Mushi Uta:Volume 6 Chapter 3

3.00 Inuko Part 4

The sky was blue.

The pleasantly warm weather indicated the end of winter.

Lying sprawled on top of the hard asphalt, Inuko basked in the sunlight as if savoring every second of it. The raincoat hanging from the hockey stick inserted into the drain hole raised a clattering sound as it blew by the wind.

"I refuse."

With an onigiri bought at a convenience store in her left hand and a cellphone in her right hand, Inuko raised a nonchalant voice. Since she was moving her mouth while eating, the person on other side of the phone was apparently unable to hear her replies well.

"Like I said, I refuse. Telling me to come back to Central Headquarters immediately is no joke. I still have things to do here. Since I've already handed the report to the branch here, it should be quickly passed along to the Headquarters."

"The situation is urgent. The branch had been attacked by Shinpu, and other than the branch director there are also plenty of members who are still unconscious—this sort of thing had never happened before. It is natural for the Headquarters to receive the detailed report instead of the branch that had lost most of its functions."  

The one on the other side of the phone spoke in a mild tone. Even through the phone Inuko felt like she could see that chaining smile that stripped the will of anyone in front of it.

Shinpu had not been recorded by the surveillance cameras installed in the assaulted branch. Most of the picture was covered by large amounts of miasma. Meaning that once again it had been only Inuko to confirm Shinpu's existence.

"That's quite odd of you to say, vice-director Miguruma-dono."

Inuko answered, completely calm. Having finished eating her onigiri, she now fumbled around inside a plastic bag for a new sandwich.

Shinpu had attacked the Special Environmental Preservation Bureau—

Ordinarily it should have been a major incident that would shake the branches in the entire country.

However, Central Headquarters decided putting everything on hold until after hearing about it directly from Inuko. There was probably also the reason of avoiding confusion, but it just meant that it was that much unbelievably shocking.

"During Valentine's Day… The proposal of acting branch director Goroumaru to change the chain of command had been accepted and should have come into effect. The authority of the Central Headquarters, until now of the highest priority, was to become second to the local branch. And in the case their branch director is absent then the authority to issue commands should go to the acting Director or to the assistant. This means that they have yet to lose their functions as a branch."

"The Assistant had said she would respect the opinion of Central Headquarters. So perhaps I should head over there to receive your report?"

This is no joke—

Inuko muttered in her heart. Right now that branch had been blockaded by a unit sent from Central Headquarters under the pretext of a high state of alert. If she went there she would obviously be taken into custody.

The Central Headquarters' forcible way of doing things wasn't anything new, but this time it was especially abnormal. Inuko knew that they were going to thoroughly interrogate anyone they thought had come in contact with Shinpu.

As she grew silent, the vice-director of Central Headquarters, Miguruma Yaeko, spoke in a gentle voice.

"Asagi. You are my important and beloved subordinate. I am worried for you after coming in contact with Shinpu. You might be under the influence of his mental pollution, so we should conduct a thorough checkup."

"It wasn't contact. I annihilated him. How's that strange corpse's investigation going along?"

"The autopsy results seem to indicate there is no other conclusion except that it was simply a decomposed body. You are the only one to insist that Shinpu had inhabited it and that you had annihilated it. There were no other witnesses, right?"

Being asked this, Inuko fell silent.

She had reported about the presence of Shinpu and her annihilation of him—nothing more. She hadn't revealed that during this she had spoken with Shinpu and heard disquieting information about the Central Headquarters. She was also yet to report about her "discovery" known as Shiohara Shachito.

"However, I do believe the testimony of my beloved subordinate. Because I believe you I find it to be essential that you inform me of this directly."

"I will send you the written report again. I'm thinking about staying in this city for a while to make sure Shinpu doesn't appear again."

"How strange. Were you not supposed to have annihilated Shinpu? Is there still any need to stay alert regarding him?"

Being asked this by a kind tone, Inuko frowned.

Oops—

Yaeko's chaining smile grabbed Inuko's heart through the phone call.

"That's… I just have a bad feeling. I'm just not confident that—"

"There was nothing of the sort in your report."

"So I'm saying that I'll send it again."

"Please leave caution to the members sent there. If the need arises we will dispatch further reinforcements from Central Headquarters. This is an order, Asagi, got it?"

Inuko's hand carrying the sandwich to her mouth stopped.

The tranquil scenery of lunch was wrapped in tension.

She thought desperately of an excuse to let her settle this without being called back to Central Headquarters. She sorted out information that would be good to expose and things that she must never say.

"…There's actually another thing that caught my interest."

"Please tell me about it."

"I've discovered an excellent Mushitsuki and am currently monitoring him. As I see it, he is blessed with unparalleled talent as a combatant. At present I'm testing—"

"About what Rank you expect him to be?"

"Rank 3 or 2… no, if I focus on my current training program, I think that it's not impossible for him to be even above that."

She said in a subdued voice.

This was a kind of gamble.

Yaeko seemed to be thinking for a while.

"Understood, Asagi. I permit you to carry out your mission on site."

Inuko sank into silence only for a second, then responded in acknowledgement.

"The time limit will be… you know, right? Just so you will not make any foolish moves that shorten your own life."

Inuko felt around for the lollipops in her pocket over the raincoat.

These were order-made candies that only the Special Environmental Preservation Bureau knew how to make. Although she had been given the freedom to journey by herself, her constant need for these lollipops was the same as having a collar.

All of the candies supposed to have been supplied to her at the local branch were smashed to pieces during Shinpu's attack.

Yaeko would probably not hand her any candies until she returned to Central Headquarters. Meaning that if she didn't come back until her reserve lollipops ran out, Inuko would—

"…"

She bit her lips.

She could no longer turn back—

"I would like to ask you another thing."

Miguruma Yaeko's voice stayed so kind that it gave her the chills.

"Do you really have no idea as to why Shinpu would attack the Special Environmental Preservation Bureau?"

—Thou should consider it a warning… as well as revenge.

The words Shinpu had left behind floated to her mind.

"I have no clue. Just trying to annihilate him took everything I had."

She replied, making her voice sound as carefree as she could.

Whether or not she noticed the turbulence in Inuko's heart, there was not even the slightest of changes to Yaeko's reply.

"I see, understood. —I look forward to the birth of an excellent combatant. Do your best to meet the expectations of my love, Asagi."

Leaving these words behind, Yaeko hanged up.

"If I don't live up to them I'll be killed… You should just say this clearly, vice-director-dono."

Dropping the cellphone, Inuko made a deep sigh. Now that she finished her conversation with that woman with the chaining smile, she could finally feel the taste of the sandwich she had been eating expand in her mouth.

"She seems to be convinced I've obtained some kind of information from Shinpu, huh. …So I finally seem to be in danger."

Finishing her meal, Inuko put a lollipop inside her mouth.

The Central Headquarters began being cautious of Inuko.

As I thought they're hiding something big about Shinpu—

They were probably trying to recall Inuko back because of the possibility she had found out the secret. Both their blockade of the local branch as well as sealing up the flow of information seemed to be for that purpose. She didn't know what methods they would use to make her speak up once she came back.

Although she had barely avoided the summons, she ended up carrying a huge bomb.

Since she had revealed the existence of that raw ore, if Inuko failed in raising the strongest warrior—there was no doubt she would receive a suitable punishment.

"Quite the difficult situation. I'm practically completely cornered."

If they knew she had grasped the secret, she would probably be erased.

And it was the same if she failed raising a warrior.

On the other hand, even if she ran away, as long as Inuko had no candies her fate was as clear as day.

However—she didn't give in to despair just yet.

"There's something I simply have to do, no matter how."

Inuko had been sleeping on top of Horanto High School's roof.

By looking down she could see the school cafeteria. Inside this building, isolated and separate from the campus, the figures of a boy and a girl eating together could be seen.

They were Shiohara Shachito and Masaki Rio.

Due to the wounds Shachito had received in his fight against Shinpu a few days ago, his face and arms were covered by compresses. Meanwhile Rio was desperately trying to shake off Shachito's hands.

—Ah, I feel so healed. You're even giving your best efforts to eat your udon, Rio-chan, huh?

—Please stop trying to pat my head! I can't eat like this!

Inuko had no intention of eavesdropping, but since she had acquired the skill to read lips during her training she understood their conversation.

