Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Asa Mitaka practically trudged through the darkened streets leading back to her apartment, still thinking back to the events that transpired earlier that day. The sinking feeling of shame that came when she saw a poor grade on her math test, followed by the sinking dread of her teacher's suggestion to stay after hours for tutoring.

Math was easily her worst subject, and so she knew it was only out of pity that she was offered the chance both at tutoring and even to retake her test. Perhaps she should just take advantage of it, but there were few things Asa hated more than being pitied. Unfortunately ever since she was allowed to leave the orphanage to attend high school, she had received very little except pity from her teachers and classmates.

She could tell that is all it was. Whenever people approached her, whenever they tried to pull her into things just because everyone knew she came from the orphanage and that she lived alone now, whenever her teachers had reached out to let her make up work when other students didn't get the same treatment. She saw through all of it.

She hated how they all looked down on her without even realizing it, and so more often than not she rejected any attempt they made to get close to her.

She only agreed to it this time because she didn't want to be the type of student who was okay with having bad grades either.

The darkened streets did not really help with her mood, ultimately. She was not entirely used to the walk home from school yet, and so she occasionally still made mistakes and got a little lost. Tonight was one such night, where a wrong turn had left her wandering from street to street, trying to find her way back to one that she recognized.

She hated that she made these sorts of mistakes. That something as simple as just walking home proved to be too difficult her. Other high school students could manage this just fine, but not her. Paired with her failure in math, it was enough to almost make her feel sick with self-pity.

A distraction came in the form of a rat dashing across her path from a nearby alley, causing her to jump into the air and nearly topple over in shock.

The rat bounded across the street, and then jumped into a nearby storm drain, all while Asa watched it go. She stared at the drain for a moment before huffing, and shaking her head. Of course this city must be infested with rats. She shouldn't have been surprised to see one, especially this late at night. The city was a corrupt mess, and with that corruption came the sort of filth that attracted vermin. It was a failure on the city's part, to keep its own streets clean. It was also a failure on the part of the people who lived here, leaving their trash everywhere.

With a sigh, Asa Mitaka did her best to put these thoughts out of her mind so she can continue her march back home. It was just a rat, after all. Nothing to get worked up over.

As she was passing the alleyway the rat had emerged from, something fell over from within it, and her attention was drawn towards it.

Four large, emerald cat eyes glared at her from the darkness of the alleyway. Indeed, the only distinct shape within that darkness were those eyes. Even as they moved closer, Asa could only just barely make out a vague feline shape.

A cat?

Teeth flashed from under those eyes, sharp and dripping with saliva as it came closer to its next meal. Sharp claws scrapped at the concrete it walked over as it came closer, and closer while Asa just stood and watched it.

Finally, her survival instincts returned, and she turned to run as fast as she could, only to find herself tripping over something and slamming her head against the asphalt.

She began to push herself up, dazed as she brought a hand to her forehead, the fingers of her shaking coming away sticky and wet. She tried to push herself up, taking one last look at the approaching devil before noting, in the last moment of her life, the claw coming down towards her face.

As the claw tore through the flesh of her face, slicing through skin and bone alike, Asa's thoughts ran at light speed as she assessed her life for the last time.

Even before she left the orphanage, she had always pushed everyone away. She could excuse it to herself as not needing or wanting friends, not wanting people's pity, or even simply not believing anyone's attempts to reach out to her were sincere.

But that wasn't exactly the truth, was it?

She was just afraid. Afraid to let anyone get close to her.

If she could just do it all again, she wished she had just been a little less afraid.

Her fading vision found itself focusing on the storm drain across the street, and in those final moments before her vision went dark, she saw that same rat from earlier crawl out — its beady eyes, seeming to glint yellow from the reflection of the street lights, focused on her.

Then she heard a voice the voice of a woman. Calm, gentle, yet drawing all of her attention upon it even as she lay dying.

I can save you. Give your body to me.

Saliva dripped from the mouth of the Cat Devil as its maw hovered over the body of the girl it had just killed. For weeks now, it had to subsist off of a diet of rats and other vermin as it hid in the shadows of Tokyo. A pitiful existence, unbecoming of itself, but after it had lost a fight with a devil hunter that nearly sent it back to hell, it had little choice.

Yet still, it had been patient. Waiting for the right moment for a human to make the mistake of crossing it on its own. And it was rewarded. A young human female, all alone in the middle of the night. Already, it was drooling over the prospect of gorging itself on her flesh. Of having its strength returned to it, so that it may hunt the next human. And the next, and the next…

However, before it could take its first bite, the human began to move, shifting beneath it. This hardly bothered it too much, the Cat Devil quite liked it when its prey was not so quick to die. It loved toying with its food, dragging out a hunt for as long as it can before devouring its prey. With a quick glance around, just to make sure the streets were still clear, the Cat Devil laughed, speaking in a feminine voice.

"Still have some life left in you, I see. Don't you humans usually die when your head is split open?"

The girl did not respond at first as she rose to her feet, calmly standing at her full height before turning her head towards the Cat Devil.

The sight of those eyes made the Cat Devil recoil for the first time in its life. Yellow, glowing ever so slightly in the low light, with concentric crimson rings.

The girl pointed at the Cat Devil, and a chain shot through its forehead.

"You've caused me quite a bit of trouble. You nearly ate the last of my rats, you know," the girl said in an eerily calm voice. She tilted her head slightly as she regarded the slack-jawed devil before smiling to herself.

"I suppose I can not blame you entirely. Although, if you are so hungry, then why not eat your own paws? Once you are done, wait here until a devil hunter comes to kill you in the morning."

Without hesitation, the Cat Devil brought a paw up to its mouth, and bit down, its sharp teeth easily tearing through flesh and crunching down on bone.

Makima paid little attention as it carried out her order. She merely smiled, turned, and walked away.

As late autumn settles across Japan, temperatures in the capital have plummeted to record lows not seen in decades. This morning, the temperature dipped below 2°C, making it the coldest October since official records began.

Commuters across the city were met with biting winds, and meteorologists warn that an early winter chill may be approaching sooner than expected. Authorities are advising residents to dress appropriately in coats, scarves, and gloves, even during daytime hours, as the sharp temperature drop can pose risks of seasonal illness.

Railway stations and convenience stores have already begun distributing heat packs, while shelters across Tokyo are preparing for an uptick in visitors seeking warmth. Officials caution that while the sudden shift from mild autumn air to early winter cold is unusual, it may continue in the coming weeks.

And finally, in other local updates: despite increased sightings of devils across the region, Chainsaw Man has yet to appear this week.

Asa Mitaka shivered as she awoke in her bed, immediately turning towards her window in a daze of confusion. Gently, she touched her face, right where the Cat Devil's claws had sliced through it, only to find that there was not even a scar left behind.

Was it all just a bad dream?

"Good morning, Mitaka-chan."

Asa bumped her head against the glass as she flung herself away from the edge of her bed, turning to face…

Herself?

Only, no, not exactly herself. Whatever it was had her face, her school uniform, even her hair tied up in a pair of pigtails. Yet, there was something off about her, as she stood over Asa, hands folded behind her back. Everything about her seemed so overly put-together. Not a hair out of place, not a wrinkle in her uniform. Even the way she stood was immaculate — her arms folded behind her back as she stood over Asa's bed, a calm smile plastered on her face.

The only things out of place were the scars, claw marks across her face, and her eyes. Yellow, with crimson rings.

She tilted her head, and spoke in Asa's voice, her tone calm and even.

"I am afraid that last night was not a dream, Mitaka-chan. My name is Makima. You and I will be sharing a body from now on."

Asa stared at this copy of herself in utter disbelief. Slowly, she rose a shaking hand and pinched her cheek.

Makima's smile widened slightly, seemingly amused by Asa's actions. She took a step closer to Asa's bed, sat down on the edge of it, and leaned in closer towards her before speaking again.

"I understand that this may be quite a bit to take in, so allow me to make myself clear. I am the Control Devil, and you and I made a contract last night just before you died. In exchange for your survival, I have taken claim of your body. Surely you remember, yes?"

I can save you. Give your body to me.

Asa felt her blood run cold, and she reached up to pinch her other cheek.

This time, Makima seemed far less amused. She sighed, and then stood up, her smile vanishing as she stood over Asa.

"Get up, make yourself breakfast, and then get ready for school, Mitaka-chan."

Makima paused, and then allowed her calm smile to return to her face.

"And be sure to wear a jacket today. It is quite cold out, after all."

Asa shuddered as she buttoned up her coat just a little further. She hated these coats the school handed out as part of their uniforms. They were thin, probably because of budget cuts, and hardly did anything against the cold. She might as well have not bothered with it at all. It might have proven to be just as effective if she hadn't, in fact.

Makima walked right beside her, a more perfect reflection. Compared to Asa's own somewhat hunched way of walking, Makima stood with her back straight, her shoulders back, and took confident strides as she kept apace alongside Asa.

A silence had settled between them since Asa had left her apartment, which left Asa's mind swimming with questions. Foremost of which was if Makima was a devil, and she had taken her body, then why was Asa still alive?

"Because I need you, Mitaka-chan."

Asa froze in her tracks, watching as Makima continued to stride forward for but a single step, before turning with that same calm smile on her face.

"I can hear your thoughts, Mitaka-chan. Every single one. There is no hiding anything from me. We share a body, or rather, more specifically, a brain. I left you intact because I knew I would be unable to properly imitate your specific mannerisms. As I said, I need you."

Asa gawked at Makima, terrified that even her own thoughts no longer belonged to her. Makima merely smiled at her for another moment before turning again, and tilting her head in Asa's direction. "Come along now. The last thing you need is to be late to class."

She began to walk ahead of Asa, who hurried to catch up to her.

"Wait!" Asa cried out, reaching forward to grab Makima's shoulder, "Why are you doing-" Asa watched as her hand moved through Makima's shoulder, as if passing through vapor.

Makima paused, and glanced over her shoulder at Asa once more.

"I am only appearing to you as a hallucination, Mitaka-chan. You are the only one who can see me, and neither of us are capable of touching the other."

Once again, Makima began to walk, still not bothering to see if Asa followed.

Asa watched her go for a moment, the silence making it clear that Makima had no intent on answering her question.

With a despondent expression on her face, she merely followed along. 

Chapter Text

For the rest of the morning, Makima seemed content to leave Asa alone. Asa neither saw her, nor heard her voice as she sat through her classes. It almost felt normal, and for a time, Asa could almost convince herself that everything really was just a bad dream.

Almost.

The inescapable dread of knowing that her thoughts were intruded upon, that her body was being shared by a devil, proved to be something she just could not stop thinking about. She did her best to place all of it in the back of her mind as she focused on the tasks laid before her, but she just couldn't. Class after class, she was left staring blankly at her coursework as she considered the reality of her situation.

However, as the day wore on, Asa began to comfort herself with the idea that, maybe, with Makima not currently present, some of her thoughts could remain private for a time. She even called out to Makima a few times to see if she would appear, only to be met with an awkward, if somewhat merciful silence.

Maybe Makima needed to rest sometimes? Maybe she was somehow weakened by taking up residence in Asa's head? Makima had mentioned that Asa had died (the thought of this still made her stomach tie itself in knots), which would mean that Asa was a fiend now. Maybe that meant that Makima's powers were limited now? That she could only maintain consciousness for short periods of time?

As lunch came, Asa made her way to her usual perch on the roof, still considering these possibilities. Once she was alone, she called out in a quiet, meek voice.

"Makima? Are you there?"

Silence.

Asa let out a sigh, and sat down with her back against the brick parapet that lined the edge of the roof. Maybe she really could be alone with her thoughts for a moment.

What was she going to do? She might be alone now, but she had no idea for how long she would have until Makima returned. She had to find some way to get out of this. Makima had said she was a Control Devil, right? That couldn't be good, and whatever she wanted with Asa couldn't be good either. Not that Asa would really know, since Makima refused to tell her anything! Every time she asked, Makima would either outright ignore her, or change the subject entirely. It was downright suspicious.

Asa had to find a devil hunter or something. Anyone who might know what to do.

"The only thing you would achieve is getting us both killed."

Asa nearly toppled over at Makima's sudden appearance. Makima sat next to her, her legs folded beneath her, and her hands resting on her lap. She did not look at Asa, merely staring ahead with a neutral expression and a small frown on her face.

"Don't you think you should be a little more thankful, Mitaka-chan? I saved your life last night, after all."

Asa had no answer to that. She only watched as Makima finally turned her head to look at her, giving her a brief, polite smile before standing and looking out towards the city's skyline.

Asa finally found her voice again as she pushed herself up, sitting with her back against the parapet once again.

"How long have you been listening to me?"

"Just long enough. I see no reason to monitor your every thought, but I do notice when your thoughts turn towards something that may endanger the both of us."

A silence fell between them for a time, the wind blowing through Makima's hair. She shut her eyes, breathed in, and then out again before opening her eyes and looking down at Asa.

"I believe you and I need a moment to be properly introduced to one another if we will be sharing a space from here on," she said, her voice tinged with a great degree of professionalism.

"I apologize for not taking the time to explain myself earlier this morning. I know you have many questions, but I only have but so many answers to give you. Besides, I did not want you to be late for school."

Makima leaned forward on the parapet, and turned her gaze back towards the city.

"Additionally, I often find that the best way to proceed with these sorts of things is to try to take them in stride. To roll with the punches, so to speak. I had hoped to encourage you to take that approach, but it seems that you simply have a tendency to dwell on things."

Asa frowned at that, and spoke up in her own defense.

"W-Well yeah I'm dwelling on this! I'm stuck with you in my head, and you want me to just go on like nothing is wrong?"

Makima was silent for a moment before lowering herself to Asa's level, and speaking in an oddly gentle tone.

"Whether you like it or not, this is your reality, Mitaka-chan. Honestly, what does spending all of your time thinking about it, even to the detriment of your work today accomplish? Misfortune occurs whether we are prepared for it or not, and the only reasonable thing we can do about it is to not allow it to overcome us. Do you understand?"

Asa stared at Makima in stunned silence. Of all things she might have expected from the devil who now lived in her brain, life advice was not among them.

