windfall | what i desire most, what i fear most

[ Oh, good. They're speaking normally — he wondered, for a short time throughout the class period, if Aki was giving him the cold shoulder for all that transpired the night before. Denji and Power are outside on the field. She's playing soccer (or at least some rendition of the sport) with a few of her peers; obviously, Denji is sitting out due to his injuries. He tried giving studying on his own a try, but that didn't really stick, so…

Here he is, bothering Aki. Also, stuffing school store bread into his mouth. If Aki looks out the window or is anywhere nearby, he might be able to see them. ]

he answered to good boy when i first met him so it kinda stuck… you think hes a girl?

chainsaw is a pretty badass name but it doesnt feel right

besides hes more dog devil than chainsaw devil. he even goes wan wan like one

[Chainsaw does feel too "badass" for the thing, but still. There's no way it's a dog devil. That would definitely be much more terrifying looking. Plenty of people are scared of dogs by nature. Chainsaws? Probably not as much. It can't be that strong.]

Dogs don't have chainsaws sticking out of their faces.

If you want it to sound like a boy, then you should give it a more boy-like name. You know, ending in -suke or -tarou, stuff like that.

[It's not like it matters, though. Their current housepet is called Meowy, for crying out loud. He's really hoping Denji doesn't go for Wansuke or something.]

It doesn't talk at all, then? A lot of devils can talk like humans.

nah he hasnt said a single real word to me

you think its cuz hes dumb? maybe if we let him watch tv he might learn how to!

[ As someone who struggled acclimating to an academic environment when he first started attending, Denji's a huge proponent of the national education channel. If he can do it, a devil can, too! But back the most important topic at hand. ]

oh tell me what ya think of these btw

wantarou
pochimaru
inusuke

[...Truth be told, Aki has no idea why some devils can talk and others can't. Maybe he can look into that. Still, he's not sure educational programming like what Denji and Power used to watch will have much of an effect on a devil.]

[Also his name choices are so... He doesn't know. Is it that they're too long? They feel too much like real names, or at least too official sounding for a devil. He actually thinks it over, trying to figure out what it is that he doesn't like about any of these names. If it was a real dog, none of these would work, he's sure.]

I think it should be shorter. Four syllables is a lot.

[He can't believe he's helping with this. He hasn't even touched his lunch.]

Or wait until you get home and try calling him one of them.

It*

[Damn it.]

[ He saw that! No taking back your Freudian slips, Aki! ]

ill wait for ya to get back home then. we can make it a bet! 🐶

whoever gets him to agree to a name first can make the other person do one thing

how bout it?

[ That Aki is amenable to the idea of naming their pet devil is a good sign. It potentially means, y'know, perhaps things are mending between them. They can go back to getting along and planning for an upcoming not-trip and figuring out fun things to do instead. ]

btw wre gonna be nearby still by the time you leave school today…

sooo…

dont keep us waiting too long

[A bet...? But Aki doesn't have any name ideas... He's never even had a pet before. He doesn't want to have to think of this the rest of the day. Ughhh. Besides, that devil looks so stupid behind the eyes he'll probably respond to anything.]

[It. Ugh.]

[He stares down at the last message, remembering his promise to get home earlier today... He was going to go to the gymnasium to work out for a bit but he's really been getting home late too much lately. Maybe it's all his fault Denji went off and did something like this. Like he's been an absent parent... Man, there's just too much to do. He finally replies before picking up his lunch at last.]

I have to drop something off to student council and then I'll be leaving right after.

[And he's being honest. When classes are over he heads all the way to the top floor to drop off the documents he finished for them the previous day, has a brief chat with everyone (he stopped working for the student council officially when Denji and Power had to do their high school exams - it was too much work at once), and is outside at their usual meeting spot only twenty minutes after the bell. For once, not looking tired or like he's thinking about a thousand things at once. Because right now he's only thinking about one thing.]

You don't think it cut through anything in the bathroom, do you...?

[ Denji looks up from where he's hovering over Power's shoulder as she rolls her palms together and pulls for some capsule toy she wants. He'd listened to her vent not five minutes ago about how these things are rigged against her specifically, how they must have some desire sensor or something, yet here they are…

Well, that aside. He tries not to look any noticeably brighter than usual as Aki approaches. Like he's not happy to see him before sundown for once. ]

No way. We left him with food and water and some of Meowy's toys! He'd basically be set for life with those things — so if it's just for one day, he was probably fine… He's a good little guy.

