One above all

by Abusamadres-Sama

In 1977 Kishibe came across a child amidst a massacre that had once been a family's home. He made the decision to take the child with him until he could find a new home for him. Meanwhile, elsewhere, the Control Devil learns that she must become perfect to rise to the top and be someone who can achieve anything. This means using people as well.

29. Taking harassment to a whole new level

Now let's respond to some reviews

desropter

Actually, I had already mentioned in previous chapters that Hiro will not become a hybrid, and in fact, he will make a contract with a devil. I'm sorry if I disappointed you in any way.

Anonymoss

Thank you for leaving all your comments, thank you for reading this story, I'm glad you loved it. And regarding your question about whether Kenji will become a hunter, the answer is a simple no, but he will always be there to support Hiro whenever he needs it. And yes, I will always try to release monthly chapters, I just hope that no inconvenience happens to me.

Knighmare6

I'm so happy to see you again.

godslayer is cool

And is it good or bad?

Weebsweb

Thank you, by any chance do you also come from wattpad? I think I saw a guy with your same name.

I've finished now.

Notes: I wanted to tell you something, let's play a game, whoever doesn't cast their vote is gay.

Easy, right?

Of course it is.

This chapter is special, I think it's the first time I've done a Makima POV, I hope you like how it turned out.

I know many of you enjoy the sweet moments between Hiro and Makima, so this will be the prelude to a lovely and disturbing reunion.

And I must warn you, the first asshole I see saying the chapter felt short, I'll personally rip their sh-

0O0O

Chapter 28: Opening a door without keys.

"I WAS IN A DAMN COMA FOR A WHOLE WEEK!?"

Kishibe grimaced, feeling like his eardrums were about to burst. "Yeah, damn it, it's not like it's a big deal"

Hiro looked at Kishibe incredulously. "Not a big deal!? I WAS ALMOST KILLED AND I'M ONLY ALIVE BY PURE LUCK!"

"Get used to it, I've lost count of how many times I ended up in a coma... Come to think of it, that makes a lot of sense" Kishibe said thoughtful with a hand on his chin.

All the noise woke Quanxi from her little nap. She shifted uncomfortably on her couch as she opened her eye. She was met with the sight of a fully awake Hiro Takahashi on the verge of losing it and a Kishibe who seemed to be regretting bringing him home with him.

She stretched her arms, letting out a tired sigh and humming in satisfaction. She looked at Hiro almost boredly "Great, you're awake. The hospital bill won't be so steep after all"

Hiro lay back on his bed slowly, trying not to make any sudden movements that would send another wave of unexpected pain through his body. As time passed and more thoughts filled his mind, the pain in his body started to fade into the background, becoming a duller ache as long as he remained still or in a rigid position.

God, this was so uncomfortable. He felt like a cripple, well in a certain sense he was.

"This sucks..." he cursed his current situation as he tried to calm himself.

Quanxi got up from her spot and approached the curtains of the room, passing by Kenji's bed. When she opened them, Hiro was greeted with the bright sunlight that immediately warmed his skin, a warmth that was very much welcomed as the hospital air conditioning was starting to freeze him.

Did they really need to take his shirt off? At least they could have brought him a spare one.

However, something Hiro also noticed was that his room was strategically positioned so that he could see the hospital courtyard in all its splendor, with all the flowers helping to make it a very well-decorated and comfortable place where any patient would feel at peace.

Or that would have been the view he would have had before the events of a week ago. What his eyes saw was nothing but despair and human ingenuity combined in one place. The hospital courtyard was crowded with several hospital beds occupied by many other patients, so many people and beds that many had to squeeze together to make more space.

Hiro supposed that these were not the best conditions in which these people should be, but he knew that at least it would keep them alive.

It also gave him a small glimpse of the magnitude of the disaster that had occurred. If doctors and nurses were forced to move patients outside the hospital, it was because the place had become so crowded that it could no longer accommodate more people. It was a sight that left Hiro speechless for several seconds because he knew that if this was happening, it was because the injured and even the dead continued to come to this hospital.

But what a horrible situation. Poor people. They didn't deserve that.

"How did all this happen?" Hiro's question was almost a whisper, but both hunters had keen ears, and his question reached them.

Kishibe hurried to answer. "A devil did this" Despite his response, Hiro didn't turn to look at him; his gaze was fixed on the scene behind the windows. "They call him the Gun Devil."

"Gun Devil" Hiro repeated the name in his own words. "So does he have the form of a firearm or what?"

Kishibe shrugged, although Hiro didn't see it. "No one knows, but it was able to launch an attack that pierced through everyone, and not just in Japan. What you're seeing is just one of the many strategies that all hospitals in the country and around the world are employing to help the survivors who made it through."

Upon hearing that, Hiro's attention returned to Kishibe. "Everyone? So... It was a pretty big devil?" Just imagining something like that sent shivers down Hiro's spine.

"If it was able to cause a huge disaster worldwide in just five minutes... what do you think?" Kishibe said rhetorically.

"Well, I guess something like that wouldn't be something you could kill, right?"

To be honest, Kishibe didn't expect that response. Even Quanxi turned, very interested in how he would respond to Hiro. Maybe he would do his best to maintain his reputation and assure him that he could take down the Gun Devil, or he would be honest and admit that this was beyond the league of any human being.

It was the truth, and Quanxi wasn't ashamed to accept it for the moment. They both silently admitted that they couldn't kill the Gun Devil; unless there was a way to kill it that didn't involve attacking it head-on, they knew very well that they would disappear in just a couple of seconds if that were to happen.

The only reason they were still alive right now was sheer luck. Kishibe's demons, while they were able to detect the attack with enough time to react, were still on the brink of death that day because if Kishibe hadn't reacted in time either, they would have died in a horrible and unexpected way. If he hadn't grabbed her and thrown her down the subway stairs to save them from the blast, she wouldn't even be thinking about this in the first place.

Kishibe looked at Hiro with an emotionless face, neither confirming nor denying anything. "I..."

"Could Knife kill it?" Hiro was very inquisitive at that moment.

"I wish, heh"

"Could Needle kill it?"

"... Humans always have a habit of asking questions that have no answer."

"Could Claw kill it?"

"What are you guys talking about? I fell asleep."

Kishibe fell silent. "..."

"..."

"... You better try to sleep again, your head isn't thinking straight," was his slow, cold response.

Hiro took a deep breath, but the pain was still there, yet he tried to ignore it. "I think if I close my eyes again, I'll just have nightmares."

Hiro's eyes reflected his current emotions: he felt quite frightened, and part of the shock he had experienced still lingered in him. At the same time, he couldn't help but feel so much sorrow for all the people who died that day. It saddened him greatly to think of all the lives lost in the blink of an eye.

But that wasn't the worst part; the memory of his entire class being killed in less than a few seconds still haunted his mind, enough to make him tremble.

"Hey..." he spoke, catching both of their attention. "Of my whole class... are Kenji and I the only ones alive?"

Quanxi exchanged a look with Kishibe, silently wondering if it was a good idea to tell him everything in detail. In the end, it was better that he knew; they had to prepare him for this world. "After everything calmed down, the first thing we did was go back to your school. We weren't far away, but the car got destroyed, so we had to run back."

A week ago.

Kishibe and Quanxi did everything they could to hasten their pace. Hiro's school wasn't that far... by car. But Kishibe's car was unrecognizable at this point, so it was out of the question. They also didn't have the chance to "borrow" one, as any car in the area ended up in the same state or worse.

Both could feel the dust in the air clinging to their suits and faces, making it quite challenging to keep their eyes open with all the dust entering their retinas. They didn't care, nor did they think about the possibility of another attack like the one a few moments ago. They also didn't care if they encountered other people asking for help along the way, or if they accidentally stepped on the body of someone who had the misfortune of receiving the attack head-on.

The only thing on their minds was whether the brat was alive or not.

