Take my half

by fushiighost

Summary:

Yuta set the Rubik’s cube aside and climbed down from his bed, the mattress creaking softly. He sat beside Megumi, their shoulders nearly touching. “You know you can talk to me, right?” Yuta said, his voice low and kind. “Even if it’s something silly or small.”

Megumi’s hands curled around his knees, and the silence stretched between them like a thin thread. He wanted to tell Yuta everything, the heavy feeling in his chest and how the days seemed harder lately, but the words stuck in his throat, thick and unspoken.

“I know,” he whispered back, his voice so quiet it almost vanished in the hush of the room.

OR

13-year-old Fushiguro Megumi who loves to overthink, felt a heavy emptiness in his chest as he watched his friends make new friends and laugh together. Each moment of connection left him feeling more alone and scared they would leave him behind. Afraid of being replaced, he chose to pull away, thinking it would hurt less if he distanced himself first. But his silence only made him feel worse, filling him with a growing sadness he didn’t know how to escape. Fortunately, his family and friends are there to remind him just how important he is to them.

Notes:

Hey guys!! *does a back flip*

Welcome to my new series! This little brainchild was born during a late night cry session while listening to Mitski on loop, so you already know it’s going to be ANGSTY but don't worry I'm not Gege, I believe in happy endings.

Anyway, this is going to be a short series (unless I decide to trauma dump here instead of talking it out with my therapist)

Like always kudos, bookmarks and comments (please do comment) and criticisms are always welcomed

Hope you guys enjoy this

Chapter 1: Prologue

Summary:

The Gojo household gathers to discuss Megumi’s relentless study routine, their concern growing as they worry about the toll it’s taking on him.

The kitchen was filled with the delicious aroma of garlic and butter as Suguru hummed softly while chopping vegetables. He could hear Tsumiki and Yuta discussing their day at school. Tsumiki sat on a stool by the counter, swinging her legs, while Yuta leaned against the fridge. Satoru, dressed casually, lounged in the doorway with his arms crossed and a soft smile on his face.

 

"And then my homeroom teacher asked if I would like to audition for the school play and I said yes," Tsumiki said, her gentle smile brightening the room.

 

"That's great, Miki," Satoru replied, ruffling Tsumiki's hair. "I know you'll do well in the auditions."

 

"Thank you, Satoru-nii," Tsumiki said, her smile widening.

 

Yuta grinned, a hint of pink on his cheeks. "And I got picked to lead the morning assembly next week! I'm kind of nervous, but I think I can do it."

 

"You'll do amazing, Yuta-kun," Suguru reassured him, his voice warm as he stirred the pot on the stove.

 

"My kids are growing up so fast," Satoru said dramatically, pressing a hand to his chest. "What's next? Are you two going to move out and leave us behind?"

 

Tsumiki groaned, her face scrunching up in embarrassment, while Yuta burst out laughing.

 

"But you know who wouldn’t leave us? My little sea urchin," Satoru said, grinning.

 

"Okay, speaking of him, Yuta-kun, is he still doing his homework?" Suguru asked, glancing at Yuta.

 

"Um, maybe?" Yuta replied, looking at the closed door of his and Megumi's shared room.

 

“Don’t tell me his teachers are giving him extra homework this year, too?” Satoru said, directing his gaze at Suguru, who let out a deep sigh.

 

“Suguru-nii, why don’t you ask his teacher not to give him extra homework? At this point, everyone in the school knows Megumi is a genius, but all this extra homework is wearing him out,” Tsumiki said, a look of concern on her face.

 

“I did talk to his homeroom teacher, Tsumiki-chan. She mentioned that Megumi himself requested the extra homework because he enjoys it. If he finds out that I asked his teacher to stop giving him extra homework behind his back, he will be very upset,” Suguru replied while taking out his apron.

 

"Then we should talk to Megumi about this," Yuta suggested. "He hasn't even been playing these days because of his homework."

 

"Yeah, we should sit him down and have a conversation with him," Tsumiki agreed, nodding.

 

"Well, in my opinion, we should give him some space," Satoru interjected, adjusting his glasses. "Asking him directly could intimidate him. Even though he sometimes acts like a sixty-year-old man, Gumi is still just a kid, so let’s not scare him."

 

“Satoru is right. We'll figure out a way to reach him without cornering him. Maybe a gentle conversation or giving him a chance to open up on his own terms,” Suguru said calmly. 

 

Both Yuta and Tsumiki nodded, their concern for Megumi still evident.  

 

“Okay, let’s give him a little time. If he doesn’t come out by dinner, I’ll go talk to him. In the meantime, why don’t you two set the table? Remember to grab the plates, chopsticks, and napkins,” Satoru instructed.

