Mushi Uta:Volume 1st Episode 04

Episode 04. The Hunter Who Entrusted her Dream

Beams of moonlight shining through the gaps in the clouds pierced through the darkness.

A silver light glistened more than ten metres off the ground. The object which was reflecting the light of the full moon slowly descended onto the ground.

Like a piece of paper floating in the wind, the object descended in a disordered manner onto the roof of a new building.

“……”

The silver-coloured object on her shoulders did not even budge. Concealing her breathing, she continued to observe the shadows moving on the ground.

The night in Akamaki City was polluted with neon lights and noise. In the distance, the cluster of lights belonged to the city centre. However, what the girl was interested in was between the gap of the multi-tenant buildings right below her.

They would definitely not head towards a bustling place, but only watch from afar. The girl knew that from all her experiences so far.

Sensing a gaze, the girl quickly turned around.

A pair of eyes appeared in the darkness. It belonged a black cat with a coat which seemed as if it was cut out of darkness. Its long tail with a kink at the end stood upright displaying its hostility, indicating to her not to come any closer.

The cat’s ears flicked, and then it jumped away acrobatically, disappearing into the darkness.

[……Regarding the explosion that occurred the other day, the Akamaki City Police Department has swiftly opened investigation, and requests any citizens with relevant information to…… Also, they have refused to comment on a witness testimony that cited the appearance of Mushi……]

A muzzled sound punctuated the quiet rooftop. The sound came from opposite the air-conditioning unit and water tank, approaching towards her.

[Regarding the matter, the Police Department has also firmly denied the existence of this widely disputed existence, citing the lack of any true evidence, also……]

The light from a torchlight flashed. The circular spot of light wandered around the darkness before coming to a sudden stop.

“Is there somebody there?”

Perhaps he spotted a silver glint, as a nervous voice sounded out. A security guard with a wireless radio hanging off his belt appeared from the side of the water tank.

The beam from the torchlight illuminated the girl.

“……!”

The man probably thought he was looking at a ghost.

She was dressed in jet-black tights, with hot pants and boots. On top of that, she wore a modified white coat with belts. In addition, a knitted hat covered the top of her eyes while a muffler hid the bottom half of her face. Supporting that body dressed in such an unreal fashion was a crutch.

What’s more, there was a butterfly sitting atop her shoulder which exuded light.

It was a glossy silver Morpho butterfly—resembling insect, excluding the fact that its wings did not lose its brilliance even when the full moon was blocked by the clouds.

“Wha-…… Who…… Who are you……?”

The security guard barely managed to spit those words out.

The girl did not pay him any heed, only continuing to look downwards. All of a sudden, her gaze sharpened.

I found you—.

Under the muffler, the girl smiled.

Her sight was fixed on the shadows weaving around the dim back alley. There was more than one shadow. Behind a human-shaped shadow, a big mass was chasing after it.

Suddenly, her sight was distorted.

“……! Kuh……”

Losing strength in her knees, she lost her sense of balance.

There’s…… no more time—.

Her body groaning, she lurched over.

“Aah!”

The security guard’s gasp immediately became distant.

Her swaying body had fallen off the rooftop and was headed straight for the ground. She felt the sensation of floating for a moment before gravity took over, the wind assaulting her ears noisily.

If I just hit the floor like this, would I be released from it all……?

Seeing the ground approach her as if in slow-motion, that thought went through her mind.

Perhaps it’s not that bad to just disappear into the night like this.

Be it this life. Or this dream.

She would probably just disappear just like that, leaving behind nothing cleanly. It was not like there would be anyone who would mourn her disappearance anyway. In the first place, there were always no one around her—.

She grasped the crutch in her right hand.

Silver light spilled out from the girl falling to the ground.

The Morpho butterfly burst into a mass of feelers which wrapped around the girl. The feelers slid inside her clothing and fused with her body. Between the gaps of the hat and muffler, a silver pattern could be seen on her cheeks.

The girl revelled in the moment when they fused. In that moment, her battered and spent body would be revitalised, and it felt like an unknown power overflowed from within her.

The Morpho butterfly’s feelers also engulfed the crutch, morphing it into a silver spear taller than the girl itself and its four wings turning into blades.

“……!”

Sensing a presence above him, the person on the ground looked up.

His age was around that of the girl, in his early teens. He was a smart looking boy, unsuited to the darkness of the back alley in the middle of the night.

But the boy was not alone. Right at his back was a gigantic monster—running on its eight wriggling legs, it was a creature with a huge carapace. With long and thin folded wings, its outline resembles a longhorn beetle. As if attuned to the boy, the monster turned its head towards the sky.

Without sparing a look at the boy, the girl swung the spear at the monster.

“Wha—”

The boy’s astonished gasp was drowned out by the sound of an explosion.

The spear was swung down with the momentum of the girl’s fall. The impact fragmented the asphalt ground, scattering silver scales in all directions. The back alley was hit by the aftershocks, causing the glass windows on both sides to shatter successively.

“Uu…… aah……!”

After the explosion died off, only the boy’s cries of pain resounded in the back alley.

The girl’s figure gradually appeared from within the cloud of dust. Facing the girl approaching him, the boy retreated backwards with a look of fear.

By the side of the boy clutching his chest in pain, the remains of half the body of the gigantic longhorn beetle was leaking bodily fluid. —Any damage inflicted on a Mushi would be reflected onto its host’s psyche. The girl knew of this fact more than anyone else.

“What are…… you……? The same as me, a Mushitsuki……?”

Having been attacked out of nowhere, the boy fell into panic. He groaned at the sight of the silver spear.

“……”

The girl did not reply, instead she raised her spear. Seeing that, the boy’s face turned stiff.

“Stop—”

She swung the spear from down up, releasing a wave of silver scales. The wave passed by the side of the boy, engulfing the writhing Mushi.

“!”

The boy bent over backwards. Without even the time to look at the Mushi that had been blown away without a trace, he collapsed onto the ground on his knees. All signs of life disappeared from his face, and his eyes turned into glassy orbs that stared at the ground.

He was not dead. However, he did not seemed alive either. Looking down at him, the girl bit her lips.

“It’s not him either……”

In the aftermath of the explosion, a siren could be heard. It seems that after the explosion incident the other day, the speed of response has been hastened.

The silver feelers separated from the girl’s body, coalescing into the shape of a Morpho butterfly again which rested on her shoulder.

“……Haah, haah……”

With the assimilation cancelled, the girl was hit by a wave of powerlessness.

Her breathing turned ragged and she had to support her staggering body with the crutch. She felt deep frustration at her weak body that could not even stand on its own.

There wasn’t any sense of guilt however.

Rather, looking down on the boy, a feeling similar to resentment seethed in her heart.

“Even living on in that state…… is a reason to rejoice, isn’t it.”

Turning back with a flutter of her white coat, she left the area.

The howl of a cat could be heard coming from someplace.

Part 1

Mushi—.

Infesting young boys and girls, they were a mysterious existence that feeds on the hopes and dreams of their host in order to grow.

They were labelled Mushi as such due to the fact that their external appearance resembled insects. Despite the government’s official refutation of such existence, witness testimonies of sightings since ten years ago had cemented a deep fear in the hearts of the populace.

In exchange for feasting on the host’s dream, the Mushi grants them inexplicable powers. The more the host uses the power of the Mushi, the more their dream is devoured, eventually leading to their death. Rarely, a Mushi which has completely consumed the dream of its host will mature, gaining its own will and going on a rampage. On the other hand, Mushitsuki whose Mushi were killed turns into a Fallen, an empty shell lacking will and emotions—.

To die from having their dreams completely consumed, or to become a Fallen from having their Mushi killed. With only the possibilities of these two endings, there remains no proof of the existence of Mushitsuki. Still, with the increase in sightings, the negative views towards Mushitsuki only proliferates one-sidedly.

“Haah…… Haah……”

A light metal sound resounded in the dark room with a kara.

There was only one bed in Akamaki Central General Hospital room 3F300. A typical hospital room housed two to four patients, and only this room was special. In addition to the high-class bed and large screen television, there was also a large bookshelf brought in for her.

Entering the room through the window, she then unfused from the Morpho butterfly. To climb up into a room three storeys high with just the flesh body would have been an impossible feat, no matter how athletic one was.

The crutch rolled on the floor with a karan.

Without even turning on the lights, she reached out for a glass bottle on the shelf next to the pillow. Taking out three tablets, she off-handedly swallowed them.

“Haah……”

She could feel her heartbeat relaxing.

She removed her hat, muffler and other clothing roughly, tossing them into the closet. She then dressed herself in the hospital garb left on the bed instead.

Walking to the basin, she grabbed the cup and pitcher. Just as she was about to drink some water, she froze.

She saw her reflection in the mirror.

Her face in the mirror lit up by the faint moonlight was deathly pale. No matter how tired she was from hunting, the sharp look in her eyes did not look like it belonged to a thirteen years-old girl. Seeing the animosity reflected in her gaze, she thought of the hostile cat and the frightened security guard.

Averting her eyes from the mirror, she gulped down the contents of the cup in one go.

“Looks like it wasn’t the right one tonight either, Mari.”

The figure of a young man appeared in the mirror. He was seated in the visitor’s seat in front of the shelf. Just a moment ago, the seat had been empty.

“……”

However, she—Hanashiro Mari, was not the least surprised.

The lanky young man was dressed in a doctor’s white coat. Under his unkempt hair, his calm eyes looked into Mari’s.

“Are you going to continue this? Akamaki City is the headquarters of a certain organisation after all. They would not remain silent about this.”

Ignoring the young man, Mari went straight to lie down on the bed.

“Besides, the Mushi of Elvioréne are innumerable…… please, just stop. Even if you manage to find the Mushitsuki of your objective—the Undying Mushitsuki, what would it even do for you?”

The young man’s tone was tinged with a trace of anger. No, it may have been sadness instead. Either way, Mari knew that his words were definitely heartfelt.

“Mari……?”

The young man asked inquisitively. He must have realised that Mari was just laughing in silence.

It wouldn’t do a thing for me after all, that’s right—.

It was just as he said.

For someone like me who can’t even see through the continuation of my dream……

On the verge of closing her eyelid, she saw the sorrow in his eyes.

Still smiling, Mari fell into slumber.

—The next morning.

“So you took these tablets again.”

It seems like she was in quite a deep sleep.

To Mari who had just woken up, the luminosity of the morning rays caused her to narrow her eyes. The discrepancy between her having just fallen asleep and the arrival of daybreak made her felt groggy.

Her attending doctor was by the side of the bed. He was holding the glass bottle which contained the tablets.

“Although this medicine will ease the pain by prohibiting the contraction of your blood vessel, it is not recommended to take so many—”

Mari rubbed her eyes and looked at the visitor’s seat.

Obviously, the young man from last night was not there.

“……”

Looking at the Mari who was just staring out of the window mutely, the middle-aged attending doctor gave a small sigh. From his attitude, one could tell the difficulty he had with handling Mari.

Mari had been admitted to this hospital for over one year. The reason for her stay was due to complications from a heart attack, a congenital heart problem she had since young. Since last autumn, she had rarely even left the hospital premises. Notwithstanding her primary school graduation ceremony, she also did not attend the entrance ceremony for the prestigious Horusu Seijou Academy at which she was due to enter.

Mari’s family, the Hanashiro house was a head family with many followers in business and politics who practised flower arrangement. The VIP room which Mari was in depicted their prestige and tremendous financial wealth. As a matter of fact, with the Hanashiro house a major investor in the hospital, the attending doctor would not dare getting on Mari’s bad side even by mistake.

Also, the main reason why he had so much trouble dealing with Mari was because she knew her own body’s condition.

As a result of the assortment of drugs that she had to take, her organs were severely weakened. Furthermore, due to the hardening of her arteries, no one knew when her heart would just stop—.

“Preferably, you should reduce the use of this medicine so as to allow your body’s immune system to recover. This way, you will also be able to discharge sooner. Let’s work together to make that happen.”

With a smile, the attending doctor said in a placating tone. Even though his tone was somewhat awkward, he was truly concerned for Mari and was definitely not a bad doctor.

“……”

However, Mari continued to stare out of the window wordlessly.

Sighing again, the attending doctor left the room saying, ‘I’ll be back again in the afternoon.’

Once more, Mari’s morning began with emptiness.

Boredom can kill a person—who was it who said that.

There was nothing ahead of the day for Mari, having repeated day after days. Her day was only punctuated by medication time and consultations, followed by lights out. Due to the need for her to be hospitalised to recuperate, she did not manage to make any friends in primary school. Furthermore, she had yet to even step foot into her middle school since she was enrolled. As such, there was not a single soul who would come to visit her. As for her parents, they were so busy socialising and managing their practice that they only showed their faces occasionally in the hospital.

Having lived this life for days, then months and now for a year, she could not imagine there being any change to this situation.

However, when was it that such unmoving, boring and empty days have changed?

“……”

From the slightly ajar window, a pair of silver-coloured wing reflecting the morning sun approached.

It was the Morpho butterfly.

