Mushi Uta:Volume 5 Chapter 3

3.00 Daisuke Part 5

Oogui didn't dodge the bullet Daisuke shot at her.

In front of her sleek smile purple scales converged and produced a circular mirror.

The moment after the bullet had been sucked into the mirror, an identical bullet with identical force was launched at Daisuke.

As he leapt aside to evade, the bullet blew up the ground on the rooftop at his back. The entire elementary school building shook and all the classes' windows shattered at once.

"OOOOOOH!"

Kicking the ground without a moment's delay, Daisuke closed his distance to Oogui. Circumventing around the mirror made of scales, he swung his fist aiming at her face.

"We Original Three appear when lured by delicious dreams…"

In front of his eyes the purple scales assembled and created a large Mushi. Daisuke's fist, leaving a green afterimage behind as it was swung downward, collided with the Mushi from the front as it raised a howl.

Having received a full-powered blow, the Mushi dispersed as if exploding. The shockwave gushing out created large cracks in the area around Daisuke and Oogui.

"We're everywhere and yet nowhere. But even so you knew that I would come here… You were the one and only person to know of my appearance here in the entire world."

Facing Daisuke with his full power, Oogui whispered as if dozing off to a dream. Without even looking at him, she kept gazing up the sky while letting his attacks go past as if she was a sleepwalker. Her profile seemed like she was reminiscing about the past.

Small Mushi the size of a fist were created around her.

—All of the Mushi Oogui produced had no real form and were like an illusion given an outline by purple scales. Yet as the Mushi's ability was powerful it reflected his bullets, making him defend with his fist.

Daisuke promptly used his coat as a shield, jumping back.

The small Mushi scattered to all directions, emitting light. While radiating high temperature heat, they soared toward Daisuke. Having protected himself with his coat, the concrete at his feet was liquefied by the heat.

As Oogui moved while swaying about countless purple masses were born in front of her.

"Now I remember. On that day five years ago your dream seemed very delicious… But I was unable to eat it. It was quite regrettable. Facing you just after you became a Mushitsuki made me mutter some unnecessary words…"

The masses of scales flew toward Daisuke. They all became atypically-shaped Mushi, assaulting him while raising ghost-like cries.

Daisuke shook off the coat he had used as a shield and readied his handgun. The bullet shot from its muzzle blew off several Mushi together. Further rotating his body and repeating a kick, he pulverized the heads of two other Mushi.

"UOOOOH!"

The pattern of the checkered beetle fused with Daisuke emitted a green glow. His fist exerting his full power smashed the remaining Mushi altogether.

"'If one day your sister… Ends up 'recalling' everything that's happened this day'—"

Yet there were too many Mushi. The ones he wasn't able to defeat stabbed their fangs into his body.

Daisuke's eyes perceived Oogui. Without minding the Mushi clinging to him, he charged toward the sunglasses-wearing woman.

"—'She will surely come to deliver me a delicious dream'."

Innumerable Mushi were produced above her. They spewed masses of flames or water from their widely opened mouthparts.

Receiving their attack from the front, Daisuke was blown back.

"Guh…!"

"You probably hadn't understood the meaning of my words at the time. —And you probably don't know what your sister 'remembered' even now. But even so, based on mere intuition…"

Bouncing on the ground, Daisuke's body clashed into the railings and was stopped. Because of the accumulated fatigue and the damage he had received until getting there his feet wouldn't move as he pleased them to.

Yet he mustered his power and stood up.

A large amount of blood was flowing from his forehead, dyeing the long coat around his body in deep red.

—"I remembered".

This was the short note Chiharu had left behind in Nishito City.

Just like Oogui said, Daisuke didn't know the meaning of her words.

However—

"If, just like I said, your sister comes to fully 'recall' that day… Then she would come back to this place just like five years ago."

The note Chiharu left behind made Daisuke run all the way there.

And he knew he had to hurry.

"That is why you've come, right? Before Chiharu-chan comes back here – before she fully recalls everything."

For the first time Oogui's eyes looked at Daisuke from the front. Looking at him riddled with wounds, she raised an otherworldly ecstatic expression.

"But it's useless you know? Since your dream was snatched away from me five years ago, will you not let me have the best dream this time? Chiharu-chan's dream… her feelings that slowly matured during these long five years—"

Oogui hugged her own body and shuddered. The woman, who was protected by enough Mushi to completely cover one's vision, licked her lips with a red tongue.

"'I want to meet my brother and be convicted by him'… I will not hand over such a delicious dream to anyone."

Before Chiharu came back to Shiou City…

Before she returned to this place just like she did five years ago…

Daisuke had to defeat Oogui by his own hands.

Chiharu, the sister that ended up living separately from him five years ago. He didn't know where she was living now and what kind of girl she has become, all to protect his one and only sister.

He won't let her become a Mushitsuki.

Letting his carefree and good-natured sister shoulder the fate known as Mushitsuki would be too cruel—

"…Convicted, you say?"

While tasting blood in his mouth, he exerted power to his hand holding the gun.

Oogui merely snickered. Even now that they faced each other atypically-shaped Mushi were being created around the woman one after another.

"What on earth are you saying Chiharu remembered—"

During that day five years ago…

Daisuke found Chiharu facing against Oogui in this place.

