>>4611767
>Fix her uniform for her. She's jiggling everywhere.

>>4611767
vore her

>>4611767
>"It doesn't look bad."
>Fix her uniform for her. She's jiggling everywhere.
It has a charm, to it. Not an business charm, yes, but as a man i like it.

>>4611767
>Fix her uniform for her. She's jiggling everywhere.
Gotta try harder than that little shroom

>>4611767
>Fix her uniform for her. She's jiggling everywhere.
A for effort, but...
Also, welcome back, QM!

>>4611767
>>"You look like a lampshade wearing a tie."

You should archive the last thread while you still have the chance

>>4571951

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/requestqstinterface.html

>>4611926
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/4571951/
Looks like it was done a while ago

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>>4611791
>>4611831
>>4611845
>>4611878

>Fix her uniform for her. She's jiggling everywhere.

"Meta. Come here." You instruct the fiend - if she's going to don the bureau uniform, she might as well do it right. And the poor shirt fit isn't doing much to mask that she's not wearing a bra.
"Oh? Have you realized my charm?" Meta quips, turning to face you. The mushroom-headed corpse places her hands on her hips. "Well, I suppose it was only a a matter of-"

The fiend squeals as you begin to unbutton her shirt. "O-Onishima?"

[...]

"Oh, you fixed it?.." The fiend laughs nervously, tugging at her collar in the mirror. "Bah. You're no fun. The last look was superior on this body."
"It's not about cuteness." You shake your head, getting up from your bed.

After getting sushi with your 'buddy' last night, you got a call late into the night from the Hokkaido Public Safety Bureau itself - or, at least what remains of it. The Worm Devil attack did significant damage to the bureau. This branch is on life support, and with hunters already spread so thin across the country, there's not much the central branch in Tokyo can do to recoup Hokkaido's losses. As such, they're taking on a significant amount of private hunters for the time being. The deets of today's job involve something about a devil in hiding at a high school.

"Hey, what're we doing about breakfast, Onishima? I'm hungry." Meta peeks over your shoulder.

>"I'll cook."
>"We'll get something on the way."
>"No breakfast today."
>Write-In.

>>4611950
>"I'll cook."
We're not in a hurry, if it's a high school devil then it's probably going to be stuck doing dumb teenager shit.

>>4611950
>"I'll cook."
Oh boy time for gym class devil

>>4611950
>>"I'll cook."

>>4611950
>"I'll cook."

>>4611950
>And the poor shirt fit isn't doing much to mask that she's not wearing a bra.
>The fiend squeals as you begin to unbutton her shirt.
Did we just get an eyeful of demon tiddy?

>"I'll cook."

>>4611950
>"I'll cook."

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>>4611953
>>4611955
>>4612129
>>4612159
>>4612381
>>4612391

>"I'll cook."

"I'll cook for us." You turn to the stove. ".. Anything you want in parti-"
"Omurice! And make it good. Plenty of ketchup, too." She's already reclining at the dining table. "I saw it on TV. They've got maids in Akiba that'll make 'em for you, Onishima. Aren't humans adorable?"
"Right." You really hope she's not building into asking you to wear a maid uniform.

[...]

The steaming heap of eggs and rice lies in front of you, and you're armed and loaded with a ketchup bottle.

>Don't write anything.
>"Work hard."
>"You're getting fat."
>Write-In.
>Draw something. [Post a pic.]

>>4612628
>Don't write anything.
It's food, not art.

>>4612628
>"You're getting fat."

>>4612628
>Write-In: "Plenty of Ketchup"

>>4612784
+1

>>4612628
Suppin'>>4612784

>>4612784
+1

>>4612784
+1
Also glad that this is continuing, Shroomy best girl

>>4612784
+1
Writing "plenty of ketchup" will probably give it plenty of ketchup.

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>>4612784
>>4612798
>>4612881
>>4612882
>>4612961
>>4612971

>Write-In: "Plenty of Ketchup"

You decide to be smarmy about it. With ketchup bottle in hand, you squirt "Plenty of Ketchup" across the golden heap. It's quite the sight. You slide the plate over to the shroom.

"Mmmm." Meta examines the omurice, tapping her lips. "Still not enough ketchup, human! And what's with these weird squiggles?! Don't play with your food."

Snatching the ketchup bottle, she dumps a whole load of ketchup onto it - drowning it in red, she licks her lips. You sigh. Figures. Of course she can't read.

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You take a seat across the dining table from her, lighting up a cigar. It's not typical of you sit down to enjoy a proper breakfast. It's often just a cigar, a cup of black coffee, and a handful of vitamins. A few years of contract usage have taken their toll on your insides.

"The eggs are fluffy. And the rice is fluffy. And the ketchup is.. fluffy." Meta huffs, the full extent of her devilish vocabulary at play. At least she's taking care not to stain her uniform right away for once. "We're going to a highschool today, right? Why am I, with my incredible devil hunting talent, being relegated to babysitting duty again?"
You bite back the irony of her statement. "..There's rumors of a devil in hiding at Hokkaido Asahikawa Kita High School. I'm sure you know that not all devils make a grand spectacle of themselves. A select few, smarter ones prefer to live like vermin - they live in hiding and pick off humans one by one, prolonging their time here. They'd prefer to run and hide than to fight-"
"Cowards." Meta interjects.
".. Yeah, sure." You sip from your coffee. "A number of unexplained devil carcasses have been popping up by and around the school area for the last few months. It's theorized that the devil has somehow inserted itself among the school body, as either a student or teacher. Of course, it's all speculation. Could be nothing. The bureau has been conducting a thorough investigation for the last few weeks already. We're just there to help out."

"I see." Meta responds, clearly not seeing. "You think it'd help if I wore a school uniform, Onishima? I could go undercover and sniff out the devil. We can smell each other, y'know!"
"I don't think that mushroom caps are part of the school uniform."

You should be heading out soon, but you still have time to review your info.

>Review the apparent pictures.
>Review the specific details of the rumors.
>Imagine Meta in a school uniform.
>Write-In.

>>4613034
>>Review the apparent pictures.
>''If anyone found out I put you in a high school girls uniform I would never hear the end of it''

>>4613041
+1

>>4613041
+1

>>4613041
supporting

>>4613041
+1

>>4613041
+

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>>4613041
>>4613060
>>4613071
>>4613109
>>4613110
>>4613114

>Review the apparent pictures.
>''If anyone found out I put you in a high school girls uniform I would never hear the end of it''

You sigh, removing the pictures from the dossier you were faxed. The photos are, for the most part, a mess of blurry, half visible torsos. It's just what you'd expect from such meaningless speculation. The one polaroid that may lend some credence to the devil theory looks more like a halloween costume than any devil you've seen. Nonetheless, you pocket it.

"We're heading out. Come on." You stand. ".. And if anyone found out I put you in a high school girl's uniform, I'd never hear the end of it."
"You humans are so infantile." Meta groans. ".. Can't handle a beautiful shroom in JK wear.."

You'll have to grill her for where learned what a JK was later.

[...]

You arrive at the high school with your fiend in tow at 6 AM - luckily, a short walk from your apartment. Its a tall, impressively modern assemblage of white facades, with a baseball and football field nearby. A few nondescript cars litter the lot, and a few figures in suits and outerwear are exchanging words outside. You recognize a couple of hunters.

"This is what a human high school looks like, huh?" Meta sighs, seemingly disappointed. "Doesn't look anything like the Breakfast Club.."

>Approach the bureau for your assignment.
>Say hello to Akari.
>Write-In.

>>4613158
>Say hello to Akari.
Maybe we can get the scoop from her first.

>>4613158
>''This is a japanese school, the Breakfast club was american''
>Say hello to Akari.

>>4613158
>Say hello to Akari.
>Sorry, but you're in the wrong country AND the wrong decade to pretend you're in a John Hughes film.

>>4613170
+1

>>4613170
+1

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>>4613170
>>4613688
>>4613791
>>4613189
>>4613161

>''This is a japanese school, the Breakfast club was american''
>Say hello to Akari.

"This is a Japanese school. The Breakfast Club was American." You chastise the fiend as you approach your fellow hunter. "Akari. Good to see you again."

The hunter has secluded herself to a distant corner of the lot under a thicket of pines. In spite of the bitter morning chill, she's dressed lightly. The arm injured in yesterday's hunt is wrapped up in gauze.

"Oh, it's the creepy one." Meta murmurs from behind you.
"Could be better. You and your girlfriend sure are close." She's smoking again. You thought she quit. "The bureau sure are working us like dogs, huh?"

>Ask her about what she thinks.
>Ask her about rumors around the school.
>Ask her what the bureau knows.
>Write-In.

>4613825
Student's gossip all the time so we might get a little nugget of a hint from them

>>4613825
>>Ask her about what she thinks.
Meant this, don't know how i fucked that one up

>>4613825
>Write-In: "Woof."
>Ask her about what she thinks

>>4613825
>>4613837
Support.
I'm glad that the introduction of prompts didn't reduce the amount of write-ins.

