Mushi Uta:Volume 1st Episode 01

Episode 01. The Silver Spear of Dream’s Continuation

Even now, she still remember it very clearly.

That scene from one year ago.

A memory from when her close friend, Hanashiro Mari, was alive.

“......Yeah, I know it for sure.”

Standing before the hospital room, Arisu heard her voice. Mari was speaking with somebody. However, Arisu couldn’t hear the other party, only Mari talking by herself.

“Because Arisu is kind, even for my request, she will……”

Arisu opened the door to the hospital room.

Blinded by the bright morning sun, she covered her eyes with her arm reflexively.

“Arisu.”

Arisu would probably never forget that view her entire life.

Silver wings seemed to sprout from the back of the girl lying on the bed. The small wings belonged to an out of season Morpho butterfly.

There was not a soul to be seen in the room apart from Mari. This made Arisu wonder, but it was more important for her to return a smile to Mari. Even for just one more second, for just an instant, she did not want to waste any time with Mari.

“Hey Arisu, listen to me. I am……”

As Mari narrowed her eyes and spoke, the silver Morpho butterfly flew away from her shoulder.

Part 1

Walking down the road under the relentless morning rays, Ichinokuro Arisu let out a big yawn.

She came to a halt in front of a big puddle. Looking into the mirror-like surface, she saw her figure in the reflection.

A pair of black pupils in half-open eyes filled with sleepiness stared back. Her hair which reached till her shoulder had its length maintained meticulously by a barber employed by the Ichinokuro house once every three days. Even amongst her peers, she was considered to be quite petite.

Arisu took a big stride, jumping over the puddle which other people would have avoided.

In the direction which Arisu was walking, there were lots of boys and girls wearing the same uniform as her. However, there were no other students who had a sleepy look on their face other than her. Everybody was walking with an upright posture and chatting with each other with a bright smile on their face.

Arisu was presently heading towards Horusu Seijou Academy Middle School. The school had an average academic standard, but the tuition fee was outrageously expensive. In other words, it was a prestigious school for the upper-class. Arisu was fourteen years-old, currently enrolled as a second-year student.

Seeing two familiar figures ahead, Arisu rushed towards them.

“’Sup, Ena, Takako!”

Arisu leapt between the two girls, coiling her arms around their shoulder and causing them to stumble.

“Hey. Or rather, aren’t you being too energetic for the morning.”

“G-good morning, Arisu-san.”

One of the girl pouted, while the other had a troubled smile.

They are Saionji Ena and Kujou Takako, Arisu’s classmate. Both were from influential family, with Takako being raised with an abundance of love and care since young. On the other hand, being the third daughter, Ena had an even more coarse personality than Arisu.

Arisu let go of their shoulders, letting out a groan with a, ‘Uu…’.

“My energy is at just the right level. After all, I had just been beaten up by the demonic hag since early this morning.”

“Ah, you mean your self-defence training? I guess it can’t be helped, seeing as you are the precious only daughter of the Ichinokuro family, which is much bigger and richer than our families. They’re just worried that you might get kidnapped.”

“If that’s the case, they could have just drop me off at school every day. Instead of being strict on discipline in such a way, geez.”

“Maybe hiring a bodyguard would be a good idea.”

At Takako’s words, Arisu revealed an interested look.

“A bodyguard eh…… That might be fine too.”

“Huh? Seriously?”

“Since money is all my family has, they could at least do this much. This way, I wouldn’t have to undergo all these strict training.”

“Eeh, but you’ll be with stuck with some ominous-looking fellow all the time!”

“That’s not right! Obviously, I’ll only pick a pretty boy! Even in school, he will be by my side always, obeying my every command. ‘Ah, my throat is feeling a bit dry.’ ‘Please drink this, my lady.’ ‘Fufu, good boy.’ Ah, why didn’t I think of this earlier!”

“Just who do you think you are…… Well, I guess that might not be such a bad idea.”

“But, then……”

Seeing Takako blush, a grin formed on Arisu's face. When she looked at them, Ena had the same look as well.

“Eh, did you hear that, Arisu-san?”

“Yup, I heard it loud and clear, Ena-san. ‘But, then……’, wasn't it. It seems like the stimulation was too much for our lady Takako.”

“That’s not it. It’s just Takako-san already has someone in mind. What was his name again, you know, that childhood friend with a baby face from the Arts club……”

“H-hey, stop bullying me……”

Watching the panicky Takako glance at them back and forth, Arisu and Ena laughed out loud.

But then, Ena’s laughter stopped all of a sudden.

“What’s wrong, Ena?”

“Aah, sorry. Speaking of bully, I recalled something unpleasant.”

“Something…… unpleasant?”

Unlike the look of question on Arisu and Takako's face, Ena had a frown.

“I heard this from my friend last night over the phone…… Yesterday, after class ended, it appeared in our school.”

“It appeared? What is it?”

“Mushi.”

Thump thump—

Arisu’s heartbeat accelerated.

—Hey Arisu, listen to me. I am……

That scene from the past burning in the back of her memories came to her in flash. Even now, it seemed like it would disappear at any moment, but the smile of happiness on her former close friend crossed her mind.

“She had also heard it from her other friend, so I have no idea if it's true or not.”

Ena continued.

“Somewhere in the school, a bunch of boys were ganging up on someone. Then, suddenly, the Mushi appeared…… As a result, a few of them were severely injured…… The one who witnessed it was so scared that they did not tell anybody what they saw, only to the friend of my friend.”

Mushi—.

Something only mentioned in passing rumours, first heard about ten years ago.

Fantastical organisms with the appearance of insects, the Mushi infests humans and feed on their dream to grow. Despite multiple eyewitness reports from various sources, the government officially deny their existence. But, as eyewitness reports continued, people afflicted by the Mushi, known as Mushitsuki, came to strike fear in the hearts of the populace. Rumours say that the Mushi will continue to consume the dreams of their host till the day they die.