They ran and ran, using all the speed their legs could provide, while at the same time managing to dodge some buildings that were still in the process of collapsing. Truth be told, Kishibe didn't know where he found the courage to pass through those places, but he tried to ignore the fact that he was coming very close to a building that was about to collapse on him.

He was taking too many risks here, both he and Quanxi... But they needed to know.

They needed to know what happened to Hiro.

The worst part was that even though they knew which direction Hiro's school was in, it was now harder to tell if they were still on the right path. Usually, Kishibe knew because he would recognize all the buildings near the school. But now all those buildings were reduced to nothing, so he couldn't even navigate correctly.

But eventually, they made it. They had to traverse several streets, but they finally managed to reach Hiro's school.

Or what was left of it.

Kishibe and Quanxi stopped for a moment to appreciate the scenery around them while catching their breath after running so relentlessly. The only thing in front of them was several debris from different buildings and random items that had come together to form a new path made of stones. They were forced to stand on them to get an overview of how this place had ended up.

"Ah... Ah... Ah... Damn it," Kishibe clenched his fists as his breathing calmed. But despite his efforts, he couldn't find the strength to calm down completely. Not when in front of him, where there used to be a fairly large school, there was now absolutely nothing. Even now, he was standing on the rubble of what had once been the walls and roof of the school.

Shit...

Shit.

Shit shit shit shit shit shit shit.

Damn it damn it damn it damn it.

"Tch... Damn it... Seriously? Why did it have to end like this?"

This wasn't supposed to happen.

This wasn't how Kishibe imagined it.

He never took it for granted that Hiro would die before reaching twenty, he didn't even have the chance to train him properly. He didn't teach him how to survive, let alone defend himself.

He didn't have the chance to teach him everything he knew... Damn it.

Shit.

Shit.

Shit.

SHIT!

Kishibe preferred to keep all his anger to himself 'Am I really pathetic, huh? I never should've dragged him into this world'

Quanxi had her eye wide open as she looked around for any sign of life. On the way here, they had managed to recognize the smell of blood emanating from the bodies of people crushed by the buildings. But no matter how hard she tried to sharpen her nose, she couldn't smell anything. Perhaps Hiro wasn't here.

Maybe his body wasn't around here.

Or perhaps his body took the full brunt of the attack and there was no trace of him left.

"Ah... Ah... Ah... This... has to be a damn joke" she gritted her teeth, feeling helpless right there. What had all they lived through in the last 7 years amounted to if the kid's life ended like this? Without them having the chance to help him become better.

What was the point of keeping him safe all these years and giving him the secret task of preventing the control devil from being influenced in a bad way?

If it was all going to end in the blink of an eye...

"Damn it... At least... I would have liked to see him grow a little more..." Her fists clenched so tightly that her palms were losing color.

Kishibe was looking up at the sky, his eyes showing many unspoken feelings 'It's just like that time... I couldn't even say goodbye properly'

"Relax, you humans are very dramatic about it" Knife interjected.

"Huh?" Kishibe had to cut off his own thoughts at that moment.

"Walk a little further, go into what's left of the building, maybe you'll find a little surprise."

Kishibe wasn't sure what Knife meant by that, though he wasn't entirely sure he wanted to find out. It could just be something to further increase his guilt. Nevertheless, he found himself walking a bit further. Quanxi did the same, almost automatically, not caring where she was going, just following him while lost in her own thoughts.

And that's when he saw him.

When Kishibe reached what was supposed to be the interior of the school, further down the makeshift street of debris, he found Hiro's nearly unscathed body. A little further away was Kenji, and both looked terrible.

Kishibe allowed his eyes to widen in disbelief at what he was seeing. When Quanxi arrived at his side, she too was left breathless.

"How...?" she left the question hanging in the air, having never imagined this scenario beforehand.

But it was only fair that they both thought that way.

It was fair to believe that by this point Hiro was already dead.

That he had already disappeared even on a molecular level.

The chances of him surviving were almost nil.

So why was his body still here?

He was damn lucky, however you looked at it.

"Detecting his scent amidst all this dust was a piece of cake, more than I thought. It's very rare to find humans with such a strong scent, but it seems like that served a good purpose now" Knife's response helped to better understand it.

Kishibe approached slowly, noticing how some sizable debris covered part of Hiro's body. They didn't seem too big, but they were enough to hinder movement if enough force wasn't applied.

He cleared some away easily, and when the upper part of Hiro's chest was uncovered, Kishibe put his ear to it.

It only took a few seconds to hear the beating of a heart.

Kishibe stepped back, looking at Hiro's unconscious body. "Damn... He's still alive" he affirmed, unable to believe it himself.

"It seems that they were very lucky." Quanxi had her gaze elsewhere, but from the corner of her eye, she noticed her companion lifting Hiro's body. "Whatever they did to be out here, it saved them from being there"

Kishibe turned to look at her, trying to figure out what she meant. When he followed her gaze, his body shivered.

While most of the buildings had been destroyed, some built with better materials or better craftsmanship still stood. Such was the case with an administrative building that had lost a third of its top part but surprisingly remained standing despite all the odds.

It would have been admirable... if it weren't for the fact that part of a school bus was embedded in the middle of the building.

"Was that their bus?" Kishibe asked, astonished to see how the lives of several children ended.

A fate from which Hiro somehow escaped.

"It seems so... Or what was left of it," Quanxi approached Hiro's unconscious body, which rested protectively in Kishibe's arms. She brushed her hand through his bangs, clearing away some of the dust and small stones that had settled there. "He's very lucky."

Kishibe looked her in the eyes. "You take care of the other boy's body. We need to get them to a hospital"

0O0O

"Your school doesn't exist anymore."

"Oh, no shit. I thought they were just remodeling it."

"Just clarifying."

Hiro sighed heavily as he covered his eyes with his left arm, the first moments of the attack still imprinted in his mind. He knew he was truly lucky to still be here, even the debris from the building hadn't killed him in the process.

He was so lucky it was almost scary.

"Why weren't you on the bus?" Quanxi asked, genuinely interested, drawing his attention.

Hiro lifted his arm to look at her, casting a glance at Kenji, who was starting to stir in his bed. "I was inside the bus. What happened was that he..." he gestured to Kenji, "had a suitcase with him that weighed a ton, and he realized he'd forgotten to bring it onto the bus when we were about to leave. Obviously, he couldn't move it himself, so he asked for my help... Seconds later... all of this happened."

Kishibe and Quanxi looked at Kenji with amazement. "Damn... You could say he saved your life."

"Fate works in unpredictable ways."

Hiro also glanced in his direction. "Yeah... I guess if it weren't for him, I would've died that day"

As he said that, young Kenji's eyes finally opened wide, and he was assaulted by the same sensations Hiro had experienced initially. It didn't help that he too had a bright white light shining directly in his face, seriously, what was it with hospitals and putting huge bright lights directly over patients' beds?

"Ugh shit..." Kenji muttered, in pain and grogginess.

It took a minute for him to realize his surroundings. He sat up abruptly and did the same thing Hiro did... panic.

"What the fuck? Where am I?" he asked, looking around frantically until he finally spotted the familiar face of his friend. "Hiro?" He noticed Hiro lying in the bed with several bandages around his chest. "What the fuck happened to you?"

Then he also realized how he himself looked. "What the fuck happened to me?"

Quanxi decided to answer for him "You two young lads survived a massive devil attack, that's the short version."

Kenji shivered upon hearing a cold, feminine voice that was definitely unfamiliar to him. When his gaze landed on the person in question, his jaw almost hit the floor.

If angels existed in the world, they would surely look like the woman leaning against the wall near the windows, watching them both with her one good eye while the other was covered with an eye patch.

He was starting to seriously believe that this was heaven. He wouldn't mind if it were.

"Oh my..." he murmured incoherently, his eyes mesmerized by Quanxi as they didn't stray from her even for a second.

"Your mother and father already know you're here, Kenji" it was only when he heard the familiar voice of Mr. Kishibe that he could snap out of his stupor.

