A/N: thank you all for the wonderful feedback~! im glad yall are enjoying this little thing ive put together c:
as the manga's progressing and we're getting more info on characters, im adding their little tidbits to the fic as we go. i think we'd be going in the canon divergent route soon enough and this story will probably end before we reach the falling devil arc tbh.
this chapter took me awhile cause like i had a lot to do and welp, its more than 10k words so I hope it makes up for the wait .3.
Fingers dug into the cake, shoveling out layers of pink cream. Denji lifted the creamy sponge near his mouth and shoved it past jagged teeth. He licked at the thick icing sticking to his fingers, taking his time to lap them clean while completely ignoring the set of dark eyes watching him from across the table.
Yoshida sat on the other side, his palms cupped around a mug of iced coffee.
"So let me get this straight," he sounded thoughtful, head tilted to the side. "You got that A plus?"
Denji sucked at his fingers one final time, eyes focused on the strawberry cake set before him. "Yeah."
Yoshida fell quiet for a second. He thumbed the handle of his mug, expressions schooled into coolness. "Did you see the grade yourself, Denji-kun?"
Denji scooped off some of the icing with his thumb and swept his tongue across it.
"I didn't, but Kaori-san did."
Yoshida leaned back in his seat, curving a hand around his chin thoughtfully. "You're on a first name basis with her?"
Denji grinned proudly, plucking out a sugar glazed strawberry from the top of the half eaten cake. He bit into it with sharp teeth. "Hellsh, yesh. I amh."
The cafe around them was half empty. Yoshida leaned back in the plush chair, ankle over his knee, and tipped his head to the side.
"So did you do it?"
Denji closed his mouth around another handful of cake, raising his brows.
Yoshida looked completely unfazed. "Did you ask her out, Denji-kun?"
Denji scowled at him, his cheeks round with cream and glazed strawberry. He chewed and swallowed, sticking out his tongue impudently. "None of 'yer business, ya weirdo."
"Ouch." Yoshida feigned hurt, the smirk curling his lips barely showing any offense as he raised his brows slightly. "Even when I was the one who did the report for you."
"As if ya did it for free." Denji fired back, grabbing a tall glass of chocolate smoothie before him. He clamped his lips around the straw, slurping noisily and Yoshida tapped his fingers against the table, dark eyes flickering. "Then what did you ask her for, Denji-kun?"
"Like I said," Denji's mouth left the straw with a loud pop. His tongue flicked out to wipe off the chocolate smeared over his bottom lip. "'S none of 'yer business."
"Making sure you live a peaceful life is my business, Denji-kun." Yoshida answered breezily. He lifted the coffee mug to his lips, cradling it between his hands. "Please don't forget that."
"I'll do whatever the hell I want." Denji glowered. "And anyway," he smacked a hand to his chest, a proud smirk lifting the corners of his lips. "I told her I'm Chainsaw Man!"
Yoshida stared flatly. "Did you now?"
"Yeah!"
"And she believed you?"
Denji blinked.
"Did she believe you're Chainsaw Man, Denji-kun?" Yoshida asked again, his quiet gaze trained on the blond solely. "You said the same thing back on the rooftop. Mitaka didn't believe you either."
Denji clenched his jaw, his eyes narrowing into a heated glare. "That's 'cause ya introduced me to a Chainsaw Man hater!"
"Ah, well." Amusement flickered across Yoshida's face. "That's because you said your ideal type were girls who were desperate for a boyfriend."
Denji scowled, jaw tight and Yoshida brought the mug to his lips, sipping his coffee calmly. Denji stared down at his sticky hands, some of the icing left between his bony fingers before he frowned.
"The hell do ya mean by that, huh?"
Yoshida arched a fine brow. "Hm?"
"When ya said she believed me or not." Denji scowled at him from across the table. He smacked his hands on the table, the unused silverware rattling noisily for a brief moment. "Well, joke's on you, asshole." He grinned smugly. "She did believe me!"
Yoshida's eyes flickered slightly. He leaned back in his seat, holding the cold mug between his hands.
"Really, Denji-kun?" He thumbed the dark round handle, tipping his head to the side with a hint of an amused smile. "Or maybe she's just humoring you."
Denji's brows furrowed. "The fuck does that mean?"
"It means she's just acting like she believes you." Yoshida deduced, thoughtful. "No one's gonna believe that you're Chainsaw Man like that. That's not how it works."
"Fuck you." Denji snapped. He shoved another handful of cake into his mouth, pink icing smearing across his lips. His brows creased further and he grumbled through a mouthful of frosting, idly picking at the glazed strawberries left atop the messy cake.
"S' not like she liked me better as Chainsaw Man anyway," he groused, his eyes dipping to the single strawberry held between his sticky fingers. "She called Chainsaw Man cute and then acted like, I dunno, like it doesn't even matter to her? Fuck, man."
"Wouldn't liking you as yourself be better, Denji-kun?"
Aureate eyes snapped upwards, meeting that calm assessing gaze when Yoshida shrugged, expressions impassive. "You're just not Chainsaw Man, you know."
"'Course you'd say that." Denji muttered, shoving the strawberry into his mouth. He swallowed it whole, licking the sugar left on his lips. "Ya just don't want me to tell the world that I'm Chainsaw Man."
"All I'm saying is," Yoshida said calmly. "In our line of work, romantic relationships don't ever lead to anything permanent so it's always risky to involve yourself with them. It's not like you need them to live a peaceful life anyway."
Denji clutched his hands into tight fists. He slowly raised his fists above the tabletop, unfurling his fingers and Yoshida looked unperturbed when Denji flashed him the middle finger with both of his hands, a sneer pulling back the corners of his lips.
"You promised no reveals for a week, by the way." Yoshida reminded him, unbothered.
Denji ignored him fully, focusing his attention on the leftover cake instead. He grabbed it roughly with his hand and shoveled the creamy sponge into his mouth, chewing only a few times before swallowing the icing melting into goo over his tongue. He set his elbows on the table, cream sticking to his mouth when he shamelessly pointed to Yoshida's plate.
"Ya gonna eat that?"
Yoshida glanced down at the fat slice of untouched cake resting on his plate. He reached into the basket of silverware, and forked off a little bit of the cake piece. He smiled around the fork when Denji started to cuss him out again.
"I'll carry it!"
A hand was held out before her, fingers taut and palm upturned. She stepped to the side, silently eying the number of school bags that were slung across the shorter girl's torso. The girl smiled tiredly, beads of sweat near her brows as she shifted from one foot to the other in exhaustion.
"Sakura-chan," Kaori thumbed the yellow strap of her bag, her brows creasing. "Why are you carrying everyone's bags?"
"O-oh." Sakura floundered for a moment, wincing when Miya shot her a faint glare. Sakura smiled, her bottom lip wobbling. "I just wanted to help my friends today!"
The group of girls around them sniggered loudly.
