Warning: Contains spoilers for Chainsaw Man chapter #193

With the release of the Four Horsemen, the Death Devil. However, more than featuring the chaotic state of its world, Chainsaw Man’s author, Tatsuki Fujimoto, continues to focus on the depiction of Denji’s psychology. The manga showcased that Denji isn’t just a hormonal teenager obsessed with women and finally itting the true reason behind his most perverted behaviors.

Denji has experienced a great deal of trauma and loss throughout the story, which has stuck him in a repetitive cycle of being manipulated by women who offer him sexual gratification. Yet, Chainsaw Man’s chapter #193 finally revealed that Denji has a sadder and more endearing aim in life than momentary sexual intimacy.

Denji’s Hypersexualization Hides a Sad Meaning

Chainsaw Man’s Story Has Always Been About Denji Seeking Validation

In Chainsaw Man chapter #193, when Denji asks Yoru if she hates him, she replies that Asa likes him; she feels the same since both of them share the same brain. This surprises Denji, who starts crying tears of happiness and acknowledges he's glad there is someone left who still likes him. This points to Denji’s real need, which has always been acceptance from someone, since instead of being happy because someone liking him could lead to sexual intimacy, his first instinct is to cry at the thought of any kind of affection.

Denji has been labeled a sex-obsessed pervert due to his fixation on female breasts during the first part of the manga. However, Denji never had anyone who genuinely cared about him; he never felt comfort or affirmation from anyone, and the only emotional and sexual education he had came from the pornographic magazines he found. This way, due to his lack of experience, Denji continues to confuse his need for love and affection with sex, which is a physiological need, but it's the only kind of intimacy he knows.

Denji has lost all his emotional relationships. In part 1, Denji loses Pochita, Power, and Aki, and in part 2, Nayuta, his pets, and his home. So, after being constantly ruined and hindered, he accepted that his normality would always be constant loss and suffering, so the last thing Denji has left to hold on to in life is sex. This means that Denji being manipulated by Yoru's offer of sex proves how Chainsaw Man—more than just being a criticism of the functionality of society—focuses on how, because of Denji's loneliness, he is manipulated as a tool by his carnal desires.

Denji Has Always Valued Love More Than Sex

Chainsaw Man Doesn’t Defend Denji's Impulses but Justifies Them

Denji has an idealization towards sexuality since—not knowing what a normal relationship with someone means—he has longed for the satisfaction of intimate acts, even if it is fleeting. However, he always experiences a rotten version of these intimate acts instead of pleasure, unable to normally relate to any of his love interests. But even so, Denji still values ​​the emotional aspect linked to sexuality, which is why he rejected Himeno's offer, since he was infatuated with Makima. It's also the reason why his first response after being assaulted by Yoru in the alley is to ask her if she loves him.

Denji wants to feel loved and accepted, which explains why he even agreed to suicide missions in exchange for some form of gratification, such as rescuing Power's cat in exchange for rubbing her breasts or exposing himself to danger for a kiss from Himeno, a tendency that remains unchanged even in the second part. Denji feels human because he doesn’t change throughout the story, although he tries. For this reason, rather than being a selfless protagonist, Denji is a character created to be questioned and for readers to try to relate to and empathize with him about what makes him act that way.

Yoru’s Plan To Manipulate Denji Is Even More Twisted Than Makima’s in Part 1

Without Any Meaningful Relationship, Denji Is Easier To Control

Denji has nothing left; the first woman who hugged him, Makima, just uses him. His first kiss was traumatic; he was involuntarily handled to manipulate him. Any attempt at love has been followed by pain and suffering, so the expectation of sex is the only thing Denji has left since all his previous experiences have been tainted. So Denji is at the lowest point of his life, which puts him in the perfect spot to be manipulated by Yoru, who, unlike Makima, harbors feelings for him, which makes their relationship rather than ionate, toxic, disturbing, and uncomfortable.

Someone without value in their life agrees to every request in exchange for affection because of his need to be accepted. This way, without friends, family, pets, and being constantly controlled, Denji will probably do everything that Yoru requests of him. Furthermore, Yoru has previously stated that guilt helps create more powerful weapons. This way, by letting his feelings grow, Yoru could turn Chainsaw Man into the strongest weapon capable of defeating the Death Devil. This puts Denji in a daring situation and creates anticipation about what will happen and if he will ever find the self-love and affection he craves.