Mushi Uta:Volume 15 Chapter 2

2.00 The Others

When Takashiro Taiki woke up, his room was dark.

“—Uh…!”

He tried raising his body, but was assaulted by violent pain.

His head was spinning and his body was heavy. Did he have a fever, or did he catch the flu? He grimaced while thinking.

Although he somehow managed to raise his upper torso, he felt dizzy. His throbbing head and body were so dull he felt like a puppet. This made him angry.

“Shit—not again…”

He felt an unpleasant sweat form all over his body.

“Those dreams about Mushitsuki—”

Recently, Taiki had been having strange dreams every night.

The events there felt too real to be dreams, and he felt worse each time he woke up.

Furthermore, even in reality he was being followed by a pair who introduced themselves as journalists and caused him nothing but trouble. Putting aside the foreigner that called himself John Mash, his assistant Ikarino Kirai was tenacious to an eccentric degree.

—You’ll definitely dream about her as well.

Ikarino Kirari’s unpleasant prophecy passed through his mind.

Although he shook her off and went back home, her prediction—hit right on the mark.

Taiki dreamt about another Mushitsuki.

Sleeping Beauty, Arisu.

And in this dream, at a place called Aoharima Island, Mushitsuki and people called the Revived were fighting.

“What’s up with that Fuyuhotaru Mushitsuki or whatever—”

Taiki’s mental state was probably at its limits due to the dream being so violent. So this was probably why he woke up so early in the morning.

His used his half-open eyes to peek at the clock nearby.

He thought it would be even before sunrise, but he was shocked upon seeing the clock’s hands.

“Eh—i-it’s already so late…? I gotta hurry—”

It was already past eight o’clock. He tried leaping out from bed without thinking, but then noticed.

No matter how much he looked around, the room was dark. There was no sunlight coming even from the curtains.

“W-what does that even—wah!”

He tried clumsily getting out of bed but then leapt back.

There was a small figure standing right in front of the door to his room.

“R-Ririe…?”

It was his youngest sister, Ririe. She was staring right at Taiki, without even turning on the lights.

“W-what are you doing here…?”

His sister remained unanswering. She was glaring at her big brother Taiki with eyes like those watching an insect. Since her body was so small even when compared to middle schoolers, she blended in with the dark.

“Ririe—it’s you, right?”

Was it not his sister, but just a ghost taking Ririe’s face?

As he began considering even things like that seriously, Ririe finally opened her mouth.

“Right, big brother.”

“Y-yeah… obviously… please turn on the lights—”

“I am Ririe. My big brother is Taiki. We’re siblings and we also have another sister, Noa. Our parents are a bit strict, but we’re an average, happy family.”

“…Ha?”

“But you’re a bit odd, big brother. I didn’t manage—to fix you properly.”

—You’re the one saying strange things—

He was about to say this to his sister who was definitely acting weird, but stopped.

That was because he could hear footsteps coming from the door behind Ririe.

“Big brother, you’re finally awake?”

Opening the door without knocking was their middle sister, Noa.

“Eh, Ririe, you’re also here? —Is your cold better? We have gruel if you’re hungry. I made it this noon but you were asleep…”

Noa asked from behind Ririe with a worried face.

While Taiki did feel relieved at seeing Noa act normally when everything else was odd since he woke up—it made him even more confused.

“Cold…? Sleeping through the afternoon—wait, is it night now? I took today off from school…?”

If Noa was right, this wasn’t eight o’clock in the morning, but rather 8 PM.

However, Taiki had no memories of this.

He knew nothing about catching a cold and couldn’t remember skipping school—

“What dream were you talking about before?”

Ririe’s eyes became harsher. It was an expression even her brother had never seen before.

“Big brother, don’t tell me—that someone did something to you?”

“Ririe…?”

He couldn’t understand what his sister was saying.

Noa seemed to also find it odd. She tried peeking at their sister’s face from behind.

“Ririe, what are you talking—”

For a moment, golden electricity ran through Noa’s braids and her head.

Noa’s eyebrows twitched, then she turned back to Taiki like nothing happened.

“Oh, but the gruel’s cold already. There’s been a blackout just now, so we can’t use the microwave.”

“Noa…?”

What happened right in front of his eyes just now was abnormal.

Taiki was confused, while Noa didn’t seem to notice anything.

Sandwiched between the two of them, Ririe was mumbling something incomprehensible while trying to corner Taiki.

Am I still dreaming?

Next to the confused Taiki, the glass window suddenly broke with a violent sound.

“Uwaah!”

“Kyaaa!”

A stone thrown from the outside broke the window.

While Taiki and Noa froze, Ririe mechanically moved her head toward the window.

“Taiki-san! Escape!”

A voice echoed from the other side of the window. It sounded familiar.

It belonged to Ikarino Kirai.

“E-escape…?”

Everything turned strange since the moment he woke up.

He thought it was morning but it was night, his sisters were acting odd, and just as the window was suddenly broken, he was told to run by a girl who had no relation to him. As an added bonus, there was a blackout.

Ririe stood in front of the door as though to block his path of escape.

If he were to run away—he’d have to jump out of the window.

In the first place, he was told to run away, but this was his house. Where exactly was he going to escape to, and why?

“…!”

However, he didn’t have time to think about it.

As Ririe slowly approached Taiki, her hand was clad in a golden glow. Seeing that, his body unconsciously headed to the window.

He unlocked it and opened the broken window.

He had no idea what was going to happen.

Even now that he had half his body out of the window, he hesitated—

“—Come here. Taiki-san.”

Waiting on the surface was the girl called Ikarino Kirari.

Seeing her frank yet powerful smile—Taiki threw his body into the air.

2.01 The Others

As far as Haji Keigo knew, the beings called Mushi and Mushitsuki were discovered ten-odd years ago.

The government captured Mushitsuki in secret, suppressed information about them and managed them. Behind the creation of this smooth process was probably the plan created by Miguruma Yaeko. There were also traces of her being backed by the Round Table, those influential people who controlled the business world.

In fact, in earlier days it was thought that the concealment, isolation and managing of Mushi was a success.

Because the organization called the SEPB operated and managed to quickly create the system to capture Mushitsuki. The abilities of the captured Mushitsuki were varied, and by training them as soldiers, they could manage other Mushitsuki more efficiently.

Although even society at large heard rumors about Mushi and Mushitsuki, it was only on the level of an urban myth. They were simply plausible rumors that caused them to become targets of vague hatred and fear. The monitor units embedded into the populace picked up these rumors and circulated them in ways that would assist capturing.

Mushi and Mushitsuki were handled perfectly.

So he thought—but then five years ago happened.

“It’s fine, just focus on attacking!”

On the fishing harbor of Aoharima Island, Terasu’s orders that were close to shouting echoed.

“If we don’t, we’ll get annihilated in the blink of an eye!”

A lone small boat was approaching the island.

Seeing the figure standing on the bow, Haji Keigo felt nostalgic.

It really was the first time in five years for him.

“Director Haji! Please give orders for retreat…!”

Terasu turned to him, asking instructions.

“Even if she’s being controlled by C, that thing—we can’t do anything against her!”

That day five years ago.

Until that time, everything went according to the government’s—no, Miguruma Yaeko’s plans.

Although it looked like they only just barely concealed them, in fact the existence called Mushi was being perfectly controlled.

Keigo had gotten into the SEPB for his goal of eradicating Mushi, but there was nothing he could have done at the time.

What finally formed cracks into this situation—was the event from five years ago.

It was a sight much like this one now.

In fact, it had been done by the girl who appeared in front of Haji and others now.

“—We can’t beat Fuyuhotaru!”

At the time, Anmoto Shiika had been an elementary schooler.

Later designated as Fuyuhotaru, a Secret Class Rank 1, she wasn’t someone with an especially important background. She wasn’t a tempered soldier and obviously not some kind of ESPer. She was somewhat alienated from the people around her, but otherwise a normal elementary schooler.

However—she cornered the SEPB to the brink of destruction.

One day, she suddenly became a Mushitsuki and just walked around town.

The SEPB tried capturing her like usual, but were all defeated in turn. Next they tried not to capture but to subdue her, and were defeated in turn. They already brought combined forces to try and keep the victims of the town in check as they challenged her—but were defeated in turn.

They simply couldn’t measure up to Anmoto Shiika. They were unable to stop a single Mushitsuki.

The SEPB that they spent years building up was half-destroyed in the blink of an eye.

With this incident as an impetus, the SEPB was forced to go through reform.

Estimating the second arrival of another Fuyuhotaru, they gave actual authority to each branch to be able to respond to all situations. They poured energy into the training of Mushitsuki, and rather than restraining them, they encouraged each to grow in their own way, and had no other choice to increase their fighting forces.

The lone Mushitsuki called Fuyuhotaru changed the Mushitsuki’s way of being that until then was being seized by Miguruma Yaeko.

By wedging himself into those reforms, Haji Keigo was able to increase his power on the inside of the SEPB—

“—Director Haji? Give us orders, quickly!”

While Keigo remained unmoving, Terasu wore a flustered expression.

On the verge of indulging in an uncharacteristic sentimentality, Keigo spoke while fixing the position of his glasses with an index finger.

“Don’t retreat.”

“Eh…? B-but—”

“Do you think there’s anywhere to escape to on this empty island?”

Hearing his words, not just Terasu but the other branch heads also fell into silence.

“Prepare someone with mental control abilities, Terasu. This time use them exactly as planned.”

Terasu startled.

“We’re doing that…? B-but, against Fuyuhotaru?”

“It doesn’t matter against whom. We’re all exhausted and don’t even know where C is. To be frank, we currently have no chances of victory.”

“…”

“However, Miguruma Yaeko said that the Dove was unleashed.”

While speaking, Keigo looked toward the approaching small boat.

“Meaning—Fuyuhotaru herself is the Dove. There’s no more doubt.”

