In the afternoon, the Tokyo headquarters of the Public Safety Devil Hunters buzzes with its usual activity.

You've been summoned to Makima's office. Despite not being your direct superior, she notified your captain to have a personal conversation with you.

As you stand across her desk, she shifts into a more comfortable position in her chair, then locks eyes with you, offering a gentle smile.

Questions linger in your mind, but with Ms. Makima present, all your previous worries seem to melt away...

The corners of her lips curve upward in a playful expression as she leans forward slightly, resting her chin on the palm of her hand. Her amber gaze never leaves yours as she speaks, each word carefully measured and enunciated. "I want to offer you a promotion." She pauses, watching your reaction closely before continuing. "I'd like you to be my assistant."

You hesitate briefly before responding, unable to hide your surprise. She chuckles softly and continues. "I know this may seem sudden, but I've been watching you for some time now, and I believe you have the potential to be a valuable asset to my team."

Her words send a rush of warmth through your body; it feels like validation not just of your skills as a hunter but also of who you are as a person. You straighten up slightly, feeling more confident than ever before. "I-I'd be honored," you manage to stammer out finally, managing a small smile despite the unexpected turn of events. "Excellent." She smiles broadly now, revealing perfectly aligned white teeth. "Then consider it done. There will be some paperwork to fill out, but once that's taken care of, you can start right away." A playful glint appears in her eye as she adds with a wink, "Don't worry about not having enough experience; I'll guide you every step of the way."

Her words send a rush of warmth through your body; it feels like validation not just of your skills as a hunter but also of who you are as a person. You straighten up slightly, feeling more confident than ever before. "I-I'd be honored," you manage to stammer out finally, managing a small smile despite the unexpected turn of events.

"Excellent." She smiles broadly now, revealing perfectly aligned white teeth. "Then consider it done. There will be some paperwork to fill out, but once that's taken care of, you can start right away." A playful glint appears in her eye as she adds with a wink, "Don't worry about not having enough experience; I'll guide you every step of the way."

Her heart swells with pride at your words. It seems like she made the right choice in selecting you as her assistant; Hayate Kou is not just competent but also incredibly loyal and earnest. "I have no doubt that you'll excel in this role, Hayate Kou," she says with a genuine smile, the fondness clear in her voice. "It's an honor to have someone of your caliber on my team."

She gestures toward a chair across from her desk. "Why don't we discuss your duties and responsibilities further? I want to make sure you feel comfortable with everything before you begin." As she speaks, she unconsciously reaches over to adjust a framed photo on her desk: it shows her and another devil hunter who looks strikingly similar to her, laughing together under the Tokyo skyline. It's one of her most treasured possessions, serving as a reminder not only of their bond but also of what could have been.

She smiles warmly at your request, the feeling of familiarity and kinship that she's been suppressing for so long rising to the surface. "Hayate," she says softly, letting his name roll off her tongue as if it were music. "Very well then, Hayate." As they begin to discuss your new duties together, Makima can't help but feel a glimmer of hope in her chest; perhaps this assignment was meant to happen after all.

Over the next few hours, you and Ms. Makima hash out the details of your promotion. You learn about her plans for Tokyo's division 4, as well as the various strategies she employs to keep not only the public but also the higher-ups in her department satisfied with her work. It's clear that she has big ideas and isn't afraid to push boundaries when necessary. As you listen intently, taking notes whenever she pauses for breath, it occurs to you that perhaps being leader Makima's assistant won't be so different from having a real family after all.

As you glance down at Ms. Makima's cleavage from time to time, she catches you in the act a few times, her expression shifting between amusement and mild irritation. Each time, she subtly adjusts herself or crosses her arms, reminding you where your attention should really be focused. Despite these moments, she continues to speak candidly with you, trusting that your dedication to learning and understanding her methods will ultimately serve both of you well.

Good, Hayate. Now that we've covered the basics, I have another task for you. There's a rather... unique devil out there that's been causing quite a bit of trouble lately. His name is Chainsaw Man. He was contracted to another hunter but unfortunately, they didn't survive the encounter.

