a/n: based off of real events unfortunately… (¬_¬")
You’re hanging out with your boyfriend Toji one afternoon. The two of you had spent the entire day lazing around his apartment, buried beneath a blanket on the couch while one movie seamlessly blended into the next. At some point neither of you were even paying attention to what was on the TV anymore—it had simply become background noise to your lazy day together. Eventually, a craving for something sweet hit you.
While Toji got up to use the bathroom, you stretched your stiff limbs before wandering into his kitchen in search of something that could satisfy it. You opened the refrigerator first. Barely anything. A few packs of beer crowded one shelf while plastic containers filled with leftovers occupied another. Typical. You sighed dramatically before moving to the cabinets instead. Chip bags. Half-empty cereal. Random hard candies shoved into a bowl. Then...Bingo.
Tucked behind a box of pasta sat a bag of Little Bites muffins. "Score," you mumbled triumphantly. You happily carried both yourself and your prize back to the couch, plopping down cross-legged with the bag in your lap. Already imagining the soft chocolate muffins, you tore the package open without a second thought.
Then your smile immediately dropped. Tiny green spots stared back at you. "Mold." You groaned dramatically, tossing the bag onto the coffee table like it had personally offended you before throwing your head back against the couch cushions. Perfect timing.
Toji wandered back into the living room, still looking half asleep. He yawned loudly while scratching absentmindedly at his abdomen, his shirt lifting just enough to reveal a strip of toned skin before falling back into place. "Aye, what's the groanin' for?" he asked, lazily dropping onto the couch beside you. "I wanted something sweet," you sighed dramatically, pointing accusingly at the bag. "The Little Bites are expired."
Toji leaned forward just enough to glance at them before looking back at you. "A lil' mold ain't hurt nobody." You slowly turned your head toward him, your face twisting into complete disgust. "You're disgusting." He let out a laugh, shaking his head. "I'm messin' with ya." He casually slung an arm around your shoulders, pulling you against his side while grabbing the remote with his free hand to scroll through movies. "Should be some candy or somethin' lyin' around."
"But I don't want candy." You pouted. "I want... like... something baked." You let out the most exaggerated sigh imaginable, slumping against him like a child trying to earn sympathy. "Besides..." you muttered under your breath. "Those candies are probably expired too." Toji scoffed. "Well that's too damn bad, isn't it?" He propped both feet onto the coffee table, looking entirely too comfortable while continuing to scroll through movie after movie.
"Ugh, c'monnnn." You whined, letting your forehead fiall against his shoulder. "I'm craving it reallyyyy baaaadd..." Your hand reached over to his, gently tracing your fingers over his rough, calloused knuckles. He didn't pull away. Instead, his fingers unconsciously curled around yours. He was cracking. "Hell nah." he muttered, trying to sound annoyed despite the small smile threatening to appear. "Quit whinin' about it."
"Just a little somethinggg..." You stretched the words out in the sweet voice you knew he could never resist. Toji purposefully kept his eyes glued to the TV, pretending he suddenly found the movie descriptions incredibly interesting. A deep sigh escaped him.You smiled to yourself. One last push.
Tilting your head just enough for your wide puppy eyes to land squarely in his peripheral vision, you puffed your cheeks out into a pout. "Toji..." Nothing. "...Baby?" His jaw tightened. "...Pleeease?" He finally looked over. The moment your eyes met, his expression immediately betrayed him. He clicked his tongue, rubbing a hand down his face before letting out an exhausted groan. "...Fine."
Your entire face lit up. "Thank youuu!" You nearly bounced off the couch in excitement, wrapping your arms around him for a quick squeeze before hopping to your feet. Toji only rolled his eyes, though the corner of his mouth tugged upward. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever."
Now the two of you stood inside the nearest Walmart, parked squarely in the baking aisle. You had been pacing back and forth for the past ten minutes. Cookies? Cake? Brownies?
Every thirty seconds you would grab another box off the shelf, stare at it thoughtfully, mumble to yourself, then put it back in favor of something else. Toji watched the entire process with increasing regret. Another five minutes passed. Then another.
"Pick one already, will ya?!" he groaned dramatically, rubbing both hands over his face. You gasped in mock offense before lightly smacking his chest with the brownie mix still in your hand. "Shut up. This is a very important decision." He stared at you. "...Is it?"
"Yes. Don't rush me." Toji raised both hands in surrender with an exaggerated sigh. "Whatever you say." Despite all his complaining, he couldn't stop watching you with quiet amusement. You were taking this decision with the seriousness of someone choosing a life partner instead of dessert.
"Hmm brownies are fudgier." You picked up another box. "But cookies have better texture.” You swapped it again. "Cake lasts longer." Toji pinched the bridge of his nose. "You've got pros and cons?"
"I'm thinking."
"You've been thinkin' for fifteen damn minutes."
After another agonizing five minutes, you finally made your decision. The Ultimate Chocolate Brownie Supreme Mix.
At self-checkout, you scanned the box before dropping it into one of the plastic bags. As you instinctively reached into your pocket for your wallet, Toji's hand gently stopped yours. "I got it." You blinked. "You sure?" It wasn't that he'd never paid before. It was just...usually he couldn't. So paying yourself had become second nature.
He chuckled softly before ruffling your hair. "Yes, doll." He held up the brownie mix. "It's four dollars." You laughed before slipping your wallet away. "Alright." With all the confidence in the world, Toji slid his card into the machine. The payment screen loaded. A smug grin spread across his face. "See? Told you I go—"
Error.
The robotic beep echoed through the self-checkout area. Silence. The two of you slowly looked toward the screen. Then at each other. Toji blinked once. "...S'probably a fluke." He confidently reinserted the card.
Loading...
Error.
You cleared your throat. "Hey... it's okay. I can just—"
"No." He immediately cut you off. "I got money." He frowned at the machine. "This thing's just actin' up." As if to prove his point, he gave the screen a light smack before trying again.
Loading...
Error.
His eyebrows slowly lowered. "This fuckin' stupid piece of junk." Another attempt. "I got paid this week."
Error.
"I'm tellin' you it's the machine." You nodded with the most suspiciously straight face imaginable. "Mhm."
Another beep.
Error.
A tiny laugh escaped your lips. Toji's head whipped toward you. "Ain't nothin' funny, doll." You immediately covered your mouth. "N-no..." You fake coughed. "I'm not laughin'—"
Another error beep.
That was it. You completely lost it. You doubled over laughing, grabbing onto the counter for support while tears gathered in your eyes. Toji stared at the machine like it had personally declared war on him before giving it another irritated smack. "On my life I got paid this week!" He looked at you for backup. "This shit just ain't workin'."
"Oh no..." you wheezed between laughs. "My boyfriend's gonna drop dead in the middle of Walmart." His face scrunched up in offense. "Aye! I swear I did!" He pointed accusingly at you. "Fuck you laughin' at?"
You wiped tears from your eyes. "Seems like they barely paid you cents." Another laugh escaped. "Ain't even got four dollars."
"Don't start that shit with me."
One last attempt. The card slid in.
Loading...
Approved. The machine happily chimed. Toji immediately clicked his tongue, snatching his card back before shoving it into his wallet. "Stupid-ass machine." He grabbed the grocery bag before throwing an arm over your shoulders as the two of you walked toward the exit. "Makin' me look bad in front of my girl." You leaned against him, still laughing so hard your stomach hurt. "I'll never let you live this down."
He sighed dramatically. "...Yeah, I figured."
The walk back to Toji's apartment wasn't nearly as quiet as the walk there. Your laughter had finally died down into the occasional giggle, but every few minutes you'd glance over at him and immediately start smiling again. "What?" Toji muttered, already knowing exactly why you were looking at him.
"Nothing."
"...Bullshit."
You shrugged innocently, swinging the plastic Walmart bag between you. "I was just thinking."
"'Bout what?"
You looked up at him with the sweetest smile you could manage. "Should we stop by an ATM? Y'know... just in case." You said innocently. Toji let out a long, irritated groan. "Don't." You bit your lip to hide another smile. "I'm just saying, four dollars is a lot nowadays."
He clicked his tongue before reaching over and lightly flicking your forehead. "You got one more joke before I'm takin' that damn brownie from ya." Which only made you laugh harder.
Despite the bickering, his hand found yours after a moment, naturally intertwining your fingers as the two of you continued the short walk back to his apartment. By the time you reached the building, the teasing had settled into comfortable silence. The second you stepped inside, you kicked your shoes off near the door and set the Walmart bag on the kitchen counter.
"Alright," you said, already pulling the brownie mix from the bag with a grin. "Time to make the greatest brownies ever." Toji snorted as he locked the apartment door behind you. "You sayin' that like you ain't usin' a box mix." You turned to glare at him. "...Get out of my kitchen."
Toji wandered over to the cabinets while you carefully read the instructions on the back of the brownie mix box. "'Half a cup of vegetable oil...one egg...and a quarter cup of water,'" you read aloud.
"I got eggs." His deep voice came from inside the refrigerator as he rummaged through the shelves. "...Probably."
You slowly lowered the box. "...Probably?"
"I'm kiddin'." He pulled out a carton and cracked it open, inspecting the eggs before giving you a lazy thumbs up. "We're alive." You rolled your eyes before setting the ingredients on the counter. "Can you grab a bowl?" He reached into a lower cabinet and placed the biggest mixing bowl he owned in front of you with a heavy clunk. "...Why is it the size of a bathtub?"
"'Cause it's the only one I got." Fair enough.
You tore open the brownie mix, immediately being hit with the rich smell of chocolate as the powder poured into the bowl. Toji stood beside you, cracking the eggs one-handed with practiced ease before dropping them in. You stared. "...Show off."
"Hm?"
"You did that on purpose." A smug grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. "I dunno what you're talkin' about."
"You absolutely do."
He only chuckled. After pouring in the oil and water, you grabbed a whisk and started mixing. The batter was much thicker than you expected. Your whisk dragged through it with resistance, barely making a dent. "...Why is this so hard?"
"'Cause you're holdin' it like you're scared of it."
"I am not."
"You are."
"I literally bake all the time."
"You've been stirrin' that same spot for an entire minute."
You frowned down at the bowl before stubbornly mixing faster. The batter barely moved. Toji let out a quiet laugh before gently taking the whisk from your hand. "C'mere." He planted one hand against the edge of the bowl to keep it from sliding while the other worked the whisk through the mixture with slow, strong circles. Within seconds, the powder disappeared into a thick, glossy chocolate batter.
You blinked. "...Show off."
"I cook."
"Baking isn't cooking."
"Close enough." He handed the whisk back. "Finish it."
You stuck your tongue out at him before giving the batter a few more stirs. "What?" He chuckled, his brow lifting from your amusing gesture. "I don't like your attitude." You said with a huff. "My attitude?" He replied mockingly. "You've been insufferable ever since Walmart." You shot him a glare. He scoffed. "You laughed at me for fifteen minutes."
"I'll laugh about it for another fifteen years." You stuck out your tongue once again.
"I'm throwin' you out." He snorted, shaking his head as he reached for the baking pan.
Your head snapped towards him while gasping dramatically. "You can't."
"Watch me."
You laughed as he nudged your hip with his, and together you poured the thick chocolate batter into the pan. You grabbed a spatula, carefully scraping every last bit from the bowl.
"No batter left behind," you declared. Toji raised an eyebrow. "You gonna lick the bowl too?" You looked at him like he'd asked the dumbest question imaginable. "Obviously." Smiling to yourself, you dipped a finger into the leftover batter before holding it out toward him.
"Open."
"What?"
"Open."
"I ain't—"
Before he could finish protesting, you dabbed a little brownie batter onto the tip of his nose. He froze. You stared at him for exactly one second before bursting into uncontrollable laughter.
"Oh, you think you're funny?" His grin slowly spread.
You immediately took a cautious step backward. "...Toji?"
"C’mere, doll." He reached for the bowl, scooping as much leftover batter as his finger could, and started walking toward you with menacing intent.
"TOJI—" You squealed, taking off around the kitchen before he could retaliate.
But he wasn't one to back down without a fight. The second you took off, he was right behind you. Laughter echoed through the apartment as the two of you sprinted around the coffee table like a pair of children, cutting corners and trying to fake each other out. Every time you thought you'd finally lost him, he'd appear from the other side with an annoyingly smug grin that only made you run faster. "You're gonna have to do better than that," he called between laughs.
"Oh, shut up!" You darted one way, then quickly doubled back the other. For a split second, you celebrated what you were sure was the perfect juke. Then his foot hooked around your ankle. With a startled yelp, you stumbled backward, landing on the couch in a pile of blankets. Before you could scramble away again, Toji was already there, resting one knee on the cushion beside you to keep you from making another escape. "There you are," he said with a grin that spelled nothing but trouble.
"Oh, don't you dare—" Too late. He swiped the last bit of brownie batter from the side of the mixing bowl with his finger and triumphantly smeared it across both of your cheeks. You gasped in mock offense, your jaw dropping as his deep laugh filled the room. "You look ridiculous," he teased.
"You are the worst."
"I know." Still chuckling, he leaned in and took your jaw into his hand. He used his tongue to lick away the remaining smears, nibbling on your cheeks a bit before pulling away slightly. Toji turned your face side to side to make sure you were cleaned up while clearly satisfied with his victory. You narrowed your eyes at him, trying your hardest to look intimidating despite having his saliva all over you. His grin only widened. "Don't look at me like that," he laughed. "You started this, doll." He whispered before pressing his lips on yours, the sweet taste of chocolate mixing between you.
After your little squabble, the sweet smell of chocolate had been filling the apartment for the last half hour. It made the wait feel almost unbearable. You'd already peeked through the oven window more times than you could count, only earning an amused "They're not gonna bake any faster" from Toji each time.
Once the timer finally rang, you were already halfway to the oven before the beeping had even finished. "They're hot," Toji warned, pulling the oven door open before you could reach for it yourself.
"I know."
"Don’t look like you do." You pouted as he slipped on a pair of oven mitts and carefully pulled the pan out, setting it on the stove. "They gotta cool."
You groaned dramatically. "That's like... the worst part."
He let out a quiet chuckle. "You survived waitin' twenty-five minutes in Walmart. You'll survive another ten."
"I don't know..." You sighed as if it were the greatest hardship imaginable. "That might be asking too much." Eventually, after what felt like forever, the brownies had cooled just enough to cut. You practically hovered over Toji's shoulder as he sliced them into squares. "Can I have one?"
He clicked his tongue, setting the knife down before handing you the first brownie. "Here."
You took a bite almost immediately, the warm chocolate practically melting in your mouth. Your eyes widened. "Oh my God."
"What?"
"They're so fucking good." A laugh rumbled in his chest as he grabbed a brownie for himself, taking a bite before giving a small nod of approval. "...Not bad."
"Not bad?" you repeated. "These are amazing."
"They're brownies." He shrugged, while taking another bite.
