Mushi Uta: Snowy Day of Dawning Dreams

Snowy Day of Dawning Dreams

Prologue: 0.00 The Others

There is the supernatural being called Mushi.

Having suddenly appeared a decade ago, they began possessing boys and girls. In exchange for eating their dreams—wishes of doing something or becoming something—they gave their hosts a variety of powers. They were named Mushi because their outward appearance resembled insects.

“…Hmm?”

Mushi and the Mushitsuki they possessed never came out into the light. They were being whispered and hated among the populace, but even so the government denied their existence.

About a year passed since eyewitness reports about Mushi and Mushitsuki were completely gone.

It wasn’t even that the Japanese government concealed it, but their existence simply vanished from people’s memories.

“What’s wrong?”

“Isn’t someone… running toward us?”

Nishito City, a provincial city in Japan.

Hugging with his girlfriend while walking through an empty residential land at night, the completely normal college student raised his face. White breath leaked from his mouth. His girlfriend from the same college also raised her face.

“Haa…! Haa…! H-help me!”

A girl appeared in the alley that still remained filled with the snow from these last few days. She had a striking appearance with two braids and glasses. It might be rude to state, but she looked like the kind of countryside high schooler one could find anywhere.

“I’m being chased by strangers! Can you please call the police?”

Having this girl suddenly cling to him, the youth put a hand into his college jacket’s pocket.

“Strange people? I-I got it!”

“I’ll report it now, so calm down!”

His girlfriend also put a hand in her pocket—and then the two college students both pulled out handgun-shaped stun guns.

“—!”

The braided girl pushed the couple away with astonishment.

As she tried to escape, the two disguised college students pulled the trigger. Bullets attached to wires were launched from the muzzle and a momentary flash dyed their sights in pure white.

As the light faded, they could see the form of the girl knocked unconscious—or at least they were supposed to.

Instead, they could see the shaking girl as well as a round mass that sprouted something like a white needle. The stun gun’s wires became entangled in the white needle of that object about the size of a small car.

“Tch…! She’s got much better reflexes than I thought…!”

“Watch out! Get away from the Mushi!”

His arm pulled by the woman playing the part of his girlfriend, he took his distance from the girl and the white object.

On the other side of the alley, where the braided girl ran from, a large vehicle emerged. As it parked to block the narrow alley, men wielding small arms came jumping out.

“Erase your Mushi! If you don’t listen to us, we won’t hold back!”

He gave her a sharp warning. He threw away his stun gun and readied the gun he received from the other men.

Being surrounded by so many guns, the girl paled. She was cornered against a wall, tears rising to her eyes.

“W-who are you people…? W-why do you want to—”

“Shut up! I’ll say this one more time, erase your Mushi!”

He warned her again.

“Why won’t you leave me alone…?”

A single tear slid down the braided girl’s cheek. Perhaps because she had been running, her breath was elevated.

No—that wasn’t it. The girl holding down her raging chest was clearly acting strangely.

The mass sprouting a white needle moved.

It was a bizarre object with six legs, moving slowly. Excluding the fact it had four eyes glowing red, it resembled the insect called a velvet ant.

“All I wanted was to grow my favorite flowers… I was happy with just that… so why—”

The velvet ant’s body grew larger, swelling like a balloon.

“Whyyyy!”

The girl shouted.

Forgetting to even pull the trigger, he looked up the now-massive velvet ant.

“I-it’s Maturing—”

Mushitsuki could gain special powers by letting their Mushi feed on their dreams.

However, there was a hefty cost. If the Mushi nestling inside them was killed, they’d become living corpses named the Fallen.

And that wasn’t the end of the curse carried by Mushitsuki.

Even if they kept their Mushi alive by giving it their dreams, at some point it would end up devouring their dream in its entirety.

Doing that, the Mushi would reach its adult form.

This was the phenomenon known as Maturation, and the hosts whose dreams got fully eaten—lost their life.

Once someone became a Mushitsuki, they would either become Fallen or have their dream eaten and perish.

Reaching either one of these results—was the fate carried by those called Mushitsuki.

“…!”

Gunfire echoed. His comrades with small firearms shot the velvet ant.

“Gil!”

“It’s too late for this one! Shoot, Siamo!”

Being told this, he—Siamo—gritted his teeth. He pulled his trigger toward the velvet ant.

However, it didn’t even flinch.

“It’s no good, we can’t even make a dent on it with our current equipment…!”

“Aim for the host! Shoot her with all your stun guns and tranquilizers!”

“No, since she’s started Maturing, just knocking her unconscious won’t stop it…!”

What would happen after the Mushi Matured and separated from its host?

It was clear from the reports they obtained that Mushi became extremely destructive after Maturing. In that case it’d become a huge problem and there’d probably be many victims.

This sort of result was not the goal of Siamo’s group.

Their mission was to kidnap the “new species” of humans called Mushitsuki—and bring them back to their own country.

And they had to conduct that swiftly and yet secretly.

For now, at least.

“…”

Siamo’s group moved just their eyes at each other and nodded.

One of his comrades, the man Siamo called Gil, moved the muzzle away from the Mushi.

It now aimed toward the crying braided girl—

“—Why…”

And spat fire.

The wall of the residential house was dyed with fresh red.

As she girl slid down, collapsing to the ground, the white Mushi’s movements stopped.

The velvet ant opened its small mouthpart and wailed. As if to begrudge the fact it was only a step away from Maturing, it emitted a high-pitched scream and evaporated.

“Retreat! Hurry up!”

Following Gil’s orders, Siamo and company hurriedly got on the large vehicle.

Siamo looked at the girl drowning in a sea of blood from inside the running car. Gil struck his head.

“Get a grip, Siamo! This isn’t our fault! It’s because no one noticed our target was about to Mature!”

“—I get it, brother. No, Gil.”

Only Siamo kept thinking back to the dying Mushitsuki. Even the woman who played the part of his girlfriend already started talking to their comrades about their next move.

“The next ones are our real targets. I’ll be on a different team, but don’t lower your guard.”

“Yeah.”

“That woman just now was apparently a former non-combatant member of the organization called Mushibane, but the next ones are different. They’re survivors from the “Decisive Hashiba City Battle”. Expect to be going against a monster.”

In the townscape visible through the window, he could see houses adorned with electrical decorations.

Perhaps this country itself looked so restless because of that period of time approaching again.

“You can’t hesitate just because they look like children. We now figured out that even if there’s some unexpected trouble, it’ll turn out fine as long as we kill the host.”

He knew that the smile rising to Gil’s face was a patriotic one. Obviously, both he and Siamo loved a country different from this one.

“Let’s capture those endangered monsters and then grab a drink. Raise a toast to Merry Christmas and all that.”

However, Siamo simply couldn’t forget about the last expression of the girl who expired right in front of his eyes.

I just had a small dream, so why—

Until the moment she was shot, the braided girl chanted this, her face full of tears.

That was a Mushitsuki.

Those possessed by the supernatural beings called Mushi—that would never grow in numbers again.