“B-but the snow? How will we get the mental control ability user past it…?”

As Terasu spoke in a hoarse voice, her body was slightly shivering.

He knew he was asking the impossible. After all, five years ago Keigo himself had keenly felt just how terrible the disaster called Fuyuhotaru was right in front of him.

At the time, Fuyuhotaru destroyed everything.

Wherever she passed became a wasteland, and even the SEPB was broken down. By the same token, even the state of Mushi and Mushitsuki in the country until then.

At the same time, Keigo also saw hope.

It wasn’t just the person who destroyed everything, Fuyuhotaru—

It was the potential shown to him by another Mushitsuki, who stopped her.

“Five years ago, we managed to stop her.”

“…!”

Terasu shut up. Keigo continued.

“This time we have Lady and Harukiyo. To survive this, we have to win.”

It went without saying that Lady Bird rode on her seven-spotted ladybug and rose into the air. She obviously couldn’t sit still while her friend came there.

Harukiyo also covered himself in flames and became a fireball. He flew fiercely toward the small boat.

“…Understood.”

Breathing deeply, Terasu nodded. In her pale face there was the shadow of death—although that was always the case for Mushitsuki.

“Our attack target is Fuyuhotaru!”

As Terasu rushed toward the battlefield, her voice echoed from the earphones.

“We have determined that she is being controlled by C! Don’t hold back!”

“Keigo-kun… what are you talking about, what mental control ability?”

Branch Head Takemi and Goroumaru Touko approached him.

“Haji-senpai. Have you possibly anticipated that Fuyuhotaru would be sent to us…?”

“Anticipated? Well, sure, yeah.”

If he told them he hadn’t, that would be a lie.

Since years back, he’s been thinking about how to create the path for erasing all Mushi and Mushitsuki from this world. In the end he estimated there would be a great battle and thought of various ways this battle might unfold.

Naturally, he even considered the possibility of Fuyuhotaru being involved in it.

The strongest ace that could overturn everything. There was no way this card wouldn’t appear at the most important stage of the game. Even if not as an enemy but a card that he possessed, it was a bomb that could blow up the entire board and ruin everything.

Therefore, Keigo feared Fuyuhotaru—no, any and all “violators” that could end up flipping the board.

And he raised a single card that could stop such cowardly methods.

“I did anticipate it, but…”

It wasn’t a beautiful card that everyone would admire.

It wasn’t a card that could move more easily than anyone.

It also wasn’t a card that no one could tell what happened until it got flipped over.

And it obviously wasn’t a card that could destroy everything, either.

“I also intended on being prepared, but—”

It was a card who’d stand in the way of those who ignored the rules and violators, aiming a gun at them.

Five years ago, the Mushitsuki had proven their powers.

However, unlike back then—that most important card of his was no longer at hand.

Just a single person.

If only that Mushitsuki had been there—

Keigo wasn’t the kind of fool to speak aloud about what-ifs.

He was simply the fool who’d anticipated this situation yet had been unable to keep that card with him.

“—Anyway, this is the critical juncture.”

As Keigo spoke in a low voice, Branch Head Takemi asked a question.

“Are you saying that we can beat Fuyuhotaru if we defend against her here?”

“Defend? That’s wrong.”

While Keigo and the others were looking, Fuyuhotaru finally started fighting with their allies.

“We have just—started our counterattack.”

“…Eh?”

While hearing Goroumaru Touko’s stupid-sounding exclamation, Keigo slightly winced.

That scene repeated in front of his eyes was much harsher than he imagined.

Fuyuhotaru’s curtain of snow managed to cancel not only the Mushitsuki’s attacks, but even that of Harukiyo.

Seeing this scene, Keigo—

“However, the fact we have to first stop the Dove… is true.”

Started the countdown to their annihilation.

2.02 Shiika Part 1

As the Dove unleashed by C, Shiika came to Aoharima Island.

“Shiika…? Shiika!”

“You’ve grown into quite a woman to my liking, Fuyuhotaru! Zero sex appeal, though!”

The Mushitsuki who couldn’t give up on fighting and getting hurt assaulted Shiika.

Shiika pitied them, so she used her powers to save them.

Crouching on top of the breakwater, she focused everything she had on making it snow.

“…!”

“…!”

As Shiika curled herself and closed her eyes, she could hear the shouts and screams of Mushitsuki distancing.

Their resistance was violent, so it would probably take a while to exterminate them.

Without thinking of anything, Shiika just focused—

A prick.

She grimaced at a pain from her chest.

Shiika was supposed to have been released from all forms of pain by her Goddess, C.

Even so, what came to mind along with this impossible pain—

Was the vicious smile of Oogui she’d seen while fighting her at Akamaki City.

—That was a weird way of saying it.

It was from back when the Mushitsuki-creating monster, one of the Original Three, had directly given Shiika information she didn’t know.

—You spoke as if Kakkou-chan and Daisuke-chan are different people.

The moment she heard this, something that supported Shiika broke down.

The reason Shiika had been able to keep fighting was shaken from the very root.

“…”

Why had she recalled this now?

She closed her eyes shut and focused on purging the island, but the pain in her chest remained. These doubts that C was supposed to take away from her reared their heads again.

Shiika had lived while wishing only to fulfill her promise for a reunion with Daisuke.

Since Kakkou—someone who had the same dream—was fighting, she could also fight.

Even so he tricked her, pretending to be two people—

Why?

Because it was his duty as an SEPB member to capture her?

That was obviously natural.

However, if he pretended being a normal boy and approached Shiika for that—

—I want you to wait for me next year, too.

Was his promise with Shiika just another lie?

Was it nothing more than a means to keep deceiving his capture target, the stupid Fuyuhotaru?

“You mustn’t think of anything unnecessary, my beloved Dove…”

C’s sweet voice whispered to her from the tiara.

Throb—the pain stabbing the depths of her chest was unceasing.

“…”

Shiika was definitely stupid.

It wasn’t just that she hadn’t noticed Kusuriya Daisuke’s true identity as Kakkou.

After being continually deceived like that—she turned Kakkou into a Fallen by her own hands. In order to save the life of the Maturing Kakkou, she killed his Mushi.

She did it because she believed in Kakkou, as one who shared the same dream.

She believed from the bottom of her heart that he would definitely recall his dream just like her and come back—

Five years ago, he was the one who made her a Fallen.

They spoke about their identical dreams and vowed to never forget them—

She believed that he would come back to her at some point, and yet.

Right now—she couldn’t believe.

If his two faces as Kusuriya Daisuke and Kakkou were simply masks that he freely switched in order to conveniently capture her—

What Shiika and Daisuke did was merely killing each other’s Mushi.

Any promise they might have had was completely meaningless.

“What is the matter, my Dove…”

She didn’t know what to trust and what to doubt.

She wanted to hear the truth from Kakkou—no, from Daisuke.

However, that would never come true. She doubted it could ever come true.

He was a Fallen.

And it was Shiika herself who made him this way.

If she hated him, that would be her revenge.

No, that was wrong. She never thought about revenge—

With this repeat of answers and questions to herself, she felt like she was going crazy.

“Please calm down, my beloved—”

C’s voice, who once saved Shiika, vanished as though blocked by something.

At the same time her headache was gone, too.

All sounds vanished and Shiika couldn’t even feel the snow curtain protecting her anymore.

“…”

Had the purging of the island already ended at some point?

That thought passed through her mind, but it was wrong.

She could see neither the pouring sunlight, nor smell the sea.

Shiika could feel nothing at all as she crouched in an empty space.

No—she could feel just another presence.

“—…”

Shiika could feel the breath of another person as she curled up and hugged her knees.

Since she had her eyes closed, she couldn’t tell who it was.

She didn’t know, and yet—

Sweat formed on Shiika’s brow.

How was she able to feel someone else in this place?

She made it snow, so all other people than her should be rejected.

It was just her imagination—she had a bizarre confidence that wouldn’t let her think that.

Although she had no basis for it, there was no doubt that someone was there.

No, it wasn’t even a “someone”.

Shiika knew that sense of presence.

After all, this presence that felt as though only it and Shiika existed in this indescribable world—was something she’d already experienced before.

“…”

Exactly because she’d experienced it before—she couldn’t raise her face.

Why was this person here?

If he really was here, once she saw his form—

What reaction would Shiika show him?

Would she begrudge him for tricking her and cuss at him?

Or would she try asking for his true motives? Despite the fact she wouldn’t be able to tell whether he would speak the truth or not?

She might apologize for turning him into a Fallen and seek forgiveness.

Or she would abandon either believing or doubting—and then they would, as if it was natural for them, treat each other as enemies who made each other Fallen, and kill each other again?

“—”

She was scared of what to do.

She was afraid of what the other party would say.

Although her eyes were still closed, she was shaking so much she couldn’t raise her head.

Even if she called C’s name in her mind that wanted to escape, the tiara gave her no answer. The world of tranquility did not come, and for some reason Shiika couldn’t escape the strange space she’d wandered into.

She could do nothing but curl and shake.

As if she reverted to how she was five years ago.

She became a Mushitsuki with no advance warning and gotten lost; she was a child who could do nothing but protect herself while being unable to accept reality. All she did was raise a tantrum.

It was as though she hadn’t changed in five years. No, as if she got even worse—

And then—

“…Shiika.”

That presence finally called her name.

Shiika’s heart screamed for a moment as though torn apart.

“—”

It was unconscious.

Compared to five years ago, his voice broke, but it was no illusion.

Shiika—raised her face.

He was there.

Kakkou.

Kusuriya Daisuke.

He stood all alone on the breakwater of Aoharima Island.

She immediately realized this wasn’t reality. After all, both Shiika and Daisuke were there on the fishing harbor that was supposed to be a battlefield, and all the waves were frozen as though time itself stopped.

Even so, Kusuriya Daisuke was definitely standing there.