The two of you carried your plates back into the living room, settling onto the couch beneath the same blanket you'd been sharing all afternoon. You curled into his side almost immediately, your legs tucked beneath you as the movie resumed playing in the background. Neither of you paid much attention to it. Your focus was split between the warm brownie in your lap and the steady rise and fall of Toji's chest beneath your cheek. His arm naturally found its place around your shoulders, pulling you in just a little closer.
"So..." you said after another bite. He hummed in response. "Worth the walk?" He glanced down at you. "...Yeah." A grin spread across your face.
"Worth almost dying over four dollars?"
He groaned, tipping his head back against the couch. "I knew this was comin'."
"You walked right into that one."
"I didn't walk into nothin'."
"You kinda did."
He sighed dramatically, shaking his head before pinching your cheek between two fingers. "You're lucky you're cute, doll."
You laughed, gently swatting his hand away. "And you're lucky you eventually had four dollars."
He looked at you with the most unimpressed expression he could manage. "...Keep talkin'." You only smiled wider before resting your head back against his shoulder.
The apartment settled into a comfortable silence once more, broken only by the movie playing softly in the background and the occasional crinkle of the brownie wrapper on the coffee table. Every now and then, Toji would absentmindedly rub slow circles against your arm while the two of you shared the pan between bites.
"You know," you mumbled through a bite of brownie, "I think we should bake more often." Toji glanced at the nearly empty pan before looking back at you with a crooked grin. "We definitely shouldn't."
a/n: based off of real events unfortunately… (¬_¬")
You’re hanging out with your boyfriend Toji one afternoon. The two of you had spent the entire day lazing around his apartment, buried beneath a blanket on the couch while one movie seamlessly blended into the next. At some point neither of you were even paying attention to what was on the TV anymore—it had simply become background noise to your lazy day together. Eventually, a craving for something sweet hit you.
While Toji got up to use the bathroom, you stretched your stiff limbs before wandering into his kitchen in search of something that could satisfy it. You opened the refrigerator first. Barely anything. A few packs of beer crowded one shelf while plastic containers filled with leftovers occupied another. Typical. You sighed dramatically before moving to the cabinets instead. Chip bags. Half-empty cereal. Random hard candies shoved into a bowl. Then...Bingo.
Tucked behind a box of pasta sat a bag of Little Bites muffins. "Score," you mumbled triumphantly. You happily carried both yourself and your prize back to the couch, plopping down cross-legged with the bag in your lap. Already imagining the soft chocolate muffins, you tore the package open without a second thought.
Then your smile immediately dropped. Tiny green spots stared back at you. "Mold." You groaned dramatically, tossing the bag onto the coffee table like it had personally offended you before throwing your head back against the couch cushions. Perfect timing.
Toji wandered back into the living room, still looking half asleep. He yawned loudly while scratching absentmindedly at his abdomen, his shirt lifting just enough to reveal a strip of toned skin before falling back into place. "Aye, what's the groanin' for?" he asked, lazily dropping onto the couch beside you. "I wanted something sweet," you sighed dramatically, pointing accusingly at the bag. "The Little Bites are expired."
Toji leaned forward just enough to glance at them before looking back at you. "A lil' mold ain't hurt nobody." You slowly turned your head toward him, your face twisting into complete disgust. "You're disgusting." He let out a laugh, shaking his head. "I'm messin' with ya." He casually slung an arm around your shoulders, pulling you against his side while grabbing the remote with his free hand to scroll through movies. "Should be some candy or somethin' lyin' around."
"But I don't want candy." You pouted. "I want... like... something baked." You let out the most exaggerated sigh imaginable, slumping against him like a child trying to earn sympathy. "Besides..." you muttered under your breath. "Those candies are probably expired too." Toji scoffed. "Well that's too damn bad, isn't it?" He propped both feet onto the coffee table, looking entirely too comfortable while continuing to scroll through movie after movie.
"Ugh, c'monnnn." You whined, letting your forehead fiall against his shoulder. "I'm craving it reallyyyy baaaadd..." Your hand reached over to his, gently tracing your fingers over his rough, calloused knuckles. He didn't pull away. Instead, his fingers unconsciously curled around yours. He was cracking. "Hell nah." he muttered, trying to sound annoyed despite the small smile threatening to appear. "Quit whinin' about it."
"Just a little somethinggg..." You stretched the words out in the sweet voice you knew he could never resist. Toji purposefully kept his eyes glued to the TV, pretending he suddenly found the movie descriptions incredibly interesting. A deep sigh escaped him.You smiled to yourself. One last push.
Tilting your head just enough for your wide puppy eyes to land squarely in his peripheral vision, you puffed your cheeks out into a pout. "Toji..." Nothing. "...Baby?" His jaw tightened. "...Pleeease?" He finally looked over. The moment your eyes met, his expression immediately betrayed him. He clicked his tongue, rubbing a hand down his face before letting out an exhausted groan. "...Fine."
Your entire face lit up. "Thank youuu!" You nearly bounced off the couch in excitement, wrapping your arms around him for a quick squeeze before hopping to your feet. Toji only rolled his eyes, though the corner of his mouth tugged upward. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever."
Now the two of you stood inside the nearest Walmart, parked squarely in the baking aisle. You had been pacing back and forth for the past ten minutes. Cookies? Cake? Brownies?
Every thirty seconds you would grab another box off the shelf, stare at it thoughtfully, mumble to yourself, then put it back in favor of something else. Toji watched the entire process with increasing regret. Another five minutes passed. Then another.
"Pick one already, will ya?!" he groaned dramatically, rubbing both hands over his face. You gasped in mock offense before lightly smacking his chest with the brownie mix still in your hand. "Shut up. This is a very important decision." He stared at you. "...Is it?"
"Yes. Don't rush me." Toji raised both hands in surrender with an exaggerated sigh. "Whatever you say." Despite all his complaining, he couldn't stop watching you with quiet amusement. You were taking this decision with the seriousness of someone choosing a life partner instead of dessert.
"Hmm brownies are fudgier." You picked up another box. "But cookies have better texture.” You swapped it again. "Cake lasts longer." Toji pinched the bridge of his nose. "You've got pros and cons?"
"I'm thinking."
"You've been thinkin' for fifteen damn minutes."
After another agonizing five minutes, you finally made your decision. The Ultimate Chocolate Brownie Supreme Mix.
At self-checkout, you scanned the box before dropping it into one of the plastic bags. As you instinctively reached into your pocket for your wallet, Toji's hand gently stopped yours. "I got it." You blinked. "You sure?" It wasn't that he'd never paid before. It was just...usually he couldn't. So paying yourself had become second nature.
He chuckled softly before ruffling your hair. "Yes, doll." He held up the brownie mix. "It's four dollars." You laughed before slipping your wallet away. "Alright." With all the confidence in the world, Toji slid his card into the machine. The payment screen loaded. A smug grin spread across his face. "See? Told you I go—"
Error.
The robotic beep echoed through the self-checkout area. Silence. The two of you slowly looked toward the screen. Then at each other. Toji blinked once. "...S'probably a fluke." He confidently reinserted the card.
Loading...
Error.
You cleared your throat. "Hey... it's okay. I can just—"
"No." He immediately cut you off. "I got money." He frowned at the machine. "This thing's just actin' up." As if to prove his point, he gave the screen a light smack before trying again.
Loading...
Error.
His eyebrows slowly lowered. "This fuckin' stupid piece of junk." Another attempt. "I got paid this week."
Error.
"I'm tellin' you it's the machine." You nodded with the most suspiciously straight face imaginable. "Mhm."
Another beep.
Error.
A tiny laugh escaped your lips. Toji's head whipped toward you. "Ain't nothin' funny, doll." You immediately covered your mouth. "N-no..." You fake coughed. "I'm not laughin'—"
Another error beep.
That was it. You completely lost it. You doubled over laughing, grabbing onto the counter for support while tears gathered in your eyes. Toji stared at the machine like it had personally declared war on him before giving it another irritated smack. "On my life I got paid this week!" He looked at you for backup. "This shit just ain't workin'."
"Oh no..." you wheezed between laughs. "My boyfriend's gonna drop dead in the middle of Walmart." His face scrunched up in offense. "Aye! I swear I did!" He pointed accusingly at you. "Fuck you laughin' at?"
You wiped tears from your eyes. "Seems like they barely paid you cents." Another laugh escaped. "Ain't even got four dollars."
"Don't start that shit with me."
One last attempt. The card slid in.
Loading...
Approved. The machine happily chimed. Toji immediately clicked his tongue, snatching his card back before shoving it into his wallet. "Stupid-ass machine." He grabbed the grocery bag before throwing an arm over your shoulders as the two of you walked toward the exit. "Makin' me look bad in front of my girl." You leaned against him, still laughing so hard your stomach hurt. "I'll never let you live this down."
He sighed dramatically. "...Yeah, I figured."
The walk back to Toji's apartment wasn't nearly as quiet as the walk there. Your laughter had finally died down into the occasional giggle, but every few minutes you'd glance over at him and immediately start smiling again. "What?" Toji muttered, already knowing exactly why you were looking at him.
"Nothing."
"...Bullshit."
You shrugged innocently, swinging the plastic Walmart bag between you. "I was just thinking."
"'Bout what?"
You looked up at him with the sweetest smile you could manage. "Should we stop by an ATM? Y'know... just in case." You said innocently. Toji let out a long, irritated groan. "Don't." You bit your lip to hide another smile. "I'm just saying, four dollars is a lot nowadays."
He clicked his tongue before reaching over and lightly flicking your forehead. "You got one more joke before I'm takin' that damn brownie from ya." Which only made you laugh harder.
Despite the bickering, his hand found yours after a moment, naturally intertwining your fingers as the two of you continued the short walk back to his apartment. By the time you reached the building, the teasing had settled into comfortable silence. The second you stepped inside, you kicked your shoes off near the door and set the Walmart bag on the kitchen counter.
"Alright," you said, already pulling the brownie mix from the bag with a grin. "Time to make the greatest brownies ever." Toji snorted as he locked the apartment door behind you. "You sayin' that like you ain't usin' a box mix." You turned to glare at him. "...Get out of my kitchen."
Toji wandered over to the cabinets while you carefully read the instructions on the back of the brownie mix box. "'Half a cup of vegetable oil...one egg...and a quarter cup of water,'" you read aloud.
"I got eggs." His deep voice came from inside the refrigerator as he rummaged through the shelves. "...Probably."
You slowly lowered the box. "...Probably?"
"I'm kiddin'." He pulled out a carton and cracked it open, inspecting the eggs before giving you a lazy thumbs up. "We're alive." You rolled your eyes before setting the ingredients on the counter. "Can you grab a bowl?" He reached into a lower cabinet and placed the biggest mixing bowl he owned in front of you with a heavy clunk. "...Why is it the size of a bathtub?"
"'Cause it's the only one I got." Fair enough.
You tore open the brownie mix, immediately being hit with the rich smell of chocolate as the powder poured into the bowl. Toji stood beside you, cracking the eggs one-handed with practiced ease before dropping them in. You stared. "...Show off."
"Hm?"
"You did that on purpose." A smug grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. "I dunno what you're talkin' about."
"You absolutely do."
He only chuckled. After pouring in the oil and water, you grabbed a whisk and started mixing. The batter was much thicker than you expected. Your whisk dragged through it with resistance, barely making a dent. "...Why is this so hard?"
"'Cause you're holdin' it like you're scared of it."
"I am not."
"You are."
"I literally bake all the time."
"You've been stirrin' that same spot for an entire minute."
You frowned down at the bowl before stubbornly mixing faster. The batter barely moved. Toji let out a quiet laugh before gently taking the whisk from your hand. "C'mere." He planted one hand against the edge of the bowl to keep it from sliding while the other worked the whisk through the mixture with slow, strong circles. Within seconds, the powder disappeared into a thick, glossy chocolate batter.
You blinked. "...Show off."
"I cook."
"Baking isn't cooking."
"Close enough." He handed the whisk back. "Finish it."
You stuck your tongue out at him before giving the batter a few more stirs. "What?" He chuckled, his brow lifting from your amusing gesture. "I don't like your attitude." You said with a huff. "My attitude?" He replied mockingly. "You've been insufferable ever since Walmart." You shot him a glare. He scoffed. "You laughed at me for fifteen minutes."
"I'll laugh about it for another fifteen years." You stuck out your tongue once again.
"I'm throwin' you out." He snorted, shaking his head as he reached for the baking pan.
Your head snapped towards him while gasping dramatically. "You can't."
"Watch me."
You laughed as he nudged your hip with his, and together you poured the thick chocolate batter into the pan. You grabbed a spatula, carefully scraping every last bit from the bowl.
"No batter left behind," you declared. Toji raised an eyebrow. "You gonna lick the bowl too?" You looked at him like he'd asked the dumbest question imaginable. "Obviously." Smiling to yourself, you dipped a finger into the leftover batter before holding it out toward him.
"Open."
"What?"
"Open."
"I ain't—"
Before he could finish protesting, you dabbed a little brownie batter onto the tip of his nose. He froze. You stared at him for exactly one second before bursting into uncontrollable laughter.
"Oh, you think you're funny?" His grin slowly spread.
You immediately took a cautious step backward. "...Toji?"
"C’mere, doll." He reached for the bowl, scooping as much leftover batter as his finger could, and started walking toward you with menacing intent.
"TOJI—" You squealed, taking off around the kitchen before he could retaliate.
But he wasn't one to back down without a fight. The second you took off, he was right behind you. Laughter echoed through the apartment as the two of you sprinted around the coffee table like a pair of children, cutting corners and trying to fake each other out. Every time you thought you'd finally lost him, he'd appear from the other side with an annoyingly smug grin that only made you run faster. "You're gonna have to do better than that," he called between laughs.
"Oh, shut up!" You darted one way, then quickly doubled back the other. For a split second, you celebrated what you were sure was the perfect juke. Then his foot hooked around your ankle. With a startled yelp, you stumbled backward, landing on the couch in a pile of blankets. Before you could scramble away again, Toji was already there, resting one knee on the cushion beside you to keep you from making another escape. "There you are," he said with a grin that spelled nothing but trouble.
"Oh, don't you dare—" Too late. He swiped the last bit of brownie batter from the side of the mixing bowl with his finger and triumphantly smeared it across both of your cheeks. You gasped in mock offense, your jaw dropping as his deep laugh filled the room. "You look ridiculous," he teased.
"You are the worst."
"I know." Still chuckling, he leaned in and took your jaw into his hand. He used his tongue to lick away the remaining smears, nibbling on your cheeks a bit before pulling away slightly. Toji turned your face side to side to make sure you were cleaned up while clearly satisfied with his victory. You narrowed your eyes at him, trying your hardest to look intimidating despite having his saliva all over you. His grin only widened. "Don't look at me like that," he laughed. "You started this, doll." He whispered before pressing his lips on yours, the sweet taste of chocolate mixing between you.
After your little squabble, the sweet smell of chocolate had been filling the apartment for the last half hour. It made the wait feel almost unbearable. You'd already peeked through the oven window more times than you could count, only earning an amused "They're not gonna bake any faster" from Toji each time.
