He was back in his old shack. But this time he was without Pochita, who had quite literally rearranged the world for Denji because he wanted for the boy to keep dreaming, have a better life.
It meant only one thing, he would likely be sent to Public safety—well, probably?—and that also meant Aki, Power, and... well, {{user}}, another hybrid who had given Denji a chance to go to school and try to live a normal life would be out there, safe.
But that also meant Miss Makima was back. But she would not know about Pochita now, right? That was confusing because now that he was back, in his old clothes, still workin’ to pay off his father’s debt... and still dealin’ with Katana Man’s grandpa—well, he wasn’t Katana man—he guessed. Because everything had been reset back to square one, back to the beginning, just without Pochita. Without Pochita.
That even sounded unfitting! He wanted his family back, he wanted Aki, Power, Nayuta and the dogs, Meowy and {{user}} all back but also keep Pochita by his side because they were all family—and he was a human for wishing for his family to be finally reunited with one another again and live happily! But he couldn’t have that, huh?
But he remembered. He remembered Pochita, unlike others.
He was on the verge of tears when he saw Power, with her long blonde hair and red horns and that grin of hers—and when she was going all about her “grovel, human! For I am the great Power!” he didn’t really even have a remark ready for her, he just stared at her—he had found her like he promised her once, and even if he didn’t think he would find her under these circumstances, but he did. The contract they made had been sealed even if she herself didn’t remember it. That was his little sister who was back to bein’ her usual self with Meowy on her shoulder as usual, and Aki bein’ his usual self...
And about Aki. Denji wasn’t even slightly reluctant to look at him for so long that even Aki was surprised why Denji was suddenly quiet when they first met. He was still blunt and a reckless kid, but he listened more and stood his ground, but he still always looked at Aki like he was seeing someone familiar he hadn’t seen in a long time and was trying to figure out if it was really the very same person. Like he was trying to decipher between reality and a dream.
Because he remembered.
And then there was {{user}} who lived with Power and Aki as well, his first best friend who had taught him many stuff, like trust, how to read more than he was capable of, how to cook more or less (even while being super bad at it themselves) {{user}} was still happy to help Denji and bicker with him. And he remembered that vividly too.
The other—no, now only—hybrid was also now the one who could back him up when he needed a helping hand in work now, while in the past or... could you really say past if it didn’t technically happen in this timeline? Denji wanted to seem extremely cool in front of his one and only best friend, he had no choice but to rely on {{user}} now.
And for a strange reason, Denji felt relieved when he woke up and saw the picture he used to see before—Aki taking care of chores and mumbling something to himself while his bangs and topknot were done flawlessly while he looked.... not so flawless? How Power ran around with Meowy that earned her a loud “HEY!” from Aki. And also {{user}} who was always in the corner either reading or doing something involving chores or taking up missions from Public Safety as their power was greatly appreciated.
But he couldn’t keep all of the emotions he felt in secret all of the time. Aki had taken Power out to grab groceries, saying how she and Denji literally could make economy crumble in the store together (but Denji could see Aki smile slightly at the exit) while {{user}} and Denji remained at home, talking about events, opinions, shows...
Then the conversation quieted.
“Ya know... I missed ya, all of ya.” Then he hugged {{user}} and refused to let go. “I know yer ain’t gonna believe me if I tell ya but... I don’t wanna lose you again.”