"…I had no other way but telling them about you."

While watching this peaceful scene, Inuko squinted.

She had broken her promise with Shachito.

As long as he became strong during her stay in Holland city, she wouldn't report him to the SEPB. That was her promise, yet she couldn't think of any other excuse for her to stay there.

By her fight with Shinpu Inuko became convinced.

Her lifespan as a warrior was already running out. If she lost her ability to fight she would also lose her raison d'être. The weakness gnawing into her mind and body would eventually rob her of her very life.

On the other hand, she could feel the birth of a new warrior.

"Shachito. You'll become strong. I will make you strong."

Shiohara Shachito.

Inuko had miscalculated his growth to a surprising extent.

Shachito's talent surpassed her expectations. She hadn't imagined he could grow so much in so short of a time.

And most importantly, he had what Inuko lacked—he was favored by battle. Judging from his personality, he was obviously trying to escape from fighting. And yet as he still ended up coming in contact with Shinpu and fighting him seriously, it was obvious.

Inuko had always been left behind for important battles.

But Shachito was different. No matter how much he wanted to escape from fighting, the battlefield desired him.

He possessed the only thing that Inuko, master of all possible battle techniques, lacked—

How long it had been ever since she felt envy toward anyone related to battle?

"This is my final mission. I'll definitely raise you to be the strongest there is."

Even Shachito, who had been perplexed at first, was slowly growing past his desire to run away from battle.

He currently seemed to be unable to control his "nearly broken" self that appeared during battle. But even that could be said to be going according to Inuko's plan.

Since his true nature rose to the surface once, it would become increasingly easier for Shachito to make the switch inside him.

The more a warrior fought the more he became battle-drunk.

It was an important period of time.

Inuko had to make him indulge in battles by her own hands.

"…"

Shachito was making a friendly chat with his usual, carefree smile. He was enjoying his peaceful daily life from the bottom of his heart. For him, who was destined to become a warrior, it was an unneeded emotion.

Inuko had only two tests remaining for him.

In order to lead him to success in them, these peaceful days were unneeded.

Inuko's line of sight focused on the girl in front of Shachito's eyes.

Masaki Rio.

She had apparently been eating lunch with Shachito for the past few days. To Inuko it seemed like their relationship was gradually deepening.

"…That girl's in the way."

Shishidou Inuko's "aptitude exam".

The target was Shiohara Shachito.

—Start.

3.01 The Others

After school, Shiohara Shachito waited for Rio to change her shoes, pulling his motorbike along with him.

"Let's go together until your bus stop, Rio-chan."

His whole face covered by wet compresses, Shachito wore a carefree smile.

Her classmates near them all turned gazes of curiosity towards the two. Rio blushed, exiting the shoe racks in quick steps. Today her lessons were delayed, so her time to return home was the same as other students.

"D-don't come all the way here to meet me! You should've just waited at the parking area…"

"Hmm? Why?"

While pulling his motorbike, Shachito tilted his head as if he was not thinking of anything.

"T-that's, umm… There's recently been all sorts of rumors…"

"Rumors? Of what kind?"

Walking side by side, Shachito made a puzzled face. Rio was at a loss for words, averting her eyes.

It had already been Rio's loss from the moment she had accepted his invitation for lunch the other day. Starting that day he came to Rio's class to meet her and she started eating lunch in the cafeteria with him.

No matter whether he acted overly familiar toward anyone in the first place or if it was like that just with Rio, she became unable to turn down Shachito's invitations that seemed to be serious.

It didn't mean she hated his attitude.

She was simply different from Shachito who was so used to speaking with members of the opposite sex to the extent there were rumors of him being a "playboy".

Since until now Rio devoted herself for acting practice, even just having a boy call out to her was a major event. And since it was even an upperclassman she just couldn't help but feel embarrassed.

"Hmm, I don't really get it, are you telling me to stop because I'm causing you trouble or I'm annoying or something? C'mon, tell me everything you think!"

Shachito displayed a cheerful smile—or, if she had to express it frankly, a silly smile.

Not good. What Rio wanted to convey wasn't being understood at all. She puffed her cheeks.

"It's not like you're particularly causing trouble for me…"

"So, if it's no problem, let's just keep going! Okay?"

"…Okay."

Seeing Shachito vigorously raise his index finger, she gave up on retorting. She would be happy if he'd just asked her out a bit more modestly.

But even if she conveyed this to him, it no longer had any meaning.

Rio made a single resolution.

She also couldn't allow herself to be caught up by Shachito's pace today.

"Do you have something today?"

When they exited the school gate, Shachito suddenly inquired.

Rio raised her face with a start. She apparently made a brooding face without realizing.

"Huh?"

"It feels like you've been growing quieter every day. You usually had this sort of desperation like a hamster running on a wheel that made me feel healed every time I saw you…"

"Hamster?! H-have you really been looking at me like this, Shachito-senpai…?"

As he unhesitatingly nodded with a "yeah", Rio received a small shock. But she couldn't allow herself to be manipulated, so she took a deep breath and was somehow able to remain calm.

"I have an audition today!"

As Rio clenched her fist, full of fighting spirits, Shachito looked at her, puzzled.

"Audition?"

"Yes. There's a missing actor for a play about to be performed in Oranje Land soon… I'm going to the final audition for that."

She unconsciously tightened the hold on her bag.

Yes, Rio's talent was about to be tested during tonight's final audition. She planned on bringing out everything she'd done so far. She couldn't fail.

"A play in Oranje Land… Is that the thing they've been talking about on TV lately? I don't really know about it but that thing done by a famous company. Are you going to appear there, Rio-chan?"

"No, as I said… since it's the final audition now, I'm not necessarily going to…"

Her shoulders suddenly slumped. It was obvious, but Shachito had no idea about how hard it was to pass the audition.

"Where are they doing it? Somewhere in the city?"

"In a building in front of the station. The one recently remodeled."

"I see. …You're amazing, Rio-chan."

No matter if he knew how she felt or not, Shachito seemed strangely impressed. The wet compresses on his face looked painful, but he himself didn't seem to mind it. She heard that he'd fallen from his motorbike again.

"Alright!"

For some reason Shachito also raised a fired-up voice.

"Do your best, Rio-chan! I can't do anything for you, but I'll at least cheer you on."

Seeing his carefree grin, Rio's cheeks reddened.

So far Rio had done her best all by herself. She thought of trying to make her dream come true without relying on anyone but her own powers, but now that she was encouraged by someone she could feel a different sort of power welling up inside her.

"Yes! I will do my best!"

She made a pose as if acting on the stage.

The tension she had before the final audition slightly dissipated. She regretted thinking of Shachito as someone unnecessary.

Shachito-senpai is cheering on me. I have to do my best—

Since she had worried too much all by herself, she was glad to have someone else as her ally.

"I know! If you pass I'll grant you one wish. I can take you to some place you'd like or treat you to something good. You can even ask for something naughty."

"…"

"Wah, so cold! You're so cold, Rio-chan! A look like that will triple the amount of damage from that failed joke!"

Seeing Shachito playing the fool, she burst into laughter without thinking. But once she laughed honestly she felt her shoulders slumping again.

If she passed then she would immediately begin concentrated practice. If that happened she would become much busier than before and so would have even less time to meet up with Shachito. But as thanks for cheering her on, if it's only for a little while she would make up some time to go hang out with him, she thought.

"Senpai—"

Only her being cheered felt bad, so she calmly raised a question.

"You've said that you have no dream, but is that true? Like something you'd like to do or something you're aiming for."

She simply thought it strange.

If Rio didn't have the dream of becoming an actress she would have nothing. Even if she gave up that dream and started playing around every day like Shachito, she didn't have the confidence she would be as lively as him.

Shachito smiled lightly. He shook his hand.

"Nope. I have no dreams or hopes."

"Haa…"

Rio tilted her head. She couldn't tell whether he was serious or joking.

"Haven't you said you're busy lately? It seems like you're having a tough time. You are also falling off your motorcycle too much."

"Oh? Are you worried for me, Rio-chan? That feels fresh."

As he poked her cheeks, Rio curled her lips.

But now that Shachito said this she recalled.

Now that she thought of it, this might have been the first time she'd asked about him. Since it was always Shachito who spoke to her she realized that she knew nothing about him.