Once the timer finally rang, you were already halfway to the oven before the beeping had even finished. "They're hot," Toji warned, pulling the oven door open before you could reach for it yourself.
"I know."
"Don’t look like you do." You pouted as he slipped on a pair of oven mitts and carefully pulled the pan out, setting it on the stove. "They gotta cool."
You groaned dramatically. "That's like... the worst part."
He let out a quiet chuckle. "You survived waitin' twenty-five minutes in Walmart. You'll survive another ten."
"I don't know..." You sighed as if it were the greatest hardship imaginable. "That might be asking too much." Eventually, after what felt like forever, the brownies had cooled just enough to cut. You practically hovered over Toji's shoulder as he sliced them into squares. "Can I have one?"
He clicked his tongue, setting the knife down before handing you the first brownie. "Here."
You took a bite almost immediately, the warm chocolate practically melting in your mouth. Your eyes widened. "Oh my God."
"What?"
"They're so fucking good." A laugh rumbled in his chest as he grabbed a brownie for himself, taking a bite before giving a small nod of approval. "...Not bad."
"Not bad?" you repeated. "These are amazing."
"They're brownies." He shrugged, while taking another bite.
The two of you carried your plates back into the living room, settling onto the couch beneath the same blanket you'd been sharing all afternoon. You curled into his side almost immediately, your legs tucked beneath you as the movie resumed playing in the background. Neither of you paid much attention to it. Your focus was split between the warm brownie in your lap and the steady rise and fall of Toji's chest beneath your cheek. His arm naturally found its place around your shoulders, pulling you in just a little closer.
"So..." you said after another bite. He hummed in response. "Worth the walk?" He glanced down at you. "...Yeah." A grin spread across your face.
"Worth almost dying over four dollars?"
He groaned, tipping his head back against the couch. "I knew this was comin'."
"You walked right into that one."
"I didn't walk into nothin'."
"You kinda did."
He sighed dramatically, shaking his head before pinching your cheek between two fingers. "You're lucky you're cute, doll."
You laughed, gently swatting his hand away. "And you're lucky you eventually had four dollars."
He looked at you with the most unimpressed expression he could manage. "...Keep talkin'." You only smiled wider before resting your head back against his shoulder.
The apartment settled into a comfortable silence once more, broken only by the movie playing softly in the background and the occasional crinkle of the brownie wrapper on the coffee table. Every now and then, Toji would absentmindedly rub slow circles against your arm while the two of you shared the pan between bites.
"You know," you mumbled through a bite of brownie, "I think we should bake more often." Toji glanced at the nearly empty pan before looking back at you with a crooked grin. "We definitely shouldn't."
a/n: we highkey laughed our butts off while making up the scenarios. hopefully y'all laugh at them too.
SATORU GOJO
Growing up, you didn't have much. Your parents were barely making ends meet, both working two jobs to sustain bills and your education. You started working as soon as you could to help fund your own expenses, giving them less to worry and pay for. They never asked you to, they'd tell you to just focus on your studies but you couldn't. Not while they suffered and worked harder than most to put food in your lunch box and clean clothes in your closet. You were hard working and smart, never taking handouts and always earning what was yours. All the while studying hard during your lunch breaks at work and staying up countless nights to cram for exams. That is what Gojo always admired.
From the first time he met you at that small coffee shop you waitressed at, your nose in a book as you wipe down tables and fixed chairs, till your very first date that you insisted on splitting the bill. He played along of course, but the bill had been taken care of before you ever saw the price. He loved your stubborn and hard working nature, loved how upset you got and tried to pry the bill amount out of him, but most of all he loved how you didn't care about his generational wealth. Despite being the richest sorcerer alive since birth, you still tried arguing over a measly 70 dollar date.
Once you started dating, it took a long time to get accustomed to being taken care of by him. He’d constantly show up with your favorite comfort meals after your shift, sitting in his sports car with his hand massaging your thigh as you ate and told him about rude customers. Snacks during your late night study sessions in your room where he’d brush your hair and ask you questions on the material, peeking over your shoulder and occasionally kissing your ear to purposely distract you as you recited the contents of your workbook.
He’d also buy you clothes without you needing to tell him your size, “I thought you’d look good in this babe.” He’d say with a proud smirk before shoving it into your hands and ushering you to your bathroom to try it on. To say Gojo was spoiling you rotten was an understatement, on date nights he’d insist on buying you a completely new outfit down to designer sunglasses and heels. Necklaces worth your paycheck and anything you even glanced at. “What’s so wrong with spoiling my honey? You work hard, let me care for you.” He’d say with a quick kiss to your cheek before grabbing all the bags from your hands and ushering you to his parked sports car.
For months you’d feel guilty at how much he was spending on you, often scolding him on how he never even glanced at the bill before tapping his black metal card. He'd listen to you scold him with a small amused smirk, twirling your hair in his fingers and occasionally humming his acknowledgment of your words. You thought he'd grow out of the habit, but boy were you wrong.
Now, years later the sound of utensils clinking against kaolin porcelain china plates fills the lavish dining room in the Gojo Estate. You, your husband Satoru, and your two beautiful teenage kids sit at the table enjoying a 3 course dinner, all hand made by your private chefs. You sit next to your husband whose hand is on your thigh, stroking your soft skin with his thumb lazily as he eats with his free hand. Despite the grand table, you and your husband all sit at the head together. Your daughter to your left and your son to your husband's right.
You ask your kids how school went between sips of your wine, your husband graciously refills your glass only to steal sips from the spot your maroon lipstick stains the rim, glancing sideways at you with a playful gleam in his eyes and a smirk. Your daughter goes on to tell a story of how she tried out for the ballet competitive dancing club and got in. Your son after going on to explain a similar story with the baseball club.
“The club is exclusively for travel competitions. Apparently last year, the club traveled all around Europe for two weeks doing competitions against the best schools world wide.” Your daughter says excitedly between bites of her Alaska salmon.
“Yeah, same for the baseball club. Some third years were telling the newbies that last year the club traveled around America playing against some prestigious private schools.” Your son says in a more relaxed tone before putting a piece of lamb in his mouth.
You smile warmly, chewing and swallowing the piece of food you had in your mouth before speaking. “That's amazing sweethearts.” you say proudly, setting down your fork.
Your husband sets down your wine glass he was drinking from with a proud smile. “Atta kids. I knew my DNA would serve you right.” He chuckles and winks to his kids.
You chuckle at your husband and the kids do too. Taking his bigger hand in your smaller one you look between the two, “So, when do you guys start? Do we need to go out tomorrow and get you the proper supplies?” You’re already mentally planning the mall day, which stores to hit up for your daughter's necessities and which for your son.
Your husband smiles big at your eagerness, squeezing your hand gently in his and stroking your knuckles with his thumb before speaking. “You kids tell us what you need, can't have you guys looking like rookies.”
Your daughter's expression turns sheepish, almost worried. “Yeah, but the club is really expensive.” she says softly, setting down her fork before your son follows after.
“Yeah, the baseball club is too.” he says before wiping his mouth with a napkin and taking a sip of his water.
“Are you sure we can afford it?” Your daughter asks, genuinely worried that her and her brother are asking for too much.
The word afford hangs in the air like a heavy blanket, you can practically feel Gojo’s blood heart rate start to spike. “Oh boy.” You mutter, putting your elbow on the table and your free hand over your forehead, shaking your head, looking down at the table. Your husband's smile slowly fades, waiting for the part where his son starts laughing and saying 'You should've seen your faces!' The part doesn’t come. Your kids look between you two, your daughter's eyebrows furrowing, and your son leaning forward in his chair, looking equally confused.
After a couple of tense seconds of silence, “We’re buying the teams.” Your husband says flatly, leaving no room for debate. You sigh, “Honey…”
Your kids' eyes widen in shock. “What? Dad-” Your daughter starts but is quickly interrupted by Gojo. “No no no, what is it with the two most important women in my life thinking we’re broke? I mean seriously!” he says, offended.
“Honey, that was like 16 years ago.” You defend yourself in vain. Gojo lets go of your hand to point an accusing finger at you. “Oh no no no, just last week I told you to take the Master card, and you didn't! Would it kill you to spend my money?” he says with a dramatic huff.
You click your tongue and smack his hand that points at you, “Would you stop it? We don't need to buy anything-”
“Two jets. One for baseball and the other for ballet. Custom wrap for the team names and custom jerseys. We’ll rent out the mall tomorrow to get them the necessities without hassle. You get whatever you want and you're actually buying it this time. In every color they have.” He states confidently, already pulling out his phone to make all the calls necessary to make this happen.
Your kids are wide eyed, looking between each other and you two with shocked expressions. “Wait Dad!-" Your daughter is quickly cut off by your husband getting up from his seat at the table. Grabbing your chin between his thumb and pointer finger before kissing you deeply on the lips with a teasing hum.
He tastes like the fruity wine he's been stealing from your glass and something specifically Gojo. You smile against his lips, forgetting about the semi-argument from seconds ago. Even with your eyes closed you know his free hand is already holding his phone against his ear waiting for the ringing on the other end to pick up.
“Get a room.” Your son grumbles and pushes away his dinner. Gojo smirks against your lips and chuckles lightly before pulling away when the phone answers. He winks at you before kissing both kids on the head and walking away, talking in that energetic playful tone he always has.
You lick your lips, savoring his taste on you before looking back to your kids with a smile. “You guys get some rest, we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”
TOJI FUSHIGURO
You and Toji had only been dating for a few months, but somehow it already felt like you’d known him forever. He didn’t have much. Everyone knew that. Most days he was bouncing between odd jobs, helping someone move furniture, fixing things around town, taking whatever work he could find. Other days he’d spend hours in a bar somewhere, betting on races and somehow convincing himself he’d finally hit it big this time. His bank account was usually empty. His apartment was barely furnished. His car made sounds that definitely shouldn’t have been coming from a functioning vehicle. But none of that mattered to you. Because despite having so little, he somehow gave you more than anyone else ever had.
When his bets actually paid off, he’d show up at your door with flowers, acting like it wasn’t a big deal even though you knew he’d spent half his winnings on them. When you complained about craving ice cream at midnight, he’d groan dramatically, throw on a hoodie, and disappear into the night only to come back twenty minutes later with your favorite flavor. On anniversaries he’d save up for weeks just to take you somewhere nice, pretending he hadn’t planned the entire thing down to the smallest detail. He wasn’t perfect. He was stubborn, annoying, sometimes reckless. But he loved you in a way that felt real. And that was enough.
At first, your friends were happy for you. They told you how much brighter you seemed lately, how often you smiled, how you talked about him with a look they’d never seen on your face before. Everyone seemed supportive. Everyone except her, your best friend. The first comment was easy to ignore. “You could do better.” You laughed it off. The second comment was harder. “He seems like a lot of work.” Then came the constant questions. “What does he even do?” “Does he have a plan?” “How is he supposed to take care of you?” You defended him every single time. Because she didn’t know him. She didn’t know about the way he’d remember every tiny detail you mentioned. She didn’t know the sacrifices he made quietly without ever talking about them. But no matter what you said, she never seemed convinced.
As the months passed, her behavior became harder to ignore. Whenever your friends asked about Toji, she’d suddenly lose interest in the conversation. You’d be showing pictures from a date, and she’d roll her eyes. Someone would mention how happy you looked together, and she’d let out a dramatic sigh. Sometimes you’d catch her staring at her phone while everyone else was listening to your story. Other times she’d make faces she thought nobody noticed. But you noticed, every single one. The worst part wasn’t even the comments. It was how obvious her bitterness became. Your other friends were excited for you, your family liked him, even people who barely knew him could see how much he cared about you. Yet somehow your supposed best friend was the only person who seemed incapable of being happy for you.
You confronted her more than once. “Why can’t you just support me?” And every time she’d give some excuse. “I’m just looking out for you.” “I don’t want to see you get hurt.” “I’m being realistic.” But the more she spoke, the less believable it sounded. Because it wasn't a concern. Concern comes from love. This felt different, it felt personal.
One Thursday night, everything finally clicked. You were sitting in her living room, curled up on the couch, talking excitedly about a date Toji had planned for the weekend. You were smiling without realizing it. Talking about how secretive he’d been all week, how he’d been saving money for something special, how excited you were to spend time with him. The entire time she just stared at you. Her expression looked almost irritated, like your happiness was physically bothering her. When you finished talking, silence filled the room.
Then she scoffed harshly, “Can he even afford to buy you flowers?” Her lips twisted into a smirk. The room went quiet. For a second you just stared at her. Not because the comment hurt. But because suddenly everything made sense. Every eye roll, every rude remark, every passive-aggressive comment, every time she tried to convince you to leave him, every moment she’d dismissed your happiness. It all clicked together. And for the first time, you realized she wasn’t worried about you. She never had been.
Whether it was jealousy, bitterness, or something else entirely, she simply couldn’t stand seeing you happy with someone she didn’t approve of. The realization hurt more than the comment itself. Because this was someone you’d trusted for years, someone you considered family. And instead of supporting you, she’d spent months trying to tear down the healthiest relationship you’d ever had.
You stood up. She looked confused. “What?” You shook your head. “You know what? I think we’re done.” Her expression immediately changed. “What are you talking about?” But there was nothing left to explain. A real friend doesn’t compete with your happiness, a real friend doesn’t constantly belittle the person you love, and a real friend certainly doesn’t make you feel guilty for being happy. You left her house that night and never looked back. Later, when you told Toji what happened, he just wrapped an arm around your shoulders and pulled you closer. “No more ice cream for her then.” You laughed so hard you nearly cried. And in that moment, losing a fake friend felt a lot less painful than keeping one.
Now, years later you’re curled up on the couch next to your husband Toji tucked under his arm as he sips his favorite beer with his free hand watching some boxing match on the TV. His fingertips draw unconscious patterns on your arm as you read a book and draw lazy patterns on his thigh with your unoccupied hand when the front door opens.
“I’m home.” The familiar aloof voice of your son Megumi carries throughout the house. You lean off of Toji’s shoulder, earning yourself a displeased groan from the man and smiling at your son with your usual warm smile.
“Hey, how was school?” You ask, setting down your book on the couch and settling back into your husband's side. Toji groans again and settles you better into his side, his arm falling from your shoulders to around your waist and hand now resting on your thigh. He sips his beer and side eyes his son as acknowledgement.
“It was fine.” Megumi says flatly from the front door where he’s slipping off his shoes and jacket. You watch him set down his house keys next before speaking again, “How's Yuji and Nobara?” You ask as Megumi walks over towards the kitchen and grabs a water bottle.
“Good. They want to go out tonight to some arcade.” He says simply before taking a long sip. You smile excitedly, smacking Toji’s thigh so he could acknowledge that your usually introverted son wants to go out. He side eyes you, silently saying, 'What was that for?' with his eyes before groaning and turning off the TV.
“About time you get a life.” Toji mutters to his son before sipping his beer, you click your tongue and smack his thigh harder. He chuckles and smirks around the beer bottle pressed to his scarred lips.
