Character Relationships
[ Character Relationships ]
Brother
Best-Friend
Other Half
Shinjiro Aragaki
To Akihiko, Shinjiro is and always will be his other half, his brother, his only really, honest to God family. He'd do anything for Shinjiro, and that comes off in the way he conducts all his conversations with him. He's started to realize, recently, that Shinjiro might have actually meant to leave them that night with Ken, and that hurts him more than he'll ever admit.
In Akihiko's eyes, Shinjiro has always been the strong one, the one to pull them through and to stand at his side through everything. He's started to realize he has to learn to stand on his own two feet, to realize that Shinjiro won't always be there at his side, even if he will always be there in spirit, and that crushes him, because at least back home, that leaves him with no one. Miki was taken from him, and there's nothing he can do to change that. Shinjiro was taken from him too, and he can't change that either. Akihiko is starting to realize he has to live for Akihiko, but that doesn't mean he can't live for Shinji, too.
Just as Shinjiro with Aki, Aki holds Shinji is the highest of regard. He's always the reasonable one, though his motives are uncouth at times, always the strongest, and always the one able to do what needs to be done. The most inspirational thing for him, though, is the fact that he turned and stopped running. He faced Takaya head on and wasn't afraid, and Akihiko will never forget that. To Akihiko, he'll never be as amazing as Shinjiro, but that's okay. Because it's Shinji, and they're a team. Forever.
Girlfriend
Partner
Empress
Mitsuru Kirijo
How he felt and feels about Mitsuru has always been complicated. Ever since he met her, she’s been a focus on his life. First, it was because she was someone to protect, someone to fight beside, someone who gave him a reason to be more than just a boxer, someone who gave him a worthy enemy, someone who made him realize he did have the power to protect people, even from things they didn’t know were there.
He’s come to realize, though, she’s grown to mean much more than that to him. She’s become the focal point of his entire existence, and that was only strengthened by Shinjiro’s leaving. She is and always was his best friend, never faltering, always pushing him to be better, to be stronger, to be more than simply what he was. Her grace and intelligence and calm, almost gentle (at times) demeanor inspire him, and fill him with joy.
Even before he has the descriptor of ‘love’ to explain why he felt to unerringly protective of her, he would do anything for her, and has no concern for his well-being if it means protecting Mitsuru. He wants to be everything he feels she deserves, and there’s a part of him that realizes he’ll never live up to his own standards. He feels honored she’d even give him the time she does, and cherishes every moment he has with her.
He’s still deeply disappointed with what she gave up to save him from his own mistake, but he’ll never hold it against her, and he’s doing his best to live up to what that means.