After the intense battle, only warm, crimson remnants remained among the ruins. Cael and Asa Mitaka shared a rare moment of quiet reflection.
"Asa, it's almost noon. Let's go make something to eat," Cael said, stroking the girl's hair as she rested in his arms.
He felt parched, his body drained, exhausted, and heavy with fatigue. He hadn't expected Asa to possess such explosive power—it was insane. If he hadn't noticed the War Devil's signature scar on her face, he might have thought Yoru had taken over.
"No," Asa pouted, cheeks rosy, retorting stubbornly.
Cael flicked her nose playfully. "Fine, I'll cook then. You can keep resting."
"You're not allowed to go either," Asa replied.
"If I don't cook, what will my little glutton eat?" he teased softly.
"Instant noodles."
"No way, that's not nutritious," Cael protested, starting to get up.
"Hey! Don't move!" Asa clung tightly to his clothes, teeth gritted. "Looks like I really need to restrain you."
Before he could react, she trapped his armpit with her elbow and wrapped her agile legs around his waist. Like a determined sloth, she clung to him. "Look at those dark circles under your eyes. Just sleep a little longer with me."
Once Asa crossed that line, her shyness vanished—she was proactive and unrelenting. Cael sighed and complied, too tired to resist, closing his eyes and following her momentum.
Asa, on the other hand, was alert. She leaned over, quietly studying his sleeping face. He's so handsome… Hmph. But he's mine now.
She pressed a soft kiss to him.
"Stop messing around, Asa…" Cael murmured, half-asleep.
Resting her head on his shoulder, Asa whispered, "Cael, do you know when I started liking you?"
"When was that…" His voice grew fainter, drifting toward sleep.
"When you lent me your shoes. It's ridiculous, right? Do you think I'm just attracted to your looks?"
"I guess so…" His breathing evened out, and he was asleep.
Asa smiled sweetly, leaning close to whisper, "I don't need any gifts. Cael, you are the best gift for me."
Gulp… Her stomach rumbled.
Huh? Maybe it was from the intensity earlier. She realized she was actually a little hungry. Right, the gift from Sister Fami!
She grabbed the Cartoon Eagle Jade Pendant engraved with her name from the bedside table.
Both Cael and Asa had done what they needed to do, yet their clothes were still in place.
"Hehe, let me put this on you personally~" Asa said, naturally reaching into Cael's shirt, stroking his chest.
"Wow, feels like I'm a pervert, groping my boyfriend while putting a pendant on him," she laughed, tongue peeking out. Her hand was warm, and Cael slept on peacefully.
"Huh? What is this?"
Asa had been feeling his chest when she suddenly touched a cool, triangular object.
"Did Cael already wear a pendant? It's weird, like a pull tab." She explored the pull tab, noting the icy coldness. Definitely not as comfortable as Fami's jade pendant.
Determined, she decided to switch it out. The more she touched it, the stranger it felt. She couldn't figure out where it was attached. It can't be… growing out of his flesh…?
Brute force was her last resort. Her index finger hooked onto the triangular tab, and she yanked.
Vroom!
The violent roar of a chainsaw echoed through the bedroom. Cael's head transformed, sharp saw blades erupting from his skull and hands. The mattress shredded beneath him.
Cael bolted upright. Huh? What the hell?! How did I turn into Chainsaw Man?!
He glanced frantically at Asa, who had dodged. They stared at each other silently.
Finally, he managed, "Asa… you're not hurt, right?"
All of this was unexpected. Asa's mouth hung open, shock and something deeper rippling across her expression. Her pupils shifted to orange-ringed eyes, and an A-shaped scar appeared on her face. Yoru had taken over.
A look of disdain curled her lips. "Chainsaw Man, right here beside me?"
Cael reverted to human form. "Yoru, I can explain…"
"Cael, you certainly have a deceitful mouth. Is this the Blackbeard Devil you contracted with?"
"I…" He faltered.
Asa pleaded, "Yoru, there must be some misunderstanding…"
"Explain, Chainsaw Man. I'm giving Asa face. Your last words," Yoru's eyes blazed with killing intent.
Cael took a deep breath. How could he explain? Should he reveal that he wasn't the Chainsaw Man who ruined Yoru, that it was Pochita? No—he couldn't betray Pochita.
He resolved to bear the burden himself. "That's right, Yoru. I am Chainsaw Man."
"I'll kill you! Give me back my children!"
Bang!
Yoru's punch struck his cheek. Blood flowed. "I'll return your children, but now is not the time…"
He repeated Pochita's words.
Yoru gnashed her teeth, reason absent from her eyes. "Cael… Chainsaw Man, right? You know this?" She gripped the chiffon shirt on her upper body—what Cael had given Asa. "My heart beats only to kill Chainsaw Man!"
"Shirt Sword!"
A flash of white light passed. Only underwear remained on Yoru, and a sharp white sword materialized in her hand.
"Come! Transform into Chainsaw! Fight me to the death!"
"I won't fight you," Cael shook his head. "This is Asa's body. I will never hurt her."
"Asa, please!" Yoru swung, but Cael held his ground. Swish! The white blade slashed toward his face. Kaka—
Half of the Sword was swallowed by a black hole in his hand. Cael wasn't even serious.
"Yoru, I told you, at the right time, I will return your children…"
Agitated, Yoru's chest rose and fell. She couldn't even beat him when he wasn't fully Chainsaw Man. Damn him!
Cael removed his jacket and approached. "Put your clothes back on. It's cold."
Yoru instinctively tried to back away—but then inspiration struck. Love. Asa and Cael had already been intimate; she could weaponize his feelings of guilt. Killing two birds with one stone.
"Asa, don't!" she pleaded, attempting to regain control. But it was too late. Yoru's hand was already on Cael's head.
"Cael Spinal Cord Sword!"
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