Chainsaw Man: Heart of Hell |Aki Hayakawa|

Chapter 25: Aki Hayakawa

Love admired his tenacity. It was almost entertaining to watch him try to avoid her. It particularly convinced her that she was merely a ghost. Despite the fact that they lived together, he would not even blink or acknowledge her presence. To avoid being offended by the cold shoulder, she decided to think of it as a competition.

Truth to be told, it was her last resort. She did not know how to bring it up despite her many attempts. 

Love watched Aki attempt to help a young girl get her cat stuck up on a tree.

Summer was just around the corner. Because Aki had removed his suit jacket and left a few buttons undone, as the temperature gradually rose during the day. He would move his hair back and forth, but it would always fall back down.

He should have something to tie that up. She thought.

She was standing in the shade of a tree. It kept her shaded and cool. She made the decision to remain motionless. She thought it would be a good time to bring it up by remaining silent and waiting for Aki to finally give up his avoidance of her and ask for help.

Obviously,  he couldn't possibly climb a tree that tall. He was stubborn but he's not dumb enough to hurt himself. Love almost felt bad for having hope to have him break his streak of ignoring her. She acknowledged his hard work in doing it too.

"I see Aki is still ignoring you." From behind her, a familiar voice called out. When she turned around, she saw the familiar woman with the eyepatch. She watched as she took her place beside her in the cool shade of the tree. It may seem insignificant to others, but Love was relieved to see that someone was willing to stand by her or even talk to her.

"Yes, but I understand." Love looked down as she fidgeted with her hair. "I can't force him to act otherwise. He hates me so that's what he feels." She finished. A hum came from beside her earning her interest as she studied Himeno tapping her lips insinuating she was thinking about something genuinely.

"His hatred is debatable. My take on it is he's just a teenage boy going through a phase." She said almost jokingly.

'Or maybe because a devil killed his family and many people close to him and I'm a devil.' Love kept that thought to herself. Regardless of Himeno's acts to converse and act normally toward her,  deep inside it was hard for her to trust anyone. At least, not yet. 

'I need to get on their good side to survive.'

"Say, what is he feeling right now? Asking as a friend." Himeno asked.

"He's a bit frustrated and yet determined to get that cat." She did not need much time to know what he was feeling. It was evident from the expression on his face. His eyebrows were drawn together and his nose crinkled.

"I know you don't want to be the receiver of his anger but I think he'll hate you more if you don't help him. Someone's gotta be the bigger person,"  Himeno said.

Love glanced up at Himeno, "Not me, of course." Himeno added.

Love sighed and knew she was right. Their 'fight' was going nowhere. She composed herself up and went up to the tree. She distanced herself a bit from Aki but enough to make her presence known. The little girl looked curious and was enthralled by the strangeness of her look.

Love crouched down to the little girl's level and smiled at her. "It's okay we're gonna get your kitty down safe and sound."

The little girl's face turned sour, "That's what this man said and he's not doing a good job at it." The annoyance was evident in her voice. The little girl glared at Aki and he stared back. Their faces almost expressed the same level of irritation. Love's eyes widen surprised realizing why Aki was frustrated in the first place.