April, Tokyo.
A gloomy, cold wind still blew through the park. In the empty grounds, only two figures sat on a bench.
"So, it just ended like that?"
"Seems like it."
"I feel like you didn't really do much of anything, you know."
"Yeah… but there was nothing I could do. Those guys were just too ridiculously strong."
Denji leaned back on the bench, bored. The gloomy weather today made him feel a bit nostalgic. It was a similar overcast day when he first met Shoko. Back then, he only had Pochita, but now, Power, who was like family, sat beside him, and he could just zone out with her.
"I thought Pochita was invincible, but after going to another world, I realized there are tons of things stronger than him…" Denji's conscience pricked him slightly, perhaps Pochita was bawling his eyes out somewhere, but this small pain was nothing to the current Denji.
"You really gotta study, huh? Those guys who aren't that strong but can still be useful all seem to have read a lot of books and look really smart… Sigh, I even made a Nobel Prize-level perpetual motion machine before, but those guys are even smarter than me. They must be using stimulants."
"Bullsh*t, that was clearly my invention…" Power unhesitatingly fought for the honor of the Nobel Prize. "And what about Shoko? I don't know. Makima took her away right after she came back. I have no idea where she's been hidden…"
"You're pretty useless too, huh."
"What could I do? Shoko was thrown into her arms back then… I hope Shoko doesn't get locked up by that Makima woman like in those XX magazines…"
"With Makima's perverted personality, she definitely took Shoko away to force her to be her star slave or something."
Denji: "Ha…"
Power: "Sigh…"
"A heartfelt piece of advice for you two: next time you badmouth Makima, make sure to find a place with no people and no small animals."
With a crisp sound, Denji felt his head being lightly flicked from behind. "Next time she tears you limb from limb, don't say I didn't warn you."
"?!"
Almost instantly, Denji's pupils constricted sharply, not only because of the familiar voice but also because of the familiar scent that almost instantaneously reminded him of that night on the roller coaster tracks.
"Sho—"
"Shoko!!!"
It was just a pity that someone's actions were faster than Denji turning around. Before he could react, the figure beside him had already latched onto the person behind them like an octopus.
"Did you miss me—Actually, that's probably a silly question. After all, who could refuse the perfect Miss Shoko?"
The petite figure smoothed her silky black hair, looking at Denji with a smile in her eyes. "Although it can be considered a long-lost reunion, what should you say to me at this time?"
"…Uh, I…"
"Denji, oh Denji, why is it that every time we're apart for a while, you always look so dazed when you see me again?"
Seeing Denji's dazed and dopey expression, the bright smile on Shoko's face didn't fade in the slightest. She simply reached out and gave his cheek a gentle poke.
"What you should say at this time is, of course, welcome home."
—
As a witty Unit, Shoko considered her perfect self to be different from those other idiot seniors and juniors. When so many lovesick fools from other worlds descended upon Earth, Shoko could basically guess what her main body would do—because when it came to selling out teammates, he was just like her.
However, Shoko didn't care about this at all. Being a devil, the most important thing was to be happy. Whether it was previously as a clone of the main body, or now, being sacredly severed and becoming an independent individual, it was all the same to her.
Shoko also wasn't worried at all about how to face the friends and family she had treated as ATMs. After all, although she had fleeced them quite a bit, she ultimately hadn't provoked too many people, and she wasn't as stupid as the others.
Power, Denji, Aki Hayakawa—this family looked fierce but was actually pure and kind. Shoko wasn't worried at all that these three would cause any trouble.
And the current situation was just as Shoko had expected. The atmosphere after reuniting with them was only warm and harmonious, like a family member returning home after a long journey, completely devoid of heavy, twisted emotions.
The only troublesome one was Makima… But there was only one of her, and she herself was relatively simple and easy to fool. After being snatched away by her initially, Shoko eventually managed to calm Makima down with her practiced soothing skills and successfully escaped from the basement.
Following the excitedly bouncing Power and Denji back to the Hayakawa residence, Shoko glanced around at the familiar layout and raised an intrigued eyebrow before making her way over to the kitchen cupboard.
"Oh my, isn't this the set of tableware I usually use? I thought after I disappeared, the cold and heartless Aki would definitely just throw it into the trash can like garbage, wuwuwu~"
"I, how could I do that!"
Hearing Shoko's exaggerated fake crying, even though he knew she was acting, Aki Hayakawa, who had been hiding in his room, finally couldn't hold back and came out.
But when he saw that familiar figure standing before him with the same smile as always, the words he originally wanted to say ultimately got stuck in his throat, turning into silence, and his eyes lowered. "I… just…"
"Denji, Power, did you see that? That cold-blooded, heartless man! He's been hiding from me ever since I got back. He must think I'm disgusting—ying ying ying!" she whimpered dramatically.
"Hey, Aki, you're going too far! Hurry up and apologize to Shoko, then go prepare dinner! I'm going to eat a lot today!" Power, who was practically riding on Shoko's head, unhesitatingly sided with Shoko, rebelling against Aki Hayakawa, who took care of her daily life.
"I…"
Aki Hayakawa's hands clenched and unclenched repeatedly. Finally, he uttered a voice so faint it was almost inaudible, "I'm sorry, Shoko… At that time, I didn't know anything at all, saying those kinds of things… If you're angry, then I…"
Hmm, is he talking about that time I said Denji turning into Chainsaw Man and going on a rampage was my fault, and then he lost control of his emotions, cursing and questioning me?
Looking at Aki Hayakawa, who practically had the words "guilt" etched all over his face, Shoko at this moment felt—a little regretful.
Sigh, it's a pity there's no system after being severed. Otherwise, the current situation would definitely yield a huge wave of energy!
I clearly don't need to consider such things anymore. When will this occupational hazard ever get better…
"Sigh, Aki, you really are talented when it comes to hurting people. Generally speaking, normal people wouldn't forgive someone like you, who still personally attacks someone when they're about to die, right?"
Looking at Aki Hayakawa, whose expression was growing increasingly resolute, Shoko chuckled. "But thankfully—I'm not human. Such trivial matters are nothing to me~"
"But for the family reunion banquet later, if the food doesn't satisfy me, even someone as perfect as me will get really angry, you know?"