The one who granted Mari her Mushi—it was none other than the young man in the white coat who was seated next to Mari right now.

“Here’s a new book, Mari.”

Out of nowhere, the young man appeared with a smile holding a book out to Mari.

The sudden appearance of the young man was no longer a surprise to Mari.

“This is the original work of the latest popular drama. It’s fine to read something like this occasionally, isn’t it?”

Facing the young man with a mischievous smile on his face, Mari pondered.

—Why is it that he can still smile like that?

Mari first met the young man just a few months ago. —Despite the tedious, repetitive days, these past few months had passed very fast.

After meeting Mari and turning her into a Mushitsuki, he had also imparted to her considerable knowledge about the Mushi.

Mari did not hate him for turning her into a Mushitsuki, for she knew that he had suffered as much as she did. Also, like Mari, he just lived waiting for the ‘end’ to come.

“Recently, there has been a surge in this kind of stories, these somewhat tragic love stories. However, there are still plenty of fun parts around……”

Ever since she met him, Mari’s days have changed.

For Mari who had lived her life without a single purpose, she now had one thing to look forward to.

Night-time—.

Mari looked forward to the late night.

Night was when she had the freedom to run and jump around, to use her brimming strength to do whatever she wants. In addition to this freedom, she had an objective to fulfil at the same time.

“It’s fine for today. ……Pass me that book.”

Mari said, holding out her hand out of the window. The Morpho butterfly then rested on her pallid arm.

“That book again?”

With a bitter smile, the young man inserted the book into the bookshelf. In exchange, he took out a thin book.

It was a picture book titled, ‘Potion of Magic’. Mari took the book from the young man and placed it by the pillow, turning to her sides.

“I’m going to sleep.”

In preparation for night-time, Mari needed to preserve as much of her stamina as possible. Even if her body was strengthened from fusing with the Morpho butterfly, the energy to move still came from herself.

“……How is your research coming along?”

After lying on the bed for a while, Mari asked. Even though she could not sense his presence, Mari knew that the young man was still seated next to her.

“It was just finished the day before yesterday. Despite how I look, I’m a pretty outstanding apprentice, you know? Although I’ll be leaving this hospital where I met you…… whenever I have time, I’ll come by to see you.”

“Is that so……”

Her voice sounded like it was coming from afar. Soon after, she felt her eyelids became heavy.

In the midst of a light sleep while waiting for night to approach, Mari’s consciousness drifted in the interstice between reality and dream.

The colourless landscapes of the past flowed past her mind before disappearing into nothingness.

—She had met the mysterious young man clad in a white coat during a summer day with clear skies.

With the reason that air-conditioning was poison to the body, the windows were fully opened, allowing the cries of cicadas to enter the room. That was when he appeared in front of Mari who was gazing at the fluttering curtains.

He wore a long white coat covering his entire body, something she thought did not suited him at that time. With a head of unkempt hair, one could not leave the impression of a student from him.

From the words of the attending doctor who brought him along, he was just a research resident fresh out of university, in other words, an apprentice. Mari thought that he had been brought along to act as a conversation partner for her, who led an uneventful life at the hospital. In actual fact, she knew that his role was to study Mari’s rare illness.

—Would you please tell me your name?

He should have already known her name from the patient chart, but what annoyed her even more was how his wording sounded as if he was speaking to a child.

—It’s Patricia.

Mari spitted out in displeasure.

What Mari depended on to stave off her boredom day after days was a large collection of books. Patricia was the name of the heroine that appeared in the book ‘Potion of Magic’, a picture book translated from an overseas fairy tale.

The content of the story was as follows.

A witch visited Patricia who had fallen sick.

The witch offered her two kinds of potion; one made by an angel, and the other by a devil.

If she drank the angel’s potion, in exchange for losing her loved one, her sickness would be cured and she would be able to live a long life.

On the other hand, her sickness would not be cured if she drank the devil’s potion, but her loved one would always be by her side.

Even at her deathbed, Patricia was still undecided.

If she chose the angel’s potion, everybody would lose their memories of her. And in return, she would live to a ripe old age, released from the fear of death.

However, if she drank the devil’s potion—.

In the end, Patricia drank the devil’s potion.

And so, she left the world. Even so, her loved ones would often visit her grave.

No matter how hard Mari thought, she could never figure out why did Patricia chose as such.

If she was Patricia, she would have chosen the angel’s potion without hesitation. As long as her illness was cured, she would not have to face the fear of death creeping up on her.

Why did Patricia pick the devil’s potion?

Not knowing the answer to this question, Mari read the picture book time after times—.

—Patricia……?

The young man was surprised.

His reaction was obvious. She did not think that he had read the picture book before, and he would not have expected that a young man who just recently graduated such as himself would be ridiculed by a girl much younger than him.

She saw the young man taking a peek at her bookshelf.

That was where she had kept the picture book.

—Do you understand Patricia’s feeling?

He asked with a bitter smile.

At his unexpected words, Mari was speechless.

Till now, Mari still did not understand the true intent behind Patricia’s choice.

—It’s fine even if you don’t know. Take your time to slowly look for the answer. That’s because you are different from Patricia, you still have a long road ahead of you.

From that day on, the young man would visit Mari whenever he had some free time. He would visit even when there were deep shadows around his eyes, probably due to a lack of sleep from spending his time in research.

At first, she thought that he was visiting her out of a sense of mission as a doctor. It would not take long for a young resident to sympathise with Mari’s situation.

He would talk about various things from his research to about books. At first, he would ramble on and on by himself. Eventually, Mari began to exchange a few words with him as well.

Be that as it may that a doctor’s mission was to save their patients, Mari was perplexed over why did he cared so much for her.

However, before long, she knew the reason after hearing about his secret.

That was because of how he could see himself in her, similarly bound by the threads of destiny which they could never escape.

—Mari. What is your dream?

Being asked that question, Mari answered unwaveringly. She had already heard from him the consequence of answering that question.

—I want…… to live.

Biting her lips, Mari croaked out a voice that trailed off. That was the first time that she had revealed her tears in front of him. Also, that would be the first and the last time that he held Mari in his arms.

—Then, live on. Let us live on and see the continuation of the dream……

And so, Mari became a Mushitsuki.

Then, he told Mari about various things.

About the Mushi. About the existences known as the Original Three. And also, about the Mushitsuki known as Kusuriya Daisuke.

—He is strong. Even as he hesitates, he knows that he must continue. Although I have never actually met him…… by all means, I want you to meet him.

Although the young man went out of his way to mention him, Mari had absolutely no interest in that person. She thought somewhere in her mind that she would never meet that person.

More so than him, Mari was interested in a certain Mushitsuki borne by Elvioréne—dubbed Oogui by a certain organisation, an existence that gave rise to Mushitsuki.

The Mushitsuki with the attribute of Undeath.

The existence of such Mushitsuki is closely intertwined with that of Oogui’s. As such, they are someone that Mari must defeat eventually no matter what—.

“……”

The outside of the window was that of darkness.

The bedside lamp lit up the last page of the ‘Potion of Magic’ propped up at the side of the bed.

Mari closed the picture book.

Looking at the wall clock, it was currently one o'clock deep in the night.

Mari got off the bed and opened the closet. She retrieved the white coat hidden at the back of the closet and swapped out of her hospital garb.

After covering her face with the knitted hat and muffler, she approached the window which exposed the blackness of the night.

“Please stop this already, Mari.”

The young man’s voice came from her back.

At a corner of the seemingly empty room, a familiar young man in a white coat stood. As usual, there had been no sound of the door opening.

“Didn’t you promise me? To see the continuation of your dream together—”

“At the very least, I am aware of the condition of my body.”

Mari cut into the words of the young man.

“Please just let me do what I want in the end.”

“It’s not the end. You are still……”

Mari ignored his words. When she opened the window, silver light entered the room.

The Morpho butterfly landed on Mari’s shoulder and transformed. Its feelers fused with her body as well as turning the crutch in her right hand into a silver spear.

She felt strength fill her entire body. But at the same time, she felt something at the depths of her heart being eroded.

“Also, didn’t you say so. That Mushitsuki…… if it’s me, then it might be possible to defeat that Undying Mushitsuki. Apart than me, who else could?”

She had spoken without her true intentions. The reason why Mari was searching for the Undying Mushitsuki was definitely not to defeat him.

The young man scarcely choked out some words.

“Even so, there is no reason for you to have to deal with it……!”

“The one who gave me this strength was you. That’s why you have a responsibility to watch over me till the end.”

Without giving him an opportunity to reply, Mari jumped off the window from three storeys high unhesitatingly.

“Mari!”

Following the sound of slicing through the wind, Mari landed on both of her legs with a fierce impact. With her legs strengthened by the combination with her Mushi, she immediately broke into a run after her landing.

Running across the silent hospital premises, she jumped right over the fence.

Once again tonight, a silver bullet traced around Akamaki City under the moonlight.

Part 2

As usual, Mari’s morning began with emptiness again today.

“Your complexion does not look very good, you should get some more sleep.”

The attending doctor mentioned, looking at the glass bottle on the shelf. Apart from his usual sigh upon noting that the number of tablets has decreased, he had nothing to add.

The sound of the door closing seemed to ring especially loud in the silent room.

“……”

Mari’s chest-length hair fluttered in the wind blowing through the window.

Last night’s hunt did not bore any fruit as well.

Unable to find the Mushitsuki of interest, she had just turned another Mushitsuki into a Fallen.

In the room devoid of people, the sound of Mari grinding her molars reverberated.

If his words are true, then he must be in Akamaki City…… yet why can’t I find him!

Putting strength into her fingers, she dug into the sheets.

The answer had been apparent to her. Just the number of Mushitsuki alone are already much lesser than that of the residents of the city, and to find a specific person from within such a small group would be a nigh impossible task.

Mari’s Morpho butterfly had the ability to sense other Mushitsuki. If not for that, it would have been impossible to search for Mushitsuki in the first place.

Despite this natural conclusion, Mari could not bear the frustration. Even though she had not expected it to be an easy task, the impasse caused her to be extremely chagrined.

Mari sunk into the bed, covering her head with the blanket. Irritation and impatience shook throughout her body.

“Mari.”

A voice called out.

She was no longer surprised by now. The young man in the white coat appeared out of thin air seated on the visitor’s seat.

“Why don’t you at least take a break for tonight and not go out? At this rate—”

“There’s time no left!”

From within the bed, an unexpectedly strong voice bellowed. The sound of the young man gasping was transmitted.

That’s right. I do not have much longer.

The days of emptiness and boredom are slowly coming to an end. Mari knew that herself very clearly.

Her body was shuddering heavily. It was different from the trembling due to irritation earlier. Bare fear and unease showing on her face, Mari clung onto the sheet shivering.

“I can feel the strength slowly leaving off my body! More so yesterday than the day before yesterday, more so today than yesterday……! For sure even more so tomorrow! Just what is happening to my body! What is it so broken and tattered! Why is it only me……!”

Mari’s words broke down into weeping.

I’m afraid.

Afraid of dying.

I fear that I’ll just inevitably disappear like that without leaving anything behind, without anyone knowing and without remaining in the memories of anyone.

Like that, it’s as if I did not exist in the first place—.

Mari thought while covering her head with her arms, her back shivering in fear.

I don’t want that…… I’m right here. Hanashiro Mari is right here.

The more she thought, the more she could feel despair creeping up on her.

I’m right here…… in this small room where no one comes, no one knows……

Those words did not come out. The anger which transformed into fear causing her to shudder now turned into sadness. Under the blanket where light does not reach, only Mari’s sobbing sounds leaked.

I want to become Patricia…… I don’t want to die yet……

If Mari was the protagonist of the fairy tale, she would drink the angel’s potion.

It was not like she had anyone precious anyway. There were no one who cherished her as well. If so, couldn’t she at least be freed from the fear and unease of death? Outside the windows, Mari saw lots of people were enjoying their life which she couldn’t even experience—.

“…… Someone give me the angel’s potion…… please……”

Mari pleaded in a hoarse voice.

“……”

The young man did not say anything. She could easily imagine that with his personality, he would grind his teeth in despair at his lack of power. But, just that would not bring any salvation to Mari at all.

“Hey…… please……”

Mari’s groans reverberated in the empty room.

—While in the midst of crying, Mari fell into slumber.

The loud sound of someone knocking on the door woke her up.

“……”

Mari lifted her blanket, raising her upper body.

It was probably just a consultation by the attending doctor, she thought. Usually he would just enter without making any noise. She made sure that there were no more traces of tears on her cheeks and confirmed that the young man was not around.

After crying out loud when she felt like crying, she felt much more at peace.

No, that was slightly wrong, there was still a void deep in her heart.

—In the end, what would happen will eventually happen. That’s all.

Narrowing her eyes, she gazed at the scenery beyond the window. The figures of birds soaring through the sky appear faded through her eyes.

As she waited, she heard another knock.

“……?”

Mari creased her eyebrows. The attending doctor would have entered without waiting for Mari’s permission.