Makima stood up again, turning towards the skyline with a sigh, and motioning for Asa to stand beside her. Asa considered this for a moment before standing up, and leaning against the parapet beside Makima.

"If it provides you any sort of comfort, I have no intent on making my time with you permanent. When we met last night, I required a vessel due to circumstances that were outside of my control," she pauses here, closing her eyes and taking another deep breath. She keeps her eyes closed as she continues. "When the time is right, you will have your body back."

"…How long will that take?"

Makima opened her eyes, looked over at Asa, and regarded her a small, serene smile.

"We shall see. You will simply have to trust me, Mitaka-chan."

Once more, her gaze turned towards the city's skyline, leaving Asa to stare at her with her mouth slightly agape. Makima considered the scene before her for a moment before speaking again.

"Why do you choose to eat up here on your own?"

Asa was struck by the question for a moment, not expecting the conversation to go in this particular direction. She looked at Makima for a moment, considering whether or not to even entertain that line of questioning before frowning, and looking away from her.

"I just prefer eating on my own."

"Do you, now?"

"Yeah. I mean, what's the point of trying to eat with other people anyway? Watching other people eat is gross, not to mention people just use lunch as an excuse to enforce their cliques anyway."

"Oh?"

"It's why you'll see everyone separated into groups during lunch. That sort of stuff shouldn't even matter, it's not like any of us will know each other after a few years anyway. It's why I don't even bother. I'm just here to study, not to play these social games everyone seems obsessed with."

"Hm."

"Even if I did want to eat with them, I'd have nothing to say to them. All any of them seem to care about is celebrity gossip, or sports, or any of the other default things you are supposed to care about to fit in with society. None of that matters to me. I just don't care. I have nothing in common with any of them. I just try to focus on things that actually matter, so I can have a better life after school is over. When these people graduate they'll just find some boring job anyway, and even then they'll still try to enforce their dumb social cliques. Maybe it's just human nature, I don't know. I guess we are social animals, but sometimes it just feels like some people are more prone to just following their instincts to make dumb groups for themselves at the expense of others. I'm not like that, though. Like I said, I only really focus on what is important. I don't really need friends. I guess I just don't like people like other people do."

At this point, Makima had rested her elbow on the brick parapet, and stood with her chin on the palm of her hand while she merely watched Asa speak. Once she seemed done, she smiled a little wider.

"You have quite a bit of insight for your age, Mitaka-chan."

Asa paused, blinking at Makima before glancing away with a small smile on her face.

"Thank you… I guess I just have a lot of time to think about this sort of stuff."

Makima slowly nodded her head at that.

"Oh yes, I can tell. You are a smart girl, that much is clear to me. Except… I do think you shouldn't discount the benefit of having people close to you."

Asa blinked, and looked up at Makima. Makima's smile remained unchanged as she continued.

"Take your troubles in math, for example. On your own you struggle, but if you had friends who were better at math, perhaps they would be able to help you study?"

"That… Sounds a bit like you are just using someone."

Makima hummed, bringing her thumb and forefinger to her chin and closing her eyes for a moment before nodding.

"I suppose it would be, but you can always offer them the same thing in exchange. You could help them study for a subject they struggle with. After all, you do relatively well in your other classes, don't you? This should be quite easy for you."

Asa considered this as she looked over the edge of the roof, down to the ground below.

"…I don't know if I trust you. I mean, who takes social advice from a devil?"

Makima is silent for a moment before moving just a bit closer to Asa.

"I understand more than you think about humans. I may be a devil, but I am actually quite fond of humans, you know. Besides, I am sure you are familiar with the idea that an outsider's perspective is often times quite valuable."

Makima fell silent for a moment, giving Asa a chance to look up at her before smiling, and continuing.

"Let me help you, Mitaka-chan. I've saved your life already, haven't I? While we are together, why not allow me to help you improve it as well? We both know you do not like being alone. You realized as much last night, if you recall"

I wish I had been just a little less afraid.

Asa remained silent, and Makima kept that same smile on her face.

"Lunch is almost over, Mitaka-chan. I would suggest thinking on my advice. You may be somewhat isolated as you are, but social structures are often thought of as a ladder for a reason. Perhaps you can find someone in a similar position as yourself to start off?"

Asa opened her mouth to reply before realizing just how late it truly was. At this rate she would barely have time to get to her class before the bell rang. Without a word, she pushed herself away from the parapet, and began to walk towards the roof's ext before pausing as a thought came to her.

"What do you get out of this, exactly?"

Makima stood with her back turned to Asa, utterly silent. Just as Asa thought Makima was going to ignore her again, she spoke.

"I suppose... You've simply charmed me a bit over the course of our conversation."

Asa stood there for a few moments, almost in shock.

"...Charmed you?"

"Mhm. You're an interesting young woman, Mitaka-chan."

Then, tentatively, she smiled to herself before going back downstairs. That smile remained on her face all the way to class. 

She is an interesting woman, isn't she?

Chapter Text

Whatever confidence Asa had managed to gain on the rooftop had swiftly dissipated over the course of her time in class. It started when she heard some girls giggling when they caught her smiling to herself, which made her smile drop as quickly as she could manage to make it do so. The sound alone made her feel as if she had been caught doing something shameful, and perhaps she had been. She stared at the desk until her vision blurred, willing herself invisible while the girls whispered in the row ahead of her.

The more she thought about her interaction on the rooftop, the more stupid she started to feel. Makima was a devil. A devil. It shouldn't matter to Asa if she thinks she is interesting, or charming, or anything. What would a devil even know about that sort of thing? Asa shouldn't believe her, not even for a second.

She didn't even do anything interesting or charming anyway. No one else had ever called Asa that. To most people she could tell that she was a curiosity at best, and a nuisance at worse.

And yet… That calm, gentle tone she used had gotten under her skin regardless. The way she said it made it seem as if it were some obvious truth.

Maybe she really did see something in Asa?

Makima wasn’t speaking to her now, of course. Not even a whisper. On one hand, it brought her quite a bit of relief that she would not have to deal with seeing Makima at all hours, but at the same time it almost gave her a sense of dread for when she would appear again. She has already made it clear that each conversation they would have would be on her terms, and her terms alone. How long would it be before she just… Shows up again?

Asa gazed down at her notebook, and with a sigh, did her best to put those thoughts away for later. She couldn't just avoid all of her work today, and now that she was in math again, she needed to focus now more than ever.

By the time the teacher began her lecture, Asa's stomach was already tightening into knots. She tried to focus on the chalkboard, but the numbers and symbols swam together in incomprehensible shapes.

She shifted in her chair, scribbled nonsense into her notebook just to make it look like she was working, and immediately hated herself for it. She was supposed to be smart, wasn’t she? Careful, focused, better than the others who wasted their time gossiping. That was what she told herself every time she sat alone at lunch, every time she put up her walls at the slightest idea of company. But staring down at the half-formed equation on her worksheet, Asa realized she couldn’t even manage to fake an answer.

This realization was like a death knell in her own mind. Complete and utter doom, knowing that even after tutoring she was still going to fail this class. She couldn't do math. She couldn't do anything. She was a failure. A failure.

"Psst. Hey, you look like you need help."

A voice came from her left, casual but warm. Asa’s head jerked up, startled, and she found herself looking at a bespectacled girl with short, blonde hair. Asa recognized her as a girl she had been sitting next to for quite some time now, but the two had never spoken until now. Even so, she wore a warm, friendly smile on her face as she leaned just slightly closer to Asa. She had her notebook open, pencil poised as if she’d already been halfway through solving the same problem Asa was stuck on.

"You can look at my work, if you want."

For a moment, Asa did not answer. Her pulse quickened, a rush of embarrassment making her throat dry. Someone had noticed her struggling. Someone had noticed her. Normally she would have recoiled, mumbled an excuse, and that would have been the end of the interaction. This time, however, Makima’s words from earlier echoed in her head.

Asa glanced away, already feeling a bead of sweat run down her brow as she considered her words before muttering out a reply.

"H-Hey, um… are you… good at math?"

For a moment, Asa felt a surge of embarrassment as the girl next to her merely gave her a puzzled look, before she covered that expression with an easy smile. Asa's first instinct was to assume it was fake.

"I'm not bad, I guess. Why do you ask?"

Asa could feel her heart pounding against her ribcage as she did her best to sort through the anxious mess in her head so she could think of a reply. Just not bad? Why couldn't she say that she was good? That would justify wanting to study with her more, wouldn't it? But no, now Asa had to commit to asking someone who is probably just average at math for help studying, and how did that make Asa look? She was so bad that she needed the help of someone who wasn't even good.

"Um… I was just wondering if, maybe… You might be willing to help me study a bit?"

What was she doing? Why was she doing this? The humiliation was enough to kill Asa, and yet spitefully it would not.

The girl's smile widened to a grin, and she nodded.

"Oh, sure, I wouldn't mind. Want to meet at the library after school?"

Oh.

Asa actually did it.

Asa nodded, a serious expression on her face as the bell rang and class ended.

"Yeah, sure, after school."

The girl nodded, and packed her things away before turning to Asa, as if a thought had occurred to her.

"What was your name again?"

"Asa."

That friendly smile returned to the girl's face as she picked up her bag.

"My name is Yuko. Nice to meet you, Asa."

Asa's thoughts ran in overtime as she walked through the halls to her locker.

She had actually done it. She had asked. And Yuko had said yes.

It didn’t feel real. More like some elaborate trick her brain was playing on her, one that would fall apart if she observed it too closely. So she tried not to. She stuffed her books into her bag, slung it over her shoulder, and walked stiffly to school's main gate as though afraid someone might stop her and point out her mistake.

The halls bustled with students escaping into the late afternoon sun. Asa pushed through the crowd in a daze, her eyes fixed on the floor. Her mind wouldn’t stop circling the exchange, replaying every syllable of her own voice until it turned sour.

“Are you… good at math?”

She winced, biting the inside of her cheek. Out of everything she could have said, that was what she went with? It had sounded so awkward, so forced, as though she’d forgotten how normal conversations worked. Yuko must have noticed. She must have thought Asa was strange. She probably agreed to help just to be polite, and by tomorrow she’d be telling her friends about the weird girl who couldn’t even ask for study help without tripping over her own words.

"Mitaka-chan."

The voice unfurled softly in her mind, and Asa nearly dropped her bag from the jolt.

Makima walked beside her now, impossibly seamless with the stream of students, though Asa knew no one else could see her. Her stride was unhurried, her hands folded neatly behind her back.

“You did well,” Makima said, her tone as even and calm as ever. That serene smile still on her face.

Asa swallowed hard. “No I didn't. It was awkward. She probably thinks I’m an idiot.”

“On the contrary. She agreed, did she not? That’s all that matters. Progress rarely feels elegant, Mitaka-chan, but make no mistake, any progress at all is still commendable. I'm glad to see you are putting my advice into effect so quickly.”

Asa opened her mouth to argue, but the sight of Yuko waiting at the end of the hall froze the words in her throat.

Yuko was waving. A genuine smile on her face.

“Asa! Ready to go?”

Asa felt her face heat up as she nodded, adjusting her bag on her shoulder. Makima lingered a pace behind her now, her smile faint and inscrutable.

“Go on,” she murmured. “Let’s see where this takes you.”

The library was thankfully quieter than Asa expected for this hour. The low golden light of afternoon sun filtered through tall windows, dust motes hanging lazily in the air. Students dotted the rows of long wooden tables, most bent over textbooks or chatting in hushed tones. The faint scratch of pens and the occasional whisper of turning pages filled the silence.

Asa awkwardly followed Yuko, who walked confidently through the library. Her satchel bouncing against her hip as she glanced back every so often as if to make sure Asa hadn’t vanished.

“Let’s grab a spot by the window,” Yuko suggested, her tone casual but light. She really did seem happy Asa had come along.

Asa nodded stiffly. She still half-expected the whole thing to unravel any second. Yuko would realize that she’d made a mistake, Asa would say something stupid, or Makima would swoop in again and distract Asa.

They settled at a table near the back. Yuko dumped her books onto the surface with an easy grin, pulling out her notebook already bristling with sticky notes and highlighted problems. Asa followed, unpacking more slowly in comparison, laying her things in neat rows to keep her hands from trembling.

“So,” Yuko said, flipping through a page covered in neat handwriting, “what exactly do you need help with?”

Asa opened her mouth, but no words came out. Instead, she found herself staring at the way Yuko’s short hair fell slightly into her eyes, the way she pushed it back without missing a beat, the warm expression that didn’t seem forced at all.

“I…” Asa hesitated. The truth, bitter and humiliating, was right on the tip of her tongue. She really didn't want to admit to it, but she had already come this far. She might as well commit, even if it meant being a little embarrassed. “Everything, really.”

Yuko blinked, then laughed. It wasn't mean-spirited at all, but more like she simply couldn’t help herself. “That’s okay! Honestly, same here. I barely scrape by.”

That confession startled Asa. “But… you looked so sure in class.”

“Fake it ‘til you make it!” Yuko winked, then slid her notebook toward Asa. “Half the time, I just look busy enough that no one questions me. Works wonders.”

Asa stared, disappointment tugging at her chest. So Yuko wasn’t good at math either. This was all a mistake after all.

But Yuko’s grin didn’t falter. “Still, maybe we can figure it out together. Two heads are better than one, right?”

Asa found herself nodding, though the math problems quickly devolved into idle scribbles and tangents. Their study session drifted into small talk before either of them noticed.

Yuko asked about Asa’s favorite books, her favorite foods, what she thought of some of the teachers. Asa answered haltingly at first, her words short and clipped, but Yuko filled every silence effortlessly. She didn’t seem bothered by Asa’s hesitations; in fact, she seemed almost determined to draw her out, bit by bit, until Asa found herself answering more fully, even letting slip a faint laugh when Yuko made a silly face imitating their math teacher’s monotone drone.

For a moment, Asa forgot about the tight knot of dread in her stomach. She could even forget about the devil that was watching her every move. She realized all at once that she was actually having fun.

As the library began to empty, Yuko leaned back in her chair, stretching her arms above her head with a groan. “Well, we didn’t get much work done, did we?”

Asa lowered her gaze to the nearly blank worksheet between them, cheeks warming. “Yeah. Sorry.”

