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It all started with that stupid cherry chapstick Nobara gave to Yuji, claiming that having hydrating lips would come in handy one day.
“Trust me Itadori no one likes kissing someone with crusty lips. Just ask Maki-san.” She smirks, holding out the slim tube.
“Heh…no thanks. Sorry, but I doubt I’d be kissing anyone soon.” A rosy tint takes over his cheeks as he tries stepping around her to get back to the stove top. It was a little past noon on their day off and Yuji insisted on making lunch for the three of them. Megumi sat at one of the tables flipping through the pages of the nonfiction book he was currently reading. Without the need of using a bookmarker Megumi easily remembers the page number he left off on but, when he flips to said page he can’t seem to focus on the text as his ears are tuned into Yuji and Nobara’s conversation.
“Just take it and you’ll thank me later.” She shoves it in his palm and closes it around the chapstick.
Because of this very small, very Inconvenient exchange between the two of them, Megumi hasn’t been able to stop staring at Yuji’s mouth and now he’s starting to notice things.
How the chapstick leaves a slightly pinker tint and shine to his lips.
The way Yuji mouths the ingredients and next steps he has to take for his recipe.
How he runs his tongue over his lips then turns to Nobara with wide eyes. “It does taste like cherries!”
Megumi can’t. Stop. Staring.
Maybe it started with the chapstick.
Or maybe it started before that. Unknowingly festering deep within Megumi’s chest.
A seed was planted the day they met at Yuji’s old high school. Slowly over the course of a few months growing its roots and finding a home there awfully close to his heart.
It was all for personal feelings as he, Yuji and unfortunately Gojo knows. It was Megumi himself who asked Gojo to do something to help Yuji. By Jujutsu Law the higher ups would have Yuji executed for not only swallowing a cursed object of the most powerful curse in their history but also seeing the ways of the jujutsu world when he was just a normal kid— if it had just been the latter he may have been able to go back to his old life with a quick wipe of his memories so he would forget that night. Forget the curse and forget Megumi, but now because of him, he is stuck to train and become a powerful sorcerer with a foreseen execution over his head.
Megumi knew it was selfish. He should have made Yuji stay at the hospital while he retrieved the finger himself, but if Yuji hadn’t come Megumi would be dead right now. So he was returning the favor and selfishly saving Yuji from the fate of being executed too soon.
Megumi wishes he could stop the execution all together. Yuji fits in here– and he's crazy strong and brave, which is why he sacrificed himself that night at the detention center for Megumi and Nobara. It had only been around a month since he started at Jujutsu Tech and then one crazy mission went wrong and he was gone. Bleeding out at Megumi’s feet in the rain.
Then after 2 months of Yuji being dead, that seed of longing and if only's didn’t die out. It only began growing again once Yuji showed up the day of the Exchange Event, heart intact and unharmed.
Gojo being the absolute child that he is stood smiling and laughing at his two students' shocked expressions. Did he even take into consideration how this might affect them? How he kept up an act and even helped him during his time of mourning his friend.
Megumi knows that even back then Gojo had gathered that Yuji was special to him, and because of Gojo's constant teasing took notice of things long before Megumi did. Seeing how the kid he practically raised took to the new addition to the jujutsu academy. This was alluring because the thing is Megumi doesn’t get close to people often.
In a way it's like Nobara lives her truth— only having a few chairs available for people in her life and in her heart. Not allowing herself to be swayed by others and putting only those she chooses above all else.
Megumi understands…and although he has a harder time, and has fewer chairs, Yuji's found his and seared his name on the back of it with a hot iron for no one else to take his place. Front and center It belongs to Yuji, and only Yuji.
Deeply embroidered in his heart Itadori Yuji.
So no, it didn’t start with the chapstick. It only opened up his eyes to realizing this is bad. It’s very bad and it’s too late.
Darn Kugisaki and that damn cherry chapstick, because of you Megumi is-
“Oi, Fushiguro “ Nobara kicks the leg of his chair.
Megumi looks up at her standing over him, hands on her hips and an almost knowing look on her face. The smirk on her lips is an indication that she's only over here to provoke him.
Nobara came a few days after Yuji and although they haven’t known each other long she quickly found her place here, and due to their shared mourning over the same friend they have grown closer, so she can already read him like an open book. Megumi scowls.
“You're gonna burn a hole in his back if you keep staring at your boy for too long. “
“He’s not my boy, and don’t talk so loudly.” Megumi says through gritted teeth.