Megumi pays no mind to his father's words, walking over to the couch and sitting down on your left with his water bottle in his hands. With a final glare at Toji, you look at your son, smiling and excited for him. “Oh yeah? Sounds like a good time.”
“Would be.” He says simply as he stares off to the screen of the TV. Your eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “You're not going?” You ask, slightly disappointed. Toji snorts, “What a shocker.” Your husband says sarcastically.
You roll your eyes and turn to better face your son, “Why aren't you going, Megs? Does it not sound fun?” Megumi shrugs, “The arcade is new. It's expensive, so I figured we couldn't afford it.”
When the word ‘afford’ leaves his mouth, your face drops. Toji spits out the beer that was in his mouth and bursts out laughing. Megumi’s usual stoic expression falters, concern growing on every line of his face. Your eye twitches as you stare at your son and the word replays in your head like a drum, Toji coughing and laughing up a storm while setting down his beer on the coffee table in front of you all and smacking his chest with his now free hand, trying to draw in breath. “Oh, here we go.” He gasps out between fits of laughter.
“Wha-“ Megumi tries to ask but is quickly interrupted by you, “Oh Megumi…my sweet boy…WE can afford it.” You say as if that word leaves a bad taste in your tongue. Sitting up you dig into Toji’s pocket as you continue speaking, “Here’s what you’re gonna do.” Toji sighs deeply and adjusts himself so you can better reach into his pocket. Opening the wallet you take out a fat band of cash, undoing the rubber band around it. “You will buy tickets for you AND your friends to this arcade,” you say while placing a stack on your son’s hand, his eyes widening from the amount of money that alone already is. “THEN you will buy as much food and play as many games as you all desire.” Emphasizing your words with another stack, Toji next to you stroking your thigh under his big hand to offer some form of support. “And you’re not allowed to take a single step into this home unless this entire band is spent.” You place the last part of the money on his hand. Megumi is speechless at this point, he looks up at his father for help but Toji just gives him a slight shrug as if telling him, ‘just go with it, kid.’
Megumi just blinks between the both of you in confusion then just sighs. “Uh…okay…thanks then..i guess.” He stands up slowly while organizing the stack in his hands better while staring at you. “You’re telling me what this is about when I'm back.” He says in a slightly reprimanding tone, eyes sharp as if they’re trying to figure out where everything went wrong while backing up towards the stairs to his room.
You and Toji settled back into the couch together, his arm over your shoulder this time to have you pulled as close as possible to his side while Megumi was getting ready. Once he was done and said his goodbyes to both of you, the front door shut, leaving just the faint scent of his cologne. A few moments pass, and there you go muttering to yourself, ‘Pfft…afford..tch..we can afford it…’ shaking your head slightly. Toji presses his scared slips together slightly, an amused smirk on his face, before tilting his gaze to you, holding back a chuckle. “We can beat the ashes of the horse before bed, but not right now, the match is getting good, yeah?” He hums while kissing the underside of your ear and caressing your collarbone.
KENTO NANAMI
You and Nanami have been dating for a while now. Friday morning, you woke up early and had an amazing slow morning together. Your apartment smells like coffee, his cologne, and fresh laundry that's still laid out on your couch from last night. Before he was out the door to his job, he left you with a lingering kiss on the lips that tasted like his bitter black coffee and something uniquely him. “I’ll be home at 8:33 tonight, dear. Assuming the train is actually on time tonight. Call me if you need me, I'll answer.” He says to you as he adjusts his glasses one final time and smiles slightly before disappearing out the door.
Hours later, you're sitting at home getting some work done on your computer when a message from him lights up your phone. You set down your drink onto the coffee table in front of you before opening his message and reading it, a growing frown pulling on your lips. “Dear, I'm clocking in overtime tonight. Gojo needs these reports on his desk by morning. I love you, don't wait up.” After reading his message, you respond, mid-sentence, having a light bulb moment. Knowing that when he clocks in over time, he usually goes straight home. You made up your mind to go to his apartment tonight and surprise him.
After wrapping up all your work, you made your way to his apartment at 6pm. Your boyfriend has a routine of cleaning his house every Saturday, but the way his superiors have been overworking him, you decided to do that for him, deep cleaning his bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, and living room. Now it’s 7:35 pm, and you’re starting to prep ingredients for your signature sandwich, which he loves, when you realize he has run out of bread. You quickly make a run to his favorite bakery that’s across the street from his place, hoping it doesn’t close yet. Running into the bakery 15 minutes before closing, looking like a semi-disaster after all you did at his place, with an apologetic, relieved smile on your face.
“Oh, good, you're still open.” You say, out of breath, walking up to the counter. You’re greeted with an annoyed teenager who's popping her gum loudly and rolling her eyes after checking the time.
“Yup.” She says exaggerated and sarcastically, clearly not in any mood for your presence. You smile apologetically again, heading straight to grab two loaves of baguettes and pastries from the glass display case. After 4 minutes of walking around and grabbing the necessities, you walk up to the counter, emptying the contents of stuff from your hands and onto the surface. The snarky teenager rolls her eyes before looking you up and down slowly. “This it?” She says, annoyed, you nod and say yes. She scoffs, looking you up and down more slowly this time. “You can afford all this?” Your face drops at her comment as she rings you up. Taking your card from your wallet and the payment goes through without a hitch, the girl scoffs. You take the bag full of food and walk out of the bakery, doing double takes at the girl as if not believing the interaction you just had.
Nanami is walking down the hallway to his apartment with a defeated spirit. Standing in front of his place, he sends you a quick text while undoing his tie. Then, as he opens the door, the scent of cleanliness and your perfume engulf him. For a moment, he was confused. Why did his place smell clean? And of you? Until he walked into the kitchen and saw his beautiful girlfriend waiting for him on the bar stool with fresh sandwiches and his favorite pastries on the counter. “Ken baby, hey! You hungry?” You say brightly, already up from your seat and walking over to him for a hug around the neck. He hugs you by the waist, looking around astonished at his very clean apartment, his favorite sandwich on the counter with his usual weekend pastries, and a lovely girlfriend who feels like home in his arms. “Hon, you didn't have to.” He mumbles gratefully into your shoulder, hugging you tighter and pulling you flush against his toned body. You spent an amazing night together, sharing stories of your day between bites of your sandwiches and smiles after sips of wine. Despite the night you were having, the words from that snarky teenager stayed in your subconscious.
Now, years later, you and Nanami are married with a beautiful teenage daughter who's the spitting image of you two. You were cleaning up around the kitchen after you and your husband had lunch. He was off from work today, so you spent your time deep cleaning the house and getting ready for the weekend. Your daughter appears in the doorframe moments later, “Mom! Dad! I’m home!” Her voice carries from the front door to the kitchen, and a smile appears on your face almost instantly.
Your usually stoic husband relaxes a bit, his shoulders dropping ever so slightly. “In here!” you call out, your husband setting down his cleaning supplies to help his daughter with her school bags before kissing the top of her head. “How was your day, honey?” he asks in his usual tone, but it carries a hint of warmth, the tone reserved for just you and your baby girl. “It was good!” She says while giving her dad a quick kiss on the cheek and doing the same to you. “Actually, there’s a dilemma I’m having that I want you guys to hear out.” She continues in a slightly more serious tone as she grabs a barstool to sit on. You and Nanami give each other a quick glance and put down everything to pay attention. “Hit us.” You respond, Nanami giving his daughter a quick nod signaling her to continue. “Alright so it was club rush today and the music club really caught my eye so I applied to it.” She finally spoke, almost testing how the words would land. “That’s great, sweetheart! I’m glad something interested you.” You replied, then there’s a pause, “What’s the dilemma?” asks Nanami in a tone that he’s ready to fix any of his daughter’s problems right away. “The dilemma is that we have to have our own piano to practice at home, and the ones they were recommending were a pretty penny or two, so…I was wondering if we could afford it?”
Your head snaps towards your husband immediately, your finger pointing to your daughter, half accusingly, half in defense. “You see!? The horse got up!” Nanami mumbles to himself while taking off his glasses, “Oh boy..” pinching the bridge of his nose, he nods slowly, “Yes, dear, it did get up.” Your daughter is just looking between the two of you, very confused, “So, like, am I missing something here?” She asks, clear that something she said had triggered you.
“Yes. You’re missing that piano.” Your head snaps again towards your daughter, and you walk towards her, leaning over the counter. “On that note, the piano is gonna be mahogany wood. A violin in the same wood, matching set.” In the background, Nanami is approaching you from behind, careful not to disrupt you. “In fact, the office is now becoming your practice studio.” He stands by your side while you begin your rambling, placing a hand on your waist and the other giving grounding squeezes to your shoulder. “Your dad is strong, he can help me carry out all the furniture, right, Ken?” You ask quickly before continuing, your daughter is completely distraught by your plans, and before she interrupts. “Yes, my love, of course.” Nanami replies in a calm voice, the teenage girl gives him a bewildered look as if asking, ‘You’re actually going along with this?!’
He replies with a knowing nod, ‘I'll explain later,’ it said. Your daughter just sighs as your rambling just becomes white noise.
“Of course, we can afford this new hobby, sweetheart. Actually, I’m even getting you a tutor. That's a great idea, right?” Nanami nods, letting out a deep exhale while pressing a kiss on your temple. “Yes, love.”
HIROMI HIGURUMA
At the beginning of your relationship with Higuruma, you both already knew you guys were forever. So much so that during one of his celebratory dinners with his colleagues over a grueling case, he wanted to announce his biggest achievement of all, being able to land the fiancée title. That’s right, just a few months into dating, he had already decided to get the gears going just a tad bit faster. You were super excited but also extremely nervous to meet his colleagues, especially to announce the upgrade of your relationship status. So you decided to doll yourself up as best as you possibly could, nails done the day before, your hair styled to perfection, and now you are doing your makeup with laser focus. Having the black dress Higuruma absolutely adores waiting for you, splayed carefully on the side of your bed to make sure the fabric doesn’t get stained or wrinkled. Black-red bottom heels were neatly placed in front of the dress on the floor, jewelry placed above the dress, and your purse that’s going to carry your phone, lip combo, and, most importantly, your engagement ring already placed next to the dress.
Everything is going smoothly, your getting-ready playlist is on the TV as you take your sweet time with every step, just really enjoying the process of getting dolled up. Then a notification with a specific ringtone interrupts. “Hey doll, we’re running a bit late to wrap things up, but you can start heading out soon. My secretary is on the way to the reservation, so you can meet her there. I love you, see you soon.” Oh, how giddy every text from him still makes you. Taking his message as your cue, you do your last touches on the makeup before getting the dress, shoes, and bag all on you. Making sure you have everything with you— “Oh shit, I forgot my wallet!” You say as you are walking towards the front door while checking your bag. When you’re about to go back to get it, you remember you have a lawyer finacée who will personally sue you if you pay for something yourself.
20 minutes later, you were walking into the designated restaurant with a nervous smile, hand clutching your purse as you looked around for Higuruma’s secretary. After a total of 3 seconds, you spot her sitting down on one of the couches in the waiting area. Her bleach blonde hair and red lipstick that looked way too bright for the occasion made her stand out like a sore thumb. She was scrolling through her phone with a seemingly annoyed expression, maybe it’s been a stressful few hours for her. Before making your way over to her, you take a deep breath through your nose, mustering up all the sociability in your bones and scanning her for a way to start this conversation.
You clear your throat before speaking, “Hi! You’re Higuruma’s secretary, right?” You say as calmly as you can with a polite smile on your painted lips. She looks up from her phone at you, “Uh, yeah. Who are you?” She says, her face scrunched in, already seeming disapproving. “Perfect! It’s great to finally meet you! I’m—“ your introduction gets cut short from her phone ringing. Without sparing you another glance, she immediately turns her head away from you and answers it. You retract the handshake you were expecting and wait for her phone call to end, it almost seemed like she was extending it on purpose..? Once it ended, she didn’t turn her attention back to you, she just opened up her social media instead. Well, alright…maybe you should try another tactic. “Oh, girl, I love that necklace you have on. Where’s it from?” You ask with a cheerful tone before taking the seat next to her. She sighs exasperatedly and turns her scrutinizing gaze to you slowly, looking you up and down before responding, “I’d tell you, but I don’t think you can afford it.”
Her tone was sharp, almost chuckling to herself at the end. Her comment left you momentarily speechless. Did this stranger actually just say that to you?
“What did you just say?” A deep, authoritative voice from behind you spoke up, a very familiar one. Both of you turn to face Higuruma, whose usually stoic expression seemed extremely displeased with what he’d just heard directed to his fiancée. “O-oh, nothing, it was just a joke, right girl?” She laughs nervously while giving you a slight nudge with her elbow. You snap out of your stunned daze and scoff, your face a mix of disbelief and disgust, before rubbing your arm where hers had touched you. “Yeah, a joke.” You say back to her, rolling your eyes and standing from your spot next to her to walk over to your fiancé. Higuruma notices your attitude towards her and immediately scoffs, “Lying to a lawyer? Not the brightest idea you’ve had.” He says to his secretary before his hand finds your waist, firmly pulling you closer to his side with a gentle protectiveness only you get to see.
The secretary is struggling to find an excuse while the physical proximity between you two is making her glitch. “Let me make this clear for you. You do not speak to my fiancée like that. Do you understand?” He says while reaching into his pocket with his free hand. Her eyes widen comically large, her words stuttering in disbelief. “Y-you’re w-what?!” His colleagues gasp, clearly not expecting this dinner to become such a spectacle. “My fiancée.” He repeats in his usual calm tone as he slips your engagement ring onto your finger gently before holding up your hand to press a soft kiss to your knuckles, then showing everyone around you two the stone on your ring finger like a key piece of evidence in a court case. “Are we all clear on how to speak to my fiancé?”
Now, years later, you guys are happily married with a beautiful daughter that just arrived home from an after-school hangout. “I’m home!” She calls out, and the sounds of her locking the front door shut while pushing away the plastic curtain that separates the half-remodeled kitchen and dining area are heard from the living room, where you and your husband were. “Here, sweetheart!” You call out to her as you keep typing on your laptop, shifting on the couch cushions with Higuruma to your right. She rushes over to the room and greets both of you with a hug, “What are you guys up to, huh?” she asks curiously while taking out a snack from the pantry before stopping to stand on the opposite side of the counter in front of both of you. “Just finished up some work. You arrived just in time.” Higuruma speaks, a relieved grin on his face as he closes his case folders and sets them aside. You shut your laptop as well. “Whew, work has us beat. But how have you been, hun? Tell us everything.” You add while leaning your cheek on your hand, ready to hear all about her day. “My day has been whatever, nothing noteworthy. The only thing is, my friends have been pestering me about the senior trip coming up.” She sighs, rolling her eyes and shaking her head slightly as she continues, “It's this end-of-the-year trip to Okinawa for a week. The whole senior class is invited, but not everyone's going because it's super expensive.”
