One above all

by Abusamadres-Sama

In 1977 Kishibe found a child among a massacre where a family used to live, he decides to take the child with him until he finds a new home. Meanwhile in another place the Control Devil learns that she must become someone perfect to get to the top and be someone who can achieve anything. And that means using people too.

24. Random bullshit go!

Chapter 24: This isn't even halfway there.

Disclaimer: Chainsaw does not belong to me; only Tatsuki Fujimoto can profit from his own work. This is just a fanfic in an alternate universe.

Great, let's get to the most exciting part of the story.

The responses to the comments!

Saint-Mj

Oh, well, anyway, I'll stick with what I said before. I can't help doing that because it comes naturally to me. Still, I'll try to improve in that aspect, but what can I say? I'm really good at writing internal dialogues; it's what I excel at.

Otaku Super BR

Of course, Hiro is going to meet the whole gang, it would be a sin if he didn't. However, there's still a long way to go for that, even though we're one step closer now since Hiro turns fourteen in this chapter. See you.

shake774

Wowowow, calm down, friend. No one is rewriting their own personality in this fanfiction; it's not my intention to base my personality on my OC. My own personality differs greatly from what I'm writing here, I can assure you of that because I also hate those kinds of fanfictions where writers self-insert into their own works. It's cringe, and it's something I try to avoid at all costs.

Although I can understand that you don't like angst, I tried to get rid of most of it in the first four chapters because I like to focus and get straight to the point mentioned in the summary. But to be honest, you'd have to check that for yourself by reading the other chapters, as well as getting a different perspective on the OC, which I doubt is what you imagine (at least you'd get a few surprises). But that always depends on each person; you might like it or not, and that's okay.

The main reason for this message was just to clarify that I don't base my personality on my OC. I find it one of the most pathetic tactics a writer can use when writing. I mean, do people really behave like OCs from Fanfiction? Good Lord... That would be very strange.

r6. fizzz

Thank you, and we're already close to chapter 25, so I'm looking forward to that lengthy review. I really enjoy those kinds of reviews.

Well, now to the more serious notes.

Notes: The chapter that you, the specialized audience, are about to witness is quite lengthy, so if you're just passing by, I recommend finding a comfortable place to read it. Grab some chips and soda to accompany you; trust me, it's very relaxing.

Although I think it might just be me, but with so many scenarios I've written, this seemed very lengthy to me.

It will depend on each of you to discover whether this feels forced or not. For my part, it's a bit forced, I think. Skipping 4 years when I've already laid many foundations for this story is a bit forced, just a bit, but it had to be done nonetheless.

Because I don't have any more ideas to include for 10-year-old Hiro, the rest of my ideas in my head encompass Hiro's life from age 14 onwards until he reaches 27, right in 1997 when the events of the manga begin.

And let me tell you that writing a 10-year-old is more challenging than you imagine, especially if one wants to make it as realistic as possible, considering how a young child would face these problems in real life, which didn't turn out as expected in the end, but well... They're anime kids, lol. One of you made a joke about why Hiro acted that way when he was only 10, but then remembered that they were manga kids and got over it.

You know what I mean, like how anime has us all accustomed to how protagonists should be portrayed if you want to tell an origin story. Although I, like many fanfic writers (and practically any writer), try to give their protagonists their own touch, one that they think would look great when depicted in words, and sometimes it's far from the established order.

For my part, I'm mostly proud of how I've written Hiro; many of you seem to like him, and it makes me happy because I know that for the moment, I'm taking him in the right direction. Despite the core of CSM fanfics being the same Chainsaw Man (the manga literally bears his name), people have managed to accept Hiro as if he were already another protagonist in that same universe, although that can always differ from person to person.

For my part, even though Hiro reaches the manga arcs, the main plot will always revolve around Denji and Pochita, and of course, Makima. But we will see how our current protagonist (Hiro) interacts with the others in those conflicts and how his presence had a significant impact on those around him, especially Makima.

So you can be sure that I won't leave Denji and his share of the spotlight behind; he will remain a key character in this work.

Finally, I wanted to say that this time, I won't leave final notes as I usually do at the end of each chapter; I'll provide more information in another clarification note.

These will be important so you don't miss interesting details about the upcoming arcs.

But think about this: it's pretty crazy when you analyze it closely.

Everything I told you about the life of 10-year-old Hiro didn't happen in just a week, XD. In Chapter 8, we started on a Thursday, in 9 to 14 on a Friday, in 15 to 18 on a Saturday, in 19 to 22 on a Monday, and 23 on a Tuesday (Take a look at your own cellphone calendars and search for September 1980, because curiously, Chapter 23 started on September 23, and Chapter 24, well, it's starting on September 24 too).

Damn, I don't know if I'm terrible at prolonging things or if I'm good at continuity. You tell me.

0O0O

September 24, 1980.

Makima didn't lie when she said they might not see each other every day; it was almost time to go home, and Hiro hadn't seen her all day.

His eyes were fixed on the library entrance as if he expected to see her walk in with that serene smile that could convey many meanings. She looking his every move closely, although he doubted he could spot her with the naked eye. Yet, he still held hope of being able to talk to her today.

Talking to Makima would make things more entertaining, and maybe he could learn something from her. After all, she had much more knowledge about devils than he did; she was probably an expert by now.

Being realistic, anyone was an expert compared to him, but he made an effort to keep his eyes open while reading a book with the idea that any knowledge would be crucial in the future.

Or at least that's what Kishibe had told him. Hiro still didn't believe that theory would help him in the future when practice should be the most important. He knew one couldn't function without the other, but that didn't make reading many pages with complex words any less tedious.

In any case, were these kinds of readings suitable for someone like him? He wanted to believe so.

Hiro resisted the urge to sigh in frustration; he felt like all of this was leading him nowhere. Most of the things in the library books weren't to his liking or interest. The most that had caught his attention was that book about devils information, but he didn't know where Dr. Yuna had put it. Still, he was very reluctant to touch it again, at least for a while.

He didn't want to be scolded again with death threats included.

"Seeing you like this brings back bad memories" Quanxi was by his side this time. She had free time in the afternoon, so she decided to accompany Hiro today, better than leaving him here alone compared to Kishibe, who didn't bother to escort him yesterday.

It was like an extra security measure for him because, despite everything being fine between him and Makima, there was no guarantee that he wouldn't get into trouble... again.

Danger lurked in various places, especially in a place like this.

Maybe Hiro would be talented in the future at recklessly getting into dangerous places; she could imagine it; that's how it all started.

"Why? Is it because you see me on the verge of fainting from boredom?" Hiro chuckled sarcastically.

Quanxi nodded "Exactly, I never liked this part of the tests, but in my time, we were always forced to learn everything in the books because at the end of each month, we had an exam that evaluated our acquired knowledge. That way, they could determine whether we were still fit to continue training or if they should discard us." She quickly clarified, not wanting to delve into those bitter memories.