“…Yeah, I get it.”

Siamo had been taught they were beasts and monsters, but the braided girl he saw—

Looked like a plain countryside schoolgirl.

The number of surviving Mushitsuki:

287→286.

1.00 Those who Wriggle

Akamaki City, the capital city that once bore all the main functions of Japan.

About a year ago, it received heavy damages during the localized “Typhon Disaster” and widespread electrical malfunctions. Although at the time all traffic, electricity, gas, water and other living infrastructure was completely paralyzed, that was temporary.

Right, the “Disaster” had already long since passed.

The cause of the thick mist covering Akamaki City and things like the golden lightning was a single person—no, a single Mushitsuki, but only very few people among the populace knew that. The Mushitsuki called C, a Super Class Rank 1, suddenly appeared like a real natural disaster, and was then eliminated by other Mushitsuki who joined forces to challenge her.

These facts were being hidden by the Japanese government and related people who’d been brainwashed by her, as well as the organization under their direct control. Including the reason why the neighboring Hashiba City fell to destruction.

All truths about this large incident that involved several cities were fully hidden.

The name of the organization that managed that seemingly impossible manipulation of information—was the Special Environmental Preservation Bureau.

This organization took the mission to train Mushitsuki in order to capture other Mushitsuki and thus conceal their existence from the general public.

“…Arschloch.”

Mitake Anneliese cussed inside a fast-food restaurant, where a Christmas song was playing in the background.

She was sitting in a table on the second story, where she could view a road in the middle of construction from the window. Drawing a triangle around the round table were this white, blue-eyed, blond-haired woman called Anneliese as well as two others.

“Eh? What did you just say?”

Saionji Ena, her classmate, removed her mouth from the straw of her drink and asked. She was a beauty with short cut hair, but because of her elegant atmosphere the tidy school uniform didn’t fit her.

“I got another double…”

Tears in her eyes, Anne collapsed on the table. Her other classmate already grabbed the hamburger set she’d ordered.

“Want more? I can still keep going, though.”

Saying this, the girl wearing large glasses took her eighth hamburger of the day and carried it to her mouth. She was thin and looked nothing but plain when compared to Anne and Ena.

“Why… is only the red… not coming out… there’s no Santa Claus in this world…”

A character-themed strap from some Sentai series slipped from Anne’s shaking hand. It was an item from the collaboration of the restaurant chain they went to.

“Hmm? By red, do you mean this one?”

As Anne raised her face, Ena opened up her own gift.

“You want it?”

“Oooh…”

Anne’s blue eyes sparkled. On impulse, she rose up and hugged Ena’s body.

“Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas! Ena!”

“E-everyone’s looking at us, Anne! Oh, but your hair does smell nice…”

“So embarrassing, geez.”

While Anne and Ena hugged each other, the bespectacled girl complained while still sucking even more hamburgers into her mouth.

There were people who looked at all three of them even before they started making a ruckus.

It was because Anne and her friends were wearing the uniform of Horusu Seijou Academy.

It was a famous private school where the sons and daughters of the rich were sent. Originally, they weren’t the kind of clientele to frequent this plebeian fast-food restaurant, and in the first place it was against school regulations to buy food on the way back home.

At present, Horusu Seijou Academy received a lot of focus by society.

“Whew, maybe I should order some more too? I got really tired after helping my seniors with the closing ceremony this morning. And I had an errand this afternoon besides.”

Because of the “Disaster” that attacked Akamaki City a year ago, many people left the city.

Even the main functions of the country were transferred to the place called Ouka City.

“You helped the student council, yes? Are you on familiar terms with them, Ena? Also, why are you still crushing my hand?”

Many civilians and businesses left the city, afraid of the second coming of the “Disaster”.

However, there were also those who chose to remain in Akamaki City.

“The current president is a fellow comrade of the ‘Loving Normality Club’! We ended up talking passionately about our next possible member today as well. Our recent hot stock is in our junior Manma Makoto-chan or Ebina Yuu-chan, but there’s also… you, for example, Yuniko-chan.”

“Sorry, can’t do. Please don’t mind me. Hey, please don’t touch me.”

The new Board Chairman of Horusu Seijou Academy, the man called Ichinokuro Ruisu, was also one person who made this choice.

He opened a press conference and declared that he would keep Horusu Seijou Academy open just like it was until now. He furthermore promised to help not only with the school itself, but everything related to the city’s recovery.

“Got any plans for later, Anne? You can come with and Takako if you’d like.”

“What are you doing? A Christmas Eve party?”

Horusu Seijou Academy—the school taking care of those elite candidates who would shoulder the next generation of the business world—choosing to remain in Akamaki City had a profound effect.

The financers did not abandon Akamaki City—

Now having this confidence, investors began pouring money into Akamaki City’s reconstruction work.

“We’re reading a picture book at an acquaintance’s orphanage. Then we’ll have a small party.”

“…Woah, that’s really unlike you…”

“Eh?”

“It’s nothing. I’m sorry, but I have a lesson today as well.”

“Despite it being Christmas Eve? You sure have it tough. What about you, Yuniko-chan?”

“The children at the dojo say they’re doing a party, so I have to watch over them. Now, please stop touching me.”

Right now Akamaki City was abuzz with the redevelopment work. Although for a while the prices of land and stocks suffered a huge crash, the foundation called the Akasegawa Group bought out plots of land and local businesses. Thanks to their activities, the city could be said to be prospering.

And thus, the students from Horusu Seijou Academy, the school that set the opportunity for Akamaki City’s restoration and its symbol—exited the fast-food place and headed on their way home.

“—Say, Anne… you were friends with that girl during Middle School too, right?”

While walking through roads surrounded by construction boards and decorative lightings, Ena asked this hesitatingly.

“Have you heard something about her… about Arisu?”

Anne met eyes with the bespectacled girl. She turned back to Ena and shook her head.

“Nothing.”

Anne had met with the girl called Ichinokuro Arisu in the middle school section of Horusu Seijou Academy a few years ago already. It wasn’t a coincidence but certain circumstances that led to her intentionally meeting her at school, however—

Including Anne herself, many Mushitsuki were strung along by Ichinokuro Arisu. These days were filled with troubles and were exceptionally tiresome. Normally this chain of impossible “bugs” would make her head hurt—but it was also a lively time that wasn’t bad at all.

However, those who spent those days alongside her vanished one after another.

Arisu herself disappeared, and Anne had no idea where the boy who used to serve as Arisu’s monitor was nowadays. Since the girl who’d used to argue with Anne every day became an enemy that threatened the entire world, both of them bet on their lives on mortal combat.

Among all those people from back then, right now only Anne remained at Horusu Seijou Academy.

That fact caused a small lump to remain in her heart.

“I see.”

Ena’s expression didn’t change.

“…Do you know the person called Rina, then?”

Ena next named a surprising individual.

Caught by surprise, Anne was shocked inwardly. However, she didn’t let it appear on her expression and tilted her head.

“No? Who’s that?”