Then, she could hear some muttering from beyond the door.

“Maybe she’s sleeping…… it would be bad if I were to wake her up just because I came. After all, first impressions are the most important…… no, it’s not like I’m here for a matchmaking……”

Mari raised her eyebrows even more.

What……? What is outside the door?

“It can’t be, her condition is so bad that she collapsed…… no, no, that can’t be true…… but, in the off case it’s true then I can’t be waiting here!”

Thinking that the voice sounded a little urgent, all of a sudden, the door opened violently with a paan.

“……”

Mari stared at the rare visitor in amazement.

“……”

Still holding on to the door handle, the visitor stared back at Mari’s face.

“…………”

In a situation where both parties were staring at each other, an awkward silence descended in the room.

…… Who……?

Mari’s face looked like it was plastered with many question marks. But, right after, there were all blown away.

“…… Hello!”

As if trying to hide her eccentric behaviour, the girl exclaimed with a large smile on her face.

Mari could not produce a single word, she only stared at that smile which was without a trace of gloominess.

That was the first meeting between Mari and that girl, Ichinokuro Arisu.

“Erm……”

That was all Mari could squeeze out. She could not even comprehend what was happening at the moment.

I think you got the wrong room—.

Before Mari could say that, the girl entered the room without her permission. Carrying a bouquet of flowers, she looked restlessly around the room before fixing her sight in the direction of the basin.

“I thought that you had collapsed so I entered thoughtlessly, but I’m glad that you seem alright. I wanted to get something other than flowers but a fruit basket seemed very common so I decided not to. So, please tell me your request today, then you can look forward to the next time. In the meanwhile, keep these flowers alive, okay. In any case, that sure is a peculiar flower vase.”

“……”

She walked around while talking to her heart’s content, not minding Mari who was stunned into silence.

Ignoring the fact that Mari was currently in the hospital as she was unwell, or that the ‘vase’ wasn’t a vase but a water pitcher, the girl’s presence was overwhelming, as well as the way she arranged the flower which made it look like an unspeakable horror to Mari who had learnt flower arrangement since young.

With graceful and lively movement, her healthy and youthful face was dazzling. Her long glossy hair extended beyond her neck, looking as smooth as silk. She wore a certain school’s uniform on her body which was smaller than that of Mari.

“Erm……?”

Mari began to feel slight annoyance at this girl who was walking around the room as if it was her own, ignoring the owner of the room. Creasing her eyebrows, she said again in a stronger tone.

Finally, the girl released a breath of relief as though she had completed her work. She then sat down the visitor’s seat without permission and faced Mari with a smile.

Her unreserved smile without a sign of worry seemed to suck the dejection out of Mari.

“Nice to meet you, Hanashiro Mari-san.”

Mari widened her eyes. It seems like she did not enter the room mistakenly.

“I am Ichinokuro Arisu. Your classmate, the first seat number among the girls.”

At those words, Mari remembered.

The uniform worn by the girl called Arisu was none other than that of Horusu Seijou Academy Middle School. The uniform that Mari had not had a single chance to put on ever since enrolling in the school.

At her sudden self-introduction, Mari was flustered.

“Ichinokuro…… Arisu?”

Mari repeated the name of the girl. Even so, she did not remember that name. She had not attended middle school for even a day.

Arisu used her finger as a comb to sweep away her hair coverings her eyes. To escape from her line of sight, Mari’s eyes wandered around her knees.

Why does she…… know about me? We never met even once……?

It had been a long time since she met someone of her age, as well as to speak face-to-face with another person like this.

Mari realised that she found it hard to deal with unknown visitors.

“I’m sorry. I don’t even know the names and looks of my classmate……”

In contrast to Mari’s disappearing voice, Arisu was smiling happily.

“I know. That’s why, nice to meet you.”

Arisu grasped Mari’s restless hand with both of her hands. Mari was surprised and her shoulders jerked back.

“……”

Mari looked at Arisu’s face timidly and she looked back with a grin.

Mari could not win against her. Yielding to her smile, Mari muttered in a soft voice.

“…… Nice to meet you.”

Arisu beamed when she heard her. Just slightly, she looked relieved.

According to Arisu, she had always been concerned about Mari who had not attended school ever since it started. She was curious about just what kind of person was Mari, who had not appeared even after two semesters.

“But, why did you come all of a sudden……?”

In response to her question, it was the first time Arisu looked cloudy.

“That is…… there was a transfer student.”

“Transfer student?”

“And then, that student wanted to use your desk.”

Mari widened her eyes. Deep in her heart, something seemed to crack.

She smiled sadly.

No one even noticed my presence…… No one even remembers me.

The scene seemed to float in her mind. A long vacant seat being occupied by somebody else, returning the classroom to its natural state where all the students are happy—that was unmistakably the peaceful scene of the classroom where the irregularity known as Mari did not exist.

For the very beginning, I did not belong to anywhere—.

Her hands gripping the sheets trembled.

“But, don’t worry! After I strongly protested to the teacher, they agreed to provide a new set of desk and chair for that student!”

Arisu said excitedly.

Mari was astonished.

“Eh……?”

“After all, it’s weird if you think about it. Even if you were missing for a while, you are still one of our classmates. To take away one of classmate’s seat like that, that I absolutely cannot agree with!”

“……”

Raw emotions rised up from Mari’s chest, dyeing her vision completely white.

She was one of them—Arisu had stated that unquestionably.

Arisu rambled on passionately and included some hand gestures, not seeming to notice Mari who was struck speechless. Mari thought about how Arisu probably argued with the teacher as well as the voices of the other students agreeing with her. And how she then took the opportunity to come visit her, along with her indecisiveness when choosing the flowers to the conflict in her heart on whether to open the door or not. About how she rehearsed repeatedly in her heart so as to not appear rude when appearing for the first time.

Mari was so overwhelmed by Arisu’s presence that from the start till the end, she could only answer with either ‘yes’ or ‘is that so……’.

Their strange one-sided conversation continued until the head nurse came in to inform Arisu that visitation hours were over.

“Is it okay if I come tomorrow too?”

Standing up from the chair, Arisu enquired innocently.

“Eh……”

Mari was confused and could only mumble unintelligently. For the first time in her life, she did not know how to answer her.

“You…… don’t have to come, if you’re not free……”

She answered unconsciously in a soft voice. Irritation and an unfamiliar strange feeling rocked her heart.

Anyway, she only came here out of social obligations—.

Mari placed her hands on her chest, suppressing the conflicting emotions. Arisu looked on curiously.

“Why? There’s no problem on my side. If so, then see you tomorrow.”

Leaving these words, Arisu left.

In her place, the attending doctor arrived. After the usual consultation, he left with a ‘good night’.

As the time for lights out came, the room was wrapped in darkness.

But, Mari was not in the mood to leave the bed.

Just what is that girl……?

Even after Arisu left and even during the consultation, Mari was still in a state of slight panic.

Appearing out of nowhere to visit and then saying whatever she wants. Mari could not understand in the least what were Arisu’s true intention and objective. Why would she come to visit someone whom she had never met ever before? Why did she spoke with her so familiarly?

“Ichinokuro…… Arisu.”

Without realising it, she said the name of that girl out loud.

“Looks like a girl came to visit you.”

“……!”

From who knows when, the young man in white coat was sitting on the visitor’s seat. Although already used to his sudden appearance, his abrupt arrival caused Mari who was deep in thought to stiffen.

“Aren’t you glad, Mari.”

The young man gave her a smile.

Mari could feel her cheeks heating up. Facing the other side of the bed, she avoided his look.

“There’s nothing to be glad about……!”

“Why not? You are not happy?”

“Happy? …… That’s obviously not the case.”

Saying so, Mari realised that her heart was half filled with irritation.

“What I was doing was just showing her the side of me that looks fine……! It’s not like that girl came here to visit me for anything other than pity!”

Her face twisting, Mari said harshly.

In her eyes, the figure of the girl known as Arisu was very bright.

But, on the other hand, Mari was certain that in the eyes of Arisu, she was only a target of pity. She was pained by anger and frustration when she thought about things like that.

If only I was like that girl—.

Mari could feel somebody whispering that in her heart. But, when she realised that that was just her true feelings, she only felt more frustrated.

“I’m sure all she felt was pity…… seeing someone like me, an unfortunate classmate……”

Spitting out those words, she bit her lips.

Did Arisu only felt pity towards her?

Her large black eyes. Did those eyes really look at Mari with looks of pity?

The more Mari questioned herself, the more irritated she felt about herself who can’t help but think pessimistically.

“Wouldn’t it be great if she came back again.”

“Not like she would come again—”

Retorting reflexively, she was suddenly struck by a coughing fit.

Mari quickly raised her body, reaching for the water pitcher. But, right before she grasped it, her hands stopped.

“Kuu……”

“I guess you can’t drink it like this.”

The young man burst into laughter.

The water pitcher was stuffed with flowers that were in disarray, regardless of whether it was the colour or the layout.

Her face blushed red, Mari curled up on the bed.

Even as the night grew deeper, Mari was yet to be struck by sleepiness. In her mind, her conversation with Arisu repeated clearly, winding from the end to the start over and over.

Still one of our classmate—.

“That’s right, I still have a place of belonging…… right here……”

Mari muttered repeatedly till the early morning, until the moment her consciousness was transported to the land of dreams.

By the time she woke up, the sun was already high up in the sky.

The midday sun’s ray blew away her sleepiness at once.

“Looks like you’ve had a good sleep, the morning check-up has been cancelled.”

The attending doctor who accompanied the nurse serving lunch said with a smile. He was looking at the glass bottle on the shelf, which contents had not decreased since yesterday.

“……”

As time passed, Mari could feel her irritation rising. Having used up more energy thinking about needless things, she managed to finish up her lunch cleanly despite not being able to finish even half usually.

It was now afternoon.

Next to Mari who was reading the ‘Potion of Magic’, the young man in a white coat appeared out of nowhere as usual.

“Seems like your complexion is better today.”

“What do you mean by better, there’s no such thing. Thanks to somebody, I even forgot to go out last night. Even though I don’t even have a single day to waste……”

“I wonder if that somebody would come today?”

The hand turning the page jerked abruptly. In the first place, Mari’s head was in the clouds and she could not absorb the contents of the book.

In fact, that was all Mari had been thinking about. It was futile to expect anything, she had already known that the more she looked forward to it, the more disappointed she would feel if she did not come. In that case, it would be for the best if she did not expect her to come in the first place.

“Didn’t I say that she would not come? Yesterday’s visit would have been more than enough to satisfy her. By now, she probably would have already forgotten cleanly about who I am.”

“Is that so?”

“How many times do you want me to say it.”

For a while, Mari and the young man’s argument continued.

She’s here.

Unaware of the internal struggles in Mari’s heart, she appeared right on time as if it was completely natural.

A knock came from the door.

The figure of the young man immediately disappeared, leaving behind only Mari alone.

Another knock came into Mari’s ears which had stiffened. And then, a voice came from beyond the door.

“…… Maybe she is sleeping…… It would be bad if I were to wake her up. But, but, what if……”

If this continues, the same scene as yesterday where the door opens violently would be repeated.

I wonder if she is trying to repeat this routine everyday—.

Mari thought while watching the door in a daze.

Everyday—.

As Mari closed the picture book, in her heart, the various conflicts disappeared as though they were just illusions.

Right in front of Mari’s eyes, the door opened with strong momentum.

“Good afternoon.”

A smiling face greeted Arisu who burst into the room.

Arisu was surprised for a moment, but immediately returned the smile.

“Good afternoon!”

Part 3

Taking a seat on the visitor’s seat, Arisu began with a, ‘I failed’.

“I completely forgot about listening to your request yesterday. Do you have anything you want? I’ll definitely bring it to you tomorrow.”

At the sudden mention of tomorrow, Mari was dumbfounded.

“T-there’s nothing in particular……”

“Is that so? Well, it’s fine then. Just tell me whenever you have thought of something.”

“I-Ichinokuro-san……”

“Arisu.”

“Eh?”

“Saying Ichinokuro-san each time is a mouthful, isn’t it? So, you can just call me Arisu. I’ll call you by your last name too, okay, Mari?”

Mari alternated her gaze between Arisu’s face and her hands placed on top of her knees, while Arisu looked straight at her. She faltered under the other girl’s stare and looked away to avoid meeting her eye.

“Arisu…… Is it fine for you to be here?”

“It’s fine?”

“Don’t you have other things to do……”

“Aah, it’s fine since after school is pretty much my leisure time. My other friends have club activities, so I don’t have anyone else to play with anyway. There’s nothing to do even if I went home too.”

Arisu said as she changed the water in the pitcher with a smile. Mari wondered when would she finally notice that the pitcher was not a flower vase.

In response to Mari’s question, Arisu mentioned her lack of participation in club activities as the reason.

She added that due to an old custom that was passed down from the olden time till now in her family, she underwent strict martial arts training every morning. Being very much annoyed at that already, there was no way she would want to participate in additional strenuous exercises after school. Not to mention, she did not join a cultural arts club as she couldn’t stand being trapped in a room for anything.

