What this chapter shows is how a demon plays.

Having a goal while ignoring suffering

When Denji takes offense at the way Yoru kills people, she reflects back his own questionable morality.

Why is that? Because Denji is a devil who also plays, but still hides under the mask of a human.

Then Yoru pulls him, forcing him to transform as if it were his real face.

And Denji's having fun! Because he's a devil and he plays too

Ignoring suffering

His suffering

but there's a little subtlety: when a demon ignores the suffering of others, he plays.

but when he ignores his own, he loves.

Cruel as it may seem, THIS is how a devil loves

perhaps oblivion sets in, devils become strangers, but suffering is the game and the love of devils

this is their link

while memory fades

Denji will continue to love the demon of control because she's the one who made him suffer the most.

And the demon of control will continue to love him because he's the one who made her suffer the most

the vividness of suffering gives demons the illusion of a beating heart

and this scene isn’t just about the violation of denji’s autonomy, but also asa’s. yoru has never really fully valued asa’s autonomy and wellbeing. yoru is prone to immature, childish bursts, willing to doom the people around her—even asa—for the sake of pettiness. so not only has denji been violated, but asa’s consent has not been granted for yoru to commit these acts. it feels as if yoru just weaponized whatever asa feels for denji and is just pushing buttons to see what works. denji didn’t even known it was yoru and not asa during those safe moments he felt he had until recently. you read yoru’s assault and it’s clear this is not a good moment. it’s uncomfortable and almost painful to watch. this thing that he’s been waiting on for a while, and it’s not at all what he expected. you watch denji go through this dissociative state, he’s confused, he’s lost and disappointed. what denji wants is intimacy and basic human decency, he wants to be treated like he actually matters, and the only reason he seems to be “wanted” is either because he’s chainsaw man or through sexual manipulation from women.

I can understand being uncomfortable with a scene like this—that’s the entire point, I won’t take that away from anyone—but I want to pose a question: what made denji’s traumatic experiences with assault more palatable prior to this scene? does it feel unnecessary because you’re finally forced to “see it”? denji HAS made progress and developed from part one (i.e his dynamic with nayuta, who despite embodying the same toxic, manipulative traits as makima, he’s able to love her unconditionally and recognize her childhood innocence, the same naivety makima exploited with him… his refusal to immediately succumb to the whims of the women around him, him wanting to help innocent lives around him, him admitting he wants sex and steak instead of just being content with scraps, etc). and he’s doing it all by himself. he doesn’t have a support system. he’s learning all on his own. I also want to point out that aside from pochita, absolutely no one in denji’s life cared about denji for denji. I love power and aki, but even their beginning relationships with denji rooted in what he could do for them (though, this obviously does evolve into something more genuine and warm). denji has little framework to go with and even less support to combat his experiences.

I also don’t think it’s fair to say “I thought we were over this since makima died”- no, we are not over this. this is not something you just “get over”. denji’s worldview is not going to be suddenly changed because makima died (he sees her in literally everything he does in part two. he can’t let her go… he loves her despite the hell she put him and his loved ones through). progress is slow, it’s not linear at all and often time disappointing when we see regression. I’d even argue that this scene doesn’t immediately ruin asaden, but that’s another convo for a different day.