Chapter Text
Galgali was pacing back and forth in the male Public Safety locker room reserved for the Special Division. His shift with Kobeni had ended, leaving the Violence Fiend and his re-animated heart in turmoil. Denji and Beam eyed the Violence Fiend from the opposite end of the room.
“Yo, is shit good with you man? I thought you were a… uh… carefree guy.” Denji questioned.
Galgali stopped his pacing and pivoted to the Chainsaw Devil’s host. “No worries!” He replied cheerily, “I’m just wondering what ice cream place I should take Kobeni to tomorrow… She’d probably get sick of the same place everyday, right? Maybe we could try soft serve.” The Violence Fiend continued to think, his finger idly tapping against his mask.
It took a good few seconds for the gears in Denji’s brain to start turning, but when they did he let out a mad cackle. “No way! Holy shit! You got a thing going on with that short chick?” He closed the distance between the two, looking Galgali up and down. “Unlike her you can fight devils without crying, maybe it'll work out if you save her.” He nodded to himself, taking his own words as sage advice.
The fiend responded to the boy’s question rather than his opinion. “Well, I buy her sweets after our shifts, yes. She really likes them and I get to watch her eat. She’s very cute every time.” Galgali confirmed Denji’s suspicions.
“Watching her eat? Guess you’re a weirdo like Aki. Ain’t a big deal to me though.” Denji was ready to leave, Beam by his side, until he decided to give a recommendation. “If you want a place to go, there’s a cafe called Crossroads a couple blocks from here… the food’s pretty good there” He muttered the last part to himself, “despite what Reze says.”
“Ah, thanks man!” The Violence Fiend slapped the Chainsaw boy’s back, causing said boy to startle from the force. “I’ll bring her there sometime, see you later!”
“Yeah… later.” Denji replied, coughing a little.
The Violence Fiend walked out the locker room, leaving Denji and Beam there together.
“Lord Chainsaw! Did Violence harm you? Do you need blood?”
“Shaddup Beam, I’m fine.”
~~
Denji impatiently eyed the clock on his watch, waiting for it to mark the end of his shift. Each patrol he took seemed more meaningless than the last. If any devil was around, Beam would just sniff them out and rip them up. Saved him the pain of pulling his cord, at least. All the quiet time let the boy think about the girl he was counting down the minutes to see.
“I wonder if Reze is waiting for me too right now. She probably is. She’s so distracted by me that she barely gets work or homework done when I’m around.” He felt a grin shape itself on his face before he shook his head violently. “No, Denji! You have to remember Makima!”
He groaned to the heavens, blaming whoever was up there for putting two cute girls in front of him and making him choose. He likely would’ve been stuck in that thought, but he noticed people on the sidewalk staring at him. He blinked as he realized what he said out loud.
“I’m a patrolling Public Safety agent! Go and fuck off!” He ordered.
He felt satisfaction as the crowd dispersed. He definitely heard some comments about an “asshole” or “idiot”, but those were irrelevant.
The boy looked back down at his watch, and realized his shift was almost up.
“Hey Beam! Go back to Public Safety now, shift’s over!” He yelled out in the middle of the street. Everyone around Denji thought him even crazier than they presumed, none noticing the shark fin leaving the area.
Denji unconsciously picked up the pace, heading straight to the Crossroads cafe where a cute purple haired waitress was sure to be. He pulled the door open and was greeted to a sight that never failed to make his heart throb.
“Hey! Our number one customer’s back!” Reze cheered with a grin on her face. She waved him over to the table she was seated at. “Get over here! I need you to help me with this math problem!”
Denji had to keep a full smile from appearing on his face. Gotta play it cool, Denji. “Sure, I’ll help ya out.” He replied in what he hoped was a carefree voice with a small grin.
The boy took a seat next to Reze and tried to ignore his body heating up at the close proximity between the two. He looked around the small cafe to try and find something to distract his mind, and his eyes came across the old man behind the counter reading the newspaper.
“The old man really doesn’t care about you doing school work during your shift?” He sighed, pressing his cheek against his hand atop the table. “I’m stuck just walking around for my shift. Can’t do shit during it.”
Reze let out a sympathetic chuckle. “They work you hard there, huh? Doesn’t seem that fair.” She paused to let her statement sink in. “The old man is actually pretty lenient as long as we aren’t busy,” She leaned in towards Denji’s ear, causing him to sweat more as her sweet voice invaded his mind. “but I think he just has a soft spot for me.”
“Huh… yeah.”
The “old man” let out a long sigh, accustomed to his lackadaisical employee’s teasing of both him and the poor boy she was tormenting. His demeanor changed when he noticed two figures walking towards the entrance.
