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Déjà Vu

Chapter 3: The Puppet Strings

Denji barely hears the conversation around him.

The devil is dead. The mission is over. Aki is still standing. That should be enough.

But it isn't.

Because Makima is here.

She wasn't here last time. She didn't step into this room, didn't speak those words, didn't look at him like she already knew what he would do before he did it.

He wipes his hands on his pants, trying to steady himself.

"You moved unusually fast today, Denji." Makima's voice is light, but there's something beneath it. A weight, a knowing. "It's good to see you improving."

Denji forces a grin. "Hell yeah! Guess I'm just that good."

Makima tilts her head slightly. "Is that so?"

Her eyes don't leave him. Denji swallows. She knows. He's sure of it.

But he can't let her know that he knows that she knows.

Aki sheaths his sword with a quiet sigh. "The job's done. We should go." His voice is even, but Denji catches something off—something hesitant. Aki noticed, too.

But he won't say it.

Because Makima is here.

She walks past them, her heels clicking softly against the floor. "I'll handle the report. You all deserve some rest."

And just like that, she's gone.

Denji exhales, only now realizing how tense his shoulders were.

Power stretches with a loud yawn. "Tch! Too easy! I hardly got to do anything!"

Denji barely hears her. His mind is spinning.

That night, he dreams of Himeno.

Not the way she was in life—loud, teasing, always laughing through the exhaustion. No, this Himeno is different.

She stands in the doorway of his room, her eye covered in shadows, her cigarette unlit.

"You messed up," she says.

Denji sits up, his sheets tangled around him. "…What?"

Himeno takes a step forward. "You weren't supposed to change anything."

The air in the room feels wrong. Stretched too thin.

"I—" Denji grips his head. "I didn't—"

"You did." Her voice is softer now.

"And she noticed."

Makima.

Denji's chest tightens.

"What happens now?"

Himeno smiles, but it's sad. "You'll see."

And then she's gone.

When Denji wakes up, the apartment feels off. Too quiet.

Aki isn't in the kitchen like usual. Power isn't yelling about breakfast.

Denji steps into the living room. Aki is standing by the window, staring outside, his hands clenched at his sides.

Denji frowns. "Yo, what's up with you?"

Aki doesn't look at him. "Something's wrong."

Denji's stomach twists. "What do you mean?"

Aki finally turns. His face is pale, his jaw tight. "Himeno."

Denji freezes. "What about her?"

Aki's grip tightens. "She's gone."

Something cold creeps down Denji's spine. "Yeah… I know."

Aki shakes his head. "No. I mean—she never existed."

Denji stares. "The hell are you talking about?"

Aki's voice is strained. "I woke up this morning, and it's like she was never here. There are no records of her. No one remembers her. Even the reports—we went on missions together, but her name's not there."

Denji's mouth goes dry.

"I don't understand," Aki mutters. "I—" His voice cracks. "I remember her. I know she was real. But it's like…" He exhales sharply. "It's like the world just erased her."

Denji's heart is pounding.

This wasn't part of the last loop.

Something changed.

And Makima noticed.