Mushi Uta:Volume 15 Chapter 4
4.00 The Others[edit]
A fir tree laden with electric decorations was being displayed at a small bakery’s window.
Carrying paper bags in front of the store, she looked up the sky with irate eyes.
The skies of Ouka City were laden with clouds and it began drizzling. She hated getting her blond hair that was longer than her white duffle coat wet, so she was forced to enter the bakery to take shelter.
“Yup, I’m at the bakery. Let’s change the plan, you come to me.”
She spoke on her cellphone with a soprano voice. White breaths leaked from the mouth hidden by her scarf.
Cutting off the call violently, she could hear light background music come from inside the bakery.
It was a Christmas song she could hear anywhere these last few days.
“Yeah, yeah, merry whatever. You piece of shit. It’s so cold, die already.”
She mumbled to herself.
While shaking from the cold, the number of cars passing through the road in front of her kept growing.
About two months passed since the government’s functions passed from the capital of Akamaki City to Ouka City. The large-scale repair work on Akamaki City following what was officially called the “Localized Hurricane Disaster” kept advancing.
Even after so many days, people didn’t stop voicing their doubts regarding the truth about what assaulted Akamaki City. On the other hand, many voices also called to relocate the capital to Ouka City.
She herself didn’t care about any of that.
The storm passed. No matter what theories came, the city would regain its form soon.
Just as her anger at the cold and the rain grew worse, a white limousine parked in front of her. The stupid long car’s door opened up on its own.
“Oh, it’s so warm inside.”
The moment she leapt into the car, she brought out bread from her paper bag. She gave it a hearty bite.
Inside the car there was a long, rectangular seat. The girl sitting on the other side of the thin, long table raised her brow.
“Hey, don’t spread crumbs all over. I’ll charge you for the cleaning fees.”
She was the girl called Akasegawa Nanana. Inside the heated car she wore only a thin dress and had a long cane in hand. Her doll-embracing secretary also sat next to her.
“Your face’s pale. Are you alright?”
Saying this was the one sitting at the back, Tachibana Rina. Her neat features and long limbs weren’t hidden by her casual outfit of jeans and a sweater.
“Aren’t you tired, Kasuou?”
“What’s so bad about being tired on Christmas Eve, eh? Don’t have any time for eatin’ bread, either.”
Ripping the bread with her teeth, Kasuou cussed. Ignoring Nanana’s secretary who brought out a hanger, she threw her coat toward the seat next to her.
The door closed on its own and the limousine set out.
Excluding the driver seen through the other side of the soundproof window, only four people—Kasuou, Tachibana Rina, Akasegawa Nanana and her secretary—were inside the car.
“There’s been a bit of trouble this morning.”
“Trouble? What happened?”
While shaking a glass containing red liquid, Nanana tilted her head.
“A runaway. One Mushitsuki vanished without any contact. Told me to form a search team to find him… what a bother.”
“Oh, what a coincidence. Happened to me too. Mine left a letter behind, though.”
“…I see.”
Seeing the sighing Kasuou and Rina, Nanana also made a huge breath. Perhaps uninterested, she asked no further questions about that.
“Well, leaving that side, let’s wrap up things already. I’ve got a party after this. If we don’t finish this quickly, the smell of that cheap bread’s going to get all over my dress.”
“You really piss me off just like always … You’re the one who set the condition that we’re to meet up whenever we’re sharing information.”
“Obviously. That’s the right of the one providing all sorts of help.”
“There there, it’s fine… so, what about that four-eyes? He’s got a message for us, right?”
Being prompted by Rina, Kasuou clicked her tongue as she removed her gaze from Nanana.
“He said, isn’t it about time Mushibane joined us?”
Hearing her words, Nanana and Rina’s expressions changed.
On the window outside the limousine now wrapped in silence, the scenery of Ouka City getting pelted by the rain was flowing.
The people walking through the decorated town looked like they were floating while holding umbrellas.
No one had any way of knowing that just recently, not far away from here, a battle that decided the fate of the world had been held—
“Have things calmed down already? It’s too early, right?”