“Reze! It’s time for you to do your job!” He informed the girl. She let out a long groan that Denji thought was very endearing. The door opened as she was packing her school supplies and readying herself to get up.
In walked two people dressed in suits, Public Safety, the Russian identifies with steel now in her eyes. One was a young woman with red clips in her hair. She seemed nervous, and was led by the tall figure. The man wore a hood that hid his head, and had a bird mask covering his face. Reze felt her limbs fill with tension before Denji spoke out.
“Huh!? What are you guys doing here? This is my place to hang out after work, not yours!” Denji childishly proclaimed.
Right, Denji would likely know them. She felt her limbs relax, but then her whole body tightened up involuntarily. Oh shit, Denji knows them. I can’t raise suspicion.
“A.. A.. Ah! We’re swo, so sorry Denji! I-Uh, Violence and I can leave!” The short girl shook, seemingly terrified of the blonde boy looking at his two co-workers with disdain.
“Hey Denji!” The man who was presumably “Violence” greeted. “Remember you told me about this place? Me and Kobeni here are planning to get some food here, hope it’s not a hassle!”
Denji’s glare lifted and was replaced with resignation. “Shit, yeah… whatever.” Denji expected them to sit at the table on the other side, but the Violence Fiend was clearly too friendly for his own good and began taking a seat across from Denji.
“Oh yeah, Denji recommended this place to me, we’re all friends here.” He chirped.
“Ah… okay.” Kobeni relented and took a seat next to Violence. She could swear that Denji had resumed glaring at them, but he didn’t speak up against them. I can’t believe I have to sit at the same table with the guy who I tried to kill, who is the Chainsaw Devil!
Denji’s glaring was interrupted as he felt Reze shift away from him and fully leave the seat. He watched as she took Kobeni’s order, a pout on his face. She gave him a reassuring smile as she went behind the counter to make Kobeni’s ice cream and rice.
A silence passed between the three devil hunters, before Galgali broke it.
“It looked like that waitress was sitting right next to you. Do you guys know each other?” He innocently inquired.
Denji felt some heat come across his face. “I just happen to come by a lot. We’re friendly with each other, I guess.”
“Is that it? You seem upset that she’s gone.” As these words left Violence’s mouth, Kobeni started to increase her sweat production, worried he was poking the wild dog, Denji, with a stick.
“No!” He blurted out. He then lowered his volume, “I was just trying to help her with some math homework is all. She had to stop because of you guys.” His words didn’t convince himself, but the fiend’s questioning stopped. Violence began talking to the anxious Kobeni to try and get her more comfortable until Reze came back with the other girl’s food.
“Here you go, hope you enjoy!” She served it with a dazzling smile. Denji felt jealous that it wasn’t directed at him. She looked over to the old man behind the counter with an expression he couldn’t see. The old man grunted, and the girl promptly took a seat next to Denji. The action startled Kobeni who had been momentarily absorbed in her ice cream.
“So, are you two Denji’s friends? It’s great to meet you, my name’s Reze.” Reze put on a small smile, ready to catalog necessary information into her mind.
“H-Hi.. I’m Kobeni Higashiyami… my puh-partner is Violence.”
“I’m legally obligated to inform you that I’m the Violence Fiend working with Public Safety, a pleasure to meet you!” The cheer had not yet left the fiend's voice for as long as he has been here, and it likely wouldn’t.
“Ah, you’re such a nice guy for a “violence” fiend, I see why you’re allowed to go out!” Reze complimented.
“Well, I have to sign papers to leave normally, but a slightly extended patrol time is something I can get away with.” He chuckled lightly.
Reze swore she could hear a dog’s whine, and promptly gave her attention back to Denji.
“Don’t worry Denji, I got that old man off my back.” She put a playful grin on her face and leaned against his shoulder. “We could get back to what we were doing, but I overheard that you said we weren’t close with each other.” A pout now adorned her normally smiling face. “Do you really think so little of me… Denji?”
Kobeni watched this interaction with poorly restrained shock. The ice cream on her spoon was left suspended in the air, half way to her mouth.
“No! Of course not! I just didn’t want them to worry about you being busy, that’s all!” Denji profusely reassured the girl beside him.
Her expression immediately changed to one of glee, she grabbed her homework from a bag and excitedly asked Denji about some of the questions on it. When Kobeni looked at the paper, it was evident that the girl had already completed the difficult questions and left the easy ones to be solved by the boy next to her.
No way… Kobeni despaired, no way Denji of all people has a girlfriend.