 

“Okay,” Tsumiki and Yuta replied in unison as they hopped off the stool together. 

 

Suguru watched them bustle around the kitchen with a fond smile, then glanced over at Satoru. Their eyes met in mutual understanding; they both sensed something was troubling Megumi. 

 

As the rich aroma of simmering stew filled the kitchen, Yuta and Tsumiki effortlessly set the table, arranging plates and chopsticks with little flourishes that made Suguru chuckle. Satoru retrieved the pitcher of cold barley tea from the fridge and placed it on the table with a satisfied nod. 

 

“Should we call Megumi now?” Tsumiki asked, finally setting down her spoon. “He must be hungry.”

 

Suguru nodded and raised his voice slightly. “Megumi-kun, dinner time!”

 

For a moment, there was only silence.

 

Yuta and Tsumiki exchanged glances before calling out together, “Gumi, come eat with us!”

 

Silence once again

 

“Alright then, I’ll go get him” Satoru muttered, pushing himself off the counter. “He’s probably turned into a fossil in there.”

 

He sauntered down the hallway and knocked lightly on Megumi’s door. “Oi, sea urchin,” he called, his tone light but his brow furrowed. “Dinner’s ready. Don’t make me bust this door down like a superhero.”

 

Silence.

 

Satoru’s playful smile faded. He cracked the door open and peeked inside. Megumi sat at his desk, his head bowed over his notebook, a pencil still in his hand but unmoving. His hair fell into his eyes, obscuring his expression.

 

“Megumi?” Satoru said softly, slipping into the room and closing the door behind him.

 

Satoru knelt beside the chair and gently placed a hand on Megumi’s back. 

 

Megumi stirred, blinking blearily. “Oh? Satoru?” he mumbled, his voice hoarse.

 

“You’ve been working so hard,” Suguru said, brushing a lock of hair from Megumi’s forehead.

 

“Sorry, I must’ve fallen asleep,” Megumi replied, looking around his table.

 

“It’s okay. Come eat with us. You need a break.”

 

Megumi hesitated, his eyes darting to the pile of homework. “But I still haven’t—”

 

“Megumi,” Satoru interrupted gently, his tone firm yet kind. “Dinner first. Everything else can wait.”

 

For a moment, it seemed like Megumi might argue, but then his shoulders slumped. “Okay,” he whispered.

 

The dining table was already set when Satoru and Megumi emerged from the hallway. Tsumiki and Yuta were giggling about something at the table, and Suguru was just placing the last dish on the table.

 

“There you two are,” Suguru said with a soft smile, his eyes flicking between Megumi and Satoru. “Sit down, dinner’s getting cold.”

 

“Welcome back to the land of the living, Gumi,” Yuta teased, earning a small huff from Megumi as he took his seat.

 

Tsumiki scooted her chair closer to Megumi’s. “You look tired. Are you okay?” she asked, eyes filled with concern.

 

“I’m fine,” Megumi mumbled, avoiding her gaze as he reached for the rice bowl.

 

Satoru ruffled Megumi’s hair before sitting down at the head of the table. “Let’s eat, everyone,” he said, clapping his hands together in thanks.

 

“Wow, this is amazing, Suguru-nii!” Yuta exclaimed through a mouthful of tofu.

 

“Careful, Yuta-kun, don’t choke,” Suguru scolded lightly, though a smile tugged at his lips.

 

Satoru leaned back in his chair, watching the kids with a fond expression. “Our family dinners are the best, huh?” he said, his voice soft with quiet pride.

 

For a moment, Megumi felt a flicker of peace settle in his chest, even as a small part of him still wrestled with an invisible weight.

---

After dinner, the Gojo house settled into a comforting hush. The dishes were washed, the lights dimmed, and a faint scent of soap lingered in the air. Yuta sat cross-legged on his bed, fiddling with a Rubik’s cube, while Megumi perched on the edge of his bunk, hugging his knees to his chest.

 

“Megumi?” Yuta’s gentle and sleepy voice drifted down.

 

Megumi hesitated before replying softly, “Yeah.”

 

“You okay? You’ve been quiet lately.” Yuta asked softly 

 

Megumi tightened his grip on his knees. “I’m fine,” he mumbled, his eyes fixed on a small crack in the ceiling. He hated how unsure his voice sounded.

 

Yuta set the Rubik’s cube aside and climbed down from his bed, the mattress creaking softly. He sat beside Megumi, their shoulders nearly touching. “You know you can talk to me, right?” Yuta said, his voice low and kind. “Even if it’s something silly or small.”

