Chapter 2
It wasn't until dusk, and her stomach rumbled, that Makima sighed, realizing even the Control Devil got hungry.
Searching the room, she found no ready-made food, so she had to find a way to go downstairs and forage in the nearby streets.
Looking at the Japanese signs everywhere, Makima's indecisiveness struck again, and she eventually settled for a random ramen shop—perhaps noodles were more to her taste than Japanese cuisine.
Since it was after work hours, the shop was already filled with office workers. Makima, in her white shirt and black trousers, blended in surprisingly well with the crowd of diners.
After ordering a bowl of tonkotsu ramen, listening to the unfamiliar yet now familiar language of those around her, Miss Makima's mood inevitably held a touch of loss and confusion.
So… what should she do next?
Apparently, this wasn't the world of Chainsaw Man, so she didn't have to worry about becoming ginger-fried pork.
But what should she do?
Go to school like a normal person?
Then enter society?
No, that's definitely not what Makima wanted—to have transmigrated only to live an ordinary life, wouldn't that be too boring?
Since she had already discovered Kagome Higurashi and a certain Shinigami Elementary School Student, then… should she try to get involved in their "story"?
But there were dangers—whether it was the various demons from the Warring States period, or The Organization, which miraculously stood strong despite having more fake liquor than real, both were extremely dangerous for ordinary people.
However… was she really an ordinary person?
Let's try it.
Makima pulled out a tissue, elegantly wiped her mouth, then waved to the owner in the distance: "Owner?"
"What's wrong, O… uh…"
The owner looked at Makima, dressed in an office worker's white shirt, and instinctively wanted to call her "ojōsan," but upon closer inspection, realized she was merely a young girl, though her cool demeanor made her appear a few years more mature than her peers.
"Little girl, do you need anything?"
"Can I have it for free?"
Makima asked, looking into his eyes, repeatedly chanting in her mind: "Listen to me, obey me, I am the Control Devil, listen to me, obey me…"
It felt a bit silly… but after all, she didn't know how to use the Control Devil's power, or even if she truly was the Control Devil.
Facing the sudden request for a free meal, the owner paused, and just as Makima thought her ability was working, he shook his head with a smile:
"No, even if you're very cute, little girl, I can't give you a free meal. This is a small business."
"…"
Seems it didn't work?
Was my method of use wrong, or… perhaps I'm not the Control Devil at all?
Makima wasn't too disappointed. She pulled out a five-thousand-yen bill and handed it to the owner: "Just kidding, please give me my change."
It was a bit inconvenient without online payment.
After paying, Makima left the shop and walked onto the street, planning to stroll around after dinner and think about her future plans.
If she wasn't the Control Devil, then what path should she take in the future?
Slightly lost, she walked down an unfamiliar street. As she passed an intersection, an orange cat darted over a wall. Upon seeing Makima, it stopped and watched her warily.
Makima, who had loved petting cats in her previous life, tentatively waved at the orange cat: "Come here?"
The orange cat paused slightly, then obediently jumped off the wall, came and sat in front of Makima, looking up at her… huh?
Makima was also a bit surprised. She continued to command:
"Paw?"
"Meow~"
"Spin around."
"Meow meow~"
"Puff up your fur?"
"—Old Wu!!!"
The orange cat obediently did each command—even better than a well-trained dog.
After playing with the orange cat for a while, Makima told it to leave. The moment it received the command, it looked at Makima, who was so close, let out a terrified yelp, and immediately darted away, quickly disappearing from Makima's sight.
Watching the cat leave, Makima was a little stunned.
So… she was indeed the Control Devil?
Because she subconsciously believed cats were weak, she could control them… it seemed this was indeed how the Control Devil worked… and earlier, with the ramen shop owner, she wasn't entirely sure… or rather, lacked confidence… so, if she just felt stronger than the other party, could she control them?
Makima was walking and pondering when several street punks noticed her and whistled.
These people, male and female, mostly wore clothes Makima found strange and had colorful, bizarre hairstyles.
Makima noticed several modified motorcycles parked on the street next to them—almost every one had its rear wing and backrest raised very high, some even adorned with brightly colored flags inscribed with nonsensical Chinese and hiragana.