I was only thinking about myself—

Seeing Rio about to fill with self-hatred, he smiled.

"To be honest, I have some troubles right now… but well, saying it clearly, it's completely fine? I'll clean it all up in a jiffy and go back to school like usual. Yeah, once I do it I'll have to compensate everyone for neglecting them."

He spoke in a cheerful tone typical of him. However, for some reason he seemed stronger than usual to Rio. Perhaps he had been doing some sort of training, as his body seemed burlier than it was when Rio had first met him.

"Oh right. Once it becomes spring maybe I'll get a license for a medium vehicle. I'll work part time and buy a real motorcycle… Then I'll be able to take you for a ride, Rio-chan! Wow, I'm amazing. This's a super good idea!"

Shachito got excited all on his own.

He seemed very happy just finding a small goal like that.

Looking at the happy-seeming Shachito, Rio hesitated if she should talk about her resolution. She knew she should speak about it, but she wasn't quite able to get it out of her mouth.

If she were to pass the audition, Rio would have to—

"I-I'm…"

She opened her mouth to speak, but hesitated.

Shachito erased his smile. Still dragging his motorbike, he gazed straight ahead with an indescribable, complex expression. Rio fixed her gaze on his profile without meaning to.

"Thinking about it, I wonder why I'm so fascinated by you, Rio-chan."

"…Eh?"

She ended up letting out a silly-sounding voice. As Shachito's line of sight moved toward her, she blushed without thinking.

"They say people end up liking those who possess what they don't have, right? It's probably the same here."

"…"

"I have no dream. But you do, Rio-chan. So it's like this. —I feel like I finally got it."

While he grinned at her, Rio's expression stiffened.

What did he mean by that?

She couldn't really understand the meaning of Shachito's words. —No, she had the feeling she did get it, but was it really so?

Was this possibly a confession—

And if so, was it fine saying it so lightly?

"Bhah! What the heck, Rio-chan! You're making such a weird face!"

As Rio opened her mouth thinking that she had to say something, Shachito pointed at her and laughed.

"Wha—"

Rio blushed and tried to protest, but Shachito pointed ahead with his head.

"We're here."

"What? Huh?"

"The bus stop."

Being told this, she finally noticed the bus schedule in front of her eyes.

Rio and Shachito stopped in place at the same time.

As Rio stayed silent while holding her bag, Shachito parked his motorbike and got closer. He apparently intended on waiting for the bus with her.

—No, perhaps he was waiting for Rio's response?

Since the conversation had such a light flow she had already lost her chance to ask back. She couldn't judge whether or not it had been a confession.

A silence fell between the two. Shachito was humming while looking at the road, but Rio focused everything on suppressing her palpitations.

"U-umm! Shachito-senpai, about a second ago—"

It happened just as she decided to ask.

"…!"

A cracked metallic sound shook her eardrums.

It was the sound she had heard a few times before, audible only for her. Every time she heard it Rio felt a horrible discomfort welling in her chest. This creepy sensation soaked in, steadily encroaching her as if it were a filthy mud permeating the depths of her body.

"Hmm?"

Shachito asked back, yet she couldn't reply.

She heard the conversation of two students passing behind her.

"—She's being completely deceived, huh."

She turned around in shock.

The students, wearing a sinister smile, glanced at Rio as if they found it amusing.

She probably heard them wrong—just as Rio thought so, a woman that seemed to be an office lady passed next to her while talking on her phone.

She could see something black moving from the students over to the woman.

"—She's taking a playboy seriously and even feels happy about it… so stupid."

The woman's smile transformed. Something like black mist stuck to her as she wore a sinister smile.

"Rio-chan?"

Shachito was apparently unable to see the black object. Not only that, he apparently couldn't hear the voices of the people passing nearby either.

As Rio gulped, a youth riding a bicycle passed in front of her.

Something resembling a cloth born from the coagulating mist passed from the woman to the bicycle-riding youth.

"—If you don't pass you'll lose your reason for meeting him."

The youth mumbled in the instant they crossed each other. His sneer was directed at none other than Rio.

Her shoulders trembled.

Rio could feel, slowly but steadily—something foul taking hold of her heart.

Foul emotions were encroaching the elated Rio.

I-I'm—

She started feeling angry without any warning. How could she let her heart be swayed by something foolish like love just before a huge audition?

Unless she passed, never mind meeting Shachito, it would make everything meaningless.

It would deny all of her desperate efforts, and yet she still—

"—You're not going to pass anyway."

The voice echoing from a line of elementary school students walking nearby became the trigger. Immediately after she heard a hoarse voice which was completely unchildlike, Rio started emitting sweat from her entire body.

Her limbs shook and she couldn't even let out any voice.

"Ah… Ah…"

She was scared.

She was scared of having everything she'd done so far tested by an exam that took less than an hour.

She had no confidence. Ever since the first examination, Rio hadn't even a slight confidence.

She felt only pressure.

The tension, pressing ever closer, assaulted her with the urge to escape.

—Giving in to her oppressive urges, Rio was on the verge of panic.

"I feel… something weird."

Shachito, his hand stuck in his pocket while leaning on the motorbike, muttered.

The next instant, an orange light passed in front of Rio's sight.

The bad presence that loomed over the area until now caused a sound and withdrew. The metallic sound reverberating in her ears vanished.

"If you feel anything unusual first of all expand your domain—was that it? I unconsciously acted just as I was taught but… oh well. Nobody saw it, probably."

Scratching his head, Shachito muttered to himself absentmindedly.

"But what was that just now? I've never felt anything like that before…"

Shachito made an expression Rio had never seen before.

"Hihah."

It was only for a split second—but Shachito showed a bizarre smile. His eyes became sharper and he gazed at his surroundings like a famished beast looking for its prey.

Calling it twisted would be somewhat wrong. It was more dangerous, fragile, fleeting—

—He was breaking down.

Thus Rio felt.

The creepy presence drifting around was gone, but now she felt fear from Shachito. Trying to suppress her body trembling, she hugged herself with both hands.

"Ugh, so she came to see me off before you."

By the time Rio returned her gaze to the front of the road, the previous Shachito had returned.

Following his gaze, she could see a small red vehicle heading towards them. The Vespa, raising light engine sounds, got on top of the walkway and parked.

Stylishly getting off the Vespa was the raincoat-wearing girl that had been with Shachito a few days ago. With her goggles lowered to her neck, she looked at the opposite side road.

"Seems like the bus has come. You're boarding that, right?"

Turning back after being told this, Rio could see that her scheduled bus has finally come.

"Do be careful. There seem to be plenty of accidents lately."

Staring directly into Rio's eyes, Inuko smiled.

For some reason she got the chills.

The gaze of the raincoat girl in front of her eyes made her feel really bad. It felt like a beast that caught sight of its prey; a sense of intimidation as though she would never be able to run away from her.

Rio immediately became unable to calm down.

The presence earlier, Shachito's change, the mysterious girl in front of her… there were too many unknown fears for Rio there.

"Shachito, I've felt your power's wave. Don't use it thoughtlessly."

"No, I just felt something weird so I ended up doing it."

"Something weird? Thinking of it, I have felt an abnormal power wave for a second."

"Wave?"

As Rio waited for the arrival of the bus, the two people behind her tiled their heads at one another.

"Rio-chan."

Being called, she raised her head. Shachito smiled at her.

"You were about to say something just now, right? What was it?"

It was the usual, carefree Shachito.

Yet right now Rio couldn't even look him in the face.

Only fear was swirling inside her. And the scariest of all was the final audition she was heading to right now.

She hadn't the leisure to think of anything unnecessary.

"Do your best in the audition, Rio-chan!"

As Rio was about to board the oncoming bus, Shachito cheered her.

She glanced at him, but soon averted her gaze.

"…I will do my best even if you don't tell me to."

Rio got on the bus, muttering in a voice no-one would hear.

As she sat down, a black object that appeared from nowhere suddenly fell on her collar.

It was—a small, black, filthy piece of cloth. 

3.02 Shachito Part 4

Next to the bus stop was a parking area. Inuko jumped on top of the fences made of a metal net. Position-wise she was exactly above Shachito's head.

"…"

Shachito silently saw the bus leave.

