Chapter the Eight

My fourth year here is a year of strife for the wold. Monster attacks around the globe have increased overall by fifteen percent, meaning that, on average, we get five calls to action every week. Of course, we specifically rarely get involved unless devils are concerned. Most monsters are far too weak to call upon A ranks or higher. Even with Makima being so active compared to others, she has slowed down a great deal.

I had woken up one morning expecting a normal day. I got out of my cell and stretched a little, by now I'm basically allowed to walk around the building as I pleased. It's not like anyone can stop me. Color me surprised when I decided to take a look near the entrance only to find two people I had been waiting for since I've set foot here! There they were, talking with Makima.

Himeno and Aki. She looked thinner than I remembered and her hair seemed longer. Aki looked similar to how I recalled. Johnson was there for some reason too, but he was too occupied playing on his phone.

They seemed to notice me, I wasn't trying to get acquainted but of course, Makima was going to be an obstacle to my peace once more.

"Ah. Roach, I was just about to go downstairs and introduce our new recruits to you."

I groaned. Why? Can't I have what I want when I want it? I want peace, I get war, I want trouble, I get peace… 

"It's not necessary, is it?"

"It's important for everyone to get to know each other." She said with a wide smile but she was looking at me in a way that screamed 'Do what I tell you to, bitch'. Yes, even the 'bitch' part. She doesn't respect me so I'd one hundred percent be unfazed if she did indeed think that exactly like that.

I do ought to stop complaining though. A few years ago and she was looking down on me like I wasn't even worth being called a dog. Now, I'm not sure what she sees me like. An entertaining tool perhaps?

I walked forward and looked down towards Aki and Himeno. It was clear in their eyes. They felt intimidated.

"I'm Roach Man, monster and devil hunter, I'll be looking forward to working with you."

Johnson snickered in the background. The hell dude? The only one that might give me trouble is Aki. He did hate devils if I recall, that might have translated to monsters as well here.

"It's an honor sir." Aki suddenly said as he bowed. What the hell? "My name is Aki Hayakawa. I've heard of your outstanding contribution to Public Safety and to humanity as a whole. I'm looking forward to learning from you."

Okay… I like him a lot more now.

Himeno simply bowed. "I'm Himeno, glad to meet you, I hope we can work well together."

No flattery? Come on. You're definitely second place now.

"Now that you've all been introduced, you two will be going on your first patrol with John Johnson here in… At most an hour." Makima said.

I swear if I wasn't so used to it I'd laugh. The worst thing about this is that his name is better than Roach Man.

"Can I go with them?" There's no way I'm passing the opportunity.

Makima turned around, seemingly confused.

"Well if you are so desperate to get out, I see no issue."

Your face tells me otherwise but, whatever! Finally, something substantial to do. I'll get to know two important people, see how Johnson handles recruits and maybe blow up a head or two. It's a perfect deal!

Early into our patrols, personality dynamics were already defined. Himeno was clearly interested in Aki, asking him questions upon questions, most of which he refused to answer. At least those she asked to Johnson were better received, they were getting along pretty well.

I also learned that they weren't exactly new recruits. Sure, they were new in Makima's special squad but they weren't new devil hunters. They've been working together for two years.

Plus, it was Kishibe who got them together. It's because of their remarkable capacity to work efficiently even without contracts, except for Aki with the Fox devil, that Makima took an interest in them.

"So, mister Roach. How did you become a monster?"

Aki coughed and then glared at her, a little… flabbergasted. His eyes were wide open and he nearly choked. On air.

"What are you thinking?! Don't ask that kind of question!"

I couldn't help but laugh. People get offended for others so easily. In his case though, it was out of genuine respect.

He turned towards me and bowed.

"Forgive her for her stupidity Mr Roach."

"I'm not stupid! Just curious…"

I don't have anything to hide on the topic… except about how I come from another universe. But… I wanna have fun.

"It's fine." I answered. "Don't worry about it, I can answer. I was bitten by a radioactive roach when I was a kid. Ever since then, I've had all the powers of a roach and then some!"

All three of them looked at me with wide eyes, then John burst into laughter, grasping at his abdomen in pain.

"Is it really that easy to… Lose one's humanity?" Aki said.

There's no way I'm telling them the truth now. It's just too hilarious to have them believe this farce! I'll tell them the truth on April's fools or something… If I don't forget. Besides, the real story is so much more boring.

As monsters have been more and more problematic in the past year, there wasn't a shortage of things to do. For them. Now for me?

There was no way I'd waste my time on small fry. Makima has yet to bring me on any patrols so damn. But I was getting bored, to say the least. Truth be told, it wasn't all bad. Being around people was pretty fun, talking, patrolling the streets… The months went on like this.

"I never asked but… what made you two become devil hunters?" 

When Johnson asked that question to them one day, I was pretty happy. I would have asked myself anyways at some point. Sure, I remember the core reasons but it's been years since my old life.

"Wait." Himeno said. Then she narrowed her eyes playfully. "Why did you become a devil hunter? Where do these weird gloves of yours come from?"

"Oh, yeah!" He laughed. "That's fair. I should tell you about myself first… But the truth is, it's nothing special. I just wanted to help people. My mother was killed by a monster. My father was an inventor who worked for the Hero Association… We didn't see eye to eye on everything but we still love each other. These were his parting gifts."

I wish more family dynamics were like that, seems a little too good to be true. I'm smelling the tragedy that's about to unfold with these two already.