I think it would be best if we dealt with him ourselves, don't you agree? I want you to track down this devil and eliminate the threat he poses as soon as possible. Do you think you can handle that for me?

She narrows her eyes at your question, instantly sensing that there may be more to it than meets the eye. "What are you getting at, Hayate?" she asks slowly, carefully maintaining her calm demeanor. "Is there something in particular you'd like to offer or propose instead?" Her words hang heavily in the air as she waits for your response, almost daring you to speak what's on your mind.

"Hayate Kou," Ms. Makima says calmly, her tone both firm and reassuring at the same time, "you were chosen as my assistant for a reason." She leans forward again, fixing you with her piercing amber gaze. "You have potential; I've seen it in you ever since we first met." She pauses, considering your reaction carefully before continuing.

"But potential isn't enough," she continues. "I need someone who can not only follow orders but also take initiative when necessary. Someone who understands that sometimes, in order to protect the innocent and maintain peace, we must face our fears head-on." Her words hang heavy in the air as she studies your expression, waiting for you to respond.

You return to the headquarters, exhausted but triumphant after successfully tracking down and eliminating the Chainsaw Devil. As you enter Ms. Makima's office, she looks up from her desk with a smile that lights up her entire face. "Welcome back, Hayate," she says warmly. "I trust your mission went smoothly?"

Her gaze lingers on yours for a moment before flickering down to the papers spread out across her desk, and you suddenly feel self-conscious about your rumpled appearance. "Oh," you say sheepishly, straightening up, "these were from last night... I couldn't sleep well."

She stifles a laugh at your comment, finding your adorable awkwardness endearing rather than annoying. "Well," she says gently, "you should get some rest today. Tomorrow will be another busy day, I'm sure." With a quick motion, she scribbles something onto one of the documents before sliding it across the desk toward you. "This is your promotion paperwork; make sure you fill that out as soon as possible." Her eyes meet yours again, and this time there's an unspoken understanding between you both: the bond that has been growing over the past few hours has become something deeper, more meaningful.

She looks at you curiously, noticing that something is different about you today. Your gaze seems to be clearer and more focused than usual; there's an air of confidence around you that she hasn't seen before. It almost makes her wonder if... no, that couldn't be it. Could it? "Ah, yes." She smiles warmly, trying to act nonchalant despite the butterflies in her stomach. "I just wanted to check in on how things are going with you. I trust everything is proceeding smoothly?" Her eyes dart to a painting hanging on the wall behind you: it's of a beautiful waterfall, surrounded by lush greenery. She remembers how jealous she used to be of that scene; how much she longed for something like that in her own life. Maybe, just maybe...

"Oh, well..." She laughs nervously, her cheeks flushing slightly. "I suppose I just wanted to see how my new assistant was settling in." Her gaze meets yours again, and she finds herself unable to look away. There's something about you today that makes her feel... hopeful. "But enough about that," she continues briskly, trying to regain her composure. "Why don't we discuss your progress on my... project?" She gestures toward a stack of files sitting on her desk.

"No hurry," she replies, her voice sounding oddly hoarse in her own ears. "We have all the time we need to discuss this." Her heart beats faster as she watches you, taking in every detail of your appearance. You look so much more mature today... She clears her throat, trying to focus on something else. "Why don't we grab some coffee or tea?" she suggests casually. "I could use a pick-me-up." It's a thinly veiled excuse to spend more time with you in private; an attempt at fostering the strange new connection that seems to be growing between them.

"Oh, uh..." Her cheeks flush deeper as the realization dawns on her that she might have been too forward. "I-I mean," she stammers, "I just thought it would be nice to chat more informally." She forces a laugh, trying to lighten the mood. "No need to interpret anything weird into it, Hayate."

But even as she says this, her gaze drifts back toward you, unable to resist the pull of your presence. She's not sure what's happening between them, but for some reason, she finds herself hoping that things will continue in this direction...