“If Mari could come to school, what club would you join?”

At Arisu’s question, Mari fell silent.

Mari’s condition was so severe that she could not even attend school. She could not even imagine what it was like to travel to school by herself.

“Probably somewhere with a lot of books. I love to read, so a reading club, I guess?”

Arisu walked till the front of the bookshelf. She retrieved the book, ‘Potion of Magic’, and started flipping through the pages.

That book was used frequently to dispel Mari’s boredom. But she definitely did not grow to like it.

“I would love to be able to go outside every day. Whether it’s a picnic, or a trip…… anyway, I just want to go somewhere far.”

Those words spontaneously flowed out of her mouth.

Mari imagined.

She envisioned herself attending Horusu Seijou Academy, showing up for lessons and moving her body during physical education. To chat with her friends after school and try her best in club activities. If Arisu wasn’t around, she would not stay around the club room either. She had enough of being stuck in a room somewhere.

Arisu stared at Mari blankly for a while at her outburst, before revealing a smile without malice.

“It feels like Mari has changed slightly somehow.”

Those words felt like a momentous impact for Mari.

Cha…… change? Me?

“There’s no way that clubs such as picnic club or travelling club exist.”

Arisu finished with a smile, unwittingly causing Mari to be annoyed.

Although Mari acknowledged that her preference was different from others, she was still vexed that Arisu pointed that out.

“Who…… who are you to say, you’ve changed too.”

Mari fired back in a timid but sharp voice.

This time, it was Arisu’s turn to be shocked. She leaned her body on the bed.

“What, seriously? I have changed? What’s different about me now? To tell you the truth, my height is in the normal region, probably.”

Mari was referring to how she used water pitcher as a vase, how she opened the door violently after hastily coming into her own conclusion and how she generally did things at her own pace. It seems that the person herself did not realised that.

Their conversation continued all the way till the end of visitation hours. Their main topic being cases of classmates who were even weirder than Arisu. Mari who had no similar experience to speak about could only listen to Arisu as she spoke about how there were no other person with such a strong character as her.

“You look much better today than yesterday, I’m somewhat relieved……”

Before Arisu left, she said so.

This surprised Mari, causing her heart to ache. Unconsciously, she forced a smile to hide her shock.

“My condition…… have its ups and downs……”

“You know what my friends said? They said that if someone like me came to visit you, that might even cause your condition to worsen. Or so they say.”

Mari lifted her face.

“Tahaha, even though I know that was just a joke. But because of this personality, I was often told that I could not notice other people’s feelings. Perhaps I’m just being a bother.”

“T-that’s not……!”

Mari denied her reflexively. Seeing her flustered reaction, Arisu knew that she was just trying to console her.

“I’m glad. Well then, see you tomorrow.”

Waving her hands with a smile on her face, Arisu left the room.

See you tomorrow—.

Arisu’s last words echoed in Mari’s head.

“……”

Mari stared at the door as it came to a stop.

Left alone in the quiet hospital room, the time she spent with Arisu just moments ago felt like it was just an illusion. The state of the room returned to its original state where only the sound of Mari’s breaths could be heard.

It was time for the attending doctor to visit. Mari accepted the pre-sleep consultation as usual.

“Looks like you managed to make a friend.”

At the words of the middle-aged doctor, Mari was reminded that Arisu’s visit was not just an illusion.

After the attending doctor left, it was time for her to rest.

“……”

In the room where light slowly vanished, Mari stared at the ceiling while lying on the bed.

When the needle of the clock pointed to one o'clock, Mari descended from the bed. She herself couldn’t remember clearly what she had thought about while passing time.

She opened the closet and changed into the clothes used for hunting.

“You are going again?”

The voice sounded right as Mari was about to descend from the window.

Turning around, she saw the young man in white coat standing in a corner.

“Shouldn’t you prepare your body by getting ample food and rest first? If you collapsed, the girl who visit you will be worried.”

“…… That doesn’t matter.”

The Morpho butterfly that was flying around the window combined with Mari. A silver pattern appeared on the portion of her cheeks not covered by her hat and muffler. The spear gave off a bright light, lighting up the side of Mari’s face.

“After all—”

She would stop coming once she was bored.

Those words remained stuck in her throat.

Why can’t she just honestly express her happiness? Wasn’t what Mari wished for to be rid of loneliness?

Or was it that she had been alone for such a long time that she had forgotten what it felt like to have someone around?

“……”

Biting back her lips, she diverted her sight from the young man. Placing her hands on the window, she unhesitatingly leapt off.

The sound of the wind blasted her ears. Bounded by gravity, she began to fall towards the ground.

Mari absorbed the force of the landing with her enhanced leg. She ran across the premises with strong footsteps, leaving depressions on the ground in her wake.

Jumping over the fence, she chose an alley far from human gaze and dashed inside.

Running through the night, she left her unnecessary thoughts in the wind.

Truthfully, the reason Mari left the hospital room was to blow away her feelings of restlessness. But, now that she was running about, she remembered her original objective.

Tonight, I’ll find you for sure…… the Immortal Mushitsuki……!

By thinking her objective out loud for herself, she finally drove away the thoughts about Ichinokuro Arisu.

I don’t have time to think about that girl…… Because I have something that I must do no matter what!

She gripped the spear with greater strength.

There was no moonlight tonight. Avoiding the places with crowds, she eyed one of the multi-tenant building. Taking a big jump, she kicked off a rain gutter, caught onto the fence and did a somersault to arrive on the rooftop.

She spied the surroundings cautiously.

There was no sign of anybody. However, there was a prior visitor.

“So, we meet again.”

The black cat with a kinked tail puffed up its fur upon seeing Mari. Its characteristic tail indicated to Mari that it was the cat she saw on a different building the other day.

“Just how many homes do you have……?”

Mari quietly questioned the cat. But the black cat only revealed its enmity before promptly running away. Feeling a bit lonely, she continued to move while feeling somewhat guilty for rousing the cat from its slumber.

“……”

The Morpho butterfly separated from Mari as she saw the cat off. As a sense of lethargy immediately hit her, she sat down on the rooftop.

All I have to do now was to wait.

Hugging her knees, Mari waited motionlessly. As she sat there doing nothing, her thoughts naturally drifted to that of Arisu.

I see—.

Mari realised the reason for her confusion in her heart.

The reason being, this was the first time……

Till now, Mari had been all alone, she had not been as close to someone as she had with Arisu ever before. Experiencing this for the first time, she had no idea what to do or how to feel. In a certain sense, it is to be expected for her to be confused.

Burying her face in her knees, she concluded and felt more at peace with herself.

What should I do from now onwards……

This was the first time that she imagined a future apart than that of death. She wondered if Arisu would still come to visit her in that room? And if she did, how would she receive her?

Maybe someday, like that girl, she would be able to attend…… to go to school together with her……

Tokun, tokun…… she heard the sound of her heartbeat.

Perhaps due to her not having caught a wink of sleep during the daytime, Mari felt herself being pulled into the gap between dreamscape and reality.

“!”

The Morpho butterfly dancing in the night sky lit up. Leaving trails of shimmering scales in the sky, it danced around the air twitchily.

It's here……!

Swiftly raising her face, she supported herself with the crutch.

“It seems that there’s a big catch tonight……”

Looking down on the ground, Mari saw a group of three youths walking down the back alley. She could see that they were being vigilant on their surroundings as well. Straining her eyes, she could see small insects surrounding the youths as well.

Mari merged with the Morpho butterfly. The shining spear conveyed to her the fact that the insects were more than they what seemed.

“One-versus-three, this’ll be the first time.”

With a silver pattern on her face, Mari grinned.

Her Morpho butterfly was endowed with a sensor that can detect other Mushi. Using this ability, Mari only had to wait for Mushitsuki to be caught in the net, such was her method of hunting.

She leapt off the rooftop.

“……!”

Sensing some movement, the three youths looked up.

That look of surprise on your faces, I’m already tired of looking at it—.

Mari brandished the spear coolly.

Let me try it out again…… whether or not you guys are the Immortal Mushitsuki!

It was the usual surprise attack. As well as the usual reaction. Except—.

“I-it appeared……!”

“Let Rina and the rest know……!”

“No, let’s defeat her here—”

Mari hesitated to swing her spear down for a second.

The impression of the three Mushitsuki felt different from the rest she had met. Three Mushi expanded in size and moved to surround her.

A sharp gaze peered at the three people from within the muffler. The youths watched Mari’s actions anxiously. Among them, one was so gripped by fear that his body had stiffened up.

The three of them were Elvioréne’s Mushitsuki…… but, these people—they said they were waiting for me?

Although they were surprised at Mari’s appearance, they did not seem confused. It was obvious that they were expecting Mari to do them harm.

“Are you guys from…… the Special Environmental Preservation Bureau?”

Mari spoke her thoughts in a low voice.

“That voice…… a girl?”

“You say we’re the SEPB?”

“Don’t lump us with those assholes!”

Shouting in anger, one of the Mushi reached out to attack Mari.

Apparently, they did not belong to them.

The Special Environmental Preservation Bureau.

According to the young man in white coat, it was a government agency which employs Mushitsuki to capture other Mushitsuki. To the best of her knowledge, there was no other organisation that was composed of Mushitsuki.

Mari deftly shook off the attack with her spear.

Silver scales released by the spear bisect the attacking Mushi. The resulting shockwave blew violently, destroying the surrounding walls.

“Wha……”

Witnessing the overwhelming difference in strength, the youths’ face paled. One of them, the owner of the Mushi which was killed, collapsed with a look of agony on his face.

Looks like it’s not them either—.

Sparing a side glance at the fallen youth, Mari sighed in disappointment.

It did not matter to Mari at all who these youths were. There was only one thing left for her to confirm, that was whether or not one of them was the Mushitsuki of her objective.

“U…...waaaa!”

“Damn it!”

Of the two left, one chose to attack. The remaining person having lost all his fighting spirit, turned his back towards Mari and ran away.

A gigantic Mushi swiped its claws at Mari. But the huge claws which seemed like it would cut through an adult’s body was stopped by the shaft of Mari’s spear.

“Fuu!”

From the where claws met her spear, Mari swung the other end of the spear below the Mushi’s body. With the sound of something cracking, the huge body of the Mushi was blasted into the air.

Spinning the spear in one round, she thrusted the spear at the Mushi floating in the air.

Silver light enveloped the space.

The Mushi exploded into multiple pieces.

“Gah……!”

Revealing the whites of his eye, the youth crumbled on the ground.

Not him either……!

Mari directed her sharp gaze at the remaining youth who was escaping. Stomping off the ground, Mari chased the youth with overwhelming speed.

“Hii……!”

When he turned his head around, he let off a shriek. In a bid to protect its owner, the Mushi stood in her way and opened its huge mouthpiece in Mari’s direction.

Mari leapt off the ground, avoiding the attack. Kicking off the wall of the building with superhuman strength, she struck the head region of Mushi with her spear.

“Uwaaa!”

It seems that the Mushi managed a frantic dodge. Although having avoided a direct hit, half of the Mushi’s body was blown away by silver scales.

“Sto—”

The youth who tumbled to the ground covered his head with both of his hands and curled his body up. His Mushi having narrowly avoided death, he also barely evaded being turned into a Fallen.

“Please…… stop…… don’t kill me……”

Mari stopped in front of the youth. Taking a closer look, she found that the boy was even younger than her. He looked like he was barely a primary school student.

Mari swung the spear towards the Mushi which was still wriggling.

But, at that moment.

—See you tomorrow.

Like a flash, Arisu’s smile crossed her mind.

“……!”

The spear stopped at the last second.

Why is it that at this time, I think about that girl……!

She looked at the boy on the ground in bewilderment.

“I don’t want to…… forget everything…… help me……”

Looking at his shivering figure, a single thought boiled over in Mari’s heart.

This boy too…… may have promised to meet somebody tomorrow for all I know—.

She widened her eyes.

The strong feelings spouting from her chest shocked her more than anyone else. She had never felt this way before.

“Aah……?”

With her spear still pointing upwards, she turned around to look. Apart from the scars of carnage, there were the figures of two youths collapsed on the ground.

I…… what have I been doing till now……?

The hand holding on to the silver spear trembled lightly.

In the search for the Immortal Mushitsuki……

With her free left hand, she covered her face in a daze.

The trembling grew stronger gradually.

Mari had only intended to find the Mushitsuki of her objective. No matter how many people she had to turn into Fallen, if it meant that she could live on, she would do so. She thought that compared to the constant fear of dying, it was only a trivial matter to lose her feelings.

However.

You are still one of us—.

See you tomorrow—.

In her mind, her conversation with Arisu rewound.

I was wrong……? All their future…… their dreams…… I was the one who snatched it away……?

“Aah…… aah……”

Mari’s whole body shuddered.

What Mari had done, she finally realised it herself. At the same time, a bottomless despair befell her.

All these people…… were the same as me…… were looking forward to the future……?

“Aaah……”

The groan leaking out of her mouth was hidden by the left hand covering her face.