"I'm quite sure," Kaori frowned at the multiple straps slung across Sakura's heaving shoulders, her lips curling in distaste as she glanced back at the giggling girls. "That we can all carry our own weight here."
"Oh, please," Miya rolled her eyes, setting a hand on her cocked hip. "Just give her your bag, will you?"
Sakura nodded quickly, holding her arms out and Kaori reassessed her exhausted form again.
"It's alright, Sakura-chan," she frowned, "I can carry it myself."
Sakura's eyes flitted to the side in alarm when Miya raised a brow, a scowl etching onto her face. "The fuck? Just hand her your bag—"
"We're getting late for class." Kaori took a step forward.
Her gaze caught sight of a head of inky black hair at the end of the hallway. Kaori halted abruptly, startling the girls around her. She froze in her spot, her spine straightening when those dark eyes lazily turned her way and her fingers tightened around the bag strap hanging off her shoulder. Her breath hitched, and she instantly shifted on her feet.
"Sato-chan?" Sakura looked at her worriedly. "What's wrong—"
"I…" Kaori took a tentative step back. She turned to the perplexed girls with a hesitant smile, backpedaling immediately. "I just remembered something I have to do."
Miya lifted a brow. "Class is about to start—"
Kaori whirled around swiftly. Loose, pink curls whipped around her head as she turned, her bag smacking against her hip. Keychains jingled noisily as she hastily sprinted down the hallway, almost breaking into a quick run.
The girls stared at her back until she rounded a corner, disappearing from sight.
Sakura pressed her fingers to her lips, looking concerned while Miya rolled her eyes and snorted. "What's her problem anyway?"
"Excuse me."
Several eyes snapped over to the side. A tall boy stood beside them. He smiled charmingly, his gaze searchingly flitting between all of them.
Yoshida offered a casual smile. "Have any of you seen Sato?"
Miya glanced down the empty hallway once, turning back to him with a reluctant shrug. "You just missed her."
His eyes peeked down the hallway in quiet contemplation. "Right."
"Do you have something to say to her?" Sakura asked excitedly. She shrugged up the number of heavy bags, grimacing slightly when they weighed her down but her lively smile was quick to return as her eyes flickered down to his empty hands. "I can hand it over if you want!"
Sakura winced when Miya elbowed her harshly, and Yoshida looked vaguely amused. "It's alright."
He smiled, a thin turn of his lips. A few of the girls flushed brightly, looking away with warm cheeks.
Miya stared up at him with questioning eyes. "We can pass on the message if you like."
Dark obsidian eyes flickered over their heads once more, silently gazing down the vacant hallway, and Yoshida simply slipped his hands inside his pockets.
He offered a polite smile. "It's something I'd like to discuss with her privately, actually."
.
.
.
.
.
She could recognize those pink curls anywhere, coupled with that bright yellow bag and that pressed, pristine uniform. There were keychains hanging off that zipper, three silly looking animals. From this close, she could make out that one of them was a chicken— her heart tightened in her chest for some reason.
Kaori's back was turned her way, pink hair hanging off her shoulders as she stood slightly bent at the knees, peeking out from the corner of the hallway. It felt weird catching her like this.
"The hell is she doing?" Yoru deadpanned from the side.
Asa's gaze dipped down to the keychains again— at the frowning, fluffy white chicken hanging by the zipper.
For a moment, Asa was seized with an almost violent memory. It lasted only for a second, the image of chicken corpses fresh in her mind as her feet paused in front of a crosswalk, seconds before her face was slashed into pieces near the traffic light.
The memory of the feeling made her clench her jaw, and Yoru scowled at her.
"Sato?"
Kaori jostled in alarm, whipping around quickly.
Asa winced when the girl knocked straight into her. With a flinch, Asa staggered back slightly as her hands clutched her throbbing nose. Yoru hissed out a string of vulgar expletives, nursing her own nose with a heavy scowl.
"A-Asa-chan!" Kaori stammered in alarm, eyes wide. She hurried closer, her hands reaching for Asa's face. "I'm sorry. I didn't see you there! Are you hurt—"
Asa inched away from those reaching hands, shaking her head. "I'm fine!"
She slowly let go of her aching nose, raising her brows when Kaori looked at her worriedly.
"Are you…" Asa began, her questioning gaze drifting from the side wall to Kaori's wide eyed stare. "Hiding?"
"Er," Kaori dropped her hands to the sides. She paused for a second before smiling sheepishly. "...yes?"
Asa stared at her, brows creasing further before she stepped closer to the corner, peering down the empty hallway.
"Who are you hiding from?"
Hands firmly clasped her elbow, hurriedly tugging her back. Asa looked startled when Kaori released the grip on her elbow, looking hesitant.
"It's…a boy," she said finally.
Yoru hummed, low and faintly intrigued by this new piece of information while Asa paused. She blinked once, then twice as she slowly digested the words before she echoed back unsurely. "A boy?"
The corner of Kaori's lips twisted in quiet contemplation before she nodded grimly.
"Oh." Asa took a moment to collect her words. "That… sounds bad, I guess?"
"It's a life and death situation actually." Kaori deadpanned.
Asa stared at her blankly.
Kaori offered a little smile, her searching eyes flitting around them. Yoru shifted from beside Asa, and Asa stiffened when the devil stepped over to Kaori's side, crimson ringed irises watching the girl intently.
"Yuko-chan not with you today?"
Asa tore her gaze away from Yoru's blatant staring, turning to Kaori's curious look.
"Ah, Yuko wasn't feeling good today," she said. "So she stayed at home. I'm going to visit her after school."
Kaori clutched the strap of her bag, looking faintly interested. "You're going to visit her house, Asa-chan?"
"Er, yeah?" Asa responded unsurely, a crease forming between her brows. "That's what friends do."
Kaori remained silent for a moment longer. "I see."
A quiet chill slithered down Asa's spine when Yoru teetered closer. Kaori stood unaware of the devil leaning into her space, and Yoru paused an inch away from the girl's neck, whiffing the air briefly.
It's not like she can see Yoru. Asa felt her heartbeat slowly drum ominously in her ears when Yoru's eyes snapped open, a frown curling her lips. No one can see Yoru.
"Asa, this girl." Yoru said, her tone bordering cold. "She smells like gunpowder."
It took all within Asa to not snap at the doppelganger devil, her eyes turning forward when Kaori tipped her head to the side, blinking curiously. "Asa-chan?"
"I…" Asa watched as Yoru leaned close once more, inhaling too deeply, and Asa refrained from grimacing. "I need to get to class—"
For a second, her gaze unintentionally drifted over to Yoru again. Asa's heart lodged into her throat when Kaori caught the subtle movement of her gaze, and her stomach dropped as Kaori turned slowly, meeting the bright spiraling eyes of the War Devil—
A voice piped up, meek.
"Kao-chan?"
The two girls paused. Asa breathed softly, calming down the quick thrums of her heart when a woman stepped near them, gripping something between her hands.
