Denji made his way through the base's dimly lit corridors. Kobeni had disappeared from their barracks room, leading him to believe that she had likely rejoined Aki, Himeno, and Makima. As for Kishibe, he had taken a detour to the medical ward earlier to check on Angel, only to find Kishibe missing there as well. With a growing sense of unease, he retraced his steps and returned to the helicopter in the hangar.
Inside the helicopter, Denji discovered Reze, dozing off in one of the folding chairs, her head resting against the helicopter's side. Her keen senses alerted her to Denji's approach, and her hand instinctively moved to her pin. Denji raised his hands in a defensive gesture, prompting Reze to relax, her hand returning to her side. She stood up as he approached.
"So, we're going to tell your boss?" Reze inquired, her tone carrying a mix of uncertainty and readiness.
Denji paused for a moment, struggling to contain the worry that seemed to constrict his throat. "Yeah," he eventually replied, his hand extending toward Reze.
She hesitated, her eyes darting between his outstretched hand and his face. Reze couldn't help but notice the hope and fear etched in Denji's expression. After a brief moment, she took his hand, and he led her out of the hangar.
Denji had just opened the door to the makeshift office where the other devil hunters were gathering. Aki, with his distinctive pineapple-shaped head, had his sword's edge pressed against Denji's weapon. Makima, seated at her desk, remained unflinching, but Himeno extended her spectral arm in readiness. Kobeni, on the other hand, appeared shocked, with beads of sweat forming on her brow. Denji's gaze shifted toward her, reflecting determination rather than fear. Kobeni stayed put, her expression a mix of nervousness and collected resolve.
"Denji-kun," Aki flinched as Makima's icy tone filled the room, creating an uneasy atmosphere. "Would you explain why the bomb hybrid is healed?" Makima's head tilted slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips, more amused than threatened or surprised by the situation.
Denji attempted to speak, but Aki pressed his blade deeper against Denji's windpipe. Makima's eye twitched, detecting a subtle trace of red, a minor but noticeable detail under her analytical gaze.
"Aki," Himeno tried to get the boy to back off, but he remained steadfast, his eyes locked onto Denji's red ones.
"Ak-kiiii," Himeno enunciated his name, trying to grab his attention. "Aki-kun," Makima sweetly interjected. The boy finally turned around, keeping his sword at Denji's neck. "Lower your blade. Even in his weakened state, you are incapable of fighting Denji on equal footing."
Aki glanced at Denji once more, his glare intense, before he lowered his sword and sheathed it, returning to Himeno's side. Denji noticed Makima's focus on Aki, which he found unsettling, reminding him of the way she looked at him. Her eyes then darted back to Denji, causing him to flinch. He cleared his throat and began to speak, but Reze gently squeezed his hand. He turned to her, and she nodded in encouragement. Kobeni observed this exchange, feeling an unfamiliar pang in her chest.
"I want to join the Public Safety Devil Hunters," Reze announced proudly, her gaze shifting from one hunter to another in the room. Himeno appeared somewhat shocked, while Aki attempted to voice his protest. "The bomb hybrid..."
"Reze," the girl interrupted, "the bomb hybrid destroyed several city blocks and caused the deaths of countless civilians. Not only that, but Soviet soldiers died. We can't just let her join."
Himeno spoke up after Aki, "He has a point. If there's footage, the Soviets could potentially instigate war, as it might be seen as an act of war to deploy a fiend into enemy territory to cause chaos."
Makima raised her hand, gesturing for silence. "If the Chainsaw Fiend is discovered to be in the possession of the Japanese government, several countries and organizations will make it their mission to take him for themselves. Fiends and hybrids are a rarity for an enemy government to have. Having more than a few weaker ones is unheard of. If the Bomb Devil is added to our ranks, then international backlash is expected, especially after the situation in St. Petersburg."
Kobeni began shaking, and she started to stammer something, drawing Makima's attention. "But Denji did succeed in capturing the Bomb Devil, and he did eliminate a hybrid that was undercover in St. Petersburg..."
Makima rested her chin in her hands, seemingly bored. "That is true; however, according to Squad Leader Kishibe, Denji had committed insubordination by defying orders to stay put to ensure the squad's safety. Ultimately, that act of insubordination led to a number of human deaths. Whatever goodwill we have with the Soviet Union will be tarnished if they learn that we are in possession of the Angel Devil and the Chainsaw Fiend."