“Come on, I noticed you watching him like you always do by the way. I'm only trying to help you out here. It’s nauseating watching you pine over him like this.” She says, gesturing to Yuji who has his back to them while he works at the stove. The scent of garlic and ginger beginning to float through the air. Thankfully Yuji is humming a song so Megumi doubts he can hear them.
“Then leave.” He says looking back down at his book and starts to read. Hopefully if he doesn’t respond any further she will go away. After a few agonizing seconds it works.
--
Fall was coming to an end and temperatures were dropping lower in the mountains but some of the students' training days were still outdoors. Everyone was working in pairs and even the second years had joined them after their classes.
As soon as Gojo called for everyone to break into twos Nobara had quickly grabbed Megumi by the sleeve of his jacket and pulled him to the side of the field.
Megumi cursed under his breath and pulled his arm out from her grip. For how small she is he sometimes forgets about her level of strength.
“We’re pairing up. Hope you're ready to have your ass kicked, Fushiguro.” She says with confidence.
Megumi scoffs. “And why are you suddenly interested in pairing with me?” He doesn't have a good feeling about this. Something tells him she's not here just to spar with him.
“What, you don’t want to partner up with me? Did I take away your chance to be thrown around by Itadori instead?
“I figured you’d rather want that from Maki yourself?” He says lowly, but she still catches it.
“Could your gross attitude towards me lately be out of jealousy?” She questions him with a raised eyebrow.
“What are you talking about?” He sighs.
“You know, Maki and I have our one month anniversary coming up soon.” She says, twirling her rubber hammer. “She has the day all planned out for us.”
Megumi doesn't say anything. Instead opting for them to continue.
“That could be you and Itadori if you… you know, confess your feelings. Maybe I would even let the two of you join us at some point if I were to talk to Maki.”
“How kind of you.” Megumi tells her uninterested.
“Yeah, It is kind of me.” She yells, pointing her rubber hammer at him. “The two of you need to get out of this weird limbo you have going on. Imagine the double dates we could be going on.”
“You only want that so more people are available to carry your bags.” Megumi is now trying everything to deflect the conversation off of Yuji.
“Oi-” Nobara takes a step towards him.
Megumi hears Panda yell something and he turns in that direction. There several feet away, Panda is paired up with Yuji, who is currently laughing as he bends down and reaches out a hand to help Panda to his feet.
Yuji's still laughing as he struggles to pull Panda up, which it looks like Panda isn’t even attempting to stand and is just sprawled out on the grass.
Nobara sighs. “You’re so obvious it’s disgusting.”
Once he's up and dusting the dirt from his coat, Yuji pats him on the shoulder and is saying something to him. Megumi vaguely hears “Don’t mind, Panda- senpai.”
Then Yuji is looking their way and meets Megumi’s eyes. He watches as Yuji cups a hand over his mouth and yells. “Fushiguroooo!” Then waves his other arm over his head with a grin.
Megumi gives a small wave in response.
“-and you're both so dense “ She continues.
Megumi looks back over at her, a crease settling in between his brows. “We are not going to start dating, Itadori isn't even… into guys. You know this.” Yuji has made it known what his type is. Tall women with a big ass like Jennifer Lawrence. That was his answer when Todo asked him what kind of woman is his type. He heard of this after the Exchange event as Todo wouldn’t stop gloating over Itadori from their first initial meeting. Megumi may be tall but he lacks everything else.
Nobara stares at him. Not quite a look of pity because hints of compassion hint her features. Ultimately he knows she means well, but during times like this his brain sometimes tricks him. The fearful thoughts of mistrust that sometimes cloud his mind is telling him she does pity him and he can’t quite understand why she’s so worked up over this. It makes Megumi even more unsettled, and he’s jaded by the constant state of uneasiness he realizes his mind has been in ever since that day she gave Itadori the chapstick.
“Fushiguro, what if-”
Megumi lets out a sharp breath. “Get it through your head Kug, nothings gonna happen. So stop with these double date fantasies and stop meddling into mine and Itadori’s friendship and just…worry about yourself.” He’s more harsh this time because he’s tired. Tired of the long week. Tired of all the crap she’s been giving him about Yuji, and tired of how his eyes keep finding their way over to the sunshine boy a few feet away from him.
Nobara scowls at him, getting upset at Megumi’s self protecting rudeness. She suddenly swipes her foot underneath him catching him off guard and he falls back on his ass. When he looks up to shoot a spiteful word at her he stops himself. Her face is red with frustration and he realizes how hurtful he is being towards her.