Rina said as if to warn them.
It happened after they defeated Super Class Rank 1 C, and Oogui.
All the Mushitsuki—split up into the SEPB and Mushibane again.
This was Haji Keigo’s suggestion.
The crux was that the SEPB was going to shoulder everything related to the work in order to rebuild the country again, as well as the negotiations to stop the international community from interfering.
All foreign countries already held interest in the supernatural beings called Mushi since long ago. It was Miguruma Yaeko and Haji Keigo who repelled them.
However, the international community were trying to use this incident as a pretext to send force with the stated goal of “preserving the peace”. If they let them, there was a decent chance all scattered Mushitsuki would get illegally kidnapped to other country. If that happened, it might as well cause another problem on the government level—and might even cause a new problem on the military level.
“What’s Haji the bastard been doing while he pretended to be asleep? He’s been apparently negotiating with some guys overseas. Probably laying the groundwork for everything after the battle.”
The reason he decided to split the Mushitsuki into two groups even after finally uniting them was probably due to something like insurance.
Even if the fight ended, there was no guarantee that the Mushitsuki would safely return being under the country’s authority again. If those at the core of country had C’s brainwashing lifted, and if the state kept targeting the Mushitsuki—they needed an organization to act as a receptable of Mushitsuki.
That was Mushibane.
In order to secure their own position, the SEPB’s Mushitsuki became busy with missions. So they needed manpower in order to search out the surviving Mushitsuki all over the country and secure them. Mushibane took on that role.
That was apparently a suggestion made by Haji Keigo right after the battle.
All Mushitsuki—agreed to this plan unanimously.
“Besides… the effects of what C did were surprisingly small.”
Kasuou kept talking.
“I mean, Akamaki’s still in that horrible state and GARDEN’s all broken up… and since she became Fallen all those brainwashed guys woke up, so that’s huge. Even that Deluge thingy that aimed for all the country’s people apparently ended up without anyone becoming a Mushitsuki because we all got into GARDEN immediately.”
“…”
“So the real problems came later. This country needs Haji to manage the surviving Mushitsuki and negotiate with overseas. Even that bastard wants to take advantage of it and go all out. Without caring at all that we need to run all over the place for him.”
Nanana opened her mouth.
“Regarding foreign countries, I also handle some of the negotiations, albeit unofficially. They keep telling me to sell them Mushitsuki. Leave finding those sorts of idiots to me.”
Saying this, she wore a bold smile and shook her glass.
“This country will probably sink for a while from the battle’s aftereffects… but I can already see signs of its imminent revival. If something bothersome reaches out, I’ll shut them up not with Mushitsuki, but with the powerful magic of money.”
After defeating C, Haji Keigo first revived the organization of the Special Environmental Preservation Bureau.
Rina rescued all the scattered Mushitsuki and protected them.
Akasegawa Nanana supported both of them in all aspects.
After the decisive battle, appearing in this sort of three-way discussion—
This would probably be their last time.
From now on, they really would create a single, new path to take, in the truest sense.
Rina smiled.
“Once we added up those Mushitsuki who weren’t part of the C operation in Akamaki City with those that Terasu secretly let escape when we got out of Akamaki City—it’s quite the number of people.”
Kasuou laughed back.
“Terasu’s going to collapse again. Even though she already almost died from overwork last week.”
“If she doesn’t suffer any work-related injury, tell her to come to me. I’ll hire her for ten times the salary.”
Nanana laughed as well.
Kasuou turned toward the glass window behind her, watching the flowing cityscape.
Rina and Nanana also looked outside, each with their own thoughts.
“…So, any new people revived from the Fallen state?”
“I’d like to know that, too. Was it just that one person Ayukawa Chiharu-san helped?”
“Even a single person is great. —It’s Alpha that we’re having no progress with. I knew it was going to be lengthy, but the research fees just keep on growing…”
“There was another guy at SEPB who’s almost Matured. I killed the Mushi, though.”
“We had two. I—took care of them.”