They seemed to be Japanese bosozoku.
Such groups were quite popular in that era but would completely disappear in a few years, only to reappear in a low-budget form across the ocean a decade later.
Facing the bosozoku who whistled at her, Makima showed no emotion and ignored them, preparing to return to her apartment.
Just then, a sudden gust of wind made her squint.
Makima strangely looked up into the distance, her pupils instantly constricting.
—In the distance, a colossal azure bird was soaring low in the sky.
That thing was roughly the size of a house, and the strong winds generated by its flapping wings could be felt even from afar.
Was that… a Devil?
No, it didn't look like one.
Such a huge commotion… yet the entire city seemed unresponsive.
So, other humans… couldn't see it?
Was Kagome behind this? She didn't remember this happening… in this small Tokyo, were there other stories besides Inuyasha and the Shinigami Elementary School Student?
How… interesting!
Miss Makima's curiosity was piqued, and she decided she had to investigate.
Turning around, she walked straight towards the bosozoku youths. Makima chose the motorcycle with the fewest modifications, which looked the most appealing, and asked the bosozoku youths:
"Whose bike is this?"
The bosozoku paused, then a blond youth in a tokkōfuku uniform stepped forward excitedly:
"It's mine, what, interested? Want me to take you for a few rides to have some fun?"
"You are?"
"I'm the Special Attack Captain of the Niiza Legion! Haven't you heard of me?"
Miss Makima lowered her head and smiled slightly:
"So, you're a little… punk."
The bosozoku froze, then their eyes widened.
"…Huh? What did you say!?"
"Kuso yaro!"
"You! Say that again!?"
"I said…"
Makima slowly raised her head, her unusually ringed eyes meeting their gazes.
"—Lend me the bike, punk, then, go home."
A strange light flashed in her golden pupils.
Her gaze and words seemed to possess a certain magic.
The bosozoku's initially angry eyes instantly lost focus, and then they obediently backed away and left.
And the Special Attack Captain, even more docilely, presented the keys to Miss Makima with both hands, then rolled on the ground and scampered away.
Looking at the keys in her hand, Miss Makima showed a faint smile.
She almost forgot… isn't the Control Devil's ability to control all living beings that she subjectively considers inferior to herself?
Because she genuinely looked down on these small-time punks, she could easily control them.
In other words, as long as she was sufficiently inflated, infinitely belittling others and infinitely elevating herself, then she would be invincible in this world.
What a terrifying ability.
But Miss Makima liked it.
What exactly was that azure giant bird?
Sitting on the motorcycle and gripping the handlebars, Miss Makima was surprised to find herself adept at riding it.
Realizing this, she quickly understood that this was also one of the Control Devil's abilities—people under her control completely obeyed Makima's commands, and during this time, she could also use the abilities of the person she controlled.
Those bosozoku were under her control until they returned home and the control was lifted, so their riding skills were naturally acquired by Makima.
What a terrifying ability; even without Devils to control, as long as she found suitable ordinary people, she could gain all their skills and expertise.
For example, controlling a chef would grant her cooking skills, controlling a carpenter would grant her carpentry skills, controlling a boxer would grant her fighting skills… and if she could control an assassin, perhaps she could master assassination techniques?
If she controlled enough people, then Miss Makima would truly be an all-rounder in every sense of the word.
Makima rode along, lost in thought, while chasing the azure giant bird in the sky, eventually arriving near her destination.
Although she already knew this world was abnormal, Miss Makima's mind still froze when she saw the scene before her.
—A colossal azure bird, seemingly made of wind elements, was chasing a little girl in pajamas.
The girl had neat, short brown hair and emerald green eyes; anyone would instinctively find her adorable at first glance.
More importantly, a plush-like creature floated beside her—that was clearly not emergency food.
"F-First Generation Moe Queen! Kinomoto Sakura!?"
Makima was truly shocked.
Alright, after the Shinigami Elementary School Student and Inuyasha, now Cardcaptor Sakura!? These few were truly "old-school anime" in every sense of the word… Without time to think further, Miss Makima immediately stomped on the accelerator and gave chase.