“Whatever, no need to be such an ass towards me when all I care about here is your happiness.” She says before quickly turning around and walking towards the others. Maybe he deserved that, but he’s too embarrassed with himself to call out to her.
--
A few days after his fight with Nobara the two still haven't talked much. Things finally slowed down a bit for them and all the students were left to attend classes and train until a mission popped up, and when one finally did, the second years were sent. Needing to let out some energy, Megumi heads out of the dorms and towards the dojo.
In his time of keeping his distance from Nobara he’s also been staying clear of Yuji. Turning down the others' offerings to hangout.
“Hey Fushiguro, I think I saw a food stand selling korokke on my way back to the school earlier. You wanna go grab some?”
“No thanks, I already ate.” He hadn’t.
“Hey Fushiguro, there's a new show that just came out that I think you might like. Wanna watch it together?”
“Sorry Itadori, I have to write a report for the latest mission. You can watch it without me.”
That’s also a lie, he had already turned in the report to Gojo that morning.
Megumi hates it, but it's the only choice he’s giving himself. He knows he won't be able to look at Yuji either as he says these things.
“Oh, it’s alright. Maybe next time.”
He can practically hear the disappointment in his voice when Yuji says this, but he knows he’s sporting a smile that says ‘Don’t worry about it. I know you're busy.’
When Megumi slides the door closed behind him once he enters the, what he assumed was an empty dojo, his eyes widen at who’s standing in the center of the tatami mats.
"Hey Fushiguro, did you have the same idea too?" Megumi stops short and catches Yuji in the center dressed in a pair of black shorts and a white tank. Tan muscles fully exposed to the fluorescent lighting.
"Yeah I guess so." He drops the towel and water bottle he had brought with him next to the bench. To be honest he wasn’t expecting Yuji to be here.
"Wanna spar? It's been awhile since we were teamed up." Yuji asked with a smile.
Megumi unzips his jacket, pulling it off his shoulders, leaving him in a thin long sleeve, and tossing it on the bench. He bends down, pulling off his shoes before stepping up on the wooden flooring and making his way to the tatami mats.
“Why not, no sense in us practicing alone if we are both here.” Megumi tries to sound unbothered but he feels his heart pick up speed as he thinks about going up against Yuji.
It’s true that they never really team up when they are training anymore. With Yuji’s progression and Todo's unannounced visits to the Tokyo school Yuji has been pairing up mainly with the second years. Having Yuji physically closer than he usually is is causing his ears to burn and his heart beat faster against his ribcage. If he doesn’t slow it down, Yuji is definitely going to notice. He takes a deep breath and gets in position in front of Yuji.
Sparring with each other should be fine. It’s normal. They have sparring practice with the other students. What makes this any different?
Both boys widen their legs going into a fighting stance.
“No shikigami. That would just be cruel, Fushiguro.” Yuji pouts, but his voice lacks any dejection.
Megumi's lips curve up as he brings his fists up. “No shikigami, you know they wouldn't be any help against you.”
They won’t hurt you, they love you. Goes unsaid.
When Megumi gives Yuji the go ahead, he comes at him and makes a swing to his head which Megumi blocks with ease. One block after the other Megumi can tell Yuji is holding back quite a bit and not using a lot of his strength. Megumi has seen the progression Yuji has made in his time being here. He has seen the curses that he is able to take down with ease, so fighting him now shouldn't be this easy.
Megumi manages to get a hit in and with Yuji’s temporary stumble brings his weight down and knocks them to the floor. He has both of Yuji’s hands pinned on either side of his head as he straddles him. He hovers above Yuji casting a shadow over his face. Yuji looks up at him, a silhouette of golden light outlining Megumi’s frame.
Megumi leans down. “You’re holding back. Don’t go so easy on me.”
Yuji glances away from Megumi. “I uh, guess I’m just not that warmed up yet.”
Once they get back into position and are ready to resume, Megumi bolts towards Yuji this time.
Yuji raises his arms ready to block any hit but Megumi slides underneath him.
Yuji leaps up and stumbles a bit on the landing. He spins around arms raised expecting Megumi to be on the other side but he’s not, he’s nowhere actually. Then Yuji feels a pair of hands lightly grip his shoulders. With a small knock to the back of his knee, Yuji falls forward on his hands and knees bracing himself on the floor.
Yuji spins around and faces Megumi who’s standing behind him with a smug look.
“How-how’d you do that?” Yuji gulps, staring at Megumi in shock.
Megumi offers a hand and pulls him to his feet. “Let’s go again.” He says instead of answering and turns to walk back to his starting point.