Kaori's eyes rounded in surprise and Asa quietly noticed the wetness in the woman's eyes, the slight flush in her pale cheeks.
"Mama?" Kaori said incredulously. "What are you doing here?"
It's her mother. Asa watched the woman cradle something in her hands, and Asa shot a dull glare Yoru's way when the devil finally inched back, looking unamused.
"You went on your own today." Sayuri muttered meekly. "You didn't even meet me in the morning. It made me so sad, Kao-chan."
Yoru snorted beside her, looking at the woman with thinly veiled disgust. "This is pathetic."
Asa blinked as the woman looked forlorn. A familiar tightness returned to Asa's chest, the kind she felt back in the orphanage, where her sole friend was the cat curled around her feet.
"I'm sorry, mama." Kaori's smile was tight, not quite reaching her eyes as she looked at her mother warily. "I left in a hurry. You didn't have to come all the way to school."
"You forgot your cell phone too." Sayuri finally lifted the object between her hands, a bright yellow colored flip phone. She chewed her bottom lip, her eyes glazed over. "I was so worried about you, Kao-chan."
Kaori simply held her hand out. Asa swallowed, gazing ahead as Sayuri pressed the cell phone into her daughter's hand. Kaori clutched the phone in one hand, peeking up at the woman's glazed eyes carefully.
"Thank you, mama."
The image of her own mother flickered in the back of Asa's mind. She sucked in her bottom lip, the knot in her chest tightening and Yoru shot her an annoyed look.
"Stop that," she sneered. "We don't have time to reminisce now, Asa."
For a brief moment, Asa remembered the soft touch of her mother's fingers as she stood behind her chair in the living room, her soft laughter echoing through their quaint little apartment.
Her chest ached.
Yoru hovered beside Asa, her gaze shifting from Sayuri to the forlorn look on Asa's face.
"If we kill her now," she offered, "then she'll make a great weapon for us to use."
Asa frowned down at the floor.
"Is this your friend?" Sayuri's curious voice reached her ears.
Asa shifted on her feet. Kaori pursed her lips, looking hesitant to answer before Asa cleared her throat, dipping her head in a respectful nod. "Nice to meet you, Sato-san."
"Ah, you should bring your friends home, Kao." Sayuri chirped, a wide happy smile tugging her lips. "You did that all the time back in Kyoto. I miss that."
Something in Kaori's expression shifted at that. She held her phone between her hands, pausing for a mere second when she offered a tight smile. "You should leave now,"
Her mother fidgeted. "But I want to spend more time with you—"
"I said leave. Now."
The sudden frigidness in her tone made Asa blink. Her brows furrowed while Sayuri flushed, nodding quickly. She began walking off in a daze and Asa stared at the other girl, the corners of her lips curving downwards.
"You shouldn't talk to your mom like that," she frowned.
Seafoam eyes instinctively turned Asa's way. Asa stood rooted to her spot, her fingers flexing by her sides when the two of them stared at each other for a few minutes.
Yoru hovered near her side like a ghost, impatient.
"You should be happy you get to spend time with her," Asa said finally. The words came out on their own, falling from her mouth and tugging at a familiar ache within her chest. "You don't know when you'll get to see her again."
Her gaze fell to the floor, and Asa muttered quietly, her fingers curling into loose fists by her sides.
"Everyone dies too quickly in this world."
School shoes slowly shuffled into her line of sight. Hazel eyes snapped back up, meeting familiar sea green, and Kaori smiled softly.
"You're right, Asa-chan." Kaori hummed, holding the phone to her chest. "We really should appreciate the people we love. Thank you for reminding me."
Asa felt her face grow warm. Yoru gave her a pointed look and Asa cleared her throat, looking away with a grumble. "Yeah, well, you're welcome—"
"Would you like to skip school?"
Asa blinked.
Kaori pressed a finger to her lips, the corners of her mouth curling up into a mischievous smirk. "Let's play hooky, Asa-chan."
Asa's brows shot up and she grimaced. "No way! We can't skip classes."
Yoru rolled her eyes.
"Why not?" Kaori tipped her head to the side. "We can go to this cafe. My treat, of course."
"We're here to study," Asa frowned. "We can't skip classes like that."
Kaori looked at her thoughtfully, eyes flickering before she grinned. "You're really a rightful kind of person, aren't you, Asa-chan?"
The words sounded familiar— not said in the way Asa had remembered them, but enough to set off chills down her spine. Her breath hitched, her mind hastily grasping for a better comeback because of the expected criticism her body alerted her about—-
"That's great actually." Kaori chirped, smiling brightly. "We all should try to be a model student."
The loud thrum of her heartbeat slowed down, and Asa felt her taut shoulders go lax. She chewed the inside of her cheeks, feeling her face flush slightly under that soft sea green gaze.
"W-well, I didn't expect you to say that." She huffed in the end, cheeks warm. "Skipping school? You didn't strike me as that type, Sato."
"Kaori."
Asa paused. Kaori pressed a hand to her chest, stepping closer and Asa promptly staggered backwards. Yoru snorted from beside them.
Kaori beamed down at her. "Please don't be so formal with me, Asa-chan."
"R-right." Asa nodded quickly, her gaze falling to the phone held in the other girl's grasp. She quickly glanced around the empty hallway, then mumbled. "Put that phone away before someone sees it."
Kaori lifted the phone between them, flipping the top open. "Would you like to exchange numbers?"
"Ah," Asa paused for a moment. "Sure?"
She shifted the messenger bag at her hip, searching through the inner pocket before retrieving a baby pink flip phone from inside of her school bag.
A tiny cat keychain dangled from its side.
Kaori's eyes brightened. "That's so cute!"
"Thanks." Asa clutched the flip phone tighter. She swept a fond thumb over the lit screen as a wistful smile touched her face. "It used to be my mom's."
Kaori smiled, offering her phone. Asa grasped it tentatively before handing over hers. The two jabbed their numbers in and handed their cellphones back. Kaori grinned faintly, clamping the flip phone shut with an audible clack.
"Feel free to text me whenever you like, Asa-chan!"
"Uh, you too—"
Asa paused, looking puzzled when Kaori tugged at the dip of her neckline and easily tucked her phone between her— her—!
Heat flooded into Asa's cheeks, her eyes wide as she squeaked. "Wh-why are you putting it there?!"
Kaori patted her collars straight, blinking. "Don't you think it's the best place to hide it in school, Asa-chan?"
Asa flushed brightly, fingers tightening around her phone when Kaori inched closer, gaze drifting from the pink cell phone and then back up to Asa's warm face.
"Why don't you try it too?" She suggested.
"M-me?!"
Kaori tipped her head to the side, a playful smile tugging her lips. "Yes?"
Asa grimaced, face hot. She glanced down at the phone in her hand, her gaze shifting to the set of sea green eyes watching her expectantly and she shook her head, glancing away.