Yet his later memories were vague.

What remained in his ears was only the mysterious mutter Oogui repeated just now.

"Answer, Oogui…!"

Laughing in amusement, she again averted her eyes from Daisuke. She held up her arm toward empty space. As if – his young sister was there and she was stroking her head.

"So you don't remember as well? Since at the time you had just turned into a Mushitsuki and ran wild it's understandable. You remember only the words I have muttered at the end…"

Daisuke's arm shuddered with a twitch.

"What are you… talking about?"

Oogui smiled, sending a side glance at Daisuke. While leaking a sweet-seeming sigh, she started speaking in a sugary voice that would melt one's reason just by listening to it.

"There were once two of the Original Three in this town you know? One was the blue cocoon wandering in search of paradise… He – no, was it a she at the time? You of the Special Environmental Preservation Bureau call her Sanbikime, but her true name is Aria Varei."

"…!"

"And the other one who keeps eating single-mindedly. The purple butterfly searching for delicious dreams to satisfy its appetite… You call me Oogui. —We two have fought over a very delicious dream in this town."

Oogui kept caressing the person who wasn’t there. Daisuke felt a creep as if she was touching the nape of his neck.

"I have this body, but Aria isn't so. Since she possesses neither a personality nor a physical body, she requires a 'vessel'. And therefore she had chosen the person most close to that dream as her 'vessel'."

Ba bump—

Daisuke's heart pounded in his chest.

His heartbeat was rapidly picking up pace.

A bad premonition slowly crawled up from his legs.

"Yet while she had become one with Aria, the girl never tried to eat the dream in front of her eyes. On the contrary, she tried protecting it and stood in my way. And so we have fought to the death—"

The memories of the past flashed in Daisuke's mind.

He headed into inescapable battles just due to him being a Mushitsuki.

He met up with Haji Keigo, killed the Mushi of Anmoto Shiika who possessed the same dream by his own hands, had to separate from his friends, and saw the death of Tachibana Rina who loved him.

And even now he kept fighting.

"No… way…"

—Why had his days of fighting ever since becoming a Mushitsuki passed through his mind now?

Daisuke's instincts rejected the exposed answer.

"We have competed for a cute boy. A stray child who sought a place to belong to, a small boy…"

Oogui's rainbow-colored eyes narrowed enjoyably as she looked at Daisuke.

"—And you are much like a stray child even now, right Daisuke-chan?"

Until now—

From when he became a Mushitsuki and until now, how much pain had he endured?

How much had he experienced shaking in fear of his dream being eaten by his Mushi, of being cursed by other people, and of having the hope he was able to finally grasp slip out of his hands?

He was hurt, confused, lost – and yet kept fighting.

All because he was a Mushitsuki—

"And in the meanwhile what has that child who was once Aria's 'vessel' had been doing? Since she had finished her role she forgot all about her being a 'vessel' and about the dream she had eaten – that was the compensation for her being involved in Aria's sleep. That's the rule required for Aria to pass along to the next sleep. Until now there was no human to ever break that rule, but that girl alone appears to have recalled her memories."

The next thing coming to mind was the older girl who was always at his side ever since the moment he was born.

And while she has seen Daisuke growing up she also grew up along with him.

She would worry for him and tag along.

Until she was separated from Daisuke five years ago she was always at his side.

"Now, will the girl who used to be Aria Varei's 'vessel' – Chiharu-chan really come back here?"

Kusuriya Chiharu.

Daisuke's one and only sister.

She, who was next to him ever since he was born, was Aria Varei—

The originator behind his being a Mushitsuki.

"Can I ask you something, Daisuke-chan?"

Oogui smiled happily from the bottom of her heart.

"—If you are going to kill her, could you do it after I eat her dream?"

Burning fury filled his chest.

Is that so… is that really so—

He couldn't speak due his excessive rage. He even forgot that his archenemy was in front of his eyes and felt an urge to throw away his handgun on the floor.

He finally realized the reason for Chiharu having fought against Oogui five years ago.

On the road back from home that day…

Only now Daisuke realized why Chiharu showed him a sad expression for an instant just before parting with him.

I knew it… Even though I was supposed to understand the meaning of her catchphrase…!

Chiharu said the following before parting with him.

—I just got some dirt in my eyes. It's just that, really.

"It's just that, really" – these were the words Chiharu would always say when she lied.

"—I thought that I…"

Daisuke groaned unconsciously.

"I thought that I ended up being involved in battle because I became a Mushitsuki… That my battle started there…"

Only thinking about ending them, Daisuke never thought about when exactly had the despairing battles surrounding him started.

Without even thinking about it, he thought it happened ever since he became a Mushitsuki.

"But I was wrong—"

Daisuke raised his face.

He looked directly at the woman standing calmly in front of him.

She was one of the Original Three, Oogui—

"Even before that, you Original Three… have involved Chiharu since long ago."

Chiharu tried protecting Daisuke.

Obviously.

There was no way that brother-obsessed sister wouldn't try to protect him.

That was something that her one and only brother Daisuke knew better than anyone.

"And now you're trying to make her into a Mushitsuki as well, Oogui…!"

He couldn't lose.

Until now he went through countless mortal combats. Fights where defeat meant death.

But this time things wouldn't end with his death.