“Don’t be!” Yuko said quickly. “I had fun. Way better than staring at numbers until my brain melts.”

Something about the way she said it—so earnest, so easy—made Asa’s chest ache.

Then, Yuko leaned forward, her expression turning just a little more serious. “Hey, Asa… We should do this again some time.”

Asa’s breath caught. And then, she smiled, and nodded. Yuko returned that smile, and then a silence fell over them as they both packed their bags, and made their way to the exit.

Before they parted ways, Yuko spoke up once again.

“Hey Asa, wanna join the devil hunter club together?”

The question landed heavier than Yuko could have known. Asa blinked at her, unsure she’d heard right.

“They meet after school sometimes,” Yuko went on, lowering her voice a little. “It’s actually kinda cool. And, well… I thought maybe, since we had fun today, you’d like to check it out with me.”

Yuko’s hopeful gaze locked onto Asa’s.

And just behind Yuko’s shoulder, Asa saw her: Makima, standing in the fading light of the window. Her smile was faint, knowing, her hands folded neatly behind her back. She did not speak, seemingly merely content to watch.

Asa’s throat tightened. She didn’t know what to say at first, but after a glance at Makima, she uttered a single word.

"Okay."

Chapter Text

The evening air was cold and damp, carrying the faint smell of rain that had yet to fall. Cool rain would soon fall over the city of Tokyo, and much of the foot traffic that passed Asa by were in a rush to avoid it before it came. Asa walked home in silence, the weight of her bag a grounding ache against her shoulder. She replayed the last few hour over and over, almost disbelieving that it had happened at all.

She had fun studying with Yuko, even if they did not actually get much studying done in the end. Not just that, but Yuko had wanted to do this again.

She had put herself out there and made a friend.

The thought should have been enough to keep her warm inside, but as she reached the quieter streets away from library, that warmth gave way to unease.

She had agreed to join the Devil Hunter Club.

The words still echoed in her head, sharp and undeniable.

She hadn’t planned it, hadn’t even thought she’d be capable of saying yes to something like that. But the moment Yuko’s hopeful eyes locked on her, she felt her mouth move before she had the chance to stop herself.

What was she thinking?

What had she gotten herself into? Hunting devils? She just needed help with math, and now she was about to put her own life in danger!

She gripped her bag tighter.

Joining a club was one thing—clubs meant groups, attention, expectations. But that club? Devil hunters? Of all things? It wasn’t just extracurricular activity, it was dangerous. Even the idea of being around people who were so willing to throw themselves at devils felt suffocating. Asa barely wanted to speak to her classmates, much less spend time around those psychopaths.

Only now she was friends with one, wasn't she? Yuko wanted to be one of them, which meant that she was crazy too.

There was still time to back out, surely. She could tell Yuko she changed her mind, make up an excuse, fade away before she got pulled in too deep. Yuko would understand, right?

And yet, the thought of seeing Yuko’s face fall—the disappointment in her eyes—made Asa’s chest tighten.

She hated it.

She hated this.

Less than a day she has had a friend and she already had to deal with peer pressure.

Assuming Yuko even was a friend. It seemed like it, but maybe the two of them were just friendly? How many times would they have to study together to be friends?

"You're overthinking this, Mitaka-chan."

The moment that Asa had stepped through the door to her apartment, Makima once again made her presence known. Sitting on a chair near Asa's bed, one leg folded over the other, elbow propped up on one of her knees as she rested her chin on the palm of her hand.

She regarded Asa with a small smile for a moment as Asa recoiled, and then huffed before slamming the door behind her(though not as hardly as she could, she didn't want to disturb her neighbors).

"Would you stop that?"

Makima tilted her head, her smile being replaced by a puzzled expression.

"Hm?"

"Just-… Showing up like that! It's creepy! And stop calling me Mitaka-chan too! I'm not a kid!"

"You are a child, Mitaka-chan."

"I'm not!"

Makima regarded Asa with seemingly infinite patience, her smile unwavering as she shut her eyes for a few moments before opening them once again.

"Okay. What would you prefer I call you?"

"By my name. Asa. A-s-a. No more Mitaka-chan."

Makima merely stared silently at Asa for a few more moments before straightening her back, and sitting with her fingers interlocked over her lap.

"Asa," she began, her tone making it clear that they were going to move on from the previous subject whether Asa liked it or not, "I am proud of you. You have followed my directions much better than I thought you would have."

Asa blinked, furrowing her brow in confusion.

"Proud? Do you have any idea what I agreed to? Devil hunting? I can’t do that. I can’t even—” She bit the words off, shaking her head and looking away. “You wouldn’t understand.”

Makima’s gaze remained on her, calm and unwavering. “On the contrary. I understand very well. However, the important thing to consider here is that you agreed to it not because you want to fight devils, but because you want to be closer to someone. That is progress.”

The words dug under Asa’s skin. “Stop saying that. It’s not progress. It’s stupid. I don’t even know Yuko. I don’t know if she even likes me, or if she’s just… just humoring me.”

Makima’s hands remained folded neatly in her lap. “She spent time with you. She asked to spend more time with you. She didn’t have to do any of that, Asa. Why do you insist on assuming the worst?”

"Because-! I don't know… It's just safer." Asa said, a sense of resignation coming over her.

Makima maintained her gaze as she spoke. "If you recall from last night, you asked not to be so afraid to let others close. If you continue to retreat behind your walls, you will only sabotage yourself. Why avoid achieving your own goal?”

Asa’s stomach dropped. She hated how Makima’s words twisted in her mind, leaving her little room to argue. “Why does it matter to you? What are you getting out of this? Why are you even here?”

“I’m here because I needed you, as I have said before, Asa. Is that not reason enough?”

"No! Why would you need me for anything? Stop being so vague!"

Makima did not even blink, her expression remained unreadable, as though Asa’s outburst had barely brushed against her. The silence between them stretched until Asa’s fists ached from clenching too tightly at her sides.

"Very well. You recall that I am the Control Devil, yes?"

Asa blinked, the tension in her shoulders finally settling as it seemed as if she were finally getting somewhere.

"Yes?"

"My powers work by allowing me to control anyone that I see as inferior to myself. However, now that you and I share a body, I require you to view others as inferior to yourself as well. To make you more confident ultimately serves both of our goals."

“You want me to think other people are inferior?” Asa’s voice was small and incredulous. “That… that’s horrible.”

Makima settled back into the chair with the calm of someone explaining the rules of a game. “Words like ‘inferior’ are crude tools for a nuanced process. Think of it this way: confidence is, in a sense, taking on the view that your needs are superior to the needs of others. When you have it, you will inevitably be listened to; when you lack it, you are invisible. I am not asking you to hate people or to harm them. I am asking you to place yourself first in small, pragmatic ways so that others naturally defer to your wishes.”

“And what if I don’t want to… do that? What if I don’t want to be that kind of person?” The question came out harsher than she meant. Asa felt suddenly childish, pleading for permission she knew she shouldn’t need.

“There is always a choice.” Makima’s amber eyes were gentle but unyielding. “But remember your goal, Asa. You sought the courage to let others be close to you. Courage, by definition, requires risk. I will not force you to do anything. I will show you the method, and you will choose whether to try it. Refusal is permitted, but you must accept the consequence: you will remain exactly where you are. Wanting companionship, yet fearing it. Craving approval, yet rejecting it. You wish to live, yet you dream of disappearing. All of this, Asa, are things I have observed as traits you have, all of which actively hold you back.” She paused, then added softly, “Do you truly want to go on as you are, or will you make an effort to better yourself with my guidance?”

Asa’s chest tightened. She wanted to tell Makima to shut up, to leave her alone, but the words caught in her throat. Because Makima was right, and hearing those things said out loud felt like being stripped bare.

“You’re trying to manipulate me,” Asa whispered.

Makima smiled faintly with an almost maternal calm. “Asa. I am only trying to help you. It, of course, serves my own ends, but all relationships are ultimately transactional. We both have much to give to one another.”

"But-… Why do you want me to control people so badly?"

Makima merely smiled for a few moments, leaning back in her chair as she considered the question.

"Asa. Did you know that Chainsaw Man goes to your school?"

Asa blinked. For a moment, she thought she’d misheard. Her stomach flipped as Makima’s words echoed in her head, heavy and deliberate.

“…Come again?”

Makima’s eyes gleamed, sharp and unreadable, though her voice stayed soft and steady. “Chainsaw Man. He attends your school. You’ve passed him in the halls without realizing a few times today, in fact.”

Asa’s throat went dry. “That-… No.”

Makima tilted her head as though studying a stubborn child. “No? Why wouldn’t he be? Heroes must live somewhere, must they not? Even devils who play at being human need the rhythm of a human life.”

Asa shook her head, clutching her bag strap so tightly her knuckles whitened. “Even if that’s true—if he’s here—why are you telling me? Why do you care?”

"Because he has taken something from me that I would like returned. Namely, his heart. You see, by all rights Chainsaw Man should belong to me, Asa."

"Belong to you?"

"Mhm. You see, while the media may portray Chainsaw Man as a devil that fights other devils, this is only half of the truth. He is, in fact, a boy who merely serves as a vessel for something greater. The true Chainsaw Man. I had managed to defeat that true Chainsaw Man twice, which quite clearly proved that I was superior."

Makima's smile suddenly began to fade as she seemed to be caught up in some thought. She glanced down at her shoes with a pensive look.

"Right at the cusp of my victory, however, that boy managed to steal Chainsaw Man from me once again. Though I still hardly understand how he did it…"

Asa thought back to when she first met Makima. She imagined a rat somehow managing to defeat Chainsaw Man, which immediately elicited a sigh from Makima.

"My previous form was not that of a rat, Asa. As I have said before, I can control anything that I view as inferior to myself. My rats were merely a means for surveillance, at least before my current predicament."

She sits up, her smile returning to her face before she points a single finger at Asa.

"You should be able to do the same thing now, come to think of it. You do view yourself as at least better than a rat, don't you Asa? I once had quite the extensive network, though it dissipated the moment you and I began to share this body. Perhaps we can rebuild it, in time."

Asa's face scrunched up slightly at the thought.

"I don't have to touch them, do I?"

Makima merely regarded Asa with that same patient glare.

"No."

A few moments of silence passed, before Asa mercifully chose to change the subject.

"So… You want me to get Chainsaw Man's heart back for you? But-… How can I possibly do that? I’m—” She grasped at the air for a word. Ordinary. Invisible. “—I’m nobody.”

“You are not nobody.” Makima’s voice held an edge now, not unkind but inexorable. "At least, not with me by your side. Besides, you have already agreed to step into the same social circle as Chainsaw Man, regardless. Surely you have heard the rumors at your school that he is part of the Devil Hunter Club."

Asa folded in on herself the way she always did when fear and obligation collided. “And if I don’t want to be used for your plans?”

“You will always have a choice, Asa.” Makima’s tone was soft, but there was no indulgence left. “I will continue to offer guidance. You may refuse at any point, but remember, refusing will leave you where you were: alone. If you truly desire the opposite, you must do as I say."

Outside, the rain grew heavier.

"Fine… What do we do when we find Chainsaw Man, then?"

Makima smiled, leaning forward ever so slightly again, those unblinking amber eyes remaining fixed on Asa.

"You will get close to him, and then together, we will retake his heart. Do this, and I will return your body to you."

Chapter Text

It had been a few weeks until the beginning of that next month, an unusually cold October followed by a colder November. The Devil Hunter Club held recruitment at the beginning of every month, unlike most clubs which only recruited new members at around the beginning of each school year. The Devil Hunter Club, however, was always in need of new members given the high turnover rate. Given the dangerous nature of devil hunting, many club members often found themselves either too injured to stay in the club, or were simply killed outright. 

It was a grim thing to consider. But, then again, devils would kill students even if they weren't being hunted, and so like most grim subjects it simply went ignored by most people.

Asa's stomach twisted itself into knots as she stared at the door to the classroom where the Devil Hunter Club was meeting. From outside the room, she could hear the chattering of those within, and she knew that the room must practically be filled to the brim. She could already imagine dread visions of opening that door, and having each pair of eyes in that room turn suddenly on her. Her face went pale, and she felt sick at the mere thought of it. 

"Asa," Makima said, standing beside her with her arms folded behind her back, "you have to open the door eventually. Your friend is waiting for you."

Asa's eyes remained fixed on the door, the sound beyond it buzzing in her ears, drowning out Makima's encouragement. 

"I don't know... Maybe this is a bad idea. I don't really want to join the club anyway, and—"

"This club is our chance to get close to Chainsaw Man," Makima interrupts. "The sooner we enact our plan, the sooner you can have your body returned to you. This is no time to let your fears get the better of you."

Asa glanced up at the door, and then back down to her feet, finding that she could not work up the nerve to step forward and open it. 

Makima's eyes rested on Asa for a few moments more before she stepped closer, and leaned down to catch Asa's attention. "Asa... It's just a room full of people that ultimately do not matter to you. You will not remember their faces, let alone their names, the moment they no longer have your attention. A moment of discomfort, and then you can focus on your goals once again."

Asa glanced up at Makima, who's smile grew a little wider. 

"I believe you are a capable young woman, Asa. Can you prove me right?"

Asa swallowed hard, her throat dry and scratchy. She hated how reassuring Makima could be. It made it a little too easy to forget that she was a devil invading her thoughts. More than that, she hated how a part of herself actively wanted to please Makima. 

Her fingers tightened around the strap of her bag until her knuckles whitened. She looked again at the door. The voices inside felt louder now, clearer, snippets of laughter and casual conversation that her own anxious brain twisted into mocking tones. Makima was still looking at her, still smiling, expectant, and calm. She clearly had no doubt that she knew what Asa's next move was going to be. 

Asa’s hand lifted almost of its own accord. Her heart pounding as she grabbed the handle, her stomach threatening to flip itself inside out.

She opened the door. 

No one even looked at her aside from a few momentary glances to see who had just arrived, everyone seemingly too caught up in their own conversations to care much. 

Glancing about, Asa spotted Yuko at a seat by the window waving at her, the sight of her smiling face disarming the tension in a way she could never have managed on her own. Asa returned the smile, and approached Yuko, taking a seat next to her that she had saved for Asa's arrival. 

"It's about time you got here! I was starting to worry you wouldn't show up!"