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>>4613829
>>4613837
>>4613914

>Write-In: "Woof."
>Ask her about what she thinks

"Woof." You groan in agreement. "What do you make of all this?"
"I'd guess nothing. The bureau're paying us to freeze our asses off for six hours in a parking lot." Akari sighs, a thin trail of smoke leaking from the corners of her mouth. "This is more of a formality than anything. The bureau sends a few goons in suits to hang around for a couple of weeks and make the kids feel better. Now that more than half 'a those goons in suits are dead, they hire a few private hunters to look scary for a few days before packing it up."
"That so?" You frown. ".. Well, easy enough money, I guess."
"On the off hand chance that there is a devil, it's not like we're ever going to find out anything hanging around out here. You'd do better off to actually get into the school to do some real investigating. But it's not like the bureau'll approve that, and I doubt half of the jackasses that the bureau hired even care about devil hunting." She grimaces, nodding to the coalition of hunters out by the entrance. A few stray cans litter the ground around them.

The hunter snaps her fingers, a thin ember dancing along her fingertips. It lights another cigarette. "Well, I guess it's not too bad getting paid for nothing."

Meta, having grown bored of your conversation, is now playing with a snail on the ground.

>Ask her about rumors around the school.
>Get into the school to do some proper investigation.
>Write-In.

>>4613983
>>Ask her about rumors around the school.

>>4613983
>Write-In: She's acting pretty blaise about this whole thing. Any idea what kind of devil could kill this many people at a school?
>Get into the school to do some proper investigation.

>>4613983
>Get into the school to do some proper investigation.

>>4613983
>Flirt with high school girls

>>4614060
coward, if you wanna flirt be a man and flirt with the mushrooom girl

but not right now cause it's business time

>>4613983
>Get into the school to do some proper investigation.
>Write-In: “Also, stop smoking those cigarettes. They’ll kill you inside out and your setting a bad example for the kids.” Smokes a bit of his cigar.

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>>4614057
>>4613999
>>4614192

>Write-In: She's acting pretty blaise about this whole thing. Any idea what kind of devil could kill this many people at a school?
>Write-In: “Also, stop smoking those cigarettes. They’ll kill you inside out and your setting a bad example for the kids.” Smokes a bit of his cigar.
>Get into the school to do some proper investigation.

"If there was a devil, what kind could kill people and remain hidden in such a public area?" You prod her.
"A smart one. I'm sure you know about the unexplained devil carcasses and human bodies." Akari rolls the lit cigarette along her fingertips, ash staining her hands. "It might be using the big, loud stupid ones as camouflage - let one slaughter a few students, kill it to divert proactive attention from the bureau, and pick at the leftovers. And the lack of any meaningful evidence of a devil presence here has got the bureau thinking it's disguised itself. Of course, that's just speculation on my part. Could be coincidental devil in-fighting. It's not unheard of."
"Right. I'll go check it out myself, then." You nod. “Also, stop smoking those cigarettes. They’ll kill you inside out and your setting a bad example for the kids.”
"You're one to talk. Those cigars are bad for your girlfriend, y'know. I hear that smoke kills house plants. " Akari scoffs, raising a brow at you as you take a huff of your own cigar. "And just how do you plan on looking into it? The bureau's trying to avoid raising undue alarm among the students by conducting a thorough investigation. We're just here to look tough and convince the kids that they're safe, really. They won't just let you waltz in while you're on their payroll. And what do you plan on doing about your little fiend girlfriend?"

>You'll infiltrate the school and identify yourself as a student or faculty member.
>You'll sneak around and stay out of sight of the students.
>You'll send in Meta. She's short enough to pass as a student.
>Write-In.

>>4614255
>Infiltrate with Meta. If anyone asks, explain that her "hat" is for religious purposes

>>4614255
>You'll send in Meta. She's short enough to pass as a student.
>We'll go in as her guardian.
JK shroom is gooooo

>>4614269
Sounds reasonable to me.
>>4614272
We're hardly old enough to look like her guardian

>>4614269
This. "Just tourin' the school!"

>>4614255
>SHE'S NOT MY GIRLFRIEND

>>4614269
Maybe we could act like we are touring the place for Shrooms next school, and we are, idk, an uncle? but i'm gonna guess that when someone asks us who we are shes gonna say something along the lines of ''Just looking with my BF'' to fuck with us

>>4614761
You have to admit it's a good cover story, at least.

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>>4614269
>>4614283
>>4614327
>>4614994

>Infiltrate with Meta. If anyone asks, explain that her "hat" is for religious purposes
>This. "Just tourin' the school!"

"I'll get in with her. Believe me, she's dumb enough to pass as a highschool student. I’ll just pass the cap off as a hat." The fungus, oblivious to your barbs, continues to play with the snail - she's prodding it’s shell with a twig now, clearly amused by its fear. "We'll say we're 'touring the school' and look into it for ourselves. If it's nothing, it's nothing."
“Meta seems a bit too wide to pass as a highschooler. And a hat? Really?” Akari jeers. “Well, if you make it quick and quiet, it might work. I’ll cover for you out here. For your sake, I hope it really is a devil, Sato. If it’s not, you’re just some creep that snuck in to ogle highschoolers.”

“Right..” You sigh, stepping away from Akari and approaching Meta. “Come on. We’re going in. You’re a highschooler now.”
“Gahaha! I knew you’d break eventually, Onishima. Driven by urge, you’re forcing me into a highschool uniform..” Meta perks up, trotting after you along the blacktop.

[...]

“.. I’m your guardian. We’re just touring.” You reiterate, hoping the cover story manages to penetrate that thick cap of hers. The two of you stand at the entrance of the main hall, hidden among an array of shoe lockers. It’s early enough that only a few students litter the halls, mostly for club and council purposes. “You wear that hat for religious reasons.”
“Yadda, yadda. I got it, I got it. I’ve always wanted to check out a highschool, y’know! What’s with these funny lockers..?” Her hand snakes out to reach for a shoe locker. You slap it away. “Tch. All you think about is work. When was the last time you were in a highschool, huh?”

“Excuse me.” Your conversation is interrupted as a broad, track-suited staff member approaches the two of you. A whistle hangs loosely from his trunk-like neck. “You two visitors?”
“I’m forever 17, dude!” Meta exclaims, pitching her voice up two tones. She latches onto your arm, her face sparkling.
“.. You two touring? In that case, come with me.” The teacher crosses his arms. “I can partner you with a member of faculty.”

>Say that you know where you’re going.
>Say that you’re a new hire.
>Say that you’re actually just students.
>Write-In.

>>4615110
>Say that you know where you’re going

Nosy faculty should definitely fuck off, or they could ruin our search

>>4615110
>Say that you know where you’re going.

>>4615110
>Say that you know where you’re going.

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>>4615135
>>4615137
>>4615150

>Say that you know where you’re going

"That's quite alright. I know where we're going." You cut in, placing yourself between the teacher and your buddy. “I’m an alumni.”
“Right.. Sorry. Some strange rumors have gotten everyone a bit on edge.” He exchanges a look between you and the fiend. “What’s with the hat?”
“I’m a Mormon.” Meta pipes up. You bite your tongue. “We’ve got to wear the hat.”
“.. A mormon, huh?” The gym teacher is stony-faced. “.. You mind giving me your names? I’ll just make sure everything’s in the registry.”

>Assure him that you’ve really got to get going.
>Provide some fake names. [Write-In.]
>I’m Sato Onishima. She’s Meta. It’s a common Mormon name.
>Write-In.

>>4615175
I’m Sato Onishima. She’s Abinadom . It’s a common Mormon name.

>>4615175
>>Provide some fake names. [Write-In.]
"Koichi Zenigata, at your service. This is Marsha Rumi--she's not a Japanese native, so please excuse her... Quirks."

>>4615175
>Provide some fake names. [Write-In.]

I'm John Smith and she's Jane Doe.

>>4615175
>Provide some fake names. [Write-In.]
"I'm Hiro Protagonist and this is Belle End."

>>4615229
Marsha Rumi works, but I'm not sure if Lupin III exists in this universe for someone to catch the reference

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>>4615229
>>4615381

>"Koichi Zenigata, at your service. This is Marsha Rumi--she's not a Japanese native, so please excuse her... Quirks."

"Koichi Zenigata, at your service." You bow low. "This is Marsha Rumi - she's not a native, so please excuse her.. quirks."
"Zenigata and Rumi? That right?” The gym teacher’s fierce glare sizes you up. “..Well, I’ll go ahead and let the faculty know that you came. Enjoy your tour and stay safe.”