“You look much paler than Kasuou. Should I introduce you to a hospital?”
“How’s your father?”
“As always. …Yeah, once Mushibane no longer needs me, if father allows… I’ll ask Arisu to take this body and—right, how is she?”
“Getting there slowly but surely. She’s now able to stay awake for about two hours a day. Oh right, Nanana, she said she wants to meet you.”
“I see… oh, well, in due time. —That aside, do you know a journalist called John Mash? He’s using the Chronicler’s footage to do activism about Mushitsuki rights. What a riot.”
“That Haji bastard said it wasn’t something to just throw away. He blabbed something about how Mushitsuki’s existence becoming clear to the wide public might actually be helpful—”
Their useless conversation came to a sudden end.
The limousine got caught up in red light in front of the Ouka station.
Kasuou could see a single boy standing in front of the station. His back was turned to her and he looked like he was waiting for someone.
“Kasuou. That guy’s the runaway you’re looking for, right?”
Rina looked outside the window, wearing a mischievous smile.
“…I toldja, I’m busy.”
Kasuou wore a bitter smile and turned her face away from the window.
“Busy pretending I’m lookin’ for him.”
Nanana also looked outside and laughed.
“Yaha, you’re not just pretending, but actually helping him.”
“I don’t wanna hear that from you. …He worked more than anyone until now, and we already finished our business, the way I see it. Got nothing to do with him anymore. If he says he don’t need either the SEPB or Akasegawa for support, I don’t give a fuck.”
Saying this, Kasuou smiled back at Rina.
“About the one that escaped you… she’ll probably appear if we wait here, won’t she?”
“It’s fine. …That girl also did her best until today.”
Saying this and smiling, Rina looked happy.
The light changed to green.
The white limousine slowly drove off.
No one told it to stop.
“Well, it’ll somehow work out. —For us as well.”
Kasuou mumbled as Rina and Nana smirked at her—
And made a small nod.
4.01 The Others[edit]
Konomura Chami was fed up with the Christmas song she could hear everywhere.
Sitting in a four-people table at a family restaurant, she blankly stared at the outside scenery. Ouka City was gloomy with some rain and clouds, but the expressions of the passing people were bright.
A burp escaped her throat as she played around with the straw.
“Wooow, how dirty, I can’t believe it. Chami-sama, you’re so unfeminine!”
“You know, there’s this saying that you should keep your manners even when you’re with people you know well. When communicating with others, not only do you not lower your guard, but you end up imposing your excessive self-esteem on the other party—”
“…The worst…”
She heard concentrated complaints from her companions. The veins in Chamis’ temple popped out.
Next to Chami sat Lucifera, her various accessories jingling.
Opposite to her was Satou Youko, wearing a thick coat despite being inside, and Konoha, her eyes being hidden by her long bangs.
“You lot… don’t get too carried away or I’ll sting you with my ability again.”
“But Chami-sama, you were the one who dispelled that despite us not asking you to.”
“Right, we’re no longer your pawns, Chami-chan.”
“…She’s feeling bad because Chiharu won’t come today…”
It was apparently useless to even speak here.
After the battle with C was over, Chami released her pawns from their shackles.
There wasn’t any reason in particular.
It was just that she had no particular reason to keep them shackled, either.
“More importantly, what’s up with you calling me out on Christmas Eve? I have plans, y’know.”
As she sighed and said this, the three of them glared at Chami with expressions she’d never seen before.
“…What’s with those surprised faces… It’s just a part-time job. A low-paying one.”
“Ohhh, oh, what a shock. This is the greatest shock since I’ve met you, Chami-sama! I thought that maybe Chiharu finally cheated on you with a guy!”
“Is that part-time job at the cake shop from before? Still, even if you were introduced by that handyman, for them to be hiring you despite not having any resume, she sure has some serious connections… yup, sure looks busy today.”
“…Chami making cakes… Pfft…”
“Ah, I’m gonna kill all of you. You shitheads.”
Falling atop the table, Chami made a huge sigh.