He turned to look at him, confused. "Huh?"

Kishibe nodded. "They were here for a few days waiting for you to wake up, but since the city was in shambles, they and their company had to get to work helping and planning reconstructions. But it was only when I offered to watch over you as well that they could leave more relieved. They told me to let them know when you woke up, and they would come back."

"Oh... I see" When Kenji had calmed down, he tried to gather his thoughts with everything he had been told so far.

To be honest, he wasn't taking it any better than Hiro, but at least he was keeping some thoughts to himself.

"I'll call the nurses to bring you guys some food" Quanxi announced as she walked towards the door. "Your bodies will start feeling hungry soon after being asleep for a week."

That made Kenji's eyes widen in horror. "A WHAT!?" Kishibe covered his ears again.

"As you heard, you've been in a coma for a week, and your bodies need to replenish energy," before Quanxi opened the door, she turned one last time to look at the teenager. "Oh, and thanks for asking Hiro to help you with your suitcase. You saved my nephew's skin, and I'm grateful for that" She gave him a small smile before leaving completely.

Kenji blushed furiously. "Uh..." He turned to Hiro for more answers and context. "Who was she?"

Hiro looked at him wearily "She's Quanxi, she's my aunt... sort of. She proclaimed herself as such."

Still blushing, Kenji glanced at the door through which that incredible woman with an eye patch had left. "Hiro... Your aunt is too hot to be considered legal"

Kishibe nodded sagely from his seat. "Indeed..."

Hiro tried to find the button to call the nurses to give him more sedatives.

A few hours later...

"Do you really think you can't sleep?" Kishibe asked Hiro as the sun was starting to set.

Hiro slowly shook his head. "I've been asleep for a week. Right now, I'd prefer to keep my eyes open as much as possible."

Kishibe didn't say anything, respecting his decision. Although his eyes landed back on Kenji, who had no trouble falling asleep again after eating as much food as his stomach would allow. Quanxi had left not long ago, so young Inoue had no more reasons to stay awake.

While she would have liked to stay a little longer, Public Safety still needed at least one of them to stay and work overtime. At least this time they offered extra pay, albeit reluctantly.

Hiro was now staring into space as he sat on his bed, his back leaning against the headboard for better comfort, and because lying in one position for so long did nothing to alleviate the pain.

What would he do from now on? Where would he study? From what he knew, Tokyo bore the brunt of the Gun Devil attack, so the possibility of finding a school that was still in good condition was very low. And who knows when they would open registrations again; right now, everyone was detained, mainly dealing with cleaning up the mess and taking care of the survivors.

Furthermore, the fear of the Gun Devil striking again unexpectedly was massive. People would prefer to stay in a safe place rather than return to the potential range of a new attack. It seemed like there was no safe place in the world.

"What happened to our apartment?" Hiro asked Kishibe, curious to know if he still had a place to call home.

"It suffered some minor damage, several broken windows and interiors destroyed by the shockwaves. But nothing to lament, we can still live there and the staff is still working normally trying to repair what they can," Kishibe explained briefly.

That relieved Hiro a little, at least his belongings were still intact, along with some memories of his parents.

Hiro felt like he couldn't find true calm right now, even though outwardly he didn't seem disturbed, inside was a completely different story. He couldn't get recent tragic events out of his head, he couldn't believe that everyone he had studied with for the past 7 years was already dead. He never spoke much with most of them, at least not on the same level as Kenji, but it seemed surreal that all those boys and girls his age whom he had lived with since he was 7 no longer existed.

It was such a disturbing thought that he couldn't even blink. Simply, incredibly horrible.

Perhaps the only way he could close his eyes was by being next to Makima; being with her was always relaxing for him. If he could have her by his side while he hugged her and she returned the embrace with even more fervor, it would be a relief more than welcome and one he wouldn't know he needed until that moment.

...

...

...

... Wait.

... Makima...

What happened to Makima?

Hiro's eyes widened enormously as the thought fully registered in his mind; they filled with a fear so deep that bordered heavily on horror. His heart began to pump with fear at the possibility that something terrible had happened to her.

His terrified eyes looked at Kishibe, and he could guess what he was going to say. "KISHIBE! WHAT HAPPENED TO MAKIMA!? IS SHE OKAY!? DID SOMETHING BAD HAPPEN TO HER!? IS SHE HURT TOO!? WHAT HAPPENED TO THE RESEARCH CENTER!?" His questions were said in a tone louder than usual but were filled with a very perceptible panic, even to the densest person.

Kishibe felt like his eardrums were about to burst at that moment; his voice sounded tired despite having been sitting on a couch all day.

"You took longer than I thought to ask that," he guessed that eventually he would inquire about Makima's well-being, but he didn't expect him to take several hours even to consider it. Perhaps having so much on his mind didn't help him to think carefully, let alone about secondary things.

He understood the feeling; he had been in a coma several times himself.

"She's fine," Hiro instantly relaxed considerably at the reassurance. "Or so we believe..." Kishibe clarified, and panic returned to Hiro's face.

"What do you mean!?"

"Well..." Kishibe settled back on the couch, leaning towards Hiro. "The research center also suffered some minor damage, some windows and interiors destroyed, but beyond that, nothing else happened. Nishimura is alive; if she weren't, we would all know by now and be celebrating. And if even she is still alive, then Makima is too. Remember, she's not like you, kid; she could go through concrete and still have the strength to get up again... Trust me, I know."

It seemed that Hiro's fear had cleared up a bit after that explanation, but there was still uncertainty about knowing a definitive answer. He didn't care if she were a devil much more resilient than him; he would still worry a lot about her. He didn't want to imagine her with any kind of injury caused by this attack; just thinking about it made his stomach twist with nausea.

He just hoped she was okay; now he had another reason not to sleep tonight.

He also assumed that she would be in the same situations, not really knowing if he was alive or not; he just hoped it wouldn't affect her as much as him. He didn't want to be the reason for her worries.

Although deep down in his mind, the question still lingered: What to do from now on?

"This changes nothing."

Hiro could have drifted back into his thoughts, but Kishibe caught his attention again; his face was stoic, but there was a determination in his eyes that Hiro rarely saw.

"Huh?"

"Don't think all of this changes the fact that I was going to train you once you returned from Hiroshima, and as far as we know, it's been a week already," when he said that, Hiro's eyes widened, knowing very well what he meant by all of this.

"Once you're fully recovered, you'll start your physical training with me and Quanxi; we have to teach you to survive... Next time, you might not be so lucky."

And there was the answer Hiro wanted to hear.

And only at that moment, both of their eyes shone with the same determination.

0O0O

Point of view of Makima.

What did he mean to me?

That question was difficult to answer, not because I couldn't find a clear response—I've always been able to reach coherent conclusions.

It was because he represented so many things at once, making it hard to define him in just one word.

He was my light.

The strength that kept me anchored to this world.

The reason I strive to be better, because his praise has always meant so much to me.

He was the one who was always there to greet me with a smile.

He was the one who looked at me with kind eyes, filled with a warmth that melted my heart even more.

He was the one who would always hug me when I needed it, no matter the time or place; he would always be willing to hold me up.

God... he was incredible.

A wonderful boy.

I never doubted his greatness for a moment. From the first time I saw him, his mere presence captivated me, but getting to know him more deeply only deepened my admiration for him.

Hiro was amazing.

The best human being this world has ever seen.

But what good was all of that if I couldn't have him by my side right now? It was heartbreaking.

I hated this feeling. It bothered me every time Hiro went home after spending an afternoon together at the library, knowing that I could no longer admire him from afar. Before, that was enough for me; knowing that he was still in the same world as me filled me with peace.

Because I always needed to know.

I needed to know that he was okay.

That's why I felt so distressed now.

I couldn't know what had happened to Hiro after the gun devil attack. I can't know if he's dead... But I also can't know if he's alive.

I CAN'T KNOW ANYTHING!