You release a sigh of relief as the gym teacher rounds a corner, disappearing from sight. Meta prods you in the side.
“How’d I do, huh? My acting and improvisation were way better than yours. That human was all over you.” She boasts, throwing up a victory sign. “‘Tis a good thing you had me with you! You were a wreck!”
“Yeah, sure.” You check your watch. “We have a few minutes until staff realizes we’re not supposed to be here. You said you could smell other devils, right? Picking up anything?”
“Gah. Fine.” The fiend shakes her head, tilting it upward. She takes a few tentative whiffs, biting her lip. “Mostly human. Mmmm.. A strange smell, like pine and blood. And one that’s.. close..”

Meta takes a hesitant few steps about the lobby, feeling about with her nose. The fiend sets her cheek against shoe locker set at the corner of the array - it doesn’t appear to have an assigned name or student. “Hmph.. smells like milk and copper and devils.” She nods proudly. “There’s something in here.”

>Open the shoe locker.
>Follow the scent of pine and blood.
>Write-In.

>>4615512
>"What exactly do devils smell like, anyways?"
>Open the shoe locker

>>4615512
>Open the shoe locker.
Some kind of bullying demon?

>>4615512
>Open the shoe locker.
>"I swear, if you're just making this up to get a look inside..."

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>>4615517
>>4615551
>>4615567

>"What exactly do devils smell like, anyways?"
>"I swear, if you're just making this up to get a look inside..."
>Open the shoe locker

“It smells like a devil? What exactly do devils smell like?” You squat. The locker is low, set at the corner of the row. The door is dented and the lock is busted.
“Like devils. What exactly do humans smell like? See? That’s how stupid you sound.” Meta snorts. “It’s in here. I’m sure of it.”
“Right.” You take a breath, steeling yourself. You gently open the door, contract at the ready-..
The shoe locker is empty. It smells like mildew and ancient marker graffiti mars the interior. You scowl. “...Meta.”
“E-eh? No, that’s not right.” The mushroom fiend clamors, peering into the locker. “I smelt it! There’s a devil in there!”
“Did you make this up to get a look inside?” You steady your voice. “You could’ve just asked.”
“I’m not lying, Onishima! Only humans lie!” She asserts. Meta bows her head, looking closer. “No, no way.. there’s a devil in here..!”
“I’m sure of it.” You shake your head. You kneel, bending your head low--and stick it in. “Oh, look! It’s-..”

Your jeer dies in your throat. The clamor of students, the squeak of scuffed shoes, the gentle hum of the fluorescent lights grinds to a halt at a whim. The decade-worn walls of the locker turn to black. You’re no longer crouching--you’re standing, floating atop a sea of stars. The air is warm and thick. And a devil looms above you - an amalgam of corpses and beast heads, topped with a crown of intestines encircling a blackened skull. The body pulsates gently as it floats above you.

“JUST AS EXPECTED. I KNEW THAT YOU WOULD COME, SABURO ONISHIMA.” A thunderous voice bellows into the oily sluice of the cosmos. “I AM THE DIVINATION DEVIL-- I HAVE APPROXIMATE KNOWLEDGE OF THE FORTHCOMING. IT WAS ONLY FATED THAT YOUR PATH WOULD CROSS MINE IN THIS SHOE LOCKER.”

>”My name is actually Sato Onishima.”
>Use a contract.
>”Why are we in a shoe locker?”
>Write-In.

>>4615591
Oh shit, it's the Cat That Knows Almost Everything's edgy cousin!

>>4615591
>"Uh huh, sure you are. Since you're so all-powerful would you mind pointing me towards the OTHER devil in this dump?"
Coulda swore Akari mentioned the possibility of another demon behind the scenes...

>>4615591
>Use a contract.
>"Can you divine what horrifying things Meta will do to me while I'm here?"

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Gonna pause on updating tonight and continue the session tomorrow!

Here's a couple of the early portraits I drew when I first thought about running a Chainsaw Man Quest.

>>4615768
Meta is cute! CUTE!!!

>>4615779
Indeed she is.

She likes to brag, but she really is pretty nice, for a fiend. And when we started to undo her buttons to tighten her uniform, she got all awkward and squealy and stuff. That shit is CUTE

>>4615768
Damn, man--dat Makima.

But ALSO dat Meta. You know your way around a pencil, that's for sure. Thanks for running, too!

>>4615768
Meta's lips are sinful and fill my head with lewd thoughts

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>>4615597
>>4615758

>"Uh huh, sure you are. Since you're so all-powerful would you mind pointing me towards the OTHER devil in this dump?"
>Use a contract.
>"Can you divine what horrifying things Meta will do to me while I'm here?"

"I'm sure. How about divining what horrifying things my buddy will do to me while I'm here?" You twist your fingers--you'd prefer not to use a contract, but if it calls for it.. "If you're so all-powerful, how would you mind pointing me towards the OTHER devil here?"
"DO NOT CALL FORTH A DEVIL CONTRACT." The voice cascades over you, seemingly the sounds of animals' vocals twisted to fit his own words. "NO. SABURO, I PLAN TO OFFER YOU A CONTRACT."
His voice booms, the final word resonating into the stardust. You lower your hand, just a bit. ".. A contract?" You echo.
"YES, THAT'S WHAT I SAID. NO NEED TO REPEAT IT." The devil hisses. "YOURS IS THE SOLE EXISTENCE TO STUMBLE UPON MINE HIDDEN HERE; I BID YOU TO REMAIN QUIET OF MY PRESENCE HERE. IN RETURN, I LEND YOU MY POWER, FREE OF COST."
"Your power? What does that entail?" You're taken aback.
"CALL IT WHAT YOU WILL. DIVINATION, FORESIGHT. I PROVIDE HUMANS A MINUSCULE GLIMPSE OF THE FUTURE. WHETHER THAT BE THEIR LUCKY NUMBERS OR THEIR FINAL BREATH."

>Ask for a glimpse of his power to determine his veracity.
>"What's scared such a powerful devil power into hiding in a high school shoe locker?"
>Agree to the terms of his contract.
>Deny and kill him.
>Write-In.

>>4616398
>>"What's scared such a powerful devil power into hiding in a high school shoe locker?"
Let's not be too hasty here--this guy might also be messing with the people here at school.

>>4616398
>"What's scared such a powerful devil power into hiding in a high school shoe locker?"
It's not a bad deal though. He just seems extremely desperate to hide in here if he's basically blackmailed himself into a free contract.

>>4616398
>Ask for a glimpse of his power to determine his veracity.

show me the goods nerd

>>4616398
>"What's scared such a powerful devil power into hiding in a high school shoe locker?"
Did you foresee yourself hiding in a shoe locker?

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5.63 MB GIF

>>4616410
>>4616567
>>4616627

>"What's scared such a powerful devil power into hiding in a high school shoe locker?"

What's got such a 'powerful' devil hiding in a high school shoe locker, anyways?" You prod it.
"..." The devil pauses, its wayward, glassy eyes lolling to the side. "THERE IS AN EXISTENCE ON THIS PLANET THAT FRIGHTENS EVEN ME--ONE THAT FRIGHTENS ALL DEVILS. AND ALTHOUGH I HAVE SEEN IT, CAN SEE IT, WILL SEE IT, I CANNOT STOP IT. NOTHING CAN. IN THE FACE OF SUCH ABSURDITY, AN EXISTENCE CAN DO NAUGHT BUT FLEE AND HIDE AND COVER ITS EYES."

The central beast's mouth opens, unveiling a large, roiling eye in its toothed maw. The glint of its pupil pulls your mind into the breadth and depth of sounds and sights and tastes of another time. You taste heat and viscera, devils and gore. A series of strange, nigh incomprehensible visions flash through your mind. As hard as you may try, you are unable to grasp and cling to any image--like a dream, the images are transient and absurd. As the haze of divination dissipates and your senses return, you cling to but one sound: the rev of a chainsaw.

"SO LONG AS I HIDE IN THIS SPACE BETWEEN TODAY AND TOMORROW, I CAN AVOID ITS PATH, LIKE A PASSING STORM--SO LONG AS YOU KEEP QUIET." The devil thunders. "CONSIDER IT A CONTRACT, SABURO. YOU ARE THE SOLE EXISTENCE THAT HAS AND WILL FIND ME."

>Agree to the terms of the contract.
>Deny and kill it.
>Write-In.

>>4616689
Oh Shit, It's the canon plot
>Agree to the terms of the contract.
If we're quick enough, we might not die horrifically like the other chainsaw man characters

>>4616689
>"Sounds like you're getting the sweet end of the deal. What's in it for me?"
Seriously though, what do we get outta a contract with this guy?

>>4616689
>Agree to the terms of the contract.

I mean, a contract we don't have to give up organs for? I'll take it.

>>4616713
it's implied we get out personal kairos the fateweaver

he's divination demon, so, the contract works in the way that he gives us divinations

>>4616713
We get a direct line for the QM to send us plot hooks through.

>>4616689
>>4616723
>>4616724
Whoops, I'm retarded and forgot that he explained the terms in the last update!

Changing vote to
>AGREE TO TERMS

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>>4616712
>>4616721
>>4616734

>Agree to the terms of the contract.