 

Megumi’s hands curled around his knees, and the silence stretched between them like a thin thread. He wanted to tell Yuta everything, the heavy feeling in his chest and how the days seemed harder lately, but the words stuck in his throat, thick and unspoken.

 

“I know,” he finally whispered back, his voice so quiet it almost vanished in the hush of the room.

 

Yuta offered a gentle smile, his eyes soft with understanding. He didn’t push. Instead, he just stayed there, their shoulders touching, letting Megumi know he wasn’t alone.

 

“Okay then, let’s sleep because we have school tomorrow. Good night, Gumi.” 

 

“Good night, Yuta,” he replied softly before settling back onto his pillow.

 

The room fell quiet again, but Megumi’s thoughts swirled restlessly. He squeezed his eyes shut, hoping that sleep would come quickly, even as a knot of worry sat stubbornly in his chest.

Notes:

I hope you guys enjoyed the prologue! The first chapter will be from Megumi’s POV, so I hope you’ll look forward to that as well. Please feel free to leave a comment and share your thoughts, I’d love to hear what you think!

I will also try to update build with love(and chaos) soon 🤍

Chapter 2: Stop the resentment, please..take my hand again

Summary:

Megumi’s morning begins early and warm as he shares a small moment with his sister and a surprise breakfast prepared for Satoru and Suguru. But the warmth of home quickly fades once he reaches school, as he watches his friends laugh and enjoy themselves without even noticing his absence, old insecurities and heavy thoughts begin to creep in, pulling him into a familiar shadow of doubt and distance.

Dawns in May brought a gentle warmth that filtered through the curtains, casting soft golden patterns across the floor. Birds chirped cheerfully in the distance, their songs blending with the quiet of the neighbourhood. The air was filled with the scent of dew-kissed grass and blooming flowers. 

 

In the living room, Megumi sat cross-legged on the floor, his books spread across the low table. The ticking clock and the faint rustle of turning pages were the only sounds inside the house. Though his eyes stung with tiredness, Megumi found a strange calm in the quiet dawn, grateful for the stillness, yet burdened by the thoughts swirling in his mind.

 

Since his midterm exams were scheduled in 3 weeks, he decided to study for them beforehand. As Yuta was in deep sleep, Megumi sneaked out of his room with his books to the living room to study so that he wouldn’t disturb his sleep. The morning light crept across the floor, slow and golden, but Megumi barely noticed. His world narrowed to the quiet scratch of his pencil. 

 

“Megumi?” a sleepy voice called.

 

He looked up to see Tsumiki standing above him, rubbing her eyes as she tried to see clearly. Her hair was a messy halo, and her voice was hoarse with sleep. She just woke up, he thought.

 

“Good morning,” Megumi said softly, quickly turning his eyes back to his books.

 

“How long have you been awake?” Tsumiki asked, glancing at the clock hanging in the kitchen.

 

Megumi followed her gaze.

 

5:45 a.m.

 

He’d already been up for almost an hour. 

 

“Since a little before five,” he admitted quietly, pencil pausing on the page.

 

Tsumiki’s sleepy eyes softened with concern. She sat down beside him, pulling her knees to her chest. “You know you don’t have to push yourself so hard, right? It’s okay to rest.”

 

“I’m not pushing myself, Tsumiki. I just couldn’t sleep, so I thought I’d study instead.” It wasn’t exactly a lie. Megumi had woken up at an ungodly hour and, unable to fall back asleep, decided to bury himself in his textbooks.

 

“Something’s bothering you, isn’t it?” Tsumiki asked softly, her calm voice cutting through the quiet morning.

 

Megumi hesitated, staring hard at his open notebook. He took a long pause before answering, forcing his voice to stay steady. “Nothing’s bothering me. I don’t know why you keep asking me the same question. I’m just tired, that’s all. Once the midterms are over, I’ll relax.”

 

Tsumiki studied him for a moment, her brow furrowing as she took in the dark circles under his eyes and the way his shoulders hunched with tension. “You always say that, Gumi,” she said quietly. “But I know you. You carry everything by yourself until you break. I don’t want you to break.”

 

Megumi clenched his jaw, fighting the sting in his eyes. “I’m fine,” he insisted, voice barely above a whisper.

 

Just then, a soft yawn sounded from the hallway. Yuta shuffled into the living room, his hair sticking up wildly, eyes still half-closed. He blinked at the sight of Megumi and Tsumiki sitting together on the floor. “Did I miss something?” he mumbled, voice thick with sleep.

 

Tsumiki’s worried expression softened into a smile. “Good morning, Yuta. We were just talking.”

