Arrest Her

"Himeno-senpai?!" Aki was startled by his partner's sudden appearance.

Shoko was a Devil. If Himeno discovered her identity and decided to eliminate her… No, I can't fight Himeno. I have to get Shoko out of here. And avoid Public Safety surveillance…

As Aki frantically plotted an escape route, Shoko cheerfully greeted Himeno. "Hello, I'm his… assistant. Call me Shoko."

"Hello… Assistant?" Himeno instinctively shook Shoko's outstretched hand. "Assistant for what, exactly?"

"Oh, I help him with… physical inconveniences."

She couldn't reveal the contract. But wounds were physical inconveniences, right?

"Physical… inconveniences?!" Himeno's eyes widened in horror. She looked back and forth between Shoko and Aki.

"Aki-kun, that's illegal! How old are you?!"

"I'm 22. Why?" Aki replied automatically. "I joined Public Safety at 20. It's been two years."

"That's even worse! You're an adult! But this girl—she's clearly under eighteen! You're a lolicon!"

"What are you talking about?!"

As Himeno and Aki descended into chaos, Shoko, aware of the misunderstanding, remained silent. This had nothing to do with her, an innocent Desire Devil.

In fact, Himeno's misinterpretation, and any resulting overreaction, would be beneficial.

Shoko considered subtly revealing her Devil nature to Himeno, making herself seem like a malicious Devil with ulterior motives.

A year had passed. The main story would begin in another year. Denji, now happily cared for by Shoko, was far from his canonically desperate starting point.

It was time for her to exit, at least from Denji's life. Time for him to experience hardship and become the Chainsaw Man.

She was a safe haven, a home, an anchor for Denji.

Good for Denji, bad for the Chainsaw Man.

The Chainsaw Man couldn't have a home, a weakness. He needed to struggle and fight in despair. That's what the readers wanted.

Denji's desires are irrelevant compared to the readers' wishes…

More importantly, if Denji didn't fuse with Pochita, she couldn't enact her heartfelt plan.

As Aki and Himeno argued, Shoko glanced at her hand.

What would be the most hate-inducing method of betrayal?

"Finally, she's gone…" Aki sighed in relief as Shoko disappeared down the street.

He thought Himeno was boisterous enough on her own. The two of them together were a nightmare. The stares from passersby made him feel like a kindergarten teacher dealing with unruly children.

"Himeno-senpai, you're an adult. Act like one." To calm his nerves, Aki popped a piece of gum into his mouth.

He used to smoke, but Shoko would cough violently whenever he lit a cigarette, her eyes watering as she told him to smoke all he wanted; her lungs would heal anyway…

Faced with such shameless guilt-tripping, Aki, not yet morally bankrupt, had quit.

Himeno, while lamenting the loss of a smoking buddy, was secretly pleased. But today, she couldn't be happy.

"Aki-kun, are you close to that girl?"

"...Not really." Aki looked away, avoiding Himeno's serious gaze. "I met her last year. She gives me… information about Devils. She's an informant."

"I see. That explains your impressive Devil hunting record. Your own personal intel network, huh?" Himeno chuckled unconvincingly, her fidgeting betraying her anxiety.

She lit a cigarette, inhaling deeply to calm her nerves.

She didn't want to do this, but it was her duty, and it was for Aki's own good.

"That girl… she's a Devil, isn't she?"

"—!" Aki's heart sank, but he prepared to defend Shoko. Himeno's next words rendered him speechless.

"She's the Desire Devil. You made a contract with her. She's paying the price for your Devil powers, right?"

"..." Himeno's detailed knowledge meant Public Safety was already aware and prepared. Denial was futile.

"How did you know?" He was certain he hadn't told anyone.

Himeno hesitated, then admitted, "The Fox Devil told us. It seems it recognized the Desire Devil's essence from… the taste."

"As if she's some kind of ingredient..." Aki's voice remained calm, but his fists clenched.

That damn fox. It did that on purpose.

"A Devil that can bear the cost of contracts… She's extremely valuable. The higher-ups are very interested."

Himeno took a deep breath, looking at the silent Aki.

"So, arrest her."