This sensation in my chest became more and more unbearable; I felt so much pain, and my stomach twisted with anxiety. Sometimes I would rather keep believing that he's alive because imagining his corpse among the rubble only made me nauseous.

Sometimes I think the world hasn't punished me enough for my past mistakes.

Was this karma? But who would be reveling in it now? The people I killed in the past?

Who cared about those people?

I didn't even understand why I kept thinking about it, but I couldn't find any other explanation for the continuous punishment that the world inflicted on me with this avalanche of insecurities.

I couldn't even understand why I kept thinking about it, but I couldn't find any other explanation for the continuous punishment that the world inflicted on me with this avalanche of insecurities.

Anyway, all of this felt like a nightmare. Normally, a demon shouldn't be capable of dreaming. I never dreamt during the early years of my life; I never had memorable memories that would follow me into my dreams, and therefore, I never had what could be called nightmares. But I was familiar with the term.

And I'm pretty sure this would qualify as a nightmare.

It was Hiro who helped me have sweet dreams. Every time I managed to sleep, he would always appear in my dreams. Often my mind just recreated moments from the day, but that made me happy. Every moment with him was precious, even if things repeated over and over again.

Fuck...

... I missed him so much.

I had prepared myself to be without him for a whole week, but no one said anything about two weeks. Two weeks have passed without Hiro, and I already feel like the gates of hell have opened for me.

I can't sleep. I've spent two hours in this bed, tossing and turning without being able to fall asleep. Maybe it's better this way; at least I won't have literal nightmares about how he died.

I felt like it wasn't worth staying here; there was nothing worthwhile in my room to distract me, not even the small shelf of personal books that Dr. Nishimura had allowed me to keep.

I quickly got out of bed and went to my closet to grab some clothes; a dark green zip-up coat with a hood would be more than enough to withstand the night's cold, along with some dark jeans that would help me blend in more easily.

The lapse between my transit through the elevator lobby and my arrival at the reception was brief; I barely perceived the flow of time around me; I was deeply engrossed in my own thoughts. Suddenly and without realizing it, I found myself outside the building, surrounded by the vast parking lot, oblivious to what was happening around me. It was better this way; going unnoticed by others was best for everyone.

I couldn't pinpoint how long I walked. Long walks around the city were not unfamiliar to me; at times, Dr. Nishimura and I used to leave the Research Center to assess the advanced scope of my abilities. However, I had never before felt that sense of unreality while wandering the city. There had always been the certainty within me that I had traversed those places before, which made everything seem easier.

Despite that, I never felt inclined to explore further. Nothing managed to capture my attention; perhaps that was the only disadvantage of being a reincarnation that remembers the sensations of past lives: the impossibility of experiencing things again with the same intensity would never return. It was regrettable.

Food, fashion, music, books, entertainment... everything seemed to be stored in the deepest recesses of my mind, released only when needed. Still, there was nothing wrong with reliving those experiences, even though they would never be the same.

That's why, when Hiro entered my life, I was grateful to the world. He represented something I had never experienced in my previous lives, and the feeling of having him by my side was incomparable. He made me feel emotions I had never experienced before, both positive and negative, but I wouldn't trade that experience for anything in the world; it was part of the journey, after all. Hiro taught me the meaning of having someone special in my heart, someone who occupied my thoughts even when I tried to push them away, someone I could think about for hours without getting bored.

He was an extraordinary being, and perhaps he wasn't even aware of the extent to which he was.

But now he wasn't even here with me...

Damn you, Gun Devil...

I don't know for sure if I was ever a very vengeful woman in my past lives, but if I somehow manage to encounter the Gun Devil in the future... I'll tear him to pieces.

I don't know what I would do if I found out that Hiro was already dead; I couldn't bear it, and I would know very well that there was nothing left in this world worth living for. I try not to think about it too often, but I haven't stopped worrying about him since the day he said he wanted to be a devil hunter. He boasted that all he would need was luck to survive in this world. Would he have been right? I wanted to believe in him... I really wanted to, but I knew the world around me too well to know that luck doesn't always come to those who need it most. The world often turns its back on you no matter how much you try to change it for the better; that's why a world like that wasn't worth protecting.

What had the world done for me now? It probably had already taken away the only person who truly mattered to me and didn't even bother to tell me.

I think I would prefer to shoot myself rather than know that Hiro would never be by my side again.

But before taking a drastic but understandable measure, I needed someone to confirm what happened to him. The first person who always comes to mind is Kishibe, who, in his eagerness to follow the line of his work, couldn't be bothered to come and tell me about Hiro's condition. Damn bastard, I was pretty sure he only did this to torture me; if necessary, I would beat the information out of him, regardless of what Dr. Nishimura said. But knowing her, I knew she would turn a blind eye for me just to see Kishibe suffer.

Quanxi was also an option, but I rarely bumped into her in the hallways of the Research Center, and on those few occasions, she preferred to ignore me. Not that I cared; she wasn't that interesting to me, but it was fun to see how uncomfortable she got whenever I was around.

I'm pretty sure I scare her... Oh well, whatever.

Still, the chances of running into her by chance were even lower.

The last option was Dr. Nishimura, but she didn't know more than I did, and she didn't seem very interested in helping me, especially not when I was trying to get her to help me find out what happened to the boy she didn't like.

That left me with no options.

I sighed exasperatedly as I stopped walking; it was only then that I realized I had been walking for a good while, so much so that I had gone further than usual. Normally, I only made it to the city center because it was the most striking place in all of Tokyo, but I had never passed through any school zones until now.

Or at least that's what it seemed like.

Under different circumstances, the place where I found myself right now would be a huge school capable of accommodating at least 400 students, with its building looming in the distance so that students could recognize it or everyone would know it was some educational center.

But all I encountered now was absolute nothingness; there weren't even many debris from what used to be a large school. The Gun Devil's attack had likely reached this place, probably claiming the lives of many students in the process. There was no one around besides myself; the authorities responsible for cleaning up had already done their job, at least most of it. There were still some remnants of the building that remained disproportionately large.

But how did I know that I was in a school zone? Or at least know it from what was left of it?

Easy.

My eyes briefly landed on the school bus that had been embedded in one of the buildings that hadn't been completely destroyed yet; that told me everything I needed to know.

What a way to die. At least they knew what it was like to fly for real at least once.

(N/A: When Makima doesn't get her daily dose of hugs, she becomes more edgy than usual... That turns me on)

"What a boring place," I said, probably the first thing I had said all day. There was nothing that could draw words out of my mouth; in moments like these, I preferred to say everything in my mind.

Just like now, but it was better to stop or this would become harder to understand.

It was impressive that there were no humans around, although it didn't bother me; it was still very unnatural for the streets to be so deserted.

"Heh... There's not like there's anything to do here anyway."

I stood there feeling like a statue, just wanting to clear my mind and breathe a bit of the city's fresh air.

Well, let's say "fresh" in quotation marks because my nose was always very aware of some pollutants that permeated the air of this city; I supposed it was the only downside of having such a keen nose.

Yeah... It was a...

It was a...

A...

... Downside...

Or maybe not.

It was quick and strong, just like the first time I felt it, so potent and intoxicating that it made me crave more of it, always tempting me to go to the source and absorb that delicious aroma that always drove me crazy.

I had smelled it so many times that I knew how to recognize it from the rest, because to me, it was like all the drugs in the world put in one place and individual, all ready for my own delight of which I knew very well that I couldn't detach myself from throughout the day. I had the unexpected need to cover my nose for the first time in four years; for some reason, it had become much more potent and intoxicating than the last time...

But there was no doubt...

It was him...

It was him...

Him...

It was his scent...

THIS IS HIRO'S SCENT.

My eyes snapped open when realization hit me, and a sense of relief and peace washed over me when I finally got a bit of him after two whole weeks without his presence.

"Hiro... It's really you... You were here."

