Mushi Uta:Volume 4th Episode 13

Episode 13. The Tower Imprisoning Dreams

"I'm coming in, Daisuke."

It was Sunday morning.

Ichinokuro Arisu opened the sliding door to the room allotted to the freeloader boy named Kusuriya Daisuke.

A futon laid out on the floor. The Horusu Seijou Academy's school uniform hanging on the wall. Next to the slightly dusty TV stand, a large bag. Even bearing in mind Daisuke hadn't been staying at the Ichinokuro estate for very long, it was still a dreary room.

"Where'd he gone to? Well, it's fine as long as he hasn't overslept—"

Arisu was dressed in casual clothes. Just as she tilted her head, causing her ponytail to shake, she heard a small sound. It was the ringtone of the cellphone lying near the futon.

Arisu surveyed the corridor, but there were no signs of Daisuke coming back. She had no choice so she picked up the phone.

"It's definitely Ena."

Guessing who was calling from their plans today, she answered the phone. As she did an unexpected voice stabbed into her eardrums.

"G'morning, Kakkou-san! Yayayay! How are you spending your day off? Maimai-chan has low blood pressure so she's still not feeling well. Even so I can still use 40% of my power and take it easy, fuhaha!"

Receiving this unexpected high-pitched attack, Arisu instinctively removed the phone from her ear.

"You're not replying, but this is business as usual so Maimai-chan's not worried. I'll give you a message from Branch Director Haji. Umm, he tried investigating the background of the new Central Director-General Ichiku Mikitaka, but it's really suspicious. Never mind him officially acknowledging Ichinokuro Arisu as a Mushitsuki a few days ago, he's started increasing his activities in the Central Headquarters. I also started taking actions of my own, but since you've been lent to the Central Headquarters, you can—"

"I'm a Mushitsuki?"

Arisu asked back reflexively. The girl known as Maimai immediately stopped talking.

"W-what? Are you Ichinokuro Arisu-san? Let me use this opportunity to congratulate you for being recognized as a Mushitsuki, or rather offer my condolences… N-never mind, Maimai-chan, you're still not sure you've made a mistake!"

"What does that mean? Why am I a Mushitsuki?"

"Kssht kssht, beep boop, bump, oh no, the reception's bad so there's weird static! I'll call you back later. Also pretend you haven't heard any of that!"

After the girl rattled on, the call was cut off. As Arisu stood there dumbfounded, she felt someone's presence behind her.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to enter my room without permission?"

Turning around, she could see Daisuke with his hand on the sliding door. Even if he was wearing casual clothes, he still looked completely plain and with no special features whatsoever.

Arisu flung the cellphone at Daisuke with a sour look.

"Uwa." Although he was caught in surprise, Daisuke still caught the receiver with one hand.

"Daisuke… do you have anything to tell me?"

"Huh?"

"Aren't you hiding something important?"

Being stared at by Arisu, Daisuke knit his brows.

"I'm not really hiding anything. Actually, why do I have to tell you about everything?"

Sighing in disinterest, he turned his back to Arisu.

He's doing it again—

Kusuriya Daisuke would never relay more information to Arisu than necessary. It was always like this even if it related to Arisu herself, whether because of his orders or his personality—probably the latter. Daisuke couldn't fully believe in other people.

"…Oh right."

Reminded of something, Daisuke turned back to Arisu. His gaze lowered to her hand.

"Have you felt strange somewhere recently? Especially in a place like your right arm for example."

"My right arm? Come to think of it, until about yesterday it felt numb and I couldn't use it properly…"

Daisuke's eyes immediately turned sharp. Yet he said nothing else, exiting to the corridor.

"What's up with that?"

Puffing her cheeks, Arisu's eyes caught a vivid, golden hair.

It was Kasuou. Her blue eyes and blonde hair matched well with the white duffle coat she was wearing. This girl, who was the same age as her, was going to accompany her today instead of Daisuke.

"Got it, Kasuou? This time monitor Arisu properly and—why are you looking at me like that?"

"It is nothing."

Kasuou grinned from ear to ear and spoke in a cute soprano voice. She was also a student of Horusu Seijou Academy, where many were the children of wealthy parents.

"…Pfft. The atrocious Kakkou-sama is going on a date with a girl on a Sunday morning."

Kasuou put a hand on her mouth while muttering in a small voice. Daisuke flushed, leaving quickly.

"It's not a date! Kastupid!"

"Ah? Who's the stupid one here?! You itchin' for a fight?"

Arisu watched their exchange with an unsatisfied expression.

Part 1

On the boisterous floor, the satisfying sound of an 11-pound ball sweeping the pins resounded.

"Yes! Another strike!"

With the lane behind her, Saionji Ena turned around with a full smile. Raising both hands, she high-fived Daisuke who was sitting on the bench.

"…Amazing, Saionji-san."

The pair's hands clapped. Smiling enjoyably, Ena sat next to Daisuke.

Saionji Ena was his classmate in the same Horusu Seijou Academy Middle School. Stripping off her coat, she revealed her casual appearance of a well-tailored blouse and short skirt that was stylish even among girls of her age. Ena looked at Daisuke with upturned eyes as if seeking more praise.

This was their first weekend ever since coming back to Akamaki City from the school trip.

Daisuke went with his classmate to play bowling. Yet there was a reason he was unable to fully enjoy the situation right now.

The first reason was that this event, commonly referred to as a date, occurred due to the arrangement of a certain deal.

The other day, during the school trip, he and Ichinokuro Arisu had left their hotel without permission. The one that had perfectly deceived the patrolling teacher was their friend Ena.

—Thanks, Ena. You saved us.

—I don't need thanks, we're friends after all. Just let me borrow Kusuriya-kun for a single day.

—Sure, that's fine.

The above had been the deal agreed upon right in front of Daisuke himself. Witnessing himself being sold off, he could have only stood there in shock, unable to even interpose a complaint.

Meaning, this date wasn't happening out of Daisuke's free will.

