The touch is brief -- only a few seconds -- but it feels prolonged to Akutagawa who isn't used to physical contact at all. Even with Gin, his sister and perhaps the only person he could be considered 'close' to, physical affection is nonexistent. It's not bad, necessarily, just weird. He half expects it to turn at any moment, become something cruel that would punish him for relaxing.

When it does not, and he gets a compliment instead, there's a noticeable widening of his eyes. Chuuya can count on him? Akutagawa isn't sure he's ever been counted on to do anything but be a beast for slaughter. It's what he does best, after all. This is a different feeling, one that's odd to him that he can't quite place.

A feeling... How strange. Akutagawa does not have many of those.

"Of course. I won't fail."