Perhaps it was my astonishment, sadness, and happiness combined that prevented me from stopping to think why Hiro's scent was spread in this specific place, but I just kept walking... Because Hiro's scent didn't stop; he had left a trail.

I knew very well that I was still detecting his scent; the place was imbued with different aromas like dry earth and sometimes putrefaction, but Hiro's scent was the one that stood out from the rest. It was probably because of my addiction that it was so easy for me not to lose his trail and keep focusing. Or maybe because his scent was naturally so strong. It didn't matter.

"It really is you!" when all the doubts had finally vanished from my mind, I started to smile, feeling so happy after many days. Hiro could evoke all kinds of emotions in me, but he would always manage to make me feel happy even when he wasn't around. That's why my smile didn't falter even as I started to run.

I felt my eyes moisten with all the mixed emotions; I had a trail that could lead me to him. Finally, I could find out if he was safe, alive, and well as he deserved to be. My mind tried to suppress the possibility that this trail would only lead me to his corpse that might have been forgotten somewhere in the city, but I tried to be positive again. He was finally close, and I had the option to go to him with my own legs without anyone to stop me.

I didn't know what kind of circumstances came together or what planets aligned for me to detect Hiro's scent in this specific place, but I didn't care right now. I could get an answer later.

Right now, I need to get to him.

0O0O

Earlier that day

Makima was right; it only took a few circumstances to come together in one place for her to detect the scent of her only friend.

Hiro and Kenji looked on emotionlessly as some excavators worked to remove most of the debris from what was once the school they both attended. It was a rather depressing sight, to be honest, but there was nothing they could do.

Except for Kenji's parents.

Hiro noticed how the excavators had the Inoue Industries logo plastered on one side of the machine, indicating that this was more of a personal job for Kenji and his parents, although none of them would say it out loud.

Kenji's parents were the owners and presidents of Inoue Industries, a company responsible for much of the construction of structures in Tokyo and most of Japan, along with various civil infrastructure projects such as several bridges, dams, airports, as well as some renewable energy projects.

A big "etcetera" that Hiro had already forgotten about.

Basically, thanks to his family, Tokyo had come to have great buildings to the point of looking like a futuristic city.

So they were also the owners of all the debris they currently had to clean up.

Now was when Inoue Industries was living up to the task of demolition for which they were also known, but the fact that they were demolishing their own buildings was a tough blow for them, especially when those buildings had existed for years, even before Kenji's own father was born.

"Dad always cries when they have to discard a building whose structure is no longer suitable for reconstruction and they have to demolish it. Mom says it's just a phase, but I'm not so sure" Kenji spoke casually, but his eyes didn't stop watching as the machines of the family company picked up more and more debris. They would be here for a while.

"Your parents must be busier than ever, right?" Hiro knew that Kenji's parents always tried to make it home for dinner; he had told him so. But being the owners and presidents of such a large company doesn't always leave time for family time.

Hiro rarely saw Kenji's parents when he came to visit, so he could only imagine how lonely his friend must have been feeling lately.

He heard him sigh, clearly confirming what he wanted to know. "I won't lie to you, the mansion currently feels abandoned without them. They don't even make it home for dinner..." For a moment, he seemed sad, but then he composed himself. "But I understand. All of this... It took us all by surprise."

Hiro glanced at himself for a moment. His right arm was carefully bandaged up to the elbow due to some detected fractures, and his chest and back were in the same circumstances, but thanks to his clothes, they weren't as noticeable. However, it was quite tedious having to take everything off when it was time to shower and put it back on afterward.

The doctors had told them that they would be like this for at least another week. It was already a miracle that both of them could still use their legs, so this was nothing compared to how other people ended up who managed to survive.

Kenji glanced at Hiro's face for a moment and noticed that the bags under his eyes had only increased. "... You haven't been sleeping much either, huh?" He gave a tired smile.

Hiro touched the bridge of his nose with his left arm, every time he used his right, he felt every muscle in his arm cry out in pain. "No... It's only gotten worse now."

"I've been having nightmares too, you know?" Kenji smiled bitterly. "I mean... I didn't notice the moment the bus went flying, but my mind can't stop replaying it in my dreams, and it gets worse every time."

Hiro bit his lower lip, trying to ignore the fact that part of the school bus had been lodged in a building not far from here. Both of them had tried to ignore it as much as they could to spare themselves more sadness.

They stayed there for quite some time, watching as the machines did their best to clear away all the debris and uncover the main street buried beneath this mess.

Externally, Hiro didn't show it, but internally, he was quite frustrated that he still couldn't go to the Research Center to see how Makima was doing. There were some reasons that were understandable but still didn't sit well with Hiro.

One reason was that the Demon Research and Containment Center had not yet finished repairing the building, so according to them, it was still not in a condition to receive guests or visitors of any kind. Hiro seriously wondered if Kishibe softened this news on purpose so that he wouldn't panic; probably the research center was in shambles and he didn't know about it.

Another reason was that Kishibe wasn't in a position to take him there either, as counterproductive as it may sound. According to him, Public Safety had him swamped with work up to his neck, and Hiro believed him. There wasn't a night when he didn't hear the sound of sirens and helicopters cutting through the sky. Along with all the news about different devils attacks around the country, all the fear had escalated, and the hunters were doing what they could. So Kishibe still hadn't found the time to take him there.

And because they didn't have a car, public transportation wasn't even up for discussion (because it wasn't even operational).

The third reason was that Hiro's body still hadn't fully healed. In fact, coming here was a big effort on his part, as his back and chest were still in pain even with every small movement. So he was strongly advised to rest until the pain in his body had decreased even more.

He had boasted that he didn't need to rest anymore, but a stern look from Quanxi quickly changed his mind. Well, this was just bad luck.

He just hoped Makima was okay.

"This is such a bullshit" Kenji commented suddenly, taking him by surprise. "We're left without a school, without teachers, and without classmates. Damn, I heard they recently found the principal's body. Can you believe it? We're the only survivors left from this school" he said, still unable to believe their reality.

Hiro just looked at the ground. "Do you think they suffered?" he asked, not looking away.

Kenji looked at him, initially not understanding. "Huh?"

"If they suffered... I mean, them" he said, giving a brief glance at the bus, or what was left of it.

Kenji's expression turned grim. "... I don't know, don't ask me those kinds of questions"

"I'm sorry, it's just... I can't shake off the idea that maybe they were suffering all those minutes, or if it was all like a blink for them and the next second they couldn't feel anything" Hiro's hands clenched the sides of his pants tightly.

Kenji didn't respond; he preferred not to dwell on that question for the sake of his own mental health, just like Hiro. If they were being realistic, it would be best for both of them to forget about it and continue with their lives as usual.

"Let's go, I think we've seen enough of this place" Kenji suggested as he headed towards the Inoue family's van where they had arrived. Hiro followed shortly after.

Earlier, Kenji had told him that they would start cleaning up the school today, so he invited him to witness this place where they had spent 7 years of their lives for the last time. It felt very nostalgic to be honest, but in a much sadder way.

Once they were both in the van and Kenji explained to the driver that they would first drop Hiro off at his apartment, Hiro had vivid memories of that day again, but there was something that had him even more confused and terrified.

Something that, to him, made absolutely no sense.

"Hey Kenji" Hiro spoke suddenly after a few minutes of travel, and young Inoue turned his full attention to him, but this time he saw him put on that face he always had when something was eating away at his mind.

"Yeah?" he asked cautiously, noticing his increasingly severe expression.

"When we were about to start moving your suitcase, and just before the gun devil attacked... Did you notice if there was anyone outside the bus?" Hiro asked seriously, recalling that blonde-haired, green-eyed girl... Along with that eerie smile she gave him in the end.

"What?" Kenji asked, feeling very confused by the question. He tried to search his mind for a similar memory but found nothing "Hiro, there was no one else outside the bus besides the two of us, and I know for sure because I would have noticed when I started moving my suitcase on my own."

Hiro frowned at him. "Are you sure?" he asked again, not very convinced and believing in what his own eyes showed him that day.