"W-well then. This is the last… Huh? The score is over 200?"

Looking at the LCD monitor ahead in order to avoid the girl's line of sight, he was surprised. He never would've thought a middle-schooler could reach that score.

"Really?"

Bringing her face closer to Daisuke's, Ena peeked at the display. Glancing at him as he distanced himself by several centimeters, she smiled enjoyably.

"Y-yeah."

As Daisuke's ears turned unexpectedly red, a small insect landed on his arm. It was a green checkered beetle. No one noticed the insect that appeared without any fluttering of wings.

There was also another reason that confused Daisuke. It was the reason he was here in Akamaki City today.

Mushi—

These were the supernatural beings that possessed teen boys and girls and took their dreams—the crystallization of their hopes and wishes—to grant them their power in exchange. Those possessed by these so-called Mushi were called Mushitsuki, and although for the general populace they were no more than rumors, they were treated with fear and discrimination.

Daisuke was a Mushitsuki. And he was a member of the government organization whose goal was to arrest and isolate those very same Mushitsuki, known as the Special Environmental Preservation Bureau.

He had infiltrated Horusu Seijou Academy in order to monitor Ichinokuro Arisu, who had succeeded the Mushi of the late Mushitsuki known as Hanashiro Mari.

And yet—

"And you're normal, Kusuriya-kun. Just like in the 1^st and 2^nd games. About 100 points."

As Ena seemed to be enjoying herself, Daisuke muttered "I'm not really good at it" to evade the question with a smile.

Becoming closer than necessary to the friend of his target Arisu would be breach of orders. He could probably make excuses that he was simply helping the Central Headquarters he was not part of and not officially part of the monitor squad, but still.

Yet there was one reason that caused him unrest even more than that.

"—It's almost as if you've aimed for a normal score on purpose, isn't it?"

Thump, his heart throbbed.

"I didn't invite you to play bowling because you're good. Actually, what are you good at, Kusuriya-kun? The other day you also got an average score on the test, and you were also normal in soccer and basketball during P.E."

Ena who was innocently tilting her head always received the top marks in tests, and even in gymnastics she was a cut above the rest. Even more so than Arisu who was good at sports and Kujou Takako who was good at studying.

"A-about that, umm…"

He tried thinking of an excuse but reached a dead end. His student life was only a pretense for him to monitor Arisu. Standing out was strictly forbidden. Even their going to play bowling was because he chose from what date spots he could think of.

"It just looks like that to you because you can do anything, Saionji-san."

"Hmm?" Ena looked at Daisuke amusingly as he tried evading her questions. Having her pretty face aimed at him, Daisuke cursed in his heart.

I'm weak against her—

He thought so ever since starting to monitor Ichinokuro Arisu.

Saionji Ena.

She was friendly with anyone and was up to anything, thus she had many friends. Since she was blessed with all talents, she normally found everything boring, so he didn't know what her "serious" side was.

And so Daisuke, who had weaved his way through countless battlefields so far, had no idea why Ena was approaching him like this.

"Is that so? But still, I'm looking at you much more than the other boys."

Grinning in high glee, Ena leaned closer to him.

Daisuke's cheeks flushed and he couldn't do anything but avert his face. —If she was a Mushitsuki he could've handled her coldly, but she was a normal civilian. How to treat a non-Mushitsuki girl was outside Daisuke's knowledge.

By thinking so, Daisuke realized how ironic it was.

It's natural for people to be scared of Mushitsuki… then isn't it like me being afraid of normal people—

At the same time he also thought something else.

…Then what about Arisu? She's not a Mushitsuki but she can approach us normally… No, since she's been recognized as a Mushitsuki then—

"Hey, isn't it about time we go someplace else? Where should I take you next, I wonder."

"Uh."

Daisuke's thoughts were dragged back to reality by Ena's sensation and heat transmitted to him through his hugged arm.

…I really am weak against her. And she's a normal girl—

Since Ena was staring at him, he couldn't even sigh.

Ena had said she was thirsty, so they entered a café by the side of the road.

It was the kind of junk food place that students returning from school would drop by on their way home. Arisu was another matter, but it seemed like the sort of place someone like Kujou Takako would avoid. Yet Ena agreed to Daisuke's choice without batting an eye.

"Good boy, stay here."

Along with the tray containing a drink, Ena put a small stuffed doll on the table. The doll with evil-looking eyes looked down the main street from the window-side table.

In the games facility inside the bowling place there were also darts. The doll was a gift Ena had gotten by achieving the top score.

"There were plenty of prizes, but you've chosen a really weird one. Is this your taste, Saionji-san?"

Daisuke sat opposite to Ena.

"It was love at first sight! I wanted to give it to you as a present anyway, though."

"Well, it was my first time playing darts."

As he smiled wryly, Ena put the straw in her mouth. She grinned and looked at Daisuke.

"Even though it was your first time you achieved a normal score? And I think you're quite skillful."

"Hmm, is that so?"

Obviously Daisuke aimed for a score that wouldn't make him stand out just like in bowling.

Ena alone was able to persistently follow Daisuke who was working on not standing out. He was confused at that.

"Sorry for not being interesting."

He tried saying this with a pitiable smile.

"I'm just boring."

Please call me boring. Or just act like you think so.

He thought so from the bottom of his heart. Just like Kasuou thought before he'd left the Ichinokuro estate, a "date" didn't fit him in the first place.

"Huh? Why? That's not true! I'm still super excited!"

Ena's reaction betrayed Daisuke's expectations. He nervously bent forward. At least it didn't seem like acting.

"Aren't you bored when you're with me, Kusuriya-kun?"

"Huh? That's… not true."

As he answered this reflexively, Ena seemed relieved. She smiled happily and patted the doll's head with a muttered Good.

In contrast to Ena who acted differently from her normal habit of saying ridiculous things, Daisuke had no idea what to say.

A strange silence flowed between the two.

