Devil's Choice

A street preacher crows that his warnings of a war against Devils have come true, declaring that mankind must now fight the Chainsaw Man army. Tucked out of sight from the demonstrators, Denji floats the idea of switching into Chainsaw Man if things sour, but Fumiko shoots it down, arguing that any such change would paint a target on all of them and that guarding the group is her duty. Nayuta dismisses Fumiko as the weaker one and insists she alone should handle every threat, humans included, which rattles the agent. Pressed on what he has taught his sister, Denji confesses he mostly parks her in front of the television and lets the programs do it.

When Denji remembers the pets back home need feeding, Fumiko objects that the apartment has already been marked, and reveals she intends to stash the siblings inside Public Safety headquarters. Nayuta answers by flinging a chain that misses the agent but latches onto a passing vagrant, who lunges to throttle Fumiko. Denji breaks the hold by tickling Nayuta until she releases the chain and the controlled man loses his rage, then he tells Fumiko to flee before his sister finishes the job.

Alone with Nayuta, Denji asks in disbelief whether she truly meant to kill the woman. Nayuta brushes it off, claiming destruction is simply a Devil's instinct and that Denji secretly relishes hurting people too. She invites him to stand with the Devils, painting a future where their rule grants total freedom beyond every human restriction. Denji worries aloud about their classmates, and her cold reply that they are worthless wounds him. Reading his face, Nayuta guesses he is dwelling on Asa and asks why she matters, and he answers that it is because of their kiss. She presses on how a lone kiss could weigh so much, and he explains that every previous kiss ended in disaster. When she asks plainly if he likes Asa, he signals a moderate amount, then gestures a far larger one when she asks how much he likes Nayuta herself. Pleased, she drops her scheme to topple humanity and urges him home.

A preacher rallies the public toward war against the Chainsaw Man army. Nayuta uses her chains to nearly strangle Fumiko, and Denji stops it by tickling his sister, then sends the agent running. Nayuta tries to recruit Denji to the Devils' cause and dismisses his human friends. The standoff resolves when Denji signals that he likes Nayuta far more than Asa, leading her to abandon her plan to conquer humanity and head home with him.

Published on November 22, 2023, this Volume 17 entry continues the Chainsaw Man Church arc. The cast covers Fumiko Mifune, Nayuta, Denji, and a mention of Asa Mitaka. The chapter leans heavily on the sibling dynamic between Denji and Nayuta rather than combat.