He raised an eyebrow. "Pretty sure. Look, I think the lack of sleep has already messed with your mind enough. When you get home, I recommend taking a nice bubble bath to relax your body even more, and if you need to sleep, have some tea or read a book... Or manga, they always help me sleep."

Hiro's expression relaxed, but the uncertainty still lingered at the back of his mind, waiting to be answered. And it was such a strange event that it would be hard to forget.

This whole situation sent shivers down his spine.

0O0O

The sun was already setting when Hiro opened the door to his apartment with his own keys. Kishibe had given him a copy a few years ago when he forgot his inside the apartment. It's worth mentioning that on that day, they both had to sit outside in the hallway waiting for staff assistance. According to Kishibe, that was one of his most tragic moments in life, so to avoid future inconveniences, he gave Hiro a copy of the key. At least Hiro was less forgetful than him, and Hiro could come and go from the apartment as he pleased, so it was a win-win situation.

However, Kishibe had also taken his own key even though Hiro would be staying home all day from now on. After all, it was better this way since Hiro had no school and only physical training left to start.

The reason behind all this was that Kishibe no longer came home early. Lately, he had been staying late at work or sometimes not even coming back until the next day. And all those times he returned at night, Hiro was already fast asleep. But for someone who suffered from insomnia, those hours meant between two and three in the morning; sometimes the sound of footsteps and some lights on in the hallway would wake him up, indicating that Kishibe had finally returned, but it was too late for anyone to offer to open the door for him.

So, to put it another way, Hiro had the house to himself all day.

But there wasn't much fun in it; just reading a book or watching some TV, but lately, there wasn't a channel that wasn't broadcasting the current world situation after the gun-wielding demon attack, so he didn't have many entertainment options...

'Maybe I should have asked Makima for some phone numbers to contact her' he thought, but then he concluded that she would simply give him the reception's number. She didn't have many options.

Technology hadn't reached the point yet where everyone had a personal phone in their pocket; he probably wouldn't live to see it.

With a sigh, Hiro went straight to the bathroom, taking Kenji's advice. Maybe he was right; he needed to relax more often. Being so stressed wouldn't help his body heal as it should.

After a few hours, and following a refreshing bath, young Hiro Takahashi found himself in his room with completely new clothes, ready to try to sleep. It was around nine at night, and perhaps if he kept his eyes closed and stayed in a dark place, his body would relax, and he would eventually fall asleep sooner rather than later.

When he was completely tucked in and settled, he gave one last glance at the framed photo carefully placed on his bedside table. The sight of his parents smiling reassured him a bit, but inevitably, some intrusive thoughts crept into his mind.

'I wonder if my parents would have liked Makima. I'm pretty sure they would have'

Imagining a world where she had met his parents brought a warm smile to his face. He was quite sure she would have liked the idea.

'Come to think of it, Makima and I have never taken a picture together... Doesn't sound like a bad idea'

Perhaps it was the thought of his parents or of Makima, or maybe both, but Hiro began to drift off as ideas came and went. Thinking of her calmed him while he pondered what their next reunion would be like... He just hoped she wouldn't go crazy.

Hiro didn't know what time it was when he finally fell asleep.

0O0O

Point of view of Makima.

It was probably around one in the morning, not particularly relevant information, but it helped me get an idea of how long I had been running from that school to the massive luxury apartment complex that loomed over me now. The building itself wasn't too damaged, ending more or less in the same condition as the research center, with some broken windows, cracked parts of the building, but no risk of collapse, and some debris from nearby buildings that had fallen near the entrance. It hadn't been cleaned up yet because it was surely a stressful task for all the staff.

I felt pretty exhausted at this point, leaning with my lower back against my knees as I tried to catch my breath. I had run much farther than the average human could, but I wasn't human, and I definitely didn't fall into the "average" category. Being a devil gave me a lot of resilience in every sense; a normal human would have passed out a long time ago, but for me, it was like a jog in the park—not hard to achieve, but still tiring.

Putting all that aside, I took the time to organize all my thoughts.

Usually, when I smell someone, I always imagine an imaginary line drawn on the ground, representing the essence that every living being leaves wherever they walk. Just like now, the line representing Hiro's scent continued its path into this apartment building. So, this is where my beloved Hiro and that idiot Kishibe reside? I must admit, that hunter at least has good taste; he knows how to make good use of the salary he earns in Public Security.

Carefully following that imaginary line, I made my way to the entrance of the building. In this kind of apartment complex, residents could come and go at any time of day, so it was essential for the reception to always be available with the door open for the free access of any resident. And just as I thought, the light from the reception was visible from outside, and my eyes caught sight of a young receptionist doing his night shift.

I entered through the door very naturally, very aware of the man's gaze on me. It wouldn't be easy to go unnoticed in this part of the building, especially when it was somewhat cramped. The reception desk was to my left, and in front of me were two elevators, each with stairs available on either side in case any resident preferred to use them. To my right were some sets of sofas with a table in the center, indicating it was the waiting or resting area. And that was it, unless the guy was very distracted, which he couldn't afford to be given his night shift and because the sound of the door opening and my footsteps were quite clear; there was no way to be silent.

"Um, can I help you, miss?" I heard his question, sensing the obvious confusion in his tone.

I just looked at him with bored eyes and noticed how he flinched when my eyes stared directly into his soul. At that moment, a brilliant idea crossed my mind that would save me a lot of time searching. Instantly, I smiled, making the man's discomfort even clearer.

"In fact, you can" I said a bit cheerfully, contrasting with my previous behavior.

"I'm sorry, but..." the receptionist blinked a couple of times, "I don't think I've ever seen you around here. Did your family move in recently?"

"No, I've never been inside this place," I said calmly while my smile didn't disappear.

"Uh, what?" he was quite confused as he frowned, "Well, if that's the case, then I'll have to kindly ask you to leave, miss. This place is exclusive to residents, and people who aren't guests of someone aren't allowed to enter the apartmen-"

"I'm going to be direct with you," my smile grew smaller but was still there. My eyes looked directly into his as I made my words penetrate his mind to get the answer I wanted to know. "Tell me the room number of the devil hunter from public security named Kishibe, who shares an apartment with Hiro Takahashi"

Such a clear order that someone like this receptionist could carry out.

There was a moment of silence where neither of us said anything. I just waited; the surprised look in his eyes as I calmly stared back at him confirmed that my control over him had been successfully completed. It wasn't as difficult as others might think; a simple and irrelevant human wasn't so hard to force into saying everything I wanted to hear, even their deepest secrets, but that didn't interest me right now.

I was only interested in Hiro.

Eventually, the receptionist's face took on a calmer expression, as if he hadn't been mentally manipulated by a devil a few seconds ago, as if nothing had happened, and as if I had said something within the realm of normality. "...Mr. Kishibe's room number is 205 on the sixteenth floor" his voice had become robotic, just as I expected.

"Perfect" I celebrated, truly pleased. "Do you have a spare key you can give me?"

"Mr. Kishibe preferred not to ask for one."

And all my happiness quickly went to hell.

"Tch, you son of a bitch, you had one job" I muttered, referring to that hunter. Why didn't he ask for a spare key in case he ever forgot his own? Doesn't he think about the possible consequences?

I figured I'd have to manage from here on out. Well, without hard work, there's no reward. So, without bothering to say another word, I headed to the elevator and pressed the button that would take me to the sixteenth floor. I didn't bother snapping the receptionist out of my manipulation; anyway, he'd come to in a few minutes, not remembering anything that happened but likely left with a little headache.

Those minutes I spent in the elevator felt eternal; I was dying to see Hiro once and for all. My heart started pounding with excitement as I felt his scent growing stronger. Finally, the doors opened, revealing the elegant hallway. With determined and quick steps, I set out to find the room number as quickly as possible.

200

201

202

203

204

205

"Here!" I said happily and accidentally aloud, but my relief was so great that I couldn't help it.