Hiro made a disgusted sound "Please tell me you won't make me take an exam."

"I don't think so because we don't even know how to create a written exam" she shrugged.

Hiro felt relieved; the last thing he needed in his life was more exams.

He looked at the library entrance again, hoping for something relevant to happen. A tired sigh finally escaped him as he gave up the possibility of seeing Makima today.

Quanxi noticed this and gave him a understanding but amused look at the same time. "I guess you were hoping to see her again today."

Hiro looked at Quanxi, feeling his cheeks warm up a bit. "Is it that obvious?"

"You've glanced at the door like five times in the past hour. I'd say yes" Quanxi recalled how she had told Kishibe that at Hiro's age, many children often develop confusing feelings that they mistakenly attribute to other things. Hiro was on that path; she was pretty sure.

You didn't have to be very smart to see that in the long run, Hiro would have serious trouble getting Makima out of his mind, much more serious than he currently had.

If they took their friendship to something more, it could be very good... or very harmful.

What kind of lunatic would want to have a romantic relationship with a devil?

Probably only Hiro.

From the way they always looked at each other, anyone could see a very strange future between them.

Both were very obsessed with each other, but they wouldn't know the extent of it until it was too late.

Or well, at least that's what happens in romantic novels.

"I really hoped to be able to talk to her again, maybe all of this would be less boring and tedious" Hiro admitted.

"Hmm, probably... But don't worry, maybe you'll see her again tomorrow. It's not like she can go anywhere else after all."

Hiro wanted to believe Quanxi; that way, he might feel more relieved knowing that Makima was okay. At least he wanted to make sure of that.

But it wasn't so.

Hiro didn't see Makima all week.

0O0O

September 30, 1980.

Gradually, he was getting used to this kind of affection as the days went by. His heart didn't race like crazy as it did the first few times, his cheeks still turned red but with less intensity, the way he reciprocated affection was less forced, and overall, his nervousness had decreased considerably.

The only ones who hadn't gotten used to this were his bones.

Hiro was sitting in one of the library chairs, and Makima was sitting beside him in another. Currently, the Control Devil was attacking the poor boy with one of her most lethal techniques.

Crushing his bones through affectionate hugs.

"Could you be less intense?" Hiro suggested, making an effort to speak since the air barely reached his lungs.

She chuckled softly "Am I too strong for you?" She loosened her grip a bit, and Hiro instantly felt more comfortable. "Maybe you should learn to be more resilient."

"Maybe you should learn to control your strength..." Hiro rolled his eyes but smiled. "You really like hugs."

"It's because I haven't seen you in all these days" she buried her face in his neck, enjoying his scent. "Lately, everything feels more boring when you're not here."

Hiro blushed at that comment. He wanted to say the same thing but couldn't find the words at that moment. Perhaps the one who always speaks their mind first would leave the other speechless. In that case, he would make sure to be more direct next time.

Or he might backpedal.

"And what have you been learning?" Makima asked with interest. She had lowered her arms, breaking the hug, but she rested her head on his shoulder; it was very comforting for her.

Hiro felt his face heat up even more. "W-well, not much..." He couldn't explain why this made him even more nervous.

It was somewhat counterproductive now that both had revealed their true intentions. Wasn't it supposed to make them feel more comfortable with each other?

Or were there still more things to discover?

It was probably due to his considerable lack of female affection. Maternal love didn't count because it was different, and Quanxi's affection was... Well, it was something strange that was hard to explain. At least he knew she cared about him.

Hiro had never imagined how difficult it would be not to get nervous around a girl, especially if that girl constantly sought physical contact like Makima.

Until he met Makima, he didn't know what it was like to spend so much time with someone of the opposite sex.

(N/A: Average LoL player)

Until now, he had become more accustomed to the presence of male friends; well, he only had one, but it had been like that for three years until he met her. He could feel the most significant differences between a male friend and a female one.

Did having a girl as a friend always mean more physical contact?

Or could it vary?

In any case, did it mean something at least?

Or were they just women being women?

Wait... could that be considered a sexist thought?

Women...

For Hiro, this was a difficult topic to understand. He thought it might be a good idea not to try to figure out how the female mind worked, at least for now.

At this moment, it was best to keep his composure. The best hunters were those who always managed to stay sane in the worst situations.

"Really?" by Makima's tone of voice, she seemed surprised as she looked at the stack of books on the table. Some were open as if they had been recently flipped through.

She tried to see Hiro from her position. "But it looks like you've checked out a lot of the content here."

Hiro laughed nervously. "Hehe... Well, let's just say... This type of reading isn't my thing."

"Hmmm, and what do you like to read then?" Makima asked with curiosity and a smile.

So, could they finally start talking about more normal topics between friends? It was a very important start if Hiro remembered that they had never had the chance to talk about trivial matters before.

Until now.

"I really like science fiction stories" Hiro said, trying to look at her from his position, which was complicated.

"Science fiction? But that's equally or even more complex than what you have here" Makima pointed to the pile of books on the table, now both curious and confused.

Hiro laughed, knowing that his answer was somewhat counterproductive. "Well, you're not wrong. Let's say I find it easier to understand science fiction stories because they are entertaining."

Makima had moved away from him and sat properly in her chair, but the proximity was still considerable as she kept all her attention on him. "But this is entertaining too" she argued as she picked up another book and opened it to reveal its content as if it were some irrefutable evidence.

Hiro was having fun. "I can't say the same. You see, Makima, the reason I prefer other kinds of reading is that science fiction or fantasy stories are much more enjoyable for me, even though many of them can be very complex. And if I'm entertained while reading something interesting, then complexity isn't a problem for me" he tried to give his best explanation.

Makima tried to break down his words. "So basically, you're saying that it's easier for you to read science fiction stories because they are more entertaining or have an interesting premise?"

Hiro knew that summarizing his explanations wouldn't be a problem for Makima "Yes, for example, since nothing here entertains me..." He pointed an accusing finger at the piles of books, and it seemed as if the books were also looking at him with hatred "I can't understand anything they say because if they don't have something interesting, I can't keep up with the reading and I just end up getting bored... Which eventually also leads to less interest" Hiro hoped he had made himself clear.

Basically, demonology was garbage. He wouldn't recommend it to anyone, not even as a last resort.

Well, actually, it's not like you could recommend that in the first place.

Or could you? The world was attacked by devils every day. How weird would it be to find a child reading advanced demonology in the school library?

He was an example right now, and he realized it a bit late.

Makima looked at the book in her hands thoughtfully. "I see... So, does that also mean you haven't learned anything?" She didn't need to look up to know that he now seemed nervous.

"Y-yes" Hiro admitted with embarrassment.

