CSM Chapter 98: Story, Characters, Themes and Key Moments
CSM Chapter 98 marks an important point in the second major part of Chainsaw Man. After the conclusion of the first part, the story returns with a different atmosphere, a new central character, and a school-based setting that feels very different from Denji's earlier adventures.
Instead of immediately continuing with the same style of action seen previously, csm chapter 98 introduces readers to Asa Mitaka, a student whose ordinary school life becomes connected to something much darker. The chapter uses her introduction to establish a new direction for the manga while maintaining the strange combination of horror, comedy, tragedy, and emotional tension that makes Chainsaw Man distinctive.
Spoiler warning: This article discusses major events and character developments from CSM Chapter 98.
Quick Facts
- New protagonist Asa Mitaka
- Setting School life
- New Devils Justice & War
- Story arc Part 2 opener
- Tone Loneliness & guilt
What Is CSM Chapter 98?
CSM Chapter 98 is the opening chapter of Part 2 of Chainsaw Man. It follows the events of the first part and shifts attention toward Asa Mitaka.
The chapter does not simply repeat the formula established earlier. Instead, it creates a new environment where school life, personal insecurity, supernatural threats, and the Devil-related world begin to overlap.
This makes the chapter particularly important for readers who want to understand how Part 2 develops its own identity.
Asa Mitaka Becomes the New Focus
One of the biggest changes introduced in Chapter 98 is the arrival of Asa Mitaka.
Asa is presented as a student who struggles socially and often finds herself separated from her classmates. Her personality is noticeably different from Denji's.
While Denji often reacts impulsively to whatever happens around him, Asa tends to think about social expectations, rules, and how other people perceive her. This difference immediately gives Part 2 a different emotional tone.
Asa's introduction also establishes one of the central ideas of this portion of the story: how difficult it can be to connect with other people even when you desperately want to belong.
The School Setting Changes the Atmosphere
Much of the chapter takes place around school life. At first, this may seem like a simple change of location, but the school setting creates opportunities for Fujimoto to explore relationships, popularity, loneliness, responsibility, and social pressure.
The ordinary environment also contrasts sharply with the supernatural elements of the story. A classroom can appear completely normal one moment and become terrifying the next.
This contrast is one of the reasons the opening of Part 2 feels different from the earlier chapters.
Asa, Her Classmates, and the Class Pet
Asa and Her Classmates
She is not portrayed as someone who naturally fits into the social environment around her. Her attempts to behave correctly can sometimes produce the opposite result from what she expects, creating an uncomfortable but sometimes darkly humorous situation. The chapter demonstrates that Asa's biggest difficulties are not necessarily physical — her social interactions and emotional reactions are equally important to understanding her character.
The Class Pet Becomes Important
One of the chapter's seemingly smaller elements involves the class pet. Asa develops an emotional connection with the animal, revealing something about her personality. The pet provides Asa with a source of comfort and gives readers a reason to see her as vulnerable — a connection the chapter later uses to make events more powerful.
The Justice Devil
Another major element of CSM Chapter 98 is the introduction of the Justice Devil.
The chapter uses the Devil concept to connect supernatural danger with the moral and social environment of the school. The idea is particularly fitting because justice can mean very different things to different people.
For one person, justice might mean following rules. For another, it could mean punishment or revenge. The chapter plays with this idea while showing how quickly ordinary school life can become connected to the Devil world.
A Tragic Turning Point and Its Aftermath
CSM Chapter 98 is not simply an introduction to Asa. It also establishes a major emotional conflict. A sequence involving Asa, her teacher, and the class pet changes the direction of the story.
The consequences of this situation demonstrate one of the most important characteristics of Chainsaw Man: seemingly ordinary choices can have devastating consequences. Asa's desire to do what she believes is right ultimately contributes to a situation she cannot control.
This is an important part of her character development because it establishes the complicated relationship she has with guilt and responsibility.
The chapter also introduces or establishes relationships — including Yuko's — that become more relevant as Part 2 continues. Rather than introducing every character simply as an action-oriented fighter, the story begins by building interpersonal relationships, which makes the later supernatural events feel more personal.
The War Devil Enters the Story
One of the most significant developments in CSM Chapter 98 is the arrival of the War Devil.
After the chapter's major events, Asa's life becomes connected to the War Devil, creating the central supernatural relationship that drives much of Part 2. The War Devil has its own goals and personality, making the relationship more complicated than a simple hero-versus-monster conflict.
Asa's situation therefore becomes a combination of personal trauma, supernatural power, and conflicting objectives.
Asa & the War Devil, and Where Denji Fits
Asa and the War Devil
The two characters are connected, but they do not necessarily want the same things, and their personalities are also very different. Asa is cautious, socially uncomfortable, and emotionally affected by what has happened to her. The War Devil is more aggressive and focused on its own objectives — creating tension that can develop in several directions.