Looking at the people walking outside with stupid expressions and her lax companions, she felt deflated.
No, talking about her being deflated—then it started ever since the battle ended.
“Spit it out, Konoha. Why did you gather us?”
Chami spoke.
She was tired of wasting time on this stupid talk.
Even not including Chami, who still had some time until her shift, no one here should have this much free time. —Perhaps that was why they all took this breather.
“…The SEPB and Mushibane are joining up again…”
Konoha mumbled this.
All those around the table looked momentarily serious.
“—I see.”
Chami wore a bitter smile.
Those words truly closed the curtain on Chami’s ambition.
The enemy was defeated. If the situation really was as stable as to allow the Mushitsuki to join up again—it means that the preparations for both the main and minor roles to get off the stage had already finished.
Chami would not end up snatching the seat of the protagonist, but just vanish secretly.
She wouldn’t do anything as boorish as pulling the actors back to a final curtain call—
“It doesn’t mean that the situation’s this stable, alright? I do think they’d stir it up a lot, though?”
Satou Youko raised her face, alluring Chami with a bewitching smile.
Chami spat with a glum face.
“Are you itching for action, ex-Demon Lord…? Ha, don’t lump me in with you.”
In the first place, she was the one who understood her vessel the most.
She didn’t find this result of her not being able to become someone important all that painful.
Not thinking of it as painful—was a bit painful.
So she kept being stubborn and decided on being herself, even if she was a nobody.
Not relying on anyone, not belonging anywhere, being neither a normal person nor a Mushitsuki—
She just wanted to be free.
“—Well then…”
Lucifera rose from her seat.
“I’ll be going back to Mushibane now.”
Konoha rose as well.
“And to the SEPB for me…”
Satou Youko also got up, carrying her suitcase.
“And I’ll go back helping the handyman.”
All of them went back to their places.
The three people vacating their seats looked at the seated Chami and smiled.
“What will you do, Chami-sama?”
“—I won’t do anything.”
She wore a bitter smile.
If Chami got up and said something like, “I’m going to turn over the world!”, would they follow her?
Even such delusions—sounded boring to her.
“I’ll work my low-wage job, grab a bento from the convenience store and go back to my apartment.”
She thought they’d feel disappointed by her answer.
All three wore a funny smile and said nothing.
Apparently, these impudent pawns all saw through their former master’s disposition—
“…”
Watching the three of them leave, she wondered when they’d meet like this next.
Of course, this was but a delusion.
She had nothing to do with where they were all headed to, now.
There was no longer any need for them to glance at each other again.
“—Please allow me to start by apologizing.”
A grinning woman suddenly came sitting in front of Chami without giving her any chance to refuse.
“Special Class Rank 10, Owl. I have misjudged your capabilities. Depending on the usage, your ability should receive a far higher ranking. I do beg your forgiveness.”
Narrowing her already thin eyes, the woman wore a kind smile. Her neat outfit and her gentle-mannered bearing were the exact opposite of the wild Chami.
“The ability to magnify people’s emotions… I wonder what would happen if you narrowed it down to the shape of a ‘dream’? Have you ever tested this?”
The woman and Chami might have looked like sisters with a large gap in age. Or perhaps a delinquent student being kindly admonished by a popular teacher.
They obviously didn’t have this sort of relationship.
Not only that, but Chami had been instantly taken in by the calm woman’s eyes and tone. Her body became heavier and she felt captive.
It was as if she was being gently and kindly—wrapped by chains.
“It will probably be a difficult experiment. However, if we find a guinea pig like Alpha and try pouring your ability into it—perhaps ‘something’ will be born again.”
The woman smiled.
“You possess the power to change the world.”
Miguruma Yaeko.
As the one who created the opportunity for the creation of Mushi, played with Mushitsuki and even created the powerful enemy called C, this woman could be called the root of all fights.
Miguruma Yaeko had used the chaos caused by the end of the battle in GARDEN and hid until this very moment. And now—she came to Chami.
“—Can’t even begin to imagine it.”
Chami laughed.