[ It'd taken everything in him not to simply stow the devil into his backpack and bring him to class. But he seemed content, at least, when Denji brushed his fur and left him inside for the day. They might have to clean up his poops, though. If they see that he didn't break anything, what're the odds that Aki will agree to letting him free in the apartment with Meowy while they're away? ]

Anyway, I'm surprised those smarty-farties up there were really okay with you leaving earlier.

[ …He's talking about the student council. ]

[Leaving a devil who barks with cat toys made no sense to Aki this morning and it still doesn't make sense now. He begins walking, reminding Power to throw her capsule away because she keeps hoarding the containers themselves because she swears Meowy wants them. But surely not this many.]

They're not smarty-farties.

[Though, he isn't friends with any of them. But Aki isn't friends with anyone, so it's not their fault. Not entirely.]

I just help out because I felt bad leaving them last semester in the middle of things. I'll probably stop after finals. [By then he'll be way busier with other things. Applications, interviews... All the things he doesn't want to think about too deeply yet.] Besides, I thought you had a crush on the treasurey secretary. What happened to that?

[Reroute and change the topic. Typical way to drop a topic for him and distract Denji with something else. And speaking of...]

Did you schedule your make-up exam yet?

[ Like the cartoon villain she is, Power gasps, exaggerated shock flashing across her face as she hides the capsule behind her back, sweating like it's the end of the episode and a hero has swooped in at the last moment to thwart her plans. She puts up a bit of a fight, but she does wind up throwing away the little plastic ball — into Denji's backpack. 'Tis her personal garbage can, after all.

As Power is living in a fantasy of her own making, Denji lets her do whatever, mulling over the questions fired at him in that typical bland and detached affect of his that makes you wonder if he's really listening at all. He doesn't look up from his phone. ]

The make-up's in two days.

[ Surprise, surprise, he did as he was told. Except he probably wouldn't have if his teacher hadn't approached him herself toward the end of lunch earlier. ]

And, yeah, I liked her a lot. [ One time, during a rainy day, she shoved her folded umbrella into his stomach before running away to catch up to another girl holding a clear one. He's never forgotten that. ] But I walked in on her making out with, um, that vice-prez chick. So it was a no go.

[ It's here that Denji's expression shifts, as if he feels awkward and sheepish just talking about it. Being an idiot, he'd dropped the sports equipment he'd been lugging to the shed when it happened, causing them both to spin around to look at him. Augh. ]

But what about you? [ Your turn, Aki. ] How'd it go talkin' to your secret admirer? Powy and I tried to spy on you guys, but we couldn't find a good spot.

[This is why Aki has to clean his backpack out every single day...]

[But two days - He'll note that down when he gets home. Surely Denji can cram in two days. He shrugs along about the story of Denji finding out about the tryst between the two student council girls, it's not like there weren't rumors... but when he brings up his stupid note again, Aki shoots him a tired look with a hint of annoyance. He thought he made it clear with a slap to the back of both their heads how he felt about them digging through his bag.]

Nothing happened. I just told her I'm not interested. [She made some appeal about how she was going to Tokyo post-graduation as well and how they could move there together, but Aki shot it all down. No, thanks. He doesn't need another person to worry about.] Who starts a relationship their senior year, anyway? There's too much else going on for something like that.

[That said, he reaches out to deliver another series of whacks to the back of both of their heads.] And don't spy on me.

Ow, hey!

[ He yanks back too little too late, his hands clamping down on the stinging spot on his head, afraid Aki might go in at him again. Try and collect another toll for the price of entry into the parts of his life he keeps hidden from them. ]

Don't tell me you wouldn't do the same thing! [ And then, irrationally irritated: ] We just wanted to know.

[ That's not a crime. Although invading Aki's privacy kinda is. But it's his fault that he's the sort of guy to say stuff like, I'm fine, before forlornly staring off into the distance. Usually, he says what he means. Until he doesn't, which always leaves Denji grappling to understand what signals he missed in the moment. ]

There's always stuff goin' on with you. With that attitude, you'll never date someone. Or get laid.

[ This is pretty righteous coming from Denji when he regularly makes so much trouble for Aki. But he means well. ]

[Denji thinks Aki would spy on him if he got a confession?? Of course he wouldn't. He would look into whoever it was, sure, and make sure they weren't a bad match for them, maybe strike up a casual conversation to double check, but he wouldn't lurk in the bushes to watch the actual scene. ...Probably.]

