Chapter 4

Denji trailed after Kobeni as she wandered through the city on her various errands. He wasn't exactly thrilled about it, thinking he couldn't care less, luckily he got a free suit jacket out of it. but that buzzing sensation inside him just seemed to grow stronger the more he distanced himself. Despite his growling hunger and tired legs, like that of an old man, he kept walking, maintaining a distance of about 10 feet behind her.

Himeno engaged in small talk now and then. The eyepatched woman would comment on the weather or share stories about her protégé Aki and his over-the-top encounter with a minor devil on his first day as a devil hunter. "Did you know that during his first day as a devil hunter, he actually encountered the puppy devil?" Kobeni's attention snapped to Himeno. "People are actually afraid of puppies?" she asked incredulously. "Apparently, Aki had to engage it, the little guy bit his ankle and gave him rabies." Himeno chuckled a bit, and Aki groaned audibly as she showed a photo from her wallet, depicting him at the hospital getting a massive dose of anti-rabies medicine from an absurdly large syringe.

She didn't want to giggle, fearing it might annoy Aki, but a small chuckle escaped her lips. Himeno wrapped her arms around the younger girl, nuzzling her into her cheek. "Ah! It's so adorable!" Kobeni started sweating nervously at the close contact, not wanting to sweat while being hugged by Himeno. That made her more nervous than anything else!

Denji was busy contemplating whether he should join the conversation or just hide until the end of the day. But then, he heard a soft yet distinct voice trying to get his attention. Turning around, he saw a young girl with long, red hair and an aura that seemed to radiate warmth and kindness. She wore the same uniform as Kobeni, but something about her eyes caught Denji's attention—the hollow look in them. Sure, they seemed inviting, but they reminded him too much of the lady who lured him to his supposed first death.

He recalled Pochita's words, "Just because people look and act nice doesn't mean they are nice." Denji locked eyes with the beautiful redhead again. Her gaze was fixed on him, making the hairs on the back of his head stand on end. He could practically sense her eyes moving down to his chest. Instinctively, he closed his jacket, suspicious of her. He glanced back at Kobeni, and then at the two people with her, deciding to move behind them. A tall guy with a ponytail, and a short-haired woman. The short-haired one turned and exclaimed, "Oi, Aki, this is the guy who killed that devil I was telling you about!" Denji noticed Kobeni froze for a moment before turning around slowly to face him. "D-Denji?" she stammered, and Denji chimed in, "Kobeni-chan, there's a creepy lady following you." Denji looked to the redhead as she passed by making sure she heard his insult.

Aki looked Denji up and down for a moment. Denji narrowed his eyes at a strange motion Aki was making with his fingers, as if he was about to snap them. He didn't know why, but fear inside him flared up for a moment.

"Good morning, Aki-kun, Himeno-chan, Kobeni-chan." The red-haired woman introduced herself to the four. "My name is Makima. I'm the head of public safety." She turned to Denji and bowed.

He couldn't shake off the unnerving feeling he got from her eyes. Though calm-looking, they seemed to follow his every move. He moved slowly back to the group of three devil hunters, unconsciously placing himself next to Kobeni. The male devil hunter shoved him away, and as he tried to regain his balance, Denji noticed that his cord was visible. Looking up, he found Makima's swirling eyes focused on him, particularly his chest. He looked away, muttering, "That buzz again." Something felt off behind him. He whipped around and yanked the rip cord.

Kobeni, Makima, and Aki recoiled in surprise, startled when the Chainsaw Man leaped into the air, off the ground, and sliced something in half. Blood rained from the sky, and a giant hand fell to the ground, severed into several meaty strands. Kobeni felt a mix of fear and awe.

Denji landed on the ground nearby, his chainsaws still whirring and his mind struggling to register the chaotic events that just unfolded. He was reeling from what he had just done, grappling with the reality of his actions. He stared down at his blood-soaked hands, the chainsaws still humming for a moment longer.

Amidst the turmoil in his mind, he heard that buzzing again, a disconcerting reminder of the fight's violence. Suddenly, Kobeni's scream pierced the air. He immediately sprang into action, propelled by the instinct to protect. He swiftly moved towards the source of her distress, cutting through another reaching hand that threatened one of the devil hunters. The massive grey-skinned appendage was severed at the wrist, falling limply to the ground. Kobeni struggled to hold back her revulsion at the sight of the twitching and spasming fingers even after being amputated.

A dark grin crept across Makima's face as she witnessed Denji stepping forward, shielding the group from the massive, grey-skinned devil. Her satisfaction seemed to grow as Denji took charge of the situation. She raised her finger and aimed at one of the devil's many arms. "Bang," she pronounced, and Kobeni watched in horror as the arm and elbow of the devil were obliterated, blasted away like they were hit with an artillery shell. Meaty chunks scattered, covering Denji in the grotesque aftermath. Kobeni was torn, debating whether she should try to help him, but Himeno restrained her, pointing to the gruesome pile of gore that Denji had become engulfed in.

A ferocious roar pierced the air, originating from the dismembered remains—the Chainsaw Man emerged from the bloody carnage. Makima felt a shiver of vulnerability run down her spine as Denji's chainsaw helmet sliced open the nameless devil's viscera. The Chainsaw Man vaulted from the pile to the devil's chest, and the cacophony of ripping and tearing flesh resonated in the grim air as the devil hunters watched the relentless onslaught. The scene unfolded in a macabre ballet, painted with a shower of blood. Denji's saws penetrated directly into the devil's lungs, methodically crushing them as they struggled to breathe in its heaving chest.

Denji grappled with the situation, feeling detached from the battle yet compelled to keep fighting. It was like watching a fight through a distant lens. Amidst the chaos, a familiar, comforting sound reached his ears—a small whirring noise in his mind.

"Denji," the voice whispered, Pochita's voice, his old friend and confidant. Pochita accused him of signing a contract with Kobeni. Denji defended himself, arguing it was just for a burger. But Pochita pointed out that contracts are about the terms, not the activity .

An unsettling truth sank in—Denji had to protect Kobeni; it was in the contract. Pochita explained the consequences of not fulfilling the contract: death. That buzzing he felt was a grim reminder. The fate of Kobeni was intricately tied to his own survival.

"So, I'm stuck protecting that girl forever?" Denji asked, the weight of the situation sinking in. Pochita confirmed, unless Kobeni nullified the contract.

Determined to find a way out, Denji suggested making a new contract to cancel the first one. Pochita didn't offer false hope, acknowledging it was worth a try.

"Also, Pochita, what's all that outside? Like the chainsaws the helmet thing" Denji inquired, trying to make sense of his newfound powers.

"It's my powers. You can't maintain it for long, though, because it requires you to drink a lot of blood to maintain it. or you'll run out of gas," Pochita explained.

As Denji absorbed this information, Pochita began to fade, retreating into the darkness of Denji's mind room. "I gotta go, but I'll try to talk again when you're like this," Pochita assured before vanishing.

Denji coughed and jolted back into the real world, the gritty reality of the ongoing battle confronting him. Makima and Aki loomed over him, while Kobeni was visibly distraught. He couldn't comprehend everything that had just transpired, but he had a sinking feeling he would have to deal with this often.