Along with the issue of the Mushi which has passed the level of gossips, there were hearsay of a government agency known as the Special Environmental Preservation Bureau. Officially, the bureau is said to handle any issues or complains about the living environments but……

“Please keep this off the record, ’kay. ……Leaving aside Takako, I didn't expect Arisu to be making this kind of face.”

“Eh……”

At that, Arisu came to herself. Her eyes staring widely like that of Takako’s, it seems like Ena came to the conclusion that she was frightened.

“There, there, sorry for scaring you. So even Arisu-chan have a girlish side, eh…… Ow-ow-ow.”

“Ohohoho, that’s right. Somewhere within, there's a frail and delicate girl.”

While drumming on Ena’s temple with both of her fists, Arisu noticed that Takako looked strange.

“E-erm, I……”

“Takako?”

“I saw a suspicious character…… That is, inside the school compound……”

““Really?!””

Arisu and Ena both exclaimed. Takako nodded docilely.

“Suspicious you say, in what way?”

“Erm, that is…… it was a scary-looking giant…… also, he seems middle-aged……”

“Hey, isn’t this bad? What if that person was…… a Mushitsuki?”

While Takako looked aghast, Ena too made a serious expression.

Mushitsuki—.

Arisu silently clenched her fist.

“A suspicious character…… Mushitsuki……”

During the short homeroom later that morning, Arisu heard directly from the form teacher that a few boys from the same grade had been sent to the hospital due to serious injuries.

Part 2

The chime reverberated in the quiet school building.

The time was just past three in the afternoon. Afternoon classes had just started and would end at six pm.

With a ‘clang’, the door to the girl’s toilet along a commonly used corridor opened.

“......”

Sticking her head just beyond the door, Arisu spied at the surroundings.

The compound of Horusu Seijou Academy Middle School was separated into several buildings. The central block had a clocktower with a classic western-style exterior and special classrooms were located in the east block. On the other side, the staff room and gymnasium was situated in the west block which had a modernism design. In addition, the dojo, pool and many other facilities were housed in detached blocks.

Arisu was currently in the east block. She had already verified that by five pm, the classrooms in the second and third floors would no longer be used. She had feigned illness and sneaked into the toilet since the break.

After making sure that there was no one, she entered the corridor.

As she let out a ‘fuu’, a butterfly appeared out of nowhere around her.

Shimmering with a brilliant silver lustre from its wings, it was a Morpho butterfly. —If one looked closely, they would realise that it was not a normal butterfly. Arisu did not know of any other butterfly which had four antennas.

The Morpho butterfly flew towards the stairway.

“I know, Mari. I will definitely find a Mushitsuki……”

Muttering to herself, Arisu renewed her spirit.

As Arisu walked up the stairway, she found the passage obstructed by a tape. On the side of the tape were the words, ‘No Trespassing’, along with the insignia of the Akamaki City Police Department. In addition, a stand bearing the signature of the chairman of the academy with the words, ‘No Entry’, was placed in front of the tape.

“Yotto~”

Ignoring the stand, Arisu jumped over the rope. The Morpho butterfly had already disappeared somewhere on the third floor.

Since the morning, several police patrol cars could be seen outside the main gate. However, by lunch break, not a single patrol car remained. She had thought that that seemed quite hasty, but perhaps on-site investigations had already been completed last night.

Arisu took a look around the silent third floor.

“......!”

Arisu took in a deep breath at what she saw.

There were signs of wanton destruction all along the corridor. All the windows were smashed, and the floor, ceiling, and the door to the Arts room were all wrecked. She would have thought that an explosion had occured here, but that wasn't it. There were what seemed to be gigantic claw marks gouged into the concrete.

Arisu gulped. She did not know what had happened here, but Ena’s words about the Mushi came into her mind.

“This…… shouldn't be the work of the Film Studies club, right? ……I don't think they would be so elaborate.”

The artworks by the Arts club hanging on the side of the corridor were left in miserable shapes. A painting of the sunset fallen on the ground attracted her sight, but there were large slashes on it as expected. The picture frame which was a present from a sister school was pretty much smashed, with the sign bearing the name “Tachibana R.” being all that remained.

Weaving her way around the debris, it was right when Arisu was approaching the Arts room.

“……Yeah, I think that I would be able to find him soon. I already know that he is a member of the Arts club.”

A voice could be heard coming from the ruined Arts room. Arisu immediately stopped and held her breath.

“He can’t escape. I would definitely find him—”

The voice sounded young, belonging to that of a teenage boy. He seemed to be speaking to somebody, but there was no reply from the other party.

Arisu recalled about Takako’s witnessing of a suspicious character. Suppressing the sound of her footsteps, she turned to the locker with the cleaning supplies and opened it.

The thing that she retrieved from within was a mop with a long handle. Holding the stem, she began twisting the pole, silently dismantling the mop.

During class time, just who……?

Arisu nervously approached the Arts room with the pole in hand.

The owner of the voice was still talking to somebody when all of a sudden, his voice stopped.

“—Is someone there?”

I was discovered—the moment Arisu thought so, she moved. Kicking the door open, she sprang into the Arts room.

In the room, a teenage boy was shocked eyes wide open. He was wearing the Horusu Seijou Academy uniform and held a mobile phone in his hand.

“Seyaa~!”

Facing a horizontal strike from the pole, the boy narrowly dodged under the strike with a look of surprise.

However, seeing the boy flusteredly jumping backwards to avoid the strike, Arisu dexterously manipulated the pole to sweep under the boy’s feet.

“Uwaa~!”

The front end of the pole hit the boy’s knee from the back, causing him to tumble backwards.

