A Chainsaw Man spinoff may reveal the coming Aki and Power flashback's focus

Modified Nov 10, 2024 14:30 GMT

Chainsaw Man chapter 182 has kept the buzz in the community going with its concluding panel. At the end of the chapter, the final panel teases a flashback and shows the backs of Power and Aki Hayakawa on a boat. Needless to mention, with a few days left for the next chapter, a number of theories have surfaced surrounding this panel and the other ones in the chapter.

Thus, this article will also focus on one such theory which links a Chainsaw Man with the focus of the next chapter's flashback. This spin-off, titled Chainsaw Man: Buddy Stories has been speculated to hold the answer to what might happen next in the main story. Here's a closer look.

Disclaimer: This article is speculative in nature.

Chainsaw Man spin-off could hold the hint to Aki-Power flashback subject

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First, let's briefly glance at the aforementioned manga spin-off. Illustrated by Tatsuki Fujimoto and written by Sakaku Hishikawa, Chainsaw Man: Buddy Stories features 4 narratives of Devil Hunters pairs from the Public Safety Saga. It includes characters like Denji, Power, Kishibe, Himeno, Aki Hayakawa, Makima and Quanxi.

In order, the chapters showcase Power living out her dream of becoming a detective, Quanxi and Kishibe's relationship 9 years post their meeting, Himeno and Aki's first mission and lastly, Denji, Power, Aki and Makima taking a trip to Enoshima. It is the story of the last chapter that this theory is based around and what might hint at Denji's flashback focus.

The final story depicts Denji and company on his dream vacation to Enoshima. At one point, Denji and Power are on a boat at sea when the latter urges Denji to seize the opportunity and escape abroad, away from the chaos. But the boy refuses by claiming that he was content with his present life.

In Power-esque fashion, she calls him silly and decides to go herself. However, she says that if Denji missed her, he would need to come find her.

Later in the story, both Power and Aki are seen walking away into the distance, oblivious to Denji's cries. Connecting it to the main story parallels this as their deaths. Now, with chapter 182's final panel showing Aki and Power on a boat, their clothes confirm that it will be a flashback (Hokkaido trip).

But even so, this could also mean that Aki and Power are somewhere. There seems to be an evidence related to this statement. In part 1, Makima states that Pochita consumed four distinct conclusions for humans after their deaths. This implies that were likely four planes of existence, which got erased. Moreover, as seen, Pochita doesn't mindlessly erase at random.

He seems to do it with good reason. For instance, he erased the Mouth Devil to prevent anyone from making him throw up. Again, he consumed the Nuclear Weapons Devil and the Aids Devil to help humanity. By this logic, the conclusions consumed must have been "bad" for humans and now only a good ending exists, maybe a "heaven" of sorts.

Power should've reincarnated as a new Blood Devil, but Aki has genuinely passed and is possibly in this "heaven".

Final Thoughts

It is yet another Chainsaw Man theory that takes its place in the sea of speculation. The spin-off manga is extra content that Fujimoto opted to give to likely supplement the main series. While it does not contribute directly to the main story, it rounds out details and features interesting aspects that fans were curious about when characters were revealed one by one.

In a similar sense, it is improbable that the spin-off manga hints to the flashback's focus. It features Denji's dream trip to Enoshima with Power, Aki and Makima, which is a completely different incident. In this case, Aki and Power's clothing directly refer to their Hokkaido trip the Hayakawa family grave.

The flashback will likely showcase insightful words from Aki and Power which will sigificantly contribute to Denji's development.