This time Yuji comes at him first. They move around the room in tendency, delivering and blocking punches and kicks. Each of them successfully blocking each hit. After Megumi delivers a blow hard enough to catch Yuji off guard he’s able to quickly pivot around him, disappearing from Yuji’s view when he turns around. A moment later he’s behind the pink haired boy again and grabs his shoulder. He uses his strength to pull him back causing Yuji to let out a yelp as he falls to the tatami mat on his back.
“Fushiguro, seriously have you gotten faster or are you using some new technique on me?” He asks, sitting up on his elbows.
“Hmm. Why don’t you figure it out.” Megumi shrugs, extending his hand. “Again.”
Before Megumi was being quick with his movements, but this time when he managed to slip under Yuji and into his shadow he stays there.
Yuji looks around the room and calls out for him.
The room was still and silent, there was really no way of hiding. The dojo was a rectangular room with big windows and no walls to hide behind. Only a few floor to ceiling beams that were slim enough to tell if someone was hiding behind one.
Finally starting to understand what’s happening here. Yuji stops.
The shadow sorcerer.
He’s using his shadow to-
Feeling his presence Yuji spins, reaches for Megumi in a haste and pushes him down on the mat. He brings his forearm down over the taller boy's chest adding just enough pressure to hold him there.
“Ha! I finally got you, Fushigu-'' Yuji's eyes widen as he begins to feel Megumi slip from his grasp. Watching in amazement as he sinks into the floor disappearing completely.
Yuji stares at the spot where Megumi disappeared. No evidence of the boy ever even being there.
“F-Fushiguro?”
Seconds later he hears a soft voice next to his left ear. “Hey.” Then there’s a stinging sensation on the top of his ear. Yuji whips his head and is met face to face with Megumi. He's standing behind him, bent at the hip with his hands casually in the pockets of his sweatpants. His face turned towards the pink haired boy with that same smirk he wore earlier.
Yuji’s cheeks heat up.
“Did you just flick my ear?” Yuji asks as he brings his hand up to cover it.
“Sorry.” Megumi drawls out in a sly voice, and stands up straight.
“Wait.” Yuji stands and approaches the taller boy pointing a finger at him. Megumi begins to walk backwards letting out a small laugh. It’s clear in Yuji’s features that the wheels are turning in his head as he tries to grasp what Megumi has been doing in the past hour they have been training.
“Did you figure it out yet?”
“Fushiguro, that's cheating!” He said dramatically.
“No, you said no shikigami, nothing about shadows.” Megumi reminds him.
“Still you were using your shadow to sneak up on me.” Yuji poked his chest. Megumi let out another small laugh, swatting his hand away. “Not my shadow.”
“What do you mean? You-“
Megumi’s blue irises look back at him, piercing Yuji’s with a deep look.
“I was using yours.”
Yuji’s eyes widened at that. His shadow?
That's right.
Everytime Megumi would disappear it was when he was underneath him in some way.
That’s so-
“That’s so cool!” Yuji, completely overtaken by his excitement for his friend’s progression, and forgetting how strong he actually is, grabs onto Megumi. The force of it catches Megumi off guard, causing him to stumble back, and lose his balance falling backwards with Yuji on top of him.
Megumi groans at the impact, but is thankful for the cushioned tatami mats below him. He still hears Yuji rambling, and when he opens his eyes he notices Yuji is hovering above him.
"You're such a badass Fushi! How long have you been able to do that?”
That nickname gets to Fushiguro.
He clears his throat hoping it doesn’t come out as strained as it feels. “A couple weeks now? After figuring out how to stow weapons in my shadow, I thought that maybe I could use them to my own advantage this way. I was able to figure out how to slip into walls, but this was the first time I used someone else's.”
“Damn, what else do you think you could hide? Oh! You think I could hide in your shadow?”
Megumi’s heart comes to a halting stop for a moment, then picks back up twice as fast. He can't do anything to hide the flush of red that warms his cheeks.
Why does that sound so appealing to him?
"Uhh-" Megumi clears his throat. The proximity between them making it hard for him to pull oxygen into his lungs. "Maybe? I've never tried it before."
Yuji becomes excited at this. He releases Megumi’s wrists and sits up, but only to sit right down on his hips.
Fuck, what is he thinking?
Does Yuji even realize it?
To Megumi’s horror, Yuji begins to shift.
"Can we try it? Man, It would be so cool. It would be like an invisible cloak or something! Please Fushiguro?"
