Chapter Text
Higuchi felt uneasy during her sleep. An oppressive sensation invaded her, as if a dark presence were watching her, even threatening her. She woke suddenly with a start, her heart pounding. Sitting up in bed, she took deep breaths, trying to calm her anxiety. Her gaze swept the room, but nothing seemed to justify this feeling of danger.
"It was just a dream... Just a dream," she murmured to reassure herself.
She lay back down, trying to calm the feverish beating of her heart. Little by little, she fell back asleep, although the worry lingered within her, like a distant echo of the nightmare that haunted her. In the early morning, she went to the mafia as usual. The same route as usual, the same embarrassing routine of the guards not even noticing her presence, and the same passage through the corridors all the way to the penultimate floor. Yet, as she approached her superior's office, her heart raced. She entered and greeted him :
"Good morning, Senpai !"
Akutagawa slowly looked up from his desk. His dark, piercing gaze fell on her, seeming even colder than usual. Leaning back in his chair, he stared at her wordlessly, prolonging a heavy silence. Higuchi felt a lump of anxiety form in his throat, unsure how to remedy the situation. She discreetly cleared her throat before repeating, a little more timidly, "H-hello, Senpai," as if he might not have heard the first time.
He studied her for a few moments, his face remaining completely impenetrable. After a moment, he finally deigned to reply :
"Ah, you're here."
He leaned forward slightly in his seat. An uncomfortable silence fell before he continued in his dull tone, as if his presence were no more amusing than that of an insect.
"I wanted to see you for a specific reason," he added.
The blonde straightened up, as if to assert herself, though nervousness still knotted her stomach, and questioned him about it. He folded his hands in front of him, leaning his elbows on his desk, and explained that this was a solo mission. A delicate mission, but necessary. His gaze remained icy, devoid of the slightest trace of emotion. He regarded her as a mere tool in the service of the mafia. A wave of apprehension passed through Higuchi, but she remained calm.
"This mission involves tracking down a group of criminals who have recently established themselves on the outskirts of the city. They pose a growing danger to the stability of Yokohama, and we cannot allow this threat to spread.”
He looked her straight in the eyes before adding the following words, seemingly bearing down on their gravity :
“I want you to handle this matter personally,” he concluded.
“Very well, Senpai. I am at your disposal !”
Akutagawa seemed satisfied with her answer. He briefly detailed the mission, and Higuchi accepted the task professionally, though inwardly, she felt a slight pressure. Despite her initial nervousness, she felt she had been chosen for an important task, and she was slightly flattered.
She had the opportunity to prove to her boss that she could be useful ! She would be strong, more than anything. But once on the ground, reality hit her hard : the group was much larger than she'd expected. She fought fiercely, but overwhelmed by the numbers, she finally gave in. A knife plunged into her arm, the pain shaking her. She managed to escape somehow and returned to the mafia, ashamed of her failure. The trail of blood behind her seemed to be proof of her incapacity.
"What a shame... I failed my mission, my leader..." she thought, her heart heavy and her head light from the blood loss.
Silently treated in the infirmary, she sat up abruptly when she saw her superior enter. With a single glance, he ordered the staff to leave the room, which they quickly did. Everyone feared the terrible Dog of the Port Mafia. His hard gaze fell on her. Higuchi instinctively stiffened when she saw her superior officer enter the room. She tried to remain impassive, but his gaze betrayed her nervousness. She raised her head slightly to look him in the face and waited silently for what he would say. He approached her without saying a word and observed her injured hand, the wound bleeding slightly, revealing the failure of the previous mission. His face expressionless, he turned to her.
"So? What explanation do you have for this resounding failure?" he snapped.
Higuchi felt her stomach clench. Her voice trembled slightly.
"I'm sorry, Senpai... There were too many of them, too strong..."
That's when the dark-haired man's palm struck her cheek. He had slapped her, without even flinching.
"An apology, nothing more. You're a mafia member. What you showed me today is pathetic. Don't bother coming tomorrow."
The scathing words hit her hard, even more violently than his blow. She lowered her head, consumed by shame. She understood, and knew he was right. She wasn't made for this world after all. Higuchi remained silent for a moment, the lump in her throat seeming to have suddenly transformed into a huge stone. She simply nodded, trying to maintain a firm expression, but disillusionment shone in her eyes. Akutagawa turned on his heel without a word. She clenched her fists, trying to suppress her disappointment, but couldn't stop her lips from trembling. She had failed, again.
She was useless.
***
The next day, she didn't go to the mafia as ordered. She preferred to rest, still tired from the mission. So much so that she had fallen asleep sitting on the couch the day before, still fully dressed in her suit covered in blood and dust. She was still sound asleep when a knock sounded at her door. Dazed, she slowly got up and asked who was there.
"Open the door," an authoritative voice replied.
Her blood ran cold. Why was he there? She opened the door hastily. The man's power was unleashed, ready to break it down at a moment's notice.
"You didn't come. That's your role," he reproached, advancing into the entrance, forcing the woman to step back.
She apologized profusely, but it didn't help. Indeed, she hadn't gone to the mafia that day... but hadn't he ordered her to the day before? Higuchi felt a little defensive, unsettled by Akutagawa's dark gaze. She stepped back slightly, fatigue and the memory of the day before still fresh in her mind. She couldn't stop her shoulders from stiffening, fearing another slap.
The mafioso remained silent, observing the blonde's attitude toward him, then said coldly :
"You're coming with me."
Surprised, she nodded and followed him without further ado. She was still a little dazed, but she would have followed the man regardless of his condition or the location. He was the Mafia's Dog, and she was his.
The city was relatively quiet at this time of day. Akutagawa maintained a neutral expression, not trying to initiate a conversation at the moment. His subordinate tried to keep up, a little out of breath. As they walked, she dared to ask why he was there.
Akutagawa slowed slightly, casting a nasty look at the blonde's hands she was manipulating.
"I need someone reliable. Your absence has been noticed. You can't just leave your post like a shirker."
Higuchi felt his heart skip a beat. It was the first time he'd shown her any kind of recognition... well, if it was even a sign of gratitude. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she quickened her pace to keep up with him.
Once at the mafia, she immediately set to work, handling the tasks assigned to her with diligence and precision. Despite her lingering fatigue, she was determined to prove her worth and not disappoint Akutagawa once again. She occasionally glanced at him, observing his focused and serious demeanor, as mysterious as ever.
Akutagawa, for his part, said nothing, contenting himself with noting the woman's every move and wondering why on earth she was so suspicious that day. After a short while, he finally understood : she had left in a whirlwind, without bothering to get ready. His gaze flicked over the undone buttons of her shirt, the wrinkled fabric, then over the blond locks escaping from her bun, which was even more disheveled than usual. He blew a small sigh, which was enough to catch her attention.
"Come here," he ordered.
Anxious, she let her footsteps carry her to the power-bearer's office. He motioned for her to bend over, which she did. But when she felt his cold hands on her waist, she thought she might faint. A small gasp escaped her, and Akutagawa froze. He raised an eyebrow and looked at her, as if asking if she was seriously making a fool of herself like this.
He tugged at his shirt to smooth it out, then carefully fastened the unruly buttons. The blonde's cheeks had plenty of time to turn pink, making her look like an overripe tomato.
"I don't know much about hair. Fix your bun, you don't look presentable like that," he finally said, letting go of her.
She thanked him with a bow, then slipped off to the bathroom to both fix her hair and recover from her emotions. Her heart was pounding, and if the buttons of her top hadn't been done up, it would have escaped through the empty space in her chest.
***