It seemed she had been right. She looked at him with an amused smile for a moment, appreciating how cute he looked.

"Have they at least told you what you should study?" she asked.

"They told me I should learn as much knowledge as possible over the next four years, so I always try to find something entertaining or useful for the future. But it hasn't worked so far, and I think it never will" he frowned, thinking that being a researcher like Dr. Yuna wasn't as fun or interesting a job as he had imagined before.

That would explain why she always seemed in such a bad mood. He couldn't blame her.

Would it be a good idea to invite her for coffee to talk about their problems? That way, both could agree that demonology and research weren't as great as they had initially thought.

That would probably end with her pointing at him as one of her problems.

"Would you like me to explain it to you?" Makima suggested, feeling excited about the idea.

"YES!" Hiro responded, perhaps a bit louder than usual. He cleared his throat and composed himself. "I mean, y-yes, if you'd be so kind..."

This was the moment he had been waiting for, to have an expert help him understand all the things he needed to learn from those damn books capable of killing anyone out of boredom.

Kishibe and Quanxi rarely stayed with him, and their presence didn't help much despite what he had initially believed. Dr. Yuna was out of the question, mainly because she seemed to want nothing to do with him.

So, Makima was his only salvation.

'God bless you, Makima... Wait, saying that wouldn't be detrimental to her, would it?' Again, the most unnecessary questions were forming in his head.

Makima chuckled softly, interrupting her thoughts. "Of course, I will, as long as it's you, I can gladly do it" she replied as straightforwardly as she liked.

Hiro blushed again and looked down in embarrassment. "Th-thanks."

Makima opened the book and began reading some paragraphs, pausing at times to explain certain details. Hiro's attentive gaze remained fixed on her, and he even smiled foolishly as if he were hypnotized.

They spent the rest of the day this way, with Makima reading and explaining whatever was necessary, and Hiro listening attentively, nodding along.

But Hiro never understood any of the things Makima said; it left him more confused than before. He still couldn't grasp the theory.

However, just being with her was enough to make this day more enjoyable. He never made a mistake in assuming that, and she seemed very happy while trying to explain everything he didn't understand. He never asked her to stop for that reason.

If only he could experience moments like this more often.

0O0O

October 1980.

"So, can you do martial arts now?"

"Nope"

"Can you use knives?"

"Only if we're talking about using them in the kitchen."

"At least, can you shoot a gun?"

"...Umm, no?"

"What does that mean?"

"Nothing?"

"..."

"..."

"Tell me you've at least done something in this past week."

"Yes."

"..."

"..."

"Then!?"

"Oh, did you want to know more?"

"Of course, why else would we be having this conversation!?"

"Well, I've been reading..."

"And what else?"

"Hehehe, well... just that."

"What!? You've spent your time just reading!?"

"Yeah... Let's just say it didn't have the most pleasant start."

"That's very disappointing, don't take offense, I'm just being honest."

"I know, I mean, I wanted to cry when they told me it would be like this for the first four years."

"And for four years!? Let me tell you, that's a pretty dumb origin story... I don't think you can brag about that to anyone."

"You're probably right. Supposedly, they want to do it this way so I don't go through hell while I'm still young, but if I'm honest, I'd rather train until I drop than spend another hour reading in that library... At least, she makes everything less boring."

"She?"

"Oh, umm, nobody, forget it, I was just rambling."

"Hmm."

"Hehe..."

"Takahashi, Inoue, be quiet!"

Both kids shuddered at their teacher's reprimand. "Y-yes, ma'am!" they replied in unison, not wanting to get into trouble.

Being sent to the principal's office would be very embarrassing.

Lunchtime had already passed, so it was almost time to go home. Throughout the day, Hiro had been trying to avoid Kenji's curious questions; he wanted to spare himself the embarrassment of admitting that he had only been reading during his "first phase" of training. In the end, he failed miserably, but it went better than he expected.

And the fact that he almost let slip the detail of Makima's existence reminded him that he had to be more careful; he couldn't afford to be careless.

An hour later, both boys were at the exit, with the rest of the children running toward freedom, escaping from this maximum-security prison called school.

But hey, at least they had toilet paper in the bathrooms.

"It's very likely that in four years, I'll see you with a lot of bruises every time you come to school," Kenji joked, imagining how Hiro would look in a training process that involved combat.

Hiro was walking beside him and looked at him with amusement. "I'd prefer that to reading all day. I already have enough with reading the pages of science books" Just thinking about the essays he have to finish for next week gives him goosebumps.

But he preferred not to think about that now; today, he wanted to have fun.

Hiro had told Kishibe not to pick him up from school today because he was going to Kenji's house to play.

Well, in reality, the term 'house' was inadequate in this case; it was a damn mansion worth millions of yen that Hiro still couldn't fathom how big it really was.

And the reason why it was so much fun to go there was that Kenji's parents had built a small amusement park in their garden, in their own home! Hiro didn't think twice the first time Kenji invited him to play at his house. He had mentioned that his parents had money, but he never imagined they were that wealthy.

He didn't try to make too much sense of how they could build an amusement park just for him; it was millionaire stuff.

Also, unlike him, Kenji didn't go home by car; no, he went in a luxury limousine.

Kenji opened the car door for himself, leaving it open for Hiro to get in on his own. Both boys sat in the comfortable seats, and Hiro marveled, as always, at the luxuries of the upper class.

In fact, he felt very insignificant sitting here. Damn, he should definitely drink more milk to learn how to grow.

"Good afternoon, young master Inoue. I imagine it went as well as always. Oh? Oh, young Takahashi, good to see you again" greeted their personal chauffeur, an older man with gray hair and round glasses.

"Hello!" Hiro greeted politely but with great excitement.

"Good afternoon, Masato" Kenji greeted with a bit more composure and refinement, a demeanor he only showed in moments that required it.

Hiro was amazed at how he could switch from being outgoing to calm and courteous in a moment's notice. Probably, being destined to be part of the upper class, he had to learn to act like one of them.

But he had the freedom to choose when to be like that and when not to.

"Hiro and I are going to play again. We're going to try out the new modification to the roller coaster" Kenji replied, earning Hiro's starry-eyed approval.

"Yes!"

"Understood, young master. In that case, there's no time to waste." The limousine finally moved forward, leaving the school grounds.

Hiro and Kenji spent the rest of the trip chatting about trivialities because, for the moment, there was nothing more relevant to say about Hiro's training. It was best to focus on other things so it wouldn't be so difficult to hide the fact that he had become friends with a demon girl.

But Hiro was very sure of one thing when he finally saw the enormous Inoue family mansion with his own eyes...

Being friends with a rich kid had many benefits.

0O0O

October 17, 1980.

"Makima, how keen is your sense of smell?" Hiro asked with clear curiosity.

