Chapter 12: Ordinary Happiness
Denji picked up the clothes and buried her face in them, taking a deep breath. However, there was only the scent of laundry detergent; Otonashi Chiya hadn't actually worn this specific set yet.
A moment later, Denji emerged from the bathroom. She was wearing Chiya's T-shirt and long pants. Because she was severely malnourished and her body hadn't fully developed, the petite girl looked swallowed by Chiya's clothes. The hem of the T-shirt reached halfway down her thighs; luckily, it was short-sleeved, so her hands could still peek out from the cuffs. The pant legs dragged long on the floor, and she had to hold the waistband up with her hands to keep them from falling off.
"They really are too big." This was exactly what Chiya had expected. Fortunately, the pants were drawstring sweatpants, so he quickly helped her tie them tight so the waist would at least stay put.
"It's late, get some sleep." Chiya saw that it was already 11:00 PM. Denji was at the age where she needed good food and rest to grow properly. Luckily, when he was buying furniture, he had outshined his boredom by furnishing the second bedroom as well—it was now perfect for Denji.
Before closing her bedroom door, Denji whispered, "Goodnight, Chiya-niichan~"
"Woof~" Pochita also seemed to be saying goodnight.
"Goodnight," Chiya replied warmly.
Closing the door, Denji looked at the beautiful, soft bed in front of her and immediately grew excited. She jumped right onto the mattress, and Pochita hopped up with her.
"This is so comfortable!" Denji said happily. "Pochita, we really aren't dreaming, are we?"
"Woof woof!" Pochita barked in total agreement.
Denji rolled around on the bed clutching the quilt, then suddenly stopped. She turned to Pochita and asked, "Pochita, do you think Chiya-niichan likes me too? I mean, even if he has a grudge against the yakuza, he wouldn't be this nice to me otherwise, right?"
She had never met anyone so kind. It wasn't just "normal" kindness—he had solved her bottomless debt, handled her utilities, given her delicious food, a soft bed, and a hot bath... Before they left, Chiya had made the Zombie Devil leave that 10,000 yen on the shack's table. When the utility collector came by tomorrow, they would find it; the Zombie Devil certainly had no use for money.
"Woof-hoo~" Pochita let out a cry. No one could understand what he was saying, but it was clear he was very happy.
"The ordinary life I used to dream of... I can't believe it came true so fast. And this life is way better than just 'ordinary,'" Denji mused. That night, she slept more soundly and comfortably than ever before.
Meanwhile, Otonashi Chiya was in his own bedroom. He mentally opened the system panel.
[Host: Otonashi Chiya]
[Strength: 10]
[Speed: 11]
[Vitality: 45]
[Available Attribute Points: 17]
I used Kamui three times today, and each time was a struggle. It's probably time to start putting some points into other attributes... Chiya thought to himself.
While Vitality was currently the most critical attribute, it didn't mean that Strength and Speed were unimportant. In the world of Chainsaw Man, victory didn't rely solely on devil powers; martial arts and physical prowess were equally vital.
Top-tier Devil Hunters often possessed incredible physical skills. Take Kishibe, for example—he could be considered the strongest human Devil Hunter. Because of his age, he had very little left to offer devils as payment for contracts, so he relied primarily on hand-to-hand combat. Pure physical skill allowed him to become the strongest human. (Someone like Quanxi doesn't count in this comparison, as she is a Hybrid/Weapon Human).
These two were the prime examples of physical powerhouses. Strength and Speed were the core components of combat, with Vitality providing the foundation. Chiya didn't want to over-rely on Kamui; he wanted to strengthen his physical body to a point where, combined with the basic abilities of the Mangekyo Sharingan, he could handle powerful enemies with ease.
[Ding! Allocation complete. Vitality +8, Strength +5, Speed +4!]
Strength: 15
Speed: 15
Vitality: 53
Chiya immediately felt a comprehensive upgrade. His raw power surged, and his movement and reaction speeds were significantly enhanced. His future plan was to prioritize Vitality while ensuring Strength and Speed didn't lag too far behind. This way, his "arsenal" would be complete, allowing him to use different tactics against different foes.
The next day.
Chiya woke up early and prepared two servings of breakfast before knocking on Denji's door. A moment later, a sleepy-eyed Denji walked out, clutching Pochita like a stuffed doll.
"Good morning, Chiya-niichan~"
"Morning. Go get washed up and have some breakfast."
When Chiya bought the furniture, he had been thorough; the bathroom was already stocked with disposable toiletries.
The breakfast was simple—hot milk and poached eggs—but Denji ate it with immense joy. She truly savored "ordinary happiness." Things that seemed mundane to others made her feel blessed, such as simply being able to eat three full meals a day.
During the meal, Chiya asked, "By the way, Denji, do you want to go to school? Most kids your age are in school studying."
If she wanted to go, getting her enrolled wouldn't be difficult; as long as the tuition was paid, things could be arranged.
Denji thought for a moment. "...I've never been, so I'm curious about what it's like. But if I go to school, I can't stay with Pochita, and Pochita will cry."
She remembered a time when she couldn't find Pochita and searched outside for a long while. When she finally returned home, she found him hiding in a corner, crying. Since then, they had been inseparable.
"Alright, I understand."
Chiya respected her wishes and wouldn't force her into school. Education didn't necessarily require a classroom; it could happen at home. Perhaps once he was more financially stable, he could hire a private tutor who wasn't afraid of devils.
"I have to head to work soon. When I get off, I'll take you to buy new clothes. You and Pochita stay here and look after the house. You can go out if you want, but remember to lock the door. Here is a spare key." Chiya handed her the set.
"Okay! Leave the house to me and Pochita. If a thief tries to break in, I'll saw him!" Denji made a sawing motion with her arms.
"Woof!" Pochita barked in support.
Chiya smiled. With Denji and Pochita guarding the place, he could indeed feel at ease. Unless... Makima decided to "scout his base" while he was gone.