Willing himself to forget about the weight of Yuji straddling his fucking hips, he averts his eyes to the side. "I wouldn't be comfortable trying that yet."
Yet?
Yuji doesn’t respond but, tilts his head to the side, eyes still filled with wonder and his attention entirely fixed on Megumi. He can’t help but picture a golden retriever making the same expression.
Megumi continues. "I'm just now figuring out how to do this. I don't know what would happen if I tried hiding someone else in my shadow. It could be dangerous."
"I'm sure someone with curse energy could handle it. I'm strong so just like today I can be your guinea pig when you want to try." Yuji points a thumb to his chest with a ‘count on me’ attitude.
Megumi looks back up at Yuji. His eyes meeting his. "No."
"No? Why not?" Yuji’s smile drops and Megumi wants to kick himself for ever causing Yuji’s smile to falter.
"Because." Megumi averts his eyes again. "It's you...I wouldn't want to risk anything happening to you."
Yuji stares at him. He can't tell what's going through Yuji’s mind after admitting that. Megumi becomes flustered with Yuji's intense gaze and pushes forward.
Yuji swings his leg to the side allowing him to get up. Megumi turns to him and stares at the ground.
"I think I'm done for the day. I'll see you later." Megumi races out of the room barely hearing Yuji call after him. With his heart pounding in his ears, he makes his way back to the dorms.
Would it be possible?
Megumi would not be opposed to it if it was.
To hide Yuji in his shadow?
Then he could always keep him safe and away from any danger that may come after him like he’s always wanted. He could hide him from the higher ups who would jump at any chance they had to order his execution early. If only he could hide him from the torment of Sukuna as well.
It doesn't leave Megumi's mind. He thought a hot shower would help ease the tension, but he still felt the phantom weight of Yuji sitting on top of him. He’s glad he got out when he did because if he had stayed for just a moment longer Yuji would have known, and felt what that situation was doing to him.
God, what would Yuji have thought of that? Megumi squeezes his eyes shut and places his forehead on the warm tile of the shower taking slow deep breaths, the steam clouding his lungs.
“Get a fucking grip.” He whispers to himself.
He stands there until he feels the water start to run cold.
Fuck.
Megumi quickly dries off and dresses himself before stepping out of his dorm and down the hallway.
Megumi barges into Nobara’s room, the door slamming shut behind him. After the incident with Yuji, all thoughts of him threaten to cloud every other thought in his brain. So he succumbs to defeat and decides to finally give in to conversing with Nobara.
“Jesus Fushiguro, ever heard of knocking? I could have been completely naked right now!”
“Well maybe try locking your door and you're not so what does it matter?” He says and walks further into the room.
Nobara gives him a weird look.
His eyes scan her room. He’s only been in here once not counting the few times he’s come to her door to inform her of sudden meetings or missions, but her room looks clean and well kept, not that he was expecting anything less.
“Maki literally just left so I didn’t get a chance to. I’m surprised you didn’t see her…why are you pacing?”
Megumi stops his actions not even fully realizing that he was doing it. Nobara is staring at him in confusion, arms crossed over her chest. This behavior is completely out of character for him, and he is about to be as vulnerable as he has ever been with anyone.
He drops down on the edge of her bed, his hands moving to cover his face mumbling incoherently into his hands.
“What was that?” Nobara asked.
Megumi begins repeating himself into his hands again, still making himself incoherent to her.
Nobara sits next to him grabbing his wrists and pulling his hands down.
“Try again.” She requested.
Megumi sighs, his eyes flicking to her before looking back in front of him.
“You were right.” He looks back over at her when she doesn’t say anything. She’s watching him and waiting patiently so he continues. “About me…and my feelings for Itadori.”
Now her face takes on a look of knowing. There’s a slight smile and a soft look in her golden brown eyes. It’s a look that is very rare for Nobara but you're lucky if you get to witness it.
“So you finally realize it.”
“I may have had a moment with Itadori in the dojo earlier.”
“So that’s why you're suddenly so freaked out. What happened?” She turns her body towards him bringing her left leg underneath her. She faces him now, intrigued with what could have possibly gone on that caused Megumi to freak out and barge into her room.
Megumi, embarrassed and not out of his own will due to Nobara threatening him, pokes out the details of what happened less than an hour ago.
"Hmm, that does sound kinda hot though." She tilts her head up, tapping her index finger to her chin, in thought.
Megumi's eyes widen as he leans forward, turning his body towards her.
"Do not picture it!"
“Calm down. I would never want to picture you and Itadori doing anything physical.” She shudders.
“Then why have you been so determined about Itadori and I-” Megumi stops.