As Chami raised her eyes and mouth to laugh, the silhouette of a crimson queen bee appeared behind her.
“Joking aside, the world’s people are looking for you. How did you manage to hide so perfectly despite that? I thought you already went up and defected overseas, but here you are, still in Ouka City.”
Her body trapped by the Smile of Shackles retrieved its freedom. She could resist Miguruma Yaeko by heightening the emotion of “anger” within her.
“Well—I did imagine it was something like this.”
“…Have you stung yourself using your own Mushi?”
Although she saw Chami change her expression, Miguruma did not let her own smile falter.
“If you could strengthen even yourself, I really have great expectations for the experiment. As you are right now, you might become a Rank 1—no, there’s even the chance you’ll become something like the Original Three—”
“I don’t give a damn. No, I bet even you don’t give a damn.”
Kfu—
The illusion of a white cat sitting atop the table laughed.
“About the fact that your experiment or whatever—killed a single cat.”
And it wasn’t just Chami’s one and only past partner.
Way too many people became victims.
Way too many Mushitsuki were defeated.
“I’ll show you my full powers just like you want. Let’s fall to hell together.”
While they were glaring at each other—no, it was only Chami who was glaring at Miguruma—the atmosphere of the family restaurant instantly changed.
She didn’t know why.
All customers were suddenly gone from inside the shop. Even the staff vanished without trace.
“I don’t have any power to change the world. And even if I did—”
Instead of customers and staff, people exuding threatening auras appeared.
Gathering there one after another, they surrounded Chami and Miguruma’s table.
“It’s the power to finish you off and protect the world.”
And coming out in front of all those people—
Was the flame devil, Harukiyo.
This Rank 1 Mushitsuki looked down on Miguruma with flaming eyes. —They probably also theorized that Miguruma was going to show herself to Chami as well. She’d noticed they were sniffing around her for a while now.
But even if her opponent was a Rank 1, she wasn’t going to hand this over to him.
This little sting was none other than Chami’s.
“So—will you tell me your dream?”
She once had a dream of going up the stage as the main role.
But she finally accepted her life for what it was, knowing it wouldn’t happen.
The story of such a small-time Mushitsuki—
“If you’ve got something like it, that is.”
Came to an end with her dragging the worst scriptwriter of all off the stage.
4.02 The Others[edit]
The smell of the salty sea and green grass wafted in the air of Aoharima Island.
Twice it was assaulted by the flames of war.
The massacre brought by Miguruma Yaeko as well as the preliminary fight before the final battle against C.
The traces of the battle were the houses that became unlivable ruins as well as the wharf still filled with debris.
Although only the sounds of the waves and the wind came to Aoharima Island—
New sounds were born there again.
The sounds of striking metal and ships carrying materials cutting through the sea.
As well as—small laughter.
She could even smell the fragrance of food from somewhere.
She could see it well from the sky.
Among the devastated houses, several were being fixed. The sound of striking metal was the construction work of people who came from the mainland.
A part of the wharf was being filled with concrete, so it could barely allow ships to anchor.
There were still only few people on the surface. Most of the them were the workers brought from the mainland for the construction work and their families.
Among them, there were also small figures running atop the small hills.
The fire before robbed most of the island’s lives.
However—there were some survivors.
They were young children. The young man called Sensei had protected them on this island and they were sent to childcare facilities on the mainland afterward. She only unveiled this truth fairly recently.
The surviving children came back to Aoharima Island.
And now, climbing up a small hill, they waved at the sky.
“Big sis Ubuki! Don’t slack off, come down already!”
The voice calling to her revived the hope of this island.
And even she herself was one such hope.
Because she was the one and only Mushitsuki who came back from being a Fallen following the final decisive fight.
This didn’t mean she became a normal person again—but it showed them without a doubt that this was possible.
“What are you doing there, just flying all the time!”
She freely flew the skies above the island with the black wings sprouting from her back.
While feeling a small hope—
“I’m looking for a pretty dream.”
Shirakashi Ubuki laughed.
Notes[edit]
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