While we were in the car, Denji and I managed to get some peaceful sleep during the two-hour journey. My mind was occupied with thoughts about why I couldn't see Makima's soul. My unique vision allowed me to see the souls of people and demons, which was both an advantage and a limitation. I could use it only five times before experiencing a severe headache. While it helped me gauge purity and strength, it was uncontrollable.
I also noticed that my current body instinctively reacted to fear even though I lacked the emotion. This fear-induced reaction somewhat hindered my physical abilities. Clearly, more training was in order.
"Sigh," I thought with frustration, realizing that things rarely went as planned.
As for Makima's soul, I couldn't perceive anything. It was like a shrouded cloud of darkness blocking my vision, accompanied by an unnerving coldness.
My thoughts drifted to Makima's proposition. I knew she intended to pry into my powers for her psychological profiling. She'd want to determine if I posed any threat and if I could be of use. I intended to be cautious and not reveal too much.
At some point, Makima's kind and gentle voice cut through my contemplation.
"How did you two meet?".she asked, her eyes fixed on me with curiosity, her coldness always underlying her gaze.
My body tensed involuntarily, and I felt an odd tug on my soul, as if someone had attempted to wrench it away. It was a strange sensation that made me frown slightly.
"We know each other because one day he was injured, and I helped him," I said, concealing the truth of my predicament when Denji found me naked in a forest, where previously, a supersonic-speed sword pierced through my chest.
Makima noticed my half-hearted attempt at deception, but she sighed and adopted an indifferent expression.
"So, what are your powers, Tanaka-kun?".she asked in a sweet and soft voice, though the coldness still lingered in her gaze.
"I can reverse attacks and possess a unique vision, along with passive manipulation of dark matter," I replied without revealing the full extent of my abilities. I kept my assault mode, ocular power, and immortality hidden.
I could sense her curiosity about the mention of dark matter. I braced myself for more probing questions, knowing she'd attempt to extract as much information as she could for her profiling.
Makima smiled slightly, and her interest in dark matter was evident in her ringed yellow eyes.
"Could you show me what your matter looks like?" she asked, her curiosity piqued as she extended a finger that she encased in demonic energy before dipping it into the dark matter. The energy embraced her finger, generating sensations of warmth and coolness as the dark energy interacted with her touch.
"Interesting," she remarked, her eyes glistening with curiosity as she touched and examined the rare matter.
As I deactivated my power, she continued her questioning.
"You mentioned being able to reverse attacks. How does that work?" Makima's voice was soft and kind, but her gaze was intense, colder than any stone.
I replied calmly, "I can return both physical and demonic energy attacks from this world with double or even triple the original strength they were launched with."
Makima's tension was evident, her caution mingled with a trace of fear. Despite her emotionless façade, I could tell she was wary.
Her next question caught me off guard.
"What demon did you make a contract with? I can smell a human scent on you, just like Denji," she said, her voice carrying both interest and anticipation, eager to discover the nature of my contract and the changes it brought.
I looked at her briefly before answering, "I don't know how I got these powers. I've always had them and knew how to use them." I knew she wouldn't fully believe this explanation, but I wasn't about to reveal the truth.
Makima's disappointment was palpable, but she swiftly regained her composure, her gaze shifting between lust and interest, emotions that seemed to suggest I had become one of the most intriguing toys she'd ever encountered.
"I'm sure you're powerful, Tanaka-kun. You'll make a fine 'pet,'" she said, emphasizing the word 'pet' with an unusual intensity.
"And I'm certain you'll earn rewarding privileges," she added with a slight smile, her eyes momentarily bright before returning to their neutral state. It was as if she believed that she'd already accomplished everything she intended to.
I shuddered slightly at the undertones of her words, my discomfort growing. I glanced at Denji, who had fallen into a deep sleep, blissfully unaware of the complex dynamics at play.
Our journey continued, and Denji and I dozed off lazily for another two hours. When we made a pit stop for food and a stretch, Denji and I got out of the car. We were offered coats, but we only received one from Makima.
Noticing the discrepancy from the original story, 'I realized that my mere presence was causing subtle deviations from the canon storyline. These small changes could have significant repercussions for the future of the Chainsaw Man universe. With my meta-knowledge, I began contemplating how to strategically navigate this altered narrative'.
After disembarking, we went to buy food. Denji and I didn't have money, but Denji managed to get what we wanted with a smile. We sat down, eating and engaging in trivial conversation. I seized the opportunity to ask Denji about Pochita, playfully teasing him about his chainsaw-shaped "dog."
Denji's annoyance and sadness were evident in his gaze, and before he could reply, he succumbed to flashbacks of Pochita. It took a few minutes for him to regain his composure with Makima's support.
After feeding Denji like a pet, Makima turned her attention to me.
"Would you like my pet to feed you?".she asked, her voice kind despite my dismissive tone.
"No," I responded flatly, not willing to degrade myself to that level.
Makima's disregard for my tone indicated that she wasn't interested in my refusal. She nodded with a smile before returning to Denji, who was looking at her as though she were his entire world.
Denji's subsequent question startled me.
"Mrs. Makima, what kind of men do you like?" he asked, his voice filled with shyness and a hint of embarrassment.
Makima's response was unexpected. She looked at me with a mixture of longing and disdain before answering Denji.
"I like men, like you, Denji," she said with a warm smile.
I rolled my eyes at her blatant manipulation and mockingly contemplated her choice of words. It was clear she was using Denji's inexperience and lack of education to her advantage.
With a sigh, I stood up and announced, "It's time to go." I walked toward the car lazily, hands in my pockets.
Makima followed me, and we all got into the car. The journey continued, and I pondered the uncertain path ahead, the image of a girl lingering in my thoughts—an image I couldn't help but despise.
After traveling for another two hours and taking a short nap, we made another stop to eat and rest. Denji and I got out of the car, and I noticed the subtle shifts in the storyline caused by my presence. These minor alterations would inevitably alter the course.