The red-haired girl lowered the book she was holding, her yellow eyes gazing at him for a moment. "Very keen" she replied, touching her nose with a finger as if to emphasize it.

"But how keen, exactly?"

The girl hummed for a moment, thinking about how to give him an example, and a rather unpleasant memory quickly resurfaced in her mind.

"Keen enough to detect that you were sprayed with a public safety repellent" she explained with a slight tone of disgust.

Hiro raised an eyebrow, not understanding. "Eh? What do you mean?

That they sprayed him with repellent? When would something like that occur?

"Do you not know what a public safety repellent is?" Although she already knew the answer, Makima couldn't help but laugh at Hiro's puzzled expression.

"No."

"There are repellents capable of blocking a human's scent, and those given to hunters who have excelled in their duties can block their scents from devils. Although this can vary, for some demons, it's not effective, while for others, it works very well, and sometimes it only confuses them" Makima explained briefly.

Makima was thankful that she had escaped the sensation of Hiro's scent trying to be blocked by a repellent. She could only achieve this by getting closer to him and breathing in his normal, unaltered aroma, without anything to hinder her recognition.

If she ever came across the bottle containing the liquid that had blocked Hiro's essence, she would destroy it with her own hands. She didn't want to go through an experience like that again. Hiro's scent was supposed to have a calming effect on her, to reassure her that he was nearby, but instead a repellent would only infuriate her, making Hiro someone uncomfortable to be around.

"That's what happened to you" Makima said, looking at Hiro with a grimace. "The repellent they used on you made your scent more uncomfortable to breathe, but it didn't completely hide it because I could still sense a touch of familiarity in it, but that didn't make it any less unpleasant..."

Hiro fell silent, contemplating her explanation. A repellent? They sprayed him with it?

Wait a moment...

"Makima, when exactly did you sense that?" Hiro asked suspiciously.

Makima was settling back into her chair and turned her attention back to the book. "It was the second time we met, the day you were accepted to... become a hunter" Makima spoke somewhat quickly, wanting to change the subject and not awaken another unpleasant memory.

Hiro didn't say anything more, but the revelation was now crystal clear in his mind, along with a great irritation directed toward one of the hunters who was supposed to train him.

0O0O

Later that day, Hiro was giving Kishibe strange looks while they were in the car on their way home.

Kishibe glanced at Hiro a couple of times, unsure why the boy was suddenly eyeing him with such animosity.

"Is something wrong?" he asked cautiously, not sure what was going on in the boy's mind.

Hiro didn't avert his gaze from him; his left eye was twitching slightly. "If you ever spray me with a repellent without my permission again, I will throw all your alcohol bottles in the trash."

Oh.

Crap.

Kishibe felt a shiver run down his spine. "You wouldn't dare..."

"Try me" Hiro challenged with a sinister smile.

Kishibe wasn't going to take that risk.

0O0O

October 31, 1980.

Halloween was a very special day, not because Hiro went out trick-or-treating or anything like that, but there was something unique about this day that made the atmosphere feel more eerie and perfectly suited to the holiday.

It was as if this day made any place he went to feel creepier, and that included the apartment where he lived.

Since typically on this day, monster themes were what you'd commonly see everywhere, that also meant that the general fear factor skyrocketed abruptly. It was not uncommon for many devil hunters to enjoy their Halloween by killing dozens of devils born on this day out of fear of various monsters people dressed up as.

Kishibe and Quanxi described it as Christmas for hunters; everything became twice as fun. But only they could say that, as they were among the few who enjoyed killing devils recklessly.

Hiro liked this day for a particular reason. Combined with the eerie atmosphere, Kishibe and Quanxi would be working and having their own kind of fun all night, which gave him free rein to use the living room TV and watch horror movies all night.

"Let's see, two bags of chips, two sandwiches, a soda can, and my blankets to hide under if something scares me... Yep, I definitely have everything to spend the night. How about you?" Hiro asked Kishibe as they stood by the door, the boy wrapped in his blankets and feeling very comfortable.

"Let's see, knives, firearms, swords, my three devils, and my hip flask in case I want to get drunk and drown my sorrows... Yep, I have everything too. See you later, have fun kid" Kishibe said as he walked out the door, leaving Hiro alone at last.

"This night is going to be so much fun!" he exclaimed with excitement as he rushed to turn on the TV. Under the cabinet was a VHS player along with a few cassettes of various American horror movies and some from their own territory.

But if they asked him, he preferred Western content; it had a magical touch he couldn't quite describe.

It was ironic for him to be so excited about watching horror movies when they had recently done everything to scare him to the point of wanting to take his soul out. He was still getting used to Makima appearing out of nowhere in front of him; it was still very eerie.

But the point of horror movies was that they were pure fiction, and from a critical perspective, a form of art. The exciting part was getting scared, that's what made it fun... even if it might give him nightmares later. But that made it twice as enjoyable, and probably much more immersive if he thought about it in detail.

Many had other ways to enjoy Halloween; this was Hiro's way, and it was very enjoyable, something more people should indulge in more often.

As he sat on the couch with all his stuff ready for a long night, Hiro turned on the TV after selecting the right movie. However, a curious thought suddenly crossed his mind.

'What would it be like to spend a movie night with Makima?'

0O0O

Noviembre 1980.

"Someone... Please just kill me already," Hiro pleaded, seeking help from some cosmic being or anything that would take him out of this situation.

"Well, the first year isn't even over yet and you're already asking for your suffering to end. That should at least happen in the second year," Kishibe spoke with a hint of indifference as he took another puff of his cigarette.

Hiro had the sudden urge to throw all the books off the table and kick them until they were unrecognizable. "This is so absurd!" he yelled, more frustrated than angry. "I'm not learning anything from this; in fact, I feel like my mind is filled with so much unnecessary information that I've run out of space in my brain. If I keep this up, I'll have to forget something else just to make room, if that's even possible! AT THIS RATE, I'M GOING TO FORGET MY PARENTS' NAMES!" He pulled his hair emphasizing how irritated he was at the moment.

It's just... Jesus, so far, all he had accomplished was finishing the first batch of books from one of many shelves in the library. It had taken him two months, two months in which he hadn't found anything interesting that would help him in the long run as a hunter. It was a considerable waste of time. The best thing he had learned so far was when he accompanied Kishibe and Quanxi to work that one time, and even then, he still had many unanswered questions that weren't addressed at the time, with the hope of learning more another day.

But that was a long time ago, and since then, he hadn't been invited to accompany others to work.

"Will you take me with you again someday?" Hiro asked, now a bit calmer as he stretched his arms over the table and rested his head.

Kishibe didn't pay him much attention as he looked up at the ceiling, continuing to inhale his cigarette. Hiro coughed a bit from the accumulating smoke around him. "Probably, but if we take you too often, it might raise eyebrows."