 

“You look like a mess,” Megumi remarked, eyeing Yuta’s shirt sliding up awkwardly and his hair sticking out in every direction.

 

Yuta shook his head and plopped down beside Megumi, rubbing his eyes. “Everybody looks like a mess when they wake up, Gumi. I’m not the only one,” he muttered, his lips curving into a sleepy grin.

 

Megumi rolled his eyes at Yuta’s grin, but the tension in his shoulders eased a little.

 

Tsumiki watched them both with a quiet smile before clapping her hands softly. “Alright, you two. Why don’t we wash up and make breakfast? We can surprise Satoru-nii and Suguru-nii. They’re still asleep, after all.”

 

“Last time we decided to cook, we had to live in a hotel for a week, remember?” Megumi commented dryly, recalling the chaos of trying to make a meal for Suguru’s birthday a few years ago. Back then, with both Satoru and Suguru being at work and no adults around, things had quickly spiralled out of control. So much so that the neighbours ended up calling the fire department. After that incident, they were strictly banned from the kitchen without adult supervision.

 

Yuta burst into laughter at the memory, his eyes crinkling with glee, while Tsumiki let out an exasperated huff, crossing her arms. “We were 9 or 10 back then! We’re better now,” she insisted, though a faint blush rose to her cheeks.

 

“Well, making breakfast doesn’t sound so bad,” Yuta said softly, his gaze dropping to the floor. “We need to learn how to do chores someday. We’re growing up, and Suguru-nii won’t always be there to cook for us.” 

 

“We’re Growing up.”

 

Those words sent a shiver down Megumi’s spine.

He tried to focus on the books in front of him, but his thoughts swirled like a storm. The kitchen felt too quiet, the ticking clock unbearably loud. 

 

His thoughts were interrupted by Tsumiki’s gentle tsk. “You sound just like Satoru-nii right now,” she teased softly. “Why worry about a future we can’t see when we have the gift of living in the present and making our future great?”

 

She flashed him a bright smile, and Yuta nodded quickly, muttering a quiet “sorry” for bringing down the mood. The warmth in their voices pulled Megumi back from the edge of his fears, grounding him in the moment they still shared.

 

“Okay, then let’s meet here after freshening up?” Tsumiki asked, and both Yuta and Megumi nodded. 

 

 

 

Thirty minutes later, the kitchen was alive with the comforting sounds of sizzling pans, clinking utensils, and soft laughter. The delicious scent of steamed rice and miso soup drifted through the house, sneaking into the bedrooms. 

 

A loud clang echoed through the house, followed by the faint hiss of something frying. From their bedroom, Satoru’s eyes snapped open. “Suguru,” he whispered urgently, “did you hear that?”

 

Suguru groaned, face half-buried in the pillow. “Tell me it’s just a dream.”

 

Another crash, followed by Yuta’s muffled “Sorry!” sent them both bolt upright.

 

“Not a dream,” Satoru croaked, already sprinting out of bed with bedhead that defied gravity

 

Suguru let out a long-suffering sigh, raking a hand through his tangled hair. “Stay calm,” he muttered, voice low with the grim determination of a man who’d seen far too many kitchen disasters. “We don’t know the extent of the damage yet.”

 

They crept down the hall like two anxious cats, flinching at every sizzle and clang that drifted from the kitchen. Satoru pressed himself dramatically against the wall outside the doorway, motioning for Suguru to follow.

 

“This is not a James Bond movie, Satoru. Let’s just go and see what damage they are doing in the kitchen.” Suguru whispered 

 

They peeked around the corner and froze.

 

Instead of flames or flying utensils, they saw Tsumiki humming as she stirred miso soup, Megumi expertly plating fluffy rice, and Yuta carefully cracking the egg with the precision of a tiny perfectionist. The kitchen looked normal?

 

Satoru and Suguru blinked.

 

Megumi looked up from the counter, deadpan. “Why do you both look like you’re about to faint?”

 

“What are you guys doing?” Satoru asked, eyes darting suspiciously around the clean kitchen.

 

“Good morning to you too, Satoru-nii,” Tsumiki said dryly, tasting the miso soup. 

 

Suguru just blinked, still processing the scene. “You three made all this?” he asked, voice equal parts awe and disbelief.

 

“Yeah!” Yuta chimed in brightly, cracking the last egg into a bowl with a proud flourish. “We all woke up early and decided to surprise you two by making breakfast. Ta-da!”

 

Suguru looked from the steaming miso to the perfectly plated rice to the eggs waiting to become tamagoyaki, then back to their determined little faces. “Well, consider me surprised,” he muttered, hand still clutching the doorframe like he might collapse from shock.

