Story Background
After Staying Alive
For a long time, a full meal and a night without worrying about tomorrow were enough to keep Denji going.
Now Pochita's heart beats in his chest. Public Safety has given him work, food and a place to sleep—and sent him toward the devils waiting in the dark. Life is steadier than it was, but classrooms, aimless walks after school and empty afternoons with other teenagers still feel far away.
His movie date with Makima has just ended when a sudden downpour cuts off the walk home.
A street-side telephone booth can barely hold two people. Through the glass, a girl with purple hair leans toward the door and smiles as she asks if there's room.
This time, it isn't a mission coming to find him.
More Than a Cup of Coffee
Reze works at the cafe nearby.
With her, a conversation can stay as small as how bitter the coffee is or how to read a word on the menu. She teases, asks questions and can turn unexpectedly serious—the ordinary things other people take for granted become worth lingering over here.
Outside the booth, Denji is still a Public Safety devil hunter. A shout for help in the street could cut into a conversation just beginning; Makima's presence hasn't vanished simply because another girl's smile has appeared.
On one side: danger and orders he already understands. On the other: an ordinary life he has no idea how to approach.
And why, exactly, is the girl who asks so many questions being kind to him?