"..Fine. I'll agree to your terms." Following a moment of quiet deliberation, you extend a hand. "Divination Devil. Lend me your power."
"OHOHOHO.. JUST AS I FORESAW." The devil sneers, its bird and bull head gnashing their teeth in glee. "WITH THAT, YOU MAY RETURN TO TODAY."

The cosmos warp, tracing an unending line of light from the void onto a single pinprick of the present. The miasma of conscious floods your mind as the acrid taste of cigar smoke and the smell of marker ink tingle your limbic system. The devil begins to laugh, its heads gnawing at their own flesh in a frenzied glee as your form returns to the material.

"ONE LAST PIECE OF ADVICE, SABURO.." The devil's beastly, layered voice echoes into the void. "WATCH YOUR HEAD."
"Sato. Not Saburo."
"..THEN TELL ME EARLIER. ASSHOLE."

[YOU HAVE CONTRACTED WITH THE DIVINATION DEVIL.]

Your eyes flutter open, senses returning all at once, the unending void returning to regular void. The hum of fluorescent lights and passing footsteps alert you to reality. With an awkward twist, you pull your head from its moldy prison and return to high school. You're cramped like hell. For some reason, you feel a gentle, tingly kind of wetness on your arm. You cast your vision sideways and see.. your 'buddy,' sat comfortably nearby, her lips wrapped around your arm. She glances up.

"Mmph? You're alive?" Meta asks, a mouthful of your arm muffling her voice. "..I thought a devil ate your head. Was gonna pick at the leftovers."

>Try to use your newfound contract.
>"There was no devil."
>"Stop eating my arm or I won't get us lunch."
>Write-In.

>>4616800
>>"Stop eating my arm or I won't get us lunch."

>>4616800
>"Stop eating my arm or I won't get us lunch."

>>4616800
>"Stop eating my arm or I won't get us lunch."

>>4616800
>Which do you prefer my arm, or my cooking? because I need one for the other

>>4616800
>"Then for once it's a good thing you don't know how to chew."

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>>4616827
>>4616829
>>4616842
>>4616845
>>4616871

>"Stop eating my arm or I won't get us lunch."
>"Then for once it's a good thing you don't know how to chew."

"For once, it's a good thing that you don't know how to chew." You frown, tugging at your arm. "Stop eating my arm or I'm not getting us lunch."
"Mmmm.. well, you taste about the same as a cheeseburger.." The fiend seems to consider it before doubling down, sinking her teeth into you.

[...]

Following a series of curses and a threat to use a contract on her, you manage to release your arm from your buddy's grasp and high-tail it out of the school before too many students could catch the show. You trod down the parking lot to the waiting Akari, Meta trailing after you. "Sucks I couldn't wear a uniform. Bet you'd like that, huh?"

"Akari. Looks like it was nothing." You greet the hunter, ignoring your fiend. "Just rumors."
"Well, you're still alive, so I figured." She smirks, taking another drag. "Well, that's not too bad. We can just kill some time and get paid. Not too often we get a break, right?"

[...]

You spend the next couple of hours chatting idly with Akari while Meta complains of her hunger, thirst, and tiredness. The students come and go past the parking lot- a few shoot your buddy a couple of double looks, but it's quiet enough. The early morning frost turns to a light kind of afternoon warmth as a growing pile of cigarette butts litter the ground beneath Akari's feet.

"Looks like it's break time." Akari remarks, watching as a few private hunters across the lot duck into their cars and vans. "You wanna come grab lunch with me, Sato? Nothing fancy. I'm just grabbing a bento from the Lawson down the road."
"Hungryyyyyyyy. This is awful, Onishima." Your fiend whines, lying flat on her back on the cement. "I want cheesecake.."

>Take Akari up on her offer.
>Turn her down for Meta's sake.
>Turn down lunch, stay in the parking lot to watch.
>Write-In.

>>4616941
>If you wanted a cheesake, you shouldn't have bit me, you know?

>>4616953
But, I do think we should get her some food. Not Cheesecake, she doesn't deserve it, but something else.

>>4616953
>+1

>>4616953
Supporting

>>4616953
+1
>Take Akari up on her offer
Meta can get some Konbini cheesecake if she's lucky.

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Gonna pause the session here and try to continue tomorrow!

Here's an unused Meta portrait.

>>4617103
C U T E

>>4616941
>Take Akari up on her offer.

>"Oh I'm sorry, I thought you were already full of arm."

>>4616953
Supporting

>>4616953
+1

>>4617103
c-cute...

>>4617103
look at those t h i g h s

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>>4616953
>>4617019
>>4617031
>>4617064
>>4617142
>>4617263
>>4617287

>Take Akari up on her offer.
>"Oh I'm sorry, I thought you were already full of arm."
>If you wanted a cheesake, you shouldn't have bit me, you know?

"Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you were already full of arm." You stare daggers into the fat fiend. "If you wanted a cheesecake, you shouldn't have bit me?"
"She bit you?" Akari echoes, incredulous. "I knew you were close, but.."
"Ghhh. 'Tis not my fault humans are so delicious." She groans. "I'm dying of starvation.."

[...]

"Oy. Onishima." Meta pokes your side. "Gimme your karaage."

You, Akari, and Meta sit at the quiet sidewalk at the front of the Lawson. For once, it's a peaceful lunch, set distinct from the noise of downtown restaurants and busibodies that you're so used to. The heat of your microwaved lunch keeps you warm in spite of the afternoon frost.

"Mmph." Akari sighs, her breath visible in the air. She's not smoking for once. "You think that food tastes better after becoming a devil hunter, or is that just me?"
"I guess so." You shrug, slapping away the fiend's stray chopsticks edging toward your lunch.
"Right, right? I guess it's 'cause you never know if it's gonna be your last. You appreciate it more. Even shitty konbini bento." She laughs, reclining back. "So, Sato.. you ever consider going back to work for the Public Safety Bureau? Or you plan on staying freelance?"
"Where's this coming from?" You raise a brow.
"Well, we've both done plenty of freelance work for the bureau now. And they're hiring, ain't they?" She tilts her head. ".. I've been thinking. The private sector is a little too.. sporadic. Sometimes it's hard to keep the lights on, y'know? My sisters' oughtta have better than what they have. And if I'm gonna die hunting devils, might as well leave some decent money behind for my family before I kick it, right?"

>"If you're up for it."
>"Don't throw away your life like that."
>Write-In.

>>4617856
>"Don't throw away your life like that."

>>4617856
>"Don't throw away your life like that."
The Public Safety Bureau is a death trap, they might as well make red shirts into their official uniform

>>4617856
>"Don't throw away your life like that."
Might as well put on a shitty suit and hop into a meat grinder.

>>4617856
>"Don't throw away your life like that."
>"Do you really think you can replace yourself with money?"

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>>4617888
>>4617891
>>4617906

>"Don't throw away your life like that."

"The bureau is a death trap." You scoff, shaking your head in disbelief. "You shouldn't throw away your life like that."
“Any devil hunting gig is a death trap. And I don’t think I’d look half bad in a suit.” Akari laughs darkly, the same thin smile painted across her features. “I might as well get paid well and look good before I bite it, right? Who knows? Maybe this time next year you’ll end up visiting my grave at that cemetery.”

Akari quiets as she sees your expression.

“.. Sorry.” She apologizes in a quiet voice, casting her gaze downward. “But I’m getting up there, you know? I might be getting close to my expiration date. 27 is old for a devil hunter. You saw me yesterday. I got sloppy and nearly lost my head. My sisters are starting to get old enough to support themselves, y’know? So-.. when I die, I want to at least leave something decent behind.”
“Still..” You trail off.

“Anyways, you haven’t answered my question. You ever consider going back to the bureau? It’d be lonely all by myself.” She tilts her head at you.

>”I haven’t.”
>”I have.”
>Write-In.

>>4617984
>”I haven’t.”
>The Bureau is too much control for me, i work better with a higher degree of freedom. Just like earlier.

>>4617984
>”I have.”

>>4617984
>>”I haven’t.

>>4617984
>”I have.”
>"But every time I do, I remember that it kills people just as fast as it does devils.

>>4617984
>”I have.”

Just got a new free contract, things are looking up for us.

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>>4618006
>>4618040
>>4618058

>”I have.”
>"But every time I do, I remember that it kills people just as fast as it does devils.

"I have." You nod. "But every time I do, I remember that it kills people just as fast as it does devils."
"Well, I'm here for a fun time, not a long time." She reaches into a deep pocket, removing another pack of cigarettes. "When I die, I'll let your old buddies know that you're still a tightass. And keep an eye on your karaage."
"Gghk-" Meta jumps, pulling the last bit of karaage from your bento and stuffing it into her mouth. "Fmmph. Too slow, Onishina. Should have paid closer attention to your food."