“She’s someone we met during the ruckus about a year ago. We promised to become friends. I just thought you might know her.”

“Why would I know her?”

“That’s because you’re both—”

Anne and Yuniko looked toward Ena with surprised expressions.

Seeing them react like this, Ena shook her head and swallowed back the words she was about to say.

“No, it’s nothing. Sorry…”

They parted from the apologizing Ena while headed to the station.

When she hailed a taxi to head for the orphanage, Ena retrieved her previous brightness. But she was probably disappointed.

“—Arisu’s the name of Sleeping Beauty, right? I hear she’s getting better and better.”

Yuniko spoke while walking alongside Anne.

She was a Mushitsuki. Just like Anne, she was a member of the Special Environmental Preservation Bureau.

“Yeah, she can remain awake for longer and longer periods. Although no one asked her to, she’s been running between Mushitsuki and poking her nose where it doesn’t belong. It’s like she’s the great leader of Mushitsuki or something.”

Anne now spoke in fluent Japanese. Now that Ena wasn’t near them, there was no need for any acting.

“Then why won’t she meet with poor Ena? I really feel for her.”

“We tried helping Ena, but Arisu herself feels like she failed. Including those Mushitsuki who died during the Night of the Meteor Shower. She’s not just thinking it’d be awkward to meet her, but apparently operating under the logic that something bad might happen. It shouldn’t matter if Ena recalls her dream, though, seeing that Oogui no longer exists.”

“I see…”

“She’s gotten all worked up. Right now, compared to when she was sleepin’—she’s the only Rank 1 that can move freely. She’s being burdened by all that unneeded responsibility.”

Yuniko frowned behind her large glasses.

“And the Rina that Ena mentioned is Lady Bird, right? Never mind the other three missing Rank 1s, what about Lady? Have you heard anything from Director Haji or Akasegawa Nanana?”

“SEPB, Akasegawa, Handyman… they all joined forces and tried using all possible means, but looks like it’s a hopeless case. She probably doesn’t have too long before she goes down along with Mimic.”

Yuniko bit her lower lips. She held her head with both hands.

“Why… even though we fought and even managed to survive, in the end all of us are…”

“Don’t give up.”

Anne grabbed Yuniko’s head and brought her own head closer.

“The only thing that fight’s changed is this world. Since there’re no more Original Three, no more Mushitsuki will ever be born. That’s all.”

Her blue eyes gazed directly at Yuniko’s eyes shaking behind the glasses.

“For all of us who were always Mushitsuki—nothing’s changed. Both today and tomorrow, we’re just gonna struggle to live pathetically. We’re all gonna wish to live even one day longer.”

“…”

“Both now and before, we’ve just been dying to the enemy our heart succumbs to—our Mushi.”

Saying this, Anne showed a cheerful smile. As if to push her out, she removed her hand from Yuniko’s head.

Anne started walking again and Yuniko also stepped after her.

“It’s obvious. We’ll never lose to our Mushi.”

People they passed while walking all looked at the many-colored decorative lightings around them and smiled. They wore completely opposite expressions from Anne and Yuniko.

“Still—I refuse to get killed by someone at this stage.”

“…”

“You’ve heard the report, right? A few days ago, one of the Mushitsuki survivors was killed. She was shot by a gun. Judging from how they did it, it might be a force from overseas…”

“…”

“They’re Mushitsuki hunters. Despite our nonintervention pact with foreign countries, the endangered species of Mushitsuki is now being targeted. I don’t know if they want to turn us to guinea pigs like Miguruma Yaeko or if they have another goal… but killing when they fail to abduct us? Who do they think they are?”

Anne grew silent and listened to Yuniko’s story.

“What’s Director Haji even thinking, continuing the Assimilation Project even in this situation?”

Assimilation Project.

After the battle with the Original Three ended, Mushitsuki stopped fighting among themselves, and the arrangements to conceal the traces of the battle with C from society ended as well—it was a long-term program established to return all those Mushitsuki to be part of society.

It was a project to return all those Mushitsuki who finished their roles to civilian life. However—

The Mushitsuki killed by the mysterious group was a participant of this program.

“I can’t believe he’d isolate Mushitsuki despite them being targeted…”

“What’s that got to do with anything? It’s that weakling’s fault, getting done in by weaklings who aren’t even Mushitsuki.”

“Are you being serious right now, Kasuou?”

“…Ha. I gotta head back to HQ. See ya.”

Anne tried leaving Yuniko on the crossroads, but the latter called out to her.

“Wait a minute, Kasuou. —Have you heard that rumor?”

“Rumor?”

As Anne turned back, Yuniko spoke hesitantly.

“—Rumor about a ghost.”

Anne goggled at her.

“It’s apparently becoming a rumor in all sorts of places, recently. Where nothing stood before, a long-haired girl suddenly appears… looking in your direction, she repeats the same words.”

The bespectacled girl hugged her own body, looking scared.

“She says… ‘It’s not that dream’.”

“…”

“After the girl says this and vanishes, the place where she stood becomes scorched—”

Anne reached her limits before Yuniko finished talking. She immediately lashed at her without any restraint.

“Pah! What the hell, bitch! Gettin’ scared of that kinda ghost story? It’s outta season! You turnin’ senile as well, Commander of the Central Headquarters’ suicide squad?”

“I am scared! Maybe doesn’t matter for other people, but for us—”

Yuniko’s eyes lowered and she spoke.

“Because we’re Mushitsuki. When the word ‘dream’ gets used, it almost sounds as if…”

“If you’re free enough to get your panties in a twist just from that kinda rumor, be on the lookout for those assailants. See ya, Merry Christmas.”

As Anne spun around and left, she could hear Yuniko emit a laugh behind her.

“Kasuou… I wonder when we can finally become happy.”

Anne pretended to not hear the words of her battle comrade playing the part of a classmate.

As she strayed from the main road, she aimed for a certain secret entrance at a certain neighborhood. Although the SEPB’s Central Headquarters had been destroyed a year ago, restoration work had, by and large, proceeded.

“Haa… Ever since I came to this country, I’ve become weak to the cold.”

She was walking through an alley that had remnants of snow freezing her neck.

Even last Christmas Eve she was busy with SEPB work. Since there was even a Mushitsuki who escaped from the organization, they had to go look for him.

This year she was also immensely busy. Although there was no longer any need to fight, she was still a Rank 2 member and her duties were not lessened in the least.

She was sure the same would happen come next year’s Christmas, too.

Anne didn’t even have time to get a boyfriend—not like she had any interest in that in the first place—so she was going to just buy one of the remaining few Christmas cakes on sale and eat it alone. That was going to be her Christmas.

“All of ‘em are such sissies.”

Nanana, as well as Yuniko.

The sad faces they’d shown Anne brought her unneeded sentimentality.

Or perhaps it was the fault of the Jingle Bells she could hear from somewhere.

“All of ‘em just keep running away from me…”

After she’d been taken to this country several years ago, Anne became a Mushitsuki.

