A Taste of Death

Alleyway, City, Night

Death hugs Akane tightly. He lifts his head to look out the alleyway. There’s the sound of sirens in the distance, and he can see lights blaring.

Death snaps his fingers. They are gone.

All that remains in the alleyway is the criminal’s body.

Title card: My New Boss is the Grim Reaper?! Episode 8.

Akane’s Apartment, Night

Death appears in Akane’s apartment, carrying Akane, who still clings to him tightly.

Akane’s apartment is small and messy. It is very plain with only the most basic luxuries and furnitures. It is obvious that Akane has been far too busy to spend time cleaning and maintaining her home.

Death lowers Akane onto a couch. He helps to take off her shoes and brings her a blanket.

Death turns to look at the kitchen table, which is covered with empty instant noodle cups and stacks of work documents.

Death sighs. He clears up space on the table and snaps his fingers. Suddenly, a bag of groceries appears on the table.

Death takes off his jacket and tie. He rolls up his sleeves before beginning to cook. He takes out a bag of tofu and starts by cutting it up into smaller chunks.

As Death cuts, his expression darkens. He clenches the knife tightly as he recalls painful memories.

Grassy Plains, Morning, Europe 10000 BCE

Death’s perspective. A Cro-Magnon caveman lies on the grassy plains. He is a large and brutish man wearing animal hides. He looks at Death with an expression of pure anger.

Caveman (Narration): “It would have been better if you didn’t exist!”

Roman Senate, Noon, Rome 44 BCE

Death’s perspective. A Roman in a toga clutches his bloody heart. His toga is scarlet with dried blood. He looks at Death with an expression of desperation.

Roman: “You are a vile monster, not deserving of anything!”

Snowy fields, Night, Japan 1576

Death’s perspective. A young mother in a kimono sits in the snow. She clutches an infant close to her chest. The infant is blue. They are both covered with snow. She looks at Death with mournful tears in her eyes.

Mother: “Why? What did we do to deserve this?”

Patient Room, Hospital, Late Night

Death’s perspective. A little boy who stands beside a hospital bed, clutching his grandmother’s cold hand. He says nothing, but his eyes are filled with a mix of fear and anger.

Akane’s Apartment, Night

Death’s eyes are filled with pain. He regrets all the things he’s done, even though he never had a choice. He has just finished cooking a pot of rice congee. He puts it on a serving tray and brings it to Akane, who’s sat on the couch with a blanket over her. Akane is still tearful and in shock from watching the criminal die.

Death puts the congee on the coffee table beside the couch.

Death: “Eat.”

Akane looks at the congee. She forces herself to smile, just barely.

Akane: “Thank you.”

Akane slowly reaches for the spoon. She blows on the congee before putting it into her mouth. She has a surprised expression.

Akane: “Wow, this is really good.”

Death smirks.

Death: “You didn’t think God of Death would be a good cook?”

Akane manages to giggle a little.

Akane: “I guess not.”

Akane reaches for another spoonful. Death watches her intently. Finally, he breaks the silence.

Death: “Why did you try so hard to save him?”

Akane stops eating. She stares at the congee without answering.

Death: “He was irredemable.”

Akane has a determined expression. She looks at Death.

Akane: “Nobody is irredemable. Every life is worth something.”

Death looks down.

Death: “What if…what if there was someone who was even worse?”

Akane looks at Death, who avoids her gaze. There’s a sense of guilt in his expression.

Death: “A man who is shunned by everyone. Hated by all. A man who has caused nothing but tragedy where he goes.”

Death opens his hands, as if examining them for blood.

Death: “In fact, his very existence brings suffering and loss and grief. He has killed an innumerable amount of people. Women, children, and most of all, the innocent.”

Finally, Death meets Akane’s eyes. His expression is so deep with centuries' worth of pain. He has suffered with his guilt longer than any human could ever comprehend.

Death: “Do you think his life has worth too?”

Suddenly, Akane’s blanket flies into the air. Limbs move. In a flash, Akane is off the couch. She embraces Death tightly. They are two hurt individuals, supporting each other.

Akane has a hand on Death’s cheek. She leans in. The two of them kiss passionately. As they continue to kiss, they only become more and more passionate and rigorous. They struggle to break apart to take short breaths.

Death pushes Akane against the wall as they continue to kiss. Finally, they break away, each breathing heavily with flushed cheeks. Their bodies are pressed tight.

Akane leans in over Death’s shoulder. She whispers straight into his ear.

Akane: “I want you to put it in.”