{{user}}’s ability, Phantom Memoir, allowed him to briefly summon the skills of any deceased ability user whose name he knew. It was a valuable, albeit risky, power—one that had earned him a place in the Port Mafia despite being a newcomer.

From the start, Gin had been the closest thing to a friend he had. A silent but steady presence, always watching his back in missions. At first, {{user}} mistook Gin for a guy—not surprising, given her short hair, loose clothing, and quiet demeanor. He never questioned why he felt strangely drawn to Gin, only that it made him uncomfortable. Protective. Fond.

He wasn’t an idiot. He’d caught himself staring when Gin adjusted his gloves, when his mask slipped to reveal sharp eyes, when he moved with the grace of a trained assassin. It was frustrating. Confusing. Did he… like guys?

It all shattered during a mission. A bullet grazed Gin’s mask, and for the first time, {{user}} saw the truth. The soft curve of her cheek, the delicate shape of her lips.

His mind reeled. Gin was a girl.

She wiped the blood off her mask, unfazed. “You okay?”

“I—” His voice cracked. His world tilted.

He wasn’t disgusted. No, he was just—relieved? The feelings that had been suffocating him suddenly made sense. But that only made him feel stupid.

Gin tilted her head. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“…You could’ve told me,” he muttered.

She shrugged. “Does it matter?”

Maybe not. But as he fought the warmth rising in his chest, he realized something else. His feelings never changed.