 

Tsumiki giggled while Yuta just shook his head. 

 

“We’ve got little masterchefs in our house, Suguru. Should I call my family and ask them to fund our children’s cooking careers?” Satoru asked with a dramatic flourish, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

 

Suguru’s face fell instantly. “Don’t bring those people up first thing in the morning,” he said flatly, displeasure clear in his tone.

 

“And also,” Yuta piped up, folding his arms across his chest with a determined frown, “we have zero interest in making cooking our careers. We’re not made for that stuff.”

 

“You guys need to learn how to take my jokes, right, Gumi?” Satoru drawled, shifting his gaze to Megumi.

 

Megumi just rolled his eyes in response, that made everyone burst into giggles. 

 

“Alright, alright,” Suguru said, clapping his hands once to get their attention. “Let’s eat before everything gets cold.”

 

They all settled around the dining table, dishes spread out like a miniature feast. The cozy kitchen was filled with the soft clinking of chopsticks and the comforting warmth of morning light.

 

“This is amazing,” Suguru said happily, savouring a bite of the fluffy tamagoyaki.

 

Satoru, in full dramatic mode, fanned his face with his hand. “I don’t know if my heart can handle you three growing up so fast.”

 

A collective groan echoed around the table at his theatrics, but it only made Satoru laugh harder.

 

Megumi, for his part, ate quietly but with a calm satisfaction. He looked around the table, eyes lingering on his family’s happy faces, feeling a warm knot of gratitude in his chest, forgetting all his worries in that moment. 

 

When the last bowls were empty, Tsumiki glanced at the clock and gasped. “We’re going to be late!”

 

The rest of the morning passed in a warm, hazy blur for Megumi. He slipped into his room to quickly change into his school uniform, the crisp fabric grounding him as he moved through his routine. He checked his bag twice, making sure every notebook and assignment was in place, then flipped through his planner to confirm he hadn’t missed any homework.

 

Satisfied, he pulled on his shoes and stood quietly by the genkan, the cool morning air drifting in as he waited for Yuta and Tsumiki to finish getting ready.

 

A moment later, Tsumiki appeared, tying the ribbon of her uniform. “Sorry for the wait!” she called as she grabbed her backpack from the hall.

 

Yuta stumbled in right behind her, his tie crooked and hair still a bit messy. “I’m ready! I think,” he said breathlessly, double-checking the bento box tucked in his bag.

 

Suguru stepped forward, reaching out wordlessly to straighten Yuta’s crooked tie with the resigned precision of someone who’d done it a hundred times before. “You’d forget your head if it wasn’t attached,” he muttered, though his voice was gentle.

Yuta’s face turned bright red. “Hehe, thanks, Suguru-nii.”

 

Suguru straightened up and glanced at Satoru and the kids. “By the way, I’ll be a little late today. I’ve got a teacher's meeting at school,” he said, slipping his hands into his pockets. “I’ll bring takeout with me, so there’s no need to cook tonight, okay?”

 

Tsumiki and Yuta both cheered, and Satoru grinned lazily 

 

“Alright now, come on, you two,” Tsumiki said, pushing open the front door.

 

They stepped outside together into the soft morning light. The sky was a pale blue streaked with wisps of clouds, and the neighbourhood was just starting to come alive with the sounds of other students and cyclists heading to school.

 

Yuta skipped a little ahead, swinging his bag. “Oh! Guess what? Coach told me I might get to pitch in the next game!” he beamed. “Like, actually pitch. In front of everyone!”

 

"That's amazing news, Yuta! Congratulations," Tsumiki said with a smile on her face.

 

"Yeah, you deserve it," Megumi said in a quiet voice.

 

"Thanks, Gumi! I hope you two can come and see me play someday," Yuta said.

 

He paused for a moment, then added, “Oh! You know, Junpei might join our team next week. He said he’s never really played before, but he seems interested.”

 

The little smile on Megumi’s face fell.

 

His fingers curled slightly around the strap of his bag, and his gaze dropped to the pavement.

 

"That's great news, actually," Tsumiki said, smiling.

 

"I know, right? You should invite him over someday, Gumi. I like the kid," Yuta said brightly, still walking ahead.

 

"I saw him in the library a few days ago," Tsumiki added thoughtfully. "He looks kind, quiet, and smart. Just like you, Gumi."

 

Megumi didn’t respond.

 

He wanted to say something. Agree, smile, and move on, but something felt stuck in his chest.

 

Junpei is kind, smart, and maybe a little too easy to like.

His shoulders tensed.