"…Ah, how nostalgic. Just like it was five years ago."

—She was probably stimulated by her gluttony.

Oogui sighed along with a bewitching smile.

"Five years ago Chiharu-chan made the exact same expression as you do now."

A battle in order to protect someone.

Chiharu had already done that here five years ago—

"If you siblings try to protect each other… Then it would definitely be about the same delicious dream as back then."

The Mushi produced by Oogui all attacked Daisuke at once.

He offset the Mushi's attacks with his handgun, responding by using his fist to smash their heads apart.

Gunfire reverberated, and every time the pattern on Daisuke's body emitted a green glow several Mushi would be ripped to shreds, reverting back to purple scales.

But he was unable to protect against the too numerous Mushi, once again being flung to the ground.

Rain assaulted Daisuke's face as he collapsed face-up.

Through the cracks between the dark clouds one could catch a glimpse of a far too large purple-colored swallowtail butterfly. On the surface of its four wings, large enough to cover the entire town, was a pattern like human eyes. Purple scales emitting phosphorous light poured down from the butterfly in the sky.

Daisuke finally realized.

This was the power of the Original Three and the state of their existence.

Shinpu, who gave birth to Special Type Mushitsuki, possessed the absolute territory known as the Church. He had absolute power while inside there and he ate the dream of those he invited into his territory.

As for Sanbikime who gave birth to Fusion Type Mushitsuki, if Oogui's words were the truth, then just like when Chiharu was the 'vessel', Sanbikime would merge with a specific person and thus become able to eat people's dreams.

And Oogui, who gave birth to Minion Type Mushitsuki, exhibited her abilities through a separate activator – she needed the butterfly floating in the heavens. Since it was so big and so out of reach, it was impossible for Daisuke to attack that butterfly.

The Prototype Mushi who gave birth to Mushitsuki, the Original Three.

Prototype Mushi.

This truly was the form of the original Mushitsuki.

By noticing the similarities between the Original Three and Mushitsuki, Daisuke was once again convinced.

He felt as if he could see a ray of hope in the long fight.

If the Original Three resembled Mushitsuki, then it was likely that their weaknesses were also the same.

Meaning that if he could hit the activators of their abilities, their true bodies, then—

—He could possibly win.

"Thinking you can win against me – have you come this far telling yourself that?"

While he was being hit by the rain on the cold floor, Oogui's voice entered Daisuke's ears.

"You should have known though… Only you, who knows of my ability, should be aware that you can't win against me as I am now, right?"

Oogui's sweet whisper didn't change in the slightest ever since the time Daisuke had come there. This bewitching voice that took away the reason of all listeners made fun of him putting his life at stake to battle her and played with him as if he was a toy.

"Despite knowing you can't win, you still had no choice but to come here…"

The air mixed with the rain's smell was unchanged from how it was five years ago.

It was the same smell of creeping despair from that time.

"You've shouldered everything by yourself and continually fought by yourself. Nothing's changed in these five years."

Mustering all of his remaining power, Daisuke roused his body.

While he was trying to stand up, the rain wetting his entire body mixed up with endlessly flowing fresh blood. The red stream was being absorbed into the drainage of the already closed elementary school's roof. The Special Environmental Preservation Bureau's long coat he wore soaked up the rain and blood, changing colors.

"I'm different… from how I was five years ago…"

Standing up, Daisuke's face was dirtied by rain, blood and mud.

He raised his face and stared directly at Oogui.

"No, nothing's changed."

Gazing at the wounded Daisuke, she sneered at him.

"You're simply about to repeat the same from that day… from the time you turned into a Mushitsuki."

Purple scales were raining around the woman wrapped in a crimson-colored long coat.

These scales created countless masses in the air, transforming into atypically-shaped insects. The Mushi, crowding so densely as if to completely cover the field of vision, raised a yell that seemed like it would tear apart the rainclouds.

"When I rescued Senri I'd defeated Shinpu. —So I'll definitely beat you as well…!"

Daisuke raised his gun, pointing the muzzle fused with the jaw of the checkered beetle toward Oogui.

He squeezed the trigger.

—Clink, a vain metallic sound echoed.

Facing Daisuke who had defeated Shinpu, Oogui gradually deepened her smile. She snickered suggestively while overlooking the townscape visible from the rooftop. 

"It seems that the main dish has finally arrived."

"…!"

Daisuke widened his eyes.

He couldn't see anything in front of Oogui's line of sight. But she was probably the only one would could sense a certain person approaching there.

I didn't make it in time— 

He swept aside the sense of despair welling up in his heart.

No… I can still—

Throwing away his gun, Daisuke gathered up his remaining power. The green pattern covering his cheeks and fists emitted a bright light. The checkered beetle assimilated with Daisuke handed out its power to him.

"I won't let you—"

He gazed at Oogui with his blood-dyed face, powerfully kicking the ground.

The green light tearing through the darkness of the night charged towards her.

"Oogui!!!"

The Mushi created around Oogui assaulted Daisuke. Some widened their mouthparts made of purple scales; others spread their wings and shot masses of flames and ice, lightning strikes or shockwaves.

Daisuke held his right fist aloft. The pattern etched to the fist exerting his full might shone in green.

His full-powered blow pounded the pursuing Mushi.

