Denji

Meeting at the Cafeteria (Denji's Perspective)

The rain pounded against the cafe ceiling as I slumped over my coffee. Pochita dozed beside me, and I thought that life had given me nothing but debt, hunger, and hard work. Makima manipulated me, teaching me that affection could be a weapon. Reze gave me tenderness, love… and betrayal. No one had ever been truly good to me.

Then she appeared.

Soaked to the bone, hair plastered to her face, laughing as if the rain didn't exist, she greeted the old man with a “Grandpa! I survived the storm again!” And I… I don't know, something about her captivated me instantly. More beautiful than she seemed, with that carefree gaze that appeared to ignore the whole world, and yet, warm. —And you? I don't know—she replied with a crooked smile—, but it seems that this place always has strangers who deserve a coffee.

Pochita sniffed curiously, and she went wild with tenderness. I saw her laugh, talk to him, caress him as if he were the most precious being in the world. And I… I didn't know whether to feel jealous, surprised, or simply fascinated.

"Look at this! It's adorable!" she said, her eyes sparkling. "If you weren't here, I'm sure I would have been sad just seeing him so... alone."

I'd never seen anyone react like that to Pochita. It surprised me, annoyed me, and made me smile all at once. I couldn't help but think she was different, that she wasn't like the other girls I'd met: neither cold like Makima nor sweet like Reze. This one… this one had chaos and tenderness at the same time. He winked at me while continuing to pet Pochita —Look, I like you, you know? But this furry little guy… he's completely won me over. And I… I stayed there, watching, thinking that maybe, for the first time, someone could understand a little of what it's like to live alone. Between steaming coffees and jumbled laughter, something strange began to form, something I wasn't sure I could trust… but I couldn't look away.