[There's no staring off into the middle distance this time as Denji accuses him of always being busy, and how that will keep him from getting laid. He passes a look at him tiredly.]

I'm not interested in that right now.

[Seriously, his short term plan is passing the written exam to work for Public Safety in a few months. He doesn't even need a high school degree for it, he's only finishing that to set an example.]

Besides, she wasn't my type. I'm not going to waste time with someone I don't even think is that attractive to begin with.

[...That sounded mean. He shakes his head.]

I mean, she looked fine, just - You know. Everyone has a type. [He hates when Denji talks about sex, it makes him feel like a horndog for just the simple idea of liking a girl with long hair. Ugh.]

A type?

[ That gets him thinking, but talking about dating always does — mostly with his dick, rather than his head. But that aside, does he himself have a type? Probably. There are definitely girls who he can't get along with, girls who stress him out, girls who get under his skin…

One such girl is walking just slightly behind him. Or she was.

"My favorite type of human is the kind with fatty thighs!" Power cackles wildly, careening in between Aki and Denji, her deceptively strong arms pinching their heads to her shoulders. "To eat, of course. Romance is but a parlor trick of the mind — and I'm immune to such debuffs!" ]

Ugh — [ Denji staggers, spitting out part of her hair that'd flown into his mouth, but he doesn't try to detach from her grip. ] No one asked you! And that's not the kinda type we're talkin' about at all!

[ His neck stretches out, to look at Aki from past Power's side profile. ]

So what is it — tits, ass, legs? Glasses or no glasses? The class rep or the flirty idol sort? [ … ] I'm just curious. I'll tell ya mine if you tell me yours.

[Power yanks her arms around them and Aki keeps his back strong, barely bending at her yank and just groaning an annoyed sound as Denji does the same. He briefly scolds her on cannibalism - which she refutes because she's totally not human, duh, but then Denji is poking at him again about his taste and he makes a face. Discussing it with him is so...]

I already know yours. Or else you wouldn't watch the news as much as you do.

[Aki is also pretty good at guessing which girl in the school Denji will affix his crushes to next. There's a long list. Now that he's been scorned by the student council vice president, he'll probably he turning his attention to that one girl on the basketball team. The only one who doesn't wear a sports bra to practice. Not that Aki has noticed, too, or anything. She can just jump high, that's all.]

Like I said, I'm not interested right now. Who starts a relationship right before they plan to move, anyway? This isn't some romance manga.

[ Such an Aki answer, of course, drags a scoff out of Denji. ]

Just what kinda boring ass manga do you think we're livin' in?

[ Where they just go to school, ponder the facelessness of their futures without the reward of something sweet on the side? He's being pushy about it, but not without his own reasons. Pushing Power's arm off of him, Denji jogs a few paces ahead, turning to walk backwards, using his pointer finger and thumb on both hands to create the corners of box. A tiny, tiny box. ]

Dude, you're thinking of it from in here. You need to think — [ Suddenly, the width of his arms stretch out! ] — out here! Imagine you've passed all that. You're a city guy now, you're all moved in, you've got a job… Then what? What's left?

[Aki slows as Denji gets in front of them, watching his show with an unimpressed stare. When he gives his question, Aki only has one, almost immediate, response.]

Making sure you graduate.

[He pushes past him as Power laughs, says something about that being a never-ending dream. So Aki shoots back over his shoulder,] That's the same for you. If one of you fails, you both fail.

[She's definitely upset at that idea and snaps something about being the ruler of her own destiny but Aki is already walking ahead, not waiting.]

[He doesn't want to tell them the truth. That, of course he cares about making sure they graduate. But he already has a long-term goal. He has for almost a decade at this point. He's never wavered from that goal, not once. And if it means he has to sacrifice ideals like a lover, or an upscale apartment to come back to, or anything from that sort of brand of normalcy... Of course he will. He's been thinking beyond the box ever since he watched his normalcy vanish before his eyes.]

[ Aki trudges forward like graduation is a concern so seismic, it requires both his hands and all the strength in shoulders to push uphill. So stupid — ugh. Midterm exams, Public Safety exams, moving to Tokyo, entering the workforce… He might be shooting ahead at 500 kilometers per hour, same velocity as a bullet train, but that doesn't make his trajectory any less narrow, the box any less a box. The only difference is that it becomes a tunnel.

