AkuHigu

"I... I realized it, at last. That I just don't want everything to end without me saying anything! Please listen to me, I... Senpai wait, my feelings- I haven't..."

- Higuchi confessing her feelings for Akutagawa in Chapter 88

AkuHigu is the het ship between Ryunosuke Akutagawa and Ichiyo Higuchi from the Bungou Stray Dogs fandom.

Canon
Higuchi is works as part of Akutagawa's command unit and acts as his assistant and bodyguard. She is extremely loyal to Akutagawa and is always willing to fight alongside him, though this is highly unreciprocated. Higuchi has feelings for Akutagawa, blushing around him and serving him to no end. How their relationship unfolded before the events of the main series is unknown.

Despite being cold and harsh towards Higuchi, Akutagawa shows slight care and worry towards her, like how during 55 Minutes he worriedly called out for Higuchi, and sometimes praising her.

On various occasions, Akutagawa largely expresses his refusal to accept Higuchi's assistance in his endeavors, especially in his constant pursuit of gaining Dazai's acknowledgement, claiming that he does not need her nor anyone else's help. However, Akutagawa's cold nature can be understandable because of his past. Despite of this, it is shown that Akutagawa appreciate and thankful to Higuchi and tries to save her in some moments. For example, he protected her from Atsushi in his tiger form and later on he saves her from Kyouka. Akutagawa tries to not show his feelings to anyone because of his goal to impress Dazai. However, when Higuchi went to save Akutagawa who is comatose, he shows how he is glad to see her and sincerely thanks to her.

In BSD Wan! Higuchi is desperate to please Akutagawa, giving him bathing supplies and buying cartons of yogurt for him. She shows great joy when she gets to hold Akutagawa in her arms as he falls over from sickness, daydreaming of him to the point she doesn't understand Tachihara's basic instructions.

Port Mafia Arc
Akutagawa and Higuchi first shown together in a short moment after ending in episode 2. Higuchi tells Akutagawa that they found where Atsushi is and both of them go for their mission.

After Higuchi tricks the Armed Detective Agency, cornering Naomi, Junichiro, and Atsushi in an alley, she calls Akutagawa, confirming her success and that she's "taking care of them" now. Drawing dual guns, Higuchi intends to kill them. Shooting at them and harming Naomi, Tanizaki grabs her by the throat, lifting her and declaring he'll kill her. But then, Akutagawa shows up, impaling Junichiro and saves Higuchi from him. Higuchi immediately tells him that everything is alright and she could do it by herself. He slaps her across the face, telling her that they were ordered to take the weretiger alive, not gun everyone down. Even though strict orders of bringing Atsushi in alive, Akutagawa saves Higuchi after she gets cornered by Atsushi in his tiger form but later he understands that the tiger was illusion by Jun'ichiro. As Akutagawa continues to fight Atsushi, Dazai eventually stops it, and Higuchi threatens Dazai, before Akutagawa tells her that they can't win and to let it go.

In episode 4, skeptical, Higuchi orders a summons for Black Lizard to attack The Agency. Hanging up, Higuchi scowls in deep-seated anger, recalling how Akutagawa backed down in Dazai's presence, which enrages her, and she won't stand for it.

Later on, Higuchi does not take action for the rest of Atsushi's bounty until after Akutagawa's brutal defeat. Using a motorboat, she discovers Akutagawa's unconscious, gravely injured body floating in the ocean. She's quick to rescue him and get him the medical attention he needs.

Higuchi is talking to Mori when he says that there are probably going to be people who want revenge on Akutagawa for all of the sunken cargo and money lost on the ship, which instantly fills Higuchi with dread. Mori sums up Akutagawa's dire state and calmly points out he may remain comatose for good, much to Higuchi's dismay. Higuchi points out Akutagawa's remarkable capabilities and contributions, Mori doesn't deny his efforts. However, he questions Higuchi's place in Port Mafia, shutting down her argument. Even though Higuchi herself notes, is rather unfit in the Port Mafia, the reason she didn't left is Akutagawa. Soon after, Higuchi is informed Akutagawa's been captured, as Mori anticipated. Against Mori's orders, Higuchi makes a move, but Hirotsu and Tachihara try to stop her. Tachihara points out "Karma Transit" hired mercenaries, of which Higuchi can do nothing against alone, and she should just wait for Mori to give the order to save Akutagawa. Higuchi yanks away, shooting him a harsh look, stating that that order will never come and goes to save him alone.

