Chainsaw Man: Denji’s Reminded of A Heartwarming Old Friendship in Chapter 116

Denji, the protagonist of “Chainsaw Man,” met a tragic end at the end of Part 1. After a harrowing ordeal of death, betrayal, and deception, he was left bereft of his closest friends, forced to murder the person he admired most, and appointed legal guardian of a child who looked just like the guy who made his life a living hell.

In contrast, Denji’s life improves considerably in the second half of the series.

Denji is a high school student now, and he’s not working for Public Safety under Makima’s tight control. As a result, he has formed an unlikely friendship with fellow student Asa Mitaka, who is actually a conduit for the War Devil.

Denji, unaware of Asa’s dark past, mistakes her for a reflection of Power, leading to a touching scene.

Power and Denji’s Relationship in Chainsaw Man

While working for Public Safety, Power and Denji’s relationship was tumultuous at first, but they eventually became good friends. Prior to moving in with Aki Hayakawa, the couple was largely isolated and had little experience with human ties, but since then, they have flourished.

Denji consoled Power and guided her through severe PTSD after their encounter with the Darkness Devil in the “International Assassins” storyline.

Power strongly appreciated Denji because he was her first true friend. According to Makima, the blood fiend started to serve as an influential role model for Denji, and the two argued like brothers.

Power’s otherworldly assurance and gregarious statements gave her a distinct identity that was hard to miss. The blood fiend often boasted about her attractiveness and cleverness, and she went to great lengths to convince Denji and their peers that, as a fiend, she was the most formidable of all devil hunters.

She had a lot of pride and pretended to be able to do things when the going got difficult, just to give up in the middle of the process.

Power was also a voracious eater who made it clear she didn’t discriminate between human and animal flesh when it came to her appetite. However, after Power was able to betray Makima and kill herself to save him in the “Control Devil” arc of Chainsaw Man, Denji no longer had this sisterly presence.

Denji’s Memories of Power

Asa and Denji are still stuck in the aquarium and are getting hungry. In Chapter 116, “Taste of starfish,” they finally locate something to eat. Asa’s hunger wasn’t satiated by the pair’s starfish meal, so he started eating fish despite being repulsed by the flavour. To which Denji replied that he found Asa entertaining and intriguing, prompting an explosion from her reminiscent of Power.

Asa got up from her plate and said, “I’m entertaining and exciting!” She then told Denji that he had an excellent eye to see this and a flare for the theatrical. She persisted in her arrogant proclamations, asking him, “Aren’t I charming?”

That’s what got Denji thinking of Power; he didn’t agree with her, but he did make a remark about how much she reminded him of an old buddy. This, of course, is a reference to Power’s impulsive and wild nature, as Denji’s memories of the closeness he and the blood fiend once shared were triggered by Asa’s outgoing nature at the time.

This is the first time that Denji has thought about Power since her untimely death in Chapter 91 of Chainsaw Man, and it was more touching than anyone could have dreamed. Now that he’s on his own, Denji can look back on his life with fondness, both for himself and for his audience.