Just staring at his back makes him want to kick it in, like a little act of violence might substitute for an act of god — because something of that magnitude's starting to feel like the only thing capable of actually getting the guy to lighten up. But before he can, Power's snapping Denji's backpack open, clawing through its entrails to pull out his math books (upside down) and yell sample problems (from a unit his class hasn't even touched yet) out at him. Denji complains in an instant, would run for it if his feet weren't still bandaged up from the night before, if his vision wouldn't blur when his heart throbs too hard, too quick, unable to keep up with the excitement. Unlike Aki, he can only take things easy. Unlike Aki, he can only laugh through life — and life out in the sticks? It ain't so bad.

They follow Aki all the way home like that.

The strap of Denji's backpack falls halfway down his arm as he slips his shoes off at the genkan, his mouth dropping at the sight before him. The devil is comfortably curled on one of the seat cushions. When he peeks down the hallway, there isn't a mess of woodchips sheeting the floor, either — maybe some scuffing and scratches from the devil-dog's failed attempts at unlocking the bathroom door, but otherwise, not much else. If anyone takes a look inside Meowy's litter box, there's a swirly turd, larger than the rest, but still coated in the sand. ]

Oh, shit! [ The expletive is said more in amazement than anything else. ] He really did come potty-trained! And he can open doors. That's awesome — dogs rule! [ Kneeling down — ] C'mere, boy!

[Aki's first though is how the hell did the devil get out of the bathroom?? Can it grow an arm or a hand or something? He looks in and sees the vague scratches on the wall, thinks about complaining about them and how Denji has to paint over them, but it's not like Meowy hasn't run her claws all over the baseboards. Speaking of...]

Where's Meowy? [But Power is coming in right after him and she trots out of the bedroom with no issue, immediately rubbing against her owner's leg and curling her tail up her shin. So the devil didn't eat her, and in fact...] ...It really didn't do anything.

[Huh.]

[He moves past Denji and into the living room, peering around as if he'll find some sort of proof that the devil made a mess, but all he can see are signs of things being slightly nudged askew, as likely a result of his sniffing as it would be Meowy climbing along the furniture. He continues looking around the room for a bit before checking the kitchen, looking for signs it ate any of their food. But everything looks secure.]

[...Huh.]

You're sure that's a devil? It isn't trying to destroy anything. [And isn't that their main objective in life, destruction of human property and life? He pulls open the fridge to cut up some fruit, Power already demanding sausage of which they have none.] If you have a contract with it, it should be able to do something for you. [Keeping Denji safe is too vague.]

I thought he was but maybe I just discovered a new species of dog!

[ Canis lupis chainsawpus, or whatever. Using both hands, Denji holds the devil up to stare him straight into his glassy and barely blinking eyes. He's so cute. ]

What say you, lil' guy? You shoot beams or fire rockets on command or something?

[ In response, the dog only sticks out a slightly curled tongue and pants, his posture somewhat hunched in an appeasing manner, which doesn't really communicate anything meaningful at all, but to Denji, he gets the sense that maybe his devil companion is sheepishly telling him, No, that's not going to happen. ]

Can you do my homework, then? Take my test for me?

[ A short bark. ]

You hear that, Aki? [ He turns the devil so that its forced to look at Aki, even though it's visibly arching its neck to look at Denji instead. He moves his paw at him in an imitation of a wave. ] He said, "Hell yeah, I'm great at scientific notation!"

[...No, it's still definitely a devil. Aki takes out a cutting board and starts slicing up the fruit.]

You can't have a dog or a devil take your tests for you. That's against the rules.

[Power almost shoots forward, grabbing the fruit straight off the board as she shouts, "'Tis not a single rule in the book that says a dog cannot take a test!" Aki shoves her away and tells her to sit down before he cuts her finger off.]

He can tutor you, but you're the one who has to take the test. [So, if he wants to switch tutors, Denji is free to do so. ...Unless he agrees to it, in which Aki will step in to correct his path.] Once you pick a name, you need to get back to work.

[ At least two pairs of eyes roll at his ruling. Power skirts backward in a zig-zag to where Denji's still bent down, in case Aki decides to aim his knife between her eyes. She probably saw someone in some anime do it, too, and thought it looked cool. She leans over to whisper in his ear, mumbling something about such tyranny! and how she's sent autocrats to be trialed and executed for lesser offenses when she revolutionized France. Obviously, just loudly enough for Aki to overhear.