Clad in a pitch-dark long coat, with the goggles hanging from his neck, in the form of Kakkou.

“—”

“…Him… kill him—”

She heard these barely audible orders from the tiara.

Shiika grimaced and put strength into her fists clenched on the ground.

Perhaps—this was what could be called fate.

White snow began pouring down around the crouched Shiika.

As if responding to her hostility, he also raised his arm holding a gun.

She didn’t even need to be ordered by someone.

It was just like five years ago, or that winter less than a year ago.

Shiika became covered in a blizzard, and the boy readied his gun.

That was how they were originally.

Shiika was the dangerous Mushitsuki, Fuyuhotaru—

And he was Kakkou, the one with the duty to stop her.

Now that things became like this, she also had the excuse that he tricked her.

Shiika had been caught by her feelings to him and then betrayed—

So she didn’t have a single reason not to fight.

“—Ugh.”

Even so.

Shiika could do nothing but keep grimacing.

“Waaaah…!”

Raising a pitiful voice, she erased the blizzard and rushed forward.

As Shiika ran to him, the boy tried pointing his gun—

However, it fell from his hands.

“—AAaaaAAahhh…!”

They could only fight.

Although these two should have nothing to do other than fighting, they clashed defenselessly.

“AaaAAAhhh…!”

As Shiika leapt to his chest with great momentum, Daisuke accepted her wordlessly. The boy’s arms hugged the crying Shiika’s petite body.

The moment Shiika heard his voice, she was confused.

She was afraid of seeing his face.

The moment she heard C’s orders—she was somewhat relieved.

Because she knew that if it happened once more… no, it would happen again and again.

If she saw his face, they would fight and hurt each other.

They had only that reason, and they had nothing else to think about.

However, the moment she saw his figure, all dark feelings inside Shiika melted away.

“AaaaAAAh…!”

As for why—because the boy right in front of Shiika’s eyes was in tatters.

His black coat was ripped, exposing his skin. Blood covered his entire body and he looked to be suffering from burns as well. There was a pool of blood at his feet, the goggles hanging from his neck were destroyed, and blood dripped from his forehead in streams.

What on earth had he been fighting against to end up like that?

Had he fought some God or devil?

He looked as if he was struck by all possible disasters of this world.

No, thinking of it like this—

Then until this very moment—

How many times had he managed to survive fights?

For how long had he been fighting with those many feelings carried by him all alone?

She needed no words. She could tell by merely seeing him.

It had nothing to do with truth or lie.

Shiika—wanted to be with him.

She didn’t mind not being forgiven.

She wanted to be with this person who constantly got hurt and fought alone.

She only thought of this.

“—Shiika…”

Daisuke looked at Shiika bawling her eyes out.

The boy’s eyes were lacking vitality, and he wouldn’t meet Shiika’s gaze. Perhaps his eyes could no longer focus already. Although the breaths she felt from his mouth were unreliable, they were extremely hot. As if his very life was pouring out of them.

“—”

While Shiika leaked sobs, Daisuke didn’t know what to say.

Instead of words, his expression changed. He looked apologetic as he bit his lips, but then wore a severe face as though resolved on something. However, that soon vanished and he looked to be in pain.

“—There are things I have to say… too many of them…”

The voice he finally let out was hoarse.

Shiika desperately stifled the sobs trying to escape her throat.

She had to listen to what he had to say.

“I gave up on saying them… and forgot about everything, not wanting to fight…”

A little strength was put into Daisuke’s arm that was hugging her.

There were countless things she had to say.

And there were also countless things he had to answer.

However, he cut off his words as though swallowing everything. The eyes looking at Shiika regained their power.

“But what I want to tell you most has to be—”

He smiled.

“I miss you, Shiika.”

It wasn’t the pitch-dark demon called Kakkou—no, the arms hugging Shiika let her feel his absurd strength, but that voice shaking while holding back tears—

Belonged, without a doubt, to the normal boy she just so happened to meet.

It was the face of Shiika’s beloved person, who was neither Mushitsuki nor anything. To Kusuriya Daisuke.

“Right now—that’s what I thought.”

Shiika also held back her tears and made a clear nod.

She smiled just like him and spoke in a shaky voice.

“I also miss you, Daisuke-kun.”

She wanted to forget everything—to throw away even the promise of a reunion and run away.

However, just by seeing that face, all of her doubts and anxiety were blown away.

She wanted to see him again.

Shiika and Daisuke felt the same here.

If so, then the next place they should head to—was the same, too.

“—”

Kusuriya Daisuke’s figure was growing thinner as she was hugging him as if he was melting into the wind. Even the sensation and warmth that were so clear were vanishing.

The moment he vanished, Daisuke muttered something to Shiika.

Shiika nodded. Since he lost his silhouette in the blink of an eye, she was unable to hear his words, but the words that passed between them were already determined.

They would fight, get hurt, but even so survive—and see each other again.

As Daisuke’s form fully vanished, Shiika curled her body atop the ground again.

Their promised reunion shouldn’t happen in this strange space created by someone unknown.

She closed her eyes and heightened her consciousness.

“…!”

A pain ran through the back of her mind and Shiika frowned.

“Please eliminate the failed products of the old generation…”

She rejected the orders coming from the tiara.

Shiika wasn’t meant to be in an artificial paradise, in a world where doubts and pain were being kept away by the absolute tranquility of the Undying—

“—WOOOOOOOH!”

“A-all hands, retreat while attacking! Abandon the harbor! Reorganize your positions at the entrance to town!”

“Haha! Things are gettin’ quite heated up, eh!”

Shiika retrieved her five senses while curled atop the breakwater.

Her eardrums felt like rupturing from the screams of those fighting for their lives and the sounds of destruction. The combined smell of salt and blood tickled her nostrils.

She’d once rejected it, this world filled with agony and hatred.

However, it was also a world filled with dreams and hopes that Shiika liked.

It was neither paradise nor hell.

It was simply reality—and Shiika came back to it.

“…”

As Shiika rose to her legs, she could see the fishing harbor having been destroyed by the blizzard.

Including the breakwater, even the beach cracked and became a carpet of mixed seawater and debris. The Mushitsuki gathered at the entrance to the wharf were attacking Shiika.

What destroyed the fishing harbor and expanded in order to crush the Mushitsuki was nothing more than the snow controlled by Shiika’s Mushi.

Shiika wanted to stop it, but she couldn’t move her body.

“…!”

Shiika flinched at an impact to her head.

The tiara on her head emitted a golden zap. It struck Shiika like a whip, stimulating her as if stirring the insides of her head.

“Please purge the Mushitsuki of the old generation…”

This sweet voice whispered and Shiika’s Mushi broadened the scope of its snow again.

At this rate, everyone’s going to—

Shiika gritted her teeth and resisted C’s control. The Mushitsuki in front of her eyes were the same. They were those who challenged this tranquility and escapism, choosing to walk the path of making their dreams come true while suffering.

“…!”

The zap unleashed from the tiara whipped Shiika again.

“You are my Dove…”

C’s spell was powerful.

Even so, Shiika attempted resisting her.

She produced a single snowflake and made it flutter down to her head—

“—”

The shining flake weaved its way through the violent blizzard and fell slowly.

Shiika moved just her eyes, looking above.

She was attempting to look not at the flake she was controlling with all of her might—but at the tiara on her head.

She was going to destroy the tiara that held C’s will with her own snow—

This was a gamble.

She had no idea if a single flake could break through the curtain of snow.

Even if it did, would it be able to destroy only the tiara binding her?

Even if she broke the tiara, she didn’t think the Mushitsuki of Aoharima Island would stop their attacks. The moment after she unleashed the blizzard, she might get killed by their attacks.

However, even so—Shiika had nothing else to do right now.

“Break…”

Shiika’s Mushi whispered.

“Anything and everything…”

Her heart that feared getting hurt and wanted to run away.

C’s sweet temptations that whispered to her.

She wanted to break them all—and protect her tiny wish.

“—”

The Mushi’s whispering voice was erased by a high-pitched discordant sound.

The falling flake and the blizzard curtain clashed. The clash between fellow snowflakes distorted light, and the scenery of the fishing harbor started cracking like it was footage reflected on a mirror.

The glowing pierced through the curtain, heading for the tiara.

At that time, Shiika felt a certain presence. A line of sight directed at her.

Outside the blizzard, within the fragmented scenery, there was a familiar girl.

Tachibana Rina.

Her friend riding the seven-spotted ladybug looked at Shiika from above.

“—It’s the tiara, right?”

Rina managed to understand Shiika’s aim just from her line of sight.

“Are you trying to break it yourself? Doing that would be dangerous for you as well, Shiika…!”

Trying to reach the gap created in the blizzard by the single flake, Rina and her Mushi began diving from straight above.

Now a powerful shockwave was added to the clashing of snow. The entire island’s air burst and the tremors robbed Shiika of her footing. The waves pushing on the fishing harbor swelled, pouring down from the sky with a roar.

Receiving the support from the seven-spotted ladybug’s shockwave—

Finally, the single flake of white snow got through the curtain.

“—Shiika!”

At the same time, Rina and the seven-spotted ladybug overtook the snow. As it landed powerfully, creating an earth tremor, Rina leapt down from the seven-spotted ladybug.

Getting hurt by the aftershock, Rina jumped toward Shiika.

Her hand reached and grabbed Shiika’s tiara.

“Ugh…!”

Electricity unleashed from the tiara attacked Rina.

While Rina was being numbed and paralyzed by the electric current, the snowflake Shiika made fall came fluttering down above her head—

“Don’t look down on me—”

The seven-spotted ladybug spread its wings.

The unleashed shockwave struck the back of its host, Rina. Thrown away along with Shiika, the tiara fell from her hand.

Passing behind Rina and missing her by a hair’s breadth, the snowflake fell to the ground. It crushed the asphalt at the breakwater and made the ocean’s surface explode.