Higuchi understands that if the Port Mafia involves themselves, it'll spread into an all-out turf war with other groups, so the higher-ups want it to stay under wraps as a "squabble" between individual agents, calling Akutagawa a "sacrifice" in their eyes. Higuchi's aware she can't do anything on her own, but she can't just stand around and do nothing. She runs off, remembering how flustered she gets for missions, knowing she isn't fit for the Port Mafia. She admits contemplating trying to leave, even if it isn't easy, but the only thing that stopped her was her devotion towards Akutagawa. She charges into the enemies base, gunning them down as much as she can before she's shot in the leg and her shoulder. She knows she can't fight like this, but persists for Akutagawa's sake. Just as she's about to be killed, Black Lizard bursts through, providing assistance. At Higuchi's disbelief, Hirotsu reasons that as their commanding officer, Black Lizard cannot stand by when she's in trouble, mirroring Higuchi's resolve to save Akutagawa.

She is backed up by the Black Lizard, and she immediately runs to where Akutagawa is. As she stands over his bed he wakes up and seeing her, calls her name. Higuchi notices that there's blood in his face and reaches for her handkerchief, trying to wipe Akutagawa's face, but he grabs her hand, apologizing for the trouble and sincerely thanks her. With tears in her eyes, Higuchi assures him she's just doing her job.

The Guild Aftermath Arc
Following the three-way conflict, while driving down at night, Higuchi starts blushing when she notices Akutagawa in his civilian clothing along the streets. She begins to fantasize about driving him home and also begins to dream about how he invites her to tea. However, her fantasies are interrupted when she sees a woman leaving with him. She falls silent and her facial expression drops, and at home she lies in bed, depressed. The next day, Higuchi tries to look for the woman out of jealousy. Presumedly attempting to justify her behavior, Higuchi tells herself that the woman could be enemy assassin, or a government spy sent to harm Akutagawa. She is later found by Kunikida and Atsushi, who think she is spying on them amidst the ongoing ceasefire between the Agency and the Port Mafia. To their surprise, Higuchi puts aside her pride and bows to beg them to tell her everything about the woman on the photo for "Akutagawa's safety". However, it turns out that they do not know anything about her and are looking for this woman in order to give her a love letter.

Higuchi supports the two in finding the woman, thinking that Atsushi will give her a love letter; Higuchi jumps excitedly thinking once Atsushi hands the love-letter to the young woman, Akutagawa will break up with the woman and open for a new relationship. But later on she realizes that the love letter is not letter from Atsushi, and she realizes it is very unlikely that this plan would work.

Later, when Higuchi sees the woman she spots her carrying Akutagawa's clothes out of the dry cleaners'. Blushing and shocked, Higuchi gets angry over why the woman is carrying Akutagawa's clothes, so she takes out her gun and declares she can't rely on a "silly love-letter" and that she has to "punish this evil-doer" herself.

Reaching a dead-end alley, Higuchi prepares the gun but then recognizes the woman to be Gin.

Afterwards Higuchi, Kunikida, and Atsushi learn that Gin is Akutagawa's younger sister, to which Higuchi sobs out of relief, piquing Atsushi's curiosity to why she's so happy. Later, Higuchi asks Gin to call her "older sister" as her superior.

Cannibalism Arc
After Fyodor Dostoevsky stabs Mori, infecting him with Alexander Pushkin's virus, Higuchi is the first to rush in and aid Mori. Naturally, she participates in the Port Mafia and Agency's feud. While patrolling their headquarters, she is ambushed by Kyouka's Demon Snow, dragged into another room. Kyouka threatens her for the security code of Mori's safe room. However, just before Kyouka can do anything, Akutagawa intervenes, cutting a hole in the floor and separating the two. He instructs Higuchi to alert the others of the Agency's raid.

Kamui Revelation Arc
In chapter 88 of the manga, when Higuchi encountered an alive Akutagawa two days after his assumed "death" by Fukichi's hands, she embraced him from behind in tears. She said that she was planning for his funeral until she saw him and wanted to tell him something important. When Akutagawa revealed his undead form, she was in great shock and said "My feelings, I haven't-" which indicates that she was planning to confess her feelings to him before she was turned.