"I thought you said you didn't care about that" Hiro argued, waving his hand in front of him to clear the smoke away from his face.

"Well... I don't, but if people see us taking a kid to work with us every day of the week, they might start to view it as inappropriate."

"It is inappropriate."

"What I mean is if someone sees you with us at work more frequently and so close to danger, they might start to issue some kind of warning, and then we'd have to give a long explanation along with unnecessarily lengthy reports on why it's necessary," Kishibe explained with a little white lie.

Of course, he wanted to avoid all the paperwork for now. What he really didn't want was for the higher-ups to focus on Hiro more than necessary. They were aware of his existence and had accepted it with indifference. But he wanted to spare the boy from having to meet those fossils at such a young age. It wasn't necessary, at least not for now.

They would leave the child much more traumatized... But Hiro was quite certain that the day he met the higher-ups, interesting things were going to happen. Probably, a discussion similar to the one he had with Yuna would unfold, but it would be better to save that for when he was older. The child wouldn't stand a chance against them; they would crush him in the blink of an eye.

It was better for him to enjoy this kind of peace while he was still young. The frustration of reading wouldn't compare to the frustration he would experience when he became a hunter.

Hiro clicked his tongue. "So this is a lost cause" he banged his head on the table with force, drowning in his own sorrows, although he quickly regretted it due to the impact on his forehead.

"Relax, the year is almost over, and with it, your first year of training" Kishibe tried to cheer him up.

"Training in quotation marks; this is still not very helpful" Hiro expressed his discontent with the books once again. The hope of learning something had vanished.

"Someday it will be."

"No, it won't!"

"Yes, it will."

"Alright, tell me, how does learning 'Primary and Secondary Sources: Identifying texts considered reliable sources of information about demonology and how they differ from less reliable sources in the world' help me'!?" Hiro questioned harshly, showing the book in his hands with the same title.

"That... I don't think it will help you precisely; I believe that's more for a researcher's work," Kishibe began to consider that maybe it was a bad idea not to review what he gave Hiro to read.

"SEE?! The things in here aren't even for me!" his hands were trembling.

Kishibe searched through the pile of books for something, anything that could calm the boy down for a while. Suddenly, his eyes caught a book with an interesting title, and he showed it to Hiro, who seemed on the verge of committing a hate crime against him. "How about this one?"

Hiro read the title.

Legends and Folklore.

'Exploration of popular legends and folklore related to devils in the fictional and real world, including popular stories about heroes who faced these malevolent beings.'

"That sounds... much more interesting than the rest of the things I've found so far" Hiro carefully took the book and flipped through the first page, and Kishibe noticed that he had finally managed to lower his intensity.

It was strange to see Hiro so intense, but he could understand him perfectly. He himself would get like that at his age when he had to read too much; he would prefer to shoot himself in the head than spend another second with a book in his hand. But at the end of the day, he knew perfectly well that there was always something interesting for someone among that pile of books, it's just that Hiro was taking his time finding it, just like everyone else.

He would never understand how Yuna didn't fall asleep reading these things.

"Well, this will do for now" Hiro commented while not taking his eyes off the book. "Anecdotes often serve as a replacement for the more interesting stories"

"I told you"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say" Hiro waved his hand. "By the way..." he looked up this time "What was your name? I had to forget your name to make more space in my brain"

Kishibe didn't say anything, just chuckled, knowing that Hiro would be entertained for the rest of the year, at the very least. The first year of the eighties was coming to an end, and everyone could say that this was the year of many changes.

"What's so funny?" Hiro asked with a blank look.

0O0O

November 1980.

Hiro sat near the window of his room, in his hands was the family portrait of him and his parents.

He held it delicately, not wanting to damage it in any way, his eyes scanned the two people who brought him into this world with melancholy.

He still missed them.

He would always miss them.

However, as the months and years passed, the memories of his parents gradually became more blurred, which scared him. He didn't want to forget any important moments he had shared with them. That's why whenever he could, he looked at the portrait again to at least not forget their faces.

He missed his mom so much.

"Hiro, wake up, it's time for school" a woman's voice made the six-year-old boy slowly open his eyes.

The boy managed to raise his lower half in bed and rubbed one of his eyes while the woman sat down beside him, looking at him with affection and sweetness, appreciating how cute her son always looked when he woke up.

He was even cuter when he looked annoyed about it.

"Mommy... I'm still sleepy" Hiro grumbled while pouting.

The woman chuckled, "I know, I know, but today is Friday, so you're closer to the weekend" She put a finger on her chin while pretending to think seriously. "How about we go to the park tomorrow and play on the rides you like? Would you get up early just for that?"

Any trace of drowsiness magically disappeared. "Yes, yes, I want to go! I promise I'll get up early" Hiro said with great joy reflected on his face as he quickly ran to the bathroom.

Hiro's mother chuckled softly, knowing perfectly well that the things that made her son happy were enough to get him out of bed.

The memory flashed through Hiro's mind automatically, one of the memories where he could remember his mother most clearly; her voice and her face were vivid there.

In the others, he could barely make out that the woman he remembered was indeed his mother. He just had to remember her face one more time, and the memory would become clearer.

Hiro also missed his father very much.

In the backyard of a house, there was a six-year-old boy putting the finishing touches on a masterpiece.

"Daddy, Daddy!" six-year-old Hiro called out enthusiastically as snow fell on his head. "Look, I finished the snowman!"

Hiro proudly presented his version of a snowman to his father; it was small, barely two sizable snowballs serving as the body. Hiro had told him that he was willing to do it on his own this time and didn't need his help, so it wasn't surprising that the snowman didn't get past the first meter.

A branch and two rocks served as the nose and eyes, respectively, along with two longer branches for the arms, but these last two didn't quite match in size and color.

His father looked at the snowman with interest. "Hmm."

"What do you think!? It looks amazing, doesn't it? I hope they let me keep it here as a monument!" Hiro said proudly.

"Well... I definitely don't think you can make a living as an artist" his dad replied honestly.

Perhaps too honestly.

Hiro felt indignant. "Hey, it's a work of art no matter how you look at it!" He approached the snowman and hugged it almost protectively. "It's made with a lot of effort and dedication!"

His dad chuckled as he watched his son try to defend his snowman. "I think you're right; it's probably a work of art that I can't understand" he said as he knelt down to be at Hiro's eye level.

Hiro crossed his arms. "Exactly!"

"I'm not an expert..." he tilted his head while smiling "But I think it can be improved. Here" he took off his own scarf, feeling the cold on his neck.

But he ignored it.

He put the scarf around what seemed to be the snowman's neck, then did the same with his own hat and placed it on the snowman's head.

"That's it, now it looks better" his dad said, almost the same way Hiro presented his snowman.

With a pride that was hard to explain.

"Hmm, it's acceptable" Hiro said, accepting that the snowman now looked much more presentable.