Shiika and Rina got entangled, rolling on the ground. Even in this situation, Rina hugged Shiika tight, trying to defend her.

Finally, the momentum stopped and as Shiika raised her face—seeing that nostalgic smile from up close.

Although Rina was so enchantingly beautiful, it was the strength of that face that was attractive rather than her beauty.

“Long time no see, Shiika.”

As her best friend smiled at her while covered in wounds, Shiika smiled back with tears in her eyes.

“…You really are cool, Rina.”

Both were unable to move due to wounds and fatigue as many footsteps approached them.

The moment the tiara was removed from Shiika, the curtain of snow stopped. When Rina leapt inside, the Mushitsuki stopped attacking as well.

“You’ve done a great job resisting C with your own powers.”

A suited young man looked down at the collapsed Shiika, wearing a thin smile.

The Mushitsuki called Kasuou helped Shiika and Rina up. Other than her there were also Terasu and the Mushitsuki she was pretty sure was called Nene. She could also see many other figures rush toward them on the debris.

“Right now, you aren’t the Dove but Fuyuhotaru—am I correct in thinking this?”

“…Yes.”

Shiika nodded toward the youth who was making sure.

She’d definitely retrieved control of herself, but this wasn’t done by her own powers or anything.

It was thanks to the boy she met in that mysterious space, Kusuriya Daisuke.

As well as her friend that saved Shiika without any regard for herself, Rina.

“…!”

Shiika could suddenly see a small figure moving in the distance.

Behind the many Mushitsuki watching cautiously over Shiika from afar—next to a certain building on the shore, a blue figure turned to her.

Chiharu-san…?

She was Kakkou’s sister. Meaning—Kusuriya Daisuke’s sister, Ayukawa Chiharu.

It appeared like only Shiika noticed Chiharu. Everyone on the harbor was naturally focused only on Shiika—but as she looked there, Chiharu vanished as if melting into the building.

“I see. —But that’s no good.”

The youth’s unthinkable words brought Shiika’s attention back to the breakwater.

“If you don’t destroy us as the Dove, we’ll be in trouble.”

Saying this, the youth turned around.

There were two people rushing toward them. One was the girl with an eyepatch, probably Maimai. The other one Shiika didn’t know; they wore the white coat that belonged to the Central Headquarters.

“We’ll get annihilated here—and start our counterattack from there.”

As Shiika tilted her head, the youth moved his sight toward something.

It was the tiara that rolled atop the debris, glowing in gold.

2.03 Shiika Part 2

While kneeling on the ground, Shiika looked at the person that appeared right in front of her.

“We’re going to falsify your memories.”

It was the person clad in the Central Headquarters coat. Both voice and physique were androgynous, and their hair was as white as their coat.

“My ability is so weak that it has no effect with even the slightest rejection… but as long as it’s accepted, it can affect even your deep consciousness.”

“Meaning, you need to open your heart fully to it.”

Haji Keigo wore a casual smile.

“There are obviously not many people who’ll allow others to meddle even with their subconscious. That’s why it was designated as an unranked mental control ability until now.”

“What are you doing to Shiika?”

Tachibana Rina stood up for Shiika. Her beautiful, gallant facial features and the strength that protected Shiika were Rina personified. —She really didn’t seem like the Mimic that the tiara had told her about.

“…”

Shiika raised her face and looked back at the faces of the people looking down at her.

The fishing harbor was covered with the dust created from the ruins of the breakwater and the crumbling shore. The powerful Mushitsuki all stood on it, surrounding Shiika. In addition to SEPB fighters such as Terasu and Kasuou there were also Shiohara Shachito, as well as her Mushibane comrades, Namie and Aijisupa.

Shiika knew well why they hadn’t gotten any closer than Haji Keigo.

It was because Shiika appeared there as a raider, clad in an unfamiliar attire.

Rina had been revived, although her nature was still unclear.

Were these two really their allies? They were probably confused, unable to tell whether Anmoto Shiika and Tachibana Rina could even preserve their egos.

“Maimai, Rinrin, how about you? Can you do it?”

Ignoring Rina’s question, Haji Keigo turned to the side.

“I-I can do itititit!”

“I-It’ll be difficult, but somehow…!”

The two Mushitsuki wearing desperate expressions reached out toward the tiara that until just now had been on Shiika’s head. Something transparent that looked like jelly covered the tiara on the ground, and Rinrin was fiddling with the glowing circuits that appeared on it with his fingers.

“I remember C’s program from the time I was at the East Central Branch and when I touched the Bed a-at the Underground Fortotot… b-but, the power in this tiara is on a whole different level…”

“Leave the output and remodeling to me. You focus on analysis… kuh!”

Flinching at the electrified jelly, the pair continued some kind of work.

“Haji-senpai? What is going on?”

Goroumaru Touko appeared with a delay. Apparently, only very few people knew what Haji Keigo was scheming.

“Yes, I was just about to explain it, but—”

Haji turned to Shiika again.

“To be honest, you being able to resist C’s interference on your own was unforeseen.”

Shiika couldn’t say anything.

“What on earth happened? I did expect the Dove to be sent here, but for you of all people to be chosen… To be honest, it was really close. Despite us having Lady and Harukiyo on our side.”

Shiika looked at Rina and Harukiyo.

These two Rank 1s were silent and expressionless.

Just like Haji said, she was on the verge of massacring all Mushitsuki. Even if her enemies were Rina and Harukiyo, even if she took them down with herself, her duties as the Dove would be fulfilled.

And the one who saved her on the edge—

“…It’s because I met someone.”

Shiika smiled.

She knew nothing about what happened during that strange time.

However, the person she’d reunited with there was definitely not an illusion—

The warmth that allowed her to confirm this still remained in her chest.

“That’s all.”

As Shiika spoke briefly, Haji frowned.

Only two people responded to her words.

“…Aha!”

Suddenly, Rina snorted.

Among those who looked confused, Harukiyo also snorted at the same time. As if recalling something all of a sudden, Rina and Harukiyo started laughing.

After laughing for a while, the two of them at once changed their expression.

“How infuriating.”

“Annoying as fuck.”

Perhaps they realized something—but seeing the two Rank 1s speak angrily in unison, everyone else was befuddled.

Rina relaxed her expression and stroked Shiika’s hair.

“What she says is probably the truth. …It’s fine now.”

“Hmph.”

Harukiyo spun his body, looking sullen. As if saying he had no interest anymore, he exposed his defenseless back and left.

Haji Keigo went silent, as if he was thinking about something. Whether he had no idea who Shiika was speaking about or did know but had no intention of seeking any further answer, he soon opened his mouth.

“There shouldn’t be many people who’d cause you Rank 1s to act like that—well, never mind.”

He spoke as if switching over his feelings.

“If Lady and Harukiyo are no longer on guard, that’s good enough. As for me, if you were removed from C’s control, that’s fine.”

He wore a thin smile and continued.

“Also—if you go under C’s control again.”

“…!”

All Mushitsuki around paled. Kasuou and Namie hounded Haji.

“Hey, what the hell do you mean?”

“Are you sane? Are you saying we’re going to hand Fuyuhotaru over to C?!”

“Indeed. Should we even fly the white flag while we’re at it? After all, we currently have no chances of victory.”

Within this tension, Haji just shrugged.

“Because even if we wanted to counterattack, we have no idea where our enemy is.”

“No way—”

Rina gasped. She put strength into her two arms protecting Shiika.

“You’re going to use Shiika to…”

“Not Anmoto Shiika. Not even Fuyuhotaru. It’s the Dove part that’s important.”

The youth gave a side glance toward the two Mushitsuki who were doing something to the tiara.

“After completing its duty—the Dove will return to God.”

“—”

Everyone there gulped.

Shiika too. Even someone as dull as her understood the youth’s goal, now that he said this much.

Haji Keigo was going to use Shiika for—

“If you’re the Dove, C will call you to her side.”

They would send Shiika’s to C’s hiding place, becoming a transmitter to allow them to know the location.

No—they would make her into a ticking time bomb to explode on C.

That explosion would become a beacon for the Mushitsuki’s counterattack—

“The mental control we’re about to cast on you is powerful. We’ll set a keyword to remove it, but the one to chant it probably wouldn’t be at your side when it’s needed.”

Haji Keigo’s dispassionate tone echoed at the silent fishing harbor.

“There’s a high possibility you’ll never retrieve your own self. Even so, if you return to C’s hiding place, and you manage to regain yourself like you did now—please use your full powers. We’ll work on identifying that place.”

Shiika said nothing, simply listening to the youth.

“Until then we’ll feign our annihilation, hide and recover, but… by the time we sense your powers, Lady and Harukiyo will use the boat they rode on to head toward you in full speed.”

“Head toward her—in full speed?”

Rina’s voice shook with anger as she was glaring at Keigo.

“How many hours do you think it takes to reach the mainland? Are you telling Shiika to survive all on her own until then? As well as—in the enemy’s HQ!”

“Well, there’s no doubt it’s going to take time even if we use Mushitsuki powers to make the boat go faster.”

With cool eyes, Haji Keigo looked down on Shiika.

Their enemy was C. There were also many Revived being controlled by C.

Now that she had to face all of them and endure until her allies came—

Never mind Shiika herself, but even Haji Keigo thought it was impossible.

“So you’re saying we need to sacrifice Shiika to find out C’s location—”

Rina was about to grab Haji in her anger, but Shiika stopped her with a hand.

“—‘My beloved Dove’.”

Shiika spoke in a calm voice, looking up at Haji.

“C will definitely call me that.”

Saying that, she smiled at Rina who turned to her with a shocked expression.

“Thanks, Rina. But I’m fine.”

“Shiika…”

“I’m not afraid of being the Dove again, either. Because C saying that she loves me—loves us Mushitsuki—is not a lie.”