The half-dead Mushi turned its body around, desperately galloping away from the alley.

I was the one…… who took everything away from them……?

Having averted her eyes from matters not related to herself, she never realised the true consequences behind her actions.

The people who were turned into Fallen by Mari, if they had made an appointment to meet the next day…… what happened to those who were waiting for their return?

The one that came into her mind was, herself.

In a room where nobody ever comes, the figure of Mari as she waits amidst the emptiness and loneliness.

“Haah…… haah…… haah!”

Her heart started to beat faster, and she felt like she could not breathe. Although she wasn’t supposed to experience a seizure when she was combined with the Morpho butterfly, Mari could feel her body screaming.

“Haaa! Haaa!”

She ran back to the hospital as if trying to escape from something. Aiming for the open window on the third floor, she jumped into her hospital room.

As if expelling it from her body, the Morpho butterfly separated from Mari.

“Mari……?”

As usual, the young man in white coat was waiting for Mari’s return.

Still catching her breath, Mari reached out for the glass bottle on the shelf.

“Mari!”

The young man’s expression changed. Mari spilled countless tablets on her palm and swallowed them in one go. However, Mari’s heart palpitation would not slow.

“What are you doing……! That medicine……!”

Mari roughly shook off the hand which the young man placed on her shoulder. Not minding his presence, she took off the white coat and wrapped herself in the hospital garb.

“What in the world happened, Mari!”

Not even noticing the young man’s voice, Mari dived into the bed. She threw the blanket over her head and stared into darkness. But, her heartbeat and the trembling of her body did not seem to settle down.

I…… was the cause of many people’s loneliness……

Hugging her body, Mari’s quivering persisted throughout the night.

Part 4

“……”

In the hospital room where the morning rays suffused, Mari was gazing out of the window in a stupor.

She had not managed to sleep for even a second.

Although her body was already weak, her mental condition was in even greater disarray. Her thoughts were paralysed and she could not think about anything at all.

As the time for morning consultation approached, the attending doctor came into the room. He may have seen the extreme drop in number of tablets in the glass bottle, causing him to have a look of startle on his face.

“Because I tried to pour a lot at once, I spilled most of it…… I threw away those which fell on the ground.”

Still looking out of the window, Mari spoke lifelessly like a doll, only moving her mouth.

Although the attending doctor was further surprised at Mari’s rare words, he did not probe further. However, he did draw some blood which was an infrequent occurrence.

After the attending doctor left, she felt a presence appear in the room which was devoid of people.

“Why……”

Mari uttered a single word.

“Why didn’t you stop me……? You knew long ago the results of what I did, didn’t you……?”

At Mari’s questions, the young man in white coat did not answer.

He tried repeatedly to stop her.

He always attempted to stop Mari from going out on her hunt. It was just that Mari never lent an ear to him.

In the private room immersed in quietness, time flowed ceaselessly.

When afternoon arrived, a knock sounded in the room where only Mari was around.

“…… Come in.”

Mari welcomed the visitor with a smile.

“Good afternoon!”

It was Ichinokuro Arisu with the usual bright smile on her face. Mari returned the smile.

“Guess what. Even though you didn’t have any special request, I felt bad coming empty-handed. That’s why, today, I brought something.”

Sitting on the visitor’s seat casually, Arisu was holding on to a big bag.

“Thank you.”

While grinning happily, Mari gave her thanks.

I have no rights to meet with her…… no rights to be waiting for her—.

With these thoughts, Mari could no longer welcome greet Arisu in calmness as she did before.

Even if someday Arisu decides not to come anymore, I would not hate her. I wouldn’t feel sad either—.

After all, that’s only to be expected.

Having deprived other people of their promises, Mari couldn’t be the only one to still be meeting Arisu. It was only fitting for Mari to be living in solitude as well.

“Wawaa, sorry!”

When Arisu opened the bag, the contents scattered all over the bed.

On top of the surprised Mari’s knees, a large quantity of paper sheets spilled. They were dated, with the latest one bearing the title, ‘Notice and guidance on the recent frequent explosion incidents’.

“These are the letters of notice handed out by the school since the first semester. Mari didn’t receive a single one, right? See this, this was the previous cultural festival’s programme list. Our class did a cafe. Though these revealing costume designs were clearly thought up by those perverted boys—”

While collecting the paper sheets, Arisu explained.

“This is……?”

Mari held up a notebook she randomly plucked out from the mess.

“Ah, that’s not supposed to be here. That’s today’s Math assignment. I thought I’d start on it when I return home.”

“…… Can I see it?”

“Eh? Sure, go ahead.”

Flipping through the pages, she looked at the questions under today’s date. Mari could understand the contents just barely even with her level of knowledge. Even so, the hardest part was trying to decipher the cursive handwriting.

“……Ah.”

Mari lifted her head.

Arisu had seized the notebook back from Mari. The girl with a ponytail closed the notebook wordlessly and place it back into her bag.

“Arisu?”

“…… Sorry.”

Arisu closed her bag and stood up from the seat.

“Your complexion doesn’t look so good today. How to say it, you look like you’re suffering.”

At these words, Mari jerked in surprise. She had not slept a single wink last night, and she also barely touched her breakfast and lunch. Her body condition was undoubtedly at its worst today.

“Aah, I’m so slow. Only noticing so late. …… I’ll return home for today. Have a good sleep and let your body rest.”

Saying so, she smiled with a look of apology.

“Ah—”

Mari quickly opened her mouth.

It was Mari’s own fault for her terrible physical condition. It had nothing to do with Arisu.

But, those words were not for someone like her to say.

However, when Mari thought about the state she would be in after Arisu left, she could not help but open her mouth.

Arisu turned around with a, ‘Nn?’.

“Will you…… still come by?”

At Mari’s words, Arisu’s expression became firm.

But, a look of great joy flashed across her face.

“I’ll come by tomorrow!”

Giving a thumbs-up to Mari, Arisu left.

The sound of the door closing.

And then, silence.

“……”

Mari looked over pieces of paper she held on her hands.

Flipping over the pages, she saw that each of the paper had writings in many different coloured pens. On the piece of paper about the programme list of the cultural festival Arisu was talking about, there was a, ‘I’m wearing this!’, written. The arrow from which that phrase pointed to, was to an unsavoury portion of the miniskirt.

Mari burst into laughter unconsciously. She could imagine Arisu scribbling these comments during lesson, hiding from the view of the teacher.

“She’s a good girl.”

Out of nowhere, the young man in white coat appeared on the seat.

“……”

Mari’s laughter faded.

Just what am I—.

Stuck between the land of the living and the dead, depriving others of their dreams but still wanting to live.

Just what do I want to do……?

A strange feeling was born in Mari’s heart.

This feeling that she felt for the first time, maybe it was the feeling known as ‘joy’.

Arisu’s visit and conversation with Mari brought her tremendous joy.

“Hey.”

Looking away from the papers, Mari muttered.

The young man met Mari’s gaze.

“From tomorrow…… can you teach me how to study?”

Hearing Mari’s request, the young man widened his eyes slightly.

“The only thing I can do to repay her is to lend her a helping hand for her assignments……”

Mari explained in a soft voice.

The young man smiled, feeling happy from the bottom of his heart.

“I’d gladly do that.”

—See you tomorrow.

It’s okay even if it was a lie.

It’s okay even if she was betrayed someday.

The true joy of hearing those words, Mari finally understood that for the first time.

Starting the next day, Mari began to study.

In the morning, Mari pulled out the middle school textbook from the bookshelf. It was brand new, never having been opened even once.

Mari had also not held a pencil for a very long time as well. As her condition was not at its best, she sat on her bed with a notebook propped up.

“It’s a good thing that you want to study, but don’t overdo it, okay?”

Seeing Mari coughing, the young man in white coat said.

“I’ll be alright.”

She replied with a smile. But, her condition couldn’t possibly have improved much since yesterday. Although she still felt some discomfort in her left chest, she did not reach out for the glass bottle with the tablets.

By the time she decides where to start from as well as settle on a schedule to follow, the morning was almost over. She continued to study Mathematics till it was noon, when Arisu visited.

“Good afternoon!”

Arisu arrived at the usual time.

As Arisu shared about the events that happened in school, Mari queried if she had any assignment for today. Arisu revealed a look of puzzlement as she replied that she did not. Although Mari felt a bit of regret, she immediately changed to another topic.

Arisu seemed like she just remembered and shared about herself. Such as how she suffered during the martial arts practice every morning, and which primary school did she graduated from et cetera.

Similar, Mari shared her own circumstances. About how her family were experts in flower arrangement and that she did not had any siblings. And also, about the primary school she attended before her physical condition had worsened.

After they finished telling each other about themselves, the conversation naturally came to a halt.

Before they noticed, it was already night and visitation hours were over.

“What’s the matter, Mari?”

Arisu look at Mari with a puzzled look.

But Mari was looking at the nightscape beyond Arisu’s shoulders—her gaze glued to the ring of light which dispelled away the darkness of the night.

It was a Ferris wheel.

Speaking of which, Arisu had mentioned before to Mari. At the plaza near the coastline, a new Ferris wheel was being built. With the construction proceeding smoothly, it seemed that the company had decided to light up the Ferris wheel until its completion as advertisement.

“Isn’t it beautiful, that Ferris wheel……”

Unconsciously, Mari muttered.

Till now, only the vast expanse of darkness could be seen beyond the window, but currently, it looked as if a gigantic flower had bloomed. The brilliant light show drew Mari’s attention to it like insects to a light source.

“Well then, let’s go together when you are discharged!”

Her face beaming, Arisu exclaimed.

Discharged—.

A throbbing pain struck her heart.

Thankfully, Arisu did not seem to realise that.

“…… Un.”

Holding her chest, Mari narrowed her eyes.

“It’s a promise.”

Mari and Arisu’s smiles overlapped.

The following day, Mari continued her studies.

In the first place, Mari was able to digest new knowledge quickly. In addition, she also had a good memory.

On the other hand, Arisu was terrible at studying. In less than a month, Mari’s academic abilities had already surpassed that of Arisu.

“I can’t believe it……”

Arisu said while feeling gobsmacked.

Mari’s notebook and a pile of textbooks lied at the side of her bed.

Mari finally had a chance show off the fruits of her studying, by offering a helping hand to Arisu in her assignments.

The problems which caused Arisu to groan for hours were easily solved by Mari.

“You need to use this here……”

As Mari tried to explain to her, Arisu turned red as she frantically tried to find an excuse.

“I-I can also do it if I had put my mind to it! It’s just that I hate that subject, if it comes to that, I’ll just accept remedial lessons—”

“Remedial lessons…… you need them?”

“Uu……”

Mari who kept up her studies.

Arisu who visited Mari every day without fail.

Their personalities may be the exact opposite of each other, nonetheless, that might be why they got along so well.

In contrast to Mari who thought things through rationally, Arisu was the kind that takes action without much thought. But, this trait of simple-mindedness of Arisu was exactly what Mari liked about her.

Mari’s nightly getaway from the hospital had also stopped ever since that night.

Because of the one girl known as Arisu, Mari’s everyday life took on a noticeable change.

“……”

On a certain afternoon, Mari twisted her face at the pain in her left chest.

“Mari?”

The young man who was teaching her looked at Mari’s face in panic.

Her throat was clogged and her breathing became rough.

Mari quickly reached out for the glass bottle on the shelf, but then, she stopped. —The number of tablets in the bottle had not decreased since a month ago.

It’s alright…… at this level, it will settle down in no time. Just like usual…...

She composed herself, taking deep breathes. After a while, the palpitations stopped.

“It’s okay. I’ve already stabilised.”

“Really?”

“Yea, I just feel a bit of pain in my chest. Lately, I’ve been feeling great.”

Mari gave a smile to the young man, causing him to sigh in relief.

“Is that so…… looks like there should be some promising results in today’s periodic check-up.”

Ever since the night Mari misused the tablets, she could feel her body gradually recovering. Even her hands which were weakened felt like they had regained the grip strength she had in the past. However, she would feel a seizure-like pain in her chest once in a while. But, she could now control it to some extent and stabilised her condition. Apart from that, the rest of her body was in good condition.

At this rate, perhaps I can—.

This fiery expectation caused Mari to breathe heavily.

I can go to school together with Arisu……?

Thinking about such matters, her heart soared.

However, her smile disappeared immediately.

“Mari……?”

Despite seeing the light of hope for the first time in her life, Mari could not simply chase after it.

Ever since that night, she had been thinking deeply about it.

“I…… Is it okay for me to be together with Arisu as it is?”

The young man creased his eyebrows.

Grasping her chest, Mari bit her lips.

I have taken away so many dreams…… but even so, does someone like me have the right to dream about the future—.

“If my illness could be cured, do I still have the rights to search for happiness……?”

Mari stared at the young man. A pain different from that of her illness assailed her heart.

“Mari.”

The young man’s expression softened.

“That is your dream, isn’t it?”

Mari jerked in surprise.

Her shoulders shook and her field of vision seemed to spin.