Her Mushi was a deathwatch beetle. It had no corporeal form, only materializing as black mist that could become an amorphous shield or else claws to attack her enemies.

Ever since she became a Mushitsuki, almost all the people she met were enemies.

However, there were cases where her enemies somehow became her friends without realizing.

And yet there were also cases where those supposed to be her comrades became her enemies without her being able to do anything.

After defeating the enemy that used to be her comrade and finishing all of the fights—

A certain individual vanished without saying anything.

Another one barely even met her, despite waking up from a long slumber.

Plenty died, and there were also those who died while remaining her enemies.

Just like this, everyone vanished from Anne’s sight.

Not even a single person cared for Anne—

If she was being honest, every time she went through the gates of Horusu Seijou Academy, the faces of people who’d never come back there again would stab her heart—

“…”

Anne’s face raised with a twitch. She stopped in place.

She had a small uncomfortable feeling. The Jingle Bells she’d heard until now suddenly vanished. No—all presences vanished from around her.

Anne moved her fingertips, stealthily invoking her ability.

In the radius of several dozen meters, she spread grains of mist that would be difficult to see with the naked eye. Starting from the shades of power poles, to inside residential houses and even going down ditches into the sewers, she searched using sensory organs made from her mist.

“…Can’t feel any enemy nearby. So I’m the one being a scaredy-cat, eh?”

She couldn’t feel anything odd near her. Anne leaked a white sigh and started walking again.

No one cared for Anne.

Going back to her thoughts from just now, she now raised a doubt about herself.

If she felt bad about everyone leaving her, how come she didn’t chase after them?

Should she search for all those missing people? Or perhaps follow after her dead comrades’ footsteps?

Thinking about it, she didn’t feel like doing either. She wasn’t being obstinate, but simply couldn’t help to feel like that from the bottom of her heart.

Or perhaps—Anne was the one who didn’t care for herself.

Those who were gone all lived their lives to the fullest and knew what it was to fight to the death.

It was Anne herself who knew this fact.

Therefore, although she was feeling just a little bit sentimental, she never thought about trying to find them.

In fact, Anne actually—felt proud in their way of living.

“…”

She pulled out something that her fingertips touched in her pocket.

It was the strap that her friend had given her in that fast-food place.

Right, Saionji Ena was also without a doubt one of her friends. She was already aware that Anne was a Mushitsuki. She realized that Anne stayed near her to watch her, since she’d been targeted by the monster called Oogui before. Also, she pretended not knowing anything and became her friend.

—Kasuou… I wonder when we can finally become happy.

Yuniko’s words from just now replayed themselves in Anne’s mind.

“It’s fine for Mushitsuki’s happiness to be like this.”

Smiling, Anne returned the strap to her coat’s pocket.

Just like she was proud of knowing the way of living of those who left her—

Anne wanted them to remember her way of living too, if at all possible.

That would definitely—be much more worthy of pride than them staying by her side.

“No matter what anyone says, I like living in this country.”

She’d end up grumbling about her mission come the next Christmas Eve anyway.

While imagining this small future, she entered an empty road.

Anne’s body was blown to the side.

In the report submitted to the SEPB’s Central Headquarters, the following was written.

Kasuou, Blaze Class Rank 2 member, had been shot by a sniper rifle from the distance of several hundred meters away.

The number of surviving Mushitsuki:

286→285.

1.01 The Others

Dressed as a college student despite wielding an automatic rifle, Siamo shouted.

“Why did you shoot her neck! The plan isn’t killing her!”

They weren’t meant to kill her—

Saying this right now was meaningless.

After all, this would be the second person they killed, after the Mushitsuki they had to stop from Maturing.

Siamo and five of his comrades jumped out of the large vehicle parked next to the collapsed girl. Only Siamo was disguised as a civilian while all others were fully equipped.

The blond girl—Kasuou—lay on the ground, unmoving.

Her wide-open blue eyes gazed at empty air.

Those were supposed to be looking to something in her future.

A dream.

Mushitsuki like her were all looking at their desired future even while dead—

“I didn’t mean to! The woman made an unnatural movement! Maybe she noticed us…!”

He heard the sniper’s excuses from the earphones in his ears.

“Don’t be an idiot! We were more than a hundred meters away from her! She’d never notice your presence!”

Siamo kneeled next to Kasuou, pulling out the pinkie-sized bullet stabbed into her white neck.

“Sniping with a tranquilizer is ridiculous anyway! You should praise me for actually scoring the hit!”

“Yeah, good job! You got her neck, of all places! Even though it’s a tranquilizer, it’s definitely going to break the cervical vertebrae—”

Siamo’s face became unsightly as he let anger grab control of him and traded barbs with the sniper.

But he then noticed blue eyes were looking at him.

“—Eh?”

In the report submitted to the SEPB’s Central Headquarters later, the following was written.

There was an error in the report submitted before about Kasuou’s sniping.

The report about Blaze Class Rank 1 member Kasuou’s death was a mistake, and the safety of the aforementioned member is confirmed.

The number of surviving Mushitsuki:

285→286.

“UooHHH!?”

The black mist gushing out from the blond girl they wanted to abduct and bring back to their country blew Siamo back.

She did not move a single finger. Lying on the mist that suddenly appeared, she was completely still.

“We’re being attacked! Fire! Fire!”

Siamo’s comrades pulled the trigger on their guns. Along with violent gunfire, a rain of bullets showered the black mist.

However, no bullet was able to pierce even a single centimeter into the mist protecting the girl. Seeing the bullets fall to the ground in pieces, they all gasped.

Part of the mist wrapping Kasuou hardened. It transformed into countless sharp claws.

“She’s attacking! Retreat—”

Although Siamo gave this warning, the expected slashing attack did not come.

The girl lying inside the mist looked at Siamo with her blue eyes as if memorizing his face.

She did only that—without attacking—then turned. Using her claws instead of legs, she ran away in a straight line while destroying the walls of residential buildings around.

All his comrades were shocked, looking at the distancing mass of mist.

“She ran away…? So the tranquilizer is working!”

“What’re we gonna do, Siamo! Our mission’s failed! Should we retreat?”

“No—”

Siamo shook off the image of the first Mushitsuki they killed from his mind and spoke.

Kasuou’s eyes looking at him were shaking. To him it seemed like not only she couldn’t even curse Siamo, but like she couldn’t move even a single finger.

“From what I’ve seen, her eyeball movements were weakening as well. It’s a fast-acting tranquilizer. She will definitely lose consciousness within a minute.”

“Then…”

“We go after her! Move the car to be able to pick up Kasuou’s body at any moment!”

If the injured Kasuou attacked Siamo and company in reckless abandon it’d be a lot simpler.

They simply had to focus on dodging her attacks. If a minute passed and Siamo and others just collected the exhausted Kasuou then, it’d be for the best.

Realizing that was going to happen—Kasuou ran away.

He read in the report that she had rich battle experience. She’d survived many battles, both small ones as well as those like the Night of the Meteor Shower or the Decisive Hashiba City Battle.

