A few short words, yet they seemed to carry the weight of a thousand tons.
Denji, caught off guard, couldn't continue thinking and just stared blankly at the girl in front of him.
"Are you Yuzuru or Kaguya?"
After a long silence, Denji, still unsure of what was happening, couldn't help but ask, "By the way, from earlier, the way you're speaking is a bit strange... Are you actually Yuzuru pretending to be Kaguya?"
"Hah? Of course, I'm Kaguya. Has your brain short-circuited?"
"Yeah, it's short-circuited! I'm confused and don't get why you're asking me to choose Yuzuru!" Denji's voice began to rise. "Don't you want to live? Didn't you say you wanted to continue seeing this scenery? So why are you choosing to die?!"
By the end, he was practically shouting.
In response to Denji's trembling question, Kaguya Yamai's face flushed slightly.
"Of course, it's because Yuzuru is way more outstanding than me."
It was as if Kaguya Yamai was confessing a long-held secret. Her voice became lighter, almost cheerful. "Look, Yuzuru is much calmer and more serious when doing things. Though she's not very talkative and a bit cold, she's actually really gentle inside."
At first, her tone was a little awkward.
But as her heart opened, she spoke faster, her expression showing more admiration.
"She learns everything faster than me, adapts better, and is way cuter. We've fought so many times, and I've realized that she's more suited to be the true Wind Spirit Yamai."
"But, but if I choose her, you'll disappear, won't you?!"
"Mm, I will disappear, of course," Kaguya Yamai nodded without hesitation. "Although I want to live, I want Yuzuru to live more. So please choose Yuzuru tomorrow."
Seeing the complex expression on Denji's face, Kaguya Yamai flashed a big smile.
"What's wrong? I've already solved your worries, yet you're still looking gloomy," she patted Denji's back casually. "Stop acting like you're the victim. Don't you like busty girls? Choosing Yuzuru won't be a loss for you, will it?"
"Well..."
Denji sighed and held his forehead, completely dazed by the rapid-fire list of reasons she had given.
The cold air from high up didn't do anything to cool down his overloaded brain.
The situation had completely exceeded his expectations.
At first, he thought that Kaguya Yamai had figured out he had the final say, and tonight, she was talking to him and brought him here to enjoy the night view to boost her favorability, so he would choose her tomorrow in front of Makima.
But instead, she didn't ask him to choose her at all. She asked him to choose Yuzuru Yamai.
She had willingly given up the duel, choosing to sacrifice herself to let the other live.
Denji clenched his fists tightly.
Aren't they Devils?
Isn't their goal to prove their superiority by any means and devour the weaker one to become the only Wind Devil?
If that's the case, why would they make such a self-sacrificial choice?
Suddenly, Denji's heart throbbed.
He placed his palm on his left chest, feeling the vibrations there, and a realization dawned on his face.
"Devils... are not all cold-blooded, brutal creatures."
Yeah.
Why had he forgotten that?
When Denji was on the brink of death, it was his companion, the Devil named Pochita, who sacrificed itself to become Denji's heart, allowing him to live the life he had now.
The life where he could eat and be warm every day, surrounded by companions—his dream life.
Pochita wasn't brutal at all. In fact, compared to many people Denji had met, Pochita was more humane.
Perhaps Kaguya Yamai is the same.
Denji didn't see Kaguya Yamai as a Devil. It wasn't because he had been fooled by her acting, but because from the very beginning, she was more human than the humans themselves.
This realization filled Denji's heart, but it didn't make him feel any lighter.
Because the decision he was making wasn't about the life or death of a Devil—it was about the life or death of a human.
"I originally... I really did want to choose Yuzuru," Denji sighed deeply, covering his face. "But now, I feel like I want to choose you."
"Since you originally wanted to choose Yuzuru, I listed all of her strengths and got you to choose her. Why are you suddenly thinking of choosing me now?"
Kaguya Yamai pulled Denji's hand away and looked at him as if he were an idiot. "What's going on? Are you really this stupid?"
"I don't know..."
"You..."
Kaguya Yamai sighed lightly.
But soon, her expression became serious.
No, not just serious—there was a hint of solemnity in her face.
This was a look Denji had never seen on her before.
"Listen carefully, Denji. Tomorrow, you must choose Yuzuru."
Kaguya Yamai spoke each word slowly.
"Otherwise, I will blow up all of Tokyo, including your other companions. Do you understand?"