“Can it…… come true……? My dream…… really……?”

The young man nodded.

I…… want to live—.

Mari revealed her dream, which she had known from the start would not come true.

But now, it might be possible for her to see the continuation of her dream.

“Thank you, Sensei……”

Mari thanks him with a trailing voice.

“Sensei?”

“For teaching me…… and because you are going on to become a great doctor, right? That’s why, from now on I need to call you Sensei……”

He had a proper name, but, Mari chose not to call him by his name. As she spoke, her voice mixed together with the sound of sobbing.

To Mari who was weeping silently, Sensei seemed to shine so brightly that she could not look at him directly.

—In the evening.

“Welcome back, Mari.”

Arisu greeted Mari who had just finished her periodic check-up and returned to her room.

“I’m back.”

Mari returned the smile.

As per usual, Arisu placed her assignments on the bed while they talk. Ignoring the assignments, they chatted and in no time, visitation hours were over.

“Hey, this may be a weird question.”

Arisu who stood up from the seat questioned Mari with some hesitation.

“Eh?”

“Apart from me, is there some other person visiting you?”

Mari tilted her head in thought. There were no one else who visited her apart from Arisu.

“Why do you ask?”

“Once in a while, I could feel some warmth on the seat. It’s like as if someone was sitting on it just a moment ago.”

Arisu had a look of wonder on her face.

Finally understanding what this was about, Mari grinned slyly. It must have been the body warmth left by the young man in white coat.

“…… Hey, Arisu.”

After thinking for a while, Mari looked up at Arisu.

“I have a request…… Is that alright?”

“So it finally appears! Hit me with anything!”

Arisu seemed to enjoy herself very much, after all, Mari had declined any get-well gifts till now.

“There is something I want. However, that is not something I want for myself…… instead, I have a favour to ask of you.”

With these words as a preface, Mari requested of Arisu. At first, Arisu was a bit puzzled, then she simply agreed.

“Well then, see you tomorrow!”

The next day, as Mari requested, Arisu brought a small box.

Mari accepted the box and very carefully hid it under the blanket.

When night came and Arisu left, Mari waited for Sensei.

Now that she thought about it, this was the first time she was waiting for his visit. Sitting in the dimly lit room, Mari thought of what words to say to him first.

—Hey, Sensei. What do you think about this?

She would show the box to Sensei. Surely, even he would not be able to tell at first sight what it was. Thinking about the inquisitive look he would have, a smile grew on Mari’s face.

While waiting, before Mari even realised, she had fallen asleep.

“Nn……”

Sensing the presence of somebody, Mari opened her eyes.

Looking at the clock, she found that it was already deep in the night. Raising her upper body, she found the figure of Sensei blending into the darkness.

“You’re late today, Sensei……”

Mari rubbed her eyes and smiled. Secretly groping under the blanket, she felt the sensation of the box.

“A-aa……”

However, the young man was averting his eyes away from Mari.

Looking at his mannerism, Mari felt a sense of unease. She immediately realised the source of this unease.

All this time when he was by her side, he never once looked away from Mari. No matter whether it was when she was depressed at the emptiness, or when threw her temper out of irritation, he was always looking at her.

“…… Hey, Sensei. I can’t see your face from here. Why don’t you come closer.”

Mari directed her words at the young man who had blended into the shadows. But, he looked like he was struck by hesitation.

Tokun, tokun—Mari could hear the sound of her heartbeat hasten. Even when her eyes staring at Sensei went dry, she could not blink.

Mari had a premonition, there was only one matter she could think of.

“The report for yesterday’s periodic check-up was released today……”

His shoulders trembled.

“Tell me the result. Please, Sensei……”

Mari could already infer the outcome of the check-up from his silence.

—See you tomorrow!

The scene of Arisu’s smile disappeared from her mind.

Part 5

The witch visited Patricia who was afflicted with sickness.

She said as such.

Here is a potion made by an angel, as well as one by the devil.

If she drank the angel’s potion, in exchange for losing her loved one, her sickness would be cured and she would be able to live forever. On the other hand, if she drank the devil’s potion, she would remain riddled with illness and die eventually. But, her loved one would always remember her. Now, which will you choose?

And so, Patricia replied this.

I want the devil’s potion.

And the witch granted her request.

Thus, Patricia entered an eternal sleep under the watchful eyes of her loved one.

But, Patricia never felt lonely. For her loved ones would regularly come to visit her on the hill where she rests—.

“……”

Closing the picture book, ‘Potion of Magic’, Mari gazed out the window peacefully.

When morning came, the attending doctor made his usual rounds, finished his usual consultation with few words and left. Mari found it hilarious how he had tried to put it in a way such as to avoid agitating her.

Mari’s heart was completely calm. In her heart that resembled a lull sea, a small ripple propagated. Slowly but gradually, the ripple expanded.

A sardonic smile appeared on her face.

She recalled the exchange she had with Sensei the night before.

—This is not the end. If you underwent operation……

Mari laughed off the words of the young man.

—Can my body even withstand the operation?

His words were quashed. It was at this moment that Mari felt like ridiculing him for his honest to a fault nature.

Mari had already discovered the truth of her condition through her own research. For her heart which had weakened till the point where she required an operation, it would not be strange for it to stop anytime. It might be tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow…… Mari was sure that that day would not be too far off. The frequent pains she experienced recently already indicated that the countdown had started.

In the room devoid of people, Sensei appeared.

“……”

He wanted to say something to Mari who was staring out of the window, but, he knew that nothing would reach her.

In Mari’s heart, a new wave spawned. The waves overlapped, causing their intensity to surge.

—Can it…… come true……? My dream…… really……

Who was it that had muttered that while crying.

“What an idiot……”

Sensei seemed to have heard her soft mumbles. He muttered a ‘Eh?’, to which Mari shut her mouth.

I want the devil’s potion.

The words of the protagonist of the picture came into her mind before disappearing again.

I don’t need the devil’s potion…… For me, the angel’s potion—.

The silver Morpho butterfly descended by Mari’s side.

“……”

Seeing the Morpho butterfly which rested on her shoulder, Mari had a particular thought.

You could even call it an angel’s whisperings.

Thinking about it seriously, it was ridiculous—maybe even dreadful. But the sweet angel-like whisperings in Mari’s heart generated new waves in her heart.

—See you tomorrow.

She thought of Arisu’s pure and innocent smile. To Mari who was trapped in the confined hospital room, Arisu’s bright smile seemed to belong to that of the angels.

Mari wanted the angel’s potion.

Then, who was the angel to Mari……?

“I want the angel’s potion……”

A smile floated to Mari’s face naturally.

“Mari……?”

At that time, Mari did not realise what kind of smile she had. Sensei was startled upon seeing that face.

I want the devil’s potion.

I want the angel’s potion—.

The voice of Patricia and herself mingled in her head.

Then, Mari noticed the presence of a certain object on the bed.

It was the small box.

That reminded her that she had cleanly forgotten about her intention to hand it over to Sensei.

“Sensei.”

Mari turned to the young man in white coat with a smile. Sensei who seemed to be embroiled in his thoughts looked up.

“What is it?”

Mari held out the small box towards him who forcing a smile.

“This is, for me?”

“Yes. This is a present from me to Sensei.”

Sensei had a look of surprise before revealing his joy. He opened the small box and took out what was inside.

It was a silver necklace, with a gold ring affixed on the necklace.

Previously, when Mari went out for a hunt, she came across the necklace on display and developed a liking for it. The favour she requested from Arisu was precisely to buy it in her stead.

“This is another proof that I had lived…”

In contrast to Mari who had a calm smile, Sensei had a look of pain on his face.

“The other proof, I leave with Arisu…… if she knew what my dream was, surely she would hate me for it.”

“Hate you……?”

The young man knitted his eyebrows. Mari shifted her view from the young man to the scenery outside the window.

“…… Un, I know it for sure.”

She nodded.

Mari knew more than anyone else how sincere Arisu’s kindness was.

“Because she is so kind, even my request, she would……”

Sensei stared suspiciously at Mari’s innocent smile. But at the presence beyond the door, he immediately disappeared.

After a few more knocks, the door opened.

In the room with only Mari, the familiar silhouette of a girl appeared. She had mentioned earlier that she would be coming in the morning as today onwards was a consecutive holiday.

“Arisu.”

Mari welcomed her close friend with a smile.

Arisu stood there motionlessly, charmed by Mari’s smile. But she got a hold of herself and sat down on the visitor’s seat.

The Morpho butterfly flew away from Mari’s shoulder.

“Listen to me, Arisu. I……”

“Nn?”

Arisu lifted her face. Facing her directly, a pain ran through Mari’s heart.

I am a Mushitsuki. And also, soon I’ll…… drink the angel’s potion—.

“Er……”

Closing her mouth that was about to speak, her face twisted slightly. She clenched her fist on top of the sheets.

I should not tell her. Arisu should not know about it. For some reason, Mari thought so.

“My dream, can I entrust it to you?”

It seems like Mari could not comprehend the meaning behind Mari’s question. She returned a blank stare to Mari.

Mari shook her head, laughing frailly.

“Sorry, that was nothing……”

Arisu tilted her head with a, ‘Is that so?’. She laughed weirdly in a soft voice.

“It seems Mari really did change a bit.”

“That may be, but not as much as Arisu did.”

“Y-you’re kidding right. Is there really something weird about me?”

The two continued their conversation all the way till night.

As the end of visitation hours arrived, Arisu stood up from her seat.

At Arisu who was about to leave, Mari stared vaguely.

“Hey, Arisu.”

Unconsciously, she moved her mouth.

“If I was gone, would you be sad?”

Arisu widened her eyes and then, immediately raised her eyebrows. It was an expression Mari saw for the first time.

Mari’s both cheeks were hit with the sound of a smack.

Mari had no idea what she had roused. She stared into Arisu’s face which was right in front of her in astonishment.

Arisu had lightly tapped Mari’s cheeks. She supported Mari’s head with her hands in that position. The warmth of her hands was transmitted to Mari through her cheeks.

“I’ll get angry if you say this kind of things again, okay!”

Arisu stared intensely at Mari with a serious look.

Mari’s sight started to distort. Despite the tears forming in her eyes, a smile formed on her face.

“This is the first time you got mad.”

Noticing the tears forming, Arisu immediately got flustered.

“Aah, sorry! Was it painful?”

“No……”

Cleaning off the tears with her index finger, Mari smiled. Just that one tear made her feel much warmer inside than any other time she cried.

“Thank you.”

This caused Arisu to blush.

The huge wave in Mari’s heart seemed to subside a little.

Good bye—.

She added in her heart.

Arisu replied with a smile covering her whole face.

“See you tomorrow!”

Mari’s heart throbbed.

I see, that’s right—.

In response to Arisu’s smile, Mari sent her off with the greatest smile she could muster.

I’ll still see you tomorrow, right—.

“Un, see you tomorrow!”

And then Arisu left the room.

And so, Mari’s tears ran dry.

The attending doctor came for the pre-sleep consultation. He mentioned, ‘Your family will be visiting you tomorrow’. He probably intended to reveal the severity of Mari’s condition to her at that time. And then, he would recommend for her to undergo surgery despite the futility of it. Mari merely replied with a, ‘Is that so’.

After the attending doctor left and turned off the lights, Sensei appeared in the dim room.

“Hey, Sensei…… what happens to the Mushi after its owner dies?”

He bit his lips when he heard that.

“The Mushi…… will disappear as well. Because people’s dream fade away as they die.”

“That seems unusual.”

Mari gazed out of the window and muttered. She was looking at the slowly revolving Ferris wheel as it changed colour.

“Don’t you think that there are dreams that remain behind even after the owner has died?”

The young man did not respond, plunging the room into silence once more.

Mari gazed at the Ferris wheel in peace, passing time this way.

The colour of the Ferris wheel underwent another change.

The needle of the clock pointed to one o'clock.

Mari lowered herself from the bed quietly.

“……!”

Unable to exert strength in her legs, she tumbled on the floor.

“Mari!”

Sensei propped Mari up.

Her pulse jolted highly, like water bursting from a dam. Her face twisted from the pain and she had difficulty breathing.

“Haah……! Haah……!”

Taking rough breathes, Mari’s consciousness was clouded for a moment.

—See you tomorrow.

In the mind of Mari who was losing the lights in her eyes, all she could think of were the times she spent with Arisu. She recalled every conversation they had, from the first time they met till today.

“Mari!”

At Sensei’s voice, Mari got a hold of herself.

Still out of breath, Mari flashed an ironic smile.

Not just my body…… even my heart is becoming hollow.

When one utilises the power of their Mushi, they pay the price of having their dream eaten. When one’s stamina and willpower burns out, their power as a Mushitsuki weakens as well.

Mari quickly reached out for the glass bottle on the shelf. But before she could do so, Sensei took it before her.

“You will be in danger in you took anymore of this. This will only cause your symptoms to worsen.”