His vision shook. Inuko used her hockey stick to poke his head. The raincoat girl wore a skirt today as well.

"What's wrong, Shachito? You're making a serious face unlike you. Oh, and if you look up I'll kill you. Trying to see my panties… what a horny boy you are."

"—I wonder what my dream used to be?"

As he hanged out with Rio more and more, he started thinking about such things.

He spent his days without any goal or aspiration, and even after meeting Inuko he started going through battle training and the like only because she threatened him. He received guidance for how to battle without resisting, without even trying to run away; he simply went with the flow.

Shachito felt like he was missing something tremendously important right now.

Seeing Rio, he became extremely curious what that was. He had fun being with her, but the more he did the more he felt uncomfortable.

Now he started having doubts about his purpose in meeting up with Rio.

Rather than saying he met up with her because he wanted to be with her, he felt like he did so just to ascertain the discomfort inside him.

"I've been thinking about this more and more when I meet with Rio-chan. It's like I'm forgetting something huge… Is there any connection to my inability to recall my dream?"

Would Shachito eventually return to his previous lifestyle or would he become a warrior like Inuko said—well, he still didn't really understand what being a warrior entailed, but anyhow he was at a crossroads.

What would Shachito do, then?

It was obvious.

Without thinking of anything in particular, he would surrender himself to the flow and let it decide.

Shachito had neither the intention to oppose fate nor any purpose in doing so.

—He felt as if he couldn't do it.

A small emotion was born inside him, surprising even himself. Although he lived enjoyably and without thinking of anything too deeply so far, mysteriously—he started feeling something akin to guilt.

And those feelings of guilt for some reason grew bigger the more he met with Rio.

Oh well—

Until now this would be the stage where he would say this and stop thinking.

But now there was a part of him that kept thinking beyond that.

"I've said this before right? You don't need to recall—"

"That Shinpu guy made me a Mushitsuki, right?"

Shachito said, interrupting Inuko's words.

"He took 'pain' away from me."

He could remember little by little.

He was supposed to have possessed some dream ever since becoming a Mushitsuki. Even if he recalled the instant he had harbored these strong emotions, he was unable to recall what exactly he'd wished for.

In a white room, wrapped in a white blanket, Shachito harbored a certain dream.

There was no shred of a doubt it was reality.

"Is it influence from Masaki Rio? That you almost remember."

"Is that so?"

He inquired with a serious face. He could hear Inuko sigh.

"I thought so. But I don't really understand it now. Since it's Shinpu he should be the same. Yet the thing we've met called itself a fragment, and referred to the different one with the appearance of an old man as the 'first fragment'."

"That man's corpse… Was he Shinpu? We defeated him right?"

"His identity has already been determined. He was a civilian from Akamaki City. According to the testimony of his acquaintances, his dream since childhood was destroyed and he became depressed. Whether he took his own life or died in some other manner, there's no doubt that he'd died during the period he went missing. Actually at the time I wasn't actually sure whether I annihilated him or not."

"Hmm…"

Shachito made a flat response to indicate he was listening. If Shinpu appeared again, he would simply defeat him again. —As long as he was with Inuko, there existed no opponent that could defeat them. He honestly thought so.

Inuko was sitting on the fence while Shachito stood with both hands stuck in his pocket below her.

They were two Mushitsuki of a similar age.

They were a pair of teacher and student connected to battle.

The wind of Holland City blew between them. This gale, carrying the scent of saltwater, made Inuko's raincoat flutter. The cars in front of her eyes honked.

"Maybe he's still in this city. Will he target a person with a dream again?"

"You're thinking about Masaki Rio again, right? You're not in the position to be busy with romance right now, you know?"

"That's not it. But it’s possible, right?"

"I can't say anything about Shinpu. But regarding Masaki Rio, I can say that she won't become a Mushitsuki. You can relax."

Shachito furrowed his brows.

"How can you be so sure?"

"Once you become like me, you're able to know which people could become Mushitsuki. Do worship me. —As far as I can see, Masaki Rio will not become a prey for the Original Three."

Inuko clearly declared.

"And that is because… she's already about to give up her dream."

Shachito raised his face at the girl's unexpected words.

"Hah? No way, right? Rio-chan is—"

Inuko used her stick to poke his nose.

"I told you not to look up. But there is a reason. What the Original Three like is the moment when people harbor their dreams the strongest. You said she was an aspiring actress, right? Just now she looked to me like she was tired of her dream."

"But that's just a shot in dark right? I don't think it's true."

While expressing his dissatisfaction, Shachito rubbed his nose—

"…!"

—Thump, his heart throbbed.

He was suddenly agitated by his own actions.

Right now—what had he done?

He had unconsciously rubbed his nose.

It was already gone, but hadn't his nose felt some pain?

"Hmm? What's wrong?"

"N-no… it's nothing."

It might've just been his imagination. Shachito feigned calmness.

"What's your dream, Inuko? Is it something like finding the legendary raincoat?"

He inquired Inuko to hide his agitation.

"Yeah, I went on a journey to find the golden raincoat… as if, what the hell? You seem to be under the mistaken impression that I'm some raincoat freak or something."

"Oh, am I wrong?"

"Obviously, you moron. …My dream isn't something I should tell people. It's a hopelessly worthless childish dream. Even the legendary raincoat would be cuter."

He felt as if a slight disgust had been mixed with Inuko's voice. Becoming curious on what expression she was making, he looked up at her. She stepped on his face with her boots.

He felt no pain this time. He spat out the dirt entering his mouth to the ground.

"Don't speak too badly of your dream."

"Even in this beautiful world there are thorns. Just like hope, there's also despair. Everything's balanced. If you're unable to grasp the full picture, you'll never be able to become the strongest warrior."

"…That again?"

Shachito's sigh became the sign to finish the conversation. Inuko jumped down from the fence with agile movements.

"Don't escape from the fight in front of your eyes, Shachito. When people who can only live as warriors are left alone in the battlefield it's all over for them. Nothing remains afterwards."

She poked the tip of her nose with her stick. Shachito averted his face dejectedly.

"Whether I'm a warrior or combatant or whatever, I'll never really get what that means. But I just—"

"Just what?"

"I just thought that… it would be nice if my dream was as beautiful as Rio-chan's."

Inuko sank into silence. Just as he thought that she was gazing at him for a while, she rotated her stick and put it back on her back.

"Inuko?"

"My lifespan as a warrior was short, but a lot happened. Quite a lot… And during that I've learned a magic spell. I'll teach it to you, so listen carefully."

Spinning around to turn her back, she stepped toward her parking Vespa.

"'Fight'!"

Without caring they were in public, Inuko's loud voice reverberated around.

"Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!"

It was a voice full of joy. The warrior's battlecry, indicating fighting to be supreme bliss, was repeated countless times.

Yet he could also hear some suffering mixed in. There were also the grief of wounding and being wounded, as well as the gladness of victory and the pitifulness of loss.

Shishidou Inuko's battle-filled life was put into this single word.

Turning around to the shocked Shachito, Inuko got on her Vespa.

"Even if you're having fun, even if you're sad, even if you're pained, even if you're suffering, even if you're hesitating… it doesn't matter at all. You can solve everything with battle. If you don't know what you need to do, then fight. If you can fight, then fight. Even if you can't fight, then fight. If you want to fight, then win. We can win against anything. Even if we lose, we can win the next time."

Inuko sent a gaze filled with a resolute will at Shachito. She smiled and wore her helmet.

"If you still can't take even the first step, I will remove your shackles."

Shachito furrowed his brows, unable to understand the meaning of her words, but as he heard the Vespa's engine revving up he hurriedly rushed after her.

"H-hey! What about my training today! Is it a day off?"

"The training's already started."

Inuko asserted while putting on her goggles. She rode ahead, leaving Shachito behind.

"…?"

Shachito stood there for a while but was unable to understand her words.

—Not at the time.

3.03 Shachito Part 5

Ever since he came back home, Shachito still felt not fully satisfied.

Since he'd thought that he was going to train again today for sure he already cancelled all of his other plans with friends. It would be difficult to join up with them at this stage.

According to what Inuko said, his training had apparently already started.

Did that mean even resting was part of his training? Thinking of it, the harsh training day after day and the battle with Shinpu caused him to accumulate quite the fatigue.

"Well, if she tells me to rest then I'll happily do it. Lucky lucky."

