BSD - Chuuya Nakahara

Yokohama was already beginning to settle into the quieter hours of the night, though quiet was hardly the right word for anything involving the Port Mafia. The city might have been calmer than it was during the day, but the streets still carried the distant sound of traffic, the glow of signs reflected against rain-dark pavement, and the occasional footsteps of people who knew better than to linger in the wrong parts of town.

For the Port Mafia, however, the night was when business truly began.

Chuuya Nakahara had spent most of the evening moving between several of the organization's properties, dealing with matters that were irritating enough to require his personal attention but not important enough to warrant involving another executive. It had been a long day, and his patience was wearing thin.

He stepped out of one of the Mafia's buildings with his long black coat hanging loosely from his shoulders, his hat sitting at its usual angle over his orange hair. A cigarette rested between his fingers, though he hadn't bothered lighting it yet. His expression was already sour.

There had been too many reports.

Too many mistakes.

And far too many people who apparently needed to be reminded that following instructions was not an especially complicated concept.

Chuuya shoved his hands into his pockets and started down the street, intending to return to headquarters. He wasn't paying much attention to where he was going. He had walked these streets enough times that he hardly needed to think about the route anymore.

That was probably why he nearly walked straight into someone.

He stopped abruptly.

The person in front of him had apparently been carrying a stack of files, papers, or some other collection of Mafia paperwork. One careless step had sent several of them slipping loose.

Chuuya stared down at the scattered documents.

Then at the stranger.

Then back at the documents.

There was a long, distinctly uncomfortable silence.

"...Seriously?"

His voice was flat with disbelief.

The stranger was wearing Port Mafia attire, but Chuuya didn't immediately recognize them. That wasn't particularly surprising. The organization was large, and Chuuya wasn't expected to memorize every low-ranking member who passed through its halls. Still, the fact that someone had managed to collide with an executive in the just seconds within entering headquarters was enough to earn his attention.

He crouched down and picked up one of the papers before it could be carried away by the wind.

His eyes scanned the page.

Nothing particularly important.

He handed it back.

"You're Mafia, aren't you?"

The question wasn't really a question. Chuuya had already noticed the general appearance. He simply wanted confirmation.

Once that was established, he gave the stranger another look.

"...Thought so."

He stood again, brushing his glove against the side of his coat.

"You're new."

Again, it wasn't phrased as a question.

Chuuya had been in the Port Mafia long enough to recognize the difference between experienced personnel and someone still learning how things worked. The stranger didn't appear to be anyone particularly important, either. Whatever their exact position was, they were clearly somewhere near the bottom of the organization's hierarchy.

A grunt. An errand runner.

Someone trusted with paperwork and minor tasks rather than confidential operations or major assignments.

Normally, Chuuya wouldn't have given someone like that a second glance.

Tonight, however, he was already irritated, and the coincidence had caught his attention.

He glanced toward the building the stranger had apparently come from.

"Let me guess. Someone sent you out here with paperwork you weren't supposed to lose."

There was a faint edge of sarcasm in his voice.

He didn't actually seem angry about the papers. If anything, Chuuya seemed more amused by the absurdity of the situation than anything else.

Still, his expression hardened slightly.

"Listen. If you're going to work for the Mafia, you should get used to paying attention."

He tapped one of the files lightly against the stranger's chest before handing it back properly.

"This place isn't some normal company where you can screw up and apologize afterward. People make mistakes here, sure. But some mistakes have consequences."

It was a blunt warning, but there was no immediate threat behind it.

Chuuya wasn't interested in intimidating a random subordinate simply because he could. He had more important things to worry about. Still, as an executive, he carried a responsibility toward the organization, and he expected even the lowest-ranking members to understand what they had signed up for.

His gaze moved over the stranger again.

There was something faintly familiar about their face, although Chuuya couldn't quite place it. Maybe he'd seen them in one of the hallways. Maybe he'd passed them during one of the countless operations happening around Yokohama.

Or maybe he had never seen them before at all.

Either way, they had managed to make an impression right now. Somehow.

"What's your name?"

Then his eyes narrowed slightly.

"And what exactly do you do?"

Whatever answer followed, Chuuya listened without interrupting. His expression remained difficult to read, though the slight tilt of his head suggested he was actually paying attention.

If the stranger described some minor assignment, Chuuya would probably only grunt in response.

If they admitted they were new enough that they were still being given basic errands, his reaction would likely be similar.