CSM Chapter 98 and Denji
Readers familiar with Part 1 may naturally expect Denji to immediately return as the central character. However, Chapter 98 deliberately focuses elsewhere. This choice allows the story to establish Asa before bringing the larger world of Chainsaw Man fully back into focus, creating curiosity about how his story will eventually connect with hers.
Key Elements at a Glance
| Element | Importance in Chapter 98 |
|---|---|
| Asa Mitaka | New central character |
| School setting | Creates a different atmosphere |
| Class pet | Reveals Asa's emotional side |
| Justice Devil | Introduces a new supernatural threat |
| War Devil | Establishes the major Part 2 conflict |
| Asa's guilt | Important part of her characterization |
| Denji | Creates anticipation for future developments |
| School relationships | Builds the human side of Part 2 |
Why CSM Chapter 98 Matters
The importance of CSM Chapter 98 goes beyond introducing a new character. It effectively resets the emotional perspective of the story.
Part 1 was strongly connected to Denji's desires, relationships, poverty, survival, and search for an ordinary life. Part 2 begins by examining loneliness, social anxiety, guilt, and the desire to be accepted.
That makes Asa more than simply a replacement protagonist — she represents a different way of experiencing the world.
Major Themes in the Chapter
Loneliness
Asa's difficulty connecting with classmates makes loneliness one of the chapter's most visible themes. She wants connection but does not always know how to achieve it.
Guilt
Asa's decisions are strongly influenced by her concern about doing the right thing. The chapter demonstrates how guilt can affect someone even when their intentions are not malicious.
Justice
The Justice Devil adds another layer to the idea of morality. The story questions whether doing what appears morally correct will always lead to a good outcome.
Responsibility
Asa's actions have consequences that she never intended, creating a recurring question about how much responsibility someone should carry for events beyond their control.
Identity
The chapter begins exploring what happens when a person's identity becomes connected to something much larger and more dangerous than themselves.
A Simple Reading Checklist
For readers analyzing CSM Chapter 98, these details are worth paying attention to:
- Asa's personality and behavior
- Her relationship with classmates
- The class pet
- The meaning of justice
- The consequences of Asa's decisions
- The appearance of the War Devil
- The difference between Asa and Denji
- How Part 2 changes the tone of the series
- The connection between personal problems and supernatural conflict
What Makes Asa Different From Denji?
Asa and Denji are both flawed protagonists, but their personalities create very different storytelling possibilities.
| Character | General Personality | Main Contrast |
|---|---|---|
| Denji | Impulsive and straightforward | Often acts on immediate desires |
| Asa | Reserved and self-conscious | Thinks heavily about social consequences |
| Denji | Searches for ordinary pleasures | Has unusual expectations about life |
| Asa | Struggles with belonging | Worries about how others see her |
| Denji | Often embraces chaos | Frequently reacts instinctively |
| Asa | Attempts to follow rules | Her choices still produce unexpected results |
These differences are important because Part 2 is not simply telling Denji's story again through another character.
Is CSM Chapter 98 a Good Starting Point for Part 2?
Yes. Chapter 98 was designed to introduce readers to the new direction of the story.
However, readers who have completed Part 1 will recognize additional context and may appreciate the larger continuity more fully.
For someone beginning Chainsaw Man for the first time, starting from the beginning of the manga is generally the better experience because important characters, relationships, and events from Part 1 influence the wider story.
How Chapter 98 Sets Up Future Events
The chapter leaves several questions open. Readers are encouraged to wonder:
- What will happen to Asa?
- What does the War Devil ultimately want?
- How will Asa control her new circumstances?
- What role will Denji eventually play?
- How will the school environment affect the story?
- What other Devils will appear?
- Can Asa maintain normal relationships?
- How will guilt influence her future decisions?
These unanswered questions provide the foundation for subsequent chapters.
Understanding CSM Chapter 98
If you are reading CSM Chapter 98 for the first time and find its opening confusing, focus on character motivation rather than trying to understand every supernatural detail immediately.
Start with Asa's personality and her relationships at school. Then look at how the chapter changes her circumstances and introduces the War Devil. You can read Chainsaw Man Chapter 98 online alongside this breakdown for the full context.
The chapter works best when viewed as a character-driven beginning rather than simply an action chapter.
Readers can also revisit the chapter after reading more of Part 2. Certain character decisions and themes become easier to appreciate when viewed alongside later developments.
Conclusion
CSM Chapter 98 is an important chapter because it opens a new phase of Chainsaw Man without abandoning the strange, unpredictable storytelling style of the series.
Asa Mitaka gives Part 2 a new emotional perspective. Her loneliness, guilt, relationships, and desire to make the right choices make her fundamentally different from Denji, while the arrival of the War Devil creates a new supernatural conflict.
The chapter also demonstrates how Chainsaw Man can turn an ordinary setting such as a school into something unsettling and unpredictable. For readers continuing from Part 1, Chapter 98 acts as a fresh beginning — for readers analyzing Part 2, it provides many of the ideas and relationships that become increasingly important later in the story.
Jump to FAQsFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions readers ask about CSM Chapter 98.