Editing Mushi Uta:Volume 1st Episode 04 (section)

===Part 6===

In the heartland of Akamaki City.

The morning sun ray shined upon a corner of the high-end residential area.

A silvery figure landed on the roof of a detached house with a ''don''.

“''Haah… Haah…''”

The sound of rough breathing jumbled into the sound of birds chirping.

Mari, who was fused with the morpho butterfly, gazed underneath with a pale complexion.

Her line of sight was fixed on an estate that stood much larger than the surrounding ones.

“''Haah… Haah…''”

With a smile, she sat down on the rooftop.

But, there was a prior visitor.

Is this another one of your home as well? Excuse me for occupying here a bit—.

Her lips moved, forming into the shape of words, but with no voice coming out. Only the sound of heavy breathing came from her mouth.

What Mari was facing was the black cat with a kinked tail, which raised its fur on its end upon seeing her. From its appearance and enmity towards her, she could tell that it was the same black cat she saw previously countless of times.

“''Haah… Haah…''”

Her breathing was not relaxing, instead the interval between each gasp shortened. At the same time, her heartbeat drummed in her ears irritatingly.

Please, just a little more…

She grasped her chest and clenched her teeth.

Just a bit longer would be enough…

The morpho butterfly separated from Mari’s body. Her muffler fallen off, the morpho butterfly rested on Mari’s shoulder with her face revealed.

Hey, Arisu. Will you please listen…?

She had already given up on voicing it out loud. That’s why, she muttered in her heart.

To my dream, my request…

In contrast to her rough breathing, her heart was as calm as a millpond.

In her mind, memories of the past resurfaced one after another.

Laden by her sickness, she was shut in a small room.

It was a barren space with nobody and no one ever came to visit. During those day, her heart has been worn thin by the solitude even more so than her illness.

Then, she met Sensei.

I… want to live—.

Her dream was heard by Sensei. And thus, Mari became a Mushitsuki.

Even with ''Sensei’s'' frequent visits, the loneliness nested deep in her heart could not be erased.

Exasperated by the ennui of her daily life, the Hunter persona of Mari was born.

As if possessed, she robbed others of their dreams every night. Although her original intention was to search for the Undying Mushitsuki, now that she reflected, it was just as the girl called Rina said. She had purely been doing so to vent her anger and frustration. When she finally realised the true consequence of what she had done, she had been paralysed with fear.

And then—she met Ichinokuro Arisu.

Hugging her knees, her lips formed into a smile.

She still remembered clearly all the conversations she had with Arisu. Be it what they talked about and laughed about. She would repeat the conversations in her head as she laid in bed at night, in anticipation for tomorrow’s visit.

When she learnt about her eventual end, she was crushed by despair once again.

Lost and at wits end, she reverted to her past self.

“…”

Her breathing finally calmed down, her smile also turned tranquil.

The sound of her heartbeat began to soften.

She no longer felt any fear or unease as she gaze down peacefully.

She had finally found it.

Her very own answer to the question that has always plagued her.

The words of the witch whispering into her ears while she was falling into despair.

—Now, which will you choose?

Right now, Mari could answer unhesitatingly.

You know, Arisu, I—.

Mari smiled so widely that her smile seemed to reach her ears.

Right in her view, the door to the estate opened. A lone girl dashed out hurriedly. In her hand was a bouquet of flowers picked arbitrarily. Was she planning to arrange them in the water pitcher again?

[[File:Mushi Uta Bug 1st p275.jpg|thumb]]

It began to melt away.

Her life, and the continuation of her dream.

Even the scene of the girl running under the morning sunshine slowly vanished.

“Good morning, Arisu.”

Imparted with her dream and wish, Mari spoke.

“See you tomorrow, okay.”

The silver morpho butterfly flew into the sky—.

The black cat purred softly.

Approaching her softly, it licked her pale limp hand gently.

Suddenly, the black cat’s ears folded up.

Raising its light body, it jumped away from Mari.

“…”

A person looked down on Mari who laid down with her eyes closed and a smile on her face.

It was the lanky young man wearing a white coat.

A single teardrop fell on the dry rooftop.

With his strong arms, he lifted up Mari’s body—.