—The Ichinokuro house had held a pedigree since the Edo period. Using the skills honed since the warring era, Arisu displayed the techniques she was trained in each morning. Ever since she has been aware, she has had various martial arts beaten into her by her strict instructor from Aikido to using a naginata.

“Don’t move!”

Releasing those barbed words, she thrusted the tip of the pole at the boy who have fallen on his rear end.

Dumbfounded, the boy looked up at Arisu.

The boy looked to be around the same age as Arisu. Stature-wise, he was about the same as the other male students of his age. There was also nothing suspicious about his external appearance. However, there was Takako’s testimonial. As the situation is, she cannot let her guard down before any stranger. An uncommon ringtone came from the mobile phone in his hand.

“You, what’s your name?”

“What……”

As if not understanding the situation, the boy tried to stand up in a daze.

“I said, don’t move!”

“Ouch!”

Arisu poked his forehead with the pole.

“You understand now? You can only answer my questions. Any movements and you will get it from me.”

Arisu declared her intentions resolutely. Facing her one-sided demand, the boy lapsed into silence unhappily.

“Name?”

Arisu resumed her interrogation. The boy looked away in disgruntlement, looking like a child in his rebellious age.

“Before asking for other’s name, shouldn’t you give yours first…… Ouch!”

“I don’t remember stooping to the level of a suspicious character. Now, talk.”

“I don’t want to.”

“......”

“Ow, ouch. Hey, stop that!”

“......Well, fine. It’s not like I'm interested in your name anyway.”

Striking at the boy’s face repeatedly, Arisu changed her question.

“Next question. Who are you? What are you doing at this place when you are supposed to be in class?”

“......Nothing in particular. I was just playing truant, idling around. That’s when you—”

“Are you a student of this school?”

“That’s right. See, I have the student’s handbook.”

The boy took out a student’s handbook from his pocket, opening it for Arisu to see. There was a red access card in the notebook. Due to the strict security of the school, access cards were stringently regulated. Entry to the school requires the scanning of the access card. This applied to both students and teaching staffs, and all movement in and out of the school were recorded.

After examining the handbook, Arisu glared at the boy.

“This is fake!”

“What? That’s not possible!”

“The colour of the authentic card is yellow, while yours is red.”

“Huh?”

Seeing his reaction, Arisu was sure of it. The card was indeed supposed to be red.

“......I knew it, you are not a student of the school.”

Realising that he was tricked, the boy rubbed his head.

‘To be fooled by such a childish trick……’, the boy seemed to mutter to himself in dismay.

“Just what are you doing here? Answer me honestly.”

“That has nothing to do with you.”

It appears that he would resist Arisu till the end. ‘Perhaps I should just beat his head in’, thought Arisu, but she took a deep breath and restrained herself.

“Fine then, one last question for you.”

After taking a short breath, she asked.

“Are you a Mushitsuki?”

“......!”

The boy’s complexion changed clearly.

Seeing his overreaction, Arisu’s heartbeat hastened and her eyes widened.

“R-really……? You really are a Mushitsuki?”

In the next instant, the boy moved.

Taking advantage of the moment while Arisu was stunned, he swatted the pole away. In the moment she muttered, ‘Ah!’, the boy had used the momentum of a back roll to jump onto his feet.

The boy stood face to face with Arisu. Hiding her rapidly throbbing heartbeat, Arisu readied her stance.

“Yesterday’s incident, were you responsible for that too?”

Arisu was sure now. From the way the boy moved, it was obvious that he wasn't an ordinary person.

“......”

The boy’s expression changed distinctly. Unlike the rebellious look he had earlier, he was now observing Arisu with cold eyes.

“The witness in yesterday's incident said that they saw a Mushi.”

Not getting caught up in his mood, Arisu shouted out loud.

“Also, my friend said she saw someone suspicious in school. A scary-looking male giant…… who was middle-aged…… but I don't see anyone like that…… huh?”

“Hmm.”

The boy seemed to sneer at Arisu.

“If I was the Mushitsuki, that would have meant that I was the one who gravely injured all those students, you know?”

“......!”

“—If I said that, what would you do?”

Arisu gulped.

“Don't tell me that you thought you could take down the evil-doer with one hit from the pole?”

Under the chilly gaze of the boy, Arisu bit her lips.

“T-that's not what I was going to do.”

“Then, what are you going to do?”

“There’s something…… that I must know no matter what.”

Narrowing her eyes slightly, Arisu said.

“There's something that I must confirm by meeting with a Mushitsuki. That’s why, I have been searching for a Mushitsuki, ever since one year ago……”

The boy went silent. But, he immediately opened his mouth again and replied her coldly.

“Do you really believe that things such as Mushitsuki exists?”

“They do!”

“If they really exist, that would mean that they would meet their end when their dream is completely consumed by the Mushi. Even if they had survived, they would have been taken away by some scary people.”

“Scary people?”

“The Special Environmental Preservation Bureau……”

The boy muttered. Arisu tilted her head in confusion.

The Special Environmental Preservation Bureau. Apart from being the agency that handled cases relating to the Mushi and Mushitsuki, there were no other information about them. However, the rumour-loving Ena once spoke about it.

The Special Environmental Preservation Bureau…… the SEPB in short, in fact, they concealed the existence of Mushitsuki from the public. They also used Mushitsuki to hunt for other Mushitsuki and such—.

“Either way.”

At the boy’s words, Arisu came to from her thoughts.

“If you are planning on getting involved with such flimsy attitude, you better stop now.”

“What flimsy attitude. I absolutely have to meet a Mushitsuki even if I have to risk my life, ”

“A spoiled lady like yourself would probably never understand.”

The boy sneered at her scornfully.

