@okabekudo Jodie and Akai did date. In one of her canon flashbacks (the anime fillers never count) Akai broke up with Jodie inside a car and said he wasn't able to love two women at the same time, meaning he was dating Jodie before getting to know Akemi and falling in love with her during a goddamn BO infiltration mission. Akai has always loved Akemi, and what he's currently doing means to protect Akemi's sister. There's no romantic chemistry between Akai and Ai either; it's fittingly dry and full of past regrets. Both of them are still mourning for Akemi and neither wants to replace nor forgets her.
It's funny that you find Jodie ugly but Kogoro and the anime are actually up there IMO.