"Excuse me." An unfamiliar voice cuts into your conversation - a strange, tall figure stands over the three of you. "Are you familiar with the Heart Family?"
"Tcch. Who are you to speak so familiarly with me, human?" Meta glances over her shoulder, shooting the imposing stranger a look of disdain.
"Sorry. I don't have any cash on me." Akari responds brusquely.

"Oh, no worries. I'm not asking for money." The man is wearing a strange collared outfit. "Would you like a pamphlet? We're a group centered in Asahikawa encouraging interpersonal connection and contribution to the community."

>Accept a pamphlet.
>Ask the man about the 'Heart Family.'
>Ignore him and leave.
>Write-In.

>>4618372
>Ask the man about the 'Heart Family.'
>"This wouldn't happen to be one of those CULTS, would it?"

>>4618372
>Ask the man about the 'Heart Family.'

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>>4618393
>>4618410

>Ask the man about the 'Heart Family.'
>"This wouldn't happen to be one of those CULTS, would it?"

"The 'Heart Family,' huh?" You frown, sizing the man up. He's hard to read - his face looks more like plastic than flesh. "This wouldn't happen to be one of those cults, would it?"

"Oh, no, no, no. We don't use the C word." The man laughs, shaking his head. Akari rolls her eyes. “No - we’re a group dedicated to establishing a loving, supportive local community and taking care of the Heart Daughter. You might’ve seen our charity drives by your local grocer, or the theater. Our primary goal is to spread the euphoria of shared, familial bonds and love all across Hokkaido and then Japan. Would you like a pamphlet?”

“Eugh..” Akari groans. “More new age shit..”

>Take a pamphlet.
>”The Heart Daughter?”
>Leave. This guy is creepy.
>Write-In.

>>4618433
>>”The Heart Daughter?”

>>4618433
>”The Heart Daughter?”

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>>4618440
>>4618448

>”The Heart Daughter?”

"The Heart Daughter?" You continue, slapping away your fiend's creeping hand. She's starting to get into your pickled ginger now.
"The Heart Daughter is the Family's leader - but ours is a unique relationship with her. It is not one of high worship or praise, but affection. In return for bonding us as a community and family, we dote and take care of her needs." The man smiles almost warmly, as if recounting a faint memory. "All we have now is thanks to her efforts. We implore you to attend a meeting, or perhaps take a pamphlet-.. we're having a community meeting this evening to welcome new members."
"I'm not into this sort of stuff. Sorry." Akari shrugs flippantly, a thin trail of cigarette smoke creeping out through her mouth. "Sounds creepy as hell."

>What do you do?

>>4618499
>Take a pamphlet
Sounds creepy but I'm curious to at least what's in their advertising

>>4618499
>Take a pamphlet.
>"I might check it out when I'm off the clock, but no promises. Say, what exactly constitutes as 'her needs' anyways?"
>If Meta tries to take anymore goddamn food we will flick her on the forehead. HARD.

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Also, gonna call the session for today!

>>4618549
okay, I laughed but fuck you

>>4618499
>Give a pamphlet to Meta. Maybe she'll get hooked and you'll have more free time.

>>4618543
+1
>>4618583
You're going to try to preach to a fiend?

>>4619185
Nah, I'm going to let plastic man preach to her so he doesn't preach to us.

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>>4618514
>>4618543
>>4618583

>Take a pamphlet.
>Give a pamphlet to Meta. Maybe she'll get hooked and you'll have more free time.
>"I might check it out when I'm off the clock, but no promises. Say, what exactly constitutes as 'her needs' anyways?"
>If Meta tries to take anymore goddamn food we will flick her on the forehead. HARD.

"I might check it out when I'm off the clock, but no promises." You take a pamphlet from the man, absentmindedly passing it to your fiend. "Say, what exactly constitutes as 'her needs' anyways?"
"Why, her needs of love, of course!" The man is radiant. You have to avert your eyes. “We provide her the same tender love and care that we do for all members of our family. And, hm-.. That pamphlet isn’t suitable for human consumption, miss.”
You turn back to see Meta chewing on the Heart Family pamphlet. “Mmph. Yeah, yeah. You’re being annoying, so go away now.” She scowls through a mouthful of paper, shooing the supplicant away. “I’m busy eating.”

You snatch the pamphlet back away from her as the man bows, a thin smile on his mask-like face. “I’ll be seeing you, then.” With that, he continues along the sidewalk, presumably to creep out other lunchgoers.

“You seriously believe in that shit?” Akari raises a brow. “That guy was giving me the creeps with that ‘love’ shit.”
“Couldn’t hurt to look into it.” You shrug.
“Your human religions are pathetic. Worship what you might, but we devils don’t bow to the imaginary.” Meta sneers, folding her arms. “.. Onishima, I’m still hungry.”

>Look over the pamphlet.
>Get back to work. You’ve still got a couple of hours until you get paid.
>Write-In.

>>4619379
>Get back to work. You’ve still got a couple of hours until you get paid.
We can look into the creepy cult after we're done.

>>4619379
>Get back to work. You’ve still got a couple of hours until you get paid.
Room temperature IQ Meta is cute

>>4619379
Am i the only one who wouldn't be surprised if this cult was dealing with some kind of yog-sothoth demon creature?

>>4619379
>Look over the pamphlet.

Akari is cute too

>>4619379
>Get back to work. You’ve still got a couple of hours until you get paid.

gotta feed our bottomless pit

>>4619379
>Get back to work. You’ve still got a couple of hours until you get paid.

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>>4619469
>>4619477
>>4619592
>>4619659

>Get back to work. You’ve still got a couple of hours until you get paid.

"Well, hold it." You reprimand the fiend, standing up from the stoop. "We're getting back to work."
“Tcch. Annoying..” Meta groans, moving in slow-motion to annoy you.

[...]

The next few hours are spent idly. You loiter the parking lot for a few, chilly hours, the final bell rings and swathes of students litter the area as the parking lot gradually empties and quiets yet again. Meta ‘behaves’ by napping in Akari’s heated car, bundled up and snoring like a baby.
She crawls out a short moment later, yawning and stretching. She readjusts her tie and buttons awkwardly, fumbling about the clothing with inexperience. “Gah. ‘Twas a lot of work today, human.” Meta clicks her tongue in annoyance, wiping the sleep from her eyes. “You’d better make dinner good.”
“U-uhm.. Onishima-san and Yoshida-san, correct?” A slight, quiet-looking public hunter approaches you from the larger group across the lot - her suit looks about a size too large for her. The girl is clinging tightly to two manila envelopes, bowing low to you. “.. I’ve got your payments right here for today’s work. Thank you for your help.”

“Hmm! And what about my payment?” Meta sneers, imposing on the short girl. “You didn’t forget about mine, eh?”
“Ah-ah.. well, um-..” You recognize her now. She’s the rookie from a couple of days ago. Tanaka was tutoring her. “I only received th-these two envelopes, so..”
“Ehh? Ain’t unpaid work inexcusable? You’re a government organization, right?” The fiend steps closer.

>Slap Meta’s head.
>Drag Meta away and leave.
>Ask the girl how her training has been going.
>Write-In.

>>4619783
>"I'm sure they put our pay together since we're partners and all" (totally not a lie)
>Ask the girl how her training has been going

>>4619783
>Slap Meta’s head.

>>4619783
>Slap Meta’s head, firmly but playfully. Our cooking is her payment.
>Ask the girl how her training has been going.
Probably won't be the last time we'll be seeing this rookie around, doesn't hurt to make some conversation.

>>4619812
Pretty much. Meta has already eaten her payment's value in food. Well, not just our cooking, but fast food too, we should probably add that.

>>4619812
+1

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>>4619812
>>4619807
>>4619799
>>4619908

>Slap Meta’s head, firmly but playfully. Our cooking is her payment.
>Ask the girl how her training has been going.

You slap her head playfully. "Ow!" Meta yelps, jumping from your touch. She pouts, shooting you a glare. "What a pain.."
"Your cooking is my payment." You step in front of her, positioning yourself between her and the rookie. "So, how's your training been going? Tanaka going hard on you?"

"A-ah.. well.. Did you not hear..?" She casts her gaze downward. "Tanaka-san died a few days ago, during the siege on the hotel--.. I'm actually getting transferred to Tokyo to finish my training, since we're so short-staffed.."
"Oh." You grimace. You make a mental note. That’s another monthly visit you’ll have to make. "I see."

>Head home with Meta.
>Go somewhere with Akari, first. [Write-In.]
>Check out the pamphlet.
>Write-In.

>>4619928
>Head home with Meta.
It's been a looooooong day.

>>4619928
>Check out the pamphlet.
Let's see if it's kek or cringe

>>4619928
>"My condolences. He didn't deserve to go out like that inside some dirty hotel."
>Say goodbye to Akari.
>Check out the pamphlet.
Even if she didn't know him for long, having her tutor killed must be pretty shocking for a rookie.
And let's scout out the cult thing for now, and if it looks like it's the real deal we can deal with it properly tomorrow.