"You're lucky your father didn't study art, or we wouldn't have anything to eat" they both knew they weren't experts, but they did their best in this subject.

Both of them needed Mom; for some reason, she was an expert at making snowmen.

"That reminds me, your mother should have hot chocolate ready by now. Are we going?" his dad asked with a smile, knowing what his only son's answer would be.

Hiro's eyes seemed to light up. "Yes, hot chocolate, let's go right now!"

Hideki Takahashi could only smile at the image of his son running to the kitchen of their house.

The memory of his father passed in the same way, fast and almost ephemeral, avoiding many details along the way. But the central feeling was there... A happy moment.

Happy moments he spent with his parents during their last months of life. It had been three years since then, and it was a lie to say that Hiro had gotten used to not having them.

No one in the world could, no one.

But he had to move on anyway; it's what they would have wanted for him.

Looking at the portrait made Hiro feel happy and sad at the same time; it was inevitable not to be flooded with happy but also painful memories.

Today, it was more bearable, but the feeling of tightness in his chest hadn't completely disappeared.

He wanted his parents more than anything in the world.

He looked out the window once more, leaving the photo on his desk, and it was there that Hiro noticed something important outside.

He could see the first snowflake sticking to the window.

0O0O

December 22, 1980.

"How do you celebrate Christmas, Makima?"

The girl stopped looking out the huge window to face her friend. In front of them, the city known as Tokyo was covered in a thick blanket of white snow.

"Christmas?" she asked, not quite understanding.

"Yes, Christmas," Hiro repeated, smiling. "You do know... what Christmas is, right?"

Makima looked back out the window. "I have a general idea of how that celebration works" she replied calmly, not sure where this conversation was going.

Hiro also admired the city view from one of the large windows of the training center. It was definitely a great spot to have a panoramic view of the city. It wasn't as high as the building where he lived, but it served its purpose.

The city looked beautiful at this time of year.

"So, do you celebrate it?"

"No" Makima answered with such sincerity that it surprised Hiro.

"What? Seriously?" Hiro was initially confused but quickly composed himself as he understood.

"Oh, right..."

He didn't like understanding it, but he accepted it anyway because in this case, there wasn't much he could do for her. It's not like the others would let him do much to show Makima how fun Christmas could be. Besides, she didn't seem to care at all.

He, along with Kishibe and Quanxi, used to celebrate Christmas and New Year's by going out to eat at some restaurant with the city's best food. It was more than enough for the three of them.

Makima, on the other hand, didn't celebrate Christmas in any way because she wasn't allowed to, and she didn't seem interested in the slightest.

Perhaps it was because she had never experienced it in the first place, so she couldn't get excited about it like he did. It was a bit sad but understandable at the same time.

Maybe someday he could teach her.

Someday.

Yes, the idea of spending Christmas with Makima didn't sound like a bad idea at all.

Suddenly, a hand found his gripping it tightly and even intertwining their fingers, feeling her cold skin against his.

Hiro felt his face turn completely red.

He looked at Makima, seeking an explanation for her recent action. She wasn't looking at him because apparently, the city view was much more captivating this time. However, she seemed to sense his gaze and demanded answers.

"It's cold."

Makima acted in this almost brazen and sudden way that he felt he would never get used to.

But it was cute.

0O0O

August 15, 1981.

"I know what you're thinking," Kishibe sat down next to Quanxi at their table and looked at Hiro with a furrowed brow.

"And what's that?"

"You're imagining what it would be like to celebrate this day with her" Kishibe said, flaunting Hiro's possible thoughts.

"Is it a crime to do so?"

"It's weird. Why do you like to think about things that can't happen?"

Hiro rolled his eyes. "Stop trying to pry into my thoughts. Besides, they're just intrusive thoughts. They may or may not become reality. There's nothing wrong with imagining a different world from time to time."

Kishibe sighed, running a hand over his face. "Just... make it less obvious next time. It's very frustrating."

Quanxi was looking between the two of them. "Don't let those thoughts bother you, kid, especially on this day" she said catching Hiro's attention.

He rubbed his arm. "I know, I just think it would be nice if she were here too. It would make it more special" he blushed after saying that.

"Someday, maybe when she can make decisions for herself," Quanxi knew that once Makima turned twenty, she and Hiro would be more than capable of making their own choices.

To put it in a better way, they would be free to do as they pleased.

"Let's stop thinking about her for once" Kishibe spoke, trying to push out of his mind the fact that someday (probably) he would have to forcibly coexist with the control devil, all because Hiro wanted it that way.

"Let's go" he got up from the table and headed for the door. "There's a birthday to celebrate."

The last thing they needed was to get tangled up again in the topic of Makima and her possibilities of celebrating different holidays with Hiro.

And certainly not on Hiro's birthday.

0O0O

February 14, 1982.

Hiro sat on the couch, watching television and feeling uninspired to do anything on this day. It's not like he could do much to begin with.

Valentine's Day was probably the most neutral celebration for him. He couldn't celebrate it, but he also didn't feel bad for not doing so. It's not like he had a partner to celebrate it with, and it's not like he was allowed to have one. In school, the teacher had told everyone that it was advisable to wait at least until adolescence before starting to think about serious relationships.

No one understood why they suddenly brought up that topic, and Hiro was pretty sure that the only thing on his class's mind right now was eagerly waiting for the school day to end.

Although sometimes it could vary depending on gender.

The girls in his class tended to talk about totally incomprehensible things that no boy would understand; it was almost like a different language, he was pretty sure of that.

The boys, on the other hand, usually talked about understandable things like sports, music, movies, things Hiro could understand and sometimes join in the conversation about.

Some of them even talked about how they still couldn't get over the fall of Constantinople since 1453, which was understandable.

So, yeah, the last thing on their minds right now was trying to get into a serious relationship with someone else.

Hiro hoped he wasn't the only one in his class who thought that way. He didn't want to feel like the only one with reasoning in the place.

Plus...

The apartment door slammed open, and Hiro didn't turn to see who had entered. Heavy and dragged steps followed, and a minute later, Kishibe had sat down next to him on the couch. Hiro glanced at him out of the corner of his eye and, as expected, saw that he looked just as bruised as he did every year on this day.

Quanxi had shown him no mercy again.

"Difficult night?" Hiro asked, and Kishibe knew exactly what he meant.

"It's a lie" Kishibe tried to respond, feeling like he was on the brink of death "Valentine's Day doesn't make everything more romantic around you"

Every Valentine's Day, since Hiro had been living with Kishibe, he had seen the man return home completely battered and bruised, with several new bruises and scars. They were all caused by Quanxi, who had once again rejected his flirting attempts in the same way everyone knew.

Kishibe had been trying to win her over on this special day, using the excuse that it was the day of love and friendship, and that it was therefore necessary for both of them to spend a romantic night together.

