After a while, two men and one woman approached Izanagi.
The middle-aged man leading the group smiled and said, "Kid, I saw how you handled that devil. You've got skills. Interested in joining us?"
Izanagi was about to refuse when more groups started to approach him. Soon enough, a small crowd had gathered, including a larger group of over a dozen hunters.
In Public Safety, teams operated in structured units called "squads," such as the Devil Extermination Squad or the Anti-Devil Special Unit. Each squad was a team, and within those teams, members usually worked in pairs or trios.
For minor missions and patrols, smaller groups were common. For larger operations, entire squads would mobilize. Only in extreme situations would Public Safety dispatch all available forces.
Civilian hunters had no such formal structure. They could form teams however they liked, from small pairs to larger groups.
Faced with this sudden surge of invitations, Izanagi felt a headache coming on.
They all knew Hayakawa Aki's reputation. Now that someone even stronger had appeared, Izanagi had become a hot target. Some genuinely wanted him as an ally, while others undoubtedly had their own motives.
Noticing the crowd forming, Aki stepped in.
"Even if we were only temporary partners, that doesn't mean the partnership is over. Find someone else."
The gathered hunters exchanged looks.
"Ah... is that so?"
"Well, can't help it then."
"What a shame..."
The crowd gradually dispersed.
If Izanagi was still partnered with Aki, no one would try to openly recruit him. Even poaching had its limits.
"Thanks," Izanagi muttered.
"Don't worry about it," Aki replied. "If you need someone for a mission like this again, just call me."
Aki's tone was casual, but Izanagi knew what he meant. Some commissions required a proven track record or specific team sizes, and those assignments tended to be tougher.
"Sure."
Izanagi was relieved. He preferred working solo but having Aki as a backup was ideal. It let him avoid being dragged into some disorganized team while still giving him a reliable partner when needed.
"You act all tough, but deep down you're soft," the receptionist teased Aki.
"I'm just repaying a favor," Aki replied dryly.
The young woman chuckled knowingly, as if she could see right through him.
Of course, Izanagi knew better than anyone that Aki, despite his cold personality, was secretly kind-hearted — he just wasn't good at showing it.
---
Later that day, Izanagi left the civilian base.
His first stop was the bank. He needed to set up a savings account to keep his earnings secure.
As he stepped inside, Izanagi noticed a security guard watching him closely.
Probably my eyes, he thought.
His Mangekyō Sharingan was unsettling to some. Guards at places like banks were trained to be on high alert for suspicious individuals — people with demonic traits included.
In the world of Chainsaw Man, humanity wasn't just plagued by devils. There were also fiends and hybrids — humans merged with devils or weapon-based entities.
Fiends could often be identified by distinct features like horns, facial markings, or other monstrous traits.
Izanagi's unusual red eyes weren't enough to classify him as a fiend, but they still drew attention.
"I'd like to open an account," Izanagi said to the staff.
"Certainly. Please let me know which type of card you'd like," the employee responded politely.
Izanagi selected a standard savings card — the closest thing to what he had been familiar with in his previous life.
During the identity check, Izanagi was impressed by how seamless his fabricated backstory appeared. The system had forged him a flawless Japanese identity, complete with records stating his family had been killed by the Gun Devil. His fabricated past painted him as a survivor who had arrived in Tokyo with little money and no connections.
The bank confirmed everything without issue and issued him a card.
Izanagi immediately deposited 200,000 yen into the account.
Next, he needed to find a place to live. After crossing into this world, he hadn't even had a proper home yet.
To keep things simple, Izanagi rented an apartment near the civilian base.
While climbing the stairs, his Sharingan's heightened perception casually caught the names on the mailboxes. Among them, one stood out — Hayakawa Aki.
He lives here too? Izanagi thought.
Coincidentally, Aki's apartment was on the sixth floor, while Izanagi's was on the fourth. Given that this was the closest building to the civilian base, it wasn't surprising that Aki had chosen this place too.
---
After several hours of arranging furniture and settling in, Izanagi finally had a proper home. The apartment had two bedrooms, a living room, a bathroom, and a kitchen. It was unfurnished, which was typical in Japan, so he spent the evening setting everything up with the help of a moving company.
By nightfall, he was exhausted and ready to sleep peacefully.
---
The next morning, Izanagi prepared a simple breakfast — two fried eggs and a cup of warm milk — before heading out.
He returned to the civilian base, eager to pick up another commission and gain more attribute points.
"Back so soon? You just finished a job yesterday," the receptionist remarked as he accepted a solo request.
"Even Aki takes a few days to rest."
"Why would he need to rest?" Izanagi asked.
"Huh? Don't you know? Aki uses some kind of devil's power to enhance his body in fights. He just never talks about what devil it is."
"I see..."
This wasn't in the original story. Izanagi guessed that before Aki joined Public Safety, he must have had a contract with some lesser devil. It made sense — surviving as a civilian hunter with only the Cursed Devil's power would have drained his lifespan long ago.
---
Suginami District
Located in western Tokyo, Suginami was one of the city's 23 special wards. Despite its urban nature, it still had areas rich with greenery.
Izanagi traveled by subway to reach his target — the Ant Devil — which carried a reward of over 200,000 yen.
Upon arriving at the designated location, he found himself in a field.
But the devil wasn't the only thing he saw.
A familiar figure stood nearby.
Wait... is that... Denji?
Izanagi squinted.
Something was off.
Hold on... Denji's hair isn't supposed to be that long...
The person had golden hair that cascaded past their shoulders.
What the hell...?
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