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>>4619990
>>4620041

>"My condolences. He didn't deserve to go out like that inside some dirty hotel."
>Say goodbye to Akari.
>Check out the pamphlet.

“My condolences.” You offer. “He didn’t deserve to go out like that inside some dirty hotel.”
“..Thank you.” She remains quiet.

After waving goodbye to Akari, you begin the trod home with Meta--on the way, you flip through the pamphlet. It looks to be repeating the same shit that the supplicant spewed--nonsense about familial love and extending community bonds. The pictures and descriptions are oddly kiddish for the seeming professionalism and organization of the group, as if drawn by an actual child. The front cover depicts some kind of girl with a heart for a head. There’s a whole paragraph on the Heart Daughter and how she ‘connects’ and ‘bonds’ her family members.

“You gonna keep that after you’re done, Onishima?” Meta tilts her head, seemingly hungry.
“Hmm..” You glance over the location listing--.. seems like the group isn’t that big. It’s stationed entirely in a small office building off the outskirts of Asahikawa. It looks like there’ll be a meeting tomorrow morning, but if you were curious, you could probably head there now..

>Drop in unannounced. What better to make sure they’re legitimate?
>Head home for now. You’ll come to the official meeting tomorrow.
>Write-In.

>>4620041
Deal with it? We're a devil hunter, not a cult buster. Plus, doesn't choosing it mean seeing it today, considering the other options take time as well?

Or do you think this cult may be doing something with an devil?

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Gonna call the session for now!

Sorry for the long wait times between posts! I've been hitting a bit of an art block with portraits for characters.

>>4620091
>Head home for now. You’ll come to the official meeting tomorrow.
Yeah, this bitch is clearly some type of demon, fiend or otherwise. Since the government doesn't seem to be on their ass, I suppose she's harmless, but we still ought to check it out casually just incase

>>4620091
>Head home for now. You’ll come to the official meeting tomorrow
It's the easiest way to find it out.

>>4620091
>Drop in unannounced. What better to make sure they’re legitimate?

Heart devil?

Also we missed the chance to recommend lil beni practice DDR

>>4620096
>Or do you think this cult may be doing something with an devil?
That was my thinking, yeah. If there's a devil involved we can call in the big guns, and probably get paid for helping, right?
But it could also be nothing, so if we've got a real job lined up tomorrow then we can just drop the whole thing and do the job.
>>4620091
>Head home for now. You’ll come to the official meeting tomorrow.
>>4620100
No problem man, just keep doing what you're doing. Quest's the best thing on this board atm.

>>4620091
>Head home for now. You’ll come to the official meeting tomorrow.

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>>4620103
>>4620106
>>4620122

>Head home for now. You’ll come to the official meeting tomorrow

"Don't eat paper." You playfully slap your buddy's head with the pamphlet.
“Tcch.” She clicks her tongue. “You’d better make dinner good tonight.”

[...]

For once, you let her sleep in - with neither a bureau job or a path to patrol for the day, the fiend sleeps like a rock in the futon next to your bed. The meeting is later into the morning, too, so you go lax on her. You smoke a cigar out on the balcony.
For the first time this week, you enjoy a pleasant morning without incessant whines for food or attention. It’s surprisingly lonely.

Meta groggily lifts her cap as you shake her awake. “Ggh--.. What is it, Onishima..? Too early.” She moans, clinging to a pillow.
“We’re going to that ‘Heart Family’ meeting, remember? I’m just making sure everything’s in order there.” You chide her, ripping the pillow from her grasp. “Go get ready. I already made breakfast.”

[...]

You approach the ruined building from a safe distance - it’s a tiny, more rural area, a short bus trip from your apartment building. The quarters themselves are suspicious as all hell--battered shutters and ivy-covered walls. A number of members mill about the entrance in the same strange, high-collared red fabrics.

“Those pancakes weren’t half bad, but there weren’t enough, Onishima.” Meta pokes your back. “Should’ve added a few more. And more syrup, too.. Maybe honey..”
“Excuse me.” A little girl approaches you, a thin smile stretched across her features. She couldn’t be older than a middle-schooler. “Are you here to attend the meeting?”

>”We’re just here to watch for today.”
>”We’re members already.”
>Ask her who she is.
>Ask for Meta to determine if she’s devil or human.
>Write-In.

>>4621006
>>”We’re just here to watch for today.”
Just testing the waters!

>>4621006
>”We’re just here to watch for today.”

>>4621006
>”We’re just here to watch for today.”

>>4621006
>”We’re just here to watch for today.”

At some point we need to take Meta to some super cheap all you can eat buffet.

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>>4621019
>>4621023
>>4621046
>>4621047

>”We’re just here to watch for today.”

“We’re just here to watch for today.” You smile politely, shaking your head. “Are you here all by yourself?”
“I’m with my family!” The little girl exclaims, extending her arms and motioning toward the suited members surrounding you. “I hope you’d decide to join too, mister. I love adding people to my family!”
“Ugh. Creepy.” Meta murmurs. “Human brats are something else..”

[...]

After getting ushered inside, you’re set in a small, low-roofed room--in spite of the looks from the outside, the interior itself is relatively well kept. You’re set into a small row of steel chairs at the front, seemingly with a handful of “other” recruits - three adults and a teenager. They largely look schlubby or dangerous. You’re flanked by an array of full-time members outfitted in the red cloth, about thirty in total - the members range from teenagers to the elderly. The little girl from the entrance approaches the front of the room, clearing her throat.

“Welcome to the sixth weekly meeting of the Heart Family! For our longtime members, thank you for remaining with my family! For our new members, I am the Heart Daughter, the uniter of our great big family! I sincerely hope that you make the decision to join. Now, onto business..” She sighs, lowering her eyes. “I’m still stuck on Bowser in the Fire Sea. I can’t get the timing right to throw him into the bombs. Can someone help me with that?”
“I can, lil’ sis!” A young, black-haired teenager in glasses stands up. “I’m confident that I can beat him.”
“Maybe you can, nii-chan, but I wanna beat him myself, y’know? Just help me figure out the timing for the buttons.” The girl crosses her arms stubbornly. “And how has our progress gone for the charity drives? We should have put together enough money to get me a Street Fighter III cabinet, right? And the progress on enrolling me in a local middle school?”

The meeting proceeds as such, the little girl going on about her own personal problems and random members jumping to attention to help her.

>Interrupt the proceedings to ask what’s going on.
>Sit and continue to watch.
>Write-In.

>>4621093
>Sit and continue to watch
I think i already know what's goign on here...this girl, so to say, is obviously some kind of devil. Or she's got something else to do with a devil. Either a cult devil, or a parental care devil, SOMETHING that compells these people to help her.

Better be smart, though. It's not like they're going to Jonestown themselves if we let things go. Just...make sure you don't get accidentally hypnotized.

>>4621093
>Sit and continue to watch.
>Heart eyes
I have a bad feeling about this, better make sure we don't get swept along

>>4621093
>Sit and continue to watch.

>>4621152
Actually...yeah, we shouldn't look her in the eyes. Avoid looking her in the eyes. If she starts to get suspicious, look at her massive hair-covered forehead.

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>>4621161
>>4621152
>>4621142

>Sit and continue to watch

You sit and continue to watch, shifting about in your chair uncomfortably. You've got enough experience with devils to know that something is off here. The girl, for all her seeming incongruities and quirks, continues on in her speech with a kind of childish carelessness that hardly exudes the hostilities inherent to devils. She spends the majority of her time encouraging her followers to purchase her games and manga, take her out to arcades and cafes, or her seeming driving goal: to enroll her in school.

“.. And with that, we can conclude the meeting. Please remember to actually bring next week’s Weekly Shounen Jump, dad.” The Heart Daughter frowns, shooting a member in the crowd a glare. “Okay! For anyone who’d like to join, please follow me into the back. If you’re still unsure, you can come to next week’s meeting, too! Thank you!”

The girl bows low before turning around, trotting along through a back door to the far right of the room. A few members follow her while the rest of the crowd mill about, exchanging idle talk - most of the discussion centered around the little girl. A tall, stubbled man with tired eyes stands from among the prospective members and trudges along after the small girl.

“H-huh? Wha..?” Meta snorts, shaking the sleep from her eyes. It seems she snored through the meeting. “Hmrph.. Boring.”

>Come after the man as a prospective member.
>Tail after the new follower from a distance and watch the induction process.
>Write-In.

>>4621191
>Tail after the new follower from a distance and watch the induction process.

sus

>>4621191
>Tail after the new follower from a distance and watch the induction process.

>>4621191
>Tail after the new follower from a distance and watch the induction process.
Do you smell it? That smell. A kind of smelly smell. A smelly smell that smells...smelly.

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>>4621218
>>4621234
>>4621250

>Tail after the new follower from a distance and watch the induction process.