She was top-class among Mushitsuki in her combat experience.

That was exactly why he planned to conclude this “big game hunting” before she could be seriously on guard.

And in the same timing as the other big game.

Right about now, the team led by Siamo’s older brother should also be aiming for a certain Mushitsuki.

Siamo promised his brother that they would raise a glass to their mission’s success.

“Siamo! Kasuou’s going into town!”

“Don’t worry! The SEPB’s going to manipulate memories and control information to hide it anyway! Shoot and paralyze her already!”

While running, Siamo and company fired toward the mist carrying Kasuou. His comrades were leaning out from the large vehicle that appeared behind them in a delay, firing their rifles.

The mist protecting Kasuou kept running away while destroying all power poles and walls in its path. At last she came out into the road, causing passersby to raise huge shrieks.

“She won’t last even ten more seconds! She has nowhere to run to!”

“Siamo, we’ll also hit civilians if we fire here…!”

“I told you not to worry! Prepare for picking her up!”

He might as well become the villain, a terrorist that doesn’t care about making sacrifices. He didn’t have his older brother’s decisiveness, he didn’t have the natural athletic abilities of his younger brother (who was currently God knows where), so if he wasn’t resolved for something like this, as the half-hearted sandwich sibling—he wouldn’t be able to conduct this mission of assaulting immature boys and girls.

“Good, the mist’s shrinking! I won’t let you escape—”

While the cars around all made emergency brakes, Kasuou broke right into the road.

Even the people in the bus stop ahead started running away while screaming.

However, seeing that one person among them—a girl—stood in place, Siamo gasped without thinking.

“Kasuou…?”

It was a girl wearing large glasses. She was wearing the uniform of the famous school called Horusu Seijou Academy.

Siamo’s legs unconsciously stopped moving.

He realized everything just from seeing that bespectacled girl.

Kasuou hadn’t been running away randomly at all—

“Re—”

Siamo screamed toward his comrades that were still on hot pursuit.

“Retreaaaat! We’re retreating!”

The glasses girl turned toward Kasuou, who was wringing her very last powers to run. She took a boxing pose, with both her fists starting to glow white.

“Those symptoms… I understand, Kasuou—”

Siamo’s strategy this time was meant to capture Kasuou. They obviously thoroughly investigated the people around her, especially other Mushitsuki.

The girl with glasses was a Mushitsuki.

And she was big game on par with Kasuou. Siamo had no idea if this was true, but she was said to be a fearsome martial artist who, during the fight a year ago, had held off the JSDF who were being controlled by the Mushitsuki called C. And all by her own.

They had no way to win if these two Mushitsuki acted together.

Because he judged this to be true, he aimed for the time after they parted, and yet—

The mist protecting Kasuou opened up a little as if to let the glasses girl in.

“Detox Punch!”

The bespectacled girl’s glowing fist aimed for Kasuou’s white neck. She further launched a spin kick in flowing movements to tap Kasuou’s temple.

“Healing Kick!”

Siamo’s comrades could do nothing but stand on the road, stunned.

“That’s—Yotsuba! A Special Class, Rank 3 Mushitsuki…!”

His comrades dispatched on the same mission obviously knew who she was.

Therefore, Siamo issued a retreat order—but apparently his comrades were frozen in place exactly because they could estimate the future shown to them by what they saw.

Two Mushitsuki stood at the bus stop.

The girl with large glasses emitted breath full of a calm fighting spirit.

And the other Mushitsuki.

Mitake Anneliese—Kasuou—looked at Siamo with eyes full of a dim murderous impulse, then murmured.

“…If you try and run away, I’ll kill you.”

Siamo screamed.

“Retreat!! Run!!!”

As Siamo threw his weapon and escaped, his comrades also followed him.

However, it all ended in vain.

In the end it was Siamo’s group that didn’t last a minute.

Captured by the assaulting mass of mist, his comrades were crushed, spewing blood, tears and bubbles while screaming. The large vehicle that wanted to pick them up was being shredded by mist claws like it was made of paper. His comrades unleashed bullets and hand grenades with angry roars, and even used the grenade launcher they brought as a last resort. However, they were unable to shave down the mist protecting Kasuou who wore a demonic expression even a little. As for the sniper bullets launched from a far—not only did they not even graze Kasuou, they were stopped by the mist concentrated on the road as easily as a toddler grasping a chocolate chip.

Despite parked vehicles, upturned asphalt and all sorts of other objects being thrown on him, Siamo managed to run away for about a minute—

But in the end, he was cornered in a road that led to a complex building straying from the main street.

“Guh… Gpuh.”

Now crucified against the wall by the mist claws, Siamo had another claw buried into his stomach.

While his insides were being slowly destroyed, blood and gastric juices came dribbling from Siamo’s mouth.

“—Who the fuck are you lot? You’ve killed a Mushitsuki before.”

Kasuou calmly looked down at the bloody Siamo. White grains started falling stop the picturesque beauty’s head.

It was snow.

Siamo was bleeding, while the boorish Kasuou looked up expressionlessly.

“How does it feel to shoot an innocent, tender brat? Hey.”

“Stop it, Kasuou. We can’t kill them.”

Yotsuba appeared. She grabbed Kasuou’s shoulder from behind.

“I haven’t killed them. Not a single one.”

“Yeah… I’ve healed everyone thus far. And made it so that they can’t move.”

“Then heal this guy, too. I’ll stab and you heal. We’ll do that a hundred times. If you heal ‘em properly, Central HQ’s not gonna hear about it.”

“…What was all that you said before about it being the fault of the weak? You actually are angry.”

“You—are—”

Within the snow, Siamo moved his mouth that could taste nothing but blood.

“Not human—you’re just monsters—”

Kasuou and Yostuba’s eyes looking at Siamo changed.

Although it was extremely cold, he felt as if the temperature got even lower. However, he continued.

“You’ll never grow in numbers, anymore—but before you go extinct—all countries, want a sample—a precious sample—you’re just guinea pigs—”

Kasuou raised her arm and tried moving the claw of mist. Yotsuba stopped her with a hand.

“Right—I already heard, and yet—”

The two girls wore shocked expressions.

Had the snow pouring down from the sky melted down Siamo’s hidden expression?

Or was he just released from the pain he was supposed to feel because he was crucified on this holy night?

A long streak of tears went down Siamo’s cheeks.

“The girl we’ve killed—looked just like the kind of normal girl you can find anywhere—”

For some reason he couldn’t forget the girl showered with bullets who sank in a sea of blood.

Those eyes.

Although they lost their liveliness, her two eyes looked like they were seeking something.

These were familiar eyes.

They were just like those Siamo and others had when they were young—

Perhaps even Siamo himself, had he been to this country, would have turned out like that girl—

“She wasn’t the kind of kid—we could so easily shoot dead—”

Seeing Siamo shed unceasing tears, Kasuou was speechless.

“You’ve gotta—”

She removed the mist’s restraints. As Siamo fell to the ground on his rear, he felt a warm impact hit his cheek.