"Sorry, I got... A bit held up."

"That's alright! The meeting is about to start, so you arrived just in the nick of time!"

Just then, the chatter in the room began to settle as the club president, a tall third-year with a loud voice, clapped his hands together.

“Alright, everyone! Settle down, settle down! Since some of you are new, we’ll be organizing everyone into teams of three! You’ll be working together during hunts, and since this club only accepts those strong enough to fight devils, only those who can bring back a dead devil in a week's time will be allowed to join!”

Asa’s stomach tensed again. Teams? Working with Yuko, someone she already knew, was one thing, but working in a team? The word carried the promise of forced interaction, and worse, the risk of rejection. She sank lower in her chair, wishing the floor would open up and swallow her.

The president continued, rattling off names and grouping students together. Each announcement was met with mutters and shifting chairs. When Asa’s name was finally called, she nearly jumped out of her seat.

“Mitaka Asa, Aida Yuko, and Hirofumi Yoshida.”

She blinked, glancing to her right. Sat next to her was a boy with dark hair and dark eyes seated just a row over, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. He closed the small notebook in his hands and gave her a polite smile, one corner of his mouth tugging upward just slightly—pleasant, but unreadable.

Yuko clapped her hands together. “That’s perfect! We’ll make a great team!”

Asa forced a nod, but her gaze lingered on Yoshida. Something about him put her on edge. He seemed too composed, somehow. There was just something in the way he was looking at her, his dark eyes seeming to measure her on some unseen scale.

It was just kind of creepy.

“Hey. Looking forward to working with you both,” Yoshida said, his tone light.

Asa's attention was pulled away when Makima leaned down, whispering directly into her ear. 

"Excuse yourself at the first opportunity you find. We need to speak about your new teammate in private."

Asa stiffened at Makima’s words, though her lips remained sealed. Yuko was still chattering excitedly beside her about what kind of devil they might be tasked with finding, completely unaware of the cold intrusion in Asa’s ear.

“Maybe something small, like a Bat Devil’s cousin or something. Oh! Or maybe a Sea Cucumber Devil. That one made the news last year, remember?”

Asa forced a weak smile. “Yeah. Maybe.”

Her gaze flicked sidelong toward Yoshida. He hadn’t looked away. His smile was faint, polite, but there was an unnerving steadiness in his eyes. Asa’s chest tightened. Was she right to think he is creepy? Did Makima know something she didn't?

The club president’s voice cut through the room. “Once your groups are called, you’re free to leave and start planning. Remember—the clock starts today. You’ve got one week.”

Yuko leaned forward, eager. “Come on, let’s talk strategy! I’ve been reading up on devils in the library—I think we should start by scouting abandoned buildings.”

Asa swallowed hard, Makima’s command still ringing in her ears. She opened her mouth, fumbling for an excuse, when Yoshida suddenly stood up.

“Good idea,” he said smoothly, slipping his hands into his pockets. “But why don’t we wait until we're called first? The halls are less cramped. Gives us some space to think.”

Yuko nodded, already gathering her things. “Yeah, that’s fine with me.”

Asa's knees felt weak as she searched her mind for some explanation for her departure. 

"I, uh—... I have to—... I just remembered I have to do something."

Yuko blinked at her, a confused expression on her face. 

"Huh?"

"I have to do something. I'll catch up with you two later." 

Without further explanation, she hurried out of the room. 

Asa’s footsteps echoed nervously through the empty hallways, her heart pounding in her chest like it wanted to break free. She found an empty restroom just a few doors down, the harsh fluorescent lights making her pale reflection in the mirror feel like a stranger staring back at her. 

"Asa, you need to listen to me very carefully," Makima said, appearing at her side. Asa barely even flinched, already starting to get used to it. "You need to be wary of Hirofumi Yoshida. I am afraid he is no normal high school student."

"The creepy guy? What do you mean?"

“He is a Private Devil Hunter,” Makima said, her tone precise and unwavering. “Well-trained, skilled, and discreet. He reports to individuals you would do well to beware of. People with the power to act against us if they even suspect anything unusual.”

“Act against us? What… what does that mean?”

"It means that Hirofumi has connections to people who would not hesitate to kill you on the suspicion that you house my consciousness."

Asa's face paled, and she glanced at the bathroom door before looking at Makima again.

"You never mentioned anything about being hunted!"

"I saw no reason to. I have played my cards carefully thus far, and it seems I was justified in doing so."

Makima began to pace, hands behind her back as she continued on, "If they are watching the Devil Hunter Club, then it means that they have anticipated what my plans going forward may be."

"Who is 'they'? I'm serious, just tell me." 

Makima sighed.

"Asa, must you question everything I say? Is it not enough for you to know that you are in danger, and how to avoid it?"

"No it isn't enough! If people are going to try and kill me now because of you, I want to know why!"

As Asa met Makima's gaze, she suddenly felt a chill come over her as she noticed that Makima's glare had become ice cold.

Makima spoke again, her tone flat.

"Asa. I want to make one thing clear before we proceed. I have been incredibly lenient with you thus far, but it is quickly becoming clear that you are unaware of the situation that you are in. Let me make myself clear. At any point I could choose to simply put an end to your life, and I will continue my fulfilling my own goals without you. I have no use for you if you continue for forget your place in this arrangement."

Asa's mouth hung open, her eyes wide. Makima had not risen her voice at all, yet somehow that flat tone and that cold glare was far more terrifying than if she had.

Makima's smile returned after a few moments of silence, the expression not nearly meeting her eyes.

"I see we understand each other a little better now. Good."

Makima took a slow step closer, her hands still clasped behind her back. “Now,” she said softly, the warmth of her tone a deliberate contrast to the ice she’d just displayed, “I will tell you what you want to know. But you will remember where we stand, Asa. Do you understand?”

Asa swallowed hard, her throat tight. “…Yes.”

"I knew you would. At the moment you and I met, my physical body was elsewhere. Cut apart and contained somewhere, I believe. I only remember the… Initial moments, that I spent being cut apart. I managed to retain enough consciousness to command some of the lesser creatures under my control, which is how I managed to find you. I have no doubt that my physical remains must have vanished when I found you, and I have no doubt that this did not go unnoticed."

Asa’s voice cracked as she spoke. “Why didn’t you warn me before?”

Makima’s expression didn’t shift. “Because you did not need to know until now. I am very careful about what information I give you, Asa, and for good reasons. The less you know on some matters, the better. I have your best interests in mind, Asa. You simply have to trust me.”

"You just threatened to kill me…"

"Yet I haven't. In fact, I am the reason you are currently still alive, Asa. The advice I am giving you now will only serve to keep you alive longer. I am trying to help you."

Asa’s hands shook at her sides as she looked down at her shoes. “So what do I do?”

“You simply continue to act like yourself. You keep your head down. You let him believe you are nothing but a shy, awkward girl. I will handle the rest.” 

For a moment, the bathroom was silent except for the hum of the fluorescent lights. Asa felt like she couldn’t breathe.

"…You do not have to like me, Asa. You just have to realize that what benefits me currently also benefits you. Surely we can get along as long as we keep that in mind."

She straightened, her smile still painted on. “Now, wipe your tears away. Yuko and Yoshida will start to wonder where you’ve gone.”

Asa stared at her reflection in the nearby mirror. Her face looked pale, clammy, but her eyes burned. Sure enough, tears had started to form in her eyes as some point when Makima had threatened her.

“…Fine,” she muttered, walking to the sink and forcing her trembling hands to splash water on her cheeks. “If I die because of you…”

“You won’t die because of me, Asa. You’ll only die if you’re careless. So don’t be.”

She faded from sight, leaving Asa alone with the buzzing lights and her own reflection.

Chapter Text

The bell rang, and the tide of students poured out of the halls, leaving behind only scraps of chatter and the echo of slamming doors. By the time Asa followed Yoshida and Yuko into the disused wing of the school, the noise of the day had already faded to something distant and muffled.

Fourth East High School was the biggest schools in Tokyo, and so there were parts of the school that simply went unused. There simply were not enough students and not enough staff to fill the entire facility.

Here, the air felt different. Dust caught the sunlight in hazy streaks through tall windows, and the linoleum floor creaked faintly under their steps.

Yuko’s sneakers squeaked as she skipped a little to keep pace with Yoshida’s long strides. “Creepy, huh?” she said, a grin on her face.

Yoshida didn’t answer right away. His gaze swept down the corridor, sharp and deliberate, before he finally shrugged. “The empty part of the school always feel creepier than it should.” His voice carried too easily down the hall, as though the emptiness was amplifying it.

Asa trailed a few steps behind. She hugged her weapon against her chest, trying not to flinch at the way her own footsteps echoed back at her. She hated how loud they sounded. It was broad daylight, and yet the place felt abandoned, almost sacred in its stillness.

"…Oh! We never introduced ourselves! My name is Yuko, and this is my friend Asa! We joined the club together!"

Yuko looked over at Asa expectantly, clearly wanting her to join in on the exchange. Asa, meanwhile, was practically breaking out into a nervous sweat over the idea of having to talk to Yoshida now after Makima's warning.

"Y-yeah… Hi. I'm Asa… Asa Mitaka."

Come on, Asa, what happened to acting natural? You're going to get yourself killed for sure!

Yoshida kept his gaze ahead, nodding slightly seemingly just to indicate that he heard.

"Nice to meet you two. I'm Yoshida."

"I'm super into Chainsaw Man lately," Yuko said, not nearly content to end introductions there, "how about you?"

"Oh, sure. Chainsaw Man is great, isn't he?"

"What about you, Asa? What do you think about Chainsaw Man?"

Asa's eyes widen at the question as she looked between Yuko and the back of Yoshida's head, her throat suddenly feeling dry.

"Um… I don't know, I don't really think about him much. At all, really. I'm not that interested in him."

"Aw, really?"

"Yeah, I just… I don't know, don't care about him, I guess."

"I see…"

Asa glanced at the back of Yoshida's head, hoping that her insistence that she wants nothing to do with Chainsaw Man was getting through to him, but she quite honestly wasn't even sure he was listening.

Suddenly he stopped— Asa and Yuko nearly bumping into him. Behind the closed door of an empty classroom, there was the clear sound of movement.

Sliding the door open, Yoshida poked his head into the room, and took a look around, the three of them standing in silence until a mouse ran between their feet.

Yuko and Asa jumped away from it, Yuko shouting and promptly laughing at her own reaction, while Yoshida remained almost entirely still. "I guess it is cold out, it's not that surprising that mice would be hiding here. No devils, though."

The group began to depart, though Asa paused for just a moment. She had vague memories of that first night when she met Makima, how a chain shot from her hand when she used her power on the Cat Devil. For a moment, she wondered if she was capable of doing the same to something smaller.

She looked at the direction that the mouse ran in, and imagined a chain shooting into its head too. She thought a single command, 'Come back,' and waited as, for a few moments, nothing happened. Just as she was starting to feel ridiculous, a mouse came scurrying to the center of the hallway. Asa locked eyes with it as it simply sat there and stared at her, clearly not afraid.

Asa swallowed, and glanced behind before thinking her next command. 'Okay, go hide again.'.

She watched as the mouse scurried away, and then turned away to scurry off herself, rushing to catch up to Yoshida and Yuko.

Asa walked home with Yuko that afternoon, something that had become a ritual of theirs since they did not live far from one another. However, her mind was a million miles away. Yuko was talking about their upcoming hunt together, something they had agreed on doing together after school that next day. Her voice was animated, swinging between confidence and nervous jokes, but Asa was only half listening to her.

Her thoughts kept circling back to the hallway. To that mouse.

She had willed the mouse to come out of its hiding place, and the mouse had obeyed. Just like that night when Makima commanded the Cat Devil. If she focused, she could even see what the mouse saw, hear what it heard.

Yuko’s waved as they finally parted ways,, and Asa raised a hand in return, but her mind was elsewhere. She walked the rest of the way in a daze, her bag heavy on her shoulder, her breath puffing white in the cold.

When she finally slipped into her apartment, the silence was immediate, almost oppressive. She set her bag down, stared at the floor for a long moment, then drew the curtains shut.

She sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her own hands. They looked so ordinary. Pale fingers. Trembling slightly. She clenched them into fists, trying to steady herself.

If I can control one mouse…

Her eyes darted to the corners of the room. She knew they were there. The scrabbling, skittering little things that always crept into the rooms of this cheap apartment building when the weather turned cold. She let out a shaky breath and whispered into the quiet:

“Come out.”

A pause. Then, a tiny shape emerged from beneath the dresser, its whiskers twitching. Another followed, crawling from a gap near the radiator. Soon there were three of them, sitting almost in a line, their beady eyes fixed on her.

Her heart hammered.

“…Stand up.”

The mice rose onto their hind legs. Perfectly in sync.

Asa’s mouth went dry. She could feel it now—the chain. Not a physical thing that she could see, but something invisible, coiled tight between her and them. She swallowed, her voice trembling.

“Go outside. Find… find Yoshida. Watch him for me.”

The mice twitched, then scattered, vanishing through the same cracks they had crawled from. The apartment grew silent again, but Asa knew they were still there. Out there. Waiting for her command.

She hugged herself, shivering—not from the cold, but from the weight of it all.

The power felt wrong. Wrong in a way that sank into her bones. But beneath the wrongness, beneath the fear, was an undeniable thrill. A thrill she hated to admit she already craved more of.

She had spies now.

"…—did you even start the math homework?"
"No way, I just copied Minami's work. She's like a calculator with legs, if you pay her she'll do your homework too. She's poor, so—…"

"—did you see that stray cat behind the gym?"
"Yeah, I tried to pet it but the little bastard scratched me."
"You probably scared it. Animals can tell when someone's a jerk."

"—devil near the train station last night?"
"Oh, for real? Did it kill anyone?"
"Nah, it got handled before it could."
"Handled by who?"
"Obviously by—"

"—nji."
"Ugh. What do you want this time, man?"
"Nothing. I'm just checking in. You've been keeping your head down, right?"
"Yeah, yeah. Sure."
"Really? Because I heard—"

Asa started to feel nauseous as she tried focusing too hard on the conversations her mice could hear. It practically overloaded her mind, having to focus on so many things at once as she sat at her desk, her coursework left untouched as she was seemingly just staring off into space.