Aki sighed and looked forward with an empty gaze. 

"I… Lost my family to the gun devil. For a long time, I sought vengeance against devils and monsters alike…" He turned to look at you. "But when I learned about how the devil hunters used both monsters and devil to bridge the gap with heroes… And there was you too. People fear you even though everyone who's known you personally that ever talked about you had nice things to say."

… Huh. They were talking about me in public and no one said anything to me about it? I'll have to check on the computer.

"And besides, I trust anyone that Miss Makima trusts, she saved me."

Don't be so sure that'll last. Just you wait for Denji, you won't trust him one bit, at least, at first. Or maybe Aki's feelings on devils might have changed enough in this universe for him to not beat up Denji on his first day.

That's good. Denji didn't deserve it, it was really unnecessary. I do wish I could help him. With my powers I could easily improve some stuff for him he could sell to make a fortune and pay off his debts.

I haven't even really tried to look after him. Now that I think about it, I feel guilty. By now, I should be able to locate him and help him… Is that really my responsibility? I mean, he's probably been suffering every day of his life since his dad died, his only friend is one of the most dangerous beings in the world! He lived like shit, had to sell parts of his bodies and all that to get by and pay up his father's debts.

It's such a horrible situation that no man should even be able to endure! The despair would have turned anyone else into a monster by now. And in this world? That's literally possible. But what can I do if he already turned into a monster?

By this point he should still be relatively young, I'm pretty sure he was younger than Aki and Himeno. My guess is around fifteen or so. I must find him. I can't leave him where he is.

"Hey, Mr Roach," Himeno interrupted my thoughts. I turned towards her confused. "I have another question for you." She announced.

"Sure, whatever, go ahead?" 

"Why are you still here with us? You didn't even have to come so… Why do you take this job so seriously if you hate humans?"

Where did you even get the idea from? Do I look like I hate humans? I sighed.

"... I too saw the aftermath of what the gun devil could do. A young girl, her father… the mother was dead… And just to rub the salt in the wound, monsters came upon them and..."

Johnson already knew that story. I would have fled from all of this today, if not for their deaths. I swore to myself I'd be a hero, even if that meant sacrificing a life of peace.

"I fight so that people don't have to live in fear."

Aki smiled.

"That's a good reason." He said softly.

Better than touching boobs as a goal, eh? Am I right or am I right?

After that day, I made sure John and I had a moment to talk. He was beside me in my cell while I was watching a Netflix movie. I can't believe they've got so little from my old world. At least they still have things like The Mask and the Studio Ghibli films. All is not forgiven though. I'll never know how One Piece ends!

"So." Johnson began. "What did you wanna talk about? Seemed important…"

"I need your help with something. I only trust you with this."

I turned towards him and handed him a piece of paper. I wrote it near the end of today's shift, far from here where there are no mics or cameras. I remember Makima had an ability to listen through insects or something, my best solution was to write down what I needed.

"Don't talk to this about anyone, it's very personal and… embarrassing. Read this only a few days from now, not now." I added.

Obviously not true. If Makima is listening or watching, that'll help making sure she cares as little as possible to find out.

It took me a while to come with a plan to save Denji. But there are risks and this plan involves a ridiculous amount of lying. So much of it that it could only fall apart. Except that I knew it couldn't. The only problem in all of this is Makima as always. 

So what's that plan? Well I was thinking of fixing Denji's debts and sending him far, far away from Makima to go study or something. That would keep the Chainsaw Devil away from her clutches. The problem is that I've only watched the anime and been spoiled on the manga partially. And, it's also been years. I have no idea how necessary his powers are.

There is Saitama around and I'm sure I could reason with him to fix all of our problems… except that early on in the story, he does have weaknesses. There are ways to kill and affect him and I highly doubt that his powers work the exact same way in this world. What can we do against the Falling Devil or Darkness one? And what about the other primordial fears?

If even he can be affected by them, it's a risk to send Denji away.

My other solution would be to explain to Pochita and Denji the situation. Denji would be far from danger and happy with his new life while I could make a contract with Pochita and become… Chainsaw Roach? Yeah, that sounds okay…

Finally, if they refuse to be separated… Then Makima will inevitably try to enact her plans and attempt to take him over. Sure, her goals are kind of okay, her execution is so pathetic even I could propose a better plan.

Besides, we know certain concepts can exist even if the Chainsaw Devil eats them. So things would only be worse, Death, Famine and War would all be nameless evils that strike the world at random, the fear of the unknowns would only boost the power of those three devils.

Leaving me with eventually trying to convince her of that. A tall task considering how much her pride would get in the way. But if she dies, then… Who cares? It's a win win. Denji gets Nayuta as a sister and we get peace from that aspect of the world… For now.

"Alright." John nodded and walked out of my cell.

I still have a few days to decide in the end. Let's just hope Makima doesn't care one bit for my personal struggles. She's long out of the Love Devil's ability, right? So whatever she's feeling towards me shouldn't be that far from indifference. She sees me as a tool like everyone else so at best, she's going to be a little curious.

That's what I really fear though.

If Denji has to stay, she could use him as some kind of hostage to control me better. She can't kill him but she can make him suffer… Let's hope it doesn't get to that point.

I do wonder though. How far is she willing to take her whole 'abuse the feelings you have for me to make you do stuff' shtick. Denji should be around fifteen, or so I . Surely she won't act like a predator just to control him, right? There are other ways to control someone though…