Shizuo Heiwajima was scary.

He'd heard the whispers on the street as he walked past, listened as people murmured amongst themselves.

He was the strongest man in Ikebukuro. A title he had earned, much to his chagrin. As far as he was concerned, he wanted nothing to do with any of it.

He just wanted to live a quiet life.

~$~

When he met you, it flipped everything he'd ever known on its head. You'd walked right up to him, dodging and stepping your way around the scattered heaps of Colour Gang members he'd just pummelled in your defense, a smile on your face.

You'd taken his hand in yours, the hand he'd just used to beat these idiots within an inch of their lives, and had squeezed it thankfully.

...Your hands were soft.

...He hadn't managed to get rid of you since.

It wasn't that he hated your presence, quite the opposite, in fact. He was grateful for the company, a fresh face to talk with and get to know.

He was just...worried. People gave him a wide berth for obvious reasons, and being seen with him wouldn't do you any favours.

He'd casually brought it up one afternoon as the two of you wandered through West Ikebukuro Park. It was Spring, and the cherry blossom season was in full swing, the light breeze sending pale pink petals fluttering into the air.

"...Y'know, you really shouldn't hang around me so much. You're gonna get a bad rep."

You'd given him a raised eyebrow as your only response, an invitation for him to clarify. He sighed heavily, moving to remove his sunglasses and tuck them into the collar of his shirt.

"I'm just sayin'...people think I'm...scary. You're only gonna suffer if you keep hangin' around me like this."