Including Rina, all Mushitsuki were shocked at Shiika’s words.

They probably feared that C’s brainwashing hadn’t been fully lifted. But that wasn’t it. The sense of security that wrapped Shiika until just now was definitely no fabrication.

“Feeling that I no longer had to suffer or get hurt was very warm… and relieving. After all, I always thought like this since I became a Mushitsuki—no, even before that. I believed from the bottom of my heart that if everyone became Undying just like, I’ll have nothing to fear.”

“…”

Rina grabbed Shiika’s hand with a sad expression.

“But it’s no good. I thought that wasn’t enough for me.”

Shiika grasped her friend’s hand back.

“Because even if I suffered or got hurt, I recalled what I wanted.”

And what was that?

Rina should know even without saying.

No—everyone here would definitely understand.

After all, they were all Mushitsuki, just like Shiika.

“So it’s fine.”

She did think it was terribly sad.

She thought it was foolish.

However, Shiika was confident and was able to do this.

“No matter how much C relieves me, I’ll come back to fight.”

She declared this with a smile.

“Since we’re fighting, I’ll never give up.”

Rina looked like she wanted to say more.

However, her beautiful friend swallowed back her words and closed her eyes with an intense expression. She probably realized that she wouldn’t be able to stop Shiika no matter what she said.

“So you’re the ‘Beloved Dove’, then. Right, let’s make this the keyword.”

Hearing Haji Keigo’s command, the white Mushitsuki next to him nodded.

“If C doesn’t use those words you’ll need to snap out of the brainwashing by yourself, though.”

Shiika nodded and returned the gaze of Rina who looked at her.

Rina bit her lips. She gave Shiika a tight hug.

“I’m definitely going to rescue you, so wait for me, Shiika. —This time, I’ll definitely be there.”

“Yeah… I’ll be waiting.”

This time.

She couldn’t understand the meaning of her words, but Rina’s feelings were transmitted to her from the arms hugging her to a painful extent. Courage welled up within Shiika just from her friend being there.

Rina let Shiika go. She spun, rose up with a resolute expression and turned her back to her.

Rina distanced herself with unhesitating gait and stopped in front of a certain boy.

“—Reiji.”

She faced the Mushibane admin called Aijisupa.

Lady Bird—Tachibana Rina and Aijisupa. —As far as Shiika knew, it’d been several years since the pair faced each other like this.

They definitely had plenty to talk about now that they reunited, but they spoke little.

“Please… lend me your power.”

Rina spoke while wearing a complex smile.

Aijisupa wore a bitter smile—however, he answered as though it was natural.

“…Sure.”

Finishing this short exchange, Rina left with the other Mushibane admins. They were probably going to think up a strategy to save Shiika, not wanting to waste time.

“It’s not going to take long. Do you feel ready?”

Haji Keigo said.

“Yes.”

Shiika closed her eyes without any hesitation.

Soon a feeling that was unpleasant and aggressive invaded into her head. She could feel it stirring up her most precious place—the parts even she wasn’t aware of—and rewriting it.

Shiika accepted this feeling that would vanish if she resisted it even a little.

What came to her mind was the few people that she believed in from the bottom of her heart.

The face of the boy she came to love.

Her friends and comrades who helped her.

When her heart was fully released, even the unpleasantness was gone.

As the faces of people she thought of slowly vanished, she found herself floating inside a dark ocean.

A faint voice stopped her from sinking into this bottomless sea.

“Fuyuhotaru…”

Golden light illuminated the dark ocean.

This sweet, gentle voice brought Shiika’s consciousness floating back.

“My Dove…”

This sublime voice filled with genuine affection woke Shiika.

And Shiika—

“…”

Having been saved by the creator called C, she opened her eyes into slits.

Rising from her kneeling position, she checked the sight in front of her eyes.

She saw the transformed Aoharima Island.

Everything in the fishing harbor was in pieces. The only thing moving there was the waves.

Of the old generation of Mushitsuki—was completely gone.

Shiika had fulfilled the mission given to her.

“…”

The tiara on Shiika’s head reflected the sunlight, emitting golden light.

Burning the sight of Aoharima Island becoming an uninhabited island again into her eyes, Shiika turned around.

She went back to the small boat and out into sea.

Shiika obviously headed toward the Goddess who’d sent her here.

To C’s Ark.

Since the boat was slow, it kept sailing throughout the entire night.

Night passed, it became night again, and when she saw land, she could no longer wait and stood up.

She leapt toward the coast from the boat that was parked near some bay coast somewhere.

She could see a large hanging bridge.

She quickly proceeded to the empty bridge. The clothes she was clad in and the tiara she was wearing told her that her God was there.

As she passed the bridge while being guided by her God, the fairies came out to greet her.

C-butterflies glowing gold and tiara-clad fairies. These all danced around her as she completed her mission, blessing her and singing.

When she saw one fairy step out to the front, she kneeled.

“No more of the old Mushitsuki exist… those failed products are gone.”

As she spoke this with an enraptured expression, the fairy reached out to her.

A small numbness assaulted her head. Her memories were being searched.

“Confirmed. —You have done well to fulfill your duty. My beloved Dove…”

Wearing a satisfied smile, the fairy hugged her.

—My beloved Dove.

Shiika’s eyebrows twitched, hearing that word.

“Come, please turn around and watch. You have the right to watch this through.”

She turned around as she was told and was stunned.

On the other side of the large bridge.

There was a change happening within the scenery of the capital with its lines of high-rise buildings.

“It is the time for creation. Now that all failed products are gone, it is time to wash over the world with the flood—”

It really was a flood.

And it was black.

A pitch-dark tidal wave swallowed the city whole.

However, it was not an actual wave—

“Let us see how many people are eligible to be invited to this land—to my Ark.”

It was a deluge of blackouts.

After the Dove confirmed the purging of the surface, the Deluge was going to screen out humanity.

What was going to start now?

Shiika knew.

The creation of a new world—

Also.

“—In the end, I came back here…”

The counterattack.

She felt her memories rapidly returning as if footage was being suddenly rewound.

As Shiika suddenly mumbled this, the fairies instantly leapt away from her.

The identity of the land she was currently standing on, the Ark.

As the sense of reality immediately returned to anything and everything, Shiika created a beacon.

It was in the form of a single flake of snow.

Glowing as it came fluttering down, this snow illuminated the Ark—illuminated that city.

“Now we can finally start the final battle…!”

This was the signal for the Mushitsuki of the old generation—

For those survivors who chose to fight rather than to rest, to start their counterattack.

2.04 The Others

Aoharima Island remained silent at night.

Just ten-odd hours ago there had been intense fighting on the fishing harbor, but now it was empty. Now transformed into nothing more than an empty plain with debris strewn around, the breakwater was illuminated only by the moon hanging in the sky.

A solitary island that banished all human presence from the surface.

Its peace was broken by a small voice echoing from somewhere.

“—‘Flame’ confirmed.”

The curtain of their counterattack was now raised.

The chagrin of those who became possessed by Mushi due to their dreams, were feared by people, and were finally pursued by the country. Their anger at being forced into a defensive battle all this time.

Giant doors sprung open one after another on the surface filled with debris. Multitudes of people came leaping out from stairs leading underground.

Under the moonlight, they immediately assumed battle formations, but the Mushitsuki at the center of those wearing white coats—were the combatants of the former SEPB.

Those gathered around the powerful combatants called Namie and Aijisupa were the members of Mushibane.

They were all annihilated by the assassin sent by C, Fuyuhotaru. —Creating this illusion had been a success because Fuyuhotaru’s second brainwashing succeeded.

Following that, Mushitsuki with matter control abilities used the destroyed large ships as materials to construct and underground evacuation shelter. All Mushitsuki retreated there temporarily and sent away Fuyuhotaru, who returned being the Dove, back to C.

The Mushitsuki that survived after these successive battles—now numbered in the whereabouts of just a few dozens.

“But it’s far away and hard to pinpoint the coordinates…!”

Groaning this was the Mushitsuki with sensing abilities, Himiko—Haji Senri. As she widened her unseeing eyes, red dots flashed on her hair.

“Looks like Fuyuhotaru’s reached the Ark, then.”

Standing next to his sister Senri, Haji Keigo mumbled.

And it wasn’t just Senri, but other high-ranked Mushitsuki as well. Other than the severe-looking Tachibana Rina or those like Shiohara Shachito, there was also the commander Terasu.

“Are you all feeling ready?”

Terasu was speaking not through the wireless, but calling to the Mushitsuki all physically present at the fishing harbor.

“Once we ascertain C’s current location, we’ll be able to move immediately!”

The Mushitsuki were able to rest while waiting for Fuyuhotaru to return to C. It definitely wasn’t enough, but since they recovered their stamina, their morale was high.

“Let’s start the counterattack—no, this’ll be the final battle!”

The voices of the Mushitsuki responding to Terasu’s cheer made the ocean around Aoharima Island tremble.

However—

“…! Multiple large ‘Flames’ appeared!”

Haji Senri paled.

Keigo and others promptly turned back to her.

“Multiple? Meaning, they’re where Fuyuhotaru is thought to be?”

“No, before I narrowed the location—ugh, it keeps spreading…!”

“What do you mean? Any sensors other than Himiko?”

As Terasu turned around, two Mushitsuki and Shiohara Shachito shook their heads.

“It’s too far away, I can’t even feel it…”

“I can feel it, but it’s not my specialty.”

Inevitably, all gazes around focused on their final hope, Senri. As hot-blooded as ever in readiness for this final fight, Kasuou glared at Himiko.

“Hey, what’s going on? Haven’t you just felt Fuyuhotaru’s presence?”

“I do not understand…! Similar ‘flames’ suddenly appeared all over the country, so I can’t tell which of them is Fuyuhotaru…!”

“—They’re dummies.”

Saying this was Rinrin, who specialized in electronic warfare just like C.