So, this was the door separating me from Hiro. If necessary, I'd break it down in one blow, but since I didn't want to cause a scene or attract unwanted attention, it was best to enter cautiously. But before doing that, I realized something very important to consider: Kishibe; I had to make sure if he was here or not. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to detect the repugnant smell of that hunter.

Nothing.

Absolutely nothing. There wasn't even the slightest hint of his scent; apparently, he hadn't passed through here in some time. Well, that made everything easier. I smiled, feeling pleased that that guy wasn't home tonight; maybe he went out drinking—he always smelled of alcohol, but I couldn't care less.

What mattered was that I had Hiro all to myself.

I closed my eyes again, extending my palm toward the doorknob. A few seconds later, a small chain the size of a bracelet shot out of my hand, entering directly into the lock of the door. Controlling chains at a molecular level like this required considerable concentration; I needed to think or imagine what I wanted them to become and how they would move from now on. I needed to convince them to unravel and configure themselves in the necessary way to open this. It took me some time, but eventually, I heard the characteristic sound of a lock opening. I smiled again, knowing that there was nothing standing between me and Hiro anymore.

I opened the door slowly, instantly greeted by the elegant kitchen and living room close to each other. However, that didn't make it any less welcoming; the sofas were pure white, and the metal of the kitchen and all the appliances there seemed to gleam from how polished they were. Most of the lights were off, but there was a small ambient yellow light in the kitchen to prevent anyone from stumbling in the darkness. Overall, it was a very cozy place.

Well, this guy really earned well; besides, Hiro deserved to live in a place like this. I would have given Kishibe the beating of his life if I found out he had Hiro living in a miserable place. I noticed that to the right of the living room, there was a door that definitely belonged to Hiro's room; his scent was stronger there. And next to it, there was a spiral staircase leading to the second floor of this apartment; probably, that's where Kishibe slept.

Without wasting any more time, I closed the door very carefully to avoid alerting anyone. My steps were a bit slower than before to prevent the wooden floor from creaking under my movements, but with some effort, I managed to reach the door. I took a deep breath, mentally preparing myself for whatever I might encounter.

Luckily, this door didn't have a lock, so it only took turning the doorknob to enter once and for all. But I decided to do it slowly, careful not to make any noise.

Finally, I had a clear view of everything inside: A window on the left that provided a good view of the city; a little further to the right, against the wall, there was a small table with three drawers. Next to it was a medium-sized bed, enough for two people, and on the right, against the opposite wall, was a medium-sized wardrobe.

However, it was the person lying on the bed that caught my attention. It took me a moment to snap back to reality when I finally saw him...

It was him.

It was Hiro.

I closed the door very carefully and approached the left side of the bed, standing there and staring at his face as if I couldn't believe it was really him. My mouth opened, but no words came out; it was more out of pure astonishment or even shock at finally being able to see him again after two whole weeks. I felt the relief lifting the huge weight off my shoulders, as if I had finally found true peace in this horrible life.

I was happy, very happy to see him again. He was safe, alive, and well; I could tell by the way his breathing made his chest rise and fall, indicating that he was truly still living. I felt my eyes start to moisten as I smiled, happy and relieved.

"Hiro..." I whispered, not wanting to wake him. His face looked so peaceful and beautiful that I felt it would be a shame to disturb him. But how I wished I could wake him up to hug him and tell him how much I missed him. For now, I was content knowing he was alive; it made everything so much better in my life, returning to the normal mode I was already accustomed to.

I knelt down until my knees touched the floor, slowly reaching my hand toward his cheek, gently caressing his face, being careful not to wake him. I knew it was risky, but I wanted to be close to him, to feel him again, to have his touch on my skin once more like when we hugged. It wasn't the same touching just his cheek, but there wasn't much else I could do.

I was so happy.

He was okay.

Nothing mattered more than him right now.

I felt like it was just him and me in the world, that there was nothing else out there for us, that we only needed each other to feel complete.

This... This was all I needed in my life.

He was all I needed.

"I missed you," I smiled as tears welled up in my eyes.

0O0O

According to Hiro's clock, it was almost two in the morning; I had been here for almost an hour, watching over him as he slept peacefully, unaware that someone was observing him while he slept. I stayed here more out of a sense of wanting to protect him; the last time I let him go so easily, I heard nothing from him for two weeks, swinging between the possibility that maybe he was still alive or if I had lost him forever.

I was aware that there weren't many potential dangers in his room, but I felt an enormous need to protect him from anything that might disturb him. You could call it a sense of duty, yes, that was the word I was looking for. It was necessary to protect Hiro Takahashi at all costs now that I knew he was still alive; if necessary, I would kill anything that dared to harm him.

That included humans, not just devils.

Was I really willing to kill for him? The answer was yes; I would do anything for him.

Determined to watch over him for the rest of the night, I settled into a chair near his bed and sat down, always on his left side near the table. I went over all the types of dangers Hiro might face even while he slept, whether his breathing suddenly stopped, but in that case, his body would force him to wake up. But if that didn't happen, I would spring into action. Another much more likely option was to protect him from external threats... Like the little threat walking on the table.

My eyes locked onto the small spider casually walking on the table near Hiro's bed; it was a spider, a beautiful female Araneus Ventricosus to be more precise.

If my knowledge didn't fail me, these types of spiders usually live in areas with dense vegetation like forests and gardens. Although it wasn't common to find them in urban areas, there was still a possibility of finding them in sheds or garages. I assumed that finding one here demonstrated how good Hiro was at attracting danger.

When these spiders feel threatened, they play dead, but when they want to defend themselves, they can bite someone. And although they're usually calm, it's not a good idea to approach them, or any spider for that matter.

And even though it wasn't venomous... Their bite could still be quite painful.

So, without skimping on safety measures, I did the most sensible thing possible to protect my only friend. Slowly, and without taking my eyes off Hiro, I lifted a single finger of my left hand and crushed the spider that was slowly approaching him. I twisted it a bit on the table to make sure it was really dead.

I didn't bother controlling it to make it leave the room; killing it was a quicker process and would help in the long run.

I cleaned up the area where I crushed it, knowing I couldn't leave any evidence that I had been there. While my desire to talk to Hiro again was strong, I knew all too well how easy it was for him to panic. The last thing I wanted now was to scare him... That, and because I didn't know how he would react if he found out that I had infiltrated his apartment without his consent and had been watching him all night while he slept.

It sounded more like the anecdote of a stalker. Was this considered stalking?

This wasn't morally right, but I didn't care about what was morally right. But Hiro did, and I cared about what Hiro thought. So, I would keep this as a secret to myself; I wouldn't even tell Doctor Yuna. She didn't need to know everything either.

And especially the one who least needed to know was Kishibe. Dealing with Doctor Yuna's opinion was already difficult enough, but if that guy found out I was here, things wouldn't end well for either of us.

Because above all, this was his apartment; I was trespassing on his residence without any kind of consent, literally sneaking in like a thief. I knew his opinion of me, and if I wanted to keep seeing Hiro as I had for the past four years, I had to make everyone believe that what I was doing right now never actually happened.

If necessary, I wouldn't tell Hiro about it; he might accidentally tell Kishibe, and I knew how bad he was at lying.

I sighed as I settled back into the chair; seeing Hiro relaxed me quite a bit, but I knew I had to leave as soon as possible. Not only because it was getting quite late, and without realizing it, dawn might be approaching, but also because I didn't need to run into Kishibe on the way out.

But no matter how this night ends, I'll go to bed happy knowing that my Hiro is safe.

End of Makima's POV.

0O0O

It was probably around three in the morning when Kishibe finally returned from work. His white shirt was stained with blood, and his face was still smeared with dust he hadn't bothered to clean off yet. His hair was tousled after enduring several hours of work throughout the day.

And the worst part was that he'd have to be back in five hours. Thankfully, only a few more days of this torture remained, and he could return to his normal routine.