"I'll pass." She grumbled.
Kaori smiled, leaning back on her feet. Asa quickly stuffed the phone in her bag. She adjusted the strap on her shoulder, and only paused when she saw Yoru move again. She blinked once as Yoru stood closer, teetering sideways to take a whiff at Kaori's neck once more.
Asa stared flatly when Yoru turned to her, scarlet eyes narrowed.
"Oi, Asa." Yoru said impatiently, her lips curled into a frown. "I want you to sniff her too."
Asa froze, blinking rapidly. "Wh-what?"
"I want to make sure if her scent is real."
"Are you crazy?!" Asa snapped back, clamping her mouth shut when Kaori stared at her, her brows creasing slightly.
"Asa-chan?" She said, brows furrowed.
Asa straightened up, lips parting for an apology when Yoru stood before her, scowling angrily. "Asa!"
"Shut up!" Asa hissed, and Kaori blinked, looking confused. "But… I didn't say anything?"
"S-sorry," Asa apologized hurriedly, shooting Yoru a withering glare. "I didn't mean to say that to you!"
Yoru scowled deeply, standing at the side while Kaori looked puzzled.
"Aren't you," Asa began quickly, worrying her bottom lip as Yoru set Kaori with a silent glare, a scowl on her face. "Getting late for class, Sato?"
Kaori frowned. "I thought you wouldn't call me that anymore."
Asa hesitated for a moment, her eyes glancing at the way Yoru stood so close in proximity, those ringed crimson irises unblinking.
"Kaori," she said slowly. "We're getting late for class."
Kaori smiled brightly, looking absolutely pleased. Asa offered a meek smile back, completely ignoring the way Yoru bore holes into her head with her heated glare. She quietly bid farewell, moving forward and Kaori held her pinkie and thumb near her ear, smiling widely.
"I'll call you."
"…sure," Asa said. Her eyes shifted to Yoru's furious scowl, and she forced a taut smile, nodding her head. "Call me whenever you like."
His brain was melting into a little puddle, probably leaking out of his ears as he sat in the classroom, clutching a pen in his loose fist. At the front of the classroom the teacher droned on, calling one student after the other to solve the messy, jumbled numbers on the chalkboard.
Denji squinted his eyes at the equations written in white, and his nose scrunched in disgust.
It looked stupid, really. Numbers and alphabets should never go together. It made zero sense.
His eyes strayed over to the empty seat on the far off side of the classroom. Denji leaned his cheek onto a fist as he glanced at the vacant chair. He lazily thumbed the blue pen clenched in his fist, clicking the top absentmindedly as he thought how the one fucking time he was actually there to attend class, she wasn't.
The classroom door promptly slid open, a familiar face peeking in.
"Sato," the teacher grumbled, an old geezer with round glasses too big for his face. "You're late."
The new math teacher was a hard ass, alright.
"Sorry," she apologized. Her eyes turned to the classroom momentarily, and Denji halted, his thumb still pressed onto the end of the pen when her searching gaze spotted him in an instant. Kaori looked back at the man before her, bending into a quick bow. "It won't happen again, sensei."
The teacher clicked his tongue, holding out the chalk instead. "Get solving."
Denji watched quietly as she plucked the white chalk from his hands, turning to the chalkboard. She tucked one arm behind her and cocked her head to the side, reading the messy equation scribbled across the chalkboard.
The white chalk pressed against the black surface, and with a tap tap tap she was writing across it. Words and numbers and symbols flowed out, making little to no sense to him as she deftly wrote away until she reached the dusty white ledge of the chalkboard.
Kaori closed the answer with a little rectangular box, smiling proudly as she offered the chalk back. The teacher grunted, jerking a thumb to the classroom.
"Get to your seat."
She sidled over to her desk easily, keychains rattling noisily against one another before she tucked her skirt under herself, settling down.
Denji watched as she turned, easily meeting his silent gaze. Kaori offered an amiable smile, opening her hand in a little wave. Warmth crept up the back of his neck, and Denji lifted his hand awkwardly to wave back but the teacher shouted for everyone to concentrate.
With a frown, Denji realized she wasn't looking at him anymore.
.
.
.
.
.
He passed out after the next five minutes. Face on his desk, eyes closed as he slumbered through the rest of the lecture. Not his fault Chainsaw Man's been battling devils late at night. The cockroach devil had ruined some of his repute anyway. Chainsaw Man did not eat cats, what the fuck was wrong with everyone—
The loud shrill of the bell woke him up.
Denji yawned, stretching his legs under the desk before he rubbed the drowsiness away from his eyes.
He took one look at the notebook spread on his desk. A little puddle of his drool was left on the blank pages, and he smacked it shut, throwing the worn out notebook in his bag before he was on his feet.
There was a little rattle of keychains, and Denji paused mid-yawn. Kaori stook by his desk, clutching the strap of that bright yellow bag eagerly.
"Denji-kun," she smiled, leaning over his desk. Her hands flattened over the tabletop, and his eyes automatically fell on her fingers, curious about the color of her nails. They were painted a dark shade of mossy green today.
"Why did you sleep?"
He looked back at her, confused. "Huh?"
"You slept through the whole class," Kaori looked amused. "Aren't you scared of failing?"
He didn't register her words at first, his mind too occupied with the thought that she had turned around enough times to look at him to know that he was sleeping and drooling all over his notes.
Denji shrugged. "Not really."
He slung the strap of his bag over his shoulder. Kaori straightened up too, continuing to stand near him, and Denji faintly realized that she was a few inches shorter than him.
He couldn't figure out her height yesterday since was too close, cradling his hand between hers. He had made sure not to scrub the numbers on his palm too hard— letting them stay there for long. They were just blurred lines on his skin now, faded away with dish soap when he had washed all the dirty dishes in the sink last night.
"'S not like we're gonna use this shit in real life anyway," he grumbled instead.
Kaori looked thoughtful for a second. A cheeky smile turned her lips, and she wondered aloud. "What if you need math to kill a devil?"
"Psh, Chainsaw Man doesn't need math to kill a fuckin' devil." He scoffed, walking around the desk as he bragged. "I got my chainsaws for it—"
Denji paused abruptly. Yoshida's words echoed in his mind once, the fact she could be humoring him this entire time. That she didn't actually believe that he was Chainsaw Man.
His mouth grew bitter.
"Where are you going, Denji-kun?" Kaori asked as he went for the door.
"Out." Denji stuck his hands in his pockets, raising his brows when she followed at his heels with quick steps. He ignored the number of eyes trained on them. "'M gonna go work."
"Work?" She echoed, perplexed.
The two walked out of the classroom, stepping out into the corridor. Kaori pursed her lips, and Denji looked faintly amused when she looked at him with furrowed brows, choosing her words contemplatively.
As if any shit could offend him now.
"Are you," she said carefully, "talking about the chair thing, Denji-kun?"
