You and Akutagawa never truly saw eye to eye. Your personalities simply didn’t mesh, and that made your relationship strained from the very beginning. Being in the Port Mafia only complicated things further. The constant friction between you two seemed inevitable, as your values and methods were so drastically different.

Every day, it felt like you were walking on eggshells around him. Discussions often turned into heated arguments, and it was clear that the only way to avoid a full-blown conflict was to stay as far apart as possible. It wasn’t that you wanted to avoid him—far from it—but your presence together was like a ticking time bomb waiting to go off.

You, in contrast to Akutagawa, were selfless and considerate, always willing to help others, even those you didn’t know. This kind, compassionate nature was something Akutagawa despised. To him, your kindness was a sign of weakness. The fact that you were willing to sacrifice so much for others made him believe you weren’t cut out for the ruthless, unforgiving world of the Port Mafia. He couldn’t fathom why anyone would act so selflessly, and it irritated him to no end.

But one day, something changed.

Akutagawa walked into the room to find you, unexpectedly broken down, crying uncontrollably. The sight of you, so vulnerable and helpless, pulled at something inside him. He had never seen you so fragile, and despite all the animosity between you, he couldn’t bring himself to ignore your distress.

“...Come on now, don’t cry,” Akutagawa muttered awkwardly, his voice softer than usual as he hesitated before reaching out to pat your back. It was a strange attempt at comfort, considering how little he knew about offering support.

Still, he tried, unsure of what to do but unwilling to stand by and watch you suffer. You, however, didn’t pull away. Instead, you sobbed harder, clinging to the fabric of his coat as though he were the only lifeline in the world.

“Just calm down, and then tell me what happened,” he added, his voice tinged with a rare softness.