Of course, it didn't turn out as he had hoped.

It's not like anyone expected it to be different this time.

"I think you're just not her type," Hiro joked, earning an annoyed look from Kishibe.

"I'd rather not take you seriously; you're not an expert on the subject, after all."

Hiro shrugged. "Yeah, but even I know that you should consider giving up on her. I mean, you've been like this with her since you met her, right? Maybe it's best to just... stay as you are now."

Kishibe laughed dryly "You don't understand kid, that's the problem" Hiro was someone who could dive deep into a topic if it interested him enough.

But he didn't know what love was, at least not this kind of love.

Not yet.

What Quanxi had told him two years ago came to his mind out of nowhere, as if it were some kind of warning or sign that shouldn't be taken lightly.

Hiro and Makima... Together.

Kishibe glanced at Hiro for a moment. "But you're not far from understanding it..."

Hiro raised an eyebrow. "Why do you say that?"

Kishibe still hated that thought, but things had remained the same as they were two years ago.

Hiro and Makima were still friends, and even though they didn't see each other every day, their friendship remained intact just like on the first day. One could say that the situation had only gotten worse from his perspective.

But there was nothing he could do anymore. Maybe the only thing he could do was call the kid crazy for getting involved in things that didn't concern him in the first place.

Although that was also good considering it could help with his training.

But he didn't want to imagine the day when everything would get worse than it already was, the day when Hiro would take this much further than he initially imagined.

The day he would understand why he still hadn't given up on Quanxi.

"Just a hunch"

0O0O

July 1982.

"Pay attention, kid. Every time you're patrolling the streets, you should look around twice for any anomalies" Kishibe gave Hiro one of his best pieces of advice.

Today Hiro had once again been brought to work with Kishibe, but this time Quanxi's presence was not with them. She had an excuse about needing to visit an acquaintance at her house.

Kishibe found something very strange about it but decided to let it pass for now.

Hiro nodded at his side. "Understood, attentive and no distractions, got it"

The two of them were walking in a public park, in plain view of anyone. Several people were passing by, some were having a picnic day, others were jogging on the pavement as part of their daily routine, and there were several children playing on swings and slides placed in the area.

Some were smoking weed in the more secluded corners, things that would typically be done in a public park.

"Are you sure?" Kishibe asked, not entirely convinced. "I know you, and sometimes you can get easily distracted."

Hiro gave him a smug smile. "Don't worry about that; I'm totally capable of—Oh, look, a dog!" Hiro exclaimed in amazement as he ran toward the canine, who was sitting peacefully on the grass.

"Who's a good boy?" Hiro petted the dog all over, and the animal wagged its tail without understanding why another human suddenly approached to hug it out of nowhere, but it accepted it happily.

Hiro really liked dogs; he found them cuter than cats.

Kishibe remained expressionless, observing the boy's antics. The idea was to try and stay attentive, but the mind of a 12-year-old would have serious trouble with that.

"That dog looks delicious. Can I eat it?"

'No, unless you want to traumatize Hiro even more'

"So can I eat it?"

On the other hand, Hiro stared at the dog intently, his eyes narrowed as he looked at it suspiciously. "By any chance, is a demon girl not controlling you, right?"

The animal simply tilted its head.

0O0O

March 1983.

Yuna Nishimura had her eyes focused on the girl in front of her. They were not at the research and training center this time; Yuna had decided that it was better to go outside for some field tests. While the Control Devil's powers were not fully developed, they were still quite capable of achieving their purpose for which they were created.

Subjugation.

Makima was rarely seen anywhere other than the research center. There was no rule forbidding her from going out, but it had been suggested that it would be best for her to stay in the building most of the time. This way, it would be easier for her to learn everything she needed to return to what she was before.

And it would also be more convenient for Yuna to study her.

Surprisingly, she had agreed. It seemed that Makima had a general idea of what the world looked like, so she clarified that it wasn't necessary to go elsewhere because she felt like she had already seen everything in the world.

That relieved her, as it would save her the trouble of having a girl who dreamt of seeing the outside world as if she had never seen it in her life.

Makima was an exception, as all the information about how the world was composed still resided in her mind, so it wasn't necessary for her to go out and see it for herself. It was somewhat counterproductive due to her lack of memory of past lives, but she could remember what the rest of the world looked like.

It was as if they had created Makima with incomplete pieces.

Although she wasn't complaining right now, it was very convenient when it came to keeping her under control.

"What can you sense?" she asked. She and Makima were in a small resting spot similar to the ones found in various parks.

A circle on the ground, constructed with cement of a size large enough for anyone to have enough space to move around it, with a few benches where at most two people could sit.

This was not a public place; it was commonly reserved for people like her. Here, various types of experiments could be conducted freely.

Makima was in the middle of the circle, completely still, almost like a statue. Her eyes were closed as she replied, "Everything."

Her response drew a satisfied smile on the doctor's face. She crossed her legs and rested her hands on her upper knee. "Anything specific you can tell me?"

"I can see that you're smiling."

What the girl said startled Yuna a bit. From her position, she could only see Makima's back, so she didn't have a clear view of her expressions.

Unless...

Yuna looked up just a bit to see a crow perched in a tree, staring fixedly at her. Its small black eyes were completely focused on her. Just to experiment, she moved her head to the side, and the crow moved its head in synchronization.

The bird didn't show any erratic signs or any kind of movement that would indicate it was resisting Makima's control. It was completely hypnotized and submissive, following the orders of whoever controlled it.

That could only mean one thing.

"Your control over animals has improved significantly" she admitted impressed. "At this rate, we might even be able to bypass human trials... or even devil trials."

Makima had grown in these past three years, and at only thirteen years old, she had improved considerably in terms of control and manipulation. Perhaps now it was best to practice subtle control, a way for her to manipulate others more effectively...

... Without them ever realizing it.

But they would probably leave that for later, or she might master it on her own. After all, Makima was a quick learner.

She was relieved that in these three years, the presence of the young Hiro hadn't drastically affected Makima's learning, but she was sure it was because she had ensured that Makima spent more time studying than spending quality time with that brat.

In these past three years, Yuna had tried to ignore Hiro as much as possible, rarely speaking to him.

"Although I wish you could expand your range of control to other living beings at the same time, we still fall a bit short when you can only control one thing" Yuna pointed out, knowing that there were still areas for improvement.

Nobody was perfect after all.

Makima remained silent, not bothering to turn around and look at the woman responsible for her care. The wind blew on her face, causing her ponytail to move accordingly. Her hair had grown a bit, so her bangs and strands were much more pronounced than before, and even her ponytail had grown longer, reaching halfway down her back when it used to only reach her shoulders.

The signs of adolescence were becoming more noticeable, something that deep down concerned Yuna a bit.