She wanted to tell herself that spying on people like this was wrong, and yet something about it was just utterly intoxicating in a way. Listening to all these private fragments of people's lives, things she would have never known on her own. It gave her a perspective on everyone's lives that made them all seem just a little less threatening. Everyone was just caught up in their own relatively small problems.

It was just fascinating, she supposed. She didn't need to know any of this, and she could stop if she really wanted to. She probably should, in fact, it wasn't as if she was learning anything useful. She knew better than to just randomly spy on people, after all. She needed to at least pretend to focus on her school work…

…

Well, a little more couldn't hurt.

As Asa walked into the school courtyard once school finally ended, she practically felt like she was looking at her fellow students with new eyes. She could pick out which ones had admitted to cheating in private, who they used to cheat (she made particular note of that Minami girl, she'd probably be a better tutor than Yuko was), she could even get a read on the personalities of people she had never met before. She could plan potential social interactions way before they actually happened now.

Not that she didn't already, of course, but she had a better idea now of how people would act if she did speak to them. She could have more directed plans instead of just anxiously worrying over every potential wrong move.

It made her feel… Something. Something she couldn't quite describe.

"Enjoying yourself, I see."

Asa nearly tripped over her own feet at the sound of Makima’s voice, whipping her head around. As usual, Makima appeared without any warning, hands folded neatly behind her back, smile pleasant as ever.

“I thought I asked you to stop doing that," Asa said with a sigh. She glanced at Makima for a moment before muttering in a quiet voice. "I just wanted to test the powers you told me about. I wasn't doing anything wrong.”

Makima’s eyes softened, her tone switching to something more indulgent. “Of course not. You were only observing. And you figured it all out on your own, didn't you? You are a smart girl, Asa. Well done.”

The compliment dug into Asa’s chest like a hook. She hated how much she kind of enjoyed the praise.

Makima’s gaze slid lazily over the courtyard. “You’ve realized it already, haven’t you? How much easier people are to deal with when you understand them. When you can see what type of person they really are before you even speak to them. When you can know their strengths, and perhaps more importantly, their weaknesses.”

Asa’s mouth went dry. “I’m not—… Look, I was just curious about how it all worked. I mean I admit I learned a lot about people, and it has helped me know more about people I've never met before, but that doesn't mean I look down on anyone for it. ”

“Oh, I know.” Makima tilted her head, her voice becoming gentler. “That’s what makes you so much more deserving of this sort of power than the rest of them, doesn't it? You don’t want to use anything you learn against anyone. Of course you don't. Just knowing is enough for you, isn’t it?”

Asa couldn’t answer. Her chest felt tight, her stomach knotted. She hated the way that both she and Makima knew the truth of the matter. Asa was enjoying this.

Makima’s smile widened as she stepped past her, heading toward the gate. “Don’t be afraid to use what’s yours, Asa. It would be a waste otherwise.”

And just like that, she was gone. Empty space left where she had been standing.

“Asa!” Yuko’s voice snapped her back, bright as ever. She was waving from across the courtyard, a cheap axe held in her hand. “You ready to go hunt some devils?”

Asa blinked, staring for a beat longer at the empty spot where Makima had been, then quickly shook her head and forced a smile.

“Yeah. Let’s go.”

Yuko grinned, jogging to catch up, already rattling off their plan for the hunt. Asa followed, trying to shake off the thought of what Makima had said.

But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t forget the feeling she’d had in her apartment, with those mice standing obediently at attention.

That quiet thrill that remained with her even now as she thought back on it. 

Chapter Text

The sun was high overhead, and the city hummed with the noise of traffic, vendors, and idle chatter. For all that, Asa and Yuko must have looked somewhat out of place—two schoolgirls drifting through the streets, looking for trouble.

Yuko stopped at a vending machine and inserted a couple of coins, her face bright as she turned back with two chilled bottles of lemonade.

“Here, Asa! Patrol fuel.” She pressed the bottle into Asa’s hand with a grin.

Asa muttered a thank you, twisting the cap open. The citrus sting cut through the cold air, and she took a sip, but the flavor barely registered.

Her mind was elsewhere.

Somewhere beneath a table in a cramped little café not too far from where they were, one of her rats sat perfectly still, black eyes shining. Through it, Asa saw a tilted slice of another world: a clinking glass of iced coffee, a blur of people passing by, Yoshida’s slouched figure across from someone else.

A blonde-haired, scruffy looking guy, slurping a milkshake loudly through a straw.

“—you listening, Asa?” Yuko’s voice cut through her double vision.

Asa blinked, shaking her head slightly. “Huh? Yeah. Sorry.”

Yuko tilted her head, sipping from her own lemonade as they walked. “I said, maybe it’s kinda weird, isn’t it? Just… walking around, looking for devils in broad daylight. Like, maybe we should have waited until it got dark?”

“I guess,” Asa murmured, eyes drifting half-lidded as she tried to balance both worlds. In the café, Yoshida's friend seemed to be quite animated as he spoke, seemingly talking about girls and Chainsaw Man. Yoshida’s reply was too quiet to catch. She leaned in through the rat, straining its ears to try and hear over the chatter of the other patrons—

Yuko nudged her shoulder, making her nearly spill the drink. “Earth to Asa! You look like you’re spacing out bad. Is something wrong?”

Asa gripped her bottle tighter, forcing a smile. “No. Just… keeping an eye out.”

Which was technically true.

Yuko frowned a little, her usual cheer softening. “You’ve been kinda out of it all day, you know? Even in class. You’re not getting sick, are you?”

Asa shook her head quickly. “No. I’m fine.”

“Hm.” Yuko squinted at her like she didn’t quite believe it, then took another swig of lemonade. “Well, just don’t push yourself too hard, okay? If you collapse during patrol, I’m not strong enough to carry you home.” She laughed a little, but the concern behind her voice was clear.

Asa wanted to laugh too, to reassure her, but her eyes slipped half-shut again, and she was back in the café.

The blonde boy leaned forward on his elbows, his straw squeaking in the nearly empty glass. “…I’m telling you, Yoshida, if—… I can handle it. Even if she—… right? I'm not going to stop—… Besides, once people find out I'm—…."

Yoshida, unreadable as ever, only gave the faintest shrug. “That so?”

“Yeah! Like, trust me.”

Yuko’s voice yanked Asa back again. “Asa?”

She blinked. “What?”

“You didn’t hear a word I said, did you?”

“…Sorry.”

Yuko pouted, her steps slowing to a stop. She leaned closer, peering at Asa’s face. “What’s going on with you lately?”

Asa’s chest tightened. She couldn’t answer that—not truthfully. Not tell Yuko about the chains, about the mice, about the way she was splitting herself in two. She forced another thin smile, clutching her lemonade like it was the only anchor she had.

“I’m fine,” she said again, the lie heavy on her tongue.

Yuko’s smile faltered. For a moment she looked like she might say something, but instead she just sighed and let her shoulders slump. “Okay… if you say so.”

The brightness in her voice dimmed, though she tried to keep it up, pointing at alleys, at rooftops, at anything that might distract them both. But Asa could feel it—alongside little sting of guilt settling in her chest.

Even so, she couldn't stop her attention from sliding back to the café.

Yoshida's friend had gone from grinning to scowling in seconds, angered by something Yoshida had said while Asa’s attention was on Yuko. Asa cursed herself for missing it, but she continued to watch. His chair scraped against the tile as he leaned forward, jabbing a finger at Yoshida.

Moments later, he was walking by Asa’s rat and towards the door.

“Whatever. Screw this.” He said as he stormed out, the bell above the door jingling harshly in his wake.

Yoshida sighed before sipping his coffee like nothing had happened.

“Asa.”

Her chest seized.

That voice. Smooth, warm, close. It was Makima, now standing beside Asa with a frown on her face.

Asa's breath caught, her attention once again being brought to the world around her.

At the mouth of a nearby alley, something writhed into view. A man’s limp body dangled from its coils, blood slicking the pavement. The Leech Devil reared up, its body pale and glistening, rows of teeth grinding down on its victim’s torso.

The sound was wet, obscene.

Asa’s stomach lurched as Yuko stifled a shriek beside her. The stench of iron and rot filled her nose as the Leech Devil ate.

Her knees locked in place. The bottle of lemonade slipped from her hand and rolled across the pavement.

And for a moment, she could only stare.

"Asa, listen to me carefully," Makima said in a calm voice. "You are not able to control this devil, you are too afraid of it to make it to even bother trying. Just as well, I can not control it for you while you are so terrified. Back away, and just leave while it is distracted."

Asa took two tentative steps backwards, before she and Yuko both broke into a sprint away from the devil, leaving Makima to glare at Asa while the Leech Devil immediately noticed them and gave chase.

The Leech Devil lunged, a massive appendage whipping forward like a club. It struck the pavement behind them and the shockwave blasted them off their feet. Asa hit the ground hard, rolling against the concrete, her shoulder burning with pain. Yuko’s body slammed into a wall with a sickening thud.

“Yuko!” Asa scrambled upright, dizzy and battered. She rushed to her friend’s side, only to find her entirely limp, a groan escaping her lips. Yuko’s ankle was bent at an ugly angle.

Asa looked from the devil to Yuko's unconscious body, when suddenly Makima appeared beside her.

"Do not even try what you are thinking of, Asa."

Asa felt a bead of sweat running down her forehead, and Makima crouched down, both her expression and tone extremely firm.

"If you leave this girl here, the Leech Devil will eat her and give you time to get away. Do not get us both killed for nothing."

Asa could feel her heart pounding as her eyes remained on Yuko while Makima leaned in.

"It is okay, Asa. You and I are the same person now, so I already know you intended to replace her soon regardless. She has served her purpose. There is no shame in using her one last time to preserve your own life."

Asa grit her teeth, shut her eyes, and reached out, pulling Yuko onto her back even as her injured shoulder burned with pain. Then she stood, and continued to run as fast as she could. Leaving Makima's glare, almost as terrifying as the devil chasing them down, behind.

Every step was agony. Every stride made her legs quake as she staggered down the empty street, the Leech Devil slithering after her with grotesque eagerness. Its shadow stretched over them, its horrific laughter rattling her bones.

And then she tripped.

Falling over onto her face, feeling blood leak from her nose over her mouth from the impact, she remembered suddenly that she always did this.

She always fell at the most critical moment. Always.

And now she was not only going to get her first friend killed because of it, but she was going to die here.

She really was going to die for nothing.

Rolling over, she looked up as Leech Devil's grinning face came in close towards her, its greasy hair falling over its worm-like head. This was the end. This is how she was going to die. She survived one devil attack just to meet her end at another.

The sound of a chainsaw cut through the air.

The street lit with sparks as a blur of orange and steel slammed into the monster. Chainsaw Man tore across the pavement, his saw tearing into the Leech Devil’s flesh. Black blood pouring from its body like a fountain as its body reeled back, its shriek splitting the air.

Asa froze, gasping for breath, still clutching Yuko’s weight against her, only able to watch as Chainsaw Man tore the Leech Devil to fleshy ribbons.

When the noise stopped, Chainsaw Man stood over the devil's corpse, and all Asa could do was look on in awe at her savior.

"Chainsaw Man..?"

One of his chainsaw's retracted, and he lifted his hand to give her a peace sign before speaking in a metallic voice.

"Hey, I'm always happy to save a couple'a cute girls in need."

Asa’s jaw clenched, her awe snapping like brittle glass. She glared at him, her lip curling as she watched him leave the scene.

"Ugh…"

"Make us tea, Asa."

Evening had settled over Tokyo as Asa returned home, settling into her usual routine. It had become an odd ritual for her and Makima for Asa to drink tea, specifically kinds that Makima asked her (or told her, rather) to get as they discussed the day. At first it felt odd, but at this point it had almost become relaxing. It was the sort of constant that Asa did not often find in life. Something that would happen regardless of her day. It helped that Makima was, admittedly, not entirely unpleasant to speak to most of the time.

Wordlessly, Asa set about making a cup of chamomile tea. She filled the kettle, her hands trembling slightly when she set it on the stove. The hiss of heating water filled the silence, and she felt Makima’s gaze on her back like a physical weight.

When the tea was ready, Asa placed a steaming cup down before her, and sat down across from Makima.

Makima regarded her silently for a few moments, her chin rested on the palm of her hand. A pensive expression on her face.

"We are lucky to be alive today, Asa. Your actions very nearly got us killed, were it not for Chainsaw Man saving us. You really must remember that it is no longer your life alone that you must consider when taking risks such as these, but mine as well."

Asa kept her gaze away from Makima, looking down at her cup of tea.

"I couldn't just leave Yuko behind… She's my friend."

Makima seems to consider this for a moment before straightening her back, and crossing one leg over the other.

She smiles.

"What you did was foolish. But, admittedly, it was also admirable in a sense. Most would have simply ran, you know."

Asa glanced up, and Makima's smile widened.

"But not you. You never fail to fascinate me, Asa."

For a moment, the faint sound of the city and the scent of chamomile filled the room, the conversation fading away for only a moment.

"Tell me, Asa…” Makima finally said, her voice grew softer, almost kind. “How did you feel when Chainsaw Man saved you?”

Asa’s face twisted, the memory of Chainsaw Man's words returning to sour the awe she had felt in those first few moments. “It was… fine. I guess.”

Makima tilted her head, a frown on her face.

"Fine?"

"Yeah… I don't know, I used to hate Chainsaw Man, but now I'm just sort of… Neutral, I guess. I am glad he saved me and Yuko, but it really seems like he just did it because we're girls, and its so blatantly gross. I don't like thinking about how he must of thought of us like that while he was saving us, and I feel like that was the case. He only saves us women, so that says a lot about what type of person he is."

"Hm. You may be right, Asa." Her smile returned to her face. "You may want to keep that thought in mind, after all, we will be taking his heart together, won't we? Knowing that he is such a despicable person might make that easier for you."

Asa did not answer this, falling silent before finally drinking her tea.

The conversation between the two women ended, and Asa was at last left to her thoughts.

For the longest time, I didn't care much if I died.

But now I'm glad I didn't.

Thanks, Chainsaw Man…

I'm sorry for what I'm going to do to you.