Annihilating the Mushi that were hit by it, the wave of the impact was yet to cease and so smashed the surrounding Mushi to smithereens. The school rooftop's floor caved in, wild cracks running through it. The energy created by the aftershock blew the metal fences away.

Daisuke raised his running speed, aiming directly for Oogui. The remaining Mushi all shot their attacks one after another, but he didn't stop. Several Mushi bit into him, but he pulled them along with him while shortening his distance to Oogui.

"Compared to back then – I became stronger."

Oogui was calmly sneering at Daisuke during his struggle through the curtain of Mushi.

He brandished his shining fist.

"—No matter how strong you've become, you can't defeat me… you should be aware of that, right?"

While Oogui smiled with enjoyment. a lone Mushi appeared in front of her.

Daisuke recognized the fake Mushi created by the purple scales – that Mushi which had a rear split into two.

This is Akatsuki's—

As he widened his eyes, Daisuke's vision was filled with countless laser beams.

The torrent of light shot toward the sky pierced him.

"…!"

Several beams shot at his stomach, shoulders and legs, penetrating the long coat provided by the Special Environmental Preservation Bureau.

Further laser beams were fired, vaporizing the violent rain.

Thrown into the sky, Daisuke was pierced by the heat rays again and again. Having already received irreversible injuries, he couldn't even evade.

By the vibration that came as a thud and the cold sensation touching his body he realized that he dropped on the ground.

He could also feel that along with the flowing blood his life was also spilling out.

He could hear his rapidly weakening heartbeats close to his ears.

"Please forget everything about both fighting and protecting… and sleep peacefully."

Oogui's voice sounded horribly distant.

She was facing him as he approached death—

But even so Daisuke tried standing up.

3.01 Chiharu Part 6

*

Gently swaying…

Lightly floating…

Chiharu's peaceful days were being torn down.

She desperately resisted, reaching her hands to the happy daily life she was about to lose.

—At some point it started raining.

Although the sky had been clear until sunset, when it became night dark clouds suddenly obstructed the moonlight.

From within these clouds one could see four giant eyes overlooking Shiou City. It was a purple swallowtail butterfly so large it seemed to cover the entire night sky. Mixed with the rain were also phosphorescent scales pouring down.

Fighting on the rooftop of Shiou Elementary School, Chiharu breathed heavily and dropped to her knees.

"Hah! Hah!"

Chiharu's face, wet by the rain, was dyed in blood. Her clothes were torn and even from her hands fresh blood flowed.

"I won't let anyone… eat Daisuke's dream—"

Forgetting even the pain of her wounds, she rose up.

In front of her was one of the Original Three, Elvioréne.

The woman called Oogui narrowed her rainbow-colored eyes. Around her the Mushi produced by assembled scales were wriggling.

"How cute you are to pretend to be tough. —You sure get along well with her, right Aria?"

"Give me a break. She's my worst partner so far. She's stubborn and won't listen to anything I say."

One of the Original Three, Aria Varei living inside Chiharu replied.

"But what a pity. Her body is too inexperienced so she can't endure your ability. Even her fighting style consists of her merely swinging around her arms."

"…"

The several dozen Mushi assaulted Chiharu.

She concentrated on the nerves in both her hands. Her blue-dyed hair swayed and her arms glowed.

She shook off her right arm to the side.

A blue glow swallowed the Mushi. The energy released by fusion with space without restoring it destroyed them one after another.

She stuck out her left arm.

The devastating energy torrent approached Oogui while destroying the ground.

Elvioréne kept smiling without even evading. Her shoulders, her neck and part of her face were gouged out.

However—

"You seem to no longer have most of your power."

The raining scales became small Mushi that crawled over the woman's body, assembling at her lost parts. They transformed into flesh, bones and skin, mending Elvioréne's body.

"Uuh…!"

The bones of Chiharu's arms creaked. Aria Varei's fusion ability was not originally an offensive power. The attack that forcibly broke the power's balance created recoil that ate into Chiharu's body.

"I've told you, right? You can't beat El. If you want to destroy her you have to at least completely annihilate her body or it won’t work."

Chiharu couldn't even speak against Aria's voice she heard in her ears. Her weariness and sharp pain made her almost lose her consciousness.

At this rate she would lose.

Chiharu would be killed and her brother Daisuke's dream would be eaten by Elvioréne.

"It's natural… for a sister… to protect her brother…"

Breathing heavily, she wore a smile.

"It's stupid how obsessed with your brother you are."

"It's not stupid. It's normal."

Death.

She found that idea so scary a shudder welled up inside her.

"…But I really might be a teeny tiny bit obsessed about him."

Chiharu said with a carefree smile like the usual.

Dying was scary. It was obvious.

But right now she had something she found much scarier than her death.

"I know. As I told you we're two hearts beating as one."

Aria's voice was slightly angry and seemed greatly resigned.

Still smiling, Chiharu rushed toward Elvioréne. Crossing her arms in front of her head, she sprinted as if enveloping herself in the blue glow.

"I know perfectly well what you're thinking about now."

The Mushi protecting Oogui flew at Chiharu. But the moment they touched her running in a straight line they were annihilated by the blue glow.

As Chiharu closed the distance, Elvioréne showed a calm expression without moving an inch.

