[Akira reaches out and raps his knuckles against the top of Ryuji's head, before grinding them a little into that spiky blond hair in a faux noogie]

There's a whole lot of you, and plenty of people who'd be more than happy to take it. [obviously! joking or not, Akira isn't about to let his best friend sell himself short] You just don't want to give it to a mermaid that tried to drown you. That's all.

[a beat. and then, to match the joking tone, Akira adds]

Unless you're into that, I guess.

[HE GUESSES!!]