"Yep." Denji said airily, rubbing his ear. He glanced at the empty courtyard. "Money's gonna help me out there, not whatever crap that biology dude's gonna teach us."
"But," Kaori's brows creased slightly. "You're going to fail every class at this rate."
Denji took a step forward, bouncing his shoulders reluctantly. "'S not like it matters."
Fingers clasped onto the ragged strap of his messenger bag. Denji paused as his eyes peeked down at the dainty hand, finding it attached to an arm that belonged to none other than the girl before him.
Kaori smiled. "How about I pay you instead?"
He turned slightly, hands deep in his pockets and stared at her. "Ya gonna pay me to be yer chair again?"
"You're my friend, Denji-kun." Kaori said solemnly. She gently tugged at the strap of his bag, keeping him rooted to his spot. "Of course, I won't sit on you."
Denji fell silent, looking at her closely as he stood half twisted.
"Kaori-san," he frowned, glancing back at her hand. His lips thinned into a grimace. "Sorry, but I don't like owin' people shit."
Kaori blinked, staring back at him and he finally turned to her fully. A crow loudly cawed from somewhere within the courtyard and Denji grumbled, his lips downturned.
"I just don't like bein' in debt."
"That's…" she pursed her lips, "not quite what I meant."
Her hand withdrew from his bag, falling back to her side as she peered up at him with a gentle smile. "Friends help each other out, yes?"
"Right." He watched as the biology teacher strutted past them, moving towards the classroom. Denji shrugged up his bag, jerking his chin towards the sliding door. "Yer gonna be late again."
"...Denji-kun?" he glanced back at her.
"I hope I'm not intruding but," Kaori looked curious, watching him intently. "Is there a reason why you're trying to make money?"
Denji blinked, brows scrunching together, and she clarified hurriedly. "In high school, I mean! Shouldn't you be more concerned about your studies at the moment?"
The words slipped from his mouth on their own.
"Ya see, I've got someone to take care of." He answered honestly, an easy smile tugging his lips. "And I wanna give her everything, yeah? 'Specially a good education. I need 't make a lotta money for that."
Kaori's gaze softened. She smiled, nodding her head. "That's quite a good reason."
"Thanks," he grinned
"I still wouldn't recommend sleeping during classes," she advised thoughtfully, patting her bag. "Though if you ever need any help in making notes, I'm here for you."
He nodded, watching as she turned for the classroom. Denji thumbed the strap of his bag, brows creasing slightly before he took a step forward.
"Oi," he called. "Kaori-san?"
Sea green eyes instantly swiveled back to him, brightening up. Kaori looked at him expectantly and Denji scraped his foot against the floor, his hands buried deep within his pocket.
"Ya believe me, right?" He murmured.
She blinked. "Pardon?"
"Y'know," Denji rubbed the back of his neck, searching her face. "That I'm Chainsaw Man?"
He caught the brief flicker in her eyes. Kaori clasped her hands behind herself, stepping closer till she was standing before him. Denji straightened his spine, remaining in place when she breathed heavily. Her eyelids shut for a second, and her nose wrinkled slightly.
A hand curved along his cheek, and Denji blinked once, eyes growing round when Kaori stood on the tips of her toes, squinting her eyes up at him.
"Denji-kun," she said, staring at him with wide, focused eyes. She held his gaze firmly, his mind unable to decide to either focus on the delicate eyeliner drawn over her eyelids or the soft touch of her warm palm along his face. "Do you smell something?"
"Uh?" He uttered dumbly. "Not really?"
A wide smile touched her face, and Kaori fell back on her feet. She pressed a hand to the column of her throat while Denji touched the side of his face, staring at her in stunned silence.
"Oh, yes," She hummed, looking visibly pleased. "I believe you."
Denji felt momentarily puzzled that she hadn't looked at his chest, where the pull cord hung from. She was already over to the door, waving at him with a smile.
"See you after school then?"
He nearly blurted out a "fuck, yes!", and only held back when he remembered that Nayuta had a half day at school today and he had to head home to make her lunch—
The classroom door slid shut with a click of finality. He stood all alone in the empty hallway, the deep voice of the biology teacher barely slipping through the classroom door.
"Is there a reason why you're doing this?"
Sakura whipped her head to the side, blinking dumbly when Kaori fell in step beside her. Sakura smiled back hesitantly, holding the straps of the bags thrown over her torso as she walked sluggishly, weighed down by the school bags.
The group had walked out into the back of the school's yard, trudging over a single stoned pathway. Sakura lingered at the end, staggering over her feet while Miya yawned at the front, giggling when the girl beside her cracked a joke.
"What do you mean, Sato-chan—"
"You're carrying everyone's bags." Kaori clasped her hands behind her back, glancing down at all the bags weighing the other girl down. "Why are you doing it?"
Sweat dribbled down the side of Sakura's face. She clamped her mouth shut, glancing to the front of the group with cautious eyes. "W-well—"
Miya's shrill voice cut through the air.
"Open the fucking door already."
A little shed stood before them. One of the girls stepped ahead and stuck a key into the lock hanging from the doorknob, and the door creaked open, letting them all inside.
Several sports gear laid around, basketballs placed in nets and a bucket full of battered softballs. The floor looked clean, not a speck of dust on it.
Kaori peered around the place curiously, gently nudging her foot against a baseball bat left near the door.
Miya stretched her arms above her head, a loud yawn escaping her lips again and Kaori glanced to the side as Sakura clumsily plopped down on the floor, breathing heavily as she slid the bag straps off shoulders.
"Did you bring the stuff?" Another voice piped up, excited.
The zipper of a bag was dragged open, and Kaori watched the girls settle down on the floor in a close, crowded circle. She mimicked them, crouching down on the cold cemented floor before crossing her legs properly under herself and setting her hands in her lap.
Miya retrieved strips of paper from a bag. She tugged out a tin and a black camera, setting the camera on the floor before she tossed the bag to the side.
She shook the tin playfully, earning excited grins in return. She expertly flattened a piece of paper with petite fingers, reaching to unclasp the tin.
Ah. Realization dawned on Karori's face, her lips parting in faint fascination. She remembered this from the scarlet words bleeding across the pale pages of that battered diary. I've read about this.
She watched with rapt attention as Miya licked along the paper before deftly tucking the strip into a cone. Her eyes fully focused on Miya's nimble fingers, the way they poked at the tip of the paper cone with long, sharp nails.
Someone held out a lighter, the flame flickering brightly.
Miya lighted the tip of the joint and closed her lips around the other end. Kaori watched the paper smolder when Miya breathed out a cloud of dark gray.
"Fuck," Miya tipped her head back, sighing loudly. "This is some good shit."
A few titters followed, and the joint was passed from one girl to another.
Kaori took the smoldering cone between her fingers. She turned it this way and that, feeling the warmth of the blaze near her fingertips. The end was already tainted with several shades of rosy lipsticks when she pressed it to her lips.