Chiharu spread out her arms—

"You'd rather die than turn your little brother into a Mushitsuki."

"…!"

Hearing Aria's voice, Elvioréne stopped smiling for the first time. With her crimson coat fluttering she moved backwards.

But it was too late.

As if tackling her, Chiharu wrapped both arms around Elvioréne's waist.

"Sorry for involving you in my brother obsession, Aria."

The blue glow enveloped Chiharu and Elvioréne.

"I'm the one who's involved you. Why do you even need to apologize?"

A large amount of Mushi were produced around Elvioréne. But being touched by Chiharu's rapidly swelling power, they were scattered away all at once.

Dying was very scary.

Even now that she was going to annihilate Elvioréne together with her, her trembling didn't cease.

—But turning Daisuke into a Mushitsuki was much scarier.

Even if Chiharu wouldn't eat his dream, Elvioréne probably would.

If so, then his sister could do only one thing for her brother's sake.

Even without Chiharu Daisuke would grow up splendidly.

Because he was a good boy who strong and kinder than anyone.

"…Bye-bye, Daisuke…"

She announced her farewell from her one and only brother.

Chiharu closed her eyelids—

"Not noticing this sweet smell must mean you are greatly exhausted, right Chiharu-chan?"

Elvioréne's cheerful voice shook her eardrums.

"…!"

"…!"

Chiharu and Aria Varei inside her. Their awareness was turned toward the entrance to the rooftop.

The smell of the dream approaching them was—

"…Daisuke…!"

Chiharu grimaced. Although she had resolved her mind once, it now crumbled down.

In the end—

Just for a moment before she died—

"Chiharu…!"

"…I want to see… Daisuke's face…"

Her face wrinkled and tears flowed.

Having relaxed her mind, the blue glow enveloping the pair also rapidly subsided.

"You are two hearts in one body, right Aria? Then you should understand that no matter how much you sympathize with her, no matter how strong of a will she possesses… in the end she's nothing more than a child, right?"

Elvioréne thrust Chiharu's body aside. Several Mushi rushed at her, using their claws to knock her off.

"Uh…!"

Rolling on the ground, she clashed into the railing. Although her regenerative abilities were enhanced through her fusion with Aria Varei, the intense pain caused her limbs to go numb for an instant.

"—Goodbye, Aria Varei."

But just after Elvioréne launched her Mushi…

"Chiharu!"

The one to appear on the rooftop was none other than Daisuke.

Chiharu's one and only brother.

Daisuke—

For a moment she raised a weak smile.

But her expression immediately froze.

You can’t—

The figure of her brother rushing toward her reflected in her eyes as if she was watching it in slow-motion.

The Mushi unleashed by Oogui were already approaching Chiharu.

Don't come here—

Her expression slowly distorted into despair.

You can't come here—

"—"

A spray of blood danced in Chiharu's vision.

*

Ayukawa Chiharu landed at the streets of Shiou City from the raining sky.

Right after releasing Chiharu from her embrace, Shirakashi Ubuki breathed heavily and collapsed on the ground.

"I brought you here… just like you told me, but…! Is that, no way…"

She looked up at the giant swallowtail butterfly that could be seen covering the hill and groaned.

"B-but, I'm already at my limits…! I'll fly again once I'm recovered a bit—"

She spent several hours flying at her top speed all the way from Ouka City. She had probably mustered every last bit of her stamina and mental power.

"Thank you, Ubuki-chan!"

She could never be thankful enough to her, but Chiharu had no time. She left Ubuki behind and rushed to the residential area.

"Ah… Chiharu-tan, wai—"

Ubuki tried hurriedly chasing after her, but her feet tangled and she tumbled.

Chiharu started running toward the hill she could see on the other side of the residential area.

The smell of the rain and the town's nostalgic smell.

Mixed with that, Chiharu who had once been Aria Varei could perceive something.

A presence which could be called the lingering scent of Aria Varei's existence.

And also—

"Elvioréne…!"

She looked up at the giant swallowtail butterfly fluttering about inside the black clouds covering Shiou City.

Elvioréne was there.

Chiharu could certainly feel the existence of one of the Original Three.

Reaching the hill, she passed the barricade and started climbing up the road.

A bad premonition squeezed her chest.

After reaching her alma mater, Chiharu gasped.

On the rooftop of the school building across the playground she could see purple scales pouring down.

Climbing over the railing, she ran towards the school. The front door had been destroyed. She passed through the shoe racks and ran in the corridors. She rushed up the dark stairs.

No way—

Chiharu reached the fourth floor and went through the door connected to the rooftop.

There's no way, right…?

Desperately shaking off the despair clinging to her, Chiharu went out to the roof.

*

Blood danced in Kusuriya Chiharu's vision.

"—"

As she widened her eyes to their limits, her brother's body fell on her with a thud.

As the Mushi were trying to assault her—

Her brother cut in between them—

And was torn apart—

"aaAAaaAAAAaAaHHH!!!"

A scream that didn't seem like it came from her reverberated on the school rooftop.

Her arms hugging Daisuke were dyed in lukewarm fresh blood. She desperately pressed down on the lacerations on her brother's back, but the abnormal bleeding wouldn't stop.

"I never thought he would end up using himself a shield without any hesitation – without faltering at all."