Denji and the devil in his arms share a puzzled look over her yammerings, and deciding that he doesn't want that kind of influence on his devil-pet, he gets up to move into the kitchen. The devil's legs swing helplessly in the air as he's carried. ]

We're competing, remember? Whoever gets him to answer to a name wins a favor! [ When he arrives near Aki, he leans sideways into the kitchen counter, his hip pressing into the edge. ] I'll start — Devilmaru!

[ The stretch of silence is deafening. ]

[Her best and worst subject really is history. Aki still remembers the essay she wrote about the Sengoku period and how she was actually the one to order Nobunaga kill himself and she only let Hideyoshi defeat her because she was bored and wanted to go home. Despite self inserting herself, Power knew every date and detail with shocking accuracy.]

[But Devilmaru... Really? Aki frowns at him and waits to see if the devil even responds. Which of course it doesn't.]

I told you, shorter is better. You can't just call a devil "Devil," anyway. [Now that it's this close however, and he can really see how small the thing is, his expression drops a little farther, almost in annoyance.] It's so... little.

[He's still not convinced it can even do anything. Does the chainsaw part even work?]

...Mijime. [His attempt. The devil just pants in Denji's arms. It seems completely unconcerned with Aki.]

[ He watches the bean-dog with bated breath for a reaction, and when there isn't so much as a sneeze, Denji sighs in relief. ]

What the hell kinda name is that?! It's like you're putting a curse on him! Make that your name instead, it fits you way more.

[ Actually, that gives him a brilliant idea. Setting the little devil down on the countertop, which prompts him to immediately press his snout to the edge of the cutting board. Denji bends his knees slightly so that he's eye-level with him. Snaps his fingers a few times to rescue the slices of fruit from the devil's attention. ]

Hey, hey. Look at me. What d'ya think about having this guy's name, huh, boy? Aki! Akiii. You're a cutie, aren't ya, Aki? High-five!

[ Aki did say shorter was better. He's just following his advice here! Behind them, Power upturns her nose. Complains at them that if they're going to be naming the devil after someone, they should call him Inferior Power or Meowy 2.

Unfortunately, those huge eyes only stare back at him — there even appears to be a wrinkle of befuddlement in his expression, his head tilting one way and then the next. Denji does not receive a high-five. ]

[The devil is too close to his cutting board. Aki pulls it away from him, scooping the cut-up strawberries into a small bowl instead. But with Power saying her own suggestions, Aki is worried they're getting off track.]

It's too confusing if he shares a name with someone. [He really is dog-like, though. It's kind of strange. It's hard not to think of dog names for him, so he starts listing some off.] There are a lot of dog names, just pick something shorter, like... Maru, Mugi, Pochi, Hachi, Hana... [He trails off with a frown.] You'll need to call him sometimes, right? You don't want something that's too long to call. And it should be easy to write, too. [Denji's handwriting is still shit. It'll have to be in kana.]

Or Chen. For Chainsaw.

[That sounds the least dog-like, though. Even the devil doesn't seem responsive to it.]

[ Denji rubs at his jaw, thoughtfully.

Open up any textbook account of where devils derive their strength, and it'll tell you the same thing: A name is a powerful weapon. Though Denji may not pay attention in class unless the teacher's flicking chalk at his forehead, he knows this much about devils. Not only is their name the culmination of human fear, but it's the vehicle for how they spread their acclaim. And that's probably a significant thing for devils. That self-identity through fear is their only assurance that they're alive, that they're meant to exist, right? He'd feel bad totally erasing the devil's connection to that, so maybe Chen really is the way to go…

The thing is that, for humans, names are oftentimes more of an embodiment of someone else's affection. Not their fear. ]

Chen, Mugi, and Pochi… [ Denji repeats his favorites from Aki's list, watching the chainsaw-dog for any reaction, just in case he didn't hear them clearly earlier. No hopping or barking — Denji's shoulders with a heavy sigh, and seeming to sense his disappointment, the devil paws at the air. Noticing the movement, Denji reaches over and the devil's paw taps at his knuckles. Like a pat. Okay, so what does that mean? To keep going?

After one long moment staring at him: ] Hey, have either of you heard of those Makita chainsaws?

[ Digging out his phone, Denji pulls up a picture to show Aki and Power. ]

It kinda looks like him. He's still a dog, so it doesn't feel right to just call him Makita, but maybe somethin' else… [ A pause. ] Mugita? [ Another pause. ] Chenta? [ And another one. ] Pochita…?

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