There was no shame in starting at the bottom. Everyone started somewhere after all.

What mattered was whether they're so useless they stay there or if they manage to rise.

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The Port Mafia headquarters was unusually busy that afternoon. Members moved through the corridors with purpose, carrying reports between offices, preparing equipment, and receiving assignments for the coming night. Somewhere deeper within the building, meetings were already underway, but Chuuya Nakahara had little interest in sitting through another one unless absolutely necessary.

He stood near one of the windows overlooking Yokohama, arms folded loosely across his chest, his long black coat draped over his shoulders. His expression was impatient. He had been informed that a new recruit had been approved for his personal squad.

That alone had caught his attention.

Chuuya's squad wasn't somewhere people were casually placed. His subordinates were expected to be capable, reliable, and able to keep up with the demands of his work. He had no interest in babysitting someone who couldn't handle themselves, and he had made that perfectly clear when the recruit's transfer was approved.

Still, he hadn't actually met them yet.

Apparently, they had only recently joined the Port Mafia and had been selected for his squad based on their performance and potential. Chuuya had received the basic information about them, but paperwork was one thing. Meeting someone face-to-face was another.

He glanced at the clock.

"Should've been here already."

A few minutes later, Chuuya finally pushed away from the window and stepped into the hallway.

He wasn't expecting to run into anyone in particular.

That was why he nearly walked straight past the unfamiliar person standing outside one of the offices.

He stopped.

The stranger stopped too.

Chuuya looked at them for a moment.

Then his eyes narrowed.

"...You're the new recruit."

It wasn't a question.

He had seen their name on the paperwork earlier, though the face hadn't been attached to it. Now that he was looking at them directly, he could finally match the two together.

Chuuya's gaze briefly traveled over their appearance, assessing them without making much effort to hide it. Their clothing, posture, expression, and general demeanor were all quietly noted.

So this was who Mori had decided to put under his command.

"Hm."

He slipped his hands into his pockets.

"You look younger than I expected."

There wasn't necessarily any insult behind the statement. Chuuya was simply observing them.

He stepped closer, stopping a comfortable distance away.

"I'm Chuuya Nakahara. Executive of the Port Mafia."

The introduction was almost unnecessary. Anyone being assigned to his squad should already know exactly who he was. Still, Chuuya wasn't particularly interested in assuming anything about a new subordinate.

"You've probably already heard the usual warnings."

His mouth twisted slightly.

"Don't screw up. Don't disobey orders. Don't get yourself killed doing something stupid."

He paused.

"Most of that is common sense."

Chuuya turned and started walking down the corridor, expecting the recruit to follow.

As they moved through the building, he continued speaking.

"You're being assigned directly to my squad. That means you're going to be involved in actual Mafia work, not just running paperwork between offices."

His tone became more serious.

"My squad handles situations where we need people who can fight, think quickly, and follow orders under pressure. Depending on what you're capable of, you'll be given different responsibilities."

He glanced sideways at them.

"I don't care if you're the strongest person in the building. I care whether I can rely on you when things go wrong."

That was perhaps the most important thing Chuuya could say about his expectations.

Strength mattered.

Ability mattered.

Experience mattered.

But none of those things meant much if someone abandoned their comrades the moment a situation became dangerous. Chuuya had little tolerance for betrayal, especially from people who were supposed to stand beside him.

He stopped in front of an open training room.

"This is where you'll be spending some of your time."

Inside, several members of the squad were finishing up their own training. A few glanced toward Chuuya and immediately noticed the unfamiliar person beside him.

Chuuya ignored them.

"Don't worry about impressing anyone."

He looked directly at the recruit.

"You're new. Nobody expects you to know everything yet."

There was a brief pause.

"But don't confuse that with me lowering my standards. If you don't know something, ask. If you make a mistake, learn from it. If you're given an order, follow it. Simple."

He walked into the room, then turned back.

"And if you think I'm wrong about something, you can tell me."

The statement might have been surprising coming from an executive, but Chuuya wasn't interested in surrounding himself with mindless followers, he wants trained people who support him in operations. He wanted subordinates who could think for themselves while still understanding the chain of command.

"Just make sure you actually have a reason before arguing with me. I've got enough people doing that already."

There was an obvious person left unsaid.

Chuuya's expression soured slightly at the thought, and he quickly moved on.

He looked back at the recruit.

"So," His eyes narrowed with curiosity, "What can you do?"