“Because I care about you idiots and I’m tired of seeing the two of you tiptoeing around each other when you could just take the plunge and be happy.”
“And how are you so certain Itadori’s…” He trails off.
“God, have you seriously not noticed? The guy looks at you as if you hung the stars in the sky or something.”
“Fushiguro is so cool!” “Did you see how Fushiguro handled that curse!” - “Oh and he will not shut up about the rabbits!” Megumi’s eyes widened at that. A memory of the time Yuji had nervously asked if he would summon the rabbits for him pops up in his mind.
Yuji had been so down that day when he came by his room. Megumi had formed the hand sign for his rabbit escape without a second thought, causing the shadows of his cursed energy to lap up around them and a dozen bunnies had appeared seemingly out of nowhere. Yuji gently grasped onto the one in his lap, bringing it to his chest and snuggling it.
“Thanks Fushiguro, you're the best you know that?” Yuji had said with the most genuine smile on his face.
Megumi released a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.
Maybe there is a possibility that Yuji does have feelings for him.
Nobara purses her lips together for a moment then looks down at her hands as she twirls around the ring on her finger. “I’m meeting up with Maki on Saturday. She has our date planned but she did tell me she wants to take me to a winter night market that's happening in Sumida afterwards.”
Megumi remembers her inviting him and Yuji out with them, but he didn’t think she was serious. Especially since this date seems really important to her, and he really didn't want to intrude on that.
“You don't have to do that. Talking this out with you helped enough.” Megumi tells her.
“I want to, plus I feel like I had some part in this, because I wouldn’t back off-”
“You didn't. This was my own fault. I don’t know why I freaked out so bad.” He sighed, bringing a hand up to rub at his forehead. The stress he had been under was undeniably causing a headache to form.
“So let me do this for you, but you had better make a move Fushiguro or so help me-“
“Okay, okay fine.” He gave in and accepted her endeavors.
“Good, so I’ll text you the details for Saturday when I find out more.” She says, finality in her tone.
He stands up and gets ready to leave when her bulletin board catches his eye. There is an area with a bunch of photos clipped onto it. Photos of the three of them and some with the second years. His eyes land on one of his favorite photos which so happens to be the lock screen on his phone. It’s one of him, Yuji and Nobara taking a nap under a big tree in the courtyard. Inumaki had been the one to take it and sent it to them in the groupchat.
“I’m sorry for being such a jerk to you about this whole situation. You didn’t deserve it.” He wished he could say more on the situation but he’s never been good at these things.
Nobara understands though and she places a hand on his shoulder. He smiles down at her, really taking in how much of a height difference they share.
“It’s all good. Just treat me to a meal when my advice pays off and the two of you finally get together.”
“Hmm.” He hums in acknowledgment. It does sound like a nice thing to celebrate.
--
A few days after Megumi’s talk with Nobara he had mentioned the night market to Yuji and asked if he would be interested in checking it out with him. Yuji was thrilled and had immediately said yes. Megumi told him he would let him know more the day of since he still hadn’t heard from Kugisaki yet. He doesn't know why simply asking Yuji to hang out with him was so nerve-racking. How is he supposed to confess if he has trouble with something as simple as that? Nobara might actually kick his ass if he can't pull through with this confession thing.
-
Of course a mission would pop up the day of the night market, and of course he would be the one Gojo had chosen to take care of it.
It was also inconveniently out of the way, a day’s trip away. So Megumi had opted to leave early that morning in hopes of making it back in time for tonight.
“It’s just a small little curse terrorizing a crop field, I know you can handle it.” Gojo had said while lazily lounging in his reclining chair.
This was not a ‘small little curse'. It was large and bloated, most likely due to all of the crops it had been eating. Megumi cursed Gojo under his breath for enlisting him to deal with this on his day off. It didn’t help Megumi had been distracted all morning either.
On the train he had kept going over every unfavorable outcome that could occur tonight. What if Nobara was wrong? What if he was about to make a huge mistake by telling Yuji how he truly felt about him and he doesn't feel the same? Was he really willing to risk their friendship over this? He knows Yuji wouldn’t stop being his friend but their dynamic would inevitably shift if this didn’t work out like he was hoping.
If he wasn’t so distracted maybe he would have seen the curse pop out from behind the greenhouse and would have managed to avoid the blow the curse had managed to land on him resulting in a hard impact a dozen feet away causing him to improperly land on his shoulder. A dull pain began to spread through his muscle.