S-save me…! I don't even mind Arisu or Kasuou, but someone please save me from this situation…!

Feigning calmness while using the straw to play with the ice inside his drink, he groaned in his heart. He never thought that he of all people would ever seek help from those two.

"Umm…"

Daisuke started speaking as he was unable to bear the silence, yet he couldn't think of any conversation topic.

A popular TV show? Or her favorite musician? Talking about their classmates? About hobbies and practice? —This wasn't a marriage interview.

After thinking as hard as he could, the conclusion he reached…

He was at his limit.

He decided to recall some sort of business and cut the date early. Causing the friend of his monitoring target to dislike him would hinder his mission, but he also couldn't forcibly butter her up.

It would perhaps actually become much easier if she'd come to hate him.

"Saionji-san, I'm sorry but I have to—"

"Hmm?"

Perhaps feeling some air of unrest, Ena immediately looked at Daisuke with a lonely face. Since she always smiled carefreely when with Arisu, she looked like a completely different person.

"…I need to use the toilet."

Ena smiled with a relieved "Sure".

…What am I doing…

Walking toward the interior of the floor, he was assaulted by violent self-hatred. Entering the washroom, he washed his face with cold water.

Ever since coming to Akamaki City for his mission, he felt like he was going crazy. The more he got involved with Arisu and the people around her, the more the air of tension was destroyed.

He wanted to finish his mission as soon as possible and return to his original jurisdiction of Ouka City.

He needed to resolve himself again.

Being careless led to death. Daisuke couldn't allow himself to die. No matter who he had to sacrifice, he had to fight and survive.

Whatever brought danger to Daisuke's life—was an enemy. He couldn't allow himself to relax his guard against someone approaching him more than necessary.

As he wiped his face off with a handkerchief and returned to the table, Ena's smile welcomed him back.

"Good, you returned. Since you belong to me today, Kusuriya-kun, you have to stay with me until the very end, right?"

Ena said jokingly. He wanted to conceal it, but she had apparently seen through his desire to leave.

Daisuke retorted with the smile of an honors student.

"You have plenty of other people to date with other than me, Saionji-san. You also have many friends."

"Hehe, no way that's true, really."

Liar, he retorted behind his smile.

"Ah, your face screams liar. So even you make faces like that sometimes."

"I don't really think so."

Forcing a smile, Daisuke was shaken on the inside. He was wearing nothing but a smile on the exterior, so how had she been able to see through him?

"It's true though. The only people I'm able to call friends are pretty much just Arisu and Takako."

Resting her chin on her hands, Ena played with the doll using her pointing finger.

"Even if I look like this, I'm quite talented. I can do basically anything."

"That's obvious. You're amazing."

"Yeah, it's obvious. That's why, even if I make friends, they distance themselves. They tell me it's good that I'm so talented and all that. Even if I date boys, I lack charm so they'll soon step aside. They also force themselves to show off in an attempt to get the better of me in some areas."

Daisuke normally had excellent physical abilities, but even if he went all out he probably couldn't reach Ena's feet either in bowling or in darts. He wasn't cool enough for a guy.

"And so at some point no one cared for me. Even at home. Never mind my sisters, but my family seems to think I'll be fine even if I'm left alone. I didn't like it, so I used to run away from home a lot long ago."

Grabbing the doll's hands, Ena made it take a fighting stance directed at Daisuke.

"Long ago… this isn't what an 8^th-Grader should be saying."

"I guess. But somehow recently I've been feeling as if it really was a long time ago… actually, ever since our current class. Ever since meeting Arisu, I guess?"

"…"

"Because she was the first. She was the first to keep in contact with me without changing. Takako also, but before meeting Arisu I never would've thought about trying to make friends with an honors student like Takako. So I guess I really like my life now."

Daisuke considered.

The late Mushitsuki girl, Hanashiro Mari, had also opened her heart to Arisu. The investigation results so far spoke of that.

Ichinokuro Arisu—in Daisuke's eyes she simply looked selfish and insolent, so what drew all these people to her?

"I don't really have anything I want to do, and I can do anything, but since being alone is boring… I like this kind of life right now where I play and have fun my own way every day. I want these peaceful days to just continue like this forever and ever."

Ena seemed to be speaking from the bottom of her heart. Thinking of something, she leaned toward Daisuke and brought her face closer. He was startled.

"But lately, someone's been barging into these peaceful days."

"…Huh?"

Separating from Daisuke who made this idiotic sound, Ena took the doll in her hands. Raising it to her face as if to hide her expression, she stared at Daisuke with narrowed eyes.

"—Now then, who could that pest be, I wonder?"

For an instant Daisuke stared at her in puzzlement, unable to comprehend her words.

But he soon realized.

The emotionless eyes staring at Daisuke were cold. He felt intimidated just by having this normally amicable girl erase her expression.

I see, so that's what you're—

"…"

Daisuke smiled again. He received the piercing gaze directly.

He had the feeling he finally understood why Ena was clinging to him.

—She was trying to gauge him.

He was the intruder who'd one day suddenly appeared at Arisu's side and wedged himself into the peaceful days Ena spoke of. She was "monitoring" him in order to ascertain whether he was an enemy or not.

So she's monitoring me who's monitoring Arisu. Fine, if that's what you want to do, then bring it on—

Once again a silence befell the two of them.

Completely different from the one before, it was a stillness where nothing could be felt expect for hostility.

The first to open her mouth was Ena.

"Just kidding."

The two stared at each other seriously.

"…"

"…"

It was the millionth silence.

Still looking at Daisuke's whose thoughts completely stopped, the girl's eyes suddenly sparkled.

"Hehehe. Like I thought you're a diamond in the rough, Kusuriya-kun! I can't bear that cold gaze you show for an instant! Ah, I wish you'd look at me like this forever!"

Ena wriggled her body, her expression other than her eyes still hidden by the doll. Daisuke's confusion at her unimaginable action was real and not acting.