“C might’ve spread her own body doubles and had them transmit signal wavelengths that are similar to Fuyuhotaru. C should be capable of doing that…”

“Meaning that C found out our goal?”

Rinrin nodded at Terasu’s question along with a stifling silence.

The final hope for a counterattack left for the surviving Mushitsuki.

They all relied on Fuyuhotaru’s presence to designate C’s location. They couldn’t fight otherwise.

The Mushitsuki started clamoring.

“Looking at this in a different way, it means that Fuyuhotaru definitely managed to sneak right to C. Otherwise C wouldn’t have to slap together all those dummies.”

While fixing his glasses with an index finger, Haji spoke.

The first step of the counterattack plan, Fuyuhotaru’s infiltration, was a success. Feeling flustered due to C’s countermeasures was proof of this success.

However—C’s response came much faster than expected.

“Dummies are just dummies. I doubt she’d be able to fully copy someone as powerful as Fuyuhotaru. —Can’t you ascertain the real presence?”

“I will try…!”

Seeing his sister nod hard to his orders, Keigo felt himself grow depressed.

He simply couldn’t get used to see her fighting. He was supposed to be fighting in order to create a world where no Mushitsuki like his sister were ever born again, and yet—

He was relying on that very sister right here on this crucial moment.

He didn’t care about himself. He created many victims, resolved to get cursed by all Mushitsuki other than his sister. Since he’d conducted many inhuman actions, he’d definitely go to hell someday.

However, if the one to reap what he sowed was someone other than himself—

Every time he saw his sister fighting, he had a bad premonition.

Even so he couldn’t stop Senri—because to him she looked much livelier fighting like this than she had back when he’d been protecting her.

“—Is that true?”

At some point during Keigo’s ruminations Tachibana Rina came to stand next to him.

“What do you mean, Lady?”

“Don’t play dumb. You said it during our last strategy meeting. As long as we know where Shiika is, we’ll be able to get there not just in several hours, but instantly.”

Keigo recalled what happened inside the shelter. Before emerging to the surface, he’d gathered the Mushitsuki and made a small talk before they went for the final fight.

“Right, I did say that.”

“But you didn’t explain how. Why? If you dare and tell me it’s a lie at this stage…”

“It’s not that I haven’t explained it. I couldn’t. I don’t know how.”

Rina was speechless.

Keigo turned toward the sky behind him. A small shadow alighted down from the sky above the island illuminated by moonlight.

“It was like a bolt out of the blue. To think that in this situation and at this stage, a ‘collaborator’ would suddenly appear.”

“Is that a bird? —No, wait. A human…?”

Following Keigo’s line of sight, Rina narrowed her eyes.

“Is that the so-called ‘collaborator’? Who’s that?”

“For now, it’s a former SEPB combatant. But regarding her identity, I don’t know. According to her, there are other ‘collaborators’ as well. At some point she was inside the shelter—and promised that as long as she knew where C was, she’d be able to take us there immediately.”

“…Sounds suspicious. Do you really believe that?”

“I do.”

Perhaps finding his instant affirmation unexpected, Rina’s eyes gradually turned harsher.

“How can you say that?”

“’If a “Bird” or a “Cellphone” gets in contact with you, I believe you can trust them’—”

“…?”

“Contact came from one of the spies I’ve prepared just earlier. I do not know who this ‘collaborator’ is, but apparently they took this spy into their confidence.”

Rina grimaced, exposing her hostility.

“You really like that sorta stuff… you saying we can believe a spy’s information?”

“It’s obviously not quite that simple. After all, that spy had been too good of a kid both now and in the past, and asked me for a favor only one time before.”

“That being?”

“To give support when Kakkou broke.”

Rina’s expression froze. Haji continued nonchalantly.

“I don’t know how much that spy—that handyman—knows about the present situation and if she’s still working about it… but she’s doing enough to send me a message completely unrelated to my request. So those ‘collaborators’ are definitely good people that can be our allies. Those who, unlike me, haven’t dirtied their hands—”

He spoke with a thin smile.

“If they’re small fry that couldn’t become villains—I’ll trust them.”

“…”

“That Mushitsuki flying so happily over there in the sky looks like a ‘bird’ to me.”

There were other grounds to trust them.

If that “collaborator” actually belonged to C’s forces, there would be no need for them to set up such a roundabout trap. Besides that—if they feigned being a third party, it should be convenient for them, now that C and Keigo were fighting and exhausting themselves. For that reason, it wasn’t surprising for them to think it was in their best interest to help Keigo’s group, who were in an inferior position.

“Since the enemy called C is too big, there’s no other option but to combine all other forces together. Just like how the SEPB and Mushibane joined up despite being bitter enemies before.”

Speaking while fixing the position of his glasses with a finger, he added something in his heart.

Not to mention that they snatched away Kakkou who was supposed to get collected by the handyman… they have to be at least this helpful—

He could faintly sense that there had been another force hiding somewhere. If that force was connected to his own spy, they might become an unimaginable faction.

Right, and as long as his spy hadn’t forgotten her duty, she might lead even that faction into the revival of Kakkou—

“…I see. Well, I’ll accept it for now.”

Being glared with half-closed eyes by Rina, Keigo came back to his senses.

“Even someone like you isn’t going to speak so casually and lie to us in this situation.”

“I’m an honest man at heart, after all. I’m tired of pretending otherwise.”

Just like Rina said, he seemed to be lacking in calmness. If even the commander started having hopes that weren’t part of the plan, it’d be their end.

What card would he use to win against the almighty C?

It was Keigo’s job to think about it.

Right now, they only had a single card to use.

She was Keigo’s one and only little sister, and yet, looking at the current situation—

“Uh… kuh…!”

Her eyes glowing in red, Haji Senri was clearly suffering.

Naturally. She was spreading her range of sensing to the entire country. Not to mention this would determine whether they could head to the final fight or not. He couldn’t even imagine the burden of this responsibility.

“Well? Can’t find it yet? Should I go back to sleep?”

Harukiyo appeared, his voice lacking any sense of tension. Where was he until now? He carried a girl on his back like she was a sandbag.

Lying still on Harukiyo’s shoulders was the Mushitsuki called Arisu. She was clad in an SEPB coat, sleeping soundly.

Seeing Arisu, Kasuou made a complex expression.

“Are we really taking her as well?”

“I fulfilled my promise to her. If she doesn’t actually see it, I don’t wanna get blamed later for it. If we throw her into a battle she’ll probably wake up.”

“Why you piece of… so have you constantly been looking for Arisu?”

“I do these things properly. That’s who I am.”

Spitting this, the flame devil glared at Senri then.

“I do wanna do this properly. If I can’t, there’s no sense in me being here.”

The SEPB Mushitsuki all stood in his path as if to protect Senri.

Rina also stepped between Senri and Harukiyo.

“Then shut up and sit still. We’ll call you when we figure out where the enemy is.”

“Is it fine for you to say that, bitch? While we’re all standin’ around here your pal’s fighting against C for her life, you know?”

“That’s why I’m telling you not to stand in the way.”

The two Rank 1s directed eyes full of killing intent at each other.

Apparently it wasn’t just Keigo who wasn’t calm enough. Everyone on Aoharima Island was on edge right before the final battle.

Perhaps to try and distract the two prickly Rank 1s, Terasu tried urging on Senri.

“H-how about it, Himiko? Are you still unable to differentiate Fuyuhotaru?”

“They all look the same to me… if that’s not enough, more and more dummies keep appearing…!”

“W-wait a minute—”

Rinrin raised his voice timidly.

“What if C isn’t creating wavelengths like Fuyuhotaru, but instead just broadcasting her wavelengths in real time to all sorts of places as they’re fighting… in that case, there’d be no way to figure out which is real or fake, and as time passes, even her strength will change according to the real one—”

“To cut a long story short, it means no dummies will disappear as long as Fuyuhotaru’s fighting?”

Getting impatient, Harukiyo spoke.

“If Fuyuhotaru dies, the dummies will be gone, but we won’t be able to find C. —Meaning, we can’t find C either way.”

A stifling silence befell the harbor.

They had no way to find C’s Ark—

Not only were they unable to embark to the final fight like that, they’d never get any chance for a counterattack, either.

Now that C knew about their existence, she’d probably send assassins to Aoharima Island again.

Having no means for a counterattack, the Mushitsuki side would be unable to bear another war of attrition and simply lose—

“B-but even so, dummies are dummies. Since I’m interfering with C’s abilities, there should be some noise mixed in, something that’s not like the real one… so she’d have to find that subtle difference…”

Even Rinrin’s supplementation tapered off weakly.

Harukiyo turned toward Keigo wordlessly.

He tried thinking of an excuse to have Harukiyo stay there—but the demon sighed first. He shook his head and turned his back.

“I will find her—”

The one to stop the leaving Harukiyo was a powerful voice.

It came from Senri.

“I’ll definitely find Fuyuhotaru-san…!”

“—”

For a moment Keigo’s heart leapt—and not because he was impressed with his sister’s bravery.

He was supposed to be used to his sister’s profile and voice.

However, he suddenly found both unfamiliar. Despite being her own brother.

“Oh?”

Harukiyo turned back.

The red lights vanished from Senri’s eyes. She slowly held up her hand, raising her index finger and thumb to make a pistol gesture. And she used her other hand to support it.

“Big brother.”

Seeing his sister’s carefree smile as she turned toward him—Keigo now realized.

He knew what Senri was about to attempt now.

He knew what she thought about, causing her to be able to wear that most beautiful smile.

The moment he realized this—he felt as if something very heavy fell from his back.

There’s nothing for me to do here anymore—

They were about to embark on the final fight for all Mushitsuki.

However, only the man called Haji Keigo would be unable to relax and couldn’t pursue them any further, no matter how cruel it was.

When he realized this, Keigo also managed to wear an honest smile.