She inhaled slowly, letting the smoke sit tight in her lungs. She tasted the pungent smoke once, the bitter taste of it.
It felt better than the occasional taste of metal in her throat.
Several eyes were set on her, looking too closely when she parted her lips, watching quietly as puffs of gray smoke drifted into the air.
"Thought you'd be coughing." Miya sounded impressed.
"Well," Kaori licked her bottom lip and shrugged. "One of my boyfriends loved doing this during summer break."
Her mind was blank, unable to create a face —or a feeling— to the name that she had read in that little, blood splattered diary sitting in her bag.
"Damn," Miya whistled, a taunting sneer pulling at her lips. "Guess you were a real slut back in Kyoto, huh?"
Kaori took another whiff, handing the spliff to the girl seated beside her. She exhaled another cloud of gray, her lips curling into a lazy smile. "You say it like it's a bad thing, Miya-chan."
Miya snorted, throwing a pointed look the other way.
"Oi, Sakura. Make yourself useful and guard the door."
Sakura scuttled up quickly. Kaori watched the girl nearly stumble over her own two feet before she threw the door open, stepping out and softly closing it behind her.
"The real question is," Miya plucked the joint from an offered hand. She took another drag and fluttered her long lashes. "How you handle your liquor."
Kaori glanced at the pile of bags lying on the side. "You brought alcohol?"
"Nah," another said, "Miya-chan got elected for the student council."
A number of hoots followed, and Miya preened, puffing up her chest proudly. "After that perv teacher and that shitty prez died, they took me in prompto." She snapped her fingers, grinning widely. "Party at my house, girls!"
Cheers followed immediately, and Kaori shuffled onto her feet, throwing her bag over her shoulder as she stood up. Miya arched a brow.
"Where are you going?"
"Out." Kaori toed around the group of girls seated on the floor. She walked near the door, clutching the doorknob before pushing the metal door open. "I need fresh air."
Miya frowned, and Kaori stepped out on the pebbled door step, closing the door gently behind her.
"Sato-chan?"
Kaori peeked around the empty backyard, thumbing the strap of her bag before looking back at the wide eyes staring at her owlishly. "Isn't anyone going to find us here?"
"Erm, no." Sakura smiled meekly, holding her bag to her chest. "And even if they do, it's not like it's going to matter."
Kaori tipped her head to the side. "Why?"
"I mean, it's not like the teachers don't know." Sakura mumbled.
Kaori looked at her curiously. "They do?"
"Um, yeah?" Sakura looked sheepish, hugging the bag to herself. "They can't say anything, really."
Kaori looked thoughtful, nodding her head. Sakura dug into her bag, rummaging through her belongings while she babbled. "Why'd you come out here, Sato-chan? I thought you'd be into it."
"I… thought so as well." Kaori curled a hand around her wrist, thumb pressing over the web of veins under her sleeve. She shrugged. "But the taste is terrible."
Sakura's eyes swept over her, reassessing. "Do you feel high, Sato-chan?"
Kaori contemplated for a second, squeezing her wrist one final time. She reached up, touching the side of her face as she acquainted herself with the feeling of life in her body. Her heart thrummed steadily, matching the deep pulse of her blood pushing against her skin, against her fingertips. Her lungs filled with fresh air. Alive.
She smiled gently, shaking her head. "Not at all."
"Wow," Sakura giggled, continuing to rifle through her bag. "Guess you'd need a few more drags for that, huh? That's really cool!"
There was a rustle and a little pack of something green was held out between them. Kaori's eyes crossed for a second before she blinked down at the offered pack of gum.
Sakura grinned. "You might wanna chew on this now."
Kaori smiled thankfully. She plucked out a piece of gum from between Sakura's slim fingers and unraveled the foil, crumpling the wrapper into her fist before she pushed the little cube of green gum into her mouth.
She chewed slowly, tasting mint. "Do you keep this with you at all times?"
"Ah, Miya-chan always asks for it." Sakura answered honestly, pulling out a little glass bottle from within her bag. Kaori examined the light rosy liquid that sloshed within the glass while Sakura held it up, smiling. "It's so you don't smell like weed later."
Kaori squeezed her eyes shut, nose wrinkling because of the strong scent of vanilla when Sakura puffed a hefty amount of perfume all over her clothes.
A look of amusement flickered across her face. "Is this your favorite scent, Sakura-chan?"
"This?" Sakura asked in surprise. She pocketed the bottle in her messenger bag, tugging up the zipper. "I mean, yeah, it's sort of my favorite? Miya-chan likes it too so it's a win for both of us, I guess."
Kaori hummed, peering across the empty corridors as the afternoon sun casted streaks of waning lights across them. She glanced back at Sakura, smiling when she caught her staring and Sakura quickly looked away, face warm.
"You never answered my question," Kaori said, clear and abrupt. "Now did you?."
Sakura peeked back at her, puzzled. "What question?"
"When I asked you why you do all of this, Sakura-chan."
Sakura paused, hugging the bag tighter to herself. "Wh-what do you mean?"
"This." Kaori gestured to the bag in Sakura's arm, popping the green bubblegum between her teeth before she glanced back to the shed. Loud, giddy feminine laughter echoed from inside it. "Why do you do all of this?"
Sakura held her tongue, staring down at the pebbled footpath.
"It's… it's…" Her fingers tightened into the soft fabric of her bag before she glanced back up, ostensibly cheerful. "It's because that's what friends do."
"So you do everything that your friends tell you to do?" Kaori tilted her head to the side, coolly meeting Sakura's nervous stare. "Even when you don't want to?"
Sakura flinched. "It's… not like that, Sato-chan."
"You don't seem like that type of a person, Sakura-chan." Kaori's eyes swept over her pale, fearful face. "Letting people walk all over you."
Sakura held her breath and Kaori poked the gum to the side of her cheek, inhaling softly. "Friends aren't supposed to be like that, yes?"
Sakura swallowed thickly, staring back at her and Kaori licked the back of her teeth, holding the air in her lungs.
"So why don't you tell me the real reason, hm?"
Crimson smoke wafted past glossy lips. Thick clouds of carmine quietly curled around them and Kaori whiffed the air, smiling because of the scent of fresh peppermint while Sakura's jaw slackened, her eyes becoming glassy.
Sakura teetered closer, pressing her nose against Kaori's shoulder. Well, Kaori held her steady, glancing down at the girl as Sakura's lashes fluttered, her gaze soft and adoring. I suppose vanilla wasn't your favorite after all.
"Sakura-chan, if you love me. " Kaori smiled kindly.
Her fingers gently pressed against Sakura's back, running up her spine coaxingly, and Sakura nuzzled her shoulder, eyelids falling shut.
"Then please tell me the truth."
.
.
.
.
.