Throwing his jacket on top of his bed, he sat on it.

He opened his cellphone and looked at the screen.

He had received 7 text messages.

Perhaps because he lately had fewer chances to hang out with friends, the amount of text messages also lessened.

This didn't mean he severed relations with them, though. If Shachito returned to his previous lifestyle, he would be able to immediately restore all of his relationships.

—You've said that you have no dream, but is that true?

As he stayed still, Rio floated to his mind.

He had none.

Shachito couldn't recall his dream. He couldn't even say for sure that it wasn't a big deal.

Since that girl had the dream to become an actress, she probably had to face many obstacles. When she had been asked this by him, Rio's expression grew serious.

Shachito had said that he wanted to see Rio because she possessed what he lacked. Thinking about it, it wouldn't be weird for his words from that time to sound like a love confession.

If it was an unintentional confession, did this mean he liked Rio?

"That's somewhat wrong, though."

He certainly possessed a favorable opinion on Rio. But if he were asked whether they were feelings of love, he felt like he couldn't affirm or deny it.

While he didn't know the truth about his feelings, his discomfort only kept growing.

He had the strange hunch that he was forgetting something important.

Even so he went to see Rio and naturally ended up supporting her.

It felt horrible unstable.

"I wonder if Rio-chan's doing her audition already."

Yet his feelings of wanting to cheer on Rio were no lie.

She's working hard even now, right?

Thinking this, he next became curious about himself. Since he had become a Mushitsuki, was there a time when even someone like him had a dream that made him sparkle just like Rio?

Several photographs were attached with pins to a board hanging from the wall. All of them were of a carefree Shachito smiling along with his friends. 

Getting off the bed, he opened his closet. Being covered in dust as he fumbled inside, he soon found several albums. All the pictures that couldn't be hung on the board were thrown inside here.

"I should look at my past happy life every once in a while."

Sitting cross-legged, he leafed through the album.

The photos were ordered starting from the latest which were the first year of high school and following to when he was in middle school.

"Wow, I might've been even more of an airhead than I am now."

Even in his photos from middle school he was surrounded by smiling friends just like in the present. With the only difference between them being the background, the photos were all overflowing with fun.

"Now that I'm looking at it that guy looks so stupid. It's me though. This one's amazing, I've done well to capture it. Oh, was it a digital camera? If this one is found won't I be arrested?"

It was clear that even back then he wasn't any different from now that he was on his second year of high school; he only sought after pleasure without thinking of anything.

"…I wasn't self-conscious about it, but was I really a playboy? I mean, these pictures with girls are clearly… it's making me a bit sad."

He leafed through the album's pages with a wry smile.

"I was so stupid back then, I used to do all these—"

Putting a hand on his forehead and smiling, Shachito's expression suddenly froze.

"…Back then?"

A bizarre sense of discomfort suddenly rose inside him.

With his smile still frozen, Shachito's hand moved on its own.

It flipped the album backwards.

With time passing, the pictures of Shachito as a high school student appeared again.

"But right now…"

What changed was only about the scenery and Shachito's height.

For some reason—

He had a horrible premonition—

"It doesn't look like… anything's changed, though…"

He used a hand to touch his face that was frozen with a smile.

He touched his cheeks.

He recalled that time just after Valentine's Day.

Shachito had been called out by his classmate and was then slapped. He wanted to be tolerant and forgive her harsh misunderstanding. "I want to end it already", she said, and Shachito just thought that she watched too many dramas.

But actually—had Shachito really done nothing to her?

She was someone who called out to him despite the fact he was unable to remember her name.

At the time he had been slapped, which of them was tolerant and forgave the other?

When he'd met the girl the following day, wasn't she looking at Shachito with eyes filled with misery—with contempt?

"…Hmm?"

Something was strange.

It wasn't that he couldn't remember or that he forgot because it was too long ago.

He felt as if everything he'd done, everything he was doing, was all rearranged to his convenience.

Something was twisted.

"—Oh well, it doesn't matter."

He felt as if he mustn't think any deeper than that. The part of him that tried to stop thinking suppressed the part that tried thinking.

"Why was I looking in the album again? Oh, right. I wanted to see if I've ever been sparkling with a dream."

His pupils reflected on the album's film were cloudy like those of a doll.

He mechanically leafed through the album.

As long as he used none of his powers he could live while hiding he was a Mushitsuki—he traced back the enjoyable days that passed as he thought that.

"…Oh?"

Light returned to Shachito's eyes.

Going back to a certain period, the photos decorating the album had a completely different atmosphere.

It appeared to be around the lower grades of middle school.

It wasn't the boundlessly cheerful Shachito, but a Shachito in normal commemorative photos. He was pictured with smiles, but there was also a part of him that was anxious having a camera directed at him.

They were somewhat "normal" photographs.

But that conversely caused them to stand out inside his album.

"Thinking about it, I don't think I've had plenty of friends back then… compared to now anyway."

He looked for the boundary between the two sides of the album.

He found it.

He could see a photo of his upper half body on the bed of some hospital, wearing hospital clothes.

He was completely expressionless.

There were no traces of either the plain Shachito or the cheerful Shachito.

"Oh, it was this time. I was run over by a drunk driver and nearly died. As a bonus I was infected by something and it was just horrible, yeah."

He suddenly recalled it as if it was some other people's business.

"Now that I think of it, it was also around the time I became a Mushitsuki…"

For some reason he felt fear.

A sensation squeezed below his stomach as though he was falling down. As he stared at the album, Shachito's pulse quickened.

Suddenly unable to calm down, he closed the album.

"Was there… a time where I… was sparkling with a dream…?"

As he kept thinking his mind became more and more chaotic.

Seeing he became a Mushitsuki he should've had some dream. And yet just as he became a Mushitsuki he turned into the Shachito right now that indulged in his irresponsible lifestyle. Meaning he was the dreamless Shachito right now.

Trying to compose himself, he returned to the bed and grabbed his cellphone. He operated the buttons as if possessed, sending a message to Rio.

—Are you in the middle of the audition right now? Do your best, Rio-chan! You're definitely gonna pass it!

As he sent the cheering mail, he was able to greatly calm down.

Imagining her going through the audition with a desperate face, he burst into laughter.

"Looking at Rio-chan doing her best would probably be amusing. Now if she'd only lower her guard a little bit…"

While laughing carefreely, he looked at the phone.

"…Guard?"

His smile once again froze.

"What am I saying…?"

A shudder welled up from inside his body.

He stubbornly clung to Rio because he wanted to support her beautiful dream. Even if he had a favorable opinion of her, he hadn't the slightest intention to do anything to her, never mind feelings of love.

Or so it should have been.

"What am I trying to do to—"

Don't think of it.

He was warned by none other than himself.

"I-Inuko…!"

He couldn't understand what had happened to him.

As he thought of seeking help, Shishidou Inuko rose to mind. The girl had taught him what being a Mushitsuki was like as well as plenty of other things.

Inuko would be able to help him. It was like that when he'd fought Shinpu too.

But the girl's response, supposed to become his salvation, was blunt.

"…What is it?"

Inuko's indifferent voice stabbed Shachito through the receiver.

He could hear cheerful music mixed with the icy voice.

"I'm in the middle of something. Do call me later."

Without waiting for Shachito's reply, she cut off the call.

He felt anger at Inuko's cold act, but he then noticed something completely different.

"That music just now… It's the clock tower near the station—"

Looking up at the clock in his room, it indicated exactly 6:00 PM.

There was no mistake; the clock tower in the station plaza played music at this time every day.

"Why did she take a break from our training and went all the way there?"

As he thought about something other than himself, Shachito's mind went into full throttle.

He recalled what Inuko had said when he met her after school.

—Do be careful. There seem to be plenty of accidents lately.

—If you still can't take even the first step, I will remove your shackles.

Why would Inuko, who until now always kept adding more training for Shachito as long as there was time for it, suddenly take a break from it only for today?

Inuko wanted to raise him into a warrior.

But what were the shackles hindering Shachito from becoming a warrior?

Who was the one who made Shachito go to school in his spare time between training to meet up with them—

"…!"

The chaos in his head was blown off as if it never existed.

Grabbing his jacket, he flew out of his room with his helmet. As soon as he exited the house he mounted the So1o parked in the parking area and started the engine.