“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me, you son of a bitch! How dare you cry like that!”

Kasuou struck Siamo with her right fist and then her left fist.

However, his tears wouldn’t stop.

“Aah—God—”

“Don’t you dare beg for forgiveness! You’re the one who killed an innocent Mushitsuki! Don’t think you’ll be forgiven at this stage! Die, you piece of shit!”

Yotsuba made no attempt to stop Kasuou’s blows.

Before long the girl’s fist striking Siamo started bleeding, and when she breathed heavily—

“Let’s leave the rest to the intelligence division. Because they’ll be coming here soon.”

Yotsuba muttered this.

Although Siamo’s entire face became swollen like a balloon, he had yet to lose consciousness.

“Tch! So from now on our enemies are these kinda guys…!”

Spitting on Siamo, Kasuou spun her body.

Right.

Perhaps Mushitsuki like them stopped fighting among themselves.

However—this didn’t mean people stopped looking at them.

Even if society at large forgot about their existence, even if they themselves lost all reason to fight—

Those who would aim for the supernatural beings called Mushitsuki existed everywhere.

“—Say, Kasuou.”

“Hah?”

“The poison they shot into you… I did purify the anesthesia, but that dosage—no normal person could keep on being conscious with that amount. Not to mention what happened to your neck…”

Siamo could hear the two Mushitsuki with his dimming senses.

“Ah? What’re you trying to say?”

Siamo’s sight was getting filled with snow.

While his consciousness was growing dimmer, Siamo wished.

Run, big bro—

Today was Christmas Eve. Perhaps God would hear his wish on a whim.

There was no longer anything to be done about Siamo’s failure.

Mushitsuki were strong.

Siamo couldn’t even put a dent on the girl called Kasuou.

To say nothing of the one his brother was aiming for around this time—

“Doesn’t it mean, Kasuou, that even you—are approaching the Undying?”

A Mushitsuki that supposedly cannot die.

They tried capturing an opponent they shouldn’t have reached for.

Please try and run away to a place where you don’t have to hurt anyone… big bro—

Siamo kept praying to God for his brother’s safety all alone.

1.02 The Others

Gil was wondering while peeking through his sniper rifle’s scope.

Had his little brother Siamo completed their mission safely?

“Just like we investigated, the target’s headed for the station. He’ll probably reach the planned location within several minutes.”

His comrade’s voice transmitted through the earphones sounded quite anxious.

Naturally, considering the target being what it was.

Right now, Gil and his group were attempting to capture a Mushitsuki who could be called a legend.

“Is everyone in positions? Don’t make the mistake of getting within 100 meters of the target.”

A chain of “Roger”s came from Gil’s comrades.

He was currently occupying the room of a gym on the 15th floor of a certain building. It was a swimming pool.

He opened a hole in the full-glass window and hid himself while poking his muzzle through it.

He could clearly see the entrance to the subway station a few hundred meters away through the scope. Surrounding buildings were covered in Christmas decorations and there were many people walking around on this holy night.

“…”

Why had they chosen the Mushitsuki hypothesized to be the strongest of all people?

He himself didn’t know the reason. But his home country apparently wanted to capture all five Mushitsuki who were regarded as special.

Those acknowledged as the Undying by the SEPB—the so-called Rank 1 Mushitsuki.

They therefore focused on the target that they judged to be the least destructive, unprotected by anyone and at present probably the least cautious.

It took them a year to find their target.

“Confirming our target is still on the move. He should enter your line of sight within a minute.”

“…”

Dressed as a cleaner, Gil kept staring into the scope while thinking.

Their preparations to capture the Rank 1 Mushitsuki were already complete. They carefully gathered information about the target and conducted way too many simulations for today.

No, even that wasn’t enough—

Gil’s intuition spurred his body. He raised his body, handling his gun so well it could be said to be a superhuman feat to switch out the muzzle for another one of a special make. He took out the tranquilizer bullets from the machinegun and switched them with normal bullets.

Although his opponent was a child, he was a veteran warrior. Mere tranquilizers weren’t going to cut it against that sort of opponent—

“Target seems completely unsuspecting from his gait. He’s going to reach the entrance to the subway in about 30 seconds.”

“I’ll shoot his legs first… as long as I stop his movements it should be fine.”

Gil readied again the rifle that had real bullets now.

It would be sniping in the middle of the day. Once he shot their target, the surrounding passersby were sure to cause an uproar.

Taking advantage of the chaos, his comrades waiting underground would use every piece of tranquilizer bullets and stun guns to shoot him. There was no way their target was going to anticipate getting shot smack dab inside the city.

“Ten more seconds. Nine… eight… seven…”

His comrades started the countdown.

Feeling a healthy amount of tension, Gil waited for his target to appear in the scope.

“Three… two—”

Gil put his finger on the trigger.

However—

“—Eh?”

Gil couldn’t see the supposed target in his scope at all.

“The target’s, vanished…! There’s no way! He was there just now!”

“Calm down! Everyone, be cautious of your surroundings!”

They might have been noticed—

Although Gil clicked his tongue, he didn’t remove his eyes from the scope. His comrades all stood guard in their own locations.

“If the target noticed us, there’s a chance to attack! If you confirm his whereabouts, let me know immediately! While you’re engaged in battle, I’ll shoot through him!”

The entrance to the subway was surrounded by several teams within the distance of at least a hundred meters.

Even if the target got away from the area, he should eventually get captured by one of the teams.

“He shouldn’t be so far from the entrance! It’s fine, I can see all teams from my position! There won’t be any surprise attack—”

Gil heard the door to the pool open up behind him.

“…! Excuse me, this place is still being cleaned—”

Hurriedly hiding the rifle with a sheet, he turned around.

It was supposed to be the gym’s day off. Wondering whether one of the employees came for a swim, Gil reached for the gun hidden on his back—

Unlike his expectations, the person that appeared in the pool wore no swimsuit, but a duffel coat.

Their hood was lowered so that he couldn’t see their face.

Neither stopping after Gil’s words nor seeming to suspect anything, they calmly walked by the pool.

“Err, excuse me—”

Gil called out to them, realizing he might need to silence them—

He glanced what looked like a band-aid inside the hood when an electrical-like impact ran through his entire body.

“—!”

Gil instinctively prepared his gun, but at that moment…

The person in a duffel coat approached him as if teleporting. Were their legs really that strong? The tile right near the pool broke and flew away as if by an explosion.

Stripped from the hoodie by wind pressure, the exposed person’s face now glowed with a green pattern.

Other than that glowing pattern, the face itself was completely ordinary. It looked like an average high schooler, but that form served as no consolation for Gil.

The boy’s left hand grabbed Gil’s neck. Gil’s hand grasping the gun was grabbed by the boy’s right hand.

“…!”

Gil’s back slammed against the wall. The glass wall had large cracks running through it.

How did he figure out where Gil was hiding?

How did he sneak through the network of Gil’s comrades and appeared in front of him in so short of a time?

He no longer cared about these doubts.

