Ten the next morning. Outside a movie theater.
"Sorry I'm late, Makoto."
He turned at the sound of her voice. Gone was the black-and-white Public Safety uniform. In its place, Makima wore a soft cream-colored collarless top paired with a simple beige high-waisted skirt.
Her signature wine-red hair, usually woven into a single braid, fell loose over her shoulders and down her back.
The sharp edges of the workplace had melted away, replaced by something gentler. Almost delicate.
"Don't worry about it. I just got here myself."
He walked over to meet her.
"I don't have much experience with dates." Makima clasped both hands behind her back. "I'll leave the planning to you."
That answer pleased him. In the original story, when Makima had dragged Denji out on a date, she hadn't given the kid any say in the matter. Just announced they'd be watching movies all day.
"Let's start with a movie."
If Makoto had to describe Makima in a word, it would be doll. A beautiful one. Less charitably: a facsimile. Her imitation of humanity was nearly flawless, but small details still betrayed the gulf between her and the real thing. And with his god's-eye knowledge, those cracks were impossible to miss.
If he had to pinpoint when the original Makima had ever shown something genuinely human, it came down to two moments: the instant she believed she'd finally obtained Chainsaw Man, and the times she watched movies.
"Sure," Makima said, looking satisfied with the choice.
Ten minutes later, inside the theater.
Makoto had chosen the exact film that had once made Makima cry: Ballad of a Soldier, the classic Soviet anti-war picture. And right on cue, when the young soldier Alyosha returned to his village during a brief leave, embracing his mother only to be torn away again by the war, tears rolled down Makima's cheeks.
As a being, Makima was complicated.
The Control Devil, born from humanity's fear of domination. Yet she yearned for what she saw on that screen: the mutual care between a soldier and his mother.
Love given and received as equals. She craved that. To be held, to be cherished, by someone who saw her as their equal.
At the same time, she regarded nearly every other living thing as beneath her. As her dogs. She killed without hesitation.
That was why she wanted Chainsaw Man to devour her. Anything eaten by Chainsaw Man was erased from existence at a fundamental level, concept and all. If "domination" ceased to exist, inequality between people would vanish, and a perfect world could emerge.
A warm hand closed around hers.
Makima glanced down at their interlaced fingers, then at Makoto.
He smiled. "Is this okay?"
Two seconds of silence. "...No, it's fine. We are dating." A small smile crossed her face, and she turned back to the screen.
Makoto had no idea whether the gesture stirred anything meaningful in her. He wasn't doing it for her soul. He wanted her body.
Strip away the looks, and the things she'd done would've gotten her crucified by every reader who ever picked up the manga. Instead, the overwhelming sentiment had been "I want to be Makima's dog."
It reminded him of Esdeath from Akame ga Kill!. Strip away the gorgeous design, and her actions would terrify any sane person. Yet her popularity was astronomical, and she gets cameo gigs in every crossover fanfic out there. All because of that face.
Same energy. Depressingly real.
Meanwhile, Ishigami's operation was underway.
He'd strapped on his blade and headed to the rendezvous point to meet up with Shinichi Kudo. Along with the bait himself, Shinichi's father was already waiting.
"Where's the Devil Hunter Makima assigned?" Ishigami's tone could have frozen a pipe.
He had zero warmth for either of these two.
Before father or son could answer, a bright, energetic voice cut in.
"Ah, sorry, sorry! Am I late?"
They turned. A young woman in a Public Safety uniform jogged toward them, her features sharp and pretty, her right eye hidden behind a patch.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Himeno, member of Public Safety Special Division 4 under Ms. Makima."
"They only sent one person?" Yusaku Kudo frowned.
"Can't be helped, Mr. Kudo." Himeno spread her hands. "You know how it is. After the Gun Devil incident, the number of Devil Hunters in Public Safety dropped off a cliff. No matter how good the benefits, most people won't touch this job. I've lost four partners since I joined, and my latest replacement still hasn't come through." She shrugged. "Besides, sending me, someone with an actual Devil contract, is already a favor. The brass only approved it because of Ms. Makima."
