Chuuya x Reader

Complications of the Heart

Part 6: Complications of the Heart

The lively café hummed with laughter and chatter, the scent of fresh pastries hanging in the air. You felt a warm glow inside as you bantered back and forth with Chuuya and his friends, forgetting for a moment the tensions that lay beyond this seemingly ordinary day. However, that blissful moment was about to shatter.

As you took a bite of your chocolate croissant, a familiar voice rang out from behind you. “Well, well, well, what do we have here?”

Your heart dropped as you turned to see a group of your co-workers from the Armed Detective Agency entering the café. Their expressions ranged from surprise to bemusement as they spotted you and Chuuya together.

“Oh, look, it’s the sweet little detective and the notorious troublemaker,” one of them teased, a smug grin plastered across his face. You recognized him as Akiko, known for her penchant for making everything into a competition.

“Do I need to remind you that you’re supposed to be on the opposite side of the law?” Akiko continued, her eyes glinting mischievously.

Chuuya tensed, his expression shifting from relaxed amusement to a hard-edged glare. “What’s it to you?” he shot back, the playful tone from earlier evaporating. His posture shifted; the relaxed demeanor was replaced with the stance of someone ready to confront an enemy.

“Just making an observation,” Akiko replied, crossing her arms. “We can’t have you two getting cozy. That’s against the rules, isn’t it?”

“Who says we’re cozy?” you interjected, trying to salvage some semblance of normalcy. “We were just—”

“Just what?” one of Chuuya’s friends cut in, a smirk on his lips. “Enjoying pastries together? You know that’s not how the game is played, right?”

You felt the tension in the air tighten as Akiko’s group edged closer, their teasing banter a thinly veiled challenge. You shot Chuuya a look, searching for his reaction, but he was staring daggers at your co-workers.

“They’re just jealous,” you said, trying to lighten the mood. “I mean, who wouldn’t want to join us for pastries?”

“Yeah, right. I’m sure they’d rather be anywhere else,” Chuuya said, his tone darkening. “We all know the Armed Detective Agency loves to stick their noses where they don’t belong.”

His words hung in the air, a stark reminder of the divide that lay between your worlds. The playful banter from moments ago faded, replaced with an uncomfortable tension. You had never intended for this to happen—this confrontation.

As your co-workers continued to taunt, Chuuya’s grip tightened around the table’s edge. You could see the conflict swirling within him, the internal struggle between his loyalty to the Port Mafia and the connection he had developed with you.

“What’s the matter, Chuuya?” Akiko goaded, her voice dripping with mockery. “Is the big, bad mafia member worried about getting a little love from the enemy?”

You could see Chuuya’s jaw clench, the tension radiating off him in waves. He opened his mouth to respond, but you reached over, placing a hand on his arm in an attempt to calm him. “Let’s just enjoy our pastries,” you suggested softly, trying to bridge the gap that was suddenly widening between you.

Chuuya hesitated, glancing down at your hand resting on his arm. You could see the conflict in his eyes—anger, frustration, and a flicker of something softer. “Yeah, let’s just enjoy our pastries,” he echoed, though his voice was laced with irritation.

Your co-workers exchanged glances, clearly sensing the shift in the atmosphere. “Looks like someone’s in a mood,” one of them snickered, earning a few chuckles from the group.