Right now, the only thing clear was that Gil’s mission ended in complete failure.

And the target he was aiming for now stood right in front of him.

“Ka… Kakkou—”

Unable to breathe, Gil spoke as though in a groan.

Kakkou.

A Blaze Class Rank 1 member of the SEPB, and someone who was known as a “demon” even by his fellow Mushitsuki.

“—Who are you guys?”

Kakkou’s eyes glared at Gil’s face.

Those black eyes filled with a murderous impulse looked as if they continued down to hell. Gil couldn’t move a muscle, as though both arms were held by large lumps of steel.

“Uh—UuuUh…!”

Gil was the best operative among his comrades. He had plenty of battle experience, too, and he always succeeded in his missions, whether they were field operations or assassination of VIPs.

But exactly because it was him—he stopped understanding the boy in front of his eyes right now.

“Why have you targeted me?”

Although this interrogation could be called calm, it still brought out Gil’s instinctive fear.

There was a killing intent, or perhaps hostility. Or was it something completely different that boy possessed? The surrounding air seemed to crackle, and the pool’s water swayed. Part of the cracked glass broke, fell to the floor and shattered.

“Answer.”

This wasn’t the kind of aura emitted by a human. Perhaps showing the very roots of the fear welling up inside Gil, he even suffered a sort of visual illusion where the boy seemed to become a black whirl, grow larger and look down on his scared self.

He made a mistake.

Both his country’s judgment as well as his capture plan aiming for success were all a mistake.

It had nothing to do with whether Mushitsuki—no, this boy—was strong or weak. Was he even human in the first place? Perhaps they had mistaken him for those inhuman “Original Three” or whatever they were called? It wasn’t just the fact he ruined Gil’s plans, but him seeing through Gil’s hiding place so easily meant that he was undoubtedly someone used to combat. No, but reaching Gil in an instant like this was something no human could have done—

“Fu… Fufu—”

Cornered by his fear, Gil started crying and unconsciously let out these groans.

“You, monster—”

Even the experienced Gil had never met someone like this.

A monster. A creature. —A demon.

After killing so many people, Gil finally met a real one of those.

“The entire world’s looking at you—”

That boy who was a monster, a creature, a demon said nothing.

“They won’t—let you get away.”

He tried cursing him as his very last act of resistance.

This was the last attempt of the operative called Gil to preserve his sanity.

“Fu… fufufu…”

Seeing that Gil could do nothing but laugh, the boy erased his aura.

Removing his hand from the unresisting Gil, the boy’s atmosphere changed immediately.

As the green pattern on his face vanished, he now looked like the kind of high school student you could find anywhere.

“Those lines… there was someone else who told me them before.”

Speaking as if he recalled something, the boy shook his right hand haphazardly.

“Someone—who’s quite like you.”

Gil heard this boy’s monologue, then an impact struck his chain.

Those were the operative called Gil’s last memories of this country.

The number of surviving Mushitsuki:

286→286.

1.03 Those who Wriggle the Last

Kusuriya Daisuke went back to the subway entrance.

The organization aiming for him was already gone—because all of them were now having a pleasant afternoon nap in the middle of winter, an act made by his own hands. People from the SEPB should arrive to collect them before long.

Daisuke stood in a corner of town surrounded by sparkling decorative lightings.

He looked completely average, so no one even turned to look at him. That was exactly what he wanted, but reality was not that kind.

—The entire world’s looking at you.

These ominous lines left by the unknown assassin came back to his mind.

Daisuke.

Mushitsuki.

Although they defeated the Original Three and weren’t going to fight among Mushitsuki anymore—

It was apparently going to take some time for them to be able to rest for real.

“…Still, I’m happy that I managed to live for yet another year.”

As he mumbled this to no one in particular, he saw white snow coming down from the skies.

At the same time, a black luxury car parked near him. It honked.

Daisuke sighed. In the driver’s seat sat a youth with a sickly pale face, and his expression with a faint smile was suspicious. The mere sight of him ruined Daisuke’s Christmas Eve.

“—Hakamori?”

It only snowed very faintly, so the car’s wipers didn’t even move.

“Why do you think that Mushitsuki’s related, Kakkou?”

Grabbing the wheel, the youth Haji Keigo asked with a flippant tone.

“I was just reminded of his face, that’s all.”

Putting his elbow against the passenger seat window, Daisuke spoke while holding his chin.

“Hakamori of the Annihilators—he also said something about the world being like that… they might be related by blood.”

“I see, that’s some good information. I’ll investigate it.”

“…”

“Thanks for your cooperation. Since your location was discovered, you’ll have to move again… but you can enjoy your last date in town.”

Daisuke grimaced without thinking, closing his eyes. He sighed.

“Does this incident count as one of the three?”

“Our promise, you mean? You must be joking.”

The car stopped at a red light. As Daisuke opened his eyes, he saw Haji Keigo look weirdly at him.

“In exchange to arrange for you to escape with that girl, you’ll help us with three more SEPB missions. If you do that, I’ll let you escape for real—that was the promise we’ve had.”

“…”

“But aren’t you the cause for this incident? I have assisted you, but this wasn’t a mission from the SEPB.”

He thought the man was going to say something like that.

Although the battles between Mushitsuki finally ended, Daisuke was not yet released from his restraints.

Nor should he. He’d shed too much blood with his deeds.

“I knew you’d try giving the SEPB the slip once everything was over. But we can’t just give you the OK so easily. It sets a bad example to other Mushitsuki. If I allow you to retire like that, it’d be much more convenient to think of it as an escape.”

“It sure is convenient. In order for you to make Arisu the top among Mushitsuki, all other Rank 1s are nothing but a bother. Since there’s no longer any need for the fighting power, it’s fine for there to be just a single unifying force for all Mushitsuki…”

“Right. Sleeping Beauty’s doing a great job. Just like I predicted.”

Not even looking ashamed, Haji smiled. He drummed the wheel with his fingers, looking pleased.

The air inside the car turned tense.

“—It’s wasn’t you, right?”

Daisuke slightly narrowed his eyes.

The same kind of murderous impulse he emitted while facing the mysterious sniper now filled the luxury car on the road.

“You mean that first Mushitsuki attack? I’m shocked you’d suspect me.”

However, Haji Keigo did not look bothered even a little. He spoke in an innocent tone.

“It’s true that the sniper possessed way too much detailed information about Mushitsuki. And an isolated, unranked Mushitsuki was attacked right in this timing where the Assimilation Project aims to return Mushitsuki to civilian life. Showing off as if they’d target only Mushitsuki on the sidelines and next going for their real goal—assassinating high-ranked Mushitsuki. That chaos lessened the numbers of the Mushitsuki I hate so much by one…”

“And even I, despite having finished my business with you, had my location leaked to my enemies.”

Daisuke shot a side-glance at the driver’s seat while Haji leaked a disappointed sigh.

“Well, I suppose that’s not bad. But how do I put it—it’s way too boring. They had no real plan, and above all else, the enemy of this incident showed a crucial lack…”

Haji looked like he was deeply let down.