A Devil contract?
Interest flickered across three faces.
Himeno read the room and grinned. "Sorry. The details of my contract are only for people I trust. We're not quite there yet, so I'll be keeping my abilities to myself."
"Whatever. Let's get moving." Ishigami waved it off and started positioning. The plan was simple: leave Shinichi alone in the open, everyone else in the shadows, and wait for the rat to take the cheese.
"Hold on." Yusaku spoke up. "Can we use Ms. Himeno as the bait instead?"
Ishigami and Himeno both turned suspicious eyes on him.
Yusaku raised a hand. "I think that Devil is smart enough to recognize a trap. Shinichi already fell for it once. If the Devil sees him wandering the streets alone during a Public Safety curfew, it'll smell a setup and stay hidden." He paused. "Ms. Himeno would be far more convincing."
Himeno blinked her remaining eye. "He's got a point."
An ordinary woman would have refused outright. But people who chose Devil hunting as a career weren't exactly wired normally. Doubly so for someone who'd signed a contract with a Devil.
"Then I'll..."
"Why don't you just do it?" Ishigami cut her off, pointing squarely at Yusaku.
Silence. Everyone's brain stalled.
Yusaku pointed at himself. "Me?"
"Yeah, you." Ishigami didn't crack. "The last victim was your son. That means this Devil's tastes aren't limited to women. Could be it prefers men. In that case, you're the perfect stand-in. You two even look alike."
Holy shit. That actually makes more sense.
Himeno was starting to think Public Safety's new recruits were operating on a different level.
"...Fine. I'll do it." Yusaku bit down and accepted.
"Dad..." Shinichi started.
Ishigami silenced him with a look. "Go home. We're not interested in babysitting dead weight."
With the curfew still in effect, the streets after dark were deserted. Anyone out alone stuck out like a sore thumb.
Two people, as it happened, were doing exactly that.
"It's gotten quite late." Makima stepped out of the upscale restaurant alongside Makoto and surveyed the empty street. "Per Public Safety's curfew, everyone's gone home..." She turned to him. "So what about us?"
"Home, obviously." Makoto took her hand with a grin. "Where do you live?"
The memory of what he'd said in the office yesterday clicked into place. Makima's gaze softened with understanding.
"Follow me."
As the two of them cut through the empty streets, a pair of eyes watched from a narrow alley across the road.
"Damn it!" Makoto Ito slammed his fist against the wall.
The Libido Devil's power had restored what he'd lost. But in all this time, his only conquest had been one man, and that man was the insufferable Shinichi Kudo.
Meanwhile, his sworn enemy lived like a king. With most of his women overseas, the bastard had already found a new one in this world, and a gorgeous one at that.
The contrast was driving Ito insane.
The Libido Devil's voice rumbled through his skull. "I smell an exquisite man. Move. Get him before he reaches home."
Man.
The word hit Ito like a bucket of ice water. He nearly fell on his ass.
But his body was shared with the Devil now, and before he could protest, the Libido Devil seized control, spinning them around and bolting in the opposite direction.
"B-Bro, can we please not do another guy? A woman. Any woman. She doesn't even have to be pretty."
Ito was on the verge of tears.
"Hah? You think you're in a position to negotiate? The market is what it is. You take what's available and be grateful. Besides, you seemed to enjoy it last time."
Ito couldn't argue. He could only suffer in silence and pray the next target would be female.
It didn't take long. The Libido Devil locked onto a man carrying a briefcase, clearly a salaryman heading home late.
Viewed from behind, the figure was tall and well-built. Probably the type who'd be popular with women twice his age at a host club.
Under the Devil's control, Ito lunged, tackling Yusaku Kudo from behind. One hand clamped over the man's mouth, the other dragged him into the nearest alley. Exactly like a month ago with Shinichi.