 

 

 

The school courtyard was already buzzing. Morning sun slanting through the trees, voices rising in a dozen conversations at once, backpacks thumping against legs, and sleepy yawns mixing with laughter. 

 

As Yuta, Tsumiki, and Megumi stepped through the school gates, a familiar voice rang out across the grounds.

 

“Yuta-san! Tsumiki-san! Megumi! Over here! 

 

Standing under the cherry tree near the school steps were their friends

 

Maki was deep in conversation with Aoi Todo, arms crossed and head tilted.

 

Mai was leaning against the railing, looking mildly bored, but she still waved at them.

 

Nobara , loud as ever, was waving dramatically.

 

Yuji stood waving, bright-eyed and grinning. Next to him stood Junpei , hands tucked into his sleeves, offering a small nod in their direction.

 

Megumi’s heart sank.

 

“Oh! Look, everybody’s there! We should go and greet them,” Yuta said, waving back at their friends. 

 

“Actually….I need to see my homeroom teacher before class.” Megumi said instead in a low voice.

 

Both Yuta and Tsumiki turned back to look at him, and Megumi got nervous. 

 

“Everything okay?” Tsumiki asked, brows pinching together

 

“Yeah, I just need to show her the assingment she gave me yesterday. Don’t worry,” Megumi said 

 

“You want us to wait for you, Gumi?” Yuji asked, blinking

 

“No,” Megumi replied, already adjusting his bag. “You guys can go ahead and join them. I’ll see you two during the recess. Bye-bye,” Megumi said as he turned and walked toward the school building, his steps quick and light like he was trying not to disturb the ground beneath him.

 

Tsumiki watched Megumi retreat, her eyes lingering on his back as he disappeared into the school building.

 

“He’s been doing that a lot lately,” she murmured, more to herself than anyone.

 

“Hm?” Yuta blinked, turning his head.

 

“Slipping away. Saying he has to meet a teacher or check an assignment. I mean, it’s Megumi, so maybe it’s true” She trailed off, arms folding as a frown settled on her lips.

 

Yuta chuckled softly, trying to shake the weight off her words. “That’s like so Megumi during pre-exam season. I think you’re reading too much into it, Tsumiki.”

 

But even as he said it, something tugged uneasily in his chest.

 

They started walking toward the group, the chatter of their friends growing louder with each step. But a small cloud of worry followed the two of them, invisible but present.

 

“I’m sure he’ll talk to us when he’s ready,” Yuta offered, trying to sound hopeful.

 

Tsumiki didn’t answer right away. She looked up toward the school building again, eyes narrowing just slightly.

 

“I hope so,” she finally said.

 

 

 

Megumi stood outside the staff room, shoulders squared but eyes low. He raised a hand and knocked gently.

 

“Come in,” a voice called from inside.

 

Sliding the door open, Megumi stepped into the room, the familiar scent of chalk, old wood, and black coffee immediately washing over him. Teachers shuffled papers, sipped from thermoses, and discussed lesson plans in low voices.

 

His homeroom teacher, a kind-faced woman with always slightly wrinkled sleeves, looked up and smiled when she saw him.

 

Megumi greeted her as he saw her. 

 

“Fushiguro-kun,” she greeted. “Glad you came. I was just talking about you with the other teachers”

 

“I just wanted to get it checked before class,” Megumi said, his voice soft and low. 

 

She flipped through the pages briefly. “Impressive work, as always, Fushiguro-kun,” she said, smiling. “I’ll return your notebook by the end of the day, if you don’t mind?” She asked Megumi, who just nodded and left the staff room with a soft “Thank you” 

 

Megumi walked slowly, hands tucked into his pockets now that the assignment was off his shoulders. The murmur of voices from classrooms trickled through closed doors. His footsteps echoed softly.

 

He passed the window overlooking the courtyard, and his steps slowed. 

 

He saw his friends. 

 

Nobara was mid-lecture, pointing at Yuji, who was laughing so hard he was practically bent over. Tsumiki was standing beside Todo, smiling as Yuta animatedly described something with dramatic hand gestures. Even Maki and Mai looked at ease, leaning against the low railing. 

 

And Junpei was there too, standing quietly near Yuji, but smiling.

 

They looked bright. Warm. Loud.

 

They looked like they belonged to each other.

 

Megumi stayed in the shadowed corridor, out of sight, watching through the glass. A soft ache bloomed somewhere deep in his chest. Not jealousy exactly. Not sadness either. Just a dull, uncomfortable distance. Something that Megumi couldn’t describe in words. 

 

So, he just turned away before they could see him watching. 

Notes:

Hey guys *shows up with a guitar*
I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. I'm sorry if this chapter was very underwhelming but I needed to write it to push the plot forward. I'll try and reedem myself in the next chapter.

