Too Many Humans

 Kyoto Station. The bullet train screeched to a halt.

Amidst the throng of passengers scrambling to disembark, Makima, clad in a blood-soaked trench coat, stepped onto the platform, her expression unchanged. The sight of her sent chills down the spines of the two Devil Hunters, Hirai and Tendo, waiting to receive her.

Despite the palpable tension, Hirai forced himself to speak. "Makima-san, we're glad you're alright. We just received a report about Special Divisions 1 and 2—"

"I know. Skip the pleasantries." Makima cut him off abruptly, not even bothering to glance their way as she walked past.

"There was a shooting on the train. Get someone to deal with the bodies."

Though her tone and expression remained flat, Hirai and Tendo sensed her foul mood. It was practically radiating off her.

They'd worked with Makima for years at Public Safety, but this was the first time they'd seen her disregard basic decorum.

What unnerved them most wasn't her disregard for pleasantries, but the sheer killing intent emanating from her. Even though it wasn't directed at them, it was enough to make their spines tingle.

"I need thirty death row inmates from the Ministry of Justice, and a shrine on high ground." Makima continued walking, addressing the two trailing behind her without turning around. "Tell them to hurry, or I'll get them myself."

Hailing a cab, Makima stepped inside. The driver, initially confused, suddenly stiffened, his expression going blank as he drove towards the nearest mountain shrine.

Chainsaw Man, is it?

Sitting in the cab, Makima stared out the window at the blurring scenery, a frown creasing her brow.

Chainsaw Man was her idol. Her original plan was to use his power to devour all devils, to rid the world of fear, and finally, to have him consume her, ending the cycle of devils entirely.

In this plan, she would die, but she didn't care. Life held no meaning for her. Though she intended to make the world a better place, she held no attachment to it. Death was a welcome release.

Then, she'd learned the truth about Denji. Pochita, the devil residing within him, was Chainsaw Man, the terror of Hell.

But her perspective had shifted.

She'd discovered the simple joy of ice cream, the unexpected amusement of bad movies, the breathtaking beauty of a Ferris wheel at its apex.

This boring world wasn't so bad after all… but experiencing its beauty alone felt… incomplete.

She needed friends. Family.

Makima had never had friends, but now she did. A friend who did strange things, laughed constantly, acted like a goofball, but was willing to experience everything with her, everything she'd missed.

Because of Shoko, Makima felt connected to this world. Perhaps it wasn't so bad that it needed to be remade at the cost of her own life.

Besides, if she eradicated all devils, the Desire Devil would be included.

Losing Shoko, returning to a world devoid of color, a world of mere hierarchy…

Makima admitted it – she was afraid.

So she'd abandoned her original plan. The machinations against Chainsaw Man were shelved. She stopped plotting and scheming, instead focusing on where to take Shoko the next day.

But it turned out to be a grave mistake.

Having ceased her surveillance to avoid being drawn back into her old plans, Makima had withdrawn her network of informants, ignoring the intelligence gathered by her animal spies. She knew powerful entities in Hell were watching Chainsaw Man, but she didn't care. As long as she had Shoko, the rest was irrelevant.

They could fight over Chainsaw Man's heart while she and Shoko lived a peaceful life—but perhaps this peace had made her complacent. She'd forgotten that even if you avoid danger, danger will find you.

Those powerful beings in Hell wouldn't bother coming to the human world to cause trouble, but their underlings… though no threat to her, they were more than capable of killing Shoko.

The moment she was shot on the train, Makima understood. She immediately reactivated her intelligence network, searching for Shoko.

But all she found, through the eyes of a bird, was Shoko's lifeless body.

They'd killed Shoko while targeting Chainsaw Man.

The car stopped. Makima calmly ascended the steps leading to the mountain shrine.

Devils didn't die from gunshots. They returned to Hell. She would go to Hell later and bring Shoko back.

But that didn't mean those responsible wouldn't pay.

As Makima reached the shrine gate, the thirty death row inmates arrived. Her threat had been effective. The usually sluggish officials had acted with surprising speed.

"Close your eyes."

A single command, and everyone present, including Hirai and Tendo, along with the struggling inmates, instantly obeyed.

Makima stopped before one of the inmates. "Say, 'Mishima Shuzo.'"

"...Mishima Shuzo."

Makima flicked her fingers, as if crushing an insect.

The inmate collapsed, dead. Hundreds of kilometers away, one of the fleeing attackers was suddenly compressed into a bloody pulp.

Humans were always finding new ways to kill each other.

Stepping over the body, Makima moved to the next inmate. "Say, 'Inoue Takashi.'"

Hell had surprisingly nice scenery.

Little flowers, little grass, and a sky seemingly patched together from planks of wood.

Shoko sat on a rock, cheerfully watching the system notifications.

Though she was in Hell, it was still the Chainsaw Man world. The energy from others popped up without delay.

It was a shame she couldn't see their expressions. It dampened the fun a bit.