Chiharu couldn't even perceive Elvioréne's voice.

"What a waste… the feast in front of my eyes is ruined."

"In the end, that's what happened? In the end I—"

Chiharu didn't even care about these words of the two Original Three.

While being pounded by the violent rain.

While simply embracing her still-bleeding brother.

She kept screaming.

*

Coming out to the rooftop, Ayukawa Chiharu's thoughts stopped for a second.

The rooftop of the closed Shiou Elementary School.

It was the exact same scene as five years ago.

In the midst of the violent rain a tall woman was standing.

She was clothed in a crimson long coat, had rainbow-colored pupils behind her round sunglasses, and wore a cheerful smile.

Elvioréne. The being that was one of the Original Three and also had the name Oogui turned around to Chiharu.

"—Welcome back, Chiharu-chan."

Elvioréne, looking completely unchanged from how she was five years ago, welcomed Chiharu with a joyful smile.

"Have you come to deliver me a delicious dream just like I thought?"

A single boy was collapsed in front of her. He was heavily wounded and didn't move.

"—"

She still wasn't able to restore her thinking, but Chiharu started running unconsciously.

In this scene that was unchanged from five years ago, only the boy's grown form indicated the passage of time.

First of all he had grown taller. When he was in elementary school he was about the same as Chiharu. But now his body grew more manlike, and he was probably taller than her.

His face also became slightly more masculine. His hairstyle was as plain as usual, but she thought his face became much more handsome than it used to be. He was definitely popular among the girls of his age. —Yet with blood streaming from his head, his eyes closed and his face pale he looked to be in horrible pain.

He wore the long coat provided to the members of the East Central Branch of the Special Environmental Preservation Bureau. Under it was probably some school's uniform. Because of the deep red blood dyeing it she couldn't properly judge the shirt's original color.

Chiharu unhesitatingly shouted.

"—Daisukeee!"

She held up her one and only brother that lay on the ground without moving.

The large amount of lukewarm blood dyed Chiharu's clothes crimson in no time.

—Just like five years ago.

Her brother was rapidly losing his body heat in her arms—

"—"

She could see the figure of her little brother approaching death both in her revived memories and even in reality.

Unable to endure the two merging consciousness, Chiharu screamed.

3.02 Chiharu Part 7

*

Gently swaying…

Lightly floating…

Chiharu's happiness filled days – were about to be erased without any trace.

The striking rain created a stream mixed with the blood flowing from Daisuke's body.

There were only two people on the rooftop of Shiou Elementary School.

The unmoving Daisuke and Chiharu who held him.

And also two non-humans – Elvioréne and Aria Varei.

"Daisuke! Daisuke! Daisukeee!"

Why has this happened?

Inside the body of the elementary school 6^th year student Chiharu was the mysterious being known as Aria Varei.

And at the same time the being known as Elvioréne also appeared.

And both of them were after the sweet, delicious dream harbored by Daisuke.

"Daisuke! Daisuke!"

She had been resolved to fight in an attempt to stop them from turning Daisuke into a Mushitsuki.

And yet—

Why has her brother in front of her, the one she was supposed to have protected—

"Daisuke! Daisuke! No…! Open your eeeeyes…!"

Without understanding anything she could only shout.

The only thing she understood was that her one and only brother had gotten hurt instead of her.

"You said that you hate me…! You've called me annoying…! So why have you covered for me…!"

Inside Chiharu who could only cry and scream Aria Varei squeezed out a shaking voice.

"I'm so stupid…! Even though I knew it… Even though I knew these siblings aren't afraid of getting hurt even a single bit…!"

"I thought I would get it this time – but it turned out like this, Aria. Couldn't I have snatched away the dream you aimed for?"

Elvioréne smiled no longer. She felt nothing at the fact she was about to lose Daisuke due to her fault.

"Daisuke! Daisuke!"

Daisuke's body in grew heavier in Chiharu's arms.

Flowing blood.

Her brother's body was losing its warmth.

"Chiharu! Chiharu!"

She couldn't think of anything due to her excessive fear.

Daisuke was losing his life right now.

No matter how much she called him, no matter how hard she hugged him, Daisuke's life was spilling out from between her arms.

It was fear incomparable to the time she was resolved to die herself.

"Aaah… Daisuke's… dying… he's dying…"

"Chiharu! Pull yourself together, Chiharu!"

"No… No… Daisuke…"

What had gone wrong?

When had she lost him?

—Gently swaying…

—Lightly floating…

Chiharu's world was supposed to be composed of pleasant days.

There wasn't supposed to be even a single thing that endangered her peaceful life.

"No… I don't want you to die… Daisukee…"

In that daily life Chiharu doted on her beloved brother.

Her brother that was a bit unsociable and so lonely.

Only Chiharu knew…

That Daisuke was in fact a good kid who was strong and kinder than anyone.

That was why only his sister thought of taking care of him.

She pampered him a lot and doted on him a lot.

All so that Daisuke – wouldn't be lonely.

"—Chiharu!"

"Ariaa… Daisuke's… Daisuke's… Ariaa…"

She wanted to keep spending such a daily life forever.

Even if the incomprehensible beings known as the Original Three were to disturb them, Chiharu wanted to protect him.

No matter how much she was hurt.

No matter how much she suffered.