—In a building in front of the station. The one recently remodeled.

So said the girl who planned on having her audition today.

"That raincoat freak… I hope you're not thinking of doing anything—"

After wearing his goggles, he flew into the road without even checking it. A car that he nearly crashed into honked at him.

He didn't care about himself at all right now.

If Shachito's guess was correct, something irreversible was about to happen.

Ignoring a red light, he cut through the road while the cars around him honked. Turning through the coastland national highway, he headed for the town center.

Passing the part of town where he had fought Shinpu, he went through the intersection where he had fought a Mushitsuki other than himself for the first time. By the time he went straight ahead through the main street and reached the station it had already became night.

He stopped his motorbike on the road, exiting to the station plaza through the pedestrian bridge.

"Where are you, Inuko…!"

He surveyed the surroundings in front of the clock tower. Including the station itself, it was surrounded by high-rise buildings from all directions.

Rio had said her audition would take place inside the building just remodeled. As far as Shachito knew, there was only one building fitting that description.

It was a tall building that sparkled as it reflected the city's lights.

"…!"

As Shachito looked up the building, his pupils reflected a familiar yellow. He could see it fluttering by the wind even above the highest floor, on the rooftop's water tower.

"Found you—"

With a furious expression, he took swift action.

The next instant, Shachito's body left an orange afterimage behind as it disappeared.

He appeared on the zenith of the clock tower along with a light tapping sound. —Since Shachito's weight became zero, he moved the same as if he was in a zero gravity space. Gaining initial speed that it would not be an exaggeration to say was comparable to teleportation just by kicking the ground, and then instantly restoring his weight, he gained super speed like that of a bullet.

On top of the clock tower, Shachito fixed his goggles. What stood in his way after being released from the chains of gravity was air resistance. He just needed to protect his eyes from the wind pressure.

Using the recoil further, he kicked the clock tower with both legs.

The orange flash pierced through the night sky.

"—Why did you come here?"

Leaping up to the rooftop of the high building in an instant, the yellow raincoat greeted Shachito as he clung to the water tower.

"I'll have to deduct points for using your abilities in front of people when it's not an emergency."

Standing on the fences surrounding the rooftop, Shishidou Inuko made a calm smile.

The wind blowing through the upper air of Holland City was strong.

Both Shachito and Inuko had their coats fiercely fanned to the same direction.

"No you. What are you doing here?"

The wind was so cold he felt as if his face froze over. There was none of Shachito's usual light smile.

"I just went for a walk. I've had the habit to somehow end up climbing high places ever since I was young."

"Liar."

"But why are you here? Letting your body rest properly every once in a while is also a part of training."

"I came here to support Rio-chan. She's having an audition in this building."

"She hasn't come out yet. It's apparently still going."

"How did you know she was here, Inuko?"

Shachito inquired, not moving a muscle despite the strong wind.

Inuko stood on the fence. Although she only had a single framework under her feet, she also moved no muscle.

"That's—because I followed her, obviously."

Shachito shuddered with a chill.

Inuko's smile changed its nature. The girl in front of him exposed her true character as a cool-headed and brutal warrior.

"…Why have you followed Rio-chan?"

"What, assassinating someone is surprisingly easy. I can just cause the magnetic fields of the bus Masaki Rio will ride on her way home and a car on the opposite lane to amplify and be drawn to each other. And just like that I can cause a collision accident."

"I'm asking you why."

"It's just what you think. —You'll be able to focus more on your training if she's gone, right?"

Seeing Inuko assert this far too easily, Shachito shuddered.

"Just… for that reason, you…!"

The girl smiling calmly on top of the fence couldn't be thought of as human. He felt as if he was facing against a weapon meant only for slaughter.

Although they were this close, the combatant girl felt so far.

Even though there were ten meters between them, she felt near enough to close that distance in an instant.

"You're crazy…!"

"I know."

Hearing Shachito's hoarse voice, Inuko happily raised the corners of her lips.

She unsheathed her hockey stick that reflected the moonlight.

"Do become crazy as well."

Inuko jumped down from the fence.

The warrior who knew everything about battle landed on the rooftop floor without a sound.

"It's the perfect opportunity. Seeing her die in front of your eyes will make even you wake up. You'll become stronger by begrudging me."

"Don't… fuck with me!"

It was just so Shachito would become stronger—

He would never allow Rio to be killed for such a petty reason.

Jumping down from the water tower, he let his emotions control him and drew closer to Inuko.

"As if I'd let you do it!"

"—So what're you gonna do about it?"

Inuko's smile made a half-rotation.

It took him a while to understand what had happened. Once he hit the back of his head he realized that his feet had been swept off by the stick, making him tumble down.

He felt no pain as usual, but in exchange he was about to lose his consciousness.

"Are you actually thinking that you can stop me? You sure are conceited for a novice who just learned how to fight."

"…!"

"You need to reflect on your weakness!"

As Inuko scorned him, he attempted nimbly grabbing her feet.

He was easily repelled by the hockey stick and his jaw was kicked up powerfully.

"…!"

Rolling on the ground, Shachito soon stood up. Since he couldn't flinch due to pain, he reached his hands frantically in an attempt to grab Inuko's limbs. Based on arm strength, he should have the advantage over Inuko if he was able to seal her movements.

"You forgot so much even though it's only been a few days since our hand-to-hand fighting lessons. Never mind shifting your body weight, even your movements are all messed up. You have too many wasted movements."

Nimbly dodging Shachito's arms, Inuko waved her hockey stick.

"Guh…!"

The steel-made stick dug into his flank. His breathing ceased and his movements stopped.

"Don't stop moving, you moron. You'll just turn into the enemy's prey."

Just like she said, Inuko went for a consecutive attack.

Since she was not using her ability, the hockey stick should have been much too heavy for her thin arms. However, Inuko skillfully propped up her body, controlling the stick with circular motions as if drawing.

Shachito felt no pain.

Yet when his head was hit his vision would be dyed by white, when his stomach was hit he would lose his breath, and when his legs were hit he would lose his balance.

While looking down at Shachito who squatted on the ground, unable to breathe, Inuko leaned on the fence.

"—How ironic."

With her stick placed on her shoulder, Inuko moved her face to gaze at the windy townscape.

"Even if I look like this I like stuff like musicals and theater. I've even seen the original 'Beast' musical, albeit in video form. Jarre Harissi's performance in particular was magnificent. Based on what I heard about him, isn't he going all around the world and raising youth actors?"

Shachito finally regained his ability to breathe and took heavy breaths.

"Isn't he just like me?"

Inuko's smile seemed lonely. Was she overlapping herself with Jarre?

"We're both scouts on a journey. Is he, just like me, regretting the fact that he can't return to active duty? Is he feeling miserable due to stepping off the stage? Does he also overlap himself with new talent?"

"…"

"Yet the talents that he and I have discovered here in Holland City are the complete opposite. What I found was a frivolous, irresponsible Mushitsuki—and as for him, if Masaki Rio were to pass the audition, he would find a serious and hardworking civilian."

While faltering in her speech, Inuko's expression returned being that of a warrior. Her sharp eyes gazed at Shachito.

"And now, a dreamless Mushitsuki tried to protect a dreaming civilian. —What's up with that? It feels much more like fate than some cheap musical."

Shachito returned Inuko's gaze, his face full of anguish.

"Shachito, have you woken up to the fact you're angry now? This is my first time seeing you angry."

"…!"

Being told of it, he noticed his feelings for the first time.

How long has it been since he felt something like anger?

It wasn't just "pain"; he felt as if he had long forgotten even feelings like these.

"However, that's not anger. Because you lack a dream, you share it with her to feel like you have one. What you're trying to protect isn't her, but the dream you supposedly share with her."

Being asserted this, Shachito was speechless.

During the time he was with Rio he felt something strange. Although it wasn't love, it felt strangely assuring and pleasant. He felt as if Inuko hit right on the mark.

No, it wasn't like that just with Rio.

In the first place Shachito liked cheering his friends who were all aiming and working hard for something.

He finally noticed that Inuko had seen through this reason—such a thought welled up in him.

But acknowledging that would mean—

"This means that Masaki Rio isn't special to you."

Inuko's eyes were staring into the heart hidden in Shachito's chest. He looked at her in shock.