“Haah……. Haah……”

Clutching her chest, Mari glared at Sensei. However, she immediately looked away and headed for the closet. Stripping off her current outfit, she exchanged it for the white coat within.

“I don’t need that anymore……”

“Where are you going……? Don’t tell me, you are going with that body—”

Ignoring the young man, she grabbed her crutch and walked towards the window after changing.

A slight pressure was exerted on Mari’s arm.

Sensei passed a strict gaze on Mari. The look signified to Mari that only tonight, he would not allow Mari to go out even if he had to use force to do so.

“You can’t go out. I won’t let you go, Mari.”

“This is first time I saw Sensei got angry. But you were too late. Just earlier, Arisu had already gotten angry at me.”

The Morpho butterfly flew to the side of the smiling Mari. The tentacles extending out of the transforming butterfly became one with Mari’s sick-ridden body. The crutch turned into a spear, with one of the butterfly’s four wings forming a single blade.

Energy filled Mari’s entire body. The pain in her chest disappearing, she turned around to face Sensei.

“Sensei mentioned this once, right. The person known as…… Kusuriya Daisuke? That strong Mushitsuki, who is stronger between him and the current me?”

Mari focused her sharp glint at Sensei from within the hat and muffler.

“Right now, I…… I feel like I would not lose to anyone. Even if it’s against one of the Original Three, Aria Varei—even if it’s you.”

She knew that Sensei had taken a gulp.

Taking advantage of the moment he softened the grip on her arm, Mari leapt out of the window.

“Mari!”

Holding the silver spear, she jumped right over the hospital’s fence.

The thought of preserving her strength never even crossed her mind. Running from shadow to shadow, she scurried across Akamaki City in the night.

Borrowing the power of the Mushi to exceed her body’s limits, Mari could feel something fading inside her heart. But, even so, she did not stop for a single moment.

See you tomorrow—.

She thought of Arisu’s smile.

I…… want to live—.

And of her own dream.

“Haah…… Haah……”

The rate of her heartbeat rising, Mari’s face twisted.

Mari and Arisu, dream and friend, the two differing thoughts intersected within her.

Mari was at a loss.

She must make a decision.

But, before she decides, there was something she must know no matter what. She could not choose without knowing that first.

If she could not make a decision, she would be left with nothing. She would not be able to hope for anything.

“I’ll hunt you out for sure…… tonight definitely……!”

Who knew how long she had ran.

In the hand of Mari who was running through the alley, the spear started to glow, prompting her to come to a stop.

In the dark street in front of her, a single boy stood there. He looked only slightly older than Mari. The side profile of the boy illuminated by the light from the expressway seemed razor-sharp.

The boy noticed Mari. By his feet, a Mushi taller than an adult appeared. Having over hundreds of abnormally long legs, its long and narrow wriggling body resembled that of a centipede.

“Elvioréne’s Mushi……”

Mari unhesitatingly rushed forward at the boy.

Facing the attacking Mari, the boy’s movements were agile. With no intentions of counterattacking, he turned around and ran into an alley beyond the expressway.

“I won’t let you escape……!”

In terms of running speed, Mari was vastly superior. Turning around the corner, she had already reached the boy.

While running, the boy spoke into a mobile phone. Mari swung down the spear at the centipede running alongside the boy.

The silver scales released gouged a crevice in the ground.

But, the centipede had swiftly climbed onto the wall, avoiding the shockwave.

Returning to her stance, Mari launched a second attack. But, it seems like the centipede had been expecting the attack. Sliding onto the ground without making a sound, it dodged the second attack.

This person is used to fighting……!

Clenching her teeth, Mari let loose multiple slashes consecutively. But, she could not feel a single one of it hitting.

“Even though I don’t have the time to waste on a single opponent……!”

Spitting out in irritation, Mari put in more strength and swung the spear. The silver scales destroyed the path the boy was running on, the shockwaves sending the boy and the centipede rolling on the ground.

“Kuu……!”

At the defenceless Mushi, Mari was about to stab the spear in, but—.

“!”

Mari’s heart experience a piercing pain. Unable to breath, her whole body stiffened up as if struck by lightning. She felt something fundamental broke deep in her body.

The spear stabbed into the ground without penetrating anything.

“Haah! Haah!”

Grasping the spear that was stabbed into the ground, Mari grabbed her chest.

“……?”

Having escaped from a pinch, the boy looked at Mari doubtfully. He then quickly stood up and ran down the alley.

“Wai……!”

Mari pulled the spear from the ground and continued to chase after the boy. However, she felt as though the previous lightness of her body was a lie and her limbs were currently as heavy as lead.

My body is so weak…… that even the Mushi’s power cannot support it……?

Dragging along her broken body, Mari bit her lips.

Even my body…… wouldn’t allow…… this last bit of wilfulness……!

Her face twisting, Mari continued on down the alley using the spear as a support.

Please……! Just a bit more…… only a bit more would be fine…… this is the last time……!

When Mari exited the murky alley, a large piece of land greeted her eyes. Rusted steel frames and construction machines were abandoned here, giving off an impression of a graveyard of scrap metal.

“Haah, Haah……”

In her hand, the silver spear emitted a radiance brighter than it ever did.

“Looks like it’s not just because of its dream being eaten. …… It’s sick?”

Further in the scrapyard, the owner of the centipede muttered.

“It doesn’t matter. This is the hunter, isn’t it? In that case, we will just take our revenge for all the anguish it caused us.”

Said another boy who commanded a gigantic Mushi which resembled a Hummingbird Hawk Moth with long triangular shaped feelers.

“Isn’t it just a kid. Eh? She’s a girl?

Sitting on one of the construction machine, the one who said in a light tone was a blond-haired male. A Mushi with a mottled body and a needle on its round abdomen hovered above his head.

Furthermore, in a corner, there was a timid-looking boy. Mari had some remembrance of the boy. He was the Mushitsuki whom Mari had let escaped without dealing the final blow. When he met Mari’s gaze, he shrunk his body back and ran away into the back alley.

“……”

The final person who walked into the centre of the scrapyard was a young girl. She seemed to be around Mari’s age. But, on her beautifully sculpted face, a sharp gaze which seemed like it could cut through fog caused Mari to take a gulp. By her side, a Mushi with a small but thick and round shell followed with its mouthpiece wriggling. On the surface of its shell, there were seven red spots.

“Haah…… Haah……”

Mari injected strength into the hand grabbing her chest.

It was a trap. It was clear that they had intentionally led Mari to this place.

“You are the hunter, right.”

The girl in the middle said in a dignified voice that reverberated in the scrapyard. The voice filled with vigour pierced through the tense atmosphere.

“Tell me for what reason do you scour these streets hunting for Mushitsuki.”

Hunter—that was what they referred to Mari as.

A smile floated on Mari’s face even as she was out of breath.

“…… You guys……”

Mari took a deep breathes with a hyuuu. The palpitations assailing her heart weakened slightly.

It’s alright…… Just a bit more to go—.

She filled her arms with strength, grasping the spear tighter.

The girl who put her hands on her waist talked.

“We are a group of friends that met on the streets, we banded together to rebel against a certain organisation. However, to think that apart from them, there would be another Mushitsuki that would hunt other Mushitsuki like herself—”

“So the four of you…… all have Elvioréne’s Mushi. Fufu, I’m glad……”

As Mari’s laughter deepened, the four youths looked at her suspiciously.

To Mari who was running out of time, she could only deem finding four Mushi gathered together at one place as her good luck.

The girl frowned her eyebrows.

“Elvio…… réne?”

“Dioresutoi’s Mushi are just hindrances…… Of course, as would be Aria Varei’s Mushi such as myself…… However, the one who numbers the most and irritates me to no end…… belongs to that woman, as you probably heard, her appetite is voracious……”

Mari took a deep breath after finishing her soliloquy. The girl and her friends stirred in unease.

“Is there something that you know? Something about us Mushitsuki…… about the Mushi!”

“I do know…… Mushitsuki of Elvioréne…… you guys are the ones that are most beyond salvation even amongst us…… as long as you guys are around, Elvioréne will indefinitely…… Fufu……”

By this time, Mari already had no idea what she was talking about. Whether it was because of a lack of blood flowing into her brain, or that she used too much strength and was losing her dream, Mari could only hear the violent beating of her heart from within.

The girl’s group’s expression changed.

“Just what in the world do you know? Spit it out!”

“Anyway, all of those doesn’t matter to me……”

Mumbling those words, she readied her spear once again. The first one in her sights was the girl’s Mushi. With seven red spots on its back, it reminded one of a ladybug.

Pushing off the ground, Mari rushed at the girl.

However, three Mushi cut into the space between Mari and the girl. It was the centipede crawling on ground, the Hummingbird hawk moth heading straight for her and the mottled bee flying overhead.

Mari was unfazed, swinging the spear horizontally in a straight line.

Silver scales were scattered from the spear.

Gouging a gash on the ground, the explosion blew up the steel frame.

“……!”

But, she saw three shadows evading in the edge of her vision.

During the blast, the Mushi dispersed, escaping into her blind spot. The centipede and the Hummingbird hawk moth restrained Mari’s spear with their fangs and antenna respectively.

The bee’s needle flew down from above her head.

Right now, I…… I feel like I would not lose to anyone—.

Mari had said this to Sensei.

The conviction behind those words had not dissipated in the least even now, even till the moment the light of her life is extinguished.

“Wha……!”

The surprised gasps of the youths overlapped.

Mari swung the spear with inhuman strength. Flinging aside the two Mushi which was clinging onto the spear, she had also smashed the bee onto the ground with the shaft of the spear. The three Mushi rolled turbulently on the ground.

But in the next moment, Mari’s back was hit by a strong force.

“……!”

Mari caught a glimpse behind her, there was a ladybug opening its wings. An invisible shockwave was released in her direction.

Pishi—.

Mari could feel something crack in her somewhere in her body. Her knitted hat blown away, revealing her long hair.

To the Mari thus far, it was a weak shockwave that would not even cause her to stagger. However, just one hit from the ladybug was able to cause something definitive in Mari to break.

“Aaaaah!”

Mari release a beast-like howl.

Widening her eyes, she turned around and threw the spear with all her strength.

A silver light pierced through the darkness.

“Rina!”

The blond youth shouted. The mottled bee rammed into the ladybug with its body, pushing it out of the way.

The shining spear penetrated the bee’s torso. Skewering into the wall of the building, the momentum of the spear was so strong that it caused the surrounding structure to collapse.

“Guah!”

“Ryuuji!”

The scream of the girl called Rina echoed in the back alley. The remaining three youths rushed towards the blond youth.

“Haah! Haah!”

Having difficulty breathing, Mari staggered towards the wall where the spear was impaled in.

“It’s not this guy either…… faster…… the next Mushi……”

Mari pulled out the spear from the wall. The dead bee’s body fell onto the ground, scattering body fluids everywhere before disappearing into a haze.

“I don’t want to die…… in a place like this without finding anything……!”

The spear hanging off her hand, Mari walked in a half-dead manner towards the girl’s group.

“…… ‘I don’t want to die’?”

Embracing the fallen youth who was ashen pale like a doll, Rina lifted her face. Her tears-stricken face distorting with anger.

“Because you are afraid of dying alone, do you know how many people you have entangled into this?”

Rina and the other two had the same look as they glared at Mari.

“I will absolutely never forgive you……!”

Mari grasped the spear that she was holding with her right hand with her left hand. —Like water spilling out a glass, strength surged into her arms.

“I don’t have time……”

She did not have the luxuriance to deal with these small fries in a place this. After defeating Rina and the rest, Mari still had to continue to search for the Mushi of her target.

“All those who oppose me, I’ll just get rid of them here. That’s what I’ve done so far……”

“You’ve got to be kidding me!”

Rina stood up.

“The one who’s going to die is you!”

Mari took aim at the three Mushi and dashed across the ground. The opposing Mushi also directed their attacks at Mari.

But, at that moment.

Mari’s spear started to shine even brighter. The four wings around the spearhead started to flap greatly, producing a large quantity of silver scales.

“……!”

Approaching unnoticed, a large group of people in white coat had surrounded the area. They were all dress uniformly, with a large goggle covering most of their face and a white long coat hiding their body. In addition, each of them had a Mushi by their side.

“Target confirmed! Capture it!”

At the order, the Mushi of the people in white coat all attacked Mari and the rest at once.

The Special Environmental Preservation Bureau……!

Having heard from Sensei, Mari knew the identity of the attackers. It was an organisation that captures and isolates Mushitsuki, who were labelled ‘non-existent’ by the government officially.

“Where are you looking at, Hunter!”

“……!”

The ladybug had spread its wings in Mari’s direction. Mari swung up the spear in response.

The shockwave hit Mari in her chest squarely.

Pishi—.

For a moment, Mari’s heart stopped.

Time froze. All sound and pain disappeared from Mari’s surroundings.

—See you tomorrow!

The image of Arisu’s dazzling smile burned into her eyelids cracked a little.

“…… Auu!”

Rina recoiled as she cried in pain.

Once again, time began to flow.