“In this shitty dog-eat-dog world, there are those who would sacrifice anyone if meant their survival. Those who do not want to sacrifice anything, they just run and run away, barely scraping along their lives. ……And also, there are plenty of people who would do anything to live, no matter how hated they become or how dirty their hands would get. Those who say that they are fine with dying, have no value even in death.”

As if filled with anger at the whole world, the boy spoke with intense hatred in his voice. Overpowered by his speech, Arisu was dumbstruck. Still sneering, the boy proceeded to leave the venue.

“......You probably don't know of this either.”

Arisu said.

“Wanting to live but is unable to, thus having no choice but to entrust her dream to others…… there are people who live like this too.”

“......”

“Those who had been entrusted with that dream have the responsibility to carry it till the bitter end.”

“......I don’t need you to tell me that—”

As if he recalled something, a look of anger formed on the boy's face.

It was right the next moment.

They heard a scream coming from somewhere.

Part 3

Following the scream, there was the sound of glass breaking.

“......!”

Arisu reflexively dashed across the corridor. In a moment, an announcement echoed through the school building. Looking towards the central block, she could see the scene of the windows on the second floor shattering.

Looking back, her eyes met the boy’s.

“......”

In contrast to Arisu’s solemn expression, the boy was as calm as a cucumber.

Arisu was the one to look away first. Turning her back to the boy, she ran down the corridor.

The disturbance came from the second floor of the central block, the same floor as Arisu’s classroom. Rushing down the passage, she saw the students and teachers forming a crowd ahead.

Pushing her way through the crowd, what she saw made her speechless.

There were multiple students collapsed on the floor. The walls of the classroom were riddled with holes, as if something has taken several bites out of it. Shattered glass littered the floor.

A male student was bleeding profusely from his shoulder. While it did not seemed life-threatening, a teacher was tending to his wound while he looked on blankly.

“...... Mushi……”

One of the student standing around in a daze muttered. Hearing that, Arisu’s expression became tense.

“Uwaa……! That hurts……!”

“It was a big monster! It must be a Mushi!”

The boy who was injured shouted in pain. Supporting the student, the teacher tried to calm him down, and at the same time, the other students. The panicky students clung onto the teacher.

Mushi…… just what are they—.

All of a sudden, Arisu was assaulted by a fit of coldness.

“......!”

She felt a pair of eyes looking at her with animosity from her back.

Behind her stood the mysterious boy she had met at the Arts room earlier. Under his unpleasant cold gaze, Arisu moved her frozen legs and walked towards him.

As I thought, this person knows something—.

Clenching her fists, she felt strength welling up in her.

“As expected, about Mushitsuki, you—”

“There are two people from this class who are in the Arts club. One is the boy collapse over there and the other is……”

Ignoring her words, the boy was muttering something under his breath. His line of gaze was beyond Arisu, at the crime scene.

Arisu pursued his line of sight.

“..... Eh……”

Unintentionally, a sound leaked from Arisu’s mouth.

There was another male student standing in front of the ruined classroom. Like Arisu just now, he was rooted to the spot by the boy’s cold glare.

“You’re pushing your luck, Harimoto Jun.”

Catching the muttering of the boy, the male student showed a visible reaction. Visibly flustered, he tried to run down the corridor.

The boy immediately started running to chase down Harimoto Jun.

“Hey…… wait for me……”

Snapping out of her daze, Arisu quickly followed the two of them.

“Arisu!”

For some reason, students from other classes were running down the corridor as well. Ena was calling out to Arisu. However, Takako’s figure was nowhere to be seen.

Ignoring Ena who was calling her, Arisu followed down the corridor where the two were headed.

“W-wait up! Harimoto-kun too……!”

She shouted at the two whose figures can’t be seen already. But, in no time, Arisu needed to catch her breath.

The wall right beyond the bottom of the staircase has already been reduced to rubble. Beyond the hole in the concrete, the battered fence could be seen as well.

Does this mean…… Harimoto-kun is a Mushitsuki as well……?”

Thoughts of whether the mysterious boy was a Mushitsuki swirled in Arisu’s mind. That’s not all. Arisu already had suspicions of Harimoto Jun being a Mushitsuki. The reason being—.

“......!”

Jumping over the hole into the backyard, Arisu could hear the sound of cloth fluttering.

Looking ahead, she saw a shadowy figure leaving the premises.

A figure in a jet black long coat was running with muffled footsteps. Before covering his face with an oversized goggle, the figure looked in Arisu’s direction.

It was the boy whom Arisu suspects to be a Mushitsuki. He glanced in her direction with a look different from the one he had in the Arts room, before hiding his face behind the goggles.

Much to Arisu’s surprise, the boy jumped over the fence with unimaginable power. His long coat fluttering behind, he quickly disappeared beyond the fence.

“Wha……”

Out of nowhere, a butterfly landed on Arisu’s shoulder. It was the silver Morpho butterfly.

Biting her lips, Arisu broke into a run. However, a voice called out to her.

“Arisu-san……”

When Arisu turned around, she was faced with a girl who looked like she was deep in thought.

Part 4

“Over there was…… a woman. No, I can’t even tell whether it was human or not.”

In a taxi going down the street, Kujou Takako was looking down and saying.

The scene as was witnessed by Takako was as follows.

—Hey, won’t you please tell me your dream?

The voice seemed to belong to a woman.

The location was Harimoto Jun’s home. Takako had entered the huge premise through an equally imposing door.

His house grew herbs and poplars, as a result, there was always a pleasant fragrance inside. However, at this moment, the usual fragrance was nowhere to be found. Furthermore, the house was deathly quiet.

Jun was sitting completely still in the centre of the courtyard.

As if hiding his figure, a woman with a tall stature was whispering into his ears. The woman wore a pure red coat and a perfectly round sunglasses.