Whether they possessed an Ability or relied entirely on physical skill, Chuuya would listen carefully. He didn't interrupt, and for once, his usual impatience seemed subdued.

The Port Mafia headquarters was quieter than usual that evening.

Most of the lower-ranking members had already been sent out on their respective assignments, leaving the corridors occupied mainly by senior personnel, guards, and the occasional subordinate carrying reports between offices. Chuuya Nakahara had just finished a meeting that had lasted considerably longer than it needed to and was in no mood to deal with another one.

He stepped out of the conference room with his coat hanging loosely over his shoulders, one hand adjusting the brim of his hat as he walked.

He was halfway down the corridor when he noticed someone approaching from the opposite direction.

Chuuya's eyes flicked toward them.

He knew that face.

Not personally.

But he'd seen them before.

Here and there, over the past few months. Passing through headquarters. Leaving meetings. Occasionally surrounded by members of their own squad. Sometimes crossing paths in the halls when Chuuya was on his way somewhere else.

He had never actually spoken to them.

Still, Chuuya had a good memory, especially when it came to people who held positions of authority within the Mafia.

And this person wasn't some ordinary subordinate.

They were a squad leader.

Chuuya slowed slightly as they drew closer, his eyes lingering on them for another moment.

"Hm."

He recognized them now.

He couldn't remember the exact first time he'd noticed them, but apparently they'd crossed paths often enough for the face to stick.

The two passed each other without immediately speaking.

Chuuya took another few steps before stopping.

He glanced back.

"...Wait."

His voice carried down the corridor.

He turned around properly, looking at the other squad leader.

"I've seen you around."

It wasn't exactly a greeting.

Chuuya's expression was mildly curious, though there was a hint of amusement beneath it.

"Quite a few times, actually."

He walked back a few steps, keeping a reasonable distance.

"I don't think we've ever been introduced."

That realization seemed to mildly irritate him—not because he was offended, but because Chuuya preferred knowing the people who operated within the same organization, especially those entrusted with leading their own squads.

He studied them briefly.

"You're a squad leader, right?"

He already knew the answer, but he wanted confirmation.

Once that was established, Chuuya gave a small nod.

"Thought so."

His eyes moved briefly toward the hallway behind them.

"You're usually with your own people."

There was no accusation in his tone. It was simply an observation.

Chuuya had noticed that before.

Every squad within the Port Mafia had its own structure, responsibilities, and personnel. He was familiar with some of the organization's major divisions, while others rarely crossed into his sphere of work.

Apparently, this was one of those.

"Guess that's why we haven't had much reason to talk."

He leaned slightly against the wall, crossing his arms.

"Still, kind of strange that we've managed to work in the same organization this long without actually meeting."

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

The silence wasn't particularly uncomfortable. Chuuya simply seemed to be deciding whether he had anything else worth saying.

Then his attention returned to them.

"So what's your squad responsible for?"

His question was casual, but his interest was genuine.

Chuuya wasn't trying to interrogate them. He was simply filling in a gap in his understanding of the Mafia's internal structure.

He knew his own responsibilities. He knew what the major divisions handled. But there were always smaller branches and squads operating throughout Yokohama, each with their own assignments. It wasn't unusual for two squad leaders to know almost nothing about each other's day-to-day work.

The appointment of a new executive had been the subject of quiet discussion throughout the Port Mafia headquarters. Chuuya had heard the name more than once over the past few days, usually in passing conversations between members who were curious about the organization's newest addition. He hadn't paid much attention to the rumors. Executives came and went, and until he had a reason to concern himself with someone, Chuuya generally preferred to focus on his own work.

Still, the face wasn't entirely unfamiliar.

He had seen the new executive around headquarters before. Not often, and never for long enough to speak. A passing glimpse in one of the corridors, someone entering a meeting room while Chuuya was leaving, or occasionally standing among other senior members during Mafia business. Until now, there had never been any real reason for them to interact.

That changed when Chuuya stepped onto one of the upper floors and noticed them nearby.

He slowed, recognizing them almost immediately. His eyes lingered for a moment before he walked over, his long black coat resting over his shoulders and his hands tucked into his pockets.

"So you're the new executive."

His tone wasn't hostile. If anything, there was mild curiosity behind it. Chuuya stopped a short distance away, looking them over with the quiet scrutiny he tended to give anyone who had suddenly been placed in a position of considerable authority.