When he looked up the curse was jumping at him mid air and he barely had enough time to pull his blade out from his shadow and raise it up causing the curse to fall through it. He shoved it back. Ripping his blade from the curse’s stomach.
When the curse turned away as if to make a run for it back into the greenhouse. Megumi summoned Divine Dog who instinctively charged at the curse leaping up and biting down on the neck, fully ripping off its head. As the curse began to deplete. Divine Dog ran back to Megumi beginning to sniff and nudge at his hand, his shoulder began to pulsate with a numbing pain, the muscle beginning to feel hot. Megumi brings his other hand up and rubs the dog's head “I’m fine. Thank you, you did good.”
He had texted Yuji telling him of the slight delay and that he had to visit Shoko first.
As he walks to his dorm room he sees Yuji standing outside his doorway dressed in a pair of jeans and a red long sleeve sweater with his jacket thrown over his arm. Yuji looks up when he hears Megumi’s footsteps and presses off the wall making his way over to him.
“Fushiguro, are you okay? What happened?” His eyes swept over his body, seeming to look for any indications of an injury.
A warm feeling blooms in his chest over Yuji’s genuine concern over him. “Uhh, just a slight mishap, and busted up my shoulder.” He rolls it out for emphasis, only feeling the remaining pruritic sensation that came with the after effects of Shoko’s reverse cursed energy. “Shoko fixed it so I’m fine.”
Yuji lets out a sigh, relief clear in his voice. “That’s good. You had me worried for a second.”
--
When they make it to Sumida, they meet up with Nobara and Maki and join the crowd of people walking through the food carts and vendors. Yuji quickly finds his way to a stand selling hot chocolate and returns with one overflowing with whipped cream.
“You sure you didn’t want one?” He asks.
Megumi gazes at Yuji with a soft smile as he watches him try to drink it without making a mess.
“I’m fine for now.” He assures him, stuffing his hands deep in his pocket, resisting the urge to whip away the stray spot of whip cream on the corner of Yuji’s mouth.
“Well we can keep a lookout for something else. There are a lot of stands we still haven't seen.” Yuji suggests to him. Then his tongue sweeps over his lips catching the stray bit of whip cream and Megumi’s eyes glance forward to the girls walking ahead of them. Nobara pointing out things at different vendor stands.
When they do reach the end it opens up to a small shopping center and Maki chases Nobara into a store so Megumi and Yuji make their way to a park bench by the river and sit. The sun has fully set by now and the moon has taken its place in the sky, casting a layer of white on the water's surface.
Yuji digs for something in his pocket and pulls out the chapstick. He uncaps it and Megumi watches as he brings it to his lips.
“You know Kugisaki was right, it does make your lips softer and the cherry flavor is quite nice. Do you want to use some Fushi?” He holds it out between them as he offers.
There that damn nickname is again, but it only makes Megumi wonder what his first name would sound like coming from Yuji’s lips.
Realizing he had been staring at the chapstick for a good few seconds he quickly says “No.”
“You never know someone might want to kiss you and you don’t want crusty lips as Kugisaki says.” His tone light and teasing.
He turns to Yuji and hears him chuckle, a playful smile on his lips. Megumi doesn’t know where the confidence comes from in that moment and he doesn’t know when another boost of confidence will come for him again, so he must act now. Before letting his brain think more into it he leans in and presses his lips firmly to Yuji’s. He stays in place for a second then when he pulls away he licks his lips and tastes the cherry. “There, thanks for the chapstick.”
Yuji is staring at him eyes wide and his mouth open in shock, and after a beat of a moment dives in to kiss him again. Now Yuji is the one catching Megumi off guard but he has no intention of pulling back out of shock. Instead his hand falls forward snaking up Yuji’s neck to cup around his jaw—pushing forward into their kiss.
All Megumi’s senses are filled with Yuji.
Like the scent of his shampoo from his morning shower. It smells like citrus grapefruit with the undertones of mahogany from the cologne he had just recently started wearing. He notices when he takes a sharp breath through his nose.
His nose rubs against soft skin, his thumb creasing a sharp jawline.
Under the cherry chapstick is the faded taste of hot chocolate. It becomes prominent when Megumi gets a little bolder by swiping his tongue across Yuji’s bottom lip then through the gap of his parted lips.
Yuji’s fists found their way to the collar of Megumi’s jacket and pulls as Megumi’s other hand finds perches on Yuji’s knee. He runs his thumb over the rough fabric of his jeans, warming the area further from the cold weather. Their noses bump against each other when both try a different angle and then Yuji breaks away a giggle spilling out from his lips.