—You don’t have to suppress your desires anymore. Now, tell me. What do you want to do right now?

Her whisperings could be heard.

—I…… I want……

By the side of the boy, a black distortion appeared. The boy looked to be suffering, but then, soon he appeared to be trembling in delight. A portion of the distortion seemed to solidify into the leg of a Mushi.

Then, the line of sight of the sunglasses wearing woman moved. She looked at Takako with a mysterious glint in her eyes.

Horrified by that scene, Takako ran from the place—.

“That was the day before yesterday……”

Said Takako as she trembled in fear.

“Do you think that woman turned Harimoto-kun into a Mushitsuki?”

Sitting next to Takako, Arisu enquired. Considering the possibility, Takako shuddered. It was the obvious reaction to hearing something related to Mushitsuki.

Harimoto Jun was a brotherly figure to Takako, they were childhood friends. As they belonged to families which had old ties, they naturally had plenty of chance to interact. Both Arisu and Ena knew of this as well.

“At that time, I did not know whether what I saw was real or not…… No, that wasn’t it, I wanted to believe that it wasn’t real.”

“......”

“Listening to what Ena-san said this morning, I was shocked. Although Jun-san did not display his feelings in front of me, I heard rumours that he was severely bullied during his extracurricular activities. I thought that perhaps—perhaps I should have reached out to him……”

“A suspicious male giant, so that was actually a lie, right…...? I should have known from the start. After all, Takako is so bad at lying.”

“I think, Jun-san was suffering…… but, he wasn’t able to ask for help. And this led to…… of all things, him seeking salvation from something unknown……”

Arisu clenched her fists in anger.

The reason for the existence of Mushitsuki.

“Because of this stupid reason, he decided to become a Mushitsuki……”

For Arisu, the reason behind looking for a Mushitsuki……

Just what are Mushitsuki—?

Arisu grinded her teeth, instead of answering her questions, all she had now were more question. Even if Takako was speaking the truth, then, who was that boy in the black coat? At least, it is sure that he was no ordinary pedestrian.

The Special Environmental Preservation Bureau.

The words of the boy swirled in her mind. What connection could he have with the Bureau?

In the midst of her thought, the taxi stopped.

After paying the taxi fare, the girls alighted.

“Is Harimoto-kun really here?”

“Since the construction started, the two of us sometimes sneaked out here to play. Until the building is completed, there would definitely be no one that would think to look for us here……”

Looking upwards, the evening sun’s rays lighted up the high-rise building. It was a building shaped in a コ built in the development area close to the coastline. The management of the building belonged to Takako’s father’s company, who had hoped that the building will be the starting point for the city’s new development.

The building, which will be opening in a few months, has installations everywhere that will create a brilliant light show. The in middle of the コ, there would be a floating sphere that acts as an observatory.

The fence made of barbed wires had a portion of it ripped apart, and there were footsteps left in the brand-new asphalt road.

“Bingo. Let’s go.”

All of a sudden, Takako grasped Arisu’s hand and stopped.

“Erm…… why is Arisu-san doing this? Shouldn’t we…… hand this over to the…… police……”

“Do you want the police to be involved?”

Takako thought about it, then immediately shook her head. Arisu gave her a smile.

“That’s why, leave this to me. I also have a reason to meet him, to confirm something.”

“To confirm…… something?”

“Mushitsuki, just what in the world are they?”

Saying so, Arisu grinned at Takako, causing her to stare in puzzlement.

“The two of you are in my way. Get out of here.”

The voice was right next to them. Surprised, the two of them turned to face the voice.

“You……!”

The boy wearing the black coat was standing right next to them.

“Meddle in this unnecessarily, and you won’t get off with just a small injury.”

Saying coldly, the boy with his face hidden by the goggles walked past them.

However, his arm was gripped by Arisu, stopping him.

“You followed us, didn’t you?”

“......”

“What are you going to do to Harimoto-kun? Don’t tell me, you are going to kill him—”

At Arisu’s words, Takako visibly paled.

“I won’t kill him. After killing his Mushi, he will just turn into a Fallen.”

“...... Fallen?”

“It refers to those who are turned into empty shell devoid of dreams and emotion…… a much better outcome than dying after having their dream completely eaten by their Mushi. After turning into a Fallen, they are brought to an isolation facility.”

“You…… just who are you really?”

Arisu asked but was greeted by silence in return. Forcefully shaking Arisu’s arm off, the boy climbed over the fence.

However, a figure threw itself at the boy from behind. It was Takako. Clinging desperately to the boy, she shouted.

“A-Arisu-san……!”

“Nice one, Takako!”

Taking advantage of the opening, Arisu leapt over the broken fence. Ignoring the boy clicking his tongue in annoyance, she sped towards the building.

Heading in the direction of the lights, Arisu saw that the front entrance of the building was open. She dashed inside without hesitation.

The inside of the building was dark and gloomy. The only light came from the setting sun through the windows, lighting up a section of the floor.

In order to speak to Jun, Arisu must reach him before the boy does. She surveyed the surroundings, looking for the figure of Jun.

However, she could not feel the presence of anybody nearby.

She grew impatient seeing the size of the building. If she searched without a plan, the chances of finding him before the boy was low.

In her sight, a silver Morpho butterfly appeared.

“Mari……”

Circling her head, the Morpho butterfly seemed to be signalling Arisu to follow it.

“......”

Arisu took a deep breath. After calming down, Arisu picked up a pipe lying around the entrance.

Chasing after the Morpho butterfly, Arisu arrived at the tenth floor.

Catching her breath at the mouth of the staircase, Arisu heard a sound from inside the building. “Who is it……?”

Hearing the voice, Arisu tensed her body.