"Huh…? Wha…"

"This! This face is the best! You're too cute when you're caught unprepared! Oh, gosh, I'm so happy I rented you from Arisu for the whole day!"

W-was I caught by her trap…? No, is this also acting…?

His cheeks flushing, Daisuke sank deeper and deeper into the swamp.

"Calling you a hindrance is obviously a lie, Kusuriya-kun! You're also the first guy I've met who's my type. Even when you're with me you stay normal. I still don't know if you're just acting or if you're really just a normal boy, though."

Standing from her seat while still holding the doll, Ena entwined Daisuke's arm with hers.

"Now, let's go to the next place! It's still bright outside! And if you're fine with it, Kusuriya-kun, even after the sun sets… hehehehe."

Roused from his seat by force, Daisuke was assaulted by larger self-hatred than before.

I really am weak against her…

This time, a true sigh leaked out.

Part 2

Kusuriya Daisuke and Saionji Ena entered a large department store near the Akamaki City station.

The two girls who were tailing them also entered the building after them. Daisuke and Ena headed toward the escalator with no hesitation.

"Shopping? Or maybe the movie theater on the highest floor? Never mind which, it's the clichéd date course. They should've put some twist on it."

Approaching the escalator while mingling with the large crowd, Arisu puffed her cheeks.

"If you're curious we can just shout. Why're we going through the trouble of doing all this?"

Putting her hands behind her head, Kasuou complained in an offhand tone. She apparently had no interest in Daisuke and Ena's date, so her blue eyes darted all over the department store.

"I'm here to make sure Daisuke doesn't get too excited and lay a hand on her. A slave's misconduct will disgrace his mistress. And I also feel just a wee bit of responsibility."

"Hah, I don't think Kakkou's got the balls for that. I mean, he won't even attempt to do anything to a heavenly beauty like me."

"…In your case I believe that's the wise thing to do."

"Ah? What did you fucking mean by that. Even if I look like this—"

Kasuou started speaking in a dangerous tone of voice, but suddenly fell silent in response to something. Thinking it strange and following her line of sight, Arisu could see some attendant calling out, "The Sentai show in the kid's square's about to start!"

Kasuou turned toward Arisu, politely inclining her head.

"Arisu-san, I remembered I have some very urgent business."

"Kasuou, you… aren't you supposed to be my monitor?"

"Who cares about that. Well then, good day to you."

Leaving an elegant smile behind, the golden-haired girl vanished, mixing with the kids heading toward the kids section.

"Is the SEPB really fine like this…?"

Kasuou was a member of the SEPB, and her mission was supposed to be to monitor Arisu for the whole day instead of Daisuke. Arisu swore in her heart that later she'd tattle about her to Daisuke.

Regardless, now that the problem child warrior was gone from her proximity, she felt lighter. She tried going back to tailing Daisuke and Ena for now.

Yet she could no longer see the two of them. They were probably gone while she'd been preoccupied with Kasuou.

She hurriedly looked around her, but they were nowhere. They'd probably gone to a different floor. As Arisu went toward the escalator, she saw the back of someone unthinkable.

He wore what was probably the uniform of some school. At the very least that tall boy was wearing a blazer she'd never seen before in Akamaki City. Since he was squatting on the floor she couldn't see his face, but she could never forget his disorderly hairstyle that resembled blazing flames.

"Harukiyo…!"

"Huh?"

The boy with a large compress on his cheek turned around. His displeased gaze exerted pressure like that of a wild predator.

Sehateno Harukiyo. He was the Mushitsuki boy that for some reason was snooping about for information on her late friend Hanashiro Mari. According to what she'd heard from Daisuke, Harukiyo would occasionally appear in Akamaki City, operating with his comrades in opposition to the SEPB.

I don't have any weapons right now… Also, if we battle here—

She unconsciously readied her body, but thinking of damage to their surroundings, she bit her lips.

"What are you doing here? Don't tell me you were waiting for me to be alone—"

"What does it look like I'm doing?"

"…It looks like you're playing with gachapon."

"If you understand then lend me money. This rare piece of shit just won't come out."

Harukiyo angrily extended his arm toward Arisu. It felt like she couldn't object to that.

"C'mon, do it. The other brats are coming. Don't worry, I'll pay you double later."

"…"

Although still wary, Arisu got her wallet out. She never thought she'd be extorted there. Thinking this might be a trap, she forcefully gave him some coins.

"Right on," Harukiyo smiled in satisfaction, turning back toward the gachapon. She could hear the rattling of the lever turning from behind his curled back.

"Ooh…! Oooohhh…!"

He apparently achieved his goal. Raising the capsule overhead, the boy choked in delight.

"SEPB, please catch this guy already…"

As Arisu mouthed the name of the government agency she was rapidly losing trust in, Harukiyo grinned. Putting the capsule in his pocket, he held his hand toward Arisu.

"And now I'll pay you back."

"…Huh?"

Her body couldn't react to this sudden action. Just as Arisu thought she could see a flame flickering in the boy's outstretched hand, a fireball assaulted her.

The flames shaped like a tiger beetle grazed Arisu, burning a life-sized Tokusatsu hero doll behind her.

"W-what're you…"

She leapt away from Harukiyo belatedly. However, a small lump of ashes fell to her feet.

Immediately afterward, she could hear cries of pain from all around. All of the shoppers held down parts of their body, collapsing.

There was something falling from the ceiling in large amounts. Seeing what fell on the floor, Arisu widened her eyes.

"Fleas…?"

There were countless insects that resembled fleas. Yet looking closely these fleas had no legs, and they leapt around using a single needle growing from their mouthpart. Apparently Harukiyo had fried a flea that was about to attack Arisu.

They weren't actual insects. —They were Mushi.

"Hmm, I dunno who's doing this, but they're apparently starting something."

A stream of flames whirled around Harukiyo's body. Baked by the heat wave blowing from him, the fleas leaping around Harukiyo and Arisu were evaporated.

