The surroundings were unusually quiet. It was as if someone had pressed the mute button right next to their ears. Not a single sound could be heard.
Aki Hayakawa clenched his fists, feeling an unprecedented stretch of time passing. To be able to delay Makima for this long meant Arata was definitely no ordinary guy.
He even started to worry whether Makima was safe. After all, Aki didn't know Makima's true identity, just like he couldn't quite figure out his own feelings for her. A secret crush, a boss, the person he liked most, or an idol? He wasn't sure which category Makima belonged to. All he clearly remembered was that she had saved his life, and in exchange, he had to absolutely obey her.
"Aki..." A soft voice suddenly reached his ears. A warm hand grabbed his tightly, offering him an immense sense of comfort.
"Miss Makima?"
"It's me, Himeno."
"Himeno-senpai!!"
"Don't be afraid, Miss Makima will be fine." Himeno's words snapped Aki out of his chaotic thoughts.
Right after, Makima's order finally came. "You can open your eyes." Aki hurriedly pulled off his eyepatch, desperate to confirm Makima was safe. But the sight before them left both Himeno and Aki completely shocked. Arata was actually still alive!!
"Miss Makima!"
"I know what you want to ask, but from now on, both of them are members of Tokyo Special Division 4."
"What!! Recruiting two devils at once?"
"Himeno, don't worry. His strength is far above yours." Saying that, Makima walked right past the two of them.
"Hello, Topknot and Pirate Lady, please take care of us from now on," Arata said.
"Who are you calling Pirate Lady!!" Because Himeno wore an eyepatch over her right eye, Arata had dubbed her Pirate Lady. As for Aki, the topknot nickname was entirely literal and perfectly fitting.
"Master, you joined too?" Denji asked.
"Yeah, I was worried about you, so I joined too. From now on, we're living at Aki Hayakawa's house."
"In your dreams!!" Aki yelled. "And what happened just now? What did you do to Miss Makima?"
"I just made her have a dream about eating shredded pork with ginger."
"Shredded pork with ginger?"
"Aki, don't overthink it. Miss Makima probably just decided to spare his life on purpose," Himeno reasoned. "This feels like the first time she's ever shown mercy. Usually, when she tells us to close our eyes, it's a guaranteed death sentence for whoever we're facing."
"Hey, what are you guys standing around for, aren't we leaving?" Arata called out.
"Coming," Himeno called back. "Aki, let's go. Didn't Miss Makima just say that guy's strength is above ours? Division 4 is short on manpower anyway, so it's not that weird that she recruited him." She grabbed Aki and dragged him along to catch up with Arata.
"Hey, you two need to use honorifics when talking to your seniors."
"What are honorifics?" Denji asked.
"It's the language you use when making a toast while drinking. Like 'bottoms up,' or 'I'll finish mine, you take your time.'"
"So if I don't drink, I don't have to use them, right?"
"What kind of nonsense are you spouting? Have you guys never been to school? You don't even know what honorifics are?" Himeno was almost driven mad by the two of them. But just as she was about to snap, she realized it had been a long time since she'd had such interesting teammates, so she switched to her senior persona and started explaining it properly.
The group arrived at the police car chatting and laughing. Makima was already sitting inside waiting for them.
"Looks like we're short on seats. As rookies, you should give up your spots to your seniors and volunteer for the trunk," Himeno joked.
"Are you kidding? I have my own car." Arata pulled out his car keys and flashed them. "Let's go, Denji, we'll take our ride."
"This guy actually owns a car!" Himeno muttered.
"Wait. Denji, sit next to me. I still have things I want to discuss with you," Makima suddenly said. She gazed affectionately at Denji through the car window. Denji blushed, suddenly feeling a bit bashful.
"No need, my apprentice is riding with me," Arata flat-out refused. He turned around. "Let's go, Denji! We're not riding in the bad woman's car."
"Holy shit!! Where did he go?!"
When Arata turned his head, Denji was already sitting right next to Makima in the back seat. He looked ridiculously happy, completely embracing his new role as a dog. "Sorry Master, I think I'll ride with Miss Makima."
"Aki, you and Himeno can ride in his car," Makima instructed.
"Understood, Miss Makima." Despite his inner reluctance, Aki obeyed without hesitation.
"Miss Makima seems to really care about your apprentice," Himeno noted, rubbing her chin as she watched the two in the police car. She had never seen Makima treat a rookie with such care. Especially that soft expression, which she usually only saw during company dinners. While on the clock, Makima was always a serious, ice-cold beauty.
"Tch, she doesn't care about my apprentice. She cares about my apprentice's heart."
Arata didn't elaborate further and got into his own car. Aki sat in the back seat, his eyes glued to Makima's car driving ahead. He could see Denji's face turning beet red, while Makima broke all her usual habits, gazing gently at a man she had just met.
"So tell your senior, what exactly happened between you and Makima back there? Why did she let you go?" Himeno asked.
"I made her a plate of shredded pork with ginger, and she was so moved she cried." Arata started the engine and trailed closely behind Makima's car.
"Himeno-senpai, drop it. He's not going to tell us the truth. Guys like him, no matter how strong they are, aren't fit to be Public Safety Devil Hunters," Aki scoffed.
"My jokes seem to have really pissed you off, huh?" Arata remarked, catching a glimpse of Aki's scowling face in the rearview mirror.
"I just despise guys who don't take things seriously. And it's obvious you're not actually willing to join Public Safety."
"That's where you're wrong. I love finding a shortcut to becoming a government employee without having to take the civil service exam. Plus, I'm definitely going to outlive you and collect that sweet pension."
"Alright, enough bickering. At least tell us what devil you're contracted with," Himeno interrupted. "I'm Himeno, and I'm contracted with the Ghost Devil. That's Aki Hayakawa, he's contracted with the Fox Devil."
Since Himeno was being so upfront, Arata didn't bother hiding it either. "I'm Arata. Contracted with the Dream Devil."
"The Dream Devil?! Never heard of it. What's its power?" Himeno pulled a pack of cigarettes from her pocket.
"I don't smoke, thanks," Arata waved a hand.
"Himeno-senpai, I'll take one," Aki requested.
Himeno smoothly passed the cigarette over her shoulder. Aki caught it and placed it between his lips, and Himeno lit it for him before pressing further. "Spill it. What can it do? And what's the price?"
"It doesn't hurt to tell you. The ability can force people into an immediate state of sleep, and it lets me freely enter and manipulate anyone's dreams."
"So what you're saying is, you can cure my insomnia," Himeno said lightly, blowing out a ring of smoke.
"Insomnia is nothing. I can put you to sleep forever."