Walking discreetly along the aisle, what Arisu saw beyond the corner caused her to widen her eyes. The room belonged to what was supposed to be an office for a company. Deep in the disordered room littered with collapsed furniture, a boy stood alone. It was Harimoto Jun.

But, when she looked carefully, it was not just Harimoto in the room. Next to him, a weird looking monster was lying down amongst the desks. In addition to the antenna coming out of its head, the monster also had eight squirming legs. At one glance of the shell shining with a black lustre, one could tell that it was a Japanese rhinoceros beetle. The only irregularity was the size of it, as the beetle towered over three times the height of Jun.

That is a Mushi—?

Cold sweat formed on Arisu’s forehead.

“Hello, Harimoto-kun. I am Ichinokuro Arisu. I’m a friend of Takako, have you heard of me?”

“Takako’s friend……?”

Jun said in a low voice. The setting sun rays illuminated the boy’s cold glare, causing Arisu to feel chilly.

“So you’re her friend. Then, what’s your reason for coming here……?”

“Obviously, that’s to stop you. I don’t know if you have taken revenge on those bullying you, but that should have been enough to dispel your anger, no? Also, Takako is worried about you.”

“...... Fuu.”

The boy broke out into a slight smile, the Mushi next to him also rised slowly.

“I don’t want to. I still have three targets.”

“How silly.”

“...... What did you say?”

“If you wanted revenge, you should have done by your own hands. Using that sort of thing to injure the other party, are you satisfied now? This way, aren’t you just accept the fact that you’re weak.” Arisu declared flatly.

“You decided to become a Mushitsuki because of such a silly reason as revenge? Being a Mushitsuki, that means you must have had dreams too, right?”

“Don’t tell me that you think everybody’s dreams are pure.”

Jun laughed out loud.

Arisu’s breathing stopped. The boy’s laughter oozed with malice.

What he is saying, is wrong—.

Arisu thought so unconsciously.

The Mushitsuki I know, was completely different—.

Just once in the past, Arisu met a Mushitsuki. That person was the exact opposite of this boy, she always had a gentle smile.

“Kill her.”

Obeying the boy’s command, the Mushi rushed towards Arisu.

Snapping out of her daze, Arisu readied the pipe.

Her palms started to sweat. She did not think the pipe would do much damage to the gigantic Mushi. She had to get past the Mushi somehow and knock Jun unconscious if she is to have any chance of surviving. —Although she has no idea what will happen to the Mushi whose host fainted, she could not think of any other idea.

“Kuu!”

Facing the sweeping leg of the Mushi, Arisu retaliated with the pipe. However, against the monstrous strength of the gigantic insect, Arisu’s petite body was blown away.

Arisu managed to somehow land in a defensive position, but, the Mushi was right in front of her eyes.

“Seyaa!”

Rolling to the side to avoid the fangs, Arisu swung down the pipe at the Mushi’s head. The feeling of striking a hard object transmitted to Arisu’s arms, causing them to turn numb.

The huge eyes of the Mushi glared angrily at Arisu, striking out at Arisu with its front leg again. Arisu reflexively jumped forward, rolling under the Mushi to avoid the blow.

Making use of the momentum of the forward roll, Arisu jumped up and dashed towards Jun.

“Uu……!”

The boy flinched. But, at this moment, the floor was dominated by the Mushi’s ear-splitting howl. Blown by a raging wind, sound of the furnishings in the surroundings were thrown towards Arisu.

“Kyaa—”

Besides shattering all the glass in the surrounding, a broken desk sent flying struck Arisu. Arisu rolled on the floor before slamming into a stop by the wall.

“...... Uu......”

It was a miracle that Arisu was still holding on to the pipe. Her whole body screaming in pain, she still tried to stand up but fell back to her knees.

The Mushi continued to attack Arisu who was supporting herself with the pipe.

As if moving in slow-motion, the looming fangs of the Mushi was seared into her eyes.

—Mari—.

What came into Arisu’s mind as she resigned herself to death was the smile of her late friend.

That girl always spoke of her dream joyfully. Sadly, she never had the time to fulfil her dream before she passed away.

Right before she passed away, Mari requested something of Arisu.

—Hey, listen to me, Arisu. Actually, I……

In the face of her friend, Arisu did not see any signs of dread or grief at dying.

—My dream, can I entrust it to you?

The silver Morpho butterfly that was always with Mari.

She was also—a Mushitsuki.

“......!”

Between the Mushi and Arisu, a silver light descended.

With a brilliant glint on its wings, it was the Morpho butterfly. Jun’s Mushi came to a halt, as if scared of the Morpho butterfly.

The Morpho butterfly circled around Arisu, before landing on top of the pipe in her hand.

“!”

The Morpho butterfly distorted, turning into tentacles that wrapped itself around the pipe. Its wings also embed itself into the pipe, becoming one with the pipe.

In the hands of the dazed Arisu, a silver spear was formed. The antenna of the Morpho butterfly entwined with the body of the pipe, forming a pattern exuding magnificence. The four wings expanded greatly, with one of it transforming into a sparkling blade.

“Wha……”

Facing the speechless Arisu, the Mushi swung down its hardened leg.

“You this......!”

Arisu swung up the spear instinctively.

In the next moment, the silver spear sliced through the Mushi’s leg easily.

Furthermore, the spear created a shockwave, leaving a huge crack on the ground. The shockwave blew some of the furniture and glass pieces out of the windows.

“Kuu……!”

Jun’s face distorted and he ran further into the building. His Mushi followed along, hobbling along with its remaining seven legs.

“W-wait, don’t run!”

Amazed at the strength of the spear, Arisu chased after the boy.

Jun seemed to have climbed up the stairs from the staircase further inside the building. The sound of footsteps and the sound of the Mushi’s groans could be heard from above. Arisu held the spear in one hand and pursued them up the stairs.