The people bitten by the fleas collapsed to the floor with pale faces. They seemed conscious, but apparently their bodies were paralyzed and so they were unable to move. Perhaps the fleas had used paralyzing venom.

"There's a Mushitsuki around here…? Why is this happening…!"

"Eh, just let it be. Since you're here then Kakkou's nearby, right? Leave it to him. Good work buddy."

Uncaring about the unforeseen situation, Harukiyo was calm. He joyfully brought the capsule out of his pocket and opened it.

No, right now Daisuke's—

About to open her mouth, Arisu grimaced. Daisuke was with Ena right now. He probably couldn't take any actions that revealed his identity.

"Harukiyo, there's no way that—you're still aiming for me…!"

"Hmm? I don't mind fighting ya, but you're wrong you know? 'Cuz it seems like it'll take some time to drag Hanashiro Mari outta you. There's no point to attack you right now."

"Don't lie! This has to have something with me being designated a Mushitsuki!"

The flame boy changed his facial expression. A devil's gaze pierced Arisu.

"—What did you say?"

Assault by his pressure, Arisu found herself gulping.

"I can't ignore that. Aren't you just a normal person? It isn't like that morpho butterfly fused with you. But being recognized as a Mushitsuki… did you fuse with the morpho butterfly?"

Along with the fireballs, Arisu was daunted by a pressure that nearly made her stop breathing. The morpho butterfly landed on her shoulder, but since she lacked any weapon for it to fuse with, it only fluttered its unreliable wings.

—At that moment, in the department store full of anguished cries, the ring for an incoming announcement echoed.

"…Do you know the organization called the Special Environmental Preservation Bureau?"

After the calm chime came the nervous voice of a girl.

Part 3

"Eeek…!"

On the escalator leading toward the movie theater located in the topmost floor, Ena raised a small shriek.

With nimble movements, Daisuke thrust his fist to a few centimeters away from Ena's face.

"W-what? What is it, Kusuriya-kun?"

"I thought there was a bug. But it was apparently my imagination."

While grinning amicably, he secretly glanced to his hand.

A flea…? No, this is a Mushi…!

The flea, crushed inside his hand with its bodily fluids oozing out, was melting into thin air. Mushi left no corpses behind.

Since it had leapt toward Ena, he reflexively caught it. Feeling some discomfort on his neck, Daisuke flicked at it with a finger. He knocked off a flea that was attempting to prick him with a needle.

"A bug? In this season?"

While Ena quizzically tilted her head, a sudden change came over the department store.

Small fleas came falling from the ceiling in large amounts. The people in the department store were being stung one after another, collapsing to the floor. They had apparently been injected with something that paralyzed their bodies.

Looking around the department store filled with groaned and vague cries, Daisuke's expression turned rigid.

Is this… the work of a Mushitsuki? Who would do that—

Even while he stood there in shock many people were falling down.

"Eh? Eh? What's going on?"

"I-I don't know. For now let's get out of here…!"

Pretending to be confused, Daisuke pulled Ena's hand as they'd gone off the escalator. He picked a spot where there were relatively not many fleas and stopped.

Almost simultaneously, the chime of an announcement reverberated throughout the whole department store.

"…Do you know the organization called the Special Environmental Preservation Bureau?"

It was the high-pitched voice of a girl. That nervous voice, possessing a certain resolve in it, was slightly shaking.

"And do you know about the beings called Mushi? And about Mushitsuki?"

Even while the collapsed people paled, many of them were still conscious. Yet it was still unclear whether or not they understood the meaning of the girl's voice echoing from the announcement.

"I believe all of you know Mushi as rumors. But Mushi actually exist. The things attacking you right now are Mushi. And I am… a Mushitsuki. My Mushi are occupying this department store, and they're also blocking all entrances."

Daisuke was about to click his tongue, but since Ena was there he endured.

Judging from the flea-like Mushi that attacked people, its host seemed to be able to control multiple Mushi at once, a rare kind even among Minion Types. It was same as the Mushitsuki Aki who'd belonged to the SEPB until recently.

…Also, never mind her timing to launch this simultaneous Mushi attack on the entire department store, there's no way she's a mere Mushitsuki. She's probably gone through training to control her Mushi. And if so, then it's possible she's—

"The Special Environmental Preservation Bureau is the government agency that trains Mushitsuki and uses them secretly to capture other Mushitsuki. And until yesterday… I also was part of that organization."

Daisuke's reasoning hit the mark.

She was an SEPB agent gone rogue. Meaning, a traitor. Defecting from the organization that Daisuke also belonged to was a serious crime.

She was probably part of Central Headquarters. So Daisuke who was originally under the jurisdiction of the East Central Branch didn't know about her Mushi.

"But I ran away from the SEPB. I… I… can no longer take it!"

The girl from the announcement was suddenly flooded with emotions. She shouted as if to throw out all the fear, pain and sadness that she'd been suppressing so far.

"Living while making sure no one knows I'm a Mushitsuki, capturing other Mushitsuki, turning them into Fallen… I can't do it anymore! We're normal humans too! We should've been able to normally go to school and have fun with our friends without needing to fight anyone!"

This is bad—

Daisuke glanced at Ena near him. She seemed unable to comprehend the situation she was involved in. She looked up to the speaker on the ceiling with a deathly pale face. Already Daisuke and Ena were the only people around to still be standing.

"W-what the? What is she talking about? Mushitsuki… That monster-like thing again…?"

Ena latched onto Daisuke's clothes with a frightened expression. —She had once already been involved in the fight between the Mushitsuki trying to capture the runaway Yomori Neiko.

"Why does this have to happen to us? Fellow Mushitsuki fighting and hurting each other… why do have to get our dreams eaten by Mushi without anyone knowing? Maybe if the SEPB hadn't existed we would've been able to finish this without fighting—"

Surmising the goal of the unseen girl, Daisuke grimaced.