“Uhm, excuse me…” The timid girl started, getting the attention of the two teenagers. “How long have you two known each other?”
The purple haired girl paused to think, and then responded, “Only five days, but it seems like longer! Denji has quickly become my favorite customer!” She somehow pressed herself even closer to him, her left arm around his shoulder with her right hand holding a peace sign.
Kobeni jolted as a voice from behind her rang out. “One of our only customers. Thank god you have that kid whipped, his money might let me retire early.”
The girl hanging off Denji laughed. “I’ve done nothing of the sort! Denji is just too interesting to let go of, right Denji?”
The normally batshit insane boy Kobeni had become acquainted with was completely still. His eyes focused on Reze’s face and his thoughts having trouble reaching his brain.
“I’m here for the food, you’re just a… nice bonus.” Denji defended, clearly outmatched by the waitress’ flirting.
So they’re not dating. Kobeni internally realized. Denji having a girlfriend is a scary thought. Although, they do seem good for each other…
The Violence Fiend decided that now was a good time to re-join the conversation. “I can tell that we’re alike Denji, we seem to have an affinity for cute girls! I wish you luck, like how you wished me luck with Kobeni!”
Everything came to a halt as both Kobeni and Denji felt their souls leave their bodies. The only thing that could be heard was the Old Man’s newspaper’s crinkling as another page was turned.
Kobeni was a stuttering mess, trying to get a word out and failing horrendously. Denji was uttered speechless by the fiend’s accusations and warped re-telling of their conversation. Reze watched the situation with a slightly parted mouth and eyes that held amusement, and was the first to speak up.
“Oh, thank you so much Violence, that’s so kind of you!” She smiled brightly. “I didn’t know you talked about what kind of girls you like with your co-worker, Denji. Now I wanna hear what girls you like.” She begged the catatonic boy.
Denji finally awoke from his stupor, and did so loudly. “I didn’t say that shit, it was just a food recommendation!”
Reze chuckled at the boy’s outrage. A plan in mind as she spoke to the most mentally startled at the table.
“Are you feeling okay, Higashiyama?” She questioned the young woman gently.
Kobeni was able to reclaim control of her mind in a desperate hope to not come off as pathetic in front of the teenage waitress across from her. “Yuh-Yeah I’m fine. Violence’s words just surprised me.” She diverted her gaze from everyone else. “I didn’t expect to be called cute.”
Violence spoke up. “Sorry Kobeni, but it’s true, you’re cute!” The woman awkwardly chuckled and thanked her partner, a smile was on her face.
Denji had tried to use this time to piece together what was going on. Yesterday he recommended Violence a place to eat after finding out the guy liked Kobeni. Okay. He went to see Reze after patrol. Cool. Violence brought himself and Kobeni to the cafe, Reze talked with them, Violence brought up their past conversation in the worst way. Shit, that’s what happened.
He has to do damage control. “Hah! Sorry about that Reze, fiends don’t have a full grasp on human interaction, he’s new to this.” Denji tried to save himself from answering Reze’s teasing questions, but knew he would fail.
“It’d be nice if Denji thought I was cute…” She spoke as if she was unaware she was speaking her thoughts outloud. “But Denji is mean and doesn’t think so.”
“I do!” He blurted out. Getting the attention of the four others in the cafe, which included the owner. “I think you’re super cute!” He confessed with tightened eyes and a red face.
Reze felt a red blush adorn her face without control.
“Thank you, Denji is very cute as well.” She informed the boy, making him even more weak for her. Kobeni watched the girl in amazement, seeing how she domesticated Denji.
Reze knew it was time to enact her improvised plan.
“Now, I really want to hangout with you Denji, but it would be nice to talk to your friends a bit more.” She cried to the Chainsaw Devil, knowing he would try and appease her.
“We can go out as a group then!” The boy said with unmatched intensity. “It will be a date… a double date!”
Kobeni’s eyes widened at his words. “Wuh-What? V-Violence, are you okay with that?” She questioned her partner, still not processing the real meaning of what was happening before her.
“It sounds like a blast to me Kobeni, you’ll just have to sign me out!”
“Yes, of course.” She agreed with a smile on her face. She was happy to have an excuse to be alongside Violence. He made her feel safe in the short time they have been partnered.
“Sounds like a plan!” Reze affirmed with joy in her eyes. “Thank you, Denji, you’re amazing!” She proclaimed and she hugged Denji's side, her head tucked to his shoulder.
Denji spoke like a zombie. “Yeah… no problem.” His thoughts swirled as he felt his brain turn to mush. “Looks like we’re doing a double date.”