Sakura's eyes were misty. There was a sheen in them as Kaori listened to the girl carefully. She stared, growing awfully quiet as the words fell from Sakura's mouth, uncontrolled and unchecked, like spilling all of your secrets to a lover on a soft, warm bed while a howling snowstorm rumbled outside.
Kaori's gut twisted up like someone was wringing the water out of it.
She glanced back at the shed door, frowning deeply when the sugary gum in her mouth began to taste like copper.
"Sakura-chan," she mumbled. "I'll have to leave now."
Sakura instantly clung to her arm, stepping up on her toes to stare at her with wide, dazed eyes.
"P-please, don't leave me, Sato-chan!" Tears gathered in her eyes and she sniffled loudly. "I can't live without you!"
"It's alright," Kaori said soothingly. She lifted a hand to pat Sakura's head and Sakura melted into the touch immediately. Kaori smiled, low and faint. "I'll meet you tomorrow. You just stay here and go home when everyone comes out, alright?"
"B-but—"
"You love me, yes?" Kaori started. Sakura nodded hurriedly, eyes glazed and cheeks flushed. Kaori slowly detached herself from the shorter girl. "Then please listen to what I told you."
Sakura withdrew sheepishly, holding her clasped hands together and Kaori shifted her weight to the other foot, walking towards the empty corridors.
She flattened the gum over the back of her teeth, blowing out a bright crimson bubble before it burst with a loud pop.
He was squatted down on the asphalt, picking at a discarded cigarette when footsteps neared him. A shadow fell over him, and Denji blinked up lazily, dark circles under his eyes like he hadn't slept for weeks.
Kaori smiled at him, and he got to his feet, rubbing his palms over his school pants.
"Would you like to visit the cafe again?" She offered, sounding excited. "My treat, of course."
Denji's face lit up before he frowned, scratching his head. "Can't." He shrugged reluctantly. "I need 't get home early today."
"Oh." Kaori grew quiet, and he shrugged again. "Just didn't want ya thinkin' I stood ya up or anythin' so I stayed here to let ya know."
Her gaze softened. "That's sweet of you, Denji-kun."
His cheeks flushed, growing warm and Denji folded his arms behind his head, acting nonchalant. "Well, duh, 'm not an idiot."
Kaori peered around the parking lot, a few cars still parked around as groups of students made their way towards the gate.
"Do you have someone picking you up?" She asked.
"Hah?" Denji blinked. "Nah, I just walk home."
Kaori looked curious. "How long does it take you?"
"Eh, I dunno." He scratched the back of his head. "Thirty minutes, I guess?"
Kaori nodded, walking ahead. "I can drop you off if you like?"
"For real?" Denji's eyes widened. He shrugged up his bag, jamming his hands into his pockets as he fell in step with her, and Kaori smiled. "Of course."
The two walked ahead as Denji looked around searchingly, his gaze lingering over each and every car parked there. He couldn't quite remember the last time he had been in a car anyway. "Someone pickin' ya up again?"
"Ah, no."
Denji blinked in surprise when they halted by a bright, yellow scooter. He stared at it for a minute, squinting his eyes when the waning sunlight reflected brightly off its smooth surface.
Kaori fished out a little key from her bag, humming as she tugged the seat open. "I'll drop you off myself, of course."
His hand flattened over the smooth yellow surface, and Denji looked at the scooter in slight awe. "This really yours?"
"Yes," she tugged out an equally bright yellow helmet from within the seat, adjusting it around her head. "My mother convinced my father to buy it for me."
He glanced up at her, "yer dad?"
She nodded, clasping the helmet straps together under her chin before offering him a faint look of concern. "Sorry, but I only have one helmet."
"'S cool," Denji grinned, playfully thumping a fist to his head. "I've got a pretty thick skull anyway."
She snorted in answer, holding back the laughter that he really, really would've loved to hear. Kaori motioned for him to put his bag inside the seat as well and he promptly ripped the ragged messenger bag off his shoulder, dropping it inside with a faint thump.
Kaori hoisted over the seat, twisting the key into the ignition switch. Her hands furled over the handles, and she smiled amiably.
"Please sit down, Denji-kun."
The scooter dipped slightly under their combined weight once he plopped down behind her. Denji consciously kept his distance from her back, clasping the back of the metal bar with tight fingers.
She twisted back to look at him and he teetered back into the air so she wouldn't bump into him.
Kaori's brows scrunched in concern. "Aren't you going to grab hold, Denji-kun?"
For a moment, he did entertain the idea of looping his arms around her waist, his chest flattened against her back. The thought itself made blood rush to his face, and fuck, what if he got hard again? No way he'd be able to live that down in public—
"Nah, 'm good." He said coolly, keeping an aloof face.
She stared at him for a second, and Kaori turned to the front again. Denji realized that he could almost touch the ground with his feet as she backed the scooter away from between the two parked cars and was twisting the smooth black handles within her grasp.
The scooter purred under them, swaying slightly before they were driving out of the school parking lot.
Denji peered over the top of her helmet, glancing at the school gates.
"Just keep goin' down this road, yeah?"
She nodded, keeping her face to the front and Denji idly watched as they zipped through the traffic streets of Tokyo. The wind teased through his hair, ruffling his blond locks and he gripped the silver handle on the back of the soft seat, tipping his head all the way back to stare up at the cloudless afternoon sky.
"Denji-kun?"
He closed his eyes. "Yeah?"
"Is it true?" She asked, pausing briefly before she continued. "Did you eat that cat after saving it?"
"Hahhh?!"
Denji's spine snapped straight. He stared at the back of that bright yellow helmet with wide eyes before he scowled deeply. "Fuck, no! Why the hell would I eat a cat?!"
"That's what they said on the news," Kaori responded easily. Another brief pause followed, and she asked. "Would you, though?"
He stared at the back of her helmet in disbelief. "Eat a cat?"
She nodded, shoulders taut.
"No, never." Denji's frown deepened. "Those dumbasses just say whatever they want. I'd never eat a cat. Hell, I even own a cat!"
"...you do?"
"Yeah," Denji grunted, bitter. "I own a cat and, like, seven dogs. No way I'm gonna eat a pet, what the fuck."
"I see." Kaori said silently.
He looked at the back of her head, the wind whistling in her ears and he mumbled gruffly. "Ya scared 'm eatin' people cause I'm a devil or somethin'?"
"Not at all." There was a pleasant lilt in her tone, and he imagined her smiling.
"From what I've heard," Kaori spoke airily, like talking about the weather. "Human meat is the most delicious meat of all, yes?"
Denji chewed the insides of his cheeks. Bowls of steamed meat, seasoned with everything Aki had taught him flickered behind his eyes. His stomach churned, and he remembered sitting by the toilet of his empty apartment— holding back the surge of vomit in his throat as he thought about ringed golden irises and the delectable taste of devil flesh in his mouth.
Makima hadn't been human. Perhaps that's why he had a hard time digesting her. The first few bites of her flesh had his stomach twisting, urging him to throw up all over the carpet and he had forced it back down because he'd have to eat it all up again. He couldn't let her regenerate.
