Joining Special Division 4

The surroundings were eerily quiet.

It was as though someone had pressed a mute button beside their ears.

They couldn't hear a thing.

Aki Hayakawa clenched his fists.

The wait had dragged on longer than ever before.

To keep Makima occupied for so long...

Meng Fan was certainly no ordinary man.

He even began to worry about Makima's safety.

After all, Aki Hayakawa didn't know Makima's true identity.

Just as he didn't know what kind of feelings he had for her.

A crush, a superior, the person he liked most, or someone he admired?

He wasn't sure which category Makima fell into.

But all he clearly remembered was that Makima had saved his life.

In return, he had to obey Miss Makima absolutely.

"Aki..."

Suddenly, a soft voice reached his ears.

A warm hand clasped Aki Hayakawa's tightly, bringing him tremendous comfort.

"Miss Makima?"

"It's me, Himeno."

"Himeno!!"

"Don't be afraid. Miss Makima will be fine."

Himeno's words broke through Aki's tangled thoughts.

Then Makima's order followed. "Open your eyes."

Aki Hayakawa hurriedly removed his blindfold, wanting his first glimpse to be of Makima safe and sound.

But what they saw astonished both Himeno and Aki Hayakawa.

Meng Fan was still alive!!

"Miss Makima!"

"I know what you want to ask, but from now on, both of them are members of our Special Division 4."

"What?! Recruiting two devils at once?"

"Himeno, don't worry. He's stronger than either of you."

With that, Makima walked past them.

"Hello, Topknot and Pirate Lady. Looking forward to working with you."

"Who are you calling Pirate Lady?!" Himeno wore an eyepatch over her right eye, so Meng Fan had given her that nickname.

As for Aki Hayakawa, he really did have a topknot sticking up.

So Topknot was a fitting nickname.

"Master, you joined too?"

"Yep. I was worried about you, so I joined too. We'll be living at Aki Hayakawa's place from now on."

"Dream on!!" Aki Hayakawa shouted. "And what happened back there? What did you do to Miss Makima?"

"I just made her dream about eating stir-fried pork with shredded ginger."

"Stir-fried pork with shredded ginger?"

"Aki, don't overthink it. Maybe Miss Makima deliberately spared his life."

"I think this is the first time Miss Makima has ever shown mercy. Usually, telling us to close our eyes means she's sentenced the other person to death."

"Hey, why are you standing around instead of coming along?"

"Coming!" Himeno called. "Aki, let's go. Didn't Miss Makima just say that guy was stronger than us? Besides, Division 4 is short-staffed. It's not strange that she kept him."

With that, she pulled Aki Hayakawa along and caught up with Meng Fan.

"Hey, you two need to speak respectfully to your seniors."

"What's speaking respectfully?" Denji asked.

"It's what you say when you raise a toast. Like, 'I'll finish mine, drink as much as you like,' or, 'Are you keeping fish in that glass?'"

"So if I don't drink, I don't have to say it, right?"

"What is this nonsense? Didn't you two go to school? You don't even know how to speak respectfully." Himeno was almost driven mad by them.

But just as she was about to scold them, she remembered how long it had been since she'd had such entertaining teammates, and switched to explaining it in the tone of a senior instead.

Chatting and laughing, they reached the car.

Makima was already sitting inside, waiting for them.

"Looks like there aren't enough seats. As the newcomers, you should give your seniors the seats and volunteer to climb into the trunk," Himeno teased.

"Are you kidding? I've got a car."

Meng Fan took out his car keys and showed them off. "Come on, Denji. We'll take the other car."

"This guy even has a car!"

"Wait. Denji, sit beside me. I still have something to tell you."

The previously silent Makima gazed affectionately at Denji through the car window.

Denji blushed, looking somewhat bashful.

"No need. My apprentice is coming with me," Meng Fan refused, then turned around. "Come on! We're not riding in that bad woman's car."

"Holy shit!! Where'd he go?!"

"Sorry, Master. I think I'll sit with Miss Makima."

When he turned to look for Denji, Denji was already sitting beside Makima.

The look on his face couldn't have been happier.

Clearly, he'd already accepted being her dog.

"Aki, you and Himeno can ride in his car."

"Yes, Miss Makima."

He was reluctant inside.

But Aki Hayakawa still did as he was told.

"Miss Makima seems pretty interested in your apprentice." Himeno rubbed her chin as she watched the two inside the car.

She had never seen Makima take such care of a newcomer.

Especially that expression. She only ever saw it during their usual group meals.

At work, Makima was always a stern, cold beauty.

"Tch. It's not my apprentice she's interested in. It's his heart."

Meng Fan said no more and got into his own car.

Aki Hayakawa sat in the back seat, his gaze fixed on Makima's car.

He saw Denji inside, his face bright red.

And Makima, departing from her usual manner, was exchanging gentle looks with a man she'd only just met.

"Tell your senior what happened between you and Makima back there. Why did Miss Makima let you go?"

"I made her a plate of stir-fried pork with shredded ginger. After she ate it, she was so moved she cried."

Meng Fan started the car and followed close behind Makima's vehicle.

"Himeno, don't ask anymore. He definitely won't tell us. Even if someone like him is strong, he's not suited to being one of the Public Safety Devil Hunters."

"My jokes seem to have really rubbed you the wrong way?"

Meng Fan glanced at Aki Hayakawa's sour expression in the rearview mirror.

"I don't like people who don't take things seriously, and I can tell you don't really want to join the Public Safety Devil Hunters."

"That's where you're wrong. I love any route that lets me become a civil servant without taking an exam. Besides, I'll definitely outlive you and collect my pension."

"All right, let's drop the rest. At least tell us which devil you're contracted with."

"My name is Himeno. I'm contracted with the Ghost Devil."

"He's Aki Hayakawa. He's contracted with the Fox Devil."

Seeing how enthusiastically Himeno was explaining everything...

Meng Fan didn't hold back either. "My name is Meng Fan. The Dream Devil."

"The Dream Devil?! Never heard of that one. What abilities do you have?" Himeno took a pack of cigarettes from her pocket.

"I don't smoke, thanks." Meng Fan waved her off.

"Himeno, could I trouble you for one?"

Himeno casually moved the cigarette she'd offered Meng Fan behind her head.

Aki Hayakawa took it and held it between his lips. Himeno lit it for him, then continued asking, "Come on, what abilities do you have? And what's the price?"

"I don't mind telling you. My ability lets me put humans to sleep quickly, and I can freely enter and manipulate anyone's dreams."

"So you're saying you can cure my insomnia." Himeno exhaled a smoke ring and spoke casually.

"Insomnia is nothing. I can put you to sleep forever."