Editing Mushi Uta:Volume 2nd Episode 08 (section)

===Part 7===

A full moon hung in the night sky.

Bathed under the moonlight, a green checkered beetle descended from the sky.

It landed on the shoulder of a youth.

Kusuriya Daisuke was walking along the long fence of the Ichinokuro residence. Thereupon, a voice came at him from above.

“Yo, Kakkou. How’re you feeling?”

With the same voice as yesterday in the same tone.

It was Kasuou dressed in her uniform. She landed next to Daisuke.

“The best.”

His voice was heavier than during yesterday.

Also in his uniform, there was however a plaster on his cheek. The majority of his injuries were healed by Neiko’s ability, but due to the nature of only healing the areas reachable by her song, the parts completely burnt away or vaporised were unrestored. Even with the protection of his coat, his body was strewn with burns.

''—You shall be re-acknowledged as Blaze Class Rank 1.''

Despite his failure to suppress him, they must have recognised his contributions towards the repelling of Sehateno Harukiyo. Miguruma Yaeko had announced that while looking down on the injured Daisuke. Being in a weakened state due to his injury and fatigue, Daisuke did not manage to take in the meaning of that sentence for a moment—.

“Seems like both your body and spirit are in tatters. Want me to comfort you? I’ll be gentle.”

“I reject with all my heart and soul.”

“…I’m sure of it now. As expected, you definitely hate me, right.”

Ignoring the light banter from Kasuou, Daisuke approached the gate. He heard a voice mixed with laughter from behind saying, ‘Do your best to get that kid to nurse you and perk up’.

He felt heavy-hearted.

Approaching the gate, Daisuke heave a sigh, a habit he has adopted since coming to Akamaki City.

If he needed nursing, then Kujou Takako would have been more suitable for the job.

And if he wanted to perk up, that should be left to Saionji Ena.

However, as for the girl who lived in this mansion…

No, rather…

He did not know what expression should he face Arisu with.

Of course, he knew that needed to apologize.

However, Daisuke had given up on the matter regarding Hanashiro Mari, even if it was momentarily.

At the same time, that of his dream as well.

''I—.''

When he opened the gate, he found the girl standing there dauntingly.

With the exact same appearance, same look of anger on her face, she looked down at him.

“Stupid Daisuke.”

''This girl—.''

A smile formed on his face unconsciously.

''Arisu truly is—.''

For now, Daisuke just spoke what was on his mind.

He felt as if his shoulders were lightened a little, if only just slightly.

“Yea, you’re right, I’m an idiot.”

Looking at the mumbling Daisuke, Arisu knotted her eyebrows. She seemed baffled to see him being honest for once.

“It’s my bad. I wholly apologize for speaking bad about Hanashiro Mari. So, won’t you repair your mood already.”

Unlike yesterday, he intended to ask for forgiveness candidly.

However, the expression of anger on her face all the more deepened.

“…? W-what is it, is there still something else?”

“Will you not know unless I spell it out for you? That is why you are such an idiot.”

Arisu sighed with a look of exasperation.

She thoughtlessly hit Daisuke’s chest with her small fist huffily.

“Of course there’s that matter about Mari also, but… if you ever say something like that again, I’ll seriously get angry.”

“Aren’t you angry enough as it is already. Just what are you referring to?”

“Don’t say things like you will die so easily.”

Arisu glared straight ahead at Daisuke solemnly.

Daisuke widened his eyes.

''—Hanashiro Mari had a close friend who would seriously get angry on her behalf.''

He felt like he become one step closer to being like her.

“…What the heck, so it was just something like that.”

Muttering softly, Daisuke brushed off her hand.

Arisu raised her eyebrows.

“Something like that, you say?”

“It’s merely something like that. …I don’t have the least bit of intention of dying. Even if I was to leap into flames right now, I still wouldn’t die.”

From the bottom of his heart, he said earnestly.

Looking down at Daisuke who spoke levelly as he took off his shoes, Arisu raised a groan.

“You really just can’t be honest with yourself… If you’re going to live your life so fast-paced, you can just go be an old man.”

“If I were to be an old man, then the same-age you are bound to be an old woman.”

“A young beauty like myself would never age. —Hm? Are you injured? What happened?”

Circling before Daisuke who walked down the corridor, Arisu stared into his face.

At the question, he recollected the happenings over these past few days.

He was slapped by Arisu.

A witch with a chain-like smile appeared before him.

He learned about the existence of Sanbikime and its subsequent demise.

He fought against a demon which manipulates flames.

He gave up on his dream—and recalled it again.

All of which were related to the matter about Hanashiro Mari. All trifle matters which Ichinokuro Arisu did not need to know about.

A falling silver light appeared in the edge of his vision.

It was the silver morpho butterfly.

The continuation of Hanashiro Mari’s dream.

“Nevermind. It was nothing much.”

Daisuke said as he smiled gently.

''—See you tomorrow!''

Looking back at him oddly, Arisu thought that his smile overlapped with that of Mari.

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To be continued

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