"I feel like... I'm going to pass out," he muttered as he closed the door and collapsed onto the sofa, feeling the strain of the day melt away at once.

"Hmm?" Kishibe would have stayed there for the rest of the night, but something peculiar caught his attention.

The door to Hiro's room was slightly ajar.

It seemed a bit out of place since he was used to Hiro closing the door every time he went to sleep, indicating that he wanted privacy. But now was not the case. Was he still awake? Was insomnia still affecting him?

Whatever the case, Kishibe hurried to find out what was really happening. When he reached the door, he opened it slowly so as not to alert Hiro. But what he found was...

Nothing.

Nothing was happening. Hiro was there, sleeping peacefully as if the world outside wasn't falling apart. Maybe he simply forgot to close his own door. Kishibe preferred not to dwell on it too much, so he closed the door for him to keep any light from bothering him when morning finally came.

Perhaps killing devils all day had affected his mind, but at first, he could have sworn there was something strange about all of this. But he preferred to dismiss any anomalies. After all, this was his apartment. Nothing bad could hap-

"Holy shit..."

"This has to be a joke"

"She can't be that fool... Can she?"

Kishibe abruptly stopped when his three devils started talking at once, immediately putting him on alert.

"What's going on?" he asked, still unsure what he should be preparing for.

"Hehehe... You're not going to like this"

0O0O

Notes: Alright, you bastards, it's finally over this chapter.

I hope you liked it. Originally, I had planned for Hiro to still be awake when Makima arrived in his room, but I decided to save that for later, specifically for the next chapter.

That means the next chapter could actually be much shorter than this one, as I plan for it to focus solely on Hiro and Makima, before moving on to the start of physical training and the conflicts left by the gun demon attack.

Continuing from the theme of the previous chapter, most people on Wattpad, Fanfiction, and AO3 concluded that they prefer monthly chapters, as it helps the author polish the chapter they want to release. So, I suppose the most sensible thing is to continue trying to release monthly chapters, but who knows if there might be some inconvenience and I can't even release a chapter by the end of the month. Let's try not to dwell on that.

For now, we've been on a streak this year; I keep releasing a chapter every month, and all of you are still following this story. We're all taking our time to develop and see how events unfold.

I try to take my time with what I want to tell; maybe I stretch things out a bit? It's possible. I feel like it's happened before, but it's inevitable if I want to tell something in great detail so that it's understood, and readers become more immersed in the reading.

By this point, you might have noticed that this is a slow development, but that doesn't make it bad; on the contrary, if the author does it well, it can create something that works, and you've told me more than once that you love this story, so I'll stick with the same format without rushing things too much. Both for my own sake, the sake of the plot, and yours.

You wouldn't want to see something with a rushed ending, right?"

I could have easily started this story in the most typical way possible, with Hiro already being an adult and entering public safety, and consequently meeting Makima without needing to go through all this journey we're experiencing now. No, I wanted something more specific and detailed from the beginning. I wanted to do something that no one had done before: tell the backstory of Makima's life with the addition of Hiro in her life as proof that she could have been happier if someone had become her friend since she was young. I wanted to introduce the possibility that that person could easily change the events of Chainsaw Man for the better... or fail miserably.

Because that's the question that everyone has in their mind, and the one that I made Hiro ask himself eight chapters ago.

Would he really be able to change the control devil by himself? Some (specifically on Fanfiction) thought that part could have been developed better if Hiro made a decision of his own volition, rather than having Quanxi and Kishibe convince him to take the risk to have the possibility that the world wouldn't go to shit in the process.

But let's think for a moment. Hiro was only 10 years old at the time, and while he was more than capable of making decisions that bordered on seriousness and even thought in a somewhat more mature way than the average kids, he still didn't have enough will or courage to have the fate of humanity in his hands, or in other words...

I didn't want it to be like that.

Let's take one of Kishibe's internal dialogues: "He sometimes forgot that Hiro was still a child"

How the hell can you suddenly tell a 10-year-old kid that if he doesn't do something, everyone in the world is going to die?

I tried to make it somewhat realistic, let's see it in a way that has nothing to do with fantasy.

Putting the fate of humanity in the hands of a child is not a good idea, and it's not morally correct. What Kishibe, but especially Quanxi, did in Chapter 20 was very selfish, leaving everything in Hiro's hands. You can see it in the sense that they trust him enough to leave him with such a task, but it's still unfair."

"I know some of you might later say, 'But isn't Hiro mature enough to think about wanting to become a devil hunter? At the same time, he says he's not afraid to die, so he's crazy, so it was justified for him to make that decision of his own volition, but he didn't because he's a coward.'

Hiro isn't really as crazy as Kishibe and the others portray him. I just told it the way I did based on the perspective of Kishibe, Quanxi, and Doctor Yuna, and they all concluded that Hiro had a chance of surviving. But that doesn't make him as crazy as Kishibe, and therefore, the risk of dying is always high if he's not careful. So, that also indicates that I won't make him invincible.

No, Hiro remains human. I want him to stay as human as possible. That's why he knows how to set limits for himself, like he did in Chapter 20. It's one thing to have the dream of being a devil hunter and fighting to the death, but it's another thing to have the fate of ALL humanity placed on your shoulders. If you mess up, if you make a mistake, there won't be a future for anyone... That's not something a 10-year-old can easily grasp."

Hiro's childhood was snatched away from him, but that doesn't mean he loses the right to continue being happy. That's why, initially, he thought he wouldn't be able to fulfill the mission of changing the control devil because he wanted to live a quiet life after the tragedy he experienced.

But, buuuuttttt...

Here's where the convenient part comes in, and the convenience in this case is that Hiro, one chapter later, had the opportunity to reorganize his thoughts and realized that maybe, just maybe, he would be able to accomplish this task, even unconsciously. He realized that Makima, despite being a devil, doesn't want to behave like one. She wants to be happy like a normal person. That's why she didn't tell him she was a devil when they first met because she knew she wanted him to see her as a normal person and maybe she could have her first friend.

He knew she was different because you don't come across a demon every day who genuinely seeks a family or some semblance of normalcy in their life. That's why, in the end, it became easier for him to go along with this mission imposed upon him.

Because he knew that if he made Makima happy in this life, everyone would win.

Let's take a little detour. In an alternate reality, Hiro discovers that Makima is the control devil when he's 14 years old. By then, he and Makima have lived together normally without him knowing she was a devil all this time. But for him, it would have been easier to make the decision to make the control devil happy because by then he would have known Makima better, even without all the events we saw in Chapter 21.

So, he wouldn't need Kishibe and Quanxi's help to make a decision because he would already be much more mature than he was when he was 10 years old.

But in this timeline we all know, Hiro finds out that Makima is the control devil on only their second encounter.

Man... How the heck would you empathize with someone in less than two encounters?

"But you had the two of them come to an agreement on their third encounter"

I did... But by making both of their thoughts quite extensive to the point that Chapter 21 has more narration than actual dialogue, can you believe it? I didn't realize it until later.

But also, they were 10-year-old kids. At that age, we all got much more excited than we do now. And maybe some of you didn't notice, but sometimes I made Hiro continue to think in a 'childish' way when the moment required it to show that he still has some innocence in him. Because let's be realistic, the idea of befriending a devil isn't exactly the smartest thing to do... But I still forced Hiro to do it, not just for the sake of the plot, but because I wanted to show what Kishibe and the others thought of him...

That he was naive.

Which once again, I'll prove at the end of this story.

So, returning to the initial question, could Hiro create a different world for everyone?

The answer, sadly, I think many of you already know.

Because it's just as Kishibe once thought. And it's just as I've been implying for a while now, even the title of chapter 20 throws it in your face.

"Makima would always be a being of pure evil"

"You are nothing but pure evil"

"You destroy everything you touch"

But ironically, within all of this, happiness can still be found. Perhaps it won't last forever, but there will be evidence that at least someone was happy once.

I've been Abusamadres, see you around.