She was going to protect her happy and peaceful days forever.

Even so, the center of those days which was her brother was slipping through her arms.

"…Let's eat Daisuke's dream, Chiharu."

Chiharu raised her tear-stained face.

Elvioréne who was standing calmly returned her an ecstatic smile. —As if she was ascertaining Chiharu's suffering. As if Chiharu's choice was a condiment that stimulated her own appetite.

"—No… I can't… I just can't…"

Chiharu hugged Daisuke strongly.

Her brother was unmoving, and the intervals between his faintly felt heartbeats were growing farther.

Turning Daisuke into a Mushitsuki…

It was the same as thrusting her one and only brother down to hell by her own hands.

She heard from Aria about the unimaginable lives lead by Fusion Type Mushitsuki so far.

Those who became Mushitsuki were hurt, fought, lost, and finally – reached a pitiful ending. Perhaps he would have his dream consumed and perish, or possibly just like Chiharu did to his friend Tsumura Mitsuki he would have his Mushi killed and end up as an emotionless Fallen—

"I told you this before! When I, Aria Varei, give birth to Fusion Type Mushitsuki, the moment I eat their dream they're reborn once – it should be able to heal even those wounds!"

"No… Doing such a horrible thing… to Daisuke… I can’t…"

Bump, bump, the heartbeats transmitted from Daisuke weakened.

Looking at the paling Daisuke, she grimaced.

At such a time—

While her cherished brother was breathing his last, at such a moment—

Being merged with Aria Varei, Chiharu was attracted to him.

Daisuke's dream – seemed awfully delicious.

"Also, if I turn him into a Mushitsuki… I will…"

She bit her lips to suppress her urges.

If Chiharu abandoned herself to Aria Varei's appetite and ate Daisuke's dream he would be reborn as a Mushitsuki.

Then Aria Varei would leave Chiharu and she would forget everything about Daisuke.

That was the absolute rule for those involved in Aria Varei's sleep.

She would even forget that she had turned Daisuke – her one and only brother into a Mushitsuki.

"If I forget about Daisuke… who will I turn into…?"

Hugging her brother, she shed endless tears.

—Bump, bump…

She could clearly feel Daisuke's pulse.

"If I choose either of those… then I'll lose Daisuke anyway…"

"At this rate he'll die!"

Aria urged Chiharu.

Aria Varei, who became one with Chiharu.

Another Chiharu that had the exact same voice and personality.

That voice was also–crying.

"Even you should understand! There's no other way!"

"Turning Daisuke into a Mushitsuki… and forgetting all about it… doing such a cruel thing… it's too cruel…"

Would she let her brother die without doing anything here?

Or would she thrust him to the life of a Mushitsuki where nothing but despair awaited him?

—It was far too cruel of a decision to make for Chiharu was still an elementary school student.

"Don't misunderstand, Chiharu…! Certainly he will suffer if he turns into a Mushitsuki! He will surely be hurt, lose many things, and yet still fight… and plenty of Mushitsuki also die! But they're all doing their best to live! They're living desperately while not giving up even if they become Mushitsuki!"

"No… I don't want to do that to Daisuke…"

"Even aware I will be begrudged and hated, I will say this as one of the Original Three that give birth to Mushi! All people who become Mushitsuki live desperately! As long as they're alive they'll be hurt, lose things, and yet they can still fight! All to see their dream continuing!"

—Bump… bump…

Her brother's heartbeats slowly grew more silent.

"Let's eat his dream, Chiharu!"

"I can't… Turning Daisuke into a Mushitsuki… I would never…"

—Bump… bump…

Involving the kind Daisuke in the battle of Mushitsuki.

His sister Chiharu would throw him into days of battle by her own hands.

"Eat his dream, Chiharu!"

"No… No… NONONONONO!"

She shook her head, disheveling her hair.

—Bump…

Daisuke's heartbeats—

"Eat it!!!"

"NONONONONONONONOoooOOOO!!!"

—Bump…

Were growing weaker—

—…

And stopped.

"But he's your brother!!!"

"UWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

Chiharu's body was enveloped by a blue glow. Her blue hair stood up as if being fanned by the wind, and a surging stream of energy repelled the violent rain.

A golden light was flowing out of Daisuke in her embrace.

The light mixed with Chiharu's blue glow and began being absorbed into her open mouth.

Large tears started streaming from her eyes.

So sweet—

So rich in flavor—

What a painful dream—

The blue light enveloping Chiharu also started soaking into Daisuke in her embrace.

While crying, Chiharu stuffed her cheeks full of her brother's best dream.

Sorry, Daisuke—

While chewing the supreme taste that didn't seem part of this world, Chiharu could also feel something coming out of her.

I've done something terrible to you—

Chiharu was losing the being inside of her, Aria Varei.

No, what's really terrible is that I'll end up forgetting I even did that—

The memories of her precious brother were also vanishing along with Aria Varei.

I think that you'll have a lot of difficulties from now on. You will fight a lot, get hurt a lot, and lose a lot. And all of that is my fault—

"This is the best dream so far. Your brother will surely be strong."

She felt Aria's voice growing distant.

So—

Chiharu swallowed Daisuke's dream while wishing in her heart.

Gulp… rang from Chiharu's throat.