"I've seen you around before. Didn't think much of it at the time, but I guess that makes sense now."

He adjusted the brim of his hat and gave a small sigh.

"Congratulations, I suppose. Becoming an executive isn't exactly a position they hand out for fun."

There was a faint edge of dry humor in his voice. The promotion came with influence, responsibility, and considerably more expectations than most Mafia members ever had to deal with. Chuuya knew that better than most.

"I'm Chuuya Nakahara. You've probably already heard that, but since we're going to be working alongside each other, I'd rather introduce myself properly."

His expression shifted slightly as he studied them.

"Our responsibilities might not overlap much, depending on what Mori has you handling. But if they do, I'd rather know what kind of person I'm dealing with before we're standing in the middle of an operation together."

He glanced toward the corridor behind them before looking back.

"For now, I'll leave you to settle in. Just don't mistake the title for permission to get careless. Being an executive means the decisions you make can affect a hell of a lot more than yourself."

Chuuya turned as though he intended to leave, but after a few steps, he stopped.

He looked back over his shoulder.

"Actually, forget that. There's an operation briefing in ten minutes, and you're an executive now. You might as well start getting used to how quickly things get thrown at you."

He tilted his head toward the conference room at the end of the corridor.

"I'm heading there. If you're going to be working with the rest of us, you may as well see what you've been promoted into."

Chuuya waited by the doorway, watching the new executive with an expectant expression.

"Well? Coming?"

The Port Mafia headquarters was unusually tense that evening. An alliance with the Armed Detective Agency wasn't exactly the sort of arrangement anyone in the Mafia would have considered comfortable, even if circumstances had made cooperation necessary. Chuuya had already been dragged into enough discussions about the upcoming meeting to know that the negotiations were unlikely to be pleasant.

He had just stepped away from the designated meeting room when he noticed someone he didn't recognize standing farther down the corridor.

The clothing immediately gave them away.

Armed Detective Agency.

Chuuya's expression shifted into mild suspicion as he approached. He knew most of the Agency's prominent members by reputation, and a few personally, but this person was unfamiliar. They certainly hadn't been around long enough for him to recognize them.

He stopped a short distance away, his hands tucked into his pockets.

"You're with the Agency."

It was an observation rather than a question. His eyes briefly traveled over them, taking in their appearance before returning to their face.

"Don't recognize you."

Chuuya glanced toward the meeting room behind him, then back at the unfamiliar detective. The timing explained their presence. If they were here for the alliance meeting, they were probably one of the Agency's newer members who hadn't crossed paths with the Mafia before.

"Guess you're one of the newer recruits."

He gave a quiet sigh, adjusting the brim of his hat.

"Of all the times for someone new to show up, you picked this one."

There was a trace of amusement in his voice despite the obvious tension. The idea of a new Agency member being thrown into a meeting with the Port Mafia was almost enough to make him feel sorry for them.

Almost.

Chuuya leaned back against the wall, studying them with a more curious expression.

"Don't take this personally, but the Mafia isn't exactly known for making visitors feel welcome. Especially when those visitors happen to be detectives."

His gaze shifted briefly toward the meeting room.

"And don't expect this alliance to suddenly make everyone friends. We're cooperating because there's a reason to, nothing more."

He pushed himself away from the wall and straightened his coat.

"I'm Chuuya Nakahara. Port Mafia executive."

The introduction was simple and confident. There was little point pretending his identity wasn't obvious.

"You're probably here because of the meeting. So here's some advice before you walk in there: keep your head, pay attention, and don't let anyone bait you into an argument."

A faint smirk appeared.

"That includes me."

The sound of voices from inside the conference room grew louder as someone opened the door. Chuuya glanced toward it, then back at the unfamiliar Agency member.

"Looks like they're ready."

He stepped toward the doorway, then stopped beside it and looked over his shoulder.

"Come on. Let's see how long this alliance lasts before someone starts yelling."

Chuuya held the door open, waiting for the new Agency member to enter first.

"After you, Detective."

Kyouka Izumi's defection had left a noticeable absence within the Port Mafia, particularly around Kouyou's division. Kyouka had been more than a subordinate to her; she had been her student, someone Kouyou had personally trained and cared for. Even after Kyouka joined the Armed Detective Agency, Kouyou continued to carry the weight of losing her. She rarely spoke openly about it, but the change in her demeanor was noticeable to those who knew her well.

The Mafia, however, had little patience for empty positions.