Side Content/Spin-Offs
BSD Wan!=

An Unfruitful Exchange
In episode 1, Akutagawa comes back from a mission, and Higuchi asks him if he wants tea. Akutagawa refuses, but Higuchi doesn't listen to his words and says that she will prepare him some tea. When Chuuya enters the room, Tachihara tells Higuchi to prepare a cup of tea for Chuuya as well, but she doesn't get what he's saying because he's whispering; it's implied that she was daydreaming and lovestruck to the point she couldn't understand Tachihara. Higuchi brings some jelly for Akutagawa instead. She's very pleased by her work, while Akutagawa doesn't know if he should drink the tea or offer it to Chuuya, but in the end decides to go with the second option, leaving Higuchi shocked. Later, Chuuya gets a call for a meeting at the headquarters with Akutagawa. Higuchi says she definitely go with them and leaves like they do.
 * -|Official BSD Anthology =

Anthology 2 - Hana -
In chapter "Higuchi Ichiyou's Off Duty Top Secret Mission", Higuchi decides to look after Akutagawa even on her day off. Her younger sister notices that she's going somewhere and asks her about it. Higuchi seriously answers: "Even when it's a day off from work, there's no days off from my most important duty of watching over Akutagawa-senpai!!"

- Higuchi to her sister

Her sister asks her that does she realize that it's called "stalking". Higuchi denies it and says she's just worried about Akutagawa. However, her sister doesn't believe it and decides to help her to not let Akutagawa realize that she's stalking at him. Her sister suggests Higuchi to change her look so no one will recognise her. Higuchi becomes very shocked of it.

While her sister is working on her hair, she suggests Higuchi to wear a dress in a style of his type and she asks what is Akutagawa's type. Higuchi starts describing Akutagawa's type and she later realizes it's Dazai. Her sister feels strange about it and says that it's little bit different from his type.

When Higuchi is almost ready, her sister gives her high heel shoes. However, Higuchi realizes that she can't walk with them but no matter of that agrees to go with them. She finds Akutagawa and sees that he is with Gin. After Gin goes away, she passes by Higuchi and didn't even notice her. Seeing this reaction, Higuchi thinks that Akutagawa also won't notice her and wants to get little bit closer to him but she sees a dog who is running towards Akutagawa. She understands that she must protect him and runs to Akutagawa. However, she can't walk in heels and she accidentally falls on Akutagawa. Higuchi gets that they are too close to each other and starts to blush and worry. Akutagawa immediately recognize her and ask what she is doing. Higuchi is surprised and asks how he recognised her. He replies that who else would it be If not she and tells that she's just dressed up weird today. Afraid that Akutagawa would think this is suspicious and start to distrust her, Higuchi excitedly says that she will never leave his side and Akutagawa asks her to shut up.
 * -|Novels=

Bungo Stray Dogs: 55 Minutes
Akutagawa heads to Standard Island with Higuchi to hunt down four men who stole from one of their bank branches and killed a Mafia accountant. Akutagawa and Higuchi were disguised as tourists.

Right after they arrived in Standard Island, Higuchi talked with Akutagawa about how the island was the best resort in the world, and she said, "It is important for us to make sure we are both physically and mentally sound, so how about a little sightseeing after the mission. Just the two of us.” He refused briefly, though. Hoguchi, clearly wanting to spend time with him, tried to convince Akutagawa to go to the masquerade ball at night at the plaza, but failed again

Finally, she said, ""Sir, we need to have a base before we start our mission. As it happens, I already booked us a room at a top luxury hotel under a fake name. It’s only one room, though. How about taking a short rest there before heading out?”"

- Higuchi to Akutagawa

Supposedly wanting to sleep in the same room with Akutagawa, but the latter seeming oblivious to her advances, refused once again. It made Higuchi gaze at the vast blue sky with a look of revelation.

After the mission, Higuchi answered Akutagawa's question about how she neutralized the guards. Akutagawa then softly chuckled and praised her "Good work." It made her look at the guards on the floor, then hop into the air "Yay! He complimented me!"

Later when the Shell is activated, Higuchi is supposedly killed by the heat waves and Akutagawa worriedly and angrily calls out for her in the forest before he's scorched too.

Fanon
AkuHigu is one of the most popular hetero ships but it isn't as popular as some other BSD ships and is very overshadowed by its rival ships such as Shin Soukoku or ChuuAku. However, it is still often noted by the fandom as one of the few ships that could eventually be canon, because of Higuchi's feelings for Akutagawa.

Some fans dislike this ship as they view it toxic with Higuchi always serving Akutagawa loyally despite receiving unreciprocated feelings.

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Trivia

 * Even though Akutagawa berates Higuchi when finds out that she gunned down an entire alley which placed their bounty target at risk, Akutagawa instinctively saves Higuchi after she gets cornered, forcing him to ostensibly kill Atsushi despite strict orders of bringing him in alive.
 * Higuchi said to Atsushi: “Women like to be approached forcefully.” and she acts the same with Akutagawa.
 * In the Beast novel, Higuchi doesn't exist. Though in the manga version, the author drew Higuchi for a short moment with Akutagawa (How she and Akutagawa met each other for the first time in one of chapters).