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Alone in her room, Asa stares at the pair of shoes Yuko gave her.
Objectively, they're nothing special—just shoes any random person would wear. It looks like they used to be white, but use over time has worn them down to a light brown. So why did Yuko give them to her? What does someone like her want with Asa?
Yuko herself isn't very pretty—at least, not in the conventional way—but there's a spark in her eyes that's sure to draw people in. Strangely enough, Asa included.
"Are you sure you're not going to sell them?" someone asks. Oh. That's right—Asa's not alone. She has a devil in her head that refuses to leave. It appears out of thin air, popping into existence right next to the bed Asa's sitting on. She doesn't think she'll ever get used to it. Hopefully they defeat Chainsaw Man soon, and she can return to some semblance of normalcy.
"Of course not. I need to find a way to return them," Asa replies. "I can't just take them." She stops, and then continues with, "Why do you think she gave them to me?"
"Is it not obvious? She wants to befriend you. Practically said so herself."
"I don't think that's it." Why would anyone want to become friends with Asa? Stupid, selfish Asa who somehow manages to always mess things up. Even the former student council president tried to befriend her only because she was forced to. Besides, friends aren't something she needs. She's lonely, but maybe that's for the better. If Asa is alone, that means she can't ruin everything.
"You're overthinking it," the War Devil notes.
"Am not."
"Is this what all high school girls are like? I can see why no one can stand them. Always misinterpreting and overreacting about everything."
"What's your name?" Asa asks to change the subject—because she can't say much to that. Besides, if they're going to be stuck together, they should set some ground rules. Firstly, a name. Asa deserves that much. She doesn't deserve much, but that's the bare minimum.
"Who, me?"
It's tempting to bite back with I don't see anyone else in the room, but Asa knows her place. She may be mean at heart, but she keeps it to herself. She's already hated enough at school; doing so with a murderous devil might be even worse.
"I can hear your thoughts, you know. Don't forget—we are one in the same," the War Devil says.
"It's confusing referring to you as the War Devil in my head. How about a nickname?"
"Devils do not have nicknames."
"If Chainsaw Man is going to school, I'm sure he has one."
That seems to catch the War Devil off guard; it blinks and looks almost lost. It's satisfying, in a way. "Well? What should I call you?" Asa prompts.
"You can just call me Yoru," it decides.
"What's your gender?"
"What is this—twenty questions? I am above your childish games."
"If you're going to inhabit my body, I think we should get to know each other a little better."
"I know everything about you, Mitaka Asa. Your hopes, your fears—all of it is accessible to me."
"Then what's fair is fair, right? I should know more about you, too."
There's a brief pause as Yoru seems to consider. Asa shifts on her bed and starts fiddling with the shoelaces. Did she overstep? Is Yoru going to kill her? It's not that she'd mind dying—it's a way to escape the hell she's been living, besides running off to the middle of nowhere with Yoru killing her anyway—but she'd rather keep what little legacy she has left in tact. Yoru going around screaming about how much it wants to kill Chainsaw Man wouldn't help.
"Gender does not matter to me," it finally settles on.
Can I just call you a girl, then? It's a lot easier when you look like that."
"Do what you must. Now it's my turn for a question."
"Don't you already know the answer, seeing how you apparently know everything about me?"
"It's best to make you acknowledge it. Why are you so stuck on this girl?"
Asa flops back onto her bed and groans. "It's dumb, right?" These thoughts—about Yuko. Why is Asa so stuck on it? Maybe she should just throw the shoes out and never speak to her again. It might be difficult considering they're in the same devil hunting group, but Asa is nothing if not stubborn.
"Yes," Yoru agrees.
"You're not supposed to agree with me..."
"You should become friends with her, if you're this hung up on it."
"Wh—why?" That's something a normal person would say to encourage someone, but Yoru is far from normal. What is she planning?
"As I said before, anything that is mine can become a weapon. If you get close to this girl, perhaps she can become mine as well."
Oh. That's what it is. "Don't do that."
"Girl, you have no say in what I do."
"Can you just—not, please? You've already embarrassed me enough."
"Or how about you date her?"
"What?" Asa asks, face heating up. "D-date?"
"The closer the relationship, the stronger my hold is. Do you think she likes women?"
"I'm sure she doesn't." Asa's face feels like it's about to combust.
"But what if she does? Would you then?"
"No—no, of course not," Asa rushes out. Girls can't date girls. Well, technically they can, but Asa can't. She likes boys, and boys only.
(Asa thinks about not-quite-pretty girls with fire in their eyes that walk around the world like it's theirs for the taking.)
Yoru raises her eyebrows, but doesn't comment on it. Because she can read her thoughts; see how stupid Asa is acting. Silly, irrational thoughts that amount to nothing. They aren't allowed to amount to anything.
"I'm telling you—she wants to be your friend," Yoru says.
If Yoru is so adamant on it, then maybe—maybe Yuko actually does. Yoru is smart; she notices things. Even though they've only known each other for a day, Asa can tell that much.
"You really think so?" Asa asks, cringing at the hope that fills her voice. Yuko's not being coerced by a teacher—probably—so that means...
Asa holds the shoes up in the air and smiles. Friends are something dangerous, but maybe just this once, Asa might give it a try.