"…I am sorry, everyone, but you will become my hostages. I will create as big as a fuss as I can, all in order to let as many people as possible know about us Mushitsuki and the SEPB. And if you really knew about the SEPB… maybe they'd stop making us do such horrible things. I have to act at least until I'm caught by an SEPB assassin…!"

This… idiot!

Daisuke cursed the girl in his heart.

Hadn't that girl noticed the contradiction in her actions? Even simply using her Mushi to hurt people, it wasn't difficult to imagine what the general public would come to think of Mushi after they learned of their existence.

"I can't take it…! Why are all Mushitsuki like this? Why are they such monsters?"

Ena said, teary-eyed. Even the last time she had been involved with Mushitsuki her life had been in danger despite her having nothing to do with the situation.

—That was the obvious response for those that lived normal lives.

If that girl's scheme worked, everyone around the country would come to know of Mushi.

And when that happened, would people save Mushitsuki? Would they look at them as fellow people?

The answer was no.

They would look at Mushitsuki as hostile. And if so, then what awaited them was worse than having Mushitsuki fight amongst themselves.

A war between Mushitsuki and civilians.

Would this country be able to withstand that war once it broke out?

"…You're right."

At hearing Ena mention the word monster, Daisuke's heart made a sharp throb. Although he was supposed to have been used to this pain, he bit his lips.

"There's no place for Mushitsuki in this world."

Daisuke asserted with disgust. That would be the response of a normal person. Because it was the normal response.

—Perhaps they could be accepted by those who weren't Mushitsuki. Perhaps, if they knew of their existence, they'd be able to understand that Mushitsuki were normal boys and girls.

Daisuke also had a time when he thought this.

Yet he knew that period was nothing but a sweet illusion. Ever since joining the SEPB, he instilled fear into many people and hurt many people.

Mushitsuki and normal people could never become friends—

That was the true opinion of the Mushitsuki called Daisuke.

"S-Saionji-san, come here. Let's check if we can escape."

While still continuing to act scared, he spoke to Ena.

Leaving the girl's motive aside, Daisuke couldn't leave the situation be as an SEPB member. He couldn't let normal people hear about the organization.

"No!"

Yet when he tried separating from Ena, her arm pulled him back.

"She just said that the entrances are blocked…!"

"Y-yeah. But maybe there's some place we can go out through—"

As long as he was with Ena, he couldn't move as he pleased. Because she was a hindrance, Daisuke couldn't reveal himself as a Mushitsuki.

Perhaps thinking of something, Ena took an unexpected action. They were in an area with sports equipment lying around. Her face stiff, Ena picked up a golf club nearby.

"I'm also coming."

"Huh?"

"I can't let you face danger alone, Kusuriya-kun. It's fine, I have good reflexes you know?"

Daisuke stood in shock.

It was obvious at a glance that Ena's smile was a facade meant to hide her fear. In order to trick her trembling limbs, she used the golf club to hit the fleas at her feet.

"Y-you can't! It's too dangerous!"

"Hehe, I made you worry about me. I'm so happy."

Seeing Ena's expression sparkle while she jested, Daisuke became speechless. He almost wanted to tell her that he wasn't worried about her but that she was a hindrance. Or so he persuaded himself.

"But I feel the same, Kusuriya-kun. I'm also worried about you."

Perhaps becoming slightly less scared while talking to Daisuke, Ena wore a carefree smile.

"Didn't I tell you? I love my peaceful life right now and hate everything that disturbs it. So I hate any Mushitsuki that stands in the way, but as for you… geez, don't me say it, you bully!"

Ena blushed and wriggled.

On the other hand, Daisuke felt dizzy. He also had a headache. He also felt drained of energy.

So stupid… why are there only weird people around Arisu?

"Umm, Saionji-san… How do I put it, umm…"

"If you don't do it quickly I'll go first."

While he put a hand to the shelf and supported his head, Ena warded off the fleas using her golf club, trying to advance in the corridor.

"W-wait a minute! I wanted to say that it's not simply dangerous… If I were alone I could move better, and—"

"Huh? But my physical abilities aren't that different from you guys', though. Perhaps my scores are even better than yours, Kusuriya-kun."

"That's irrelevant! No matter how smart and athletic you are, Saionji-san, you're a normal girl, right? Just now you were really scared…"

He rattled on while following Ena. As he did she turned around, surprised.

"…W-what? Is something wrong?"

"Hehehe. Hehehehe…"

"You're a bit scary… Saionji-san?"

"It's the first time someone treated me like a normal girl. I'm gradually becoming unable to live without Kusuriya-kun, whatever shall I do? Will you take responsibility?"

Smiling happily, Ena turned forward again and kept walking.

"…!"

He very nearly shouted in anger toward the heavens. His arms trembled while he suppressed his voice.

No. No. That wasn't what he meant. Then why had she reacted like this? Daisuke couldn't understand what the girl in front of him was thinking about at all.

Before long they reached the front of the stairs. Ena who walked on ahead probably hadn't noticed, but Daisuke had finished off the fleas that escaped her. Because of that they were able to reach there safely.

They came to the stairs to reach the department store's guide map pasted to the wall.

"We heard that girl just now through the speakers, right?"

"…Yeah, that's right."

Ena's face looking at the guide map paled. She peeked inside a narrow corridor on the other side of the wall with stiff movements.

"The announcement room's apparently this way."

Following Ena's line of sight, Daisuke narrowed his eyes.

Since she'd used the department store's announcement system, the fleas' host was probably there. Meaning that while the pair looked for an exit, they'd come closer to the root of it all.

Ena gulped loudly, readying her golf club. Daisuke was startled.

"S-Saionji-san?"

"Say, can't we finish off the Mushitsuki? Besides these fleas our opponent should be just a girl…"

Daisuke who struggled to keep up pace suddenly felt his heart go cold.

"I-I mean, it's unforgivable. We haven't done anything, so why should we all—"

While Ena slowly walked through the corridor, Daisuke directed a sneer at her back.

Mushitsuki and normal people would never reach mutual understanding.

