Crash!
The window shattered, glass flying in every direction.
A small figure with a chainsaw on its head burst into the room and slammed straight into the back of the Gun Devil.
What followed was the sound of slicing flesh and blood splattering.
Hitori had no idea what she was even looking at.
Most people would probably vomit from seeing something like this.
But strangely, she didn't feel sick at all. She wasn't frozen in fear either. Instead, she turned and ran without hesitation.
She didn't know who would win the Gun Devil or that little chainsaw dog.
But one thing was clear. If she stayed to find out, she'd be the first to die.
She sprinted a long distance before finally spotting some trees.
Exhausted, Hitori collapsed at the base of one and gasped for breath, her lungs burning.
"Gun Devil... a devil?" she muttered to herself. "Is this place actually Hell?"
What in the world had she done to deserve being sent to Hell at her age?
Could it be... that not having any friends was a sin?
She sank deeper into despair at the thought.
"Woof!"
The familiar bark pulled her out of her thoughts. She turned her head and saw the little chainsaw dog crawling out of the brush. There was a gash on its hind leg, blood dripping from the wound.
Hitori's eyes widened slightly.
That dog... it had just saved her, hadn't it?
Maybe not intentionally, but it had definitely gotten hurt because of her.
As her thoughts wandered, the little dog had already trotted up to her.
Despite the terrifying chainsaw blade on its head, Hitori wasn't scared anymore.
"Um... let me see if there's anything I can do to help."
Frowning, she started searching herself for anything useful.
Nothing.
She had been pulled into this world while she was asleep. All she had on was her pajamas.
No supplies. No bag. No tools. Nothing.
Should she tear up her pajamas to bandage the wound?
But the thick cotton was hard to rip, and she didn't even know how to bandage anything properly.
Just thinking about it made her feel hopeless again.
"Woof!"
The dog gave a sharp bark and shook its head.
It was almost like it was telling her, "No need."
Hitori blinked in surprise.
Because the wound on its hind leg was already healing.
The bleeding had stopped.
It really didn't need help after all.
"Woof woof!"
Hearing it bark again, Hitori tilted her head.
"Um... what are you saying?"
"Woof!"
"You're... Pochita?"
She had no idea how, but somehow she understood its bark.
Girl and devil stared at each other.
Suddenly, Hitori froze.
She had just realized something important.
She had been talking to Pochita this whole time... without any sign of her usual social anxiety.
Was it because he wasn't human?
No. That wasn't it. It wasn't just that.
For some reason, even though this was their first meeting, he felt... familiar.
She reached out her hand to pet him.
Pochita tilted his head to the side, exposing the area next to his chainsaw so she wouldn't get hurt.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Hitori Gotoh," she said with a small smile. "But you can call me Bocchi-chan, if you want."
Pochita barked back in reply.
"So this really is Hell, huh?"
"Thanks for saving me earlier. If you hadn't shown up, I would've been dead by now."
"By the way, that guy... the Gun Devil. Why did he want to kill me?"
"Actually, never mind. As long as he doesn't come after me again, I'll be."
Thud.
A heavy footstep echoed from deeper in the forest.
Hitori's back went cold.
She turned and saw a massive figure stepping out from between the trees, eyes locked directly onto her.
The Gun Devil.
"D-don't come any closer!"
She tried to back away but her back hit the tree.
They were surrounded by woods. There was no escape.
"Woof!"
Pochita barked furiously and charged forward again.
But this time, the Gun Devil was ready. Both his arms had already transformed into guns.
He opened fire.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
Pochita dodged left and right, weaving between the bullets as he closed the distance.
But the Gun Devil suddenly lifted his leg and kicked.
The blow landed hard against Pochita's side and sent him flying.
He bounced off trees like a pinball before landing right in front of Hitori again.
"Pochita!" she cried.
The little devil let out a weak whimper.
He was covered in bruises and dust, clearly injured badly.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
The Gun Devil's footsteps grew closer.
Hitori trembled in fear and scooped Pochita into her arms, holding him tight.
She had just made her first friend in Hell.
Were they really going to die together already?
That thought broke her.
She shut her eyes.
Ready for it to end.
Ding... ding... ding...
But then, music echoed from somewhere in the distance.
Hitori opened her eyes wide, stunned.
"That sound..."
"It's a guitar. And not just any guitar. That's rock music!"
Even the Gun Devil stopped for a moment.
Then he suddenly grabbed his head and screamed, body convulsing violently.
"Aaaahhhhhh!"
"What's going on?" Hitori blinked in confusion. But then she realized.
This was her chance.
Pochita, go for it! Take him down while he's distracted!
She looked down.
But the battered devil in her arms couldn't even stand.
Her hope vanished again.
"Woof..." Pochita whimpered softly, wagging his tail.
That was when she noticed it.
Pochita's tail looked like the pull cord of a chainsaw.
"You're saying...?"
Her face went pale.
"No. No no no. I can't. I'm not cut out for that."
"Woof woof!" Pochita barked encouragingly.
Hitori gasped for air, nerves pushing her to the edge.
She didn't even know where the strength came from.
But somehow, she stood up on shaky legs, still holding Pochita close.
Whirrrr.
She yanked his tail.
The chainsaw blade on his head roared to life.
There was no turning back.
It was live or die.
"Alright, Pochita! Let's gooooo!!!"
Screaming in sheer desperation, Hitori charged forward.
Time passed. She didn't know how long.
She stood in the middle of the forest.
The chainsaw in her hands had just come to a stop.
All around her were chunks of flesh, pools of blood, and scattered gun parts.
Was the Gun Devil dead?
She wasn't sure.
She just knew her body felt completely drained.
She collapsed onto the ground.
So tired.
So sleepy.
Her eyes fluttered shut.
…
"Ah!"
Hitori shot up from her bed, panting hard.
She looked around wildly.
It was her room.
She let out a long sigh of relief.
"Phew... it was just a dream?"
"Thank goodness. That felt way too real... what the heck kind of nightmare was that?"
She muttered to herself.
But then, something shifted under the blanket.
"Huh?"
"Woof woof!"
A little head poked out from under the covers.
The chainsaw blade had even torn a hole in the blanket.
Hitori stared, completely dumbfounded.
"Pochita?!"