“......”

Running up the stairs, Arisu examined the spear in her hands.

The Morpho butterfly that was always around Arisu had been her late friend’s Mushi. When the feeble girl finally collapsed, the Morpho butterfly started to appear around her side.

“Mari……”

Arisu called out to the spear. However, there was no response from the silver spear. Till now, no matter how many times Arisu called out to the silver Morpho butterfly, there had been no response.

—My dream, can I entrust it to you?

Mari’s last wish. Those words, just what did they mean? Why did the Morpho butterfly appear around Arisu? Just what are Mushitsuki?— To answer her question, Arisu went around searching for other Mushitsuki.

But, after searching so long and finally finding a Mushitsuki, Harimoto Jun was completely different from Mari. Arisu was angry at the existence known as Mushi that turned him into this manner.

Suddenly, she felt wind blowing through her hair.

The stairs came to an end, the door leading to the roof lying in pieces in front of her. They were currently at the rooftop, Jun and his Mushi had arrived here earlier.

The outside was covered in the darkness of the night.

The wind strongly blew on the empty rooftop, lighted only by the laser-like illumination from below. Jun was standing on the highest point of the rooftop. Arisu walked to a few metres of him.

“Harimoto-kun……”

Even though he was driven into a corner, Jun still looked calm. He glared at Arisu with cold eyes burning with malice.

“What is your real wish? Surely, that Mushi was not born just from your wish for revenge, right?”

“You speak as if you know of other Mushitsuki. And it seems that the one you knew was a good person.”

Arisu did not reply to Jun’s query.

“I did not think of anything other than revenge……”

Jun’s facial expression softened. A gentle smile seemed to form on his face.

“Let’s start. I am going to destroy everything around me……!”

Arisu was shocked. Seeing her look, Jun let out a weird laugh.

“I can’t believe that you think that there are people with well wishes—that’s the face. But I have fought with other Mushitsuki who are the same as me right here. So I know that everyone is filled with malevolence.”

Looking at the boy, Arisu felt suffocated. Anger and sadness jumbled within Arisu, causing her feelings to be confused. However—.

“You’re an idiot…..!”

Arisu murmured as she glared at Jun.

“I have some questions for you. The woman that turned you into a Mushitsuki…… What was it?”

Jun raised his face in surprise. After thinking for a while, he answered in a low voice.

“... She called herself Oogui.”

Oogui.

Arisu burned the name into her memory.

“So it's her fault that Mushitsuki are born…… people like Mari……”

Arisu reconfirmed her target.

“One more thing.”

Arisu pointed the tip of the spear at Jun.

“Swear that you will never do this kind of thing again!”

Jun’s face fell.

“There is still have someone waiting for you…… What you’ve done is enough, please stop for the sake of that person.”

Hearing her words, Jun hung his head down. But, when he raised his head, there was a warped smile on his face.

“I won’t let anyone stop me!”

Jun’s Mushi stabbed its sharp feet into the building. Clinging onto his Mushi, they escaped down the side of the building.

“Why you……!”

Arisu screamed at the top of her lungs at the escaping Jun.

Strong winds buffeted the building. Looking over the edge of the rooftop, Arisu could see Jun holding onto his Mushi as it climbed down the building.

Arisu had already promised Takako that she would save Jun, how could she possibly let him escape now? “I won’t let you…… Isn’t that right, Mari?”

Arisu pledged to her late friend. She had already determined what she needed to do.

“This way, I might really die……”

Arisu tightened her grip around the silver spear.

“I going now, Mari.”

Arisu leapt down the side of the building.

—In the next moment, Arisu was assaulted from all sides by violent gales of wind.

Against the pressure of the wind, she could hardly open her eyes.

Jun looked in disbelief at the sight of Arisu freefalling headlong towards him.

“Seyaaaa~!”

The moment Arisu passed Jun, she swung the spear in a flash.

The windows along the building all shattered as if struck by an explosion.

The wing which has turned into a blade bisected Jun’s Mushi. The overwhelming force of the slash left a gaping crevice in the side of the building.

The instant the Mushi was cut into half, all expressions left Jun’s face. Right in front of Arisu, he turned into an expressionless puppet.

Ta-ka-ko—.

The words seemed to form from his mouth. With that, his body seemed to freeze, ceasing any movement.

“Sei~!”

Turning the spear to its shaft, Arisu whacked Jun’s motionless body. His body flew towards the building, breaking through the glass before rolling to a stop.

But, this was not the end. Arisu turned the spear around, stabbing it into the side of the building.

—My dream, can I entrust it to you?

The face of her friend, who wanted to live but could not, emerged in her mind.

For the sake of her friend who had entrusted her dream to her, Arisu could not fall to her death just like this.

“I won’t…… die just like this!”

The spear gouged through the building, slowing down her descent. She put all her strength into her both hands grasping the spear, screaming at it to stop.

However, a shadow washed over Arisu.

It was the bisected body of the Mushi.

“...... Ah……”

The falling body of the Mushi crashed into Arisu, pushing her and the spear away from the building.

Losing the force decelerating her, gravity began pulling Arisu to the ground again.

I’m sorry, Mari—.

Arisu apologised in her heart.

I’m couldn’t fulfil our promise—.

Right at the moment when she was about to lose her consciousness, the building’s wall exploded.

However, this time the impact came from within the building.

A black figure burst out from within the explosion. Holding an automatic handgun in one hand, the figure wearing a black coat and oversized goggles seemed familiar.

“You stupid girl……!”

Grabbing onto Arisu, the figure pointed the handgun downwards and fired.

An unimaginably loud rumble resembling a cannon discharged from the handgun.

The observatory shaped in a sphere exploded into pieces faster than one could scream.

The deafening noise assaulted Arisu’s eardrums, causing them to turn numb.

