Amusement

"Leech Devil subjugated." Aki put away his sword, turning to Komori and Arai. "Report."

"They're alive…" Komori, pale with fright, dragged Power. "…But pretty banged up."

"They'll live." Aki glanced at the unconscious Denji. "He still needs to give a statement."

"What about the kitty?!" Though injured, Power still cared about her pet.

"...The cat is at the vet."

"Oh, so kind, Aki-kun, to devils and cats." The applause came from behind.

"But so ruthless against Devils."

"Miss, civilians aren't allowed here!" Arai warned. "It's dangerous! Please—"

Aki raised his hand, stopping him.

Himeno stood next to Aki, her expression serious.

"Evacuate the area. Alert headquarters."

Arai stared. "But there are no more enemies…?"

"We're looking at her now." Himeno extinguished her cigarette. "Prepare to subdue the Desire Devil."

"D-Desire Devil? The one who escaped earlier?!"

"Oh dear, so defensive upon seeing me. It's hurtful, Aki-kun." Shoko sighed, picking up a severed hand and waving it.

"Playing with corpses…" Komori and Arai were disgusted. They knew Devils were cruel but, as rookies, they'd only seen Aki's one-shot kills.

A Devil using a human hand like a toy was new.

"All devils are evil!"

"That's harsh," Shoko said. "Some are good, like me."

"I helped you for a whole year. You should be grateful." She tossed the hand at Komori.

Komori screamed, dropping it. She scrambled behind Himeno.

"Oh dear, is that how you treat your comrade's hand? Perhaps it should be reattached later?"

"…What do you want?" Aki stood before his comrades.

"Hmm, what should I want…?"

Shoko had no plan.

She was buying groceries and heard a fight. She was curious.

She'd run into the main cast. This is where the plot picks up.

She could get more screen time. More screen time meant higher popularity…

Shoko smiled at Aki. "Can you return Denji?"

"..." Aki was unmoved. He told Himeno to move Denji further away.

"What do you want him for?"

"Strange question. I raised him?"

Shoko tilted her head, confused. "It's natural that I want him back, isn't it?"

"Wait, you're his mother?!" Komori and Arai were shocked. "So Denji is… a Devil's child?!"

"Don't listen to her," Aki said. "She only cared for him for a year. And even if you're his mother, you have no right over him. What do you want?"

"..."

Shoko laughed. Aki was wary. He still hated her. He'd never get over how she manipulated him.

Yet, his favorability continued to rise.

[Target Aki's Favorability Decreased. Current Favorability: 7]

[Current Target Energy Charge Efficiency: 630%]

He's still at level seven, despite being angry at me.

Perhaps he still had some trust.

Shoko decided to tease him further.

"Did you know Denji's highly sought-after now?" She began circling the group.

"The Darkness and Gun Devils want him. I'm weak. Power from them would make me more than just a snack, wouldn't it?"

"Gun Devil… ?!" Aki's eyes sharpened. He controlled his anger. "You know where the Gun Devil is?"

"Eager, Aki-kun? Do you want to know?" She chuckled. "Return Denji, and I'll tell you. Perhaps I could even kill it for you?"

"You'd use Denji's life for power?" Aki stared at her. "You didn't care if he died earlier, but you asked them not to hurt him. Now you'd sell him… "

"What is he to you?"

"Hmmm, a good question…" She grinned. "Why don't you guess?"

Aki's jaw clenched.

[Energy +10000]