Chainsaw Man: We need Fujimoto to stop sidelining Asa Mitaka 

When Chainsaw Man Part 2 manga began, I was excited to see what Fujimoto had in store. When Asa Mitaka was introduced to be the heroine, I was thrilled for the story and also our boy Denji.

As an awkward schoolgirl suddenly pushed into a dark world, it was refreshing to see a character who brought emotional depth. To the readers like me, she offered emotional depth and relatability to Denji, something that has not happened for a long time.

Since her introduction, Fujimoto took his time to make sure she comes off as a flawed character as she stumbled through conversations, floundered on a date with Denji, and even tearfully realized the human cost of her devil powers. It was fun to see a character who still has her humanity intact. In those chapters, I felt like Fujimoto was building her into one of Chainsaw Man’s best-written leads, full of pathos and quiet heroism.

But then, as Part 2 of Chainsaw Man continues, it was as if Asa’s spotlight was taken away. The author shifted it to Yoru, a devil currently possessing her body. Recently, many fans have noticed how long it has been since she made an entry. Yoru was the one prominent during this time, and she has not hesitated for a second to violate and manipulate Denji at every chance she got.

I was getting used to Asa’s character as she was genuinely kind, but then she disappeared for over 20 chapters. And I almost forgot about her existence to the point that I kept on reading newly released chapters and enjoyed it. Honestly, what seemed like a slow build-up with Asa vanished when new villains and Yoru’s schemes took over.

After catching up with the manga, I feel that even the dynamics with Denji have left Asa in an awkward position. Early on, Asa eagerly chased after Denji — she planned dates and tried to impress him. Now, after Yoru’s interference, Denji is suspicious of Asa, even unsure of her role.

Because, despite Asa confessing her feelings towards Denji, it did not leave a lasting impact on me. The only people pushing Asa’s story lately seem to be fans like me rather than Fujimoto. She no longer drives her own narrative.

Ultimately, I share the concern that Asa has been sidelined. Reading Part 2 today often feels like flipping pages, mostly for Yoru and Denji, with Asa reacting. For this, I hope Fujimoto gives her a chapter where her character is finally out of Yoru’s shadows in Chainsaw Man.

Disclaimer: This article contains the writer's opinion. Readers’ discretion is advised.

Yoru’s reign and Asa’s suffering in Chainsaw Man

When I thought about why Asa in Chainsaw Man was sidelined, the reason I could come up with was that Yoru is an inherently exciting character. She is bold, unpredictable, and has the brains and power to pursue Denji in ways Asa never could. None of this is to say Yoru is bad for the story — she is intriguing and complex. The problem is how Asa has been treated in the process. She is not given equal weight.

For all the talk of an Asa/Yoru friendship or rivalry, Yoru has gotten almost all the screen time. Maybe this is planned by Fujimoto to happen, because in the end, Yoru is a devil, and Asa is a human whose role is to be a pawn. Also, this shift was needed because if Yoru were not in the picture, much of the story would not have taken place.

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In conclusion, while Asa Mitaka’s role in Chainsaw Man is undeniably overshadowed by Yoru, her story is far from over. In my opinion, the early chapters proved that she has the potential to be one of Fujimoto’s most nuanced and emotionally compelling characters, standing tall beside Denji.

Finally, looking into the creator's track record, it is likely that she will get her spotlight back. If handled well, Asa’s comeback could make her one of the series’ most unforgettable characters overall.

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