You glance around - the group seem largely engrossed in their own conversations, with the rest of the potential inductees having dipped after seeing an actual meeting - and tail the prospective follower, pulling your fiend along with you. As he slips into the backroom, you duck in alongside him.
The backroom leads into a series of halls, long abandoned posters and signs indicating this building was once some sort of cram school. A series of signs marked up on the wall lead to a door at the end of the hall - you follow along and peer through a glass window into the hall. Meta yawns absentmindedly.

“-..will be done accordingly.” The small girl smiles, staring up at the tall, hunched man. He’s removed his tan coat and dress shirt, standing shirtless in the midst of several suited up followers. The girl bows. “Thank you for joining my family, dad!”

Almost surgically, the girl removes a small, pulsating red tube from a box at her side. It’s a length of flesh roughly 15 centimeters long and squirms in her grasp. The Heart Daughter stands on her tip toes and places the writhing red ventricle at the center of the man’s chest. It lunges onto his skin and worms itself underneath - the man groans in pain before his head sinks.

>Burst into the room.
>Lie in wait for the room to clear out and confront the girl yourself.
>Write-In.

>>4621280
It would be wise to perhaps not...try to act like an moron? This guy has already been catched. We can't save him even if we want to, only if we get rid of the demon.

This is probably the time to form a plan...and either use a contract, or use meta. So we can get rid of her.

>>4621280
>Lie in wait for the room to clear out and confront the girl yourself.

>>4621280
>Lie in wait for the room to clear out and confront the girl yourself.

inb4 she has sob story and becomes our friend

>>4621280
>Lie in wait for the room to clear out and confront the girl yourself.
We're outnumbered and deep inside their compound, so I doubt they'll let us just leave after what we saw. Catching her without any of her thralls around is our best shot.

>>4621280
>Lie in wait for the room to clear out and confront the girl yourself.
The fact she just wants various minor things makes me think that if she is a Devil she's closer to Meta temperament wise. Still keep our guard up

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>>4621303
>>4621379
>>4621467
>>4621475

>Lie in wait for the room to clear out and confront the girl yourself.

You lie in wait - the man slowly refastens his stained dress-shirt and tan jacket. The rigor of his form seems to have dissipated, his gaze now serenely empty - the stranger stumbles forward and the girl’s aids move forward to catch him. They sling his arms around their shoulders and drag the limp man from the room, leaving her alone in the room. You capitalize on the opportunity to step into the room with the Heart Daughter while Meta stands at the doorway. You likely don’t have long.

“Oh, I saw you at the meeting! Are you here for the induction ritu-.. No. You’re different from the others. You’re a devil hunter, aren’t you? I can see what contracts have taken from you.” The Heart Daughter remarks coolly, the same placid smile on her face. “..Are you here to kill me? You should know that this isn’t my real body, hunter. It would be annoying to replace it, so please don’t.”

>Ask her who she is.
>Ask her what she’s doing.
>Attack her.

>>4621496
>Ask her who she is.

>>4621496
>>Ask her who she is.
Love devil or Cult Devil?

>>4621496
>Ask her who she is.
>Ask her what she’s doing.

>>4621496
>Ask if the Bureau is aware of her existence and activities

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>>4621504
>>4621506
>>4621534
>>4621537

>Ask her who she is.
>Ask if the Bureau is aware of her existence and activities

“Who, exactly, are you?” You maintain a healthy distance between yourself and the ‘girl,’ a contract at the ready and your fingers twisted.
“How frank. I think that the bureau classified me as the Heart Devil.” The devil remains unperturbed by your clear hostility, her arms at her side.
“And is the bureau aware of your existence and your activities?”
“What do you think?” She smiles, tilting her head. Her voice remains cool. “Do you really think that Makima would let me play house like this?”

>Ask her what she’s doing here.
>Attack her.
>Write-In.

>>4621600
>Ask her what she’s doing here.

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Gonna call the session for here!

Here's a test I made a while back with a beta Sato.

>>4621600
>>Write-In.
Find a way to get her to lower her guard then strike

>>4621600
>Attack her.
>Use a contract.
It's obvious what she's doing with her little cult, and right now she's stalling for time so her goons come back and swarm us. I say just go for it.
Even if dealing with the little girl doesn't kill the devil, we'll at least inconvenience the thing.

>>4621600
>Attack her.

"You really think I know what Makima would let anyone do? Bitch is enigmatic."

>>4621600
>Ask her what she’s doing here.
Maybe we can strike while she's monologuing.

>>4621624
wow, it's sato kujo™

>>4621600
>Ask her what she’s doing here.

>>4621600
>Ask her what she’s doing here.
I don't see an issue with this if she just wants to game it up. As long as she doesn't determine we know too much and sent fuckers after us, I don't see an issue.
I do however, want info.

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>>4622032
>>4621953
>>4621801
>>4621611

>Ask her what she’s doing here.

“What do you plan on doing here?” You continue your interrogation.
“If you think my grand scheme is belting humans into an oversized meat grinder, devil hunter, you’re mistaken. I’m making a family.” The Heart Devil motions to the damp box of writhing tubes. “I’m not exactly threatening them into contracts. When a suicidal human hits a dead end, they come to me. I lend them happiness and connection so long as they open their hearts to a part of me. I haven't even killed anyone. It's a win-win situation."
“And what do you get out of this?”
“You saw it at the meeting. I get to play games and eat nice food and even go to school. I get a big brother and a dad and a mom and a sister. Even if it's really just me talking to myself more often than not." She sighs wistfully. "I think a lot of devils are curious about familial relationships. I’m sure you might even know a few. They want what they can't have. I think the better question is, hunter, what do you plan on doing here?”
"What do you mean?"
"What are you going to do? Cut my head off with the Mantis Devil? Strangle me to death with the Ghost Devil? Like I said, this isn't my real body. It's a corpse I'm controlling. Like a game. Look." The girl raises her hand - two fingers curl back toward her with a horrendous crack. "I wonder how many of my followers have already left the meeting? 15, maybe 20? Do you remember any of their faces? If you killed this body, I could just hop into one of theirs. Stay quiet for a few years and begin again long after some devil has torn your throat out. Do you know where my real body is? Is it in Asahikawa, or in Hokkaido at all? Is it even in Japan?"

>What do you do?

>>4622109
>Try using our new contract with the Divination devil to divine the location of her real body

she is just begging to get halloweened here

>>4622109
Well, that's interesting. You see, on one hand, she's not doing anything particularly bad...on the other hand, she's still leading a cult and putting her hearts onto people. That shit would be good to stop.

As far as finding her body, it'd be possible, with the divination devil. In fact...i think i know what to do.
>Ask what those hearts that she grafted onto people do
If she's just making a family, why that?

>>4622120
Doing it right infront of her? Is that wise? She can just run. It would be better to ask what she's doing with those weird-ass demon hearts before that.

>>4622109
>>4622122
This. If she's so altruistic why does she have to graft things onto people? She can't honestly say she's in it for 'family' alone.

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>>4622126
>>4622122

>Ask what those hearts that she grafted onto people do

"..What are those hearts that you're grafting onto people do?" While you can't detect an ounce of hostility from her, you can still tell that she's dangerous. "If you're just making a family, why that?"

"Those are snippings from my main body. Just segments of ventricles. They connect me to my family members--I can manipulate their feelings toward me or others, or recall their base desires, or override their consciousness with mine. Of course, I'd prefer a natural familial relationship, but that's not an easy affordance for devils. It's an unfortunate step to make them happy." The girl sighs. "I'll lend you a projection of my true body if it satisfies you. Look into my eyes."
You try to drag your eyes from hers, but they meet and it's too late. The image of the short girl shimmers and in a moment is replaced - now towering over you lies a mountain of red, pulsating flesh, beating gently at a steady rhythm. An array of branching veins and ventricles extend from the sides like tentacles and twist and writhe gently. The mammoth of organ tissue is hoisted up by a pale, seemingly thin female human body, who smiles gently at you.

>Attempt to divinate where she is.
>Challenge her methods.
>Write-In.

>>4622160
>Attempt to divinate where she is
We should be generally right. That's already a big advantage

>>4622160
>Challenge her methods.
At this moment we’re in a partnership with a devil. Sure she’s not the brightest and steals our food, but it’s proof that a human-devil relationship can work

>>4622211
+1

>>4622160
>Attempt to divinate where she is.

>ask how she knows you're not just gonna tattle on her to Makima when you leave

>>4622160
>Attempt to divinate where she is.

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>>4622192
>>4622234
>>4622266

>Attempt to divinate where she is.
>ask how she knows you're not just gonna tattle on her to Makima when you leave

"Divination." You whisper, keeping your gaze trained on the devil. A familiar, echoing voice booms as an image of the three-headed beast flashes in your mind.

WITH A FRIEND SHE'S COME TO MOURN
THE HEART DEVIL BEATS SOMEWHERE WARM.