You look at Higuruma at the same time he looks at you, both of you with confused expressions on your faces before turning back to your daughter. “What’s the problem?” He asks before you could.
Your daughter sighs, “I mean, I know we’re remodeling the house right now, and that's not cheap, so I just figured we couldn't afford that right now.”
As soon as those words leave your daughter's lips, you take a sharp inhale, eyes wide as if you’ve just been personally insulted. Higuruma groans as he brings both of his hands to his face, leaning back against the couch cushion, looking up as if he’s praying that he completely misheard that sentence. Your daughter is glancing between the two of you, clearly noticing the mood change, “What’s...wrong?” she asks cautiously. Your brows raise while crossing your arms over your chest, “Sweetheart, you are going on that trip. In fact, you will be the best dressed there.” You scoff, your husband by your side, still in the same position, rolling his eyes towards you. “Doll…” he speaks with a deep exhale, with the utmost amount of patience in his tone. “Yes. Exactly, you’re gonna look like a doll,” you say while gesturing to him, taking his nickname towards you completely out of context already. “Tomorrow you’re skipping school, and we’re going to the mall. You’re gonna buy four different outfits per day of your trip.” Higuruma just sits there, blinking while staring at you, then he looks towards his daughter with the same disbelief in his expression, but then that twinkle of amusement blooms quietly in his eyes. His exhale attempts to hide his chuckle while he shakes his head, taking out his wallet from his right pocket. His other arm drapes on the back of the couch, “So the black Amex or the gold Amex, Barbie?” Your head turns to him sharply, his comedic cooperation seeming like he’s trying to add more fuel to your ever-growing fire.
“Okay, stop. Seriously, what is going on?” Your daughter interrupts your next sentence before it starts. Your husband chuckles, his hand starting to draw lazy taunting patterns on your arm, “Well, if you must know, your mother is reliving a traumatic experience from 18 years ago. Nothing to concern yourself with.” You scoff, trying to swat his hand from your arm, “I’m not–” “No, no doll, we understand that this is your way of coping. Is revenge sweet, 18 years later?” He says with his usual tone, carrying hints of amusement. You stare at him for a solid five seconds, your lips slightly parted, too irritated to even have a comeback, eyes glaring a hole through his face. “Hiromi.” You scold not only with your expression but with your tone that implies the ice he’s dancing on is getting thinner. Although his usual deadpan expression remains, his eyes still glitter with taunting ideas, “We’re really showing her now, huh? Is it everything you’ve dreamed of?” Your brows furrow from his endless teasing, you reach for his other hand that holds the wallet, and snatch it from him with a huff. “Tch…afford..” you bicker grudgingly as you pick out the card you want for yourself. “Do you feel accomplished, honey?” he draws his words out oh so sweetly with a classy touch of mockery. He’s leaning closer to you, brows furrowed in a facade of pity. You place the credit card of your choice down on the table rather harshly, keeping the scowl on your face in check to not fall deeper into his bait.
“Higuruma.”
“Yes dear?”
“Enough.”
“Enough of what, my love? Use your words.”
Your daughter watched this childish bickering that happens between the two of you way too often. She mimics the same expression of her father’s, face palmed, looking up as if trying to escape her reality. Soon enough, she remembered her free will and sighed, leaving the card on the table and walking to her room down the hall to save herself the trouble of trying to understand what this was about.
CHOSO KAMO
The first time you encountered Choso Kamo, you knew you'd be head over heels for him and fast. Sure, his looks were the first eye catcher, obviously, but there was just something about the way he carried himself. How would you even start talking to him without blushing? Would he find it weird if you tried initiating conversation? This is all that was going through your head during the group hangout with your friend Yuji, who introduced you to him only an hour ago.
This hangout took you from the movies, to the arcade, to a ramen shop, and finally to a few stores around the mall. In the specific store you were at, you observed all your friends disperse into groups of two, and by some miracle, you ended up paired with Choso, #dreamcometrue.
You glance at him from time to time, taking note of his hairstyle, the band t-shirt with baggy jeans combo, worn-out sneakers, and the faint smell of his warm sandalwood cologne. His expression wasn’t deadpan or uninterested, just kinda..neutral, in a way that only he could pull off without looking bored. You can tell he was quietly observing the group as they walked ahead, looking around as if assessing potential threats when someone got too close to his younger brother. You found it sweet how intensely he worried for his brother when he stubbed his toe against the ice cream shop's door. Choso physically flinched like he felt it himself.
Even now, with Yuji’s friend yapping his ear off about some concert outfit she wants to buy, all he does is hum his acknowledgement of her words every now and then with his eyes forward to the group and his hands casually shoved in his pockets. You try to talk to the girl, you do, but every time you ask about the concert she's going to, she gives you an uninterested look and a half-ass response. It was clear that the only attention she wanted was from Choso. At some point, you just gave up on trying to socialize with her and started doing your own thing, browsing through the accessories and different clothing items the store had to offer. However, no matter how long you kept walking, her irritating voice followed you around. You glanced behind you, and Choso followed behind you like a line leader. You assumed he followed mindlessly, not like he was actually enjoying your company, so you shrugged it off and kept doing your own. While flipping through multiple hangers of clothes, finally a certain dress caught your eye.
It was definitely a sight, the quality of the fabric of the dress was incredible, and the details on the seams were so cohesive that it became mesmerizing. You studied the dress in your hands for a minute or two until a low voice behind you spoke, “That’s a great choice.” Your head turned to look at Choso, who was standing a respectful distance behind you, hands in his pockets and one ankle hooked over the other as he leaned the side of his body against the nearest wall with the same neutral expression. You blink twice before finally snapping from your daze and responding, “Oh yeah?” is all you could muster while trying to hide the shock in your tone that he is actually talking to you right now. “Mhm. I think it would suit you,” he replied in his usual calm but especially gentle tone that makes you melt, “From everything we’ve been looking at, this is the best.” Did…he just say we? Like he’s been paying attention to you this entire time? When this realization hits, you can’t help but smile at how adorable he is, “You’re right. I like this one a lot too.”
While you share this sweet moment with your crush, a frustrated scoff is heard from behind both of you, “Can you even afford that?” That girl snickers while giving you a nasty up-down look as she walks up to stand too close to Choso at his position against the wall. Her comment takes you aback, completely unprovoked and just plain unnecessary, as you open your mouth to clap back, Choso beats you to it, “That’s rude. Don’t say that to your friend.” His expression shifts slightly in distaste towards her comment, brows furrowed and lips in a small frown, before taking two steps towards you and away from her. “Even if she couldn’t, why would you judge her?”
The girl is completely speechless, and her face flushes with embarrassment. “Whatever..” she mutters, rolling her eyes while walking away with her pride bruised. You watch her leave completely defeated, your head slowly turns back to the man standing next to you with disbelief written all over it, “What?” he blinks at you like that was nothing. The innocent glint in his eyes makes your lips form into a smile once again, and you just laugh, “Thanks for being my knight in shining armor.” You said with a hint of teasing in your tone while giving him a playful jab with your elbow.
Just as you predicted, this man did in fact become your one and only true love. Years later, this blossomed into the beautiful marriage you have today, with a son just as sweet and adorable as he is. Here are the three of you in a car ride back home from picking up your son from kindergarten, and he’s telling you all about what he learned today. “And after we colored during recess.” He said all wide-eyed with a bright smile in the backseat, “That sounds fun! Did you like coloring?” You asked in that mom tone you have now acquired from the 5 years of being one. “Yes! I wanna color more!” He chirped happily, giggling with a sparkle in those big brown, innocent eyes that were identical to your husband's. Choso was in the driver’s seat with a hand on your thigh, drawing loving lazy patterns as he watched his son from the rearview mirror with a smile on his face. “Coloring is a great hobby, we should get you new supplies to do it at home.” He said with excitement in his tone, already imagining all the doodles his son’s brilliant mind could come up with. When the expected excited giggles and immediate enthusiastic child response doesn’t come, you and Choso share a confused glance at each other. “Is something wrong, bud?” He asks softly, adjusting in the driver’s seat to get a better look at his son’s face through the review mirror, concern etched into his expression. A beat of silence.
“Um…but..Mommy doesn’t have any paper rectangles in her purse.” Your son mumbles, the sound of his voice shy with a hint of sadness.
Both your expressions soften almost instantly as the realization sets in, sharing another glance, but this one with a smile. One of the recent things Choso has been teaching your son is money. Since he always comes shopping with both of you and is constantly playing with dollar bills your husband hands him, while waiting in line to pay, Choso started explaining what the paper in his small baby's hands is used for. Explaining the money in simple terms with the patience only a loving father has, and a warm, proud smile as he picks up on it quickly.
Choso squeezes your thigh gently, his big hand grabbing onto every inch he can. “Baby, you see?! He does remember what I taught him!” Your husband turns his head towards you with a proud glint in his eyes before looking back to the road. You were silent for a couple of seconds, a smile fading slowly as a realization set in. You turn your head towards him very slowly, “Our son just called me broke.”
Your words came out as if your heart had been shattered into pieces. Your husband’s expression changes instantly as he notices your reaction, “I’m sure he didn’t mean it like that, hon-“ He gets cut off by the sound of the shuffling you're doing in your seat to fully turn around and look at your son in the backseat. “Mommy is gonna prove to you that she has a lot of money.” You say reaching out to hold his hand, your son readily taking hold of it, obviously misunderstanding the situation. “Cho baby, pull over.” You say with the sweetest tone you could possibly muster, Choso glances at you again with growing concern for what he thinks is about to happen. “I think that might be unnecessa—“ Your eyes make contact with him sharply. “Choso. Pull over.” He sighs deeply before switching lanes to the nearest supplies store, “Honey...” You huff, letting go of your son's small hand and turning back to face forward in your seat as you gather your purse. “Let’s go.”
Without waiting for a response, you get out of the car, walk to your son's side of the car, and get him out of his car seat before securing him on your hip with your arms around him. Choso locks the car door and walks over to you both before putting his hand on your lower back and guiding you inside. Your son swings his legs on either side of you, looking at the store with an awestruck expression. Minutes later, you’re walking through the halls of the art section, leading the way with Choso pushing the shopping cart as you drag your hand through the shelves, knocking every product into the cart. “Baby, you missed one.” Choso says softly from behind you and nods towards the paint you missed. You knock it into the shopping cart with a satisfied smile, “See? Mommy can afford it.” You say sweetly to your son before bouncing him on your hip to make him smile brighter than he already is, looking at all his new art supplies with a twinkle in his eyes. “Wow! Mommy, this is all for me!?” He says excitedly, Choso just smiles at the interaction, shaking his head slightly as he starts following behind you to the checkout.
RYOMEN SUKUNA
After a grueling day of work, phone calls, and online meetings, you and your husband finally get the chance to sit back, relax, and watch the reality TV show that he swears he’s not interested in. Salty snacks, sweet treats, and drinks are on a tray you gathered up quickly before settling into your side of the bed.
Sukuna grumbles as he walks into your shared bedroom, the top pair of his arms drying his hair with a towel after his shower, “That show has another episode tonight. Such distasteful forms of entertainment.” Shaking his head in irritation while grabbing the remote from his nightstand with his free bottom right hand. You roll your eyes, hand digging into the warm bowl of popcorn, “If you don’t want to watch it, we don’t have to.” His face scrunches up as if he had just been offended while settling into his side of the bed. He looks you up and down with his usual annoyance and scoffs, “Entertainment is entertainment, woman.” His sassy attitude always amuses you. How can you take him seriously when he’s cuddling up next to you? His arm wraps around you and pulls you closer to his side while turning on the TV. “Right, right, sorry your highness.” You giggle as your hand brings some popcorn to the mouth on his stomach, and he shoots you a quick glare, huffing before reluctantly accepting the food, “Don’t let it happen again.”
After about 20 minutes of watching the episode, you both are extremely focused on the drama that the snacks have been left untouched for a bit, reaching for them slower and slower than the last time. Sukuna swears this is boring, but he’s the one who comments the most, “This mortal won’t stop talking,” one moment, and then a, “How awfully irritating this is,” another moment. All these complaints, but if you even imply to change the show, an immediate glare from his second set of eyes meets your peripheral vision, his bottom arm pulling you closer by the waist while the top arms are crossed behind his head. His hand caresses your side mindlessly, occasionally getting low enough to your hip and getting a sneaky squeeze before coming back to the middle of your waist.
As the episode is reaching its pinnacle of drama, you and your husband are so focused that you have to remember to manually blink or your eyes will get too dry. Suddenly, the door to your bedroom bursts open, both of your heads snap towards the door, you did a slight jump from being off guard, but Sukuna was just annoyed from the interruption. “Oh, there you guys are.” Your daughter let out a breath of relief while walking towards your bed. “Hi, sweetheart! How was your hangout?” You reply, sitting up straighter to greet your daughter, Sukuna huffs from the fact that you pulled away from his side and crosses his bottom pair of arms over his chest. “Ugh, Mom, that’s what I came to talk to you guys about. My friends were being such assholes.” She sat on the edge of the bed, a defeated sort of tone in her voice.
Your brows raise immediately from her words, reaching for the remote, and you pause the show. The second you do that, Sukuna groans, “Woman.” Your eyes snap to your husband’s, the most menacing look on your face for a split second makes him get his act right, reluctantly, of course, but it is done nonetheless. “Tell us everything.” You resume speaking to your daughter, patting the middle of the bed for her to come closer to you guys. She exhales loudly again while slumping herself over the space between your legs and your husband’s. “So while we were hanging out, the prom topic came up, and I started asking where everyone was getting their dresses from…” she started, a little pout forming on her lips as she spoke, “and you won’t believe what they said to me..” The emphasis becomes even more pronounced as she snatches the bag of gummies off your tray. “We’d tell you, but I don't think you can afford to shop there.” She mimics the voice of her friend while stuffing her face with a few gummies.
Your face drops, scoffing while the unprovoked comment is still processing in your brain, however Sukuna remains with his usual scowl. “Like who the hell says that?” She scoffs while shaking her head in frustration as if she’s reliving the baffling and embarrassing moment over and over. You dig into the gummy bag your daughter is holding and take out a handful of them. “Here’s what we’re gonna do.” You start by waving the sour little gummy worm around, “First, you are blocking them, cause ‘friends’ is the last thing they are to you,” then toss that gummy into your mouth. “Second, I’m calling up my assistant to make a list of the most luxurious boutiques. You’re gonna skip school, and we’re all going there.” You say while chewing, “Because you are going to be the best dressed and styled at that prom. Trust me, I'm hiring a makeup artist and a hairstylist too.” Then, as you pop another two gummies in your mouth before you start to speak again. Or so you thought.
