#sachiko's positivity can actually be extremely toxic so learning how to meet goro in the middle is super important for her growth too

[akechi-stole-my-heart]

despite being friends with goro when they were younger, sachiko actually does not handle people being mean to her or disliking her well at all. the first time she tried to befriend goro he blew her off and she retreated immediately and didn't try again until years later. when she approached him the second time he nearly blew her off again, and she probably would have left him alone if he didn't agree to work together for the sake of their survival.

their friendship only worked because they both kept a certain amount of emotional distance that was mutual since both of them hate vulnerability. still, sachiko was by far the more enthusiastic and friendly of the two, bringing out goro's softer side. there was still a certain amount of rockiness in their relationship though, because neither of them were in a good place and they both dealt with that in opposite directions. (goro by stewing in it on his lonesome, sachiko by ignoring it and being social.) goro could never bring himself to be too harsh because of how friendly she was to him, and he knew that being mean would result in the end of their allyship. in the end he became mostly neutral, not overly kind or harsh in either direction, working with her in a manner that he justified as purely strategic, not personal.

if you asked them, they'd both tell you the relationship was surface level, and they weren't friends, just allies. until, of course, the Incident happened and they both realized they'd started to think of each other as their surrogate sibling. but of course by then it was too late.