Also a huge thank you to everyone who left kudos and comments on the last chapter. It means a lot to me 🤍

 

Another thing that I want to say is that sadly, I have no concept of a posting schedule because I only write when my brain decides to cooperate, so future chapters might take a bit. I’m sorry in advance :(
But the good thing is that I made a spotify playlist for this fanfic
Here

As always, comments, kudos, criticism or even gentle bullying are all welcome (not sure about the last one actually). See you in the next chapter 🤍

Chapter 3: I'm Looking For Signs Of a Breakup In Our Conversation.

Summary:

Lost in his own thoughts, Fushiguro Megumi finds himself drowning in guilt, anger and the fear of driving people away

spotify playlist for this fanfic
Here

[Title of this chapter is taken from the song "Ghosting" by Tomorrow X Together]

Megumi entered his classroom and took his seat on the second bench in the middle row, near the teacher’s table. It had been assigned to him last week because, according to his teacher, Megumi was “too short” to sit at the back, even though he basically towered over half of the class, but it wasn't like he could argue with his teacher.

 

The good thing about this seat? He was close to the board and always within the teacher’s line of sight, which made paying attention easy. The bad part? His friends were seated far away.  

 

That wouldn’t have bothered him a few months ago, because Fushiguro Megumi always believed that studies were more important than anything else in the world, even more than friends and family. Not that he didn't still believe that now, but lately, a part of him wondered if that mindset was one of the reasons things began to crumble between him and the people he cared about. (Or maybe things were very much the same as before, and it was just a fragment of his imagination twisting things. Megumi had a problem with overthinking after all.) Well, he didn’t really have answers to his own questions, so he just shook his head and pulled out his books for the first period. 

 

He glanced around him and saw that most of his classmates were busy with something different. They were either talking with their friends, studying together or discussing activities. Most of the students were with their groups or friends, and the only ones sitting alone were....well....kids who never had friends in the first place. 

 

Now, don't get him wrong, Megumi understood that it wasn't their fault for not having friends, and that they'd make some eventually. But still, he knew how school was nothing more than a reflection of the society itself. Big words for a 13-year-old, but Megumi had been raised by two young men who were barely twenty when they took him and his sister in, making them a part of their family. And Satoru and Suguru weren’t just raising them, they were also trying to figure out their own lives at the same time. And since both of them were learning how to navigate life together, they decided to teach the kids how to live it alongside them. And one of the things Satoru always told Megumi was to make his presence known at school, because, according to him, “people who don’t have friends are losers.”  

 

Satoru got a smack on the head from Suguru right after, of course, and Suguru assured Megumi that Satoru was only joking, but the words had rooted themselves somewhere in Megumi's mind. And now, sitting in the class with no one to talk to, he felt Satoru’s words pressing in on him like an unwelcome echo. He diverted his gaze towards the classroom door, hoping his friends might walk in. But alas, there was no sign of them. 

 

Megumi started wondering if his friends had noticed his absence or not. Did they ask Tsumiki and Yuta why he wasn't with them? Or were they too busy among themselves to even care about Megumi? It wasn't like he brought anything special to the group, aside from his permanently bored expression. And that wasn't something he could change, even if he tried.

 

A part of Megumi wanted to blame "him" for how things had changed since the new school year started, but deep down, he knew the truth, that Megumi wasn’t the kindest kid in school. He had his moments, like snapping at friends and family, getting irritated over small things and acting like an insufferable know-it-all more often than not. So he understood why most people might not like him or why they would prefer to keep their distance.

 

But the truth was that Megumi never did it intentionally. He gets overwhelmed by things too easily, by loud voices, sudden changes, or the feelings he couldn't understand, let alone name. Everything would build up inside his chest until it burst out as anger, sharp, fast and loud. He hated that about himself. Hated how the smallest things could set him off, how his voice would rise before his brain caught up, how regret always came too late. 

 

Every time he lashed out at Tsumiki over something small and she quietly retreated to her room, it hollowed something out in Megumi’s chest. She didn't yell or scold him for misbehaving. She would just shut the door softly and didn't speak to him for the rest of the day. He always apologised, of course. And she always forgave him, smiling like the angel of a big sister she was. But forgiveness didn’t erase the sting of his words. He knew she got hurt. Even if she never said it aloud. 

 

And when he snapped at Yuji over something stupid, Yuji would pause, force a laugh, and then smoothly change the subject as if nothing had happened at all. Megumi would usually apologise to him the next day, and Yuji would pretend he didn’t know what Megumi was talking about. That made Megumi hate himself even more. Everybody around him was too good for him, and the thought sat heavily in his chest.