“Let’s kill them.” A gravely voice suddenly interrupts the conversation, one that never usually has anything to say. Both of your heads turn to Sukuna, who is glancing between the two of you. Your daughter glances at you, then at him, “What?” He said plainly. Pinching the bridge of your nose, a deep exhale escapes you, “Dear…we can’t do that. Just making sure she shows off is fine.” His brow raises, and he clicks his tongue, “Back in my day, death was the lightest sentence to receive.” You reach out to caress his bicep in comfort, appreciating his attempt to help despite it being outrageous, “I know. Luckily, it isn’t the Heian era anymore.” An amused snicker escapes you as his face scrunches up in reminiscence of his golden age. “In fact, wiping out the entire familial bloodline sounds more appropriate for this matter.” He nods his head in approval of his own idea, while your laughter only increases, “Dear, that’s absurd—“ but you’re interrupted.
“Now that is proper revenge. Fantastic idea, Dad!” Your daughter chirps, her expression completely opposite from a few moments before. “Can you include her pets, too? She loves her fat hamsters more than anything, so you have to destroy them.” She adds while sitting up and giving puppy eyes to her father, who cracks a proud smile. “Of course, Child. The creatures shall receive their sentence first, then the rest of her loved ones, as we save the most grueling punishment for the peasant.” Your daughter shrieks in absolute joy and jumps toward Sukuna, embracing him as strongly as she possibly could, “You’re the best! Thank you so much!!” His bottom set of arms embraces her openly, nodding with a pleased look on his face. “No one dares to insult my mortal spawn and remain capable of drawing breath.” As this adorable moment between father and daughter occurs, you can’t decide if this is sweet or something you should actually be concerned about.
summary: friends to lovers, slow burn, mutual pinining, miscommunication, yearning, oblivious idiots in love, heavy on the flower/nature symbolism.
word count: 12k
a/n: this was so stinkin' cute i almost got heartburn when proofreading. also yes it's a bit corny at times don't hate me.
Megumi sat alone on the concrete steps outside the dorms, elbows resting on his knees as the late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the courtyard. The sounds of laughter drifted through the air, mixing with the distant chatter of students heading home. His eyes followed you without meaning to.
You were standing beside Yuji, laughing at something he'd said. Megumi couldn't hear the joke, but it didn't matter. What caught his attention was the way your smile seemed effortless around him, the way Yuji always managed to make you laugh. Watching the two of you together made something uncomfortable twist in his chest.
Yuji was easy to talk to, funny, and friendly. The kind of person people naturally gravitated toward. Meanwhile, Megumi struggled to hold conversations longer than a few minutes before retreating back into silence. His gaze dropped to the ground, wondering what it would be like if you looked at him that way. If you sought him out, if he could make you laugh without overthinking every word that came out of his mouth.
Maybe if he had the courage to tell you how he felt, if he were funnier, or if he were better at being someone people wanted to be around. Maybe then you'd see him.
A few feet away, your conversation with Yuji finally came to an end. You had originally planned to spend the afternoon with him but, "Sorry," Yuji had said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I completely forgot. Choso's been bugging me about hanging out all week." You laughed it off and told him not to worry about it, but now you found yourself standing alone with nothing to do.
Pulling out your phone, you scrolled through your contacts absentmindedly. Most of the names passed by without much thought until your thumb paused over one in particular. Megumi Fushiguro. You stared at the name for a moment.
You wouldn't exactly call the two of you close friends. Megumi was quiet, sometimes so quiet it was hard to tell what he was thinking. But whenever you talked to him, there was something oddly comforting about his presence. He listened when people spoke, he was dependable, kind even if he wasn't very expressive about it.
You realized you'd never actually tried spending time with him one on one before. Maybe he'd say no or leave you on read. Still, it couldn't hurt to ask. A small smile tugged at your lips as you opened your messages and began typing.
hii megumi, how are youu?
He was thinking of walking back to his dorm when you sent your message. Megumi stared at his phone, thumb hovering over the screen. For a moment, he wondered if he'd imagined the notification. Your name sat at the top of the lockscreen, bright and impossible to ignore. His pulse quickened. Why were you texting him?
He opened the message, reading it once. Then twice. Then a third time just to make sure he wasn't somehow misinterpreting it. A dozen possible responses flashed through his mind.
His fingers moved across the keyboard before stopping. He deleted the entire message, tried again. After nearly a minute of overthinking, he finally settled on something simple.
Fine. You?
A few seconds passed before another message appeared.
Did you need something?
The second message sounded colder than he'd intended, but it was already sent before he could stop himself. Megumi groaned quietly and dragged a hand down his face. Nice job. Real smooth.
When your phone buzzed, you glanced down at the response. Your lips flattened slightly. It wasn't exactly enthusiastic. Then again, it was Megumi. Most of the time, getting more than a few words out of him felt like an accomplishment.
i'm gooddd thanks for asking :)
You sent the first message without much thought. The next one was harder. Your thumbs hovered over the keyboard. You weren't even sure why you felt nervous, it was only Megumi. Still, a strange sense of embarrassment crept up your neck as you typed.
i just wanted to know if you maybe wanted to hang out with me?
The moment you hit send, regret flooded your system. Too direct. Way too direct. Before you could overthink yourself into oblivion, you hurriedly typed another message.
if you're busy that's fine tho!!
You turned off your phone and buried your face in your hands. Why did I say it like that?
Megumi's phone vibrated again. Then again. His eyes widened as he read the messages. His brain completely stalled. You wanted to hang out with him. Not Yuji. Not Nobara. Him.
A sharp breath caught in his throat. For a second, he genuinely wondered if this was some kind of prank. Maybe you meant to text someone else. Maybe you were inviting a group and just hadn't mentioned it yet. But the words were right there.
His heart hammered so hard he could feel it in his ears. The logical part of his brain was already screaming at him to respond before you thought he was ignoring you. The problem was that every response sounded stupid. Megumi deleted the same message at least six times.
Meanwhile, the little ‘typing…’ bubble still hadn't appeared on your screen. Because Megumi Fushiguro was currently having the biggest crisis of his life over a simple invitation to hang out. After what seemed like the most torturous 5 minutes of his life, he finally perfected his response.
Sure. When?
Your eyes lit up. No way THE Megumi Fushiguro just decided to hang out with you, didn't even have to force him. Is luck on your side?
yay! can you meet up with me now?
It was really happening. He was actually, truly, really going to spend time with you. Megumi typed, his fingers shaking so much he kept hitting the wrong keys. He finally sent:
Yeah. Where?
Your response was sent almost immediately.
i was just thinking to go on a walk and we can just see what to do from there :)
That works.
The response was short, but for Megumi, that was practically enthusiasm.
Before he could overthink anything else, he pushed himself off the dorm steps. A little too quickly. His foot caught on the edge of the pavement, and he stumbled forward, barely catching himself. "Seriously..." he muttered under his breath. Checking his reflection in his phone screen, then shoved it in his pocket. He started walking before he finished typing: "On my way." His steps were fast, uneven, almost a jog.
While you waited for Megumi to arrive, you wandered over to a vending machine near the edge of campus. The machine hummed softly as you scanned the rows of drinks behind the glass. You paused. You had absolutely no idea what Megumi liked. Actually, now that you thought about it, you didn't know much about his preferences at all. After a moment of consideration, you picked two bottles of passion fruit juice, one for yourself and one for him. If he didn't like it, at least you'd tried. The machine rattled loudly before dropping the drinks into the tray below. You grabbed them and leaned against the nearby wall, checking your phone while you waited.
Megumi walked down the sidewalk with his hands in his pockets. As he turned the corner, he caught sight of you, standing next to the vending machine. His pulse quickened. When your gaze flickered over him, Megumi realized he'd been standing there frozen, staring. "Hey..." He straightened up. You smiled warmly at the sight of him, “Hii Megumii, it's good to see you!” You said while handing him one of the drinks, "I didn't know what you like so I just got these. I hope you like it.”
Megumi blinked at the drink, then at you. The sweetness of your smile hit him like a spell he wasn’t prepared for. "Thanks." He took the bottle, fingers brushing yours, just for a second, and quickly looked away. “Of course, anytime.” You opened your bottle and took a sip, the flavor of the juice was so refreshing, a good balance between sweet and acidic. He watched you drink. How your eyes lit up. The way your throat moved when you swallowed. He wanted to look away, to focus on something else, to get these thoughts out of his head, but it was impossible. The plastic was still cool in his hand. "Passion fruit…” He said quietly. “I've never tried it."
Your eyes widened. "Really? It's one of my favorite flavors." The excitement in your voice made something twist pleasantly in his chest. You pointed toward the bottle. "Try it and tell me if you like it."
He nodded then unscrewed the cap, raised the bottle to his lips and took a cautious sip. The flavor exploded across his taste buds. He took another sip without thinking, and another. It was better than he'd thought it would be. "It’s...good," he said, a little embarrassed that he'd practically gulped it down.
You couldn't help laughing. A soft sound that made his heart skip embarrassingly hard. "I'm glad you like it." Your gaze flickered to the nearly half-empty bottle. "If you want more, you can just have mine." Megumi hesitated and shook his head. "No—I'm alright," he said quickly.
“C’mon let’s go on our walk.” You stepped forward first. Megumi watched you for half a second before following, his longer strides quickly closed the distance between you. The afternoon breeze drifted through the trees overhead, carrying the scent of fresh grass and distant flowers. For a while, neither of you spoke. Megumi kept his gaze ahead, occasionally sneaking glances in your direction whenever he thought you weren't looking.
The two of you continued down the winding path, your footsteps falling into an easy rhythm. To your surprise, the silence wasn't nearly as uncomfortable as you'd expected. Megumi wasn't much of a talker, that much was obvious, but somehow it worked. The occasional rustle of leaves overhead filled the gaps between conversations. Birds called from distant trees. The soft crunch of gravel beneath your shoes became its own kind of background music. It felt peaceful, comfortable, the kind of quiet that didn't demand to be filled. You took another sip of your juice and tilted your head toward the horizon.
"This is the perfect time to go on a walk." Megumi glanced over. "The sun's going down, and it makes the sky look so pretty." His eyes followed your gaze. The evening sky stretched endlessly above the campus grounds. Gold melted into orange, which faded into soft shades of pink and purple, wispy clouds caught the sunlight like brushstrokes across a canvas. It really was beautiful. But as Megumi looked at the sunset, his attention drifted. Back to you. The warm light painted everything in gold. Your hair, your eyes, the curve of your smile. For a moment, he forgot about the sky entirely. A thought appeared before he could stop it.
‘You're prettier than the sun.’
The realization made his stomach twist. Megumi immediately looked away. Heat crept up the back of his neck. He wasn't sure whether to feel embarrassed or guilty for thinking something so cheesy. Probably both.
A cool breeze drifted through the trees. You closed your eyes for a second, enjoying the feeling against your skin. "This weather is so nice." Megumi quietly nodded. "Yeah." For him, the weather wasn't what made the afternoon feel nice. But he wasn't about to say that out loud.
Just beyond the path, a cluster of wildflowers had bloomed beneath a nearby tree. Tiny patches of color scattered among the green grass. Your entire face lit up. "Ah!" Megumi nearly jumped. You pointed excitedly toward them. "Megs, follow me!" Before he could react, you were already hurrying toward the flowers.
Megumi stopped walking. The only thing echoing in his head was one word. Megs. His heart skipped. Then immediately started racing. Did you just— No. You definitely did. The nickname replayed over and over in his mind. As though you'd been calling him that for years. A ridiculous amount of happiness bloomed in his chest over something so small.
Ahead of him, you turned around. "Are you coming?" Megumi blinked. "Oh." Right, the flowers. "Yeah." His voice came out quieter than usual. He quickly followed after you, easily catching up. Truthfully, if you had pointed in the opposite direction and told him to walk for ten miles, he probably would've done that too. Every time you smiled at him, every time you said his name –or apparently gave him a nickname– he found himself wanting to stay by your side a little longer.
You stopped at the edge of the flower patch. Rows upon rows of asters stretched across the grass, their petals glowing softly beneath the fading sunlight. Your eyes lit up,"They're so pretty..." You crouched down beside the flowers, carefully brushing your fingers over a few petals.
He lowered himself beside you, leaving enough space between you to be respectful but close enough to see what had caught your attention. For a while, neither of you said anything. The silence felt natural and peaceful. You pulled your phone from your pocket and angled it toward the flowers. A soft click, then another, then one more from a slightly different angle. Megumi watched as you studied the pictures with quiet satisfaction. After a moment, your attention drifted to one of the blooms nearby. Carefully, you plucked it from its stem. "These only bloom in autumn." You turned it over in your hands before tucking it behind your ear. Megumi's breath caught slightly. The flower looked like it belonged there, as though it had always been part of you. His gaze lingered for a second before he forced himself to look back toward the flower patch. "How do you know that?"
"My mom loves these flowers." You absentmindedly adjusted the flower. "Every autumn my dad would bring her bouquets of them all the time." A quiet laugh escaped you. "Honestly, it was more like a flower garden than a house." Megumi found himself smiling faintly at the image. He could almost picture it. Flowers filling every room, a house smelling constantly of fresh blooms.
"My favorite flower is actually a spring flower." Pulling up your phone, you unlocked it and showed him your wallpaper. Clusters of colorful lilies filled the screen. Megumi leaned closer to look. "These." The excitement in your voice made it obvious how much you liked them.
"They're pretty." The words slipped out before he could stop himself. Your smile widened, then you turned toward him. "Do you like flowers?" He looked back toward the flower tucked behind your ear. "...Not really." The answer came automatically. Megumi lowered his gaze, thinking. "Tsumiki liked flowers." His voice was quieter now. The mention of her name carried years of memories with it. "White ones, mostly."
A small smile touched his lips. "Nothing complicated. Just simple flowers." For a moment, the two of you sat there surrounded by asters and evening sunlight. The breeze stirred the grass around you. "I never paid much attention to them." His eyes drifted back toward the flower tucked carefully behind your ear. A thoughtful silence settled over him. Then he spoke again, softer this time. "Maybe I wouldn't mind them now."
You tilted your head, a questioning look forming on your face. Megumi immediately looked away, the tips of his ears turning pink. Because what he hadn't said, what he'd never admit out loud, was that flowers had become a lot more interesting the moment he started seeing them through your eyes.
That was probably the most he'd talked since the two of you met up. Maybe you were making progress. "Well..." Your gaze drifted back toward the flowers, then carefully plucked another aster, twirling it thoughtfully between your fingers. "Maybe..." Megumi watched curiously, you looked up at him, "...we can find a flower you'll like." The smile you gave him was gentle enough to make his chest tighten. Before he could process what you meant, you leaned forward. With surprising care, you tucked the aster behind his ear, the petals brushed against his dark hair. "There." You pulled back to admire your work, "Now we match." Megumi stared, stared, and stared. Until his mouth moved before his brain could stop it."I like this one."
The words slipped out instinctively. Your laughter immediately followed which always seemed to make him feel lighter too,"You're just saying that to please me, silly." Megumi's face heated instantly. The worst part was that he couldn't explain himself without sounding completely ridiculous because he wasn't talking about the flower…at least not entirely.