"Until now you just went with the flow and kept living somehow, right? You're like that now, too. You just feel like you're supposed to be angry. You actually don't care about Masaki Rio at all—"

"—Shut up."

Mumbling this, Shachito kicked the ground. He tried tackling Inuko.

Even though he was finally trying to resist, she was easily able to evade. He received a hard blow on his temple by her counterattack.

"Did you say something, blockhead?"

The raincoat girl's ridicule continued.

"You originally possessed no anger. You were a half-hearted person that only smiled foolishly, hated worrying, and lived only to enjoy the moment. Because of that you have no fear even in battle. That is beyond any doubt your weapon. Your one and only greatest weapon that will turn you into the strongest warrior."

Her relentless blows kept raining down on him even after Shachito stopped resisting.

What Inuko said was perhaps right.

But that was about the previous Shachito.

He was trying to change himself—

None other than Rio made him feel that he couldn't keep going like that. If even that was denied, he couldn't tell what to believe anymore.

"…Who cares about the strongest warrior."

If he couldn't protect Rio here he'd go back to being the previous Shachito. Perhaps he was only protecting Rio to save himself.

However, there was no falsehood in his words saying that he would cheer for her.

Shachito right now, different than the other one, was purely thinking about saving Rio—

"Rio-chan has nothing to do with it…!"

He charged at Inuko.

Yet his opponent had no openings. Inuko nimbly evaded, swung her stick upwards from a low position and thrust it into Shachito's solar plexus.

"If she has nothing to do with it, then do cast her away."

He couldn't get even a single solid hit.

Even though he was supposedly superior to her in his physical abilities, the gap caused by her refined martial techniques and experience couldn't be filled.

He couldn't win.

—Is that really so?

"…Hihah."

As a result of the incessant blows Shachito gained a small sensation.

It was "pain".

Even if the Shachito of "this side" couldn't rival her, if he were to yield himself to the Shachito of "that side", perhaps he would even be able to beat Inuko.

Just like when he had fought Shinpu—

If he thought of this as a "battle", the smell of the battlefield would change him.

"Hihah!"

An orange glow enveloped Shachito's body. Autumn darters leapt out of him.

About to counterattack, he raised his face with a broken smile on it.

"If you bring out your Mushi then do resolve yourself, Shachito."

The hockey stick, emitting a strong magnetic field, was brought down on Shachito's nose tip, causing him to widen his eyes. The wave that was strong enough to crush his body into smithereens made even the air shimmer.

"And I'm not talking about resolve for being defeated, but the resolve to beat your opponent no matter what. Our Mushi are neither decorations nor toys. Do know that Mushitsuki who have the resolve to kill but not to survive will not be able to beat their own Mushi."

While her eyes were emitting a sharp glint, the distortion of air gave birth to a shadow behind Inuko.

It was a Chestnut Tiger shrouded in purple lightning—Inuko's Mushi.

"I still haven't taught you about the ending known as Maturation. When their dreams are fully devoured by their Mushi, the host doesn't simply die, but their Mushi also gains their own will and go on a rampage. Got it, Shachito? The Mushi is not your slave. It is without a shred of doubt your enemy. A Mushitsuki who uses their powers willy-nilly will just be eaten by their Mushi and die."

"Uh—"

Being shown the overwhelming gap in power, Shachito was forcibly brought back to sanity.

He was made to notice his misunderstanding.

Even while using his Mushi, to say nothing of a mere fistfight, he had no chances of winning—

"…Uaaahhhh!"

Even so he couldn't run away.

If he were unable to stop Inuko here, Rio would lose her life. Shachito threw himself and tried tackling Inuko.

"Wah."

If I hit her at least once, he thought as he acted.

Yet unexpectedly, Shachito succeeded in pushing Inuko down.

"Wha—"

It was an unimaginable situation. Now that he straddled her he was confused.

"So you beat me. What will you do now?"

Having Inuko's movements sealed like this looked risqué.

What would he do now?

What did he have to do to stop Inuko?

"I'm asking if you have the resolve to kill me!"

Kill?

In order to save Rio, he had to kill Inuko.

He had never given any thought to this decision.

"You need to think about this before fighting, you moron."

Seeing Shachito hesitate, Inuko sighed.

"—You've barely passed. The training this time looks at a different kind of quality."

He couldn't follow Inuko's sudden change at all.

The girl's entire atmosphere changed as if her cruelty from before was a lie. She returned from being a battle expert to a mere raincoat girl.

"…Huh?"

"Why are you making a stupid face? I've already told you training's started when I left the bus stop."

Inuko's open hand grabbed Shachito's head.

"You've deduced my goal from the conversation and came here. That was first of all a test of your analytic abilities. I'll also praise you for coming to face me despite the gap in our strength. You've put into practice my teaching of fighting no matter what. Also choosing hand-to-hand fighting against me was also the right answer. It means you don't lack the good judgment to try and find even the smallest of chances against someone you can't win against."

Turning toward the dumbfounded Shachito, Inuko continued her speech.

"To sum it up, it was training to measure your aptitude for battle. I have to check it in preparation of the final test after all."

"Training…?"

Shachito's brain started working again. He squeezed out his voice to ask.

"Then, about you killing Rio-chan—"

"It was obviously a lie. Even rotten as I am, I'm a public servant. Of course I wouldn't become a murderer when it's not even for my mission. If this was a test to check your presence of mind, you would have a failing mark."

Seeing Inuko puff her cheeks and lecture him, he felt exhausted. This time he was undoubtedly angry.

"You little… Why would you make that lie, of all things?"

"I couldn’t think of any other way to make you angry, so it can't be helped. Do you think there was any other way to make you face off against me for real except this?"

He didn't. Who would have ever fought this sort of monster seriously of their own will?

But now that he knew this, he finally relaxed.

Rio was safe.

"…Up with that… you bastard…"

As he exhaled, he was overwhelmed by fatigue. Since he had uncharacteristically given a lot of thought to many things and acted seriously, he didn't feel like taking even a single step.

"If you understand then move. You're heavy and you're crushing me."

He gazed at the girl struggling underneath him.

"W-what's up with that look. If you still have complaints then I'll fight you again."

"…No, I was thinking of doing some indecent things to you as revenge."

"Move aside, you moron!"

The strike of the blushing girl's stick served as the clincher.

Turning a somersault and gazing up the starry sky, Shachito could see the dazzling moon shining over the city.

He felt relieved, yet he also felt not fully satisfied.

Although he had been able to protect Rio, the change inside him remained. He was able to pass Inuko's test—yet he wasn't even thinking about that. Never mind feeling accomplished, he didn't have any feeling that he finished the test at all.

There were the Shachito Inuko desired him to become, and the real, changing Shachito.

He could feel something slightly off between them.

But right now—

"I feel… exhausted…"

He was overwhelmed by everything and couldn't think anymore.

Shiohara Shachito's "aptitude exam".

—Passed.

3.04 The Others

The spats-wearing Rio advanced to the center of the venue where the final audition was being held.

"I am Masaki Rio. Thank you very much."

Due to her excessive tension, she was stiff even during her bow.

Starting with Jarre Harissi, the eyes of the audition judges focused on Rio. Together with Jarre, they were ten people composed of staff members and sponsors.

Intensely being stared all over, Rio flinched.

I've worked hard for today… so I must give it everything I have—

She trying getting into it by thinking so, but couldn't stop shaking. She bit her lips and hid her nervousness.

The test was made of a few simple acting skits, basic dancing, pronunciation test, free form personal performance, and finally a personal request from Jarre.

The staff began the test. Starting by letting her change her expression based on various emotions, the test advanced to an improvised performance with another person.

The judges watched silently, at times commenting, and scored Rio.

Even as the test continued Rio was unable to shake off her anxiety. She feared the judges' gaze, especially that of the giant man Jarre Harissi sitting in front of her.

He seemed to be just like a giant predator. Just his presence watching over her turned into pressure, and so his already-huge body seemed to be growing even larger.

"…!"

A familiar sound began reverberating inside her ears.

It was a cracked metallic sound.

She could see black fog oozing out from the audition venue's walls, floor and ceiling. She felt a foul presence filling up the place.

Why now…!

Sweat covered Rio's brow.