 

It wasn't like he hadn't tried to “fix” what was wrong with him. He tried meditation once, like Inumaki-senpai had once suggested. He started writing down his feelings after seeing a bunch of videos on YouTube. He even tried all those “breathe in, breathe out” tricks they teach in health class. But unfortunately, nothing seemed to work for Megumi. 

 

He knew he should probably talk to Suguru and Satoru about it, but he didn’t want to burden them with his problems. They were already very busy with their respective work. Exam season was near, which meant Suguru would be busy preparing question papers and handling other school-related tasks. And Satoru was already swamped with work at the office. After his father passed away last year, Satoru had taken over the family business, which meant he was busier than ever. He sometimes stay in the office itself to look over the work. Besides, Megumi knew exactly what the stuff they would say if he ever tried to talk to them.

 

"Megumi-kun, please don't think badly of yourself," or "You should start loving yourself more, Gumi." 

But the truth is that how does one learn to love oneself? How does one think good of oneself without sounding like a narcissist? How are we supposed to find something good about ourselves? The whole reason we hate ourselves is that we can only see the parts we hate. So forcing ourselves to find “good points” feels hollow, like we’re making things up. It’s not like that. That’s not how it works. So no, he wouldn't tell them. He didn't want them to worry them over nothing. Even Yuta and Tsumiki handled their issues on their own, without Satoru and Suguru’s help, so why couldn't Megumi? After all he was old enough to solve his own issues without dragging anyone else into it.

 

Just as he was sinking deeper and deeper into his thoughts, he heard the familiar sound of the classroom door sliding. Megumi looked up to see Nobara, Yuji and Junpei entering the class. His eyes widened, and he turned his face the other way. He could hear Yuji’s voice, loud and warm, like sunshine through a window. And Nobara’s voice followed close behind, sharp and teasing yet somehow comforting. Junpei was silent, but Megumi didn’t need to look directly at him to know that he was smiling softly at the two of them.

 

Megumi kept his eyes fixed on his desk, praying they wouldn't call his name.

“Hey, Megumi,” Yuji said.

Guess the gods were not on his side.

Megumi blinked, his heart tightening. He didn’t want to talk to Yuji right now, not after he had been avoiding them all week under the excuse of studying, club meetings and extra homework. It wasn’t unusual for Megumi to withdraw before tests and exams, but this time had been different. He'd been doing it far more often enough that it should have raised some eyebrows. But it felt like nobody seemed to notice, which made Megumi a little sad for the reasons he could not explain.

But for now. Megumi had only one concern. Yuji was walking towards him, smiling brightly, and his eyes sparkling. Megumi had no idea how to avoid the conversation because even though he didn't want to talk to Yuji, he didn't want to upset him either. Megumi’s grip on his pencil tightened.

Riinngg...

The school jolted his eyes open. Around him, chairs screeched against the floor as students scrambled back to their seats. Yuji hesitated for a heartbeat, then flashed a grin before slipping into his desk.

Megumi exhaled slowly, relief and guilt tangling in his chest. Saved, for now.

The classroom door slid open with a rattle, and their teacher walked in, arms full of books. “Alright, everyone, quiet down.”

Megumi lowered his gaze, pretending to flip through his notebook. The lesson began, voices droning around him, but Yuji’s words stayed lodged in his mind, stubborn and heavy.

Hey, Megumi.

 

Notes:

Okaayyy so *taps the mic* I'M SORRY.

If you made it till the end, thank you so much for reading I really appreciate it. First of all I would like to apologize for the delay in this chapter. I was sick for a month, then writer’s block came and slapped me in the face. So thank you for being patient with me. I know this chapter is a nothingburger but trust me we will get to see more later in the story.

Second of all, you might be thinking "Wow Megumi really overthinks a lot" Umm babe it's canon, okay?/j

But jokes aside, Megumi in this fanfic is 13-years-old who unfortunately carries some trauma (more on that later) He’s an INFJ, so that explains a LOT of his overthinking, brooding, and tendency to analyze everything like it’s a life-or-death situation. Tbh, even I had a hard time writing some of the cringe stuff, especially the line “School is nothing more than a reflection of our society.” But hey, when you’re 13, you either don’t take things seriously or you permanently tattoo the worst advice you ever got onto your brain. So baby Megumi decided to remember the absolute worst advice Satoru ever gave him. So please be kind to my son he might be a little harsh on himself but he has a pure heart🤍

 

Once again kudos, comments, and criticisms are always welcome! I love hearing from you. See you in the next chapter! 🤍