He'd realized that long ago. Mushitsuki hurt normal people, and so normal people hated Mushitsuki. It was impossible for them to mingle.

"Say, Saionji-san."

Even he thought his voice was cold. He directed his question at Ena's back.

"What will you do if I or Arisu were Mushitsuki?"

"Huh?"

Ena seemed surprised at the sudden question. Turning around, she stared at him.

As Daisuke went silent, she sank into thought. Alternating her eyes between Daisuke and the announcement room at the end of the corridor, she finally looked up to the ceiling.

As he expected, Ena seemed to be seriously considering this. Lowering the club, she made a wry smile.

"That's… I'm sorry. I don't know, I think?"

Here, you see—Daisuke muttered cynically inside his heart.

Although she said she doesn't know, her expression denied it. Mushitsuki causing fear was an unchangeable truth.

But Ena raised her face, smiling toward Daisuke.

"Because I only know you and Arisu as you're now."

Daisuke stiffened his expression.

"But if the two of you become Mushitsuki… You'll definitely be kind Mushitsuki. Not the kind of Mushitsuki that hurt unrelated people like this."

Kind Mushitsuki.

Never in his wildest Dreams did he think he would be called that.

But it was probably a mere illusion when viewed by Ena, who felt favorably toward him. Normally Daisuke would just smile at her and leave it at that.

But only now—for some reason a genuine smile rose to his lips.

"I see."

Daisuke grinned, and the confused Ena returned his smile.

—He then looked at the girl's back, pretending to be surprised.

"Watch out, Saionji-san!"

"Huh?"

He nimbly hit the nape of Ena's neck as she turned around. Receiving an impact to her medulla oblongata, Ena raised a small groan and lost consciousness.

He'd saved her quickly when attacked by the fleas, but this way was faster. —Even though he knew this, he realized that he was still apprehensive about using violence against Ena.

"Can we keep pretending to be friends for a while?"

As Daisuke sighed, a green checkered beetle alighted on his shoulder. It transformed explosively, its tentacles sinking into Daisuke's skin.

A glowing, green pattern glowed on Daisuke's cheek as he fused with his Mushi.

"If that's what you wanted I would've stepped up to the challenge. Seems like I was the only one to think that, though."

When he raised his face, Daisuke's face had changed.

He now spoke using the low voice not of Ena's friend Kusuriya Daisuke, but brought out his true form as the SEPB's Blaze-Class Rank 1 member, Kakkou.

"But from now on it's a problem between us Mushitsuki."

Leaving Ena behind, he kept walking toward the announcement room.

Hitting Ena left Daisuke with an unpleasant sensation. It was a while since he'd hurt people that weren't Mushitsuki.

At the end of the corridor, there was a door.

Daisuke pulled out his pistol from the holster hidden on his back. Since he was separated from Arisu that day, he hadn't brought with him the SEPB goggles and coat.

Kicking off the door with his strengthened legs, the large space welcomed Daisuke.

"…So you came after me like I thought, SEPB…"

The moment after he heard a girl's voice from the hollow space, a swarm of fleas assaulted him from overhead.

Caught by surprise, Daisuke was helplessly swallowed by the avalanche of fleas.

Part 4

While Arisu and Harukiyo glared at each other, an unpleasant soprano voice reached their ears.

"Shit, they dare disturb me just when it got exciting. What're the Central Headquarters doing, letting small fry like that escape? …Wait, I'm also Central Headquarters. Heeey, Spear-type, are you alive?"

It was Kasuou. Shrouded in her Mushi which was like mist, she was calmly heading toward them with hands in pockets. The fleas were blocked by the mist, unable to even touch her.

"…Uh."

Arisu grimaced and turned around.

For an instant Kasuou widened her eyes, then wore an warm smile.

"Well what do have here, doesn't that seem fun? Much more fun than those fleas. Hey, lemme join too."

While she stared at Harukiyo, the mist around her coagulated and formed sharp claws.

"W-wait, Kasuou! Fighting here might also harm unrelated people!"

"You again? Why are you always interrupting just when it starts getting good?"

Shrouded in flames, Harukiyo took a light step away from Arisu. He was apparently going to leave just like that.

"Hey hey, are you running away again? Try to be manlier and take me head-on."

"I don't mind fighting, but I prefer to choose the time and place. Also, I'm sorry to say that I don't give a damn about you."

"…I'll fucking kill you."

Kasuou spat with a freezing-cold voice.

It was quite the explosive situation, but suddenly something incredulous happened.

As if drawing a wave, all of the fleas occupying the floor started moving. All of them without exception headed toward the stairs.

"Seems like the flea owner's fighting against something. Well, I can guess who."

At Harukiyo's words, Arisu looked to the direction the fleas were going to.

Daisuke—

She started worrying about Daisuke and Ena who were in the same department store. Were they safe?

Also, that announcement just now…

Arisu could clearly hear the agony in the voice of the girl belonging to the SEPB.

Did Daisuke, who was also in the SEPB, also thought of the same things as the fleas' host?

Did he hate Mushitsuki fighting against each other and wanted to be treated the same as a normal person?

Arisu's deliberation was cut off by Harukiyo's low but powerful voice.

"I'd also like for you to stop meddling with me until I finished investigating everything. If I end up killing Hanashiro Mari's Mushi by accident it'd be bad. See ya, Ichinokuro Arisu."

With Harukiyo leaving an uncouth smile, the flames around him burst. Kasuou and Arisu immediately leapt back.

When the flames were gone, the boy's figure also vanished. There weren't even scorching marks on the floor.

"Tch, that annoying bastard."

Listening to Kasuou's tongue-clicking, Arisu looked at where Harukiyo was gone.

—Did you fuse with the morpho butterfly?

Harukiyo's words interested her as much as Daisuke's situation.

While she stood there absentminded, the morpho butterfly alighted down her shoulder.

Part 5

The large hole opened in the floor of the announcement room became ruins made of piles of concrete.