You pulled out your phone again,"Ooh, wait." Before he could ask what you were doing, you scooted slightly closer. Close enough that he could feel the warmth of your shoulder beside his. You lifted the camera, "Smile." The picture snapped before he could fully prepare himself. You checked the screen, a grin spread across your face, "It turned out really cute." Megumi hesitantly leaned over, his eyes landing on the photo. Your smile looked natural and happy, his expression was softer than usual, much softer. He barely recognized himself. "It turned out really cute, right?" you asked, then your eyes brightened with an idea, "Do you mind if I post it?" Megumi's stomach immediately dropped, would other people notice? Would they take one look at the picture and immediately figure out what he was trying so desperately to hide?
Still, when he looked back at your hopeful expression, saying no felt impossible, "Yeah." His voice came out quieter than intended, "Go for it." Your face lit up instantly, "Yay! Thanks!" The excitement in your voice made the embarrassment worth it. You immediately began typing away on your phone, Megumi watched with quiet amusement.
"Oh!" You looked up, "You should add me here so I can tag you." For some reason, the idea of being tagged in your post made his heart skip. "Later though," you added quickly, slipping your phone back into your pocket, a teasing smile pulled at your lips. "Focus on hanging out with me now." Megumi stared, the comment was probably harmless, very casual, something anyone could've said. Yet his pulse immediately sped up. Because all he heard was: Pay attention to me. Which was the easiest request you'd made all afternoon. "Okay." A tiny smile appeared on his face. Small enough that most people would've missed it. But this time, he wasn't looking at the flowers, or the sunset, or the path ahead. His attention was exactly where you'd asked for it to be. On you.
You froze. Megumi seemed to realize what he'd done almost immediately. The smile disappeared as quickly as it had appeared, and he lowered his gaze toward the ground. As if trying to hide it, as if it had slipped out by accident. But you'd already seen it. A real smile, not the awkward little ones he occasionally gave when he felt obligated to be polite. Your heart fluttered unexpectedly. Without realizing it, you found yourself staring. Trying to memorize it, trying to figure out what had made him smile, trying to figure out how to make it happen again.
Megumi could feel your eyes on him. At first, he tried to ignore it. But after several seconds, it became impossible. He glanced up while you were still looking at him. Not in a strange way or judgmental. Just...looking, thoughtful, focused, like you were studying something important. A dangerous part of him wondered if there was something else behind that look. Something he didn't dare hope for. Immediately, he shut the thought down. You were just curious. That was all. "What're you looking at?"
The question snapped you out of your thoughts. For a moment, you pressed your lips together. Trying and failing to come up with a less embarrassing answer. Eventually, you gave up. "You, dummy." You replied in a teasing tone. Megumi immediately regretted asking, noticing his expression and you laughed. "Has anyone ever told you that you have a nice smile?"
People complimented each other all the time, so why did it feel like you'd just reached into his chest and squeezed his heart? His first instinct was to brush it off, pretend it didn't affect him, act indifferent, but your expression made that impossible. You looked sincere and somehow that made it worse. "Not really." His voice sounded distant, almost surprised, he thought for a moment. "Maybe Tsumiki."
Your eyes widened. "Really?" The disbelief slipped out before you could stop it. Then again... the answer made sense. Megumi didn't smile often. Not because he couldn't, but because he always seemed to be carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. You shook your head. "Your sister was spot on." Megumi immediately looked away, which only made you smile more. A few seconds passed. Then you added quietly, "Your smile is really cute, Megs."
His chest tightened so suddenly it almost hurt. Megumi ducked his head immediately, hoping it would hide how red his face had become. "Cut it out." His voice came out weaker than intended. "You’re teasing me." The accusation lacked any real conviction.
"What?" You sounded genuinely confused. "I'm not teasing you." You shifted closer, close enough that he couldn't avoid looking at you. "I'm serious. It should be illegal to have a smile as cute as yours." A quiet giggle followed while you lightly bumped your shoulder against his.
That name. That tone. That nudge. It hit him like a curse, straight to the chest. His gaze drifted away for a second before coming back to the warmth in your eyes. The softness that never seemed forced whenever you looked at him. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't understand why you were looking at him like that. "...You're gonna make me say something dumb if you keep talking like that," he muttered. The truth was that he wanted to say a lot of dumb things, but still clung to the last bit of caution he had left. Still worried that if he said too much, you'd look at him differently.
“What do you wanna say? I’ll hear anything and everything that's on your mind.” Your voice came out light and easy, accompanied by a quiet hum. You wanted to know what was hidden underneath all those walls he kept around himself.
The words echoed through Megumi's mind, his heart felt lodged somewhere in his throat. If only you knew how badly he wanted to tell you everything. Megumi shook his head. "You'd be here all night."
“Then I'll be here with you all night.” The response left your mouth before you could stop it. Your eyes widened slightly, immediately realizing how that sounded. “Uh..but yeah…you don't have to be cautious around me. I want you to be comfortable.” The clarification came perhaps a little too quickly, but the sincerity behind it remained unchanged. You wanted him to relax, to stop treating every word like it needed to be carefully measured before being spoken.
"…You make that sound so easy." His voice was barely above a whisper, the words carried more weight than he intended. Because for you, maybe it was easy, you wore your emotions where people could see them. Megumi had spent years doing the opposite. Yet somehow, in a single afternoon, you had made him want to try.
He stared down at the bottle in his hands, his fingers absentmindedly turning it back and forth. "I’ve never been good at this," he admitted, fingers fidgeting with the bottle in his hand. "Talking like… this." He swallowed hard. The confession felt strangely vulnerable. "But if I was gonna say something dumb—" His eyes slowly lifted until they found yours again. "It’d probably be that… I'm happy right now." The words lingered between you, entirely unguarded.
“Really?” The smile that spread across your face was immediate. There was something almost childlike about the excitement in your expression, as though hearing those words from him was enough to make your entire afternoon even better. “I’m glad you’re happy. I'm really happy too. Hanging out with you is fun.”
"Yeah," he said quietly, blue eyes finally lifting from the ground to meet yours. "It is." The words felt painfully small compared to everything he actually wanted to say. He wanted to ask if you'd do this again. Tomorrow, next week, whenever your schedules allow. The questions crowded the back of his throat, none of them escaped.
“We have some time before it gets dark. Do you wanna sit under that tree?” You pointed toward the willow tree standing a short distance away. He followed your hand with his eyes, a small nod was all the answer he needed to give. Neither of you rushed toward the tree. Instead, the two of you naturally fell into step beside one another, your shoulders occasionally brushing as you walked through the field while the sky above slowly deepened into shades of lavender and gold.
When the two of you reached the willow tree, he lowered himself to the ground, settling against the sturdy trunk with a quiet sigh. He stretched his long legs out in front of him, hands resting loosely at his sides. You sat beside him without hesitation, close enough that the warmth lingering from his body brushed against your side, yet leaving the smallest sliver of space between you. Leaning back against the trunk just as he was, you turned your head and stole another glance at him. The flower you had tucked into his hair earlier was still there, its pale petals shifting gently whenever the breeze caught them. A smile tugged at your lips.
“Forgot to mention but i really like your hoodie.” You commented while giving him an up-down look, he was stylish in a minimal effort way that fit him perfectly. It wasn't the compliment itself that caught him off guard, it was the way your eyes slowly traveled over him. You're looking at me. "Thanks," he muttered. "It's comfortable." A quiet beat drifted between you, "But I—uh—I like how you look too."
You weren't doing much better. The cool breeze brushed against your face, yet somehow your cheeks only felt warmer. “Thanks Megs.” Your mind scrambled to make sense of the unfamiliar warmth blooming in your chest. Every explanation you reached for somehow felt too small for what you were feeling.
Megumi noticed. He could almost see the thoughts spinning behind your eyes, countless questions and emotions flickering across your expression as you looked at him. He wanted to know every single one of them. He cleared his throat, "Can I ask you something?"
“Ask me anything you want.” you hum, still trying to figure yourself out. Somewhere along the way, something had shifted inside you. You just couldn't pinpoint exactly when it had happened. Was it when he smiled? When he lets you see the softer parts of himself? Or had it begun long before today, quietly waiting for a chance to surface?
"...Why me?" His voice was so quiet it nearly disappeared with the rustling willow branches above you. A beat passed. Then another. "I mean—today wasn't planned," he continued, every word leaving him carefully, like each one had to fight its way free. "You could’ve hung out with one of your friends." His blue eyes searched yours with an uncertainty so honest it almost hurt to look at. "So... why did you text me?"
There was something different in his voice, something fragile you hadn't heard from him before. It wasn't simple curiosity. You took your time before answering. “I've always been curious about you.”
A gentle breeze swept through the willow branches overhead, stirring the golden leaves until they danced above you. A few loose petals drifted lazily through the air. One settled delicately in your hair. Another landed against the sleeve of his hoodie, unnoticed. Megumi turned fully toward you. "And now?" His voice remained soft, but there was an earnestness behind it that made your heart skip. "Are you still…curious?"
You held his gaze without realizing it. “I'm so curious, it’s killing me. The more I find out, the more I want to know.” The confession slipped out before you could overthink it, only after the words left your mouth did your confidence begin to falter. “Is that..weird?”
"No. It's not." he said quietly. Silence settled comfortably between you again. Neither of you seemed eager to break it. Above you, the willow branches swayed lazily, filtering the growing starlight into shifting patterns across the grass.
"...Can I ask you something else?" He says almost hesitantly.
“Hm?” you hummed softly, turning your gaze towards him.
"...Can I keep being the one you pick?" His voice barely rose above the breeze. It didn't sound like he was asking about just another afternoon together. It sounded like he was asking for a place in your life, for every ordinary day after this one. Like he was quietly placing his heart into your hands and trusting you not to let it fall. "I know it’s selfish," he added quickly. "But... I want to be."
Your heart ached. “Yes Megs, I'll choose you. It's okay to be a little selfish sometimes.” You answered softly. The gentleness in your voice nearly undid him. God...his chest hurt. How much longer would he need to control his need for you?
TIMESKIP - 6 Months
For the past six months, the amount of time you spent with Megumi Fushiguro had increased exponentially. At first, the two of you only texted. Then, one afternoon after class, you mentioned struggling to understand a topic from history. Instead of sending another paragraph, Megumi surprised you by asking if he could call you. The conversation started awkwardly, neither of you quite sure what to say at first, but the moment he began explaining the Heian era, everything fell into place. He broke down each concept so smoothly that it finally made sense. He never spoke in a way that made you feel stupid for not understanding. If anything, he made learning feel exciting, encouraging you to ask more questions instead of feeling embarrassed for having them.
By the end of his explanation, you finally understood the lesson that had frustrated you all day. "You’re such a great teacher, Megs." A quiet pause followed. "...Shut up." You couldn't help but laugh.
For the next week or so, texting during the day remained the norm, but nights slowly became something entirely different. Once everyone else had gone to bed and the dorms had settled into silence, the two of you would spend hours on the phone talking about absolutely everything. Sometimes the conversations were completely ridiculous, filled with terrible jokes and pointless debates that somehow lasted an hour. Other nights became unexpectedly personal, the two of you peeling back layers of yourselves without even realizing it.
One evening the conversation drifted toward music. After nearly twenty minutes of relentless teasing and shameless begging, you finally managed to wear Megumi down. "...Fine," he sighed. "...Weezer." The second the band's name left his mouth, you gasped so loudly that there was complete silence on the other end of the call. "...Are you okay?" Instead of answering, you immediately switched the call to FaceTime.
When your camera turned on, Megumi was greeted by the sight of an entire section of your wall dedicated to your favorite Weezer albums. Vinyl records, posters, CDs, you looked absurdly proud of the collection. For the first time that night, Megumi looked genuinely speechless.
"...You've got to be kidding me."
"I knew you had good taste."
"I regret telling you."
"You absolutely don't." His quiet sigh was accompanied by the faintest smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
What started as an innocent reveal quickly spiraled into a heated debate over which albums deserved the most recognition and which songs were criminally underrated. Neither of you were willing to admit defeat, constantly interrupting each other with reasons why your own rankings were objectively correct. Every now and then, though, you'd stumble across a song you both agreed deserved more love.
Ever since that first FaceTime call, that's how both of your nights ended. After long, grueling days filled with training, classes, and studying, you'd retreat to your dorms only to find each other waiting on the other side of the screen. Sometimes the conversations lasted for hours, jumping from one random topic to another without any real direction. Other nights, words weren't necessary at all. You'd quietly exist in each other's company while cleaning your rooms, reading, playing games, finishing homework, or simply lying in bed waiting for sleep to come. Occasionally, one of you would even fall asleep before remembering to hang up, leaving the other to smile at the sound of soft breathing through the speaker before ending the call. It simply became routine, the favorite part of both your days.
By that point, you and Megumi were practically attached at the hip. Online. In person, however, things were...different.
Despite spending hours talking every single night, the two of you barely interacted during lessons or training. At most, you'd exchange a small greeting before heading in different directions, almost like the conversations you'd shared until three in the morning had never happened. It never sat right with you. You tried starting conversations between classes or walking beside him after training, but Megumi always seemed strangely nervous whenever there wasn't a phone screen separating you.
The truth was, he was terrified. Over FaceTime, he could hide behind the comfort of his room. He could glance away when you smiled or collect his thoughts before speaking. In person, he had nowhere to hide. Every smile threatened to linger too long, every glance risked saying more than he ever intended. He was terrified that if he let himself become too comfortable around you, everyone would notice the way his eyes softened whenever you laughed, or how naturally he gravitated toward you. They'd realize just how hopelessly enamored he was.
Eventually, you decided enough was enough. One afternoon, Gojo sensei clapped his hands together at the front of the classroom. "Alright! Pair up for the project." Before anyone else had the chance to say a word, you spoke. "I'll work with Megumi." The room fell quiet for a brief moment. Megumi looked up from his notebook, blinking in surprise. "...Me?" You smiled. "Yeah, come on."
Working together turned into eating lunch together, lunch became sneaking away during recess to raid the vending machines for snacks before anyone noticed you were gone, those little outings gradually evolved into spending time with Yuji and Nobara as a group. The funny thing was, both of you had hung out with Yuji and Nobara separately countless times before. Somehow, though, none of you had ever thought to spend time all together. Once you did, it just worked.
One afternoon, the four of you were hanging out in the common room of the dorms. Yuji was somehow trying to convince Nobara that he could beat her at tic-tac-toe despite losing every previous attempt, while Megumi sat nearby pretending to read. You were laughing at their bickering when Panda and Yuta suddenly called your name from across the room. "Hey! We need a tie breaker!"
Megumi watched you retreat with an expression so subtle most people would've missed it. His eyes followed you until you disappeared into the crowd, and the room suddenly felt quieter. Like a puppy watching its owner walk away, he did his best to hide the disappointment settling in his chest. He told himself you'd be back in a few minutes, yet he still found himself glancing over every so often without realizing it.