“Wait wait, I need to catch my breath.”
Megumi just stares as Yuji composes himself.
“You…you kissed me.”
Megumi hums. “You kissed me too.”
Yuji laughs, sitting back. A shade of pink tinting his cheeks an even darker shade than what the cold weather had caused. He looks out at the river, the moonlight weaving shadowy rhythms through gentle ripples of water.
“I had no idea…well there were times but overall I just thought…maybe it was my imagination.”
“What?”
“That you might have liked me back. Unless…” Yuji’s voice suddenly takes on a tone Megumi wasn’t familiar with when it came to him. It’s suddenly small and unsure then it takes an abrupt turn and becomes rushed and frantic with his hands wailing about and eyes scanning everywhere but his.
“-it was one of those heat of the moment things they talk about In movies and stuff. ‘Cause then I’d understand. It’s a beautiful night, there’s Christmas lights and-“ Megumi grabs Yuji’s hand and pulls it to his chest. Yuji immediately cuts himself off, eyes going wide as he stares at Megumi’s calming features. It helps Yuji slow down his rapid heart.
How is he so calm?
Megumi doesn’t understand this for himself either. Never in his years of existence has he been this head on about his desires in life but he’s taken up his sensei’s advice and told himself to be greedier. So with that he leans forward again and places a soft kiss to his bestfriends lips.
“I do like you, it wasn’t a heat of the moment situation, I like you, I like you so much.“
Yuji lets out a breath and then releases his signature thousand watt grin as bright as the sun that Megumi will never get tired of. He’ll willingly go blind if he could always stay by his side.
“I really like you too.” Yuji says.
“You do?” Megumi breathes out.
“Yeah I thought it was obvious. Kugisaki would always get mad at me because I talked about you too much.“
Megumi breathes out a subtle laugh then. “She knew what she was doing when she handed you that chapstick.”
Yuji laughs hard at that. “What do you mean by that?”
Megumi can’t hold back the smile as he feels the heat spread over his cheeks. He turns away from Yuji to try and hide it. “Not telling.”
Shortly after they begin walking back to the shopping strip as white flakes of snow begin to fall from the sky. They find Maki and Nobara walking out of a store. Nobara’s arms are filled with shopping bags as are Maki’s and Megumi can bet that most (if not all) of them are Nobara’s.
“Wow, so my plan actually worked.“ Nobara says, eyes glued to their linked hands and when her eyes meet Megumi's, her smirk widens.
“No it didn’t.” Megumi says, pulling Yuji along.
“You know a thank you would be in order right about now.” Nobara calls out to him.
“No thank you.”
“What’s happening?” Maki smiles at her girlfriend.
Nobara turns to her, smiling mischievously. “Oh, I forgot to tell you! All of this started because I gave Itadori-“
“Nothing! She did nothing. Come on Itadori.” Megumi says, pulling him further away from the two.
Yuji laughs and tightens his grip on Megumi’s hand. He jogs the few steps to be in line with Megumi’s step and looks up at him, taking in the deep shade that now spreads over his cheek, and the white flakes of snow that had fallen on his long lashes. Yuji can’t help himself leaning up and placing a kiss on his boyfriend's cheek.
“Maybe I should be the one thanking Kugisaki, huh? “ Yuji teases and leans into his shoulder.
“Tsk, don’t you dare, her ego’s already big as it is.” Megumi states.
“Hey Fushiguro! You owe me yakiniku!” she yells after them.
--
They get back to the dorm just as the snow begins to come down a bit heavier.
As they stomp the snow off their boots before entering the heated dorms, Yuji is full of giggles.
"Ah it's so nice to be back inside where there's heaters."
"My hands are freezing.” Megumi grumbles.
"I told you you should have brought gloves." Yuji laughs.
Megumi looks over at him. Pink covered in white specks of snow.
Megumi begins running his fingers through the others hair to release the cold flakes of snow, because he can do that now. He doesn't even care that the motion stings his already frozen skin.
He can feel Yuji's stare as he continues his task. Wanting to get as much snow out of the boy's hair before it melts through his locks, but hands quickly grab his. Yuji pulls them away and cups them snugly in his gloved hands before bringing them to his lips and blowing heat onto them.
Megumi smiles, feeling the warmth creep into his cheeks.
As they reach the hallway of their rooms they both pause, not quite ready to leave each other yet.
“Do you want to come in and watch a movie or something?” Megumi asks.
Yuji whips his head up at the boy. “Yes! I’ll change and grab my laptop. See you in five?”