It had been an act of pure love.
He didn't know if human meat was delicious or not. But devil meat was something he didn't really want to consume again.
"'S not that good," he grumbled, stretching his legs as they passed by a sign. "It was a one time thing anyway."
Kaori hummed, acknowledging his words, and Denji snorted. The corners of his lips curled, and he raised a brow in mischief. "I ain't gonna eat ya or anythin', if that's what yer worried about."
She laughed. Denji puffed up his chest proudly, grinning when she smiled and they halted in front of a traffic light.
Seafoam eyes flitted to a couple walking on the sidewalk, their arms linked together and faces warm. A little toddler hopped past them, tackling into the waiting arms of his mother as he laughed heartily.
The hint of a smile touched her lips.
"Perhaps," she hummed, seemingly content. "Eating someone like me wouldn't be the best idea."
His blond hair was completely tousled once they reached the apartment complex. Kaori yanked the seat open again, pulling out his bag while Denji stood beside her, running his hands through his messy hair and mussing it up even more.
Denji patted his head while she held his bag out to him. He grasped the fraying strap of his schoolbag, smiling toothily. "Thanks for the ride."
She beamed at him. "You're welcome!"
He slung the strap over his shoulder, watching as Kaori settled back on the scooter. She twisted the handles again, the engine purring to life once more.
"Uh," he looked up at his apartment thoughtfully. "Do you, uh…"
Things could go horribly wrong. Someone could potentially die. But—
"Kaori-san," he wet his lips, "do you, uh, wanna come over?"
Kaori looked up sharply and he slid his hands deep in his pockets, watching her eyes immediately brighten as she inched forward in her seat, eyes a little wide. "That's something friends do, yes?"
He looked at her in puzzlement. "Uh, yeah, I guess?"
Her lips curled into a smirk and she leaned her folded arms on the scooter handles.
"Are you going to eat me there, Denji-kun~?" She said teasingly.
Heat slithered up the back of his neck when her gaze dipped down his torso, below his waist, and his grip tightened around his bag strap because fuck, is she actually lookin' at my—
Kaori easily slipped off the scooter. She took the helmet off and hung it over the handles. He almost told her that it wasn't a good idea to leave the helmet in the open like that. The neighborhood was crappy and there was a big chance it might get stolen. She stepped beside him, hanging onto that bright yellow messenger bag of hers.
She smiled brightly. "Please lead the way, Denji-kun."
He could just show her Meowy, yeah. To prove that he wasn't going around gobbling up stray cats like some feral devil. Hopefully, this wasn't going to end with him cleaning off blood stains on the carpet of his cramped apartment. Hopefully.
"Okay, so." He said grimly the moment they reached the stairs. "There's some rules ya gotta follow in my home, aight?"
Kaori blinked, stepping beside him before the metal doors of the building.
"Rules?" She echoed back, and he nodded solemnly. "Yeah, ya gotta follow them no matter what 'cause if ya break one..."
Denji slashed his thumb across his throat, grimacing.
"Then ya might die."
A beat of silence passed between them before Kaori's brows creased and she nodded slowly. "Alright."
"Good." He nodded, holding a finger out. "Rule number one. No openin' any of the apartments doors here, except for mine."
Kaori glanced at the few doors before them. She nodded her head unsurely.
"Rule number two," Denji held out a second finger, clasping a doorknob with the other. "No openin' my fridge."
Her brows furrowed further, and Kaori dipped her head into another nod.
Denji pushed the door open, stepping inside the apartment, and motioned for her to follow. Kaori quietly stepped behind him, and he held out a third finger.
"Rule number three," he deadpanned. "No matter what, do not make out with me."
She stared at him flatly. There was a flicker of faint amusement in her eyes, and she bit back a snort, pressing her fingertips to her lips.
"That's quite unfortunate, Denji-kun," she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, feigning disappointment as she sighed wistfully. "And here I was, expecting a kiss from you."
Denji paused abruptly. He whirled around, eyes wide in stunned realization.
"Wait," he gaped, pointing to himself. "For real—?!"
A heavy body slammed into him.
Followed by another, then another. Kaori watched with vague fascination as a number of dogs pounced on the blond, trapping him from all sides as they happily licked his face while he wriggled underneath them.
"Oi!" He yelled, trying to get back up. "Cut it out already!"
She chewed her bottom lip, standing a little straighter when a few of them noticed her. Her spine stiffened and she took a step back as the dogs sniffed at her feet, ears standing alert on their heads and tails wagging gleefully behind them.
"They don't bite."
Her gaze snapped to the side. Denji sat on the floor, smiling toothily as the huskies nuzzled his shoulders. Kaori's eyes dipped down to the two dogs looking up at her expectantly, sniffing her ankles.
Her bottom lip trembled, and she remembered the words on fading pages. Crimson, and metallic. Reeking of old blood. Words she was supposed to abide by.
"I'm not…" she murmured, low and quiet. I'm not supposed to like dogs.
A dark furred one leaned his head against her thigh, peeking up at her with big, round eyes. She fisted the sides of her school skirt, pursing her lips in thought. Perhaps one time wouldn't hurt.
She gradually lowered herself on her knees, and slid her arms around the dog's neck, hugging it tightly.
Denji's lips tugged into a boyish smile.
"You're absolutely adorable," Kaori muttered, running her fingers through soft fur.
The huskies buzzed in excitement, sniffing her once again and Kaori laughed as they nuzzled her from all sides, barking gleefully as they crowded around her.
"Huh," Denji grinned faintly. "Guess they really love ya."
"I suppose they like my scent," Kaori laughed lightly. One of them lapped at her cheek, and she patted it gently, her lips tugging into a wide smile. "Ah, you're ruining my makeup."
From the corner of the room, socked feet stepped forward.
Seafoam blinked, peeking up in surprise and Denji quickly shuffled onto his feet, casually sliding his hands into his pockets.
"Kaori-san," he began carefully, glancing at her. "This is Nayuta."
There was a cat cradled in the little girl's arms. Bright, spiraling golden irises stared down at her, and her nose scrunched up in unbridled disgust.
The cat dropped from her arms, lazily stretching its lithe body on the floor and Nayuta lifted a sole finger in the air. A familiar silver bracelet hung from her thin wrist, catching the little sunlight slipping in through the crack of the open door behind them.
"Let me guess," she deadpanned. A deep scowl marred her face as she stared long and hard, her ominous gaze unsettling.
"It's her turn to kill you now?"
A/N: hehe. its been so long ive done a cliffhanger.
I have half a heart to do AU parts of this fic too,,,, like i really wanna do one where Kaori is in part one (because Makima~!) and it'll be fun too. i also wanna do a complete, separate fic with a focus on Asa (her backstory has me screaming, you guys.)
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING I HOPE YOU ALL ENJOYED~!