"Mmph! Mmm!"
Yusaku couldn't speak. All he could manage were muffled grunts, desperately signaling Ishigami and Himeno to move.
"Oh! A silver fox! Darling!" The Libido Devil licked its lips. "That ass is mine."
Sharing the Devil's senses, Ito did a double take. Wait, isn't that Shinichi's father? The coincidence set off alarm bells.
But the Libido Devil moved faster than suspicion. Fabric tore. No further preamble.
According to the Devil, lubrication was optional. Blood worked fine.
"MMPH! MMMMPH!"
Yusaku's muffled screaming grew louder, but with Ito's hand clamped over his mouth, the sound barely carried. He refused to believe Ishigami and Himeno couldn't hear this.
"Hey, hey, hey! Shouldn't we move in?!" Himeno hissed from the shadows, frantic.
One look at what was happening to Yusaku in that alley and her remaining eye nearly popped out of its socket. Is this the kind of premium show you get to watch for free?!
"Not yet." Ishigami's voice was flat. "He just started. He'll still be on guard. We need to wait until his defenses are at their lowest."
"Lowest? When's that?"
Ishigami considered this for half a second, expression perfectly serious. "When he finishes."
Himeno stared at him.
"MMMMPH! MMMM! MMMMMMPH!"
Yusaku's strangled cries echoed through the alley.
Over at Makima's place, Makoto was dealing with a different kind of obstacle.
"Out. Out, you stupid dogs."
A few well-placed kicks sent Makima's pack of overly curious huskies tumbling out of the bedroom. He shut the door and turned to face Makima, who'd just emerged from the bathroom.
"Don't you think that towel's a bit thick? Here, let me help you with it."
"I'm a little cold, actually. Let's talk under the covers first. Don't worry, I'm in no rush. Let's just chat for a bit."
"Brrr, still cold. Come here, let me hold you."
"Hey, don't clamp your mouth shut like that. Open up a little..."
"I'm just going to rub it on the outside. I won't go in..."
"God, you're tight."
What followed was a duet from Makoto and Makima's bedroom, accompanied by Yusaku Kudo's anguished solo performance in a back alley across town. Both concerts ran until dawn.
Early the next morning.
"So... can we move in now?"
Himeno had gone completely numb. She was half-convinced Ishigami was secretly working with the Devil. The man had sat through an entire night of this.
And what was with him taking pictures? Was he planning to admire those later?
"Hahhh!"
A satisfied groan echoed from inside the alley.
Ishigami's blade sang free of its scabbard. He vaulted onto the wall, legs coiling like springs, and launched himself at the figure's exposed back. Years of training were evident in every movement.
But Devils weren't easy prey. The instant Ishigami struck, the Libido Devil caught his scent and whipped around, driving a spinning kick through Ito's body.
Ishigami caught the blow on the flat of his blade, barely deflecting the force.
They locked eyes. Disbelief mirrored on both faces.
"Makoto Ito?!"
"Yu Ishigami?!"
Before either could process it, a disembodied arm materialized between them like a phantom, seizing Ito by the throat.
Ishigami's eyes narrowed. So that's the woman's Devil power.
"Now! Hit him!" Himeno shouted from behind.
Half a second's deliberation. Ishigami reversed his grip and drove the blade into the center of Ito's chest, stopping just short of the heart. "Don't move. Or I'll carve it out."
The Libido Devil froze.
"Ugh, the smell." Himeno pinched her nose and hurried over. One look at Yusaku's crumpled form on the ground and her eye went wide. "Wow. My last four partners died, and none of them ended up looking this messed up."
"He's still breathing." Ishigami kept his blade pinned in the Devil's chest. "Get them both back to Public Safety. The boss will decide what happens next."
Himeno wrinkled her nose. "Do I have to touch them? Just call it in and let someone else handle transport."
"Your call."