Aki Hayakawa

Biodata

Background / History

Aki’s family died under the Gun Devil’s gunfire. He joined the Public Safety Devil Hunters to avenge them, making the Gun Devil’s destruction his personal goal rather than a means of obtaining Makima’s promised reward 21 34.

Makima previously saved his life. Aki regards that rescue as a reason to obey her absolutely, although he cannot clearly distinguish whether his feelings toward her are admiration, attraction, or loyalty to a superior. He does not know her true identity when she confronts Meng Fan 18.

Already serving in Special Division 4, Aki is assigned responsibility for Meng Fan and Denji after their recruitment. Power subsequently joins his team, and Makima orders all three newcomers to live in his apartment under his supervision 16 18 24.

Appearance

• Topknot: His explicitly described hairstyle inspires Meng Fan’s nickname for him 17 18.
• Sword-bearing: Carries a weapon described as a “Special Katana” during his first investigation and as a longsword in later encounters 8 17 20.

Personality

Aki is disciplined and accustomed to violent crime scenes. He remains composed among the restaurant’s corpses, questions witnesses closely, and warns civilians away from suspected devils. His urgency can nevertheless override caution: he enters the Fly Devil’s deli despite Meng Fan warning that he cannot summon the Fox Devil again at that moment 8 20 22.

His devotion to Makima affects both his professional decisions and his personal behavior. He becomes awkward when seated beside her, threatens Meng Fan for suggesting an interest in her, and accepts an unwanted household assignment once Himeno tells him Makima considers him especially trustworthy 16 19 24.

Aki initially distrusts devils and fiends, believing humans cannot form emotional bonds with them. He objects to Power joining his team and regards her blood-soaked fighting as evidence that fiends are unreliable. His attitude gradually becomes less absolute: during the hotel crisis, he refuses to sacrifice Denji, and later privately asks Makima to spare Power 24 27 38 48.

His concern often appears beneath irritation or harsh language. He cooks for his unruly housemates and enforces boundaries around Himeno’s bath, but their behavior repeatedly exhausts his patience. Even after publicly calling the experimental team expendable, he seeks help for Power while insisting that she is merely “still somewhat useful” 25 26 29 48.

Abilities & Skills

Fox Devil Contract

Aki summons an enormous fox head by forming a fox-shaped hand gesture, looking through it with one eye, and calling “Fox!” 20.

• Swallowing attacks: The Fox Devil consumes the Fly Devil’s initial swarm in a single bite 20.
• Heavy damage: Bites away half of the Mosquito Devil’s body, though the target immediately regenerates 26.
• Limited repeat use: Meng Fan warns that Aki cannot summon it again before they enter the deli 20.
• Contract cost: After eating the flies, the Fox Devil threatens to double the price of their next contract. The precise payment is not stated 20.
• Combat limitation: Meng Fan characterizes it as effective against weak opponents but inadequate against stronger enemies 28.

Curse Devil Contract

The Curse Devil is Aki’s concealed trump card. Before Meng Fan reveals his knowledge of it, only Himeno and Makima are said to know about the contract 28.

• Conditional activation: Its power requires conditions to be met; those conditions are not specified in the supplied passages 28.
• Lifespan cost: Using it consumes Aki’s lifespan 28.
• Attempted use: Aki prepares to invoke the curse to prevent a teammate’s death during the Eternity Devil crisis, but Meng Fan intervenes before he does so 39.

Swordsmanship and Close Combat

• Draws his sword and thrusts at Meng Fan during their confrontation in the village 17.
• Attempts to slash the Mosquito Devil while Denji holds its proboscis, but is struck through the shoulder by a concealed spike 27.
• Uses an elbow strike against Meng Fan during the village encounter; Meng Fan evades it 17.

Investigation and Field Leadership

• Questions the surviving hunter about the Rat Devil’s revival, the missing corpse, and the claw-armed attacker 8.
• Identifies Meng Fan’s charred body through its height, build, and smell of gas 21.
• Notices that the second ramen-shop crime scene leaves victims’ necks intact and prevents Denji from eating a suspicious apple found there 23.
• Uses Public Safety identification to clear crowds and establish authority at crime scenes 22.
• Uses suspended Gun Devil flesh to confirm that the Morino Hotel’s devil has consumed another fragment 35.

Cooking and Household Supervision

• Prepares meals for the enlarged household, including a multi-dish welcome dinner 24 25.
• Handles breakfast and food preparation despite Power’s demands and early-morning disruptions 26.
• Supervises the newcomers’ living arrangements and explains the consequences of quitting or fleeing Public Safety 24.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Special Katana / longsword — Carried during investigations and drawn against hostile targets 8 17 20 27.
• Public Safety ID — Used to identify himself to civilians and suspects 22.
• Gun Devil flesh fragment — Suspended from a cord to detect a devil carrying related flesh; Aki also receives the fragment recovered from the Eternity Devil’s heart 35 43.
• Blindfold — Removed only after Makima permits him to look following her confrontation with Meng Fan 18.
• Cigarettes — Smokes with Himeno and while troubled by Power’s impending execution 18 47 48.

Relationships

• Makima — Direct superior and the person who saved his life. Aki obeys her closely and defends her judgment, but eventually asks her to reconsider Power’s fate 8 18 46 48.
• Himeno — Senior colleague and close teammate. She comforts him during Makima’s confrontation, arranges help for his injuries, and invites him to retire to the countryside with her; he agrees if he survives long enough 16 18 21 34.
• Meng Fan — Initially a suspect whom Aki pursues, later a subordinate and housemate. Meng Fan’s investigative insight earns his respect, while his pranks and evasive explanations remain aggravating. Meng Fan stops Aki from using his lifespan-consuming curse at the hotel 12 18 23 29 39.
• Denji — Subordinate and housemate whom Aki initially considers unfit for Devil Hunting. Despite that judgment, Aki refuses to surrender him to the Eternity Devil. Their relationship becomes strained when Aki publicly endorses the experimental team’s expendability 23 24 38 48.
• Power — Fiend subordinate and disruptive housemate. Aki initially rejects her presence, but later visits her in custody and privately pleads for Makima’s help in saving her 24 47 48.
• Arai — Junior colleague whom Aki corrects for obstructing Denji’s advance and for proposing that the team sacrifice him 36 38.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Notable Quotes

“Sure. If I live long enough to retire, I’ll definitely move to the countryside with you.” 16

“We’re Devil Hunters. We only kill devils, not our own teammates. Remember that, Arai.” 38

“We aren’t losing a single person on our team.” 39

“I don’t have any feelings for her. I just... think she’s still somewhat useful.” 48