Chapter Text

Sunlight shined through the classroom windows, highlighting the dust floating in it like drifting snow. Asa sat at her desk, head propped in her palm, pretending to listen as her classmates chatted around her.

About a week had passed since her patrol with Yuko. She had visited Yuko a few times in the hospital before she was allowed to head home, and was more than relieved to see she had kept up her usual bright spirit. Especially once she had learned that her hero, Chainsaw Man, had been the one to save them both.

Asa wished she could share her excitement. Knowing what she had to do to Chainsaw Man after he had saved her dampened any positive feelings she felt towards that rescue.

But those were thoughts for later. For now, she focused on those around her.

It was… Strange. She had seen most of these people through her rats already, and could tell each one apart, and yet she had not spoken to a single one of them. She knew who secretly smoked behind the gym, who was cheating on whom, and so on. She could easily file her fellow students into little boxes based on whether they were worth talking to or not.

And yet, even knowing all of this, she was still too afraid to actually approach any of the people who set themselves apart. With Yuko she had gotten lucky. Yuko had been the kind of person who reached out first, someone who was happy to fill in the silence between two people with plenty of chatter. Asa had never been good at that.

Now, sitting among her classmates, the thought of starting a conversation made her throat tighten. Her fingers tapped against her notebook, restless. She’d seen their lives through the rats. Intimate little glimpses of their habits and flaws here and there, and somehow that made things harder, not easier.

Knowing someone didn’t mean understanding how to talk to them, as it turned out.

Still, she had to try.

Her first target entered the classroom. Asa has made sure to show up early just so she can sit in the back near where she usually sat, waiting patiently to see if her change in seating would pay off.

Minami entered the classroom, one of the last to do so as the bell was only about a minute or so from ringing. She walked over to her usual spot, tired eyes falling on Asa for a moment as she seemingly took note of Asa sitting next to her. She took a seat, and Asa cleared her throat before awkwardly waving,

"Um… Hey. You're in the Devil Hunter Club too, right?"

Minami looked over at Asa. She had sunken eyes with bags underneath them, clearly looking as if she had not gotten a good night of sleep in weeks.

"Yeah. Do you need something?"

Asa felt her palms start to sweat. Say something normal, she told herself. Something friendly.

“No, I just… I thought I’d say hi,” Asa said, forcing a small smile. “You’re Minami, right? I remember you from the club meeting.”

Minami blinked, clearly caught off guard by someone making the effort to talk to her this early in the morning. She gave a small nod, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Yeah, that’s me. Sorry if I look like crap. Didn’t really sleep.”

“You look fine,” Asa said automatically, then winced at how awkward it sounded. “I mean, uh, tired, yeah, but not… bad. Just tired.”

Minami snorted softly, a little amused by the fumbling. “That’s one way to put it, I guess.”

“So...” Asa said, more than a little awkwardly. “You… do homework for money?”

“Yeah.” Minami leaned her cheek against her hand, staring at the blackboard. “Math mostly. Not exactly proud of it, but it pays for my lunch and train rides.”

“I see.” Asa hesitated, then blurted, “You’re good at math, then.”

Minami gave her a sidelong glance. “Pretty good, yeah. Why? You need help?”

Asa froze, realizing this was exactly what she’d been waiting for. An opening. “Uh… Well, maybe. I mean, I could use a little help with trigonometry…”

“Say no more.” Minami stretched her arms out, yawning. “I’ll help you out for 2000 yen.”

“…Thanks,” Asa said softly.

The bell rang, and their teacher stepped in, cutting off the chance for further conversation. But Asa couldn’t help the small, unfamiliar warmth that crept into her chest.

It wasn’t much. Just a few words traded, a brief spark of mutual understanding, but for once, she’d managed to start a conversation without freezing up completely.

As class began, Asa let herself glance out the window. A few pigeons were perched on the ledge, their heads twitching in that odd, mechanical way. She couldn’t help but imagine the invisible chain connecting her mind to them if she wanted. It would be so easy to watch Minami, or anyone really, for later. This was already working, after all, what was just a few more spies?

She felt that invisible chain connect to those birds, and then turned her attention back to class.

After class, Asa lingered in the quiet hallway longer than she meant to. Students filed past her in clusters, their laughter echoing off the walls. She clutched her books close to her chest, staring at the floor tiles.

Talking to Minami had gone better than expected, but now came something harder. Much harder.

Chainsaw Man, or rather, the boy who carried Chainsaw Man around as his heart. Makima was always quick to point out the distinction.

Asa watched that same scruffy, blonde boy that Yoshida had been dining with through the eyes of one of her pigeons, an incredulous expression on her face.

"Him? Really?"

Makima leaned over from her side, nodding her head once. "Mhm. Denji is the boy who stole Chainsaw Man from me. You were very clever to keep eyes on Yoshida, Asa. Aside from watching a potential threat, it led us right to him. As suspected, Denji has people watching him, but I doubt they suspect you. You have done a wonderful job at remaining inconspicuous as you've grown used to using my abilities."

Asa smiled at this, despite herself. She wasn't afraid to admit that she has gotten the hang of using Makima's powers. At this point she practically had eyes and ears all over the school. If there was anything or anyone she wanted to know, then she only had to focus her attention on the animals she had brought under her control.

Admittedly, the idea of having to get close to him did not thrill her, as necessary as it was for her to get Makima out of her head. Denji had a… Reputation. He was known as a huge Chainsaw Man fan first and foremost, perhaps the biggest fan in the school, which Asa supposed made sense now. Though she did think it was incredibly vain for him to be a fan of himself.

His secondary claim to fame, according to some of the girls she had been listening to on occasion, was that he was cute… At least until you talked to him. Or watched him eat off the floor if he dropped something during lunch.

Asa totally couldn't see the appeal. Especially after the things Makima had told her about him. He was a bad person.

Not cute at all.

And yet, she had to find a way to get close to him. And the best way to do that, as Makima suggested, was to engage with him with something he desired the most.

The one thing that Denji truly wanted was love. And so, they would exploit that together.

“He’s just a boy, Asa. A foolish one, at that.”

Asa exhaled slowly, adjusting her bag strap. The late afternoon sun slanting through the windows as she prepared herself to approach Denji.

“Denji may have Chainsaw Man’s heart,” Makima continued, “but he’s still a boy who thinks with the same instincts as any other. There is nothing to be afraid of. You need only show him a little kindness, and he’ll follow you anywhere.”

“Okay. I think I can do this,” Asa muttered under her breath as she made her way down the stairwell.

“Of course you can," Makima said. Her tone was light, and she almost seemed to be amused by Asa's nervousness as she walked beside her down the staircase. Meanwhile, Asa could not help but feel her heart pounding out of her chest. She had never actually done this before. She has found a few boys cute here and there, of course, but she had never bothered to actually asked one out. That is to say, she has never had the courage to ask one out before. She sort of assumed that if anyone as interested in her they would ask her out. Not that she was really interested in that. With each step down the staircase, Asa could only think more and more about how she really did not want to do this, and wondered if she could make some excuse to get out of this or escape the coming humiliation that she knew she would face.

Before they reached the bottom, Makima tilted her head, and spoke again.

“You are overthinking things, Asa. You are imagining that this interaction is a test of your worth, as if you are going to be judged by how well you do. But Denji won’t judge you. I know him well enough to know that he isn’t even capable of that. If you smile at him, he’ll melt. If you listen, he’ll talk forever. All you need to do is make him feel seen.”

Asa frowned, her fingers tightening around the strap of her satchel. “Right… All I have to do is act like I like him.”

“It will not take much effort,” Makima said, her voice now almost teasing. “He’ll make it easy for you. You’ll see.”

Asa stopped just outside the main school entrance, where sunlight spilled onto the pavement. She could see him in the courtyard beyond the gates. Denji, in his wrinkled uniform shirt and perpetually scuffed shoes, leaning against the vending machine, kicking at it when it didn’t drop the soda fast enough.

He looked… ordinary. Kind of dumb, sure, but he could easily vanish in a crowd of other people.

And yet, knowing who he was, what he was, made Asa even more nervous.

“This is your chance,” Makima whispered, just behind her ear. “Approach him. Remember what I told you: he’s simple, so be direct. Just walk up to him, smile, and ask him on a date.”

Asa inhaled, steadying herself. She really didn't want to do this, but Makima's gentle nudging had long ago started to feel impossible to ignore. She needed to do this. She just had to remember that. She needed to do this.

“Right... This will be easy."

She stepped out into the sunlight, her shadow stretching long before her as she crossed the courtyard toward Denji. He hadn’t noticed her yet, still muttering under his breath and shaking the vending machine.

For a moment, Asa hesitated, then forced herself forward.

“H-Hey!”

Denji turned, blinking at her as she blushed, realizing that she had spoken louder than she had intended. His gaze met hers with open confusion. It was almost enough for her to lose her nerve and run away.

Denji tilted his head, half a sandwich in one hand and the can of soda he’d just wrestled free from the vending machine in the other.

“Uh… hey?” he said, voice muffled around a bite of bread. “You need somethin’?”

Asa froze, her throat suddenly dry. The plan had seemed so clear when Makima said it. Just walk up, smile, and ask him on a date. But standing here, actually putting that plan into action, everything in her screamed to turn around and walk away.

Before choice paralysis could consume her entirely, she tried once again to use Makima's advice and put on a smile. She only succeeded in putting on a shaky, clearly nervous expression.

"Um… You're… Denji, right?"

"Uh… Yeah. Do I… Know you?"

I'm embarrassing myself, Asa thought as she started to break into a nervous sweat.

"Um… N-No, I guess not. My name is Asa, and I just… Wanted to know if you were busy tomorrow."

Denji looked at Asa, narrowing his eyes somewhat and pursing his lips.

"…Why?"

Asa blinked, panicking a bit as the boy who she had been assured was a complete idiot seemed to be seeing through her game.

"Um-! I just-… I wanted to know if you… Might want to go on a d-… Date. Tomorrow."

"A… Date?"

Internally, a war raged in Denji's mind at this. He has had this happen before, a girl coming into his life out of nowhere and offering him things that were too good to be true. It always ended in something bad happening. Distrust was visible in his expression for an entire second before a slight blush touched his cheeks, and he answered without thinking.

"Yes."

Asa didn’t stop running until she could slip into an empty alleyway. Her face was burning. She couldn’t even tell if it was from embarrassment, panic, or some combination of both.

“I did it,” she whispered between breaths. “I actually did it.”

“Barely,” came Makima’s soft voice from beside her, smooth and amused. She was walking alongside Asa now, hands clasped neatly behind her back, expression serene as ever. “But you did.”

Asa groaned, pressing her back against the wall. “I sounded like an idiot.”

“Perhaps,” Makima said, smiling faintly. “But it worked. He said yes.”

“That doesn’t make it better,” Asa muttered, sinking down until she was sitting on the floor.

Makima crouched down gracefully beside her, eyes gentle, her tone motherly. “You’re overthinking things again. You succeeded, didn't you? And besides, now that you have done it, it will be a simple thing to get him to lower his guard. He’s predictable, soft-hearted, and desperately lonely. The smallest kindness will draw him in so you can take what you need, and the two of us can part ways.”

Asa lifted her gaze, still red-faced. “But it was just so embarrassing.”

Makima’s smile only deepened. “What you are feeling now is only momentary, Asa. You'll get over it.”

Asa didn’t answer. Her thoughts were too scattered. Half of her wanted to curl up and die, while the other half was just glad that this had somehow actually worked.

Asa had made a habit of visiting Yuko's home whenever she had time ever since she was released from the hospital. Yuko was much like Asa, not many friends to speak of, and so her time away from school was an incredibly lonely for her, even if she wouldn't admit it. But Asa could tell, especially since some of her time was dedicated to watching Yuko while she was home alone. She didn't do much of anything until Asa came around.

Yuko’s home, provided to her by the state after she lost her parents to a devil attack just like Asa did, smelled faintly of citrus and laundry detergent. Everything came across as simple and homely, the kind of atmosphere that came from someone doing their absolute best to keep things together. The small living room was cluttered but warm; stacks of manga and folded blankets shared space with potted plants crowding the window ledge.

Asa sat cross-legged on the couch, clutching a steaming mug of tea that Yuko had insisted on making her. Across from her, Yuko sat with one leg tucked under herself, the other kept elevated as a cast still covered her ankle.

“Okay, okay,” Yuko said, grinning and leaning forward a little. “You can’t just drop that on me without explaining! You talked to someone? Like, talked talked?”

Asa scowled faintly, the tips of her ears pink. “You make it sound like I’m some kind of hermit.”

“You are a hermit,” Yuko said with a laugh, tapping her cup against Asa’s. “But that’s what makes this so exciting! So? Who was it?”

“Her name’s Minami,” Asa said, a little hesitantly. “She’s in the Devil Hunter Club too. I asked her for help with math.”

Yuko’s smile faltered for just a second. So quick Asa didn’t even notice. “Oh,” she said, her tone still light. “That’s great! Making friends and getting tutoring. Double win.”

“Yeah,” Asa said, glancing at her tea. “It was… nice. She’s kind of sarcastic, but not in a bad way. Just tired, I think.”

Yuko smiled softly. “Sounds like you two’ll get along.”

There was a pause. Asa sipped her tea, thoughtful.

“…And I, uh…” she began, hesitating.

Yuko looked up. “You what?”

Asa fidgeted. “I… kind of… asked someone out.”

The words hung in the air for a moment.

Yuko blinked. “…You what?”

“It’s not a big deal,” Asa said quickly, staring into her tea. “It was just… Something I had to do. His name’s Denji. I… asked him on a date.”

There was a long, quiet stretch before Yuko managed a laugh. It was soft, and a little forced. “Wow. Look at you. Two friends in one day? You’re unstoppable.”

Asa groaned, burying her face in her hands. “Don’t make it sound like that. It was awful. I almost threw up.”

Yuko giggled despite herself. “You? You saved my life from a devil and you're scared of asking a guy out?”

“Yes,” Asa mumbled from behind her fingers. “It was the worst thing I’ve ever done.”

Yuko smiled again, or at least tried to. But something in her chest felt heavy. She wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was because she’d missed having Asa all to herself, their quiet talks, their weird, awkward little friendship.