He spoke to his sister, who was playing it tough but couldn’t hide her body shake, to relax her.

“…It’s fine. I’ll follow you soon after.”

Senri happily widened her smile, turning to the side.

She was now looking to the Mushitsuki called Kaguya. Keigo heard that this boy called Ogata Akatsuki was her friend while she was a normal high-schooler.

“Senri.”

They’d probably already talked it over. Even so, although Kaguya made a pained face, he nodded, seemingly resolved. —There was no doubt that Keigo himself was making the same face right now.

“Thank you.”

Senri stopped shaking. Her smile vanished and she closed her eyes.

As Senri stood there quietly, a red glow began to emerge from her back. It formed a flickering silhouette in the form of a queen bee.

“So you—were also a ‘collaborator’.”

As Keigo mumbled this, Senri widened her eyes again.

In the depths of her widened eyes weren’t pupils that reflected anything—but a pair of rubies with a flickering glow. As though they were unfurling wings, these rubies emitted pillars of flames.

“Uh—everyone, stay away from Himiko!”

Hearing Terasu’s command, the Mushitsuki all distanced themselves.

Only Haji and Kaguya couldn’t part from Senri who was in the middle of transforming.

“Searching—”

While spouting fire from both eyes, the girl said this as though casting a spell. Small sparks hit her coat and it became ruby-colored as though stained. Even her long hair became dyed in bright red.

“Director Haji, stay away from her! You too, Kaguya!”

Terasu strained her voice.

“She’s Maturing!”

He knew that without being told.

He didn’t know how, but his sister immediately unleashed a power past her limits. Because of that, she was Maturing—meaning, the phenomenon where a Mushi would fully devour its host’s dreams and try to become free.

However, Keigo stayed standing in place.

“Searching—”

Clad in a robe of flames, the form of his sister with her eyes transformed into flames did no longer look human.

A red flare was created on the ocean surface where Senri’s thrust finger pointed.

More and more flares like this were created all over the ocean as far as the eye could see, dyeing it entirely in red.

“Searching—”

While her voice echoed with the machinelike repetition, the world was changing.

The ocean became entirely red and emitted a pale glow.

These flares started permeating even the ground of Aoharima Island, dyeing it red.

It was becoming a world of crimson—

“I-is she putting the entire country under her domain…?”

Someone groaned this.

Keigo remained silent, watching over Senri’s back.

These flares spread all over, but there was no heat.

She wasn’t attacking anyone, like back when she’d eat her brother’s dream.

“Searching—”

As her older brother, Keigo’s duty was protecting his much younger sister.

She was blind since birth, she was sickly, and she couldn’t even get out of the house without Keigo’s help. Her growing up properly and not twisted despite carrying all the difficulties was perhaps due to her not seeing all the filth of the world because of her eyes.

While thinking half-seriously about all of this, his sister was distancing herself from this world.

He only realized this was a silly assumption of his very lately. Meaning, only ever since Senri threw herself into the fights of Mushitsuki out of her own will.

“Searching—”

Senri could see.

Although she was blind, she could see through people’s hearts through their attitudes, voices and the like.

Among those Senri had seen through this far, most of them were likely evil. There were also those who were mad Senri couldn’t share their vision, and there were probably also those who tried attacking her.

Despite this Senri forgave them—and even tried helping them.

Why? Because she gave up on being a weakling. She probably thought that since she was weaker than normal people she didn’t have the right to stand against them, and that if she could help other people even a little bit, she had a duty to do so with her full powers.

This wasn’t kindness.

Since she was weak, she had to forgive people and help them.

His sister started thinking that way—because of none other than him.

Keigo had the duty to protect weak Serni, and because his little sister was a weak person—she had to follow this “duty”.

“Searching—”

Even though she was this strong—

It was Keigo himself who forced Senri to remain weak.

He kept pushing excuses to live and to attack other people on to his sister.

However, by allowing herself to get protected by her brother she supported him and so managed to grow up so much she could connect people’s hopes and end up much stronger.

“I’m the one who hasn’t dirtied his hands—”

Seeing Senri fight with her entire body and soul, a lone streak of tears ran down Keigo’s eye.

“Losing someone precious to you hurts so bad…”

His chest hurt so much his body twisted.

He was assaulted by such a freezing sense of falling that he wasn’t sure whether he was standing up or sitting down. He even thought that he wouldn’t mind falling down all the way to hell like this.

Keigo would most likely go to hell.

After sticking his sister in a birdcage to protect her, hurting and deceiving many people—

He was going to lose even the one and single reason he had to fight here.

There was no longer anything for Keigo to do—

“—Found her.”

Senri finally uttered the expected word.

Including Tachibana Rina and Harukiyo, all Mushitsuki now wore the expressions of warriors.

Keigo approached his little sister, hugging her slim body from behind.

“Thanks, Senri.”

“—Promise me, you two.”

The flame vanished from Senri’s eyes. Her normally kind eyes turned to Keigo—as well as Kaguya, who was behind him. She smiled.

“Big brother and Akatsuki-kun... even after the battle ends—you can’t lose.”

Keigo bit his lips hard.

So even falling to hell—wasn’t allowed to him.

Although Keigo dirtied his hands, he was restrained by his sister, not allowed even to surrender.

She told him not to step down from his own will, but to keep fighting until he couldn’t move even a single finger.

Since it was his one and only sister who wished for this—

That was the only thing he could do.

“I’ll be waiting for you...”

It was too late for the kindly smiling Senri. She could probably not hold back her Maturation any longer.

Saying their farewells, the two siblings snuggled and swore in their hearts.

A single, black feather fell nearby.

2.05 The Others

To come into the forefront as the main character of the fights between Mushitsuki.

A poor Mushitsuki embraced this completely unsuitable dream.

She was the Mushitsuki called Konomura Chami.

“I’m pissed off.”

Chami mumbled this, standing on top of a certain building’s rooftop in a town whose name she didn’t know. Her dangerous gaze that couldn’t be hidden by her rimless glasses was directed town at the dark townscape.

The girl standing next to Chami murmured to herself subduedly.

“…I knew it, I can’t find C’s location…”

The girl with long bangs hiding her eyes—the Mushitsuki called Konoha—was Chami’s pawn. Next to her was a Mushi shaped like two overlapping leaves standing upright.

“…C might be blocking my sight using her abilities or one of the Revived…”

“It pisses me off they didn’t even doubt me.”

While being blown by wind in a high place, Chami kept mumbling.

If Konoha managed to discover C’s location, she thought she’d have a chance again. That was why she looked for a place with a good view.

However—it looked like it was impossible anyway.

Therefore, Chami thought of another scenario.

“Those guys… Himiko and the rest—”

Chami clenched her fists and spat out.

“While running away from Akamaki City, such a suspicious woman called out to her… normally she’d doubt me. I also explained the risks. If she used my queen bee’s powers—it might be a ticket for an express train to Maturation. I told her she’d die…”

Konoha didn’t even turn to her. She kept listening to Chami’s monologue quietly.

“But she nodded without hesitating… despite me telling her this.”

Chami raised her right hand and reached with her index finger.

The silhouette of a queen bee came to her fingertip. This Mushi was her ability, and she could sting Mushitsuki to bestow a rapid enhancement to their abilities.

“’If I ever need your power—will you sacrifice yourself?’.”

Chami erased the queen bee.

“So I told her about the strategy. —Even Haji Keigo wasn’t prepared enough to launch the counterattack against C. There were too many holes in the script to set the stage for the battlefield…”

“…And you’re filling those holes, right…?”

Konoha turned to Chami.

“…None of us had any objections… not a single one… even Chiharu is currently—”

“Right, I knew no one’d refuse. That’s what pisses me off. Those shithead Mushitsuki… but what pisses me off the most is the one who’s written this shithead script. Me.”

Rounding her body, her shoulders shook.

She felt her body about to get ripped by anger, hatred and chagrin. Obviously, all those emotions—were directed at herself.

“Even in this script I wanted to see, that created so many victims, that did so much scummy stuff—”

—Kuhu.

She felt like she heard a cat laughing from somewhere.

Was it an auditory hallucination, or had her deceased partner crawled back from hell to mock Chami?

“I’m not part of the cast…”

Never mind dirtying her own hands.

She’d done plenty of crimes against humanity.

However, despite her constantly thinking of those as required actions for her to someday ascend to become the main character—who could have imagined she would set up a stage without any part for her?

All these girls accepted Chami’s invitations without hesitation despite them being the devil’s whispers.

These Mushitsuki all chose to become victims because Chami made them do it.

Not only that—

“I don’t even have the guts to rewrite the main cast…”

Chami had thrown away the red pen meant to fix the script.

Despite the fact that she’d fought to the death to obtain it.

“Konoha… please watch over what happens now closely.”

Raising her face, Chami spoke.

“These shithead sacrifices are going to bring the actors to the stage.”

After desiring the seat of the main character and writing the script for it—she never could write her own title.

Hearing the Mushitsuki’s ridiculous mutters—

“…Sure.”

Konoha silently nodded.

2.06 The Others

The night sky of Aoharima Island was full of twinkling stars.

The gentle wind mixed the scents of the sea and trees. This nostalgic air never changed ever since she was born.

Shirakashi Ubuki was born on this island.

“…”

As she circled around the island’s skies, moonlight reflected on Ubuki’s goggles, sparkling. The four black wings sprouting from her back were created from her Mushi fusing with her coat. The turban wrapped around her head was used to gather up her hair so that it wouldn’t get in her way while flying.

Ubuki made a sudden rise and raised her angle.

She then did a forward somersault, this time lowering her head, spun horizontally and let herself fall.

This was her favorite way of flying that she repeated constantly even during the time she only just became a Mushitsuki. She found the sensation as if the island was rotating above her, as well as being able to watch the entire ocean surrounding the island, to be very enjoyable.