Denji was disgusted by how she could write off human lives as if they meant nothing. It was his fault, and he would pay for it, but for someone whose job was dedicated to helping humanity, she seemed to care very little.
"If Reze is captured for their insubordination, their heart will be removed and reinserted into another agent to transfer the Bomb Devil's powers," Reze shivered as Makima stared at her. "This puts Reze and Denji-kun in highly perilous positions."
Makima stood up, brushing a red-colored strand out of her face, and then she grabbed a stack of papers from the desk. "Kobeni, Himeno, Aki, I am assigning you and the fiends in your squads to the beachside town of Kunamo. There's a safehouse there, so for the time being, until the command center in Kyoto decides what to do with the current situation, Angel, Denji, and Reze will be relocated there for their safety until we know for certain the Soviets don't plan on retaliation. Your primary role will be to guard Reze, Denji, and Angel."
Aki spoke up, "The bomb hybrid almost killed two of our fiends and a veteran commander, and now we are going to be assigned to protect them?" Aki asked incredulously, letting his professionalism mask slip.
"We will not allow Reze to run amok. I am well aware of the danger presented. And might I remind you that the mission was to retrieve Reze and bring them back to Japan with minimal casualties. The squad fulfilled both goals to varying degrees." Makima paused before turning to Denji. "We will vet Reze for any relevant information as well as go through the standard procedure for recruiting a foreign agent into our squad."
Aki began to protest again, "Isn't this incredibly risky, leaving her with Denji with minimal securit-"
"Aki, I am well aware of the potential dangers and risks involved. I do not need you questioning my authority as well."
"I'm not questioning, but I think we should."
"Accept the command. Now, please return to your residence and gather your things. Bring extra uniforms and extra clothes for Denji and Angel."
Aki's face deadpanned as he returned to a neutral expression, and he quickly left the office, closing the door behind him.
"Himeno, please do the same. Gather some clothes and other relevant items you may need. I will send a car to pick up you and Aki once Denji and Angel are ready to travel again. In the meantime, Denji, please leave Reze here so I can complete any precautionary measures to ensure your squad's safety."
Denji, still carrying Reze, felt goosebumps begin to rise on his spine. His grip on Reze's hand noticeably tightened. She tapped his shoulder, whispering something to him. Denji turned his head back, trying to look at her, and she rubbed his palm with her thumb. She stepped forward across the cold floor, shivering slightly.
Himeno and Kobeni could have sworn a bolt of lightning passed between Makima and Reze when the two finally made eye contact with each other. Denji, not the most emotionally intelligent, felt the air thicken with unspoken tension between the two women.
Makima raised her hand and with a small wave, she said to the chainsaw fiend, "Denji, I believe that Angel should be awake by now. Please go make sure he is being taken care of." She waved him off. Denji looked towards Reze, who only returned him a small smile. Denji turned towards Kobeni, who seemed ready to follow him out. He left the group, walking out the door with Himeno, closing it quietly. He took one last look at Reze before the door closed and locked behind them.
Reze turned back towards Makima, and asked, "So your mission was to capture me?"
Makima replied, "It was Denji and Angel's mission, but unfortunately, it seems he allowed his emotions to get the better of him." The red-haired woman stepped in front of Reze.
"You seem to have done the same," Reze pointed out. "You let your emotions get the better of you. You hesitated to kill him. Why is that?"
"I didn't want to," Reze admitted.
Makima pressed, "Don't lie to me."
Reze felt her mind go blank as her faculties left her. She felt outside of her own mind when she answered, "I like him."
Makima continued, "Do you like him romantically?"
Reze confessed, "Yes."
"Even knowing that he and his squad were sent to retrieve you?"
"I don't believe that your mission was his main motivation."
Makima asked, "Why is that?"
Reze explained, "He did not once make a move against me."
Makima inquired further, "What do you mean?"
Reze tried to regain control of herself, but her head began to pound with a migraine the more Makima spoke. She was slowly losing consciousness.
Makima's final words to Reze were, "You're going to belong to me. Do you understand?" Reze could hear them before her eyes glazed over, and her consciousness left her.