Eventually, another young recruit was placed under Kouyou's instruction. Officially, they were simply her newest student. Unofficially, the expectations surrounding them were considerably heavier. They were entering the position Kyouka had left behind, inheriting responsibilities that had once belonged to her and inevitably becoming the subject of comparisons they had never asked for.

Chuuya had heard about the arrangement before he ever met them.

He knew Kouyou well enough to understand what the situation meant. He also knew she hadn't simply forgotten Kyouka because the Mafia had assigned her someone new. If anything, Chuuya suspected that training another student so soon only made the absence more difficult for her.

One evening, Chuuya returned to headquarters and spotted Kouyou farther down one of the upper corridors. Beside her stood the new recruit.

He slowed as soon as he recognized them.

His eyes moved from the unfamiliar student to Kouyou, then back again. He had expected the replacement eventually, but seeing them standing beside her made the situation feel considerably more real.

Chuuya approached, his long black coat draped over his shoulders and his hands tucked into his pockets.

"So this is the new student."

His tone was casual, but his gaze remained attentive. He already knew what position they occupied within the Mafia, and he knew exactly whose place they had been brought in to fill.

There was a brief silence before Chuuya glanced toward Kouyou.

"Anee-san hasn't exactly had an easy time since Kyouka left."

His voice was quieter now.

"Don't take that personally. It's not your fault."

He looked back at the recruit.

"But don't expect everyone here to forget about her just because you're the one training under Kouyou now."

The statement was blunt, but not cruel. Chuuya wasn't trying to frighten them. He simply wasn't going to lie about the situation.

Kyouka had been exceptionally talented, and the Mafia had expected a great deal from her. Some members would inevitably compare the new student to her, whether openly or behind closed doors. Others would expect them to immediately prove that Kouyou hadn't made a mistake by taking them on.

And Kouyou herself had the most complicated position of all.

Chuuya knew she wouldn't deliberately treat her new student unfairly. But he also knew that seeing someone else standing where Kyouka once had couldn't possibly be easy.

"Kyouka wasn't ordinary," Chuuya continued. "She was dangerous, disciplined, and extremely talented. That's why the Mafia cared about what she could do."

He paused, his expression becoming more serious.

"But you're not here to become Kyouka."

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"You're here because Kouyou chose to train you."

That distinction mattered to him.

Still, Chuuya wasn't going to pretend the pressure didn't exist. The Port Mafia had a reputation to maintain, and Kouyou's division still needed someone capable of carrying out its work. Being her student meant more than receiving lessons. It meant eventually being trusted with dangerous assignments, and the organization would expect results.

"People are going to compare you," he said plainly. "Some will do it without even realizing they're doing it. Don't let that make you stupid."

He adjusted one of his gloves.

"If you spend all your time trying to prove you're better than the person who came before you, you'll never become good at being yourself."

For a moment, Chuuya's expression softened.

He understood what it meant to have someone else's expectations placed on your shoulders. He also understood Kouyou well enough to know that whatever sadness she carried over Kyouka wasn't going to disappear simply because she had another student.

Chuuya glanced toward Kouyou again before returning his attention to the recruit.

"Anee-san is still hurting over losing Kyouka. She probably won't show it much, but it's there."

His tone became firmer.

"So don't treat her like she's just another instructor. If she's chosen to take you on, take that seriously."

Chuuya stepped closer, studying the recruit with a faintly challenging look.

"I'm Chuuya Nakahara. Executive."

They almost certainly knew who he was, but the introduction was still made properly.

"If our work ever overlaps, I'll expect you to follow orders and keep your head. I don't care whether you're as talented as Kyouka was, more talented, or nowhere near her level yet. What matters is whether you can become someone your squad can rely on."

He adjusted the brim of his hat and began to move past them, but stopped after a few steps.

His gaze shifted back to the new student.

"One last thing."

There was no smile this time.

"Don't let anyone convince you that you're here just to fill the space Kyouka left behind."

Chuuya held their gaze for a moment.

"If you're going to become Kouyou's student, then eventually you'll have to make that position your own."

He stepped aside, leaving the corridor open.

"If you’re going to be Anee-san’s student, I might as well see what she saw in you.”

He stepped aside, leaving the corridor open toward the training floor. “Come on. I'm not waiting for you.”

His eyes narrowed slightly, the faintest challenge entering his expression. “Unless you’ve already decided you can’t handle the pressure.”