So you can hate me plenty. You can begrudge me plenty. Every time you suffer, think about me and—

Being given Chiharu's blue glow, Daisuke was enveloped by a dull light.

"Even though I thought I finally found my safe haven…"

The next moment, a green light erupted from Daisuke's body.

The torrent of light mended his injuries.

An intense drowsiness assaulted Chiharu. A pleasant euphoria was making her eyes close.

I might forget about you, Daisuke… but I'll definitely recall it. I'll recall everything and find you. I'll go and see you again, my one and only brother. So when that happens, Daisuke—

The green glow emitted from Daisuke broke through the sky.

Piercing through the black clouds, a single ray of light shone above him.

Swooping down from the light that connected Daisuke to the night sky was a small Mushi.

It was a green checkered beetle with long feelers.

So when that happens, please kill me by your own hands—

Since she turned her brother into a Mushitsuki by her own hands, she would have to atone for the sin of making him shoulder such a cruel fate.

That was the dream Chiharu harbored.

The only way she could atone for what she did to Daisuke.

"Good night, Chiharu."

As her body tipped over with irresistible drowsiness, in Chiharu's embrace—

"Let's meet again… is too embarrassing to say."

Daisuke slowly opened his eyes.

Chiharu smiled.

Thank god.

She could feel his pulse clearly. The most important was that her precious brother lived—

"Good night, Daisuke—"

Eating her brother's dream and losing Aria Varei, Chiharu went back to being just Chiharu.

In her slowly closing vision, Daisuke silently stood up.

She could see her brother look down at her expressionlessly.

That was Chiharu's last memory of Daisuke from five years ago.

*

—She remembered everything.

During that day and in this place, on the rooftop of Shiou Elementary School, Chiharu had eaten Daisuke's dream.

And she turned him into a Mushitsuki.

Ever since that day she forgot about Daisuke and even about the dream inside of her.

"—"

Seeing Chiharu who recalled everything, Oogui–Elvioréne–was jeering.

"Certainly… you have become stronger, right Daisuke-chan?"

In front of Chiharu's dumbfounded gaze, the boy stood up while fluttering his long coat.

It was the same as the scene she had seen just before losing her memories.

Daisuke stood in front of Chiharu while being pounded by the violent rain.

But Daisuke right now was much stronger than he used to be—

"Dai…suke…?"

Looking down at Chiharu with calm eyes, Daisuke bore wounds all over his body. Even she couldn't understand how he was able to stand up in that condition.

"Daisuke…!"

Seeing her brother stand still, Chiharu immediately grimaced.

Thank god.

Five years passed ever since the day she had turned him into a Mushitsuki.

The most important thing was that her precious brother lived—

"Daisuke…"

Her vision blurred due to her overflowing tears.

Although she wanted to see the figure of her grown brother much more she couldn't.

"—I've heard everything from Oogui."

Daisuke muttered toward Chiharu with his changed voice.

She bit her lips and nodded countless times. She couldn't speak.

Now that she's seen Daisuke she realized.

He had probably suffered much since becoming a Mushitsuki. He was hurt, lost a lot, and still kept fighting.

The one to make him shoulder that fate was Chiharu.

And she was finally able to recall that fact.

"Yes… I've turned you into a Mushitsuki… It's because of me you're so hurt…"

And it was now the time for her to be punished for that.

Chiharu was finally–able to meet with Daisuke.

"So, Daisuke… you can—"

Kill me—

She was about to say that but unconsciously swallowed her words.

Daisuke raised the edges of his lips just a slight bit. She needed only the shortest of moments to realize with her brain he was smiling.

He smiled at Chiharu only for an instant.

"This time I'll protect you, Chiharu."

She came to know the reason he came back to Shiou City.

She came to know the reason for him being covered in wounds.

It was all to protect her—

"…Daisuke—"

Chiharu could no longer see her brother dragging his feet walking toward Elvioréne.

Even though she was the one to turn him into a Mushitsuki…

Even though she was the one to do such a horrible thing to him…

He was still trying to protect her.

"…You really are kind, strong—"

And a good kid—

Because of the sobs welling up from her she couldn’t speak.

However, in contrast to all people who called him a demon, Chiharu was able to speak unashamedly.

Chiharu's one and only brother was a strong and good kid who was kinder than anyone—

"Have you still not fought enough, Daisuke-chan? What can you even do by standing up again?"

"I'll… defeat you."

While Oogui was smiling calmly Daisuke spoke in a hoarse voice.

"—It's useless. You should be the one to realize it the most. No matter how strong you are… isn't it impossible to defeat me all alone?"

Chiharu reached her hand toward Daisuke.

You can’t—

She tried raising a voice, but all that came out of her mouth were sobs.

Stop it already—

Finally able to move her mouth, Chiharu's hair was fanned by the wind.

She turned around after feeling the wind blowing away the rain.

"I—"

Chiharu's eyes reflected a large Mushi that resembled a rhinoceros beetle.

Countless human figures were riding atop the Mushi fluttering in the air with their wings spread. They were people wearing the long coat of the East Central Branch.

Other several Mushi filled the skies. There were an overwhelming number of people clad in white, long coats.

These people were all turned into Mushitsuki and went through battle training.

—The Mushitsuki of the Special Environmental Preservation Bureau filled the sky of the closed school.

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