The Vixen's Gambit: Tonight We Hunt

Normally, witnessing a loved one being brutally dismembered would be an unforgettable trauma… but with Denji, it wasn't impossible to forget.

He had similar experiences.

Denji's father was a scumbag whom Denji killed himself. This patricide had been so traumatic that Denji had thoroughly repressed the memory. Whether it was a subconscious self-preservation mechanism or Pochita's kindness shielding him from the memory remained unclear.

However, given that Pochita would actively prevent Denji from opening that door in his mind, the latter seemed more likely.

Following that logic, if Denji found seeing Shoko's demise too painful, it was perfectly reasonable for Pochita to seal away that memory to spare him the agony.

This…

…was fantastic.

Shoko struggled to suppress a grin.

If Denji experienced the pain of losing a loved one again, the overlap of memory and reality... wouldn't that be a goldmine?!

She needn't have wasted energy interfering with Denji's memories if she'd known Pochita was so helpful.

Thank you, Pochita!

"...It's a secret~" Hiding her devious thoughts, Shoko smiled and continued folding Denji's clothes. "You don't need to understand everything in the world. Sometimes, not prying is the wisest choice."

"You never told me you were a devil." Denji mumbled.

"You never asked."

Though she wouldn't have answered even if he had, Shoko maintained a facade of honesty.

"But—"

"Ah, this shirt." Shoko's sudden exclamation interrupted Denji. Holding a tattered shirt, she looked genuinely surprised. "Isn't this the shirt I bought you when we first met? You still have it?"

The pink bunny-printed plaid shirt was full of holes, but it was clean, showing that its owner treasured it.

"But it's so torn and doesn't fit anymore. You can't wear it… you should get a new one." Shoko looked at Denji with a smile. "It's better to look forward in life than dwell on the past."

[Energy +1000]

"..."

Look forward?

Denji understood. Dwelling on the past was pointless, and he wasn't one to obsess.

But…

Looking at the folded bunny shirt, Denji hesitated.

Some things are okay to keep, right?

Cooking and eating together proved to be an effective bonding experience.

While its effects were less pronounced on Denji, whose affection was already maxed, and Aki, at level seven, Power's affection rose from three to four. Though Shoko suspected a significant portion of that increase came from giving Power her meat and eating Power's disliked vegetables…

Being nice to Power during dinner didn't mean Shoko intended to change her stance. Power was a menace who would take any kindness for granted, so the threat of tattling was still necessary.

Maintaining a balance of affection and intimidation with Power… tch, what a hassle.

Anyway, time to visit the master manipulator, Makima.

"You're going out?"

Seeing Shoko packing the leftovers into a bag, Aki frowned. "It's late, what are you doing?"

"The night is long, sleep evades me, so I shall seek Makima at Public Safety headquarters…"

"You just ate! Why would you be sleeping?!" Aki rubbed his temples, trying not to lose his sanity to Shoko's antics. "Why are you going to see Makima?"

Looking at Aki, still in his apron, having abandoned dishwashing to stop her, Shoko paused. "Aki, has anyone ever told you that you resemble a worried dad stopping his teenage daughter from going out?"

"No! And this is all because you and Power can't even wash dishes without breaking them!"

Aki didn't want to be a house-husband, but he was the only functioning adult in the house. Cooking, washing dishes, and cleaning had all become his responsibility.

Poor him, so young, no girlfriend, but three chaotic children…

And hadn't Shoko been perfectly capable of taking care of Denji before? Now that there was another person to share the chores, she was slacking off?!

[Energy +140]

"Okay, okay, don't be so hasty. I'm going out for the sake of Public Safety's internal unity."

Seeing Aki looking ready to throw the sponge at her, Shoko decided to stop teasing him and explained, "We're in Special Division 4, right? I don't see many people in our division. It's important to build good relationships. Leaving aside your senior Himeno and Kobeni, Makima doesn't seem to have any family..."

"Working alone in the office late at night, all by herself, sob, sob, so pitiful~"

"So, I decided to bring her some warmth."

"Bring Makima... warmth?"

Looking at Shoko, holding the bag of food with such a serious expression, Aki felt a sense of dissonance.

Bringing Makima warmth, and with just some homemade leftovers?

Whether Makima needed warmth aside, wasn't just bringing her food already outrageous?!

Shoko, noticing Aki's perplexed expression, immediately understood his thoughts. Aki, you're so naive. Working under Makima for so long and you still don't understand her at all— though it wasn't his fault. Few people truly understood Makima.

Some saw her as an elite human fighting on the front lines against devils, others as a power-hungry devil aiming to control the world… regardless of which, Makima always commanded awe and respect.

Coupled with her perpetually aloof smile and her genuine disdain for everyone but Chainsaw Man, few dared to approach her.

Who could imagine that such an intimidating figure secretly longed for a genuine connection?

No one would believe it, perhaps not even Makima herself.

But it didn't matter. Shoko would make it happen.

That 95% charge efficiency? She wouldn't give up on it, no matter what it took!