, perhaps what he’d been looking for was already gone a long, long time ago.

The devil of flames, Sehateno Harukiyo, did not need to stay in this town—

“My power is meaningless… is that really true?”

The flame devil left the pedestrian crossing behind him.

Silver remnants passed through his gaze and vanished.


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===Notes===
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