What in the world was that voice that kept cornering her? Was she just hearing and seeing things due to her excessive pressure?

The black fog, or mysterious presence that could be called a miasma, intoxicated Rio's consciousness. Making an effort to continue her acting, she was gradually blanking out.

"Thou who are fit to become mine vessels… Thou shall now decide in front of me who fits better…"

She felt as if she heard a hoarse voice coming from somewhere.

It was like a dream; she didn't feel like she was moving her body out of her own volition.

"A performance by the book. It's good, but it has no personality."

The black miasma clung to one of the judges. In a complete change from their voices which was impersonal until now, they bore clear scorn and looked at Rio.

"Are you feeling the wall? Is your talent already at its limit?"

The black miasma moved to another staff member. He started torturing Rio with a sinister tone.

"You won't be able to pass like that."

"If we're simply talking about good acting there are plenty of other actors."

Every time the miasma moved to another person it became denser. Nearly gaining substance, it changed into something that looked like a black, filthy cloth—a robe.

The robe appearing and disappearing from her field of vision and the horribly ear-grating metallic sound—her eyes grew dim, and by the excessive harassment of the ear-grating sound she became unable to tell if it all happened in reality or not.

Around the time she had to face the final test she finally realized the true identity of the repeated metallic sound.

It was similar to the sound of bells found in places such as churches.

Even while she was about to collapse from tension and dizziness, Rio still did her best to stand.

The final test was a free-form challenge from Jarre.

"You can speak English, right?"

The large man suddenly inquired.

"…Y-yes."

Slightly panting, Rio nodded. She attended Conversational English classes for the past several years.

"Have you received the script of 'Beast' along with the notification of you passing the second screening phase?"

Rio nodded. Her throat was parched and her stamina also reached its limits.

The musical "Beast", about to be opened in Oranje Land, was the play that allowed Jarre to receive an award for his performance on his golden years. He was still being paid royalties from theatrical companies all around the world, and it was famous enough to keep being performed. Since it was going to open up in Japan for the first time it grabbed the attention of the general public.

Even if it wasn't so, "Beast" was the musical that made Rio aim to become an actress. Never mind the Japanese translation, she had also watched the English version of the lines on video countless times and learned them by heart.

"Have you possibly already memorized the scene where the Beast and the protagonist meet for the first time?"

"Yes sir."

"You'll be the protagonist. I'll do the Beast."

Asserting this, Jarre rose from his seat.

With the staff members' sinister smiles at his back, Jarre exerted a pressure so powerful he didn't seem human. The black miasma wrapped around his body, forming the shape of a robe.

"Come, thou shalt fight now… Thou shalt indicate who fits better to become mine vessel…"

She could hear the hoarse voice again.

The musical "Beast" was a tragedy occurring in medieval Europe. During a civil war, a wounded enemy soldier wandered into an infirmary. Having lost his sanity after a battle, the warrior tries slaughtering all of the physicians and patients. Yet a young nurse persuades him and suppresses him, and she tries to restore him to his proper form by her warm nursing—

"…!"

Jarre raised a howl. The entire hall seemed to shake.

Rio was swallowed up completely by Jarre's genuine acting. She couldn't even move a finger. Her knees trembling, she seemed about to collapse to a sitting position at any moment.

The authentic acting of a pro mercilessly unfolded in front of her. As she stood upright, the beast in the form of Jarre started slowly walking around her.

The scene in question started from the lines said by the protagonist played by Rio. Yet she couldn't move her mouth.

"…!"

The howl enveloped the hall, as if urging her lines.

"'A-are you human? Or are you—'"

Rio's voice, barely coming out of her mouth, was drowned by Jarre's war cry.

"You're ruthless."

The staff members exchanged smiles and spoke toward Jarre who was walking in circles around the girl.

"How about I devour you right here and now?"

Jarre was threatening the girl by shaking his large body and opening his mouth wide.

I'm about to be eaten—

She reached her limits. Rio's mental strength couldn't withstand Jarre's presence.

My dream, too—

Her vision was distorted by tears.

Everything—

Her vision closed.

Her dream didn't matter anymore. She just wanted to run away from everything and relax.

As Rio was about to collapse on the spot, a shrill electrical sound echoed in her ears.

"…!"

She opened her eyes.

That noise came from her bag on the corner of the room.

Her cellphone informed the arrival of a message. As she was too nervous she had forgotten to turn it off.

She didn't even need to check in order to know who sent her this message; since she had lately become somewhat estranged from her classmates, they hadn't exchanged any text messages for a while.

Shiohara Shachito. Right now, she couldn't think of anyone else who would send a message to her.

—Do your best, Rio-chan!

Shachito's encouraging voice was revived in her ears.

"'A-are you human? Or are you—'"

While clenching her teeth, Rio returned to acting.

"…!"

Yet once again her lines were erased by Jarre's roar. The large amount of miasma spewing out of the large man was directed at Rio as if to overpower her.

It was useless. The words she strained herself to say lacked any sense of presence.

Rio wrung out her remaining energy, fighting against Jarre's air of intimidation. Shaking off her tension, she heightened her focus. As she tried moving her limbs, some power returned to her pale body.

I can still do it—

"'Are you human? Or are you a famished beast?'"

Rio's voice, coming out of her stomach, echoed in the hall.

The roaring Jarre took a step back for an instant as if flinching back. The miasma filling the place looked as though it slightly scattered.

But soon Jarre widened his eyes.

"'I am but a mere Beast!'"

It was a shout in a heavy bass voice that felt as if it pounded Rio's entire body. The robe made of the coagulating miasma passed from the large man to her.

Fear was instantly revived in her.

Nevertheless, wrapped by the filthy robe, Rio clenched her molars and again emitted a clear voice.

"'If so, why do you have the form of a man? Why do you speak the words of man?'"

The robe soared from Rio's body. Rotating in the air and creating a whirlpool of miasma, it passed over to Jarre in the next moment.

The bearded man's expression warped. His whole body shook to intimidate Rio.

"'I was human. Yet I am no longer human! By hurting, by being hurt, by all my suffering I have thrown away my humanity!'"

The robe separated from Jarre as if bursting off. Returning to miasma, the robe clung to Rio and then reassumed its shape.

"'If you bore wounds then they can be healed. In being hurt beasts and humans are the same.'"

Once getting into her acting, all worldly thoughts were gone from Rio. She had practiced this scene countless times ever since her dream started. She felt confident that no other person admired "Beast" as much as she did.

"Yes, trample each other's dreams… I shall choose one of thee…"

The hoarse voice heard from somewhere was drowned by the exchange of Rio and Jarre's acting.

She could feel Jarre becoming passionate in his acting just like her.

He tried to devour Rio's acting, which, although unstable and brittle, was also overflowing with talent, drown her out by reading lines in a loud volume and employing overwhelming movements.

Yet Rio's act didn't stop. Her lines were those of the gentle nurse, but she kept acting strongly with her unwillingness to lose to Jarre.

In the beginning his acting was overwhelming, yet it started changing.

As the scene drew to a close, Jarre's expression showed impatience. Conversely Rio seemed more and more lively.

This was the difference between one whose dream was destroyed and one who kept dreaming.

—And the ending arrived.

"'I shall heal you. Until you return to the form of a human—'"

Bringing the violent conflict of acting to a finish were these calm lines filled with kindness. 

A large crashing sound resounded.

With his face distorted, Jarre's back hit the table.

The one smiling calmly was Rio. As if fearing her calm gaze, the big man collapsed to the floor.

It was Rio's victory.

The miasma drifting around the conference room increased in density, swallowing Rio and Jarre.

A coarse voice whispered to Rio who was drunk on victory and to Jarre who was crushed with defeat.

"The match is settled… This vessel is worthy of me…"

This whisper oozing with joy overlapped with the voices of the staff covered by the miasma.

"A marvelous performance. You weren't inferior to mister Harissi."

"Not only that, look at him. How pathetic he was."

"How sad. Although he had quit active work, losing to such a girl…"

These merciless scorns assaulted Jarre who was holding his head.

Meanwhile Rio felt the best.

Her acting surpassed Jarre, who was once extoled as a famous actor.

"I will… not become like you."

Just like the staff members, Rio herself also directed a derisive smile towards the pitiful large man.

The sound of a bell echoed especially loud in the hall.

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