“They understand nothing about Mushitsuki. —They probably only heard about you from data. They only sent those meagre forces despite trying to capture Kakkou.”

There was no basis for it, and it wouldn’t serve as an excuse—but that was true.

After neutralizing the organization that ambushed him, Daisuke himself kept looking around him, wondering if there were other soldiers.

It was as if these fighting forces and preparations were all for abducting a “powerful human”.

It wasn’t strategy for capturing a Mushitsuki.

It was much too shallow to have been planned by the tactician called Haji Keigo.

“Well, this leak of information is regrettable, and there might be a need to watch over the Assimilation Project directly. But the SEPB now has full information over all 287—oops, sorry, 286 Mushitsuki. Still, since there are so many, there’s bound to be a traitor. I’ll find them before long. As for the latter plan, they’re only introducing its trial stage because Sleeping Beauty and Lady are being noisy, and frankly, I don’t really care for it.”

“…”

He decided to tentatively accept this wasn’t one of Haji Keigo’s schemes.

But even so.

Daisuke moved his gaze to outside the window. He watched over the people who weren’t Mushitsuki walking the road.

“Even if this wasn’t my work… Mushitsuki have way too little hope. Is that what you’re thinking?”

He was already used to the youth called Haji Keigo being able to read his mind. He wasn’t surprised at this point.

“You’re all still scared of Maturation, and the only one revived from the Fallen state was Karasu. Also, now even foreign forces wanting to use you as guinea pigs started moving. It really does look like nothing but despair.”

“…”

“However, there are also some good omens for you. As a matter of fact, we finally had one Fallen resonate with Alpha. It’s still top secret, though.”

“Is it Senri?”

It appeared like it was Haji Keigo who wasn’t used to Daisuke reading his mind.

The youth’s drumming rhythm stopped entirely at once.

“…How could you tell?”

“Somehow.”

Among all Mushitsuki, the younger sister of the man sitting next to him had a unique disposition.

In the past she’d burn other people’s dreams, and after being trained she became to sense the location of other Mushitsuki.

If anything happened with those who became Fallen, it’d probably be her—he had this feeling from a while back. It really was just that.

“I see. Well, it’s because Senri’s strong. She’ll definitely come back soon.”

“…You’re not trustworthy regarding Senri, being a siscon as you are.”

“Doesn’t the same goes for you, then? Are you meeting up with Chiharu-kun?”

“Oh, there are meetings once in a while. —With people other than me.”

“Haha. So that girl monopolizes your heart, eh? This should be your real meeting place for today, right?”

Haji Keigo parked the car at a certain roundabout in front of a station.

As expected, although it was decorated with lights for Christmas Eve, there were only few people around, unlike the city center from before.

And there really was a girl standing at the entrance to the station.

She was a petite girl with a ribbon tied around part of her bangs. Her outfit consisting of a red coat and a white scarf—so-called Christmas themed—looked good on her.

“She sure became more mature.”

Haji spoke after seeing the girl standing in front of the station.

“It’s as if she’s retrieving her growth from when she was a Fallen.”

Daisuke agreed with those words.

She was probably thinking that Daisuke was going to appear from within the station. Looking toward the ticket gates, this girl—Anmoto Shiika—certainly had grown a lot this past year. Not only physically, but mentally as well.

Daisuke and Haji exited the car. The two men looked toward Shiika.

“Go to her, Kakkou. You’re not going to say that you find Fuyuhotaru looking for you so cute that you want to watch her for a bit longer, right?”

“…S-shuddup.”

Daisuke flushed. Haji chuckled.

“It was around this time last year that I let the two of you ‘escape’, right?”

“…”

“Although you were supposed to reunite last year, there was also a certain time where you had to be alone.”

“…And then you came with that line.”

He said while the two of them looked at the dolled-up Shiika.

“You said that we’re not gods. Since we’re just humans, things will never just go the way we want them to… but we can still keep living for a while. We can even feel happy.”

It really was true for Daisuke now.

And not just for him. It should be the same for other Mushitsuki as well.

Staying alive was always difficult, and despair was sure to await them in every corner in the future—

But even with that, they could still find a small happiness.

“A happy Mushitsuki, huh. In a certain sense, that might be your final destination.”

Was that something he really felt, or just lip service? A ringtone came from Haji’s pocket during his big talk.

The conversation he had on the phone was short. It consisted of “oh, really” and “got it”.

“Perhaps I should inform you as well. There’s good news and bad news, but which would you like to hear first?”

Daisuke’s shoulders slumped.

“Do you know what day it is today? Give me just the good news.”

“A certain Mushitsuki has turned the tables on their attackers just like you two.”

“That’s that the good news? What’s the bad news, then?”

“You said you didn’t want to hear it.”

While the two men were still looking at her, Shiika finally noticed their presence.

Blushing at the gaze directed at her, she started approaching. On the way she slipped a little and nearly lost her balance, but that was the same as always.

“Oh, you’re here already, Daisuke-kun. You should’ve told me… Hello, Haji-san.”

“Hello, it’s been a while, how are you? Don’t be so cautious of me. I ended up meeting with Kakkou there by chance, so I just gave him a ride.”

Haji told an obvious lie. Even Shiika, who knew him for a long time just said “I see” with a smile and didn’t seriously engage with him.

“That coat looks good on you. It’s really cute.”

Daisuke wrung out his courage and spoke. —It would definitely make those who knew him as Kakkou laugh at him, but no matter what anyone said, this current Daisuke was the original one.

He’d been mentally preparing himself to praise his girlfriend since this morning, and wanted to even praise himself for managing to say it.

It was fine being a normal person.

He wanted to continue like that.

“T-thanks. Nanana gave it me. Said it was a Christmas present.”

Daisuke huffed at Shiika’s bashful words.

It was also very much like a normal person to get caught on something so minor.

“So you’re still seeing that woman.”

“Eh? Nanana’s my friend. She’s worried for me…”

Shiika also puffed her cheeks a bit. For Daisuke she was just a rich girl he would constantly badmouth, but she was apparently a precious friend of Shiika’s.

Haji laughed next to the silent two.

“Haha. Looks like your awkward relationship has advanced to the point where you can even have fights.”

Being mocked, Daisuke and Shiika exchanged glances. Both felt their ears redden and looked away at the same time.

“Let’s go, Shiika.”

“Yeah, Daisuke-kun.”

Daisuke took Shiika’s hand. Shiika bowed toward Haji and the two started walking.

The numbers of the boys and girls called Mushitsuki would not keep growing.

Even now despair kept standing in their way, just like it did before.

While the number of survivors kept dwindling, only very small hopes remained for the future—

But they’d never give up on surviving.

As long as Daisuke could feel the reassuring warmth from that hand—he believed this.

Even though he said he didn’t want to hear—

“…And that other Mushitsuki who defeated their attackers—”

Even though he heard this whisper from behind him.

“Was a person not in the SEPB’s database.”

The number of surviving Mushitsuki:

286→287?

END