Now there was Minami, and Denji, and soon maybe more people too. Asa was finally opening up, which was good! That was what Yuko had wanted for her.

So why did it make her feel so… left behind?

She looked at Asa, who was still half-hiding behind her hands, and forced her smile to soften. “Well, hey,” she said, nudging Asa’s knee with her foot. “You’ll have to tell me how it goes. Maybe he’ll actually be cool.”

“I doubt it,” Asa said flatly.

Yuko laughed again, and this time it came out more naturally. “Yeah, probably. But still… I’m proud of you.”

Asa peeked at her through her fingers. “For what?”

“You know. For putting yourself out there,” Yuko said simply.

Asa didn’t answer, but she smiled. A small, honest smile.

They spent the rest of the afternoon watching some old movie on Yuko’s tiny TV. Neither of them said much more about Denji or Minami, but Yuko’s thoughts kept wandering back to them anyway.

She told herself it was fine. She wanted Asa to be happy. That’s all that mattered.

And yet… as she watched Asa laugh quietly at some corny line in the film, Yuko’s hand tightened slightly around her cup.

She told herself she was just being silly, that the ache in her chest at the idea of Asa going on a date with some boy was nothing.

But deep down, she already knew it wasn’t.

Chapter Text

Asa smoothed out the wrinkles in her dress for what had to be the tenth time. She gathered her bangs with a hairpin, smiled faintly at her reflection, then frowned and pulled it out again.

Her outfit was nothing remarkable: a long black skirt, a crisp white blouse, a neat coat paired with socks and black Mary Janes. Simple, practical, and modest.

She looked nice, objectively speaking. Cute, even. But the little imperfections gnawed at her, the uneven fold of her collar, the way one strand of hair refused to stay put…

Behind her, Makima stood with calm, watchful eyes, her hands folded neatly behind her back.

“Asa,” she said softly, “you look lovely. There’s no need to fuss over every small detail.”

Asa let out a quiet huff and set the hairpin down on the sink with a clatter. “I just want to make sure everything’s right before we go. That’s all.”

Makima hummed, stepping closer. Her gaze swept over Asa in a slow, deliberate motion, that serene smile still on her face.

“I suppose I shouldn’t blame you,” she said. “This is your first date, isn’t it? It is alright to be nervous.”

“I’m not nervous,” Asa muttered, a little too quickly.

Makima’s tone was light, amused. “Asa, I can feel what you feel. You most certainly are.”

Asa exhaled sharply, raking her fingers through her hair as though fixing it again might distract from her embarrassment.

“Fine. I’m a little nervous. But only because it’s my first date. It’s not like I like Denji or anything.”

Her reflection frowned back at her. The image of watching Denji through the eyes of one of her pigeons—standing ankle-deep in mud at a construction site, stuffing lengths of stolen copper wire into a plastic bag shortly after she had asked him out—flashed in her mind. She grimaced.

“He’s just… kind of pathetic, honestly,” she said flatly, leaning on the sink. “But I’m not worried. I’ve got it all figured out. I have the perfect plan to get him to fall for me.”

Makima tilted her head slightly, her faint reflection behind Asa’s in the mirror wearing that same patient, unreadable smile. “A plan, you say?”

Asa nodded, a spark of determination lighting her eyes. “Of course I have a plan. I’m not just going to wing it like some kind of idiot. I've studied for this.”

“I see,” Makima murmured, her tone smooth but edged with quiet amusement. “And what exactly does this plan of yours entail?”

Asa turned, brushing a stray hair from her face. “It’s simple. We’re meeting at the aquarium, right? So I spent all last night researching marine biology. I wrote down dozens of interesting facts about fish, coral reefs, and bioluminescent organisms.” She pulled out a small folded paper from her coat pocket and waved it proudly. “See? I even made an order for which exhibit to visit first. We will spend about thirty minutes per tank, so if we go through all twelve major exhibits, that should take… six hours, give or take.”

Makima blinked slowly, the corners of her lips curving ever so slightly. “Six hours.”

“Yeah,” Asa said, completely missing the faint note of disbelief in Makima’s voice. “That should give me enough time to hold his attention and make him think I’m smart. People like that, you know. When someone knows things. And the more I talk, the less chance there’ll be for awkward silence. I’ll just keep sharing new information about the ecosystem, predators, prey, symbiotic relationships—”

“—until he falls in love with your encyclopedic knowledge of fish?” Makima interrupted lightly.

"Yes. He'll be impressed."

Makima stepped closer, turning so that she faced Asa directly. “Asa.”

“What?”

"If you bombard Denji with facts about ocean life for six hours straight, you are going to bore him to death."

Asa frowned, cheeks puffing slightly. "You're a devil. I don't expect you to understand anything about dating."

"Asa," Makima said once more with infinite patience. "All you have to do is give him attention. Let him do all the work, all you have to do is be present, smile, and nod along to whatever he says. All you have to do is make him feel good about himself."

Asa turned back to the mirror, muttering under her breath. “That’s ridiculous.”

“Is it?”

“Yes! A relationship should be built on shared interests and mutual understanding, not— not feeding his ego!"

"You are not entering a real relationship with him, Asa. Why is this even a point of contention?"

Asa paused before scoffing, and pointing at Makima. "You'll see. This is going to work, I'll prove it to you."

With that, she leaves, slamming the restroom door behind her.

Denji was bored to death.

He didn’t mean to be, really. He’d even tried to pay attention at first, but somewhere around Asa’s monologue about the migratory habits of deep-sea tuna, his brain had stopped keeping up.

He stood stiffly beside her at the aquarium’s glass tunnel, eyes glazed over as a massive stingray drifted past above them. It was actually kind of cool, he thought. Quiet, peaceful… and probably expensive as hell.

“And did you know,” Asa continued, “that manta rays actually have the largest brain-to-body ratio of any fish? It’s believed they’re capable of self-recognition in mirrors—something only a few mammals can do.”

“Uh-huh,” Denji said, nodding automatically.

“They’re highly social, too. They form groups that scientists think could be the closest thing to ‘friendships’ in fish.”

“Cool,” Denji said, voice flat, eyes following a tiny crab scuttling along the bottom of the tank. The crab was way more relatable. Small, and probably hungry.

Asa barely noticed his lack of enthusiasm. She was in her element. She was absolutely sure that Denji was charmed by her knowledge by now. “And over here, these are clownfish. They live in symbiosis with sea anemones. See, the mucus on their scales protects them from the anemone’s stings, so they can live together without getting hurt.”

"Huh. So… I guess the anemone is like their landlord or something?"

Asa merely glared at him for a moment before turning her attention back to the tank, and continuing to spout facts about the marine life within the exhibit.

Denji was silent for a few more moments before wordlessly walking to the next exhibit, only pausing when Asa called after him.

"Hey, where are you going?"

"I dunno, man. I kind of want to see some of the other stuff here."

"We have a schedule to follow. We've only been here for about a minute, and we need at least thirty minutes to fully appreciate the biodiversity of each tank."

"Thirty minutes?"

Asa nodded. "Yeah. Now get back over here, we haven't even gotten to the sea snails in this tank yet."

Denji gave Asa an incredulous look, considered her request for a moment, and then moved on to the next tank. An exhibit featuring a school of bio-luminescent jellyfish.

Asa's mouth hung open as she watched him wander off. For a moment she was left speechless, and then she hurried to catch up to him. She could fix this. She could still turn this around and regain control of the situation. Her plan wasn't that fragile.

"…Did you know that jellyfish have existed for over five hundred million years?"

Denji didn’t look up. “Cool.”

Asa glared at Denji before scoffing. "You're impossible, you know that right?"

"Huh?"

"I spent all night studying for this, and you won't even listen!"

Denji scratched the back of his head sheepishly. “I am listening… kinda. I mean, I get it, jellyfish are old, I guess?” He waved vaguely at the glowing, drifting jellyfish.

He paused for a moment, glancing between her and the jellyfish tank, before shrugging.

"I dunno I get you have a plan or whatever, but there's stuff I want to see too, y'know? Like, the penguins are all the way at the end, and I kinda want to see them."

"No," Asa said sternly. "We can't just skip over everything. I've planned out the next six hours, and I'm not going to let you ruin it."

"Six hour—… Y'know what, I'm not going to let you order me around like this. I'm going to go see the penguins with or without you."

Asa watched Denji walk off, his messy hair bobbing with each step until he disappeared behind a group of tourists. He didn’t even look back.

Her jaw tightened. Of course he didn’t. Of course he’d rather go gawk at penguins like a child instead of appreciating her knowledge of marine ecosystems. She had spent hours—hours—preparing for this, and he just… wandered off.

Her hands curled into fists at her sides.

Then, softly, like a whisper in her ear, came a familiar voice.

“Mm. That went about as well as I expected.”

Asa didn’t need to turn around. Makima stood right behind her, suddenly appearing as she usually did. The devil’s voice was calm, smooth, indulgent. The sort of tone one might use to remark on a dog performing a trick poorly but with enthusiasm.

“I don’t want to hear it,” Asa said through gritted teeth.

Makima tilted her head slightly, eyes glinting. “You really should have listened to me. You see? You overwhelmed him. Humans are simple creatures, Asa. I know how to handle them.”

“I’m human,” Asa snapped. “I think I understand this better than you do.”

Makima’s faint smile deepened. “And yet your date just ran away from you.”

Asa turned, glaring. “I told you, I had it under control.”

“Yes,” Makima murmured, stepping closer. “Clearly.”

"She's right," came a third voice.

Both Asa and Makima were left in a stunned silence as they both looked to their right in unison.

A woman with pale hair in a uniform from Asa's school stood next to them, her eyes focused on the tank in front of her, a blank expression on her face.

Asa looked on in confusion as Makima's hackles seemed to raise at the woman's presence.

"Who—"

"I'm Fami," the girl said, her voice monotone.

"Fami?" Makima said incredulously, to which Fami merely nodded.

Makima’s smile faltered for the briefest of moments, something rare enough that Asa noticed it instantly. The air seemed to thicken between them, the kind of tension that didn’t belong in a public place.

“…Very well. Famine,” Makima said at last, the name falling from her lips like something unpleasant she’d been forced to taste. “It’s been some time.”

Fami, or Famine, as Makima had called her, tilted her head slightly, her tone utterly flat. “Yes. You’re looking well, considering the circumstances.”

Makima’s smile returned, tight and immaculate. “And you’re still as insufferable as ever.”

Asa blinked between them, baffled. “Wait, you two know each other?”

“Unfortunately,” Makima said smoothly.

Fami ignored this, "I recently transferred to your school, Asa. I noticed your situation with my sister, and I know what you two are trying to do. I need you to succeed, so I am going to help."

Asa looked between Makima and Fami, the former of which now seeming thoroughly puzzled.

"Sister—?"

Fami raised one of her hands, and snapped her finger. Both she, and Makima suddenly vanished. Asa, in a panic, looked between where Makima had once stood.

"Makima?!"

"I took her outside with me." Fami's voice seemed to come out of thin air, though she was nowhere to be seen. "It is only temporary."

"Wha—"

"If you can control Denji, you can leave. If not, you'll starve, and I can make you my pawn. Either way, you aren't leaving until you can control Chainsaw Man."

Asa was left in a stunned silence until she saw Denji walking towards her.

"Yo. We got kind of an emergency. The aquarium is bigger than it was earlier."

Asa blinked, looking past Denji and on towards a seemingly endless hallway stretching behind him. Her jaw dropped as Denji looked behind him, a comparatively calm expression on his face as he let out a small sigh.

"Guess that pain in the butt is back from Hell…"

Asa walked down the hallway at a brisk pace as Denji followed leisurely behind her. They had been walking for a while now, at least 100 meters, and there was no end in sight.

“This doesn’t make any sense,” she hissed, gripping the hem of her skirt in frustration. “We’ve walked for half an hour already! There has to be a way out!”

Denji strolled along behind her, hands in his pockets, as if he were taking a walk in the park instead of being trapped in an infinite aquarium. “Told you, it’s the Eternity Devil. There’s no out. That’s kinda its whole deal.”

“Shut up,” Asa snapped over her shoulder. “You’re not helping!”

“I am helping. I’m telling you what’s going on,” he said defensively. “You’re just not listening.”

The overhead lights flickered at uneven intervals, washing the tiled floors in sterile blue light. Every few seconds, the distant sound of sloshing water or the dull hum of a filtration system reminded them that, technically, they were still inside an aquarium — though it might as well have been another world.

Asa’s breathing grew shallow. The hall just kept stretching on, every corner turning into another identical corridor lined with glass tanks.

“I told you,” Denji said again, his voice annoyingly casual, “we gotta wait until either we can kill it or someone else does. We're stuck here until then, so there's no point in wasting energy like this."

Asa’s heel clicked a little too hard against the tile as she spun around to face him. “Maybe if you actually did something instead of slouching around like a useless idiot—”

“Hey,” Denji cut in, frowning. “You think yelling’s gonna make a door show up?”

Asa froze, teeth clenched. The lights above flickered again, the hum of machinery groaning like something alive. A thin trickle of condensation rolled down the side of a tank beside her, like the aquarium itself was breathing.

She took a shaky breath. “There has to be something I can do,” she muttered. “I’m not going to just… wait around to die in here.”

Denji sighed, leaning back against a tank filled with dull, slow-moving fish. “Then do whatever you want. I’m just saying, we’re stuck ‘til this thing gets bored or we find its heart or something. You’ll wear yourself out freaking out like that.”

Asa glared at him, wanting to argue—but she didn’t have the energy. The truth was setting in. He might actually be right…

She pressed her back against the nearest wall and slid down until she sat on the cold tile, drawing her knees up to her chest. Her hands trembled slightly, the adrenaline wearing off.

Denji sat down a few feet away, cross-legged. “Hey, at least there’s food.” He nodded toward a tank full of bright orange fish. “Bet those guys taste pretty good grilled.”

Asa shot him a look of horror. “You’re disgusting.”

He shrugged. “Hey, I’ve eaten worse. A lot worse.”

Asa looked at him, and then looked at the fish.

She really was going to starve here.