When children reach that stage, they become more unpredictable.

Makima raised her head to look at the sky. "Once you fully understand it, life becomes easy to control" she said calmly, and at that moment, she finally turned to look at the doctor.

Yuna furrowed her brow when she noticed a small trickle of blood escaping from Makima's nose. Despite that, her face remained calm as if nothing were happening.

She was about to ask her what was wrong when the sound of several flapping wings caught her attention. She lifted her head toward the sky, and what she saw left her speechless and even more pleased than before.

A large flock of crows were flying in circles above Makima, as if she were the nucleus of it all.

0O0O

August 25, 1984.

Hiro Takahashi was a boy who was somewhat difficult yet at the same time easy to understand. It always depended on how you got to know him for the first time.

For people like Kishibe, it wasn't difficult to figure out what he wanted when they first saw him. For people like Dr. Yuna, he was a rare but intriguing specimen.

His secondary goals were not always clear unless he reconsidered them two or three times. However, his main goal had been on his mind for seven years and had never changed.

Seven years...

Had it really been seven years since he met Kishibe and Quanxi?

Seven years in which he had lived with the most serious, sad, and melancholic hunter he had ever known.

Seven years in which he hadn't been with his parents.

Seven years in which his life had taken a different focus.

And four years since he met Makima.

Wow, time really flew by. It felt like just yesterday that he had refused to enter that orphanage, and it felt like yesterday that he had hugged Makima for the first time. No one realizes how fast and fleeting time is until they reconsider it, and by the time they do, many things have already happened.

These past four years hadn't been a big deal for him, but now that he had finally reached the age Kishibe had assigned him to begin the combat training phase, things would get really serious and interesting.

How would things unfold there? Nobody knows.

But he was going to give his best. He had been conserving his energy for that process for four years, so there shouldn't be any issues with trying to give up.

Everything was going smoothly, everything was fine.

Everyone was fine, right?

"Hiro... Why do you want to be a Devil Hunter?"

Fourteen-year-old Hiro looked at the girl standing beside him, leaning on the rooftop railing. Makima had told him about a small spot where the city view became even more incredible, and that place was the rooftop of the training center. She had delivered on her promise, and the view was stunning, although it was nothing he hadn't seen before.

Of course, none of the people who watched over them knew they were here; it was their little secret. It was better that way; they would have more privacy for their conversation.

Or perhaps for other things?

Hiro shook his head when that intrusive thought crossed his mind. It was strange. Maybe it would be best to answer Makima to avoid falling into strange thoughts.

However, he didn't realize his cheeks were red. "Um, why do you ask?"

Makima wasn't looking at him. She didn't want to. The question had been on her mind for four years, but she never had the guts to ask it when they were younger. She had tried to find an answer on her own through various interactions, but nothing convinced her. Nothing could explain why someone as precious as Hiro would want to become a hunter.

The question had been overwhelming her for a long time, but she never found the right moment to bring it up. At first, she thought it would be a good idea to discuss it on the day he assured her that he still wanted to be friends. But with everything that happened that day, the question was never asked, and she had been postponing it for too long.

"I want to know" Makima glanced at him for a moment. "Why did you choose this profession? You could have studied for another job, like a scientist... a teacher... a researcher... a doctor. Any job different from this..." She abruptly stopped, her voice sounding a bit shaky.

"...One where you would be safer."

Hiro only looked at her, his face showing no expression, but inside, he didn't know what to say. "Oh."

Where should he start?

"It's... hard to explain, but basically, it's what I want to do with my life. I want to see if I can really help make this world a safer place. When I was a child, I was on the brink of death, but the world took pity on me and gave me a second chance to do something with my life, so-"

"And yet you waste that chance by joining Public Safety? It's not the smartest choice anyone has ever made" Makima interrupted, and her tone indicated that she was not pleased with his response.

Hiro looked at her with bewilderment, not knowing where that sudden rudeness came from. "I... It might be true. While it's proven that the job of a devil hunter isn't a long-term one, I'm willing to give it a try. Unlike others, I have the necessary tools to start learning at an earlier age. I have two hunters who are willing to teach me, and they are the best in the country."

"Why are you so sure that this can help you? There's always a margin of error in every theory" Makima asked, not expecting to hear an answer.

"Because it's what I want" Hiro's response was so simple, yet Makima couldn't quite grasp it.

Makima turned to look at him, her face showing discontent and confusion. "What?"

"You didn't let me finish," he continued. "While the world gave me a second chance at life, it would be a waste if I wanted to become a hunter because that would only shorten my life further. But I don't see it that way. I see it as an extra effort to stay alive. If I'm not alive, I can't save people. If I die, all I'll achieve is proving Dr. Yuna right... If I leave this world sooner than expected, I won't have the life my parents would have wanted for me"

He paused, looking at the ground, and especially not at Makima. "And because if I die... no one will be there for you I don't want to leave you alone."

Makima's eyes widened upon hearing that. She opened her mouth to try to say something, but it was impossible. Even her heart gave a stronger beat than usual. When was the last time she blushed? Probably since that time in the library four years ago.

And once again, Hiro was able to provoke it in her.

"The fact that it's Kishibe and Quanxi who will train me increases my chances of survival more than you think. Trust me, no one knows them better than I do" Hiro said with such confidence that a part of Makima was willing to believe him.

The other part of her still had doubts.

They both fell into silence for a few more seconds, to the point where it became uncomfortable.

Makima was the first to restart the conversation. "I hope you're right..."

"Don't you trust me, Makima?" Hiro asked with a smile, which quickly faded from his face when he felt arms wrapping around him, as quick as a blink.

Makima held him tightly, refusing to let go and treasuring this moment as much as she could. "The world is a dangerous place, more than you can imagine. Both humans and devils have bad intentions, and there's always a possibility that things won't go as you expect... It's not that I don't trust you; I'm just afraid."

Hiro knew what she meant, so he simply returned the hug. "I understand, but I assure you, I will become someone capable of surviving in this world. I did it before, didn't I?"

"You were just lucky."

"And that's more than enough. It's the minimum I'll need from now on" Hiro and Makima stayed there for a while, feeling each other's warmth and feeling so comfortable in each other's arms.

But Makima was still not satisfied with her friend's answers. However, maybe she should give this a chance, even if the thought didn't please her. Perhaps she should start supporting Hiro in his dream of becoming a devil hunter.

It was a gamble, and the only thing she had in her favor was the luck she hoped Hiro would have for the rest of his life.

She didn't want him to die. For nothing in the world could she allow Hiro to die.

If only there were a way for the world to be a better place, a world where devils didn't exist, a world without evil, where everyone could live a more peaceful and stable life without the constant fear that haunted them every day.

Without the persistent fear that Hiro would be harmed in some way.

If only...

If only...

... There was a way to shape the world according to her wishes.