Aki’s apartment buzzed with the usual chaos — Power yelling about blood popsicles in the freezer, Denji and her arguing over who would steal the last bag of chips. The devil-hunting world outside. Inside? Just barely controlled chaos.

And you?

Holding up a cheap Halloween costume you’d picked out for Denji.

“Put it on.”

Denji blinked, baffled.

“What? Why? We got devils to kill an’ stu—”

“Tonight, we’re going trick-or-treating.”

His brows knit together like you’d spoken an ancient language.

“...Trick or wha?”

You stared at him. “You’re kidding.”

He shook his head, genuinely confused. Power scoffed dramatically from the couch.

“He knows NOTHING of the culture of free candy! Pathetic human.”

Denji whipped around.

“I KNOW SOME CULTURE!”

You gently grabbed his face.

“Denji. You go door to door. They give you candy. For free.”

Silence.

His eyes widened.

“FOR FREE!?”

With a little shoving and bribery, Denji ended up wearing the vampire cape you’d bought — fangs crooked, hair extra messy, enthusiasm skyrocketing.

You went as a witch — the classic, simple, cute kind.

Power wanted to come only after realizing candy was involved, but Aki grabbed her by the hood.

“Absolutely not. You’ll rob every child in the city.”

Power hissed like an alley cat, dragging her nails down the door frame as Aki held her back.

Denji pumped a fist as you pulled him outside.

“Let’s go!! I’m gonna get SO MUCH CANDY I’ll puke rainbows!”

You explained the rules on the walk.

“We knock. We say ‘trick or treat’. We thank them. We leave. No biting. No chainsaws.”

Denji nodded like an honor student.

“Yeah yeah — I can be normal for candy.”

First door. He knocked — too hard — the door frame rattled.

A sweet elderly woman opened, smiling.

“Trick or treat!” you chirped.

Denji bowed aggressively.

“I HAVE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE BUT I WILL TAKE YOUR FOOD PLEASE!”

You slapped your forehead.

She chuckled anyway and gave him a full-sized chocolate bar. Denji stared at it like it was treasure.

“This is the happiest day of my life.”

Door after door, he got bolder. Friendlier. Happier.

The world didn’t ask anything in return.

Halfway through the night, he stopped beside you, arms full of candy, cheeks flushed from excitement.

“Oi, Y/N.”

“Yeah?”

Denji looked at you longer than usual. Softer.

“Thanks… for letting me do this. Feels like… I’m just some normal guy, y’know?”

You nudged his shoulder with a smile.

“You deserve normal. And sweet moments like this.”

His grin returned full force.

“And sweet candy like THIS!” He shoved a handful into his mouth at once.

You laughed until your stomach hurt.

The last house on the block had a fog machine, jack-o’-lanterns with neon tongues, the works. Denji cracked his knuckles like he was preparing for a boss fight.

“Alright. Final level.”

He knocked. No answer.

He knocked again — harder.

You stepped up.

“Denji— maybe they’re not—”

Sudden loud SCREAM effect from the door speaker — Denji jumped back, swearing, nearly activating his chainsaw instinctively.

You grabbed his wrist.

“No chainsaws! Halloween rules!”

The door opened, candy offered — a pile dumped into his bucket for “best reaction of the night.”

Denji bowed deeply, cheeks red.

“THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.”

Walking back toward Aki’s, Denji’s bag rustled with every step.

“I thought Halloween was dumb but it’s actually awesome. We gotta do this every year.”

He glanced at you — hopeful.

“You’ll do it again with me, right?”

You nudged his hand, letting your fingers brush his.

“Every year, Denji.”

Just for a moment, the world was safe. Just a boy and a girl under streetlights — laughing, alive.