Part 5

“...... Uuu……”

The sound of someone groaning in pain could be heard.

Before Arisu realised, the impact of the shockwave could no longer be felt. She had lost her consciousness for a moment.

Arisu timidly opened her eyes.

This place was the observatory—she determined.

The observatory was missing its roof, with shattered glass fragments littering the floor and the telescope used to view the sky lying in pieces.

Then, Arisu realised that she was being embraced. Looking up, she saw his face.

Arisu was lying under a boy who had a look of displeasure on his face.

It seems that he had been injured covering for Arisu. His coat lay in tatters and the lens of his goggles had cracked.

“Why did I end up like this…… damn it……”

On the boy’s face, a tentacle-like tendril retreated. Similarly, across his body, the tendrils converged, forming a green Mushi.

As I thought, this guy is a Mushitsuki—.

With this thought, Arisu tried to call out to question him. However, she realised what position they were in.

“How long are you going to embrace me, get away from me right now!”

The boy opened his eyes slightly. Exhaustedly, he rolled away from Arisu, forming a figure resembling 大.

“...... Thank you, and, are you alright? You don’t seem alright…… More like, you need help urgently, seriously!”

At that, the boy stopped moving. As expected, his wounds were quite deep, such that he could no longer move.

On the other hand, Arisu could not move as well. Although she had no external injuries due to the boy covering her, her waist was trapped under the boy’s body. Of course, the boy could not move either.

Lying in this position where the boy was on top of her, Arisu let out a big sigh.

“The same type of Mushi as mine…… but yours does not combined with your body, why is that?”

“That’s because it’s not my Mushi.”

“To take control of another person’s Mushi, how is that possible?”

“Because…… the original owner of the Mushi is no longer around.”

“...... Was it related to Mushitsuki?”

“That’s what I want to know.”

“Know what?”

Biting her lips, Arisu continued.

“I want to know, what exactly are the Mushitsuki…… How they come about and finally…… why do they end up in the manner as Jun did……”

“......”

In the meanwhile, both of them remained in silence. As Arisu’s face was next to the boy’s chest, the strong heartbeat of the boy was transmitted to her. She wondered if her own heartbeat could be felt by the boy.

“Aa-ah……”

The boy groaned in exhaustion.

“If only some childish person didn’t interfere, I wouldn’t have ended up in such a pathetic situation—”

“Arisu punch~”

“......!”

Being hit in his wounds, the boy squirmed without noise.

Part 6

A few days later, it was announced that Harimoto Jun had “transfer school”, bringing the case to an end. The school operated as per normal, currently in the process of cleaning up the incident.

However, Ichinokuro Arisu was in an unusually good mood this morning.

“Hey, Arisu.”

It was currently the morning short homeroom. Saionji Ena elbowed Arisu who sat next to her.

“Is it that guy?”

“Oh, yes.”

“Taking a good look at that person, he seems like a good guy.”

Sitting diagonally behind her, Kujou Takako mentioned to Arisu who was nodding vigorously. —Although she looked gloomy the past few days, Takako started to smile like before again more recently.

Arisu returned the smile to Takako, who was informed of what happened to Harimoto Jun afterwards.

—Thank you very much! Arisu-san managed to stop him right.

In addition, she added.

—When he comes back, I will tell him “welcome back” warmly.

Takako waited patiently for the day of Jun’s return. Arisu knew that beneath the usually meek and gentle face of Takako, there lies an unimaginable strength of will.

In the end, Jun had called out the name of Takako. This showed that Takako also occupied an important position in his heart.

“You cannot judge him based on his appearance, Takako. Despite how he looks, he’s quite ferocious underneath. Ufufu, I wonder how should I discipline him from now on.”

“Discipline eh, you’re……”

Arisu and gang chattered, pretending as if the boy standing on the podium in front could not hear them. “I am Kusuriya Daisuke. I hope to get along with everybody from now on.”

Introducing himself as a transfer student, he lowered his head in a bow.

—It seems like the organisation that Daisuke belonged to had deemed Arisu as a target for observation. Ordinarily, someone like Arisu would immediately be sent to a facility somewhere. However, they were unable to act as she was the only daughter of the Ichinokuro family, who commanded huge influence as one of the leaders of the financial world. After various discussion and under-the-table dealings, it was decided that they would send someone to stay by her side to monitor her.

The chime signalling the end of short homeroom rang.

Before Kusuriya Daisuke even found his desk, Arisu stood on her chair and yelled in a loud voice.

“Attention, everyone. I would like to introduce Kusuriya Daisuke-kun again. He is the new servant hired by the Ichinokuro family due to various circumstances. Everybody, feel free to order him around as a servant!”

The attention of the whole class was focused on Arisu and Daisuke.

With a look of anguish, Daisuke walked briskly to Arisu’s side and whispered.

“Didn’t I say before that the observer and the target must appear unrelated?”

“Ah, my throat is feeling a bit dry.”

In contrast to Daisuke’s whisper, Arisu purposely spoke loudly.

“You little……”

“I said, my throat is feeling a bit dry.”

Facing Arisu who was ignoring every single word he says, Daisuke gave up. Sighing in resignation, he left the classroom.

After a while, Daisuke returned to Arisu’s desk, holding a pack of juice in hand.

“Here, my lady.”

“Yea, good work—”

Arisu’s hand only grasped thin air.

The cold juice pack was instead pressed against Arisu’s cheeks.

“Kyaah…… What do you think you’re doing?”

“Here, drink it.”

“...... No, stop it…...”

Seeing the testy atmosphere between the two, Ena grinned to herself as she looked on. On the other hand, Takako was flustered and tried to stop the two of them frantically.

Outside the classroom window wrapped in eerie silence, a silver Morpho butterfly flapped its wings.

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