Even though Reze joked that Cael had no human heart, it wasn't exactly untrue. His heart wasn't fully human anymore, it was mixed with Pochita's blood — but that didn't mean he couldn't feel pain, especially heartache.
The two of them stepped out of the cinema into a fresh, clear morning. The warm yellow sunlight kissed their faces, and the rain had finally stopped.
"The rain's gone!" Reze breathed in deeply, leaning toward the roadside greenery. "I swear, I feel like my luck gets luckier whenever I'm around Cael~"
"Yeah, bye," Cael said flatly.
He wasn't exactly thrilled to chat with Reze, a girl he met by chance. His heart still belonged to Asa, and just because Reze was beautiful didn't mean anything to him. He had one mission today: go to Asa's place and beg forgiveness. No matter how many times she rejected him, he'd keep trying....Well, maybe till he get bored.
Reze suddenly stopped walking and asked softly, "Cael, have you eaten breakfast yet?"
Cael paused politely and turned back. "No."
Reze's face lit up, warm like the morning sun. She pointed down the street.
"I work at a place called Erdao Coffee Shop just up ahead," Reze said smiling. "As a thanks for the drink and the bell from earlier, I can treat you to breakfast~"
"Coffee?" Cael frowned. "That's not breakfast."
Reze burst out laughing, covering her mouth like it was the funniest thing ever.
"Is Cael's social life that dry? Coffee shops don't only serve coffee!"
She wagged a finger seriously.
"They've got cakes, puddings, donuts, muffins, baguettes, macarons, chips, nuts, popcorn — everything!"
Cael hesitated. Part of him wondered if Asa had eaten already. She'd stocked up groceries before — would they go bad? Was she hungry? He needed to check on her.
"Thanks, but I've got urgent business," Cael said with a polite smile, waving goodbye. "I'll head out now."
Reze frowned a little, looking disappointed.
She glanced at her watch and suddenly tensed up.
"Oh my," she gasped, "I'm almost late! So Cael, you have to come!"
Cael just nodded awkwardly. He really didn't want to commit to breakfast when his mind was already 99 percent taken up by Asa.
They parted ways — Reze humming something from her home country as she skipped away:
"Ой, рябина кудрявая, Белые цветы,
Oh the bushy rowan tree with white flowers…"
☕ Morning Market, Erdao Coffee Shop
Down in the busy market, on the first floor of the shopping mall, Reze set down her backpack and tied on her white apron expertly. She pinned the Paper Bell Cael gave her to her waist.
"There," she said cheerfully. "All set."
A thin middle‑aged man with a mustache looked at the clock and shook his head.
"Reze, you're late again. I'll have to deduct from your pay," he scolded gently.
This was Nanahara Taketo, the owner of the coffee shop.
"Geez, stingy," Reze muttered, making a face.
Taketo placed a fresh cup of coffee on the counter.
"Give this to the customer at table four."
"Stingy, so frickin' stingy," Reze grumbled as she carried the tray out.
Room 606. Cael stood outside Asa's front door, breakfasts and cash in hand — ready to beg. But once again, she didn't open the door. He stood there rambling to himself for what felt like an hour. People walking by might've thought he lost it.
"…look, I'm sorry, Asa," Cael said quietly. "I know I talked too much yesterday. If you're listening, you're probably annoyed, huh?"
He set down a beautifully prepared breakfast box and a stack of cash.
"I left 50,000 Yen and breakfast by the door," he continued. "Please take them."
He hesitated, then added, "It's cold out today; if you go out, wear an extra layer…"
And finally, the thing that really mattered:
"I miss you…"
He took a deep, helpless breath and walked away.
Not long after he left, an old lady with a cane came walking by. When she spotted the cash on the ground, her aches and pains strangely disappeared, and she rushed forward excitedly.
"Oh my gosh!" she said. "Finding money just like that? Life's finally looking up!"
Just as her hand reached for the cash,
Whoosh — the door opened.
"Let go of that. It's mine," Asa Mitaka said coldly.
The old woman froze.
"You can't prove it," she protested. "There's no name on it! I found it fair and square!"
"Proof?" Asa crouched down and touched the bills.
Shink.
The top bill transformed into a lethal banknote dagger.
Asa held it so that the back of the blade pressed against the old woman's neck.
"Now do you want proof?" she asked curtly.
The woman immediately backed down, sweating.
As Asa walked inside with the cash and food, she slammed the door with a thud. Then her expression cracked, and she collapsed onto the floor, eyes still red with emotion.
Cael hadn't been doing a monologue. She'd been listening behind the door the whole time, suppressing her feelings so she wouldn't cry out loud.
Her voice, soft and raw, whispered,
"Cael… did I really misunderstand him? If he didn't like me, why did he save me before? Even though we're broken now, why does he still care?"
Beside her, Yoru — the War Devil sharing her body — scoffed.
"Give it up, Asa. If he really liked you, he wouldn't act like this," Yoru said bluntly. Yoru's nature was cold and strategic, focused on her own goal of defeating Chainsaw Man, and often put practical ruthlessness above everything else.
Asa just clutched a bun and munched it fiercely.
"You're eating?" Yoru snapped. "You're not supposed to eat something from him! This was given by Chainsaw Man!"
"But this is my favorite flavor," Asa said softly. "Cael bought all the stuff I like…"
Yoru flailed, exasperated.
"Grow a spine!"
Asa sighed, chewing, totally unbothered.