For a while, neither of them spoke. The soft blue light from the tanks flickered across their faces, the silence broken only by the muffled sound of water bubbling somewhere deeper in the aquarium. Asa’s anger slowly melted into exhaustion.

“…You’ve really been through this before, haven’t you?” Asa asked quietly as she sat next to Denji on the floor, cast in the blue light of the bioluminescent jellyfish tank.

"Uh… Yeah," Denji said, scratching the back of his head. "I uh… Used to hunt devils, I guess. I don't really like to talk about it."

Asa looked down at her feet. She understood the basics of her situation. They were inside the Eternity Devil's stomach, and the only way to kill this devil was to get at its heart. Which neither of them had any real way of accessing.

"…I'm going to go look for some fish to eat," Denji said, standing up after several minutes of silence. Asa did not respond, or even look up to watch him leave.

Her hands were shaking. Not from cold, but from the thought that had been gnawing at her since they’d been trapped here: she could end this. If she just controlled Denji, they’d have a way out. That was what Fami wanted, it is what Makima wanted. That was what any logical person would do.

So why couldn’t she?

She brought her knees closer to her chest, her throat tightening as she tried to work up the will to do what needed to be done, but she already knew it wouldn't work. How could she possibly see herself as better than Chainsaw Man? Especially now? Even if they did find the Eternity Devil's heart, what could she do about it? Sit back and watch as he handled it?

She was just a bystander. She wasn't better than him, or anyone else for that matter.

Maybe that is why she was too afraid to try and control anything more than small animals. The second she tried she would see that she really wasn't better than anyone, as much as she tried to think that she was. All the people she looked down on, everyone who did things that she thought were bad people because of the things that they did, she couldn't even stand up to them. Maybe she was even a worse person than all of them for even thinking she was better just because she didn't do anything wrong. As if she even understood what it meant to be right or wrong anymore.

The faint patter of footsteps echoed before she saw him. Denji came shuffling back down the hall, a lopsided grin on his face and his arms full of… junk. Plastic trays, a lighter, some broken up broom handles, and a busted metal bucket that looked like it had been stolen from a janitor’s closet, and a plastic bag full of fish.

"Hey! Check it out, I just found a way to make us dinner," he said, rubbing his hands together as he set the things he had found down. “I figure we can make a little grill, cook some fish, maybe grab a snack while we wait for this thing to chill out.”

Asa blinked, staring at him blankly. “…You’re serious.”

"Yeah?" Denji crouched, testing the bucket's stability. "What, you still don't want to eat fish? We've been here for a couple of days now, you gotta be hungry."

Asa’s mouth opened, then shut. She wanted to call him an idiot. She really wanted to. But he was absolutely right, she was starving. She really would even eat fish at this point.

Denji knelt down and began arranging the materials with the strange, practiced casualness of someone who’d done worse to survive. The faint smell of burnt wood began to rise as he flicked the lighter a few times until a weak flame caught.

Asa watched him work, silent. Her thoughts ran in circles. He didn’t look scared. Not really. Maybe a little annoyed, but not scared. Just… practical. Like he’d already accepted that this was how things were, and all that was left was to make it bearable.

“How can you be so calm right now?” she finally muttered.

Denji glanced up. “’Cause freaking out won’t make it better. Duh."

Asa looked at him again. She saw the same boy who’d disregarded at her carefully researched aquarium schedule, who’d so rudely wandered off, who was now fashioning a makeshift stove out of scrap metal—and she hated that she envied him for how easy it seemed for him to just keep going.

“Do you ever…” she began, hesitating. “Do you ever feel like you’re just… stuck being the way you are?”

Denji shrugged. “Yeah, sure. But, like, I dunno. I don’t think about it too hard. I just do what feels good. If you think too hard about stuff like that, you’ll just end up sad.”

Asa looked down at the flickering little fire between them. It threw trembling orange light against the glass tanks, the glow of the jellyfish warping with it.

She wanted to say something—anything—to make him understand what she was feeling, that aching, guilty paralysis of knowing she could act but being too afraid to. But what could she say to someone like him?

Denji reached into the plastic bag, pulled out a fish with a proud grin, and placed it on top of the metal bucket, letting it sizzle. “See? Look, it’s cooking. I’m a genius.”

“You’re going to poison yourself,” Asa muttered.

“Eh, I’ve eaten worse.”

“Like what?”

“Once ate a lit cigarette.”

Asa blinked. “…Why?”

“A guy offered me 100 yen to do it.”

She stared at him for a long moment, and then, despite everything, let out a soft, incredulous laugh. It was small and short-lived, but it surprised even her.

Denji looked at her with a curious expression. “What?”

“Nothing,” she said quickly, turning her face away. “You’re just… impossible.”

“Yeah, people keep telling me that,” Denji said with a grin. He held the fish up, charred and slightly blackened on one side. “Want the first bite?”

Asa hesitated, the absurdity of the situation catching up to her. Trapped in a devil’s endless maze, starving, hopeless—and here he was, offering her burned fish like it was the most normal thing in the world.

She reached out, took the smallest bite possible, and chewed in silence.

She made a face.

"Bleh!"

It was awful.

Denji laughed at her expression, and she scowled at him before he spoke up.

"You know what? You're kind of fun."

Asa froze, blinking at that comment.

"I'm… Fun?"

"Yeah. I mean, you can be really boring, but you're interesting to watch."

She blinked, looking down at the fish in her hands as a realization came to her.

"That's right… I'm an interesting woman, aren't I?"

Denji nodded, "Yeah."

"I'm… I'm fun, right?"

"Yeah."

"Of course! I'm interesting, I'm fun, I'm charming…"

Denji just watched her as she seemingly had a manic episode before letting out a small laugh.

"Yeah, totally. I like that attitude. You remind me of an old friend."

Asa’s heartbeat quickened. She could feel something building in her chest—an odd, rising warmth tangled with pride. His words lingered, echoing in her head.

All at once an idea came to her.

She straightened her posture slightly, brushing her skirt smooth. That feeling—confidence—she could use that. She could channel it.

Her Control power wasn’t just about dominating others. It was about hierarchy. Conviction. Belief that she was the one in control.

If she could convince herself that she was greater than the Eternity Devil…

Her lips curled into a slow, calculating smile.

“Denji,” she said softly, turning toward him. “Tell me more.”

He blinked. “More what?”

“More things you like about me.”

Denji tilted his head, confused but obliging. “Uh… I like your hair. It’s all neat and shiny. You look, like, super serious all the time, but when you get flustered it’s kinda cute. And you smell nice. Like… laundry detergent or something.”

Asa could feel it working—each compliment tightening something inside her, solidifying her composure, her self-assurance. Her pulse quickened with a strange, powerful rhythm.

She stood slowly, her voice low and steady. “Keep going.”

Denji blinked again but did as told. “You’re smart. You use big words. You’re, uh… really determined, even when you’re mad. Plus you're pretty cute."

Denji’s voice trailed off when Asa suddenly turned toward him, her expression sharper than before—her shoulders squared, her chin lifted, the fragile self-doubt that had clung to her earlier gone, replaced by a strange, radiant confidence.

“Denji,” she said calmly, “turn around.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Just do it. Turn around and cover your ears.”

He blinked, half a fish still dangling in his hand. “What, you gonna sing or something?”

“Denji. Do this for me, and I'll grant you any request once we get out of here.”

Her tone left no room for argument. It wasn’t angry or pleading—it was simply commanding. It carried a weight that made something in Denji’s chest tighten.

Denji blinked once, then stood up and covered his ears.

"Yes, ma'am!"

He wandered off some ways down the hallway, and turned his back to her.

The flickering lights above them dimmed again. The faint hum of water through the pipes deepened, vibrating through the floor. Asa’s reflection shimmered faintly in the jellyfish glass—blue, haloed, ghostlike.

She took a deep breath.

She thought of Denji’s words.

Fun. Interesting. Cute.

She thought of how easily he’d survived, how casually he faced the impossible.

And she thought of herself—always analyzing, always preparing, and yet never acting. Always hiding behind plans, excuses, and fear.

If Control was built on conviction… then she would find hers now.

And with it, the knowledge that even if she wasn't much better than other people, she could know for certain that she was better than this devil.

Her voice cut through the stillness:

“Eternity Devil.”

She pointed at the ground, and a chain shot from her finger.

"Free us."

Denji stood frozen where he was, eyes shut tight and hands clamped over his ears. The muffled sound of rushing water and his own heartbeat filled his head.

Hold on a second… I told myself I’d quit this mindless obedience crap.

His thoughts stumbled over each other in frustration.

But she said if I did what she told me, she’d grant me any request…

He grit his teeth. No—no! I told myself I wouldn’t be anyone’s dog anymore! Not hers, not anyone’s!

A light tap on his shoulder broke his thoughts. He blinked his eyes open, heart still hammering, and there was Asa, standing in front of him, smiling faintly.

For a moment, he couldn’t even process it. Then he noticed the change around them: the faint hum of fluorescent lights, the chatter of tourists, the soft slosh of water against glass.

The endless hallway was gone. They were back in the real aquarium.

“Huh?” Denji muttered, looking around in disbelief.

“We got out,” Asa said softly. “I guess… someone must’ve killed the Eternity Devil.”

He rubbed the back of his neck, still dazed. “Huh. Yeah… I guess so.”

Asa’s smile grew just a little wider, small, yet just a bit prideful. “Hey… why don’t you walk me home?”

Denji blinked at her, caught completely off guard. His mouth opened, but no words came out, just a dumb noise of surprise. A faint blush crept up his cheeks as he stared at her.

“…Can we see the penguins before we go?” he finally asked.

The walk back to Asa’s apartment was quiet, lit by the pale orange glow of streetlights. The sun had long set, and the wet pavement shimmered with reflected light from passing cars. Neither of them spoke much—Denji, because he didn’t really know what to say, and Asa, because her mind was still a fog of adrenaline and disbelief.

She had done it.

Whether it had been her newfound confidence, or sheer luck, or some strange fluke of Fami’s meddling, they were free. The moment she had commanded the Eternity Devil to free them, something had simply… snapped. The halls had collapsed into themselves like a paper maze being crumpled, and then suddenly, they were standing back in the normal aquarium lobby surrounded by confused onlookers. No one had even noticed they’d been gone.

It should have felt triumphant.

Instead, Asa felt unsteady, almost nauseous.

She glanced sidelong at Denji as they walked. He had his hands in his pockets and a stupid grin on his face, humming to himself like nothing extraordinary had happened.

“You really don’t think much about what just happened, do you?” Asa asked, her tone caught somewhere between wonder and irritation.

Denji shrugged. “Nah. Feels like just another Tuesday.”

“Most people would be in shock after being trapped in a devil’s stomach for days.”

“Yeah, well…” He rubbed the back of his neck, looking up at the hazy city sky. “Guess I’m not most people.”

That earned a quiet huff from Asa. She wasn’t sure if it was a laugh or a sigh. “No. You really aren’t.”

They reached her building not long after. It was an old, slightly crumbling apartment complex with narrow stairs and flickering lights in the entryway. Denji lingered outside as Asa turned to unlock the front door.

She hesitated with her hand on the knob, glancing back at him. “You know, for what it’s worth… you did okay in there.”

Denji grinned, leaning against the railing. “Heh. You mean I didn’t mess it up?”

“That’s… not exactly what I said.”

“But it’s what you meant,” he teased, and she rolled her eyes.

He scratched his cheek for a moment, awkward silence hanging between them. Then, remembering something, he perked up slightly.

“Hey, uh… remember what you said? That if I did what you told me back there, you’d grant me any request I wanted?”

Asa blinked, caught off guard. “I did say that.”

“Well,” Denji said, smiling in that crooked, almost boyish way of his. “I want another date.”

Asa froze, mid-motion, staring at him like she’d misheard. “…Another date?”

“Yeah,” he said simply. “Like, a real one this time. Not a six-hour fish lecture. Maybe, like, ice cream or a movie or something.”

Asa's mouth hung open for a moment before she smiled, and nodded.

"Okay. Let's have another date."

Denji gave her a warm smile, throwing up a peace sign, and Asa returned that smile before she stepped into her apartment.

She barely made it a few steps before a voice broke the silence.

“So.”

Asa flinched.

Makima was standing in the living room, framed by the half-drawn curtains, her hair glowing faintly in the light of the streetlamp outside. Her expression was composed, her posture perfect, but her eyes were cold. Colder than Asa had ever seen them.

“You look happy,” Makima said, her tone even, yet sharp as a knife.

Asa’s breath caught. “I— I’m just relieved we made it out alive.”

Makima took a step forward, the faint sound of her heel echoing on the floorboards. “Alive. And yet, you seem… infatuated.”

Asa blinked, her throat tightening. “That’s not— I don’t—”

“You were supposed to control him,” Makima said softly, cutting her off. “Not fall for him.”

For a moment, silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating.

"I can feel it too, you know," Makima said, her voice tinged with clear disgust. "We share a mind, and so I can feel affection for that boy just as you do. Affection for the one who stole Chainsaw Man from me. Do I need to remind you what sort of person he is?"

Asa felt herself shrink back, "I—"

"Do you know what it is like to consciously feel yourself being stripped away? To know pieces of yourself are being consumed by an imposter? To see your dreams and all you have worked for stripped away from you in front of your very eyes? And you have the audacity, the gall to fall in love with him? To make me feel anything but contempt for him?"

Another cold silence fell over the room before Makima takes a step back, her amber eyes glowing faintly in the low light.

"He is going to break your heart, Asa. You know he does not care about you. Only what he thinks he can get from you, or have you forgotten?"

Asa felt her chest tighten as those cold amber eyes continued to bore into her. She couldn't speak. She couldn't think of a single word to say in her defense.

Makima's tone became softer as she moved closer.

"I suppose it can not be helped. You are just a girl, after all. A human. Your emotions may run away from you, but do not worry. I will always be here to help you through moments like these. Until Chainsaw Man is mine again, I will be here every step of the way to make sure you do not forget what you are meant to do. No matter how content you are to let reason escape you."

Makima stood right in front of Asa now, her presence bearing down on the girl.

"Go on your next date, if you must. Enjoy yourself. But when the time comes, I will take your body, and then take his heart myself."

Makima's smile returned to her face, sharp and predatory.

"You'll thank me, once this is all over."