The single attack released by Mari scraped off a piece of the ladybug. Taking advantage of the situation, the people in the white coat moved in to capture Rina.

“Rina!”

“I’ll be alright…… so the two of you should escape……!”

Numerous Mushi were also headed towards Mari.

“……”

Mari swung her spear wordlessly.

Silvers scales blew away those Mushi.

That ladybug…… isn’t it either—.

Muttering in her heart, she brandished her spear repeatedly to break out of the encirclement.

“……”

Sweeping multiple Mushi out of the way, Mari rushed for the back alley.

…… Isn’t it? What…… isn’t it……?

Wondering in confusion, she did not slow down her speed as she escaped into the darkness.

“Haah…… Haah……”

Mari’s breathing accelerated gradually. Conversely, her running speed starting to drop suddenly.

“Haah, Haah, Haah……”

Her run turning into a walk, Mari continued to advance along the dark alley with her head hanging down.

“Haah! Haah……!”

She was irritated at the sound of her breathing and her drumming heartbeat.

I…… was searching for something…… But, what is it……?

She could not even put any strength into the hand grasping her chest anymore.

The shape of her memories and dreams were disappearing. An unspeakable terror and emptiness began to encroach into her heart one-sidedly.

I…… must find that something…… if not at this rate, I will have nothing left……!

Her face twisted. Pain and sadness were slowly catching up to her.

—I’ll get angry if you say this kind of things again, okay!

She could hear somebody’s voice.

But, Mari could not figure out who did that voice belonged to.

That important, irreplaceable something steadily faded away from Mari’s memories.

I…… don’t want to…… disappear just like that……

Ultimately, Mari’s legs lost strength, both of her knees slumping on the ground.

“The spear-type of Aria Varei…… has reached her limits?”

Suddenly, a voice could be heard.

“……!”

Faster than she could think, the hunter instinct of her body reacted. In the kneeling position, Mari thrusted the spear in the direction of the voice.

She could feel a reaction. But—.

“Don’t waste your energy on useless actions……”

Because she was facing a large neon display, she could not even see the silhouette of the owner of the voice.

Mari’s spear had definitively plunged into something. It was stuck into the torso of the human-shaped silhouette. The spear gouged out a portion of the waist from the shadow.

But, the human-shaped silhouette returned to its original figure right before Mari’s eyes.

Looking at that scene, Mari’s fragmented memories began to fit into pieces.

“The Immortal…… Mushitsuki……”

Mari muttered.

“It…… was real……?”

There was no response from the silhouette.

The Immortal Mushitsuki—indeed, that was what Mari had been searching for since forever.

Meeting the young man in white coat and becoming a Mushitsuki.

Sickness and Mushi…… Mari passed her days living in fear of death caused by these two factors. In addition to that, she lived her life filled with nothing, having to chase away boredom each day.

“You…… do not die……?”

The spear fell from Mari’s hands.

However, the appearance of a certain girl completely changed her everyday life.

—See you tomorrow.

Ichinokuro Arisu.

She had accepted Mari and accompanied her every day. She was Mari’s first ever friend, the one who always promised to meet her the next day.

Thanks to Arisu, Mari managed to gain some hope. For the first time in her life, she had a reason to live. A daily life where she could attend school together with Arisu.

I want to live.

Just a bit more, and Mari would be able to fulfil her dream.

But, that was but an illusion.

“Did you…… drank the angel’s potion……?”

Despair and hope.

The life of Mari swinging between those two extremes, just what was the point of living?

To disappear just like that, isn’t it just too cruel?

“The ‘Potion of Magic’ eh……”

The silhouette muttered. The voice seemed to belong to a boy who still had remnants of youth. But, the emotions behind the tone of the voice seemed to belong to that of an old man.

In her hazy view, the silhouette looking down on Mari seemed like the Patricia that appeared in the picture book. A Patricia which drank the angel’s potion and lived forever.

—The witch visited Patricia who was afflicted with sickness.

She said as such.

Here is a potion made by an angel, as well as one by the devil.

If she drank the angel’s potion, in exchange for losing her loved one, her sickness would be cured and she would be able to live forever. On the other hand, if she drank the devil’s potion, she would remain riddled with illness and die eventually. But, her loved one would always remember her. Now, which will you choose?

And so, Patricia replied this.

I want the devil’s potion—.

“Hey, tell me…… how does it feels like not to die……? The you who lives on, what do you think? I…… I……”

In the mind of Mari whose life was about to be extinguished, she only had a single thought.

“I…… want the angel’s potion……”

Mari had a rather dreadful thought, it was a somewhat cruel method.

“…… I want to see…… the continuation of my dream……”

But, to Mari who could not escape from the clutches of destiny, this was the only method left to her.

The method for Mari to continue living.

To Mari, her angel was none other than her close friend, Ichinokuro Arisu. Because of her, Mari received life.

“That’s why, I will…… to Arisu……”

She looked at her hands covered with silver patterns, the result of combining with the Morpho butterfly.

That which Mari’s dream dwell in, the Morpho butterfly.

If Arisu accepts the Morpho butterfly in which Mari’s dream dwells in, maybe—.

“Because that girl is kind, that why…… she will definitely listen to my request……”

Her hands trembled. Her mouth formed into a frail smile.

“Yes, I may have indeed drunk the angel’s potion……”

The silhouette muttered. It was an exhausted and husky soft voice.

Mari had thought that she must meet the Immortal Mushitsuki no matter what.

At first, she intended to curse and shout at him when they met. To Mari who was sealed by the fate of dying, the fact that there was someone who would not die was unforgivable to her.

Mari raised her head.

But, now, that doesn’t matter anymore.

Tonight, Mari had cut off her hesitation for the sake of meeting the Immortal Mushitsuki. If that person was no longer bound to the fear and unease of death, then it would definitely be able to answer Mari’s question.

“You may be able to choose between the two potions…… If so, then let me ask you after you have drunk the angel’s potion.”

The silhouette’s tone changed. It clearly questioned Mari.

“Who would be by the side of you, who had gotten a new lease of life?”

Mari widened her eyes.

The insides of her head were dyed completely white.

—See you tomorrow!

The smile of the girl who was her close friend drifted by and disappeared.

In her vacant head, the scene that appeared in a flash, that was—.

The figure of herself before she met Arisu, imprisoned in small room where she was alone and nobody came to visit—.

“You…… mustn’t be tricked by the devil who dresses as the angel.”

That voice could no longer reach Mari’s ears.

She slowly covered her face with both of her hands that was shivering.

Ah, I see……

She had finally become aware of her misunderstanding.

“I had been confused…… over what was important……”

She murmured in a hoarse voice.

She inserted just a bit of strength into her legs. That was undoubtedly the last bit of strength she had gotten from burning away her remaining life.

“…… I’ve got to go……”

She stood up and started to walk.

—See you tomorrow!

That was what Arisu said.

She must keep this promise that she made with her precious friend no matter what.

The person behind the silhouette did not stop Mari as she walked away.

Patricia said this.

I want the devil’s potion—.

“I……”

Mari’s mutterings melted into the darkness of alley.

Part 6

The centre of Akamaki City.

The morning sun’s rays shined on 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 mixed with the chirping of birds.

Mari, who was fused with the Morpho butterfly, gazed below with a pale face.

Her line of sight was fixed on an estate that seemed conspicuous even among the rest.

“Haah…… Haah……”

A smile forming on her face, Mari sat on the rooftop in that manner.

However, there was a prior visitor.

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

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

The one who Mari faced was the black cat with a kinked tail, which raised its fur on its end upon seeing her. From that appearance and enmity towards Mari, she could tell that it was the same black cat she had met previously.

“Haah…… Haah……”

Her breathing far from calming down, the interval between each inhalation shortened. At the same time, her pulse was drumming in her ear irritatingly.

Please, just a while more……

She grasped her chest and clenched her teeth.

Even just a bit is fine……

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 listen……?

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

My dream. My request……

In contrast to her quickening panting, her heart was calm as a still pond.

In her mind, memories of the past kept flashing by.

Laden with sickness and trapped in the small room.

The empty space where there was no one else and nobody ever comes to visit. Even before her illness, her heart had been shaved thin by loneliness.

Then she met Sensei.

I…… want to live—.

And then, her dream was heard by Sensei. Thus, Mari became a Mushitsuki.

Even though Sensei visited Mari regularly, he did not manage to erase the loneliness that had taken root in her heart.

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

As if possessed, she robbed other people of their dreams every night. Although her original purpose was to search for the Immortal Mushitsuki, now that she thought about it, it was just as the girl called Rina had said. She had only been doing it 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.

Sitting down hugging her knees, a smile formed on Mari’s face.

She recalled all the conversations she had with Arisu. All that they had talked about and laughed about. She would repeat the conversation in her head as she laid in bed at night, in anticipation of tomorrow.

When Mari found out about her eventual fate, she was once again crushed by despair.

Lost and at wits end, she wanted to return to the her in the past.

“……”

Mari’s breathing finally calmed down. Her expression similarly softening, a smile crept onto her face.

The sound of her heartbeat began to soften with a tokun, tokun.

To Mari who had lowered her eyes in peacefulness, there were no more fear or unease.

She had finally found it.

Her very own answer to the doubt that always plagued her.

For her who had fallen into despair, the words of the witch whispered into her ears.

—Now, which will you choose?

Presently, Mari had a clear answer.

You know, Arisu, I—.

Mari smiled so wide that it touched the side of her face.

Right in Mari’s view, the door to the estate opened. From within, a lone girl dashed out hurriedly. In her hands was a bouquet of flowers that were arranged haphazardly. Was she planning to arrange them in the water pitcher again?

It began to melt away.

Her life, and the continuation of her dream.

In the middle of the scene of the girl running under the sun’s ray, it slowly vanished.

“Hello, Arisu.”

Mari said inside of her dream.

“See you tomorrow, okay.”

The silver Morpho butterfly flew up into the sky—.

The black cat purred softly.

Approaching Mari without making a sound, it licked her pale feeble hand gently.

The black cat’s ears folded up with a pikun.

Raising its light body, it departed from Mari.

“……”

A person looked down on Mari who was lying with her eyes closed with a smile on her face.

His body covered in a white coat, it was the lanky young man.

On the dry rooftop, a single teardrop fell.

With his powerful arms, the young man lifted up Mari’s body.

Part 7

Silver light flooded through the window.

Who was it who opened the window?

A cold wind blew through the spick and span private room where no sign of people remained.

Closing the door behind her, Ichinokuro Arisu entered the room.

It was a certain general hospital in Akamaki City.

Even within the hospital, one look could tell that this room was special. In addition to the high-class bed, there were also a bookshelf, a television and even a nurse call line.

“Hello, Mari.”

Arisu approached the bed.

Having entered the room since who knows when, a butterfly was dancing above Arisu’s head. It was a Morpho butterfly with wings shimmering in silvery brilliance.

There was no one else in the room.

—It had been exactly one year since Mari had left this world.

“Looks like the flowers are growing just fine.”

In the water pitcher on top of the basin, a bunch of flowers were blooming.

She tried to put on a smiling face, but she could not.

That the water pitcher was not a flower vase, it was only when the boy who lived with her—Kusuriya Daisuke had pointed out, that she realised for the first time.

On this day one year ago, Arisu had visited this room like today carrying a bouquet of flowers.

—Good morning!

Expecting a warm welcome from Mari as always, she was only greeted by silence.

In front of the frozen Arisu, the attending doctor had informed her that Mari had taken her last breath without anyone noticing—.

Arisu was dressed in mourning clothes as she gazed at the empty bed.

The one year death anniversary conducted by the Hanashiro family was an exceedingly quiet event. Apart from her family, the only other mourner of the same age as Mari was only Arisu.

“Mari……”

Arisu forehead was adorned with a plaster even as she clenched his fists. It was an injury she had sustained from the fight against the matured Mushi the other day.

Even now, I’m fighting so as to figure out what you were thinking.

Arisu muttered in her heart. Instead, what came out of her mouth was doubts regarding her close friend. The only indication left that Mari had stayed in this room was the bookshelf lined to the brim with books. That was the wish of her family, to leave the room as it was.

“Why…… why didn’t you tell me anything……?”

Behind her, a human presence approached.

“If you’re done here, then let’s go.”

Arisu did not even need to turn around to know who was it. The owner of the voice was Kusuriya Daisuke whom Arisu was very familiar with. He was a Mushitsuki that had fought together with Arisu.

“But, don’t worry. I will definitely find out, Mari. What your real wish is……”

Saying so, Arisu turned around, with a smile on her face.

What was Mari thinking when she entrusted the Morpho butterfly to Arisu.

She would definitely find out.

Mari’s true dream—.

“Can’t you even wait for a bit? Short-tempered boys will be hated, you know.”

“I don’t want to hear that from you whose character doesn’t fit sentimentalism—”

“Arisu upper~!”

With a dull thud, that was the last sound to be heard in the empty private room.

A breeze blew from the window, causing the picture book at the edge to collapse, the pages of the book—’Potion of Magic’, flapped gently in the wind.

To be continued

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