The floor directly below seemed to be the staff waiting room. On the other side of the tables and chair crushed by the debris was a cord extending from the higher floors to the announcement equipment.

Standing near the microphone meant for broadcasting all over the store was a long-haired girl. The face of the girl that looked about 14 or 15 was pale, her anxiousness and fear hidden by pure hostility.

Gathering all the Mushi scattered throughout the department store, she probably attempted to turn back on her attacker. The person who came to the announcement room was buried under the mountain of fleas.

"As if I'd let you catch me after coming this far…! Even I had some battle experience as part of the Central Headquarters—"

The girl's relieved laughter was drowned out by the sounds of gunfire.

"Guh…!"

As part of the flea mountain was destroyed, the damage of losing her Mushi rebounded to the girl, dealing her a mental hit.

Every time the gunfire echoed a few hundred fleas were blown apart.

"Uh, uh… s-sto—"

The girl held her chest, kneeling on the floor.

"Your type usually aims for the host… I just need to hit where your Mushi gathers."

Appearing from within the crumbling mountain of fleas was Kusuriya Daisuke. An ordinary person would've probably been crushed by the fleas' weight, but since he was a Fusion type, his body merged with the Mushi was strengthened.

Bullets were fired from the pistol with its muzzle changed to the jaw of a checkered beetle. The impact made the fleas latching on to Daisuke scatter.

"Uh… ah…!"

Seeing Daisuke draw near her with a ruthless gaze, clear fear rose to the girl's face.

"W-who are you…? You're not part of the… Central Headquarters…?"

"I'm Kakkou."

When Daisuke named himself, the girl's expression froze. The moment after her shock, her knees started shaking.

"N-no—"

Her breath became erratic due to her excessive fear. The name of Kakkou—meaning Blaze Class Rank 1, the strongest Mushitsuki—was well-known even in the East Central Branch.

"NOOOO!"

The remaining fleas gathered in one spot, changing into a large monster. It was still a legless flea with three needles poking out of its mouthpart. These needles, resembling large pillars, were brought down on Daisuke.

The green pattern covering Daisuke's fists emitted light. He swung the hand that didn't hold a gun to the side as if swatting a fly.

The exceedingly superhuman force completely shattered the flea's large needles.

"Ugh…!"

"Did you honestly think normal people would help Mushitsuki?"

Daisuke raised his gun, aiming the muzzle at the flea in front of him.

"You escaped the SEPB and even involved a large amount of people… What are you trying to fight against?"

Tears streamed down the girl's eyes. Biting her lips in fear and pain, she directed a glare full of anger at Daisuke.

"—I had a bad feeling."

The girl wrought out a shaking voice as Daisuke knit his eyebrows.

"Ever since the Director changed, the Central Headquarters' way of doing things suddenly changed… Capturing Mushitsuki became increasingly merciless…"

Director of Central Headquarters.

Ichiku Mikitaka, huh—

He recalled the unknown boy that appeared during their school trip the other day.

He hadn't appeared in front of Daisuke and Arisu since then, but there was no doubt he was a Mushitsuki.

How many Branch Heads in the SEPB knew that the Director was a Mushitsuki? At the very least the Vice Director, Miguruma Yaeko, would definitely know.

"I thought that at this rate it'd become something irreversible… I mean, if we end up fighting even more than now… That would be unbearable…!"

"And so you ran?"

Daisuke asserted calmly. He could hear her grind her teeth.

"If we Mushitsuki run, we lose. Since we have to fight, we can only die if we lose."

Large tears spilled from the girl's eyes. A scream containing all emotions in it reverberated in the room.

"AHHHHHHH!!!"

Daisuke pulled the trigger.

The bullet containing overwhelming destructive power shot through the giant flea attacking him.

When the Mushi's body was blown to smithereens, the girl bent backward as if receiving a shock. She fell to the floor and stopped moving. A Mushitsuki whose Mushi was killed would be reduced to a husk without any feelings or will—a Fallen.

"…"

Returning the gun to the holster on his back, he exited the waiting room.

He climbed the stairs to the floor above—returning to Ena collapsed in front of the corridor connected to the announcement room.

"If you show your weakness you lose…"

He muttered while looking down on Ena.

He had to become stronger than anyone to keep living as a Mushitsuki. He couldn't lose to anyone. If he showed any weakness—he would forget his dream, just like the girl he'd turned into a Mushitsuki just now.

"Nnn…"

Raising a small voice, Ena grimaced while opening her eyes.

Soon the department store would be completely sealed by the police and the Special Environmental Preservation Bureau. Many people witnessed the Mushi that didn't officially exist. They'd all hear a fabricated story about those Mushi in the form of counseling, and then warned not to speak about them.

"Kusuriya…kun…?"

The rising Ena looked around vacantly, wearing a relieved expression. She probably recalled what happened before she'd lost her consciousness. After she confirmed neither she nor Daisuke were hurt, he saw Ena's face warp.

"Kusuriya-kun!"

Probably relieved, she clung to Daisuke. Perhaps she started crying, as he could hear the sobs of the girl as she embraced him with shaking arms.

Ena embraced him without knowing that he was a Mushitsuki—and the one who exterminated other Mushitsuki for the sake of his dream, the worst Mushitsuki, who was known as a demon.

"It's all fine now. Seems like the monsters went somewhere."

However—

"So calm down, Saionji-san."

Since she didn't know, they could probably keep hanging like this for a while.

Since he was continuing Arisu's monitoring, he would have to keep going along with this girl he was weak against.

Daisuke repeated It's all fine. Ena kept sobbing without giving any reply.

So all he could do was return her hug.

When he raised his face again, he saw two familiar people looking at them from the shadows.

"I'll punish you later… pervy Daisuke."

"Pfft, just hugging a girl makes him blush."

It was Arisu and Kasuou. They'd apparently tailed Daisuke.

"She'll hear you…"

Even after Daisuke swore in a low voice, the clinging Ena didn't let go for a while.

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