As she approached the surface, she raised her head and kept her body level as though gliding. By doing this she almost felt like she could use the small island as a bed for an afternoon nap.

As Ubuki indulged in this nostalgic play, memories about Aoharima Island resurfaced in her mind.

It was her hometown, and many things happened on this island.

Her losing her parents shortly after being born was one especially sad event among them. Aoharima Island subsisted mostly on fishing, but there was rarely any fishing boat accidents. Ubuki was, however, one who lost her parents due to this rarity.

She’d been sent to the island’s orphanage and lived with other similar children as a family. They weren’t rich at all and they lacked plenty, but Ubuki loved her new family. They didn’t have the latest gaming consoles, but they always found things to play with in the nature around them.

Playing with the few children of her age, going to the very small school and before long even working in the marine food processing plant on the island, she lived as part of the island—

She wanted to live her life like that, without being dissatisfied with anything.

However, a while after Ubuki became a middle schooler, a certain person came to the island.

A young doctor.

Ever since meeting that person, Ubuki and Aoharima Island’s future changed.

Ubuki became a Mushitsuki.

This was something she only found out later, but the youth who came to the island—the one she was on friendly terms with, called only Sensei—was actually the monster called Sanbikime.

Unbeknownst to her, Ubuki had been turned into a Mushitsuki by him, and spent her days innocently making walks through the sky.

However, that did not hold out for long.

In order to erase Sensei (who was Sanbikime) from this world, a grand-scale massacre was carried out on the entirety of Aoharima Island. By that narrow-eyed woman, Miguruma Yaeko.

The residents were slaughtered by fire, and only Ubuki the Mushitsuki had survived, becoming a member of the SEPB.

She lost her beloved Aoharima Island.

She left it.

Betraying the SEPB, she created her small revenge against Miguruma Yaeko.

Along with new friends and comrades, she gained a new dream.

For some reason, although she returned to Aoharima Island, it was again covered in flames.

Right now, this island would become the land of the counterattack that would change the world.

“…I can hear your voices, y’all.”

While freely flying in the nighttime air, Ubuki closed her eyes.

She said “all”, but it wasn’t the voices of the many Mushitsuki beneath her.

It was the people who used to live on Aoharima Island.

The voices of Ubuki’s family, friends, and other workers—the people who lived here more freely than anyone, who spent their last moments here in an unwanted way.

If this was the period where she lived only for revenge, she’d definitely hear voices of resentment. The curse created by the murdered island residents would probably spur on Ubuki’s revenge and desire for destruction.

However, what Ubuki heard now—was laughter.

Only fun memories with the island residents who raised Ubuki passed through her mind as she danced through air.

The only resident who knew about the tragedy that befell the island was Ubuki.

But at the same time, the only one who knew how freely the people lived on this island was also just Ubuki.

She became able to think like that probably because she herself had changed.

“I’ll bring back this island, y’all. The same island from that time…”

That was Ubuki’s new dream.

To make Aoharima Island just like it was before, a place overflowing with smiles—

It was a much more difficult dream than mere revenge.

However, it wasn’t impossible as long as she was alive.

She was taught this because she had important friends.

“But I’m sure—y’all can wait just a little.”

Opening her eyes, the scenery of the island completely changed.

Both island and sea were enveloped in a vivid ruby color.

It was as though it had been instantly encroached by an entirely different world. Looking down on the surface, she could see the figure of Haji Senri clad in a cloth of flames, struggling.

“Before making my dream come true… I gotta save my friends.”

There was something Ubuki had to do now.

She’d infiltrated the shelter and gave Haji Keigo what she needed to.

And she was able to have her fill of flying above the island like in the old days.

All that remained was to fight.

“Because you’re my friends… as much as everyone on the island.”

She started falling toward the wharf.

The crimson world was starting to regain its normal color. The red glow dyeing the ocean surface and Aoharima Island was slowly vanishing.

Haji Senri managed to designate C’s location.

She was convinced of this even without checking.

Ubuki controlled the wings at her back, landing next to the hugging Haji siblings.

All the Mushitsuki around seemed shocked at Ubuki’s appearance. However, neither Haji Keigo nor Haji Senri moved a muscle. Even Ubuki wasn’t about to say something unneeded at this stage.

“Coordinates?”

Ubuki asked just this one word.

Being hugged by her brother, Senri looked at Ubuki sadly and shook her head. Her blazing eyes appeared to return to how they were, but her robe of flames wasn’t gone. It didn’t seem to hurt her brother—but it was obvious at a glance she already lost control of her Mushi.

“We don’t need coordinates…”

Prefacing with this, Senri mumbled.

“The place is…”

That land.

The place of the Ark, where C’s main body resided.

Ubuki knew it.

“…!”

Haji Keigo showed an expression of surprise. There was no doubt that seeing someone as rational as him be speechless was rare.

“—I’ve been such a fool…”

He mumbled only this.

Ubuki nodded, then raised her voice toward the many Mushitsuki behind them.

“Recall-tan!”

“…”

Not a moment passed since she was called that mist gushed next to Ubuki. It condensed, forming the form of a girl in her early teens. Her short hair and expressionless face coupled with plain clothes gave her the impression of a girl people would often ignore.

“We’re going.”

As Ubuki hugged the girl called Recall, a red glow rose from her.

It was a crimson queen bee.

Ubuki’s wings grew many times their size, creaking. The black pattern caused by fusing with her Mushi encroached up to her face and covered her eyes. Her pupils became sharper.

“Transfer condition—only Mushitsuki.”

As Recall muttered this, a queen bee appeared behind her as well.

The lower torso of the girl being hugged by Ubuki literally dispersed. The mist instantly propagated, covering all the Mushitsuki at the fishing harbor.

“Recall…? You—”

Mushibane’s admins, Namie and Aijisupa, wore expressions of shock.

Recall reached out a thin arm from within Ubuki’s embrace and lightly waved it.

“Bye-bye.”

With this farewell greeting as the signal, Ubuki leapt into the air with Recall in her embrace.

Reaching a high altitude, she then started flying horizontally.

And—accelerated.

Faster.

Faster.

“…We gotta go quickly.”

The form of the smiling Ubuki became something unsightly. Her wings kept growing larger and gradually the coat and wings melted into each other. Her face became pure black, and behind the goggles, her eyes were becoming compound eyes, like those of a dragonfly.

“You’re working too hard, Shiika-tan.”

As she increased her flying speed, Ubuki felt important memories inside her gushing away. She could tell that her dream, a source of power much unfitting for such a powerless, unranked combatant Mushitsuki like her, was being devoured by her own Mushi.

However, she didn’t mind it.

The important people who lived on Aoharima Island and the new friends she’d made.

As well as her important—Sensei.

She knew the memories of these irreplaceable people would definitely remain with Ubuki to the very end. Ubuki would never lose to her Mushi.

“Recall-tan, you okay?”

Even her voice became much lower, sounding like a different person.

The girl protected from wind pressure by Ubuki hugging her was losing her lower torso. Not only that—but the further away from Aoharima Island she went, the more her body began vanishing. Just like a scarf being unfurled by its threads, her body already vanished all the way to the chest.

“As long as my head remains… probably.”

“…”

“I can only transport people to places I can see… it’s a bit far, though…”

The girl mumbled this expressionlessly.

Ubuki felt like lowering her speed—but she gritted her teeth and accelerated further.

“Shiika-sama—”

Recall kept mumbling.

“Taught me… that it’s fine to fight even if you’re weak.”

Ubuki hugged hard the girl who was becoming lighter and lighter.

“Yeah, that’s right.”

All she could do was fly.

She had no other abilities.

Therefore, doing that—was her way of fighting.

“Shiika-tan’s also fighting now, y’know.”

As she gained speed several times—no, dozens of times past her limits, the scenery visible to her also changed.

There was no difference between the starry sky and the sea, and she couldn’t even see the waves undulating.

Ubuki and Recall cut through the interval between black and black as though sliding.

“So we gotta—go faster—”

Ubuki’s consciousness was dimming.

Could she hear something crumbling because her body was also crumbling along with her dream?

Even so she kept accelerating in this world where she lost not only recognition of color, but even of time—

Ubuki certainly felt it.

The fragrant, nostalgic air above Aoharima Island sky.

And that day.

Thank you…

On the island’s solitary clinic, herself from when she received the necklace.

The presence of the smiling youth—

“—!”

She just barely managed to hang to her consciousness.

She fought with her own efforts—no, it was the feelings she’d received from those important to her that helped her resist the Mushi feasting on her dream.

As she wrung out her very last powers, her sight retrieved colors.

The world where only black and black existed now changed.

She arrived at the mainland.

Ubuki strained her eyes, climbing above and looking for the place that would serve as the landmark, aiming for her goal in a straight line.

Then—

“—!”

Ubuki flew down to a land in the city far away from Aoharima Island.

She didn’t have the leisure to soften her momentum. Rolling on the hard asphalt, she hugged Recall tightly to protect her from the impact, crashed against a wall—and stopped.

“—”

She felt the very last drops of her dream fall out.

Within her vanishing consciousness, reflected in Ubuki’s faintly open eyes was—

A swarm of glittering neon lights.

As well as something turning toward her somewhere nearby—the face of a precious friend.

“—Ubuki!”

An innocent face with a white blizzard surrounding her.

There was no doubt.

She was Ubuki’s precious—

“Transfer location—”

Recall’s head came rolling from Ubuki’s embrace. The girl’s face changed.

The surrounding mist shrouded over.

“—Here.”

The remainder of the girl’s head dispersed without trace.

The phenomenon that occurred at the same time looked like changing the TV channel.

Where only the blizzard-clad girl stood before, now many figures suddenly appeared.

Seeing this, Ubuki reached her limit.

Anmoto Shiika infiltrated it, Haji Senri found it, and Ubuki carried them there.

Everyone sent there knew that place.

Notes

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