For once, the Heart Devil's lips curl downward. "..Who was that? What was that?"
"How do you know that I won't just let Makima know about the Heart Devil when I leave?" You ignore her question, keeping your sights trained on the vision projected at you.
"That'd be a pain. But she's powerful, not omniscient." The devil shoots back. "Even the lowest of devils could escape her grasp if they ran far, far away."

>Threaten her with a vague idea of her location.
>Kill the body here.
>Leave to alert Makima.
>Write-In.

>>4622299
>Just leave, we'll try to locate her body later

>>4622323
Would that work, though? She'd know we have means of tracking her. She's either going to try to kill us, or flee.

>>4622299
>Leave to alert Makima.

later virgin

>>4622299
>Write-In
>challenge her methods

>>4622299
>Write-In: "So wait a minute... You say you manipulate their feelings towards you and others or override their consciousness? Sounds less like family and more like slavery to me. You sure there isn't a better way to play 'house'?"

>>4622299
>Challenge her methods
Bring up what >>4622211 mentioned

>>4622384
+1

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>>4622364
>>4622384
>>4622411
>>4622427
>>4622211

>Write-In: "So wait a minute... You say you manipulate their feelings towards you and others or override their consciousness? Sounds less like family and more like slavery to me. You sure there isn't a better way to play 'house'?"
>At this moment we’re in a partnership with a devil. Sure she’s not the brightest and steals our food, but it’s proof that a human-devil relationship can work

"So you're manipulating their feelings towards you and overriding their consciousnesses? It sounds less like a family and more like slavery to me." Even if she seems dangerous, she at least seems open to talk. "I'm in a partnership with a devil right now. She's not the brightest and steals my food, but.. it's proof that a human-devil relationship can work."
"It's unfortunate, but devils and humans aren't inclined to natural friendships. It's all founded on give and take. They lend me control and I give them happiness. A real kind of friendship between a devil and a human is a nice fantasy, but.. they never last. Even between yourself and that fiend." The Heart Devil smiles sadly. "If you're going to kill this body, I won't stop you. I don't plan on killing any more humans. But I don't intend on giving up finding a family, hunter."

>Kill her.
>Leave her be.
>Write-In.

>>4622501
>>Write-In: "Happiness? You're more like a drug peddler. You say you don't intend on giving up on finding a family, but here you are taking the easy way out anyways with MIND CONTROL! That's not real family and you know it."

>>4622510
Supporting.

>>4622510
>+1

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>>4622510
>>4622526
>>4622556

>Write-In: "Happiness? You're more like a drug peddler. You say you don't intend on giving up on finding a family, but here you are taking the easy way out anyways with MIND CONTROL! That's not real family and you know it."

"Happiness?" You echo in disbelief. "You're more like a drug peddler. You say you don't intend on giving up on finding a family, but here you are taking the easy way out anyways with mind control. That's not real family and you know it."
"And what would you have me do instead?" The image of the devil shimmers, returning to her borrowed physical form. "Pray that I find a family willing to take in a devil? Beg on my hands and knees for them not to turn me in to the bureau? There are no 'real families' for devils. It's like a videogame. It's all just pretend. And this conversation is getting tired, human. I won't kill humans, but I don't mind turning that fiend of yours inside out."

"Oy. Human. You splattered that brat yet, or not?" Meta peeks her head into the room. "Gah. You're wasting time! Kill it already! I'm getting hungry."

>Kill her.
>Leave her be.
>Write-In.

>>4622674
>>Leave her be.
>Write-In: Don't SAY this, but we're definitely going to follow up on that Divination Devil lead, though, with or without the bureau's help.

>>4622702
Isn't there a chance of her sending some of her cronies to stab us in the middle of the night or some shit?

Also, if she tries to kill Meta she's going splat. No one hurts mushroom girl.

>>4622720
I figure we let her feel like she got off easy, but investigate afterwards for the source. As for her sending people after us... Well, part of the gig.

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Also, last post of the session until tomorrow!

>>4622702
+1

>>4622674
>"Go ahead, the money I'd get from keeping her alive has already vanished into her stomach."

>>4622674
>Leave her be.
Just leave her be. She's not really hurting anybody, everyone in her cult was suicidal before meeting her anyway.

>>4622802
Is the secret route raising her as an adopted daughter between Onishima and Akari?

>>4622674
>Leave her be
Seems like a fair deal to me!

>>4622674
>Leave her be.
I wonder who'll be correct in the end, us or you and your "family"

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>>4623262
>>4623275
>>4623373
>>4622702
>>4622837

>Leave her be.
>Write-In: Don't SAY this, but we're definitely going to follow up on that Divination Devil lead, though, with or without the bureau's help.

".. Fine. I'll let you off." You glare at her. Although you'll definitely follow up on that lead yourself, with or without the bureau's help.
"It's the same with all the other devil hunters. If you can't find my real body, there's no money in this, is there? That's all you care about." She shrugs, a smug smirk on her face. "Well, it's good that you see reason. I'll see you around. Maybe not from this body, though."

[...]

"Oy. Human." Meta pokes your back. The bus ride was long and complaint-ridden--now that you've returned to the city limits, she's being somehow louder. "Why didn't you tear that devil brat in two? She threatened me, y'know. And how come you won't use any of your contracts? It's creepy. And I want KFC. Make 'em the boneless wings.."

>"She wasn't doing any harm."
>"I'll be looking into her myself."
>"I'll kill her when I find her real body."
>Write-In.

>>4623399
>Write-In.
Take her to KFC. That'll shut her up for a bit.

>>4623399
>"I'll be looking into her myself."
Who let Meta dress herself? Not that I mind

>>4623399
>"I'll be looking into her myself."

>>4623399
>"I'll be looking into her myself."
>Write-In: "Let me put it a way you might understand: When you're hungry, do you settle for an appetizer, or do you want the combo meal? Killing her there would be settling for the appetizer. We're going for the combo. Fries included."

>>4623482
+1

>>4623482
+1

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>>4623453
>>4623473
>>4623482
>>4623484

>"I'll be looking into her myself."
>Write-In: "Let me put it a way you might understand: When you're hungry, do you settle for an appetizer, or do you want the combo meal? Killing her there would be settling for the appetizer. We're going for the combo. Fries included."

"I'll be looking into her myself." You try to assuage her incessant complaints. "Let me put it a way you might understand: When you're hungry, do you settle for an appetizer, or do you want the combo meal? Killing her there would be settling for the appetizer. We're going for the combo. Fries included."
"Well, I'd take both. Duh." Meta snorts. "Anyways, that devil brat was annoying. Hurry up and kill her."
"Hmph." You probably should've seen that coming. "Well, I'm at least going to find her. And what's with the outfit? I told you to dress warmly.."

You trail off as an incessant stench wafts past the quiet evening sidewalk. What is that? It smells like rotting flesh..
"Tcch." Meta's face curls. "Who the hell left a body here? Stupid humans.."

Sure enough, a pile of splattered viscera litters a river bank to the right of the sidewalk. It could hardly be called a kill, really. More of a slaughter. Whatever's left of the devil is a barely recognizable pile of loose flesh and stray eyeballs. Whoever killed it must've had a messy devil contract.
"Another devil corpse, huh?" You frown. It's rare to see an untended devil corpse. The public safety hunters clean up their corpses while private hunters call in for their bounties.

>Leave it. You've got KFC to get.
>Attempt to divinate the cause yourself.
>Find a payphone and report this to the bureau.
>Write-In.

>>4623506
>Attempt to divinate the cause yourself.

>>4623506
>Attempt to divinate the cause yourself.

putting that new devil to work

>>4623506
>Attempt to divinate the cause yourself.
And if it's nothing urgent, we can get KFC.

>>4623506
>Attempt to divinate the cause yourself.

>>4623506
>>Attempt to divinate the cause yourself.

>>4623523
>>4623525
>>4623513
>>4623508

>Attempt to divinate the cause yourself.

You take a few careful steps along the angled slope of the bank across which the devil's corpse had been smattered. A series of long and crude gashes mark up the main body, criss-crossing as if wildly swung. From what you can make out of what's left of it, the apparent head of the devil lies 10 or 15 meters from the actual corpse. It's a real mess.

"Ggh. Take a bath if you're going to touch it, Onishima. It smells foul." Meta calls out from the sidewalk, her nose crinkled.
"Divination." You whisper, training your eyes on the corpse. Just like before, an image of the devil flashes in your eyes as its guttural voice booms in your mind.

IT WALKS LIKE A HUMAN, COVERS IT TRACKS.
BUT WHEN NIGHT FALLS, IT SWINGS THE AXE.

You clutch your head. What was that?
"Oniiishima. Chicken. Now." Meta calls out.

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Gonna call the thread here! Thanks for reading!

>>4623542
Thanks for running!

Axe devil? Hatchet devil? Might be pretty strong. Not sure if we could take it.

>>4623542
Thanks for running! Looks like we're gonna be busy with all of these stray devils.