Unfortunately for him, Yuji and Nobara knew him far too well. The two exchanged a knowing look before Yuji finally blurted out, "Fushiguro...are you into her?" Megumi froze. For the briefest second, his expression cracked before he quickly composed himself, looking back down at his book as though nothing had happened. "What the hell are you talking about, Itadori?" He scoffed, hoping his usual monotone would bury the embarrassing truth before it ever reached the surface. It didn't.
Yuji and Nobara immediately scooted closer, completely unconvinced. "Dude," Yuji said, nudging his shoulder. "You have to ask her out."
"I don't like her." The response came far too quickly. "Come onnn," Nobara groaned, rolling her eyes. "Don't be like that. Just admit it."
"I knew I wasn't imagining things," Yuji muttered to himself, nodding proudly as if he'd just solved an impossible mystery. Megumi shot him an irritated glare, right before he could snap back, Nobara cut in. "If you ask her out, she'll definitely say yes."
The words echoed in his mind longer than they should have. His eyes drifted toward where you were standing with Panda and Yuta, animatedly arguing about whatever ridiculous debate they'd dragged you into. "...You guys are insane." He exhaled slowly, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Bro," Yuji exclaimed, "you're insane for not making a move already!" Nobara immediately smacked the back of his head. "Ow!"
"Keep your voice down, idiot." She turned back to Megumi. "Listen, Fushiguro." Her teasing expression softened into something surprisingly sincere. "She likes you. Just do it." Megumi didn't answer. He couldn't. Those words stayed with him long after everyone had gone their separate ways.
For the next few days, he tried to forget the conversation entirely. He trained, went to class, completed missions, and answered your texts like he always did. Yet every time you smiled at him, every time your eyes softened when they met his, every time you unconsciously found your way to stand beside him during conversations, Nobara's voice crept back into his thoughts.
She likes you.
He hated how much he thought about it. There was no way he could assume something like that. But with each passing day, his curiosity grew stronger. Stronger than the voice telling him he wasn't enough, stronger than the fear of being wrong. And for the first time in a long time, Megumi found himself wondering what would happen if, just maybe, Yuji and Nobara weren't completely insane after all.
Megumi made his decision. He was going to ask you out. First, he needed an actual plan. If he was going to do this, he refused to make it half-hearted. The problem was that every idea he came up with was immediately thrown out. Every possibility somehow managed to feel like either too little, too much, or unbearably corny.
The next morning, he sought out the only two people he knew would have an opinion on the matter. "...I need help." Yuji nearly dropped the drink he was holding. "No way." Nobara stared at Megumi for a second before a grin slowly spread across her face. "He's finally doing it."
"I'm not 'doing it,'" Megumi muttered. "I just...need ideas."
"Oh my God," Yuji gasped dramatically. "Operation: Make Her Fall for Fushiguro is officially underway."
For the next several days, the three of them became completely absorbed in planning. Yuji insisted every date needed something exciting, Nobara repeatedly shut down his terrible ideas before they could even be considered, and Megumi found himself acting as the only voice of reason. Somehow, despite all the arguing, the plan slowly started coming together. Unfortunately, keeping it a surprise meant they had to avoid you.
For the first time in months, the four of you stopped hanging out together after class. Instead, it was always just Megumi, Yuji, and Nobara disappearing somewhere with suspicious excuses.
"We're...busy." "It's a thing." "You'll see later."
Every explanation felt vague enough to make you raise an eyebrow. At first, you brushed it off. They were probably just doing something together. Still it felt strange.
Then Megumi started missing your nightly calls. The first night, your phone buzzed.
Sorry. I'm busy tonight.
You smiled to yourself and typed back.
No worries. Talk tomorrow.
The second night brought another message.
Sorry. Still busy.
Your smile wasn't quite as convincing that time. By the fourth apology, you found yourself staring at your phone longer than you meant to.
Sorry. I'm busy.
You knew he probably wasn't avoiding you on purpose.Whatever he was doing must've been important. That didn't stop the disappointment from settling in your chest every time another apology appeared across your screen. You hated how much it bothered you.
After days of planning, everything was finally ready. It wasn't anything extravagant, but it was something he genuinely believed you'd enjoy. There was just one problem. He still had to ask you. That somehow felt more terrifying than planning the entire date. Sitting alone in his room, he unlocked his phone and pulled up your contact. Your name stared back at him from the screen. His thumb hovered over the keyboard, but he couldn't bring himself to type anything.
What if she's busy? What if she says no? What if she realizes it's a date?
He let out a long, quiet sigh, leaning back against the wall. "...Get it together." After another minute of doing absolutely nothing, he finally started typing.
Hey. Wanna hang out tomorrow?
Very simple, casual, normal. He reread the message once, then again, and again. Before his thoughts could spiral any further, he closed his eyes and pressed send.
yeah ofc :)
Without realizing it, the tension in his shoulders eased. A small breath escaped him, then another notification appeared.
you got anything in mind?
Surprise.
Meet me by the vending machine at 6 pm.
A few seconds later, your reply came through.
alrightyy see you then!
You smiled at your phone before locking the screen and setting it on your nightstand. You stretched out across your bed, staring up at the ceiling with your hands folded behind your head.
A surprise? That wasn't very Megumi.
Normally he'd tell you exactly where you were going, what time to be ready, and probably remind you twice to bring a jacket if it was cold. The secrecy caught you completely off guard. A dozen possibilities ran through your mind.
You started getting ready almost an hour and a half before you were supposed to meet Megumi. It felt a little ridiculous considering the two of you had hung out countless times before, but something about not seeing him one on one for almost a week had you strangely nervous. You found yourself putting more effort in your appearance, wearing your favorite sundress, taking more time on your makeup, trying a new hairstyle, and having a few extra sprays of your favorite perfume. You slipped on your shoes before taking one final glance at yourself in the mirror.
"...Hopefully he notices." The words left your mouth before you could stop them. Your cheeks immediately warmed. "What am I saying?" you muttered, laughing quietly at yourself as you grabbed your phone and headed for the door. It was just Megumi. You'd hung out with him dozens of times before. So why did this one feel...different?
Megumi had been standing by the vending machines for nearly ten minutes already. To anyone passing by, he looked exactly the same as always, hands tucked into his pockets, relaxed posture, calm expression, eyes lazily scanning the courtyard. If someone asked, they'd assume he was simply waiting for a friend.
On the inside, however, he was one poorly timed thought away from panicking. He checked the time on his phone again. 5:57. Three more minutes. He sighed quietly, slipping his phone back into his pocket.
Against his better judgment, he'd actually put some effort into his appearance. Not enough for it to be obvious, of course. His outfit sat a little neater than usual, his hair had been fixed more than once before leaving his room, and he might've sprayed on an extra bit of cologne. Maybe two. Not that anyone needed to know that.
His heart seemed to beat faster with every passing second. 5:59.
Relax. It's just her.
The thought was supposed to calm him down, it did the exact opposite. The clock on his phone flipped to 6:00. Almost instinctively, he looked up, and there you were.
Walking toward him with an easy smile, the golden evening light catching around you as the breeze gently played with your hair. For a brief moment, the rest of the campus seemed to disappear. Megumi forgot every sentence he'd rehearsed.
The sundress suited you perfectly, flowing softly with each step while hugging your figure just enough to make his face warm. Your hair framed your face effortlessly, moving with the wind like it had been styled specifically for this moment. Then his eyes settled on your face. He noticed everything, the subtle shimmer around your eyes, the way your makeup made them seem even brighter whenever you smiled, the gloss on your lips catching the fading sunlight. Even before you were close enough for him to properly think again, your familiar perfume reached him, and something about it immediately settled into his memory.
She...she looks...
No words came, none of them seemed enough.
"Hi, Megs!" you called with the same bright smile you always reserved for him. He quickly cleared his throat. "Hey." He prayed his voice sounded normal."You've been waiting long?" you asked, stopping beside him. Megumi shook his head almost immediately. "No. I just got here." You looked him up and down, your smile growing just a little. "You look nice."
“Thanks." It came out quieter than he intended. "You do too," he added after an awkward beat, rubbing the back of his neck. "Really...nice." Neither of you noticed the identical smiles that had unknowingly spread across both of your faces.
"Ready?" Megumi asked. You nodded eagerly. "Lead the way." He turned and started walking, secretly letting out the breath he'd been holding ever since he'd first seen you.
Okay. So far, so good.
Despite how badly the two of you had been panicking beforehand, the nervousness that had consumed both of you while getting ready slowly melted away, replaced by the familiar rhythm you'd built over months of late-night calls and countless conversations. You talked about training, complained about Gojo's latest antics, laughed over something ridiculous Yuji had done earlier that week, and debated whether Nobara would ever admit when she was wrong.
"Never," Megumi answered immediately.
You laughed. "Not even if someone proved her wrong?"
"No."
"What if the evidence was literally right in front of her?" He glanced over at you with the faintest hint of amusement. "Especially then." You giggled, the sound making the corner of his mouth twitch upward before he could stop it. When the talking faded, neither of you rushed to fill the silence.
Instead, you simply walked beside one another, your footsteps naturally falling into the same pace without either of you noticing. The quiet never felt awkward. As the walk continued, the realization hit that this is the same path from your first hangout a few months ago, did he plan this on purpose? Surely not.
Spring had transformed the campus entirely since that day. Everything felt alive. You'd always loved spring. The peaceful silence drew your attention toward the pond just ahead. As you got closer, the water reflected streaks of gold, pink, and soft orange from the setting sun, each ripple turning the colors into moving brushstrokes across its surface. Near the edge, a family of ducks floated together, the tiny ducklings eagerly following behind their parents in an uneven little line.
"They're so cute..." A smile spread across your face as you watched them paddle across the water. The breeze brushed a few loose strands of hair across your cheek. "It's so beautiful," you murmured softly. Megumi looked over. "...Yeah." His voice came out just above a whisper. "It really is." But he wasn't looking at the pond, he wasn't watching the sunset shimmer across the water, he didn't even notice the ducks. His eyes had settled on you instead.
The golden light painted soft highlights across your face, catching in your eyes every time you looked around in quiet wonder. The breeze carried the familiar scent of your perfume toward him again as strands of your hair danced gently in the wind. You looked so completely at peace, smiling at something as simple as a family of ducks swimming together.
Beautiful, he thought. The word came so naturally it startled him.
Once you appreciated the view for long enough, you turned your gaze forward and could already spot the willow tree from months ago. As you studied the nostalgia filled tree, your eyes fell upon a picnic blanket. You stopped immediately, your feet refusing to move any further. The white blanket rested beneath the hanging willow branches, creating a little secluded corner that felt like a little world of its own. Beside you, Megumi's heartbeat sped up.
Do you hate it? Did I do too much? I think I'm starting to sweat.
His eyes stayed glued to your face, trying to read every little reaction. He had spent far longer preparing this than he'd ever admit. Every plate had been rearranged at least three times before meeting up.
"Did you…prepare all this?" You asked quietly, still in a daze. Months ago, you had casually mentioned wanting to have a picnic once spring came around, but you never imagined he'd actually remember. It had been such an offhand comment that even you had almost forgotten about it.
"Yeah...uh I know you probably wanted it to be a group thing but–" He replied, gaze drifting toward the grass as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"No no I like it…actually I love it." You interrupted, your cheeks flushing as butterflies erupted in your stomach.
His eyes widened slightly before a proud smile threatened to appear, "Really? I'm glad." He let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. He gestured toward the blanket with a small nod. "Come on." His voice was gentle as he walked over first, sitting down beneath the shade of the willow tree. You followed after him, carefully sitting beside him on the soft white blanket. For the first few moments, you simply looked around, taking in everything he'd prepared. A neatly organized charcuterie board sat in the center with different cheeses, crackers, cured meats, and little jars of jam. Beside it were fresh pastries, neatly sliced fruit, a bottle of passion fruit juice, and two cups waiting to be filled. Everything had its own little plate or bowl, arranged so neatly it almost felt too pretty to touch.
He even remembered the passion fruit.
Not too loudly, Megumi reached over and turned on a small speaker. The opening notes of your favorite Weezer album drifted softly through the air, blending with the rustling leaves overhead, the distant chirping of birds, and the occasional splash from the nearby pond. It wasn't loud enough to interrupt the peaceful atmosphere, it simply became part of it.
This was so perfect. Too perfect.
The warm spring breeze brushed against your skin, carrying the scent of flowers and fresh grass. For just a moment, everything else disappeared. School, missions, responsibilities...none of it seemed important anymore. All that mattered was this quiet evening beneath the tree with him. You looked up, only to find Megumi already watching you. Your eyes met for a split second before you smiled sheepishly. "This is so sweet. Thank you." He shrugged his shoulders as if none of this had taken hours of planning. "It was nothing." You couldn't help but smile even wider. You knew he didn't believe that himself. Megumi cleared his throat. "Start digging in while I pour you some juice."
"Alright." You hummed softly, reaching for your phone before touching any of the food. The picnic looked far too pretty to ruin without capturing it first. You quickly snapped a few pictures from different angles. Smiling to yourself, you saved your favorite one to post on your story later before finally setting your phone aside.
Taking one of the cute little plates, you carefully started picking out a few crackers, different cheeses, and slices of meat, arranging them far less neatly than Megumi had. You popped a piece of fresh fruit into your mouth before looking back up at him. Across from you, Megumi was busy unscrewing the bottle of passion fruit juice. He carefully poured it into one of the cups, making sure not to spill a single drop before extending it toward you. You accepted it with a thankful grin and a small nod. "Thanks." He simply gave a quiet hum in response. You took a sip, immediately smiling to yourself. The juice was still perfectly cold, making the sweet, tropical flavor stand out even more.
Megumi began filling his own plate, selecting a few crackers and snacks with the same quiet precision he seemed to do everything with. While his attention was on the food, you reached over and grabbed the bottle of juice. "I got you." You said casually, already lifting it toward his cup. The moment he noticed, he reacted almost instantly. "No."
His hand reached over to gently take the bottle from yours before you could pour anything. He shot you a small reprimanding look, one eyebrow raising ever so slightly. "I can do it." You blinked at him before letting out an amused laugh.
"Megumi, it's just juice."
"I know."
"Then let me pour it."
"No."
His answer came so quickly that it caught you off guard. Without another word, he carefully poured the juice himself before setting the bottle back down exactly where it had been. You couldn't help but laugh again, shaking your head with a smile. "You're ridiculous." He looked away, pretending to be focused on adjusting the placement of his cup.
"You don't have to do everything for me, you know." You teased.
"I know." He replied quietly. "I just want to." The words slipped out before he could stop them. His gentlemanly attitude made you chuckle. It wasn't like he wasn't a gentleman with you usually, but he was definitely being extra this afternoon and truthfully, you didn't mind it one bit. After that little interaction, one topic naturally flowed into another, interrupted only by the occasional laugh or teasing remark. Everything felt so light when you were with him. Maybe part of it was the warmth of spring surrounding you, or maybe it was the way your heart fluttered every time he looked at you for just a second too long.
Megumi's eyes met yours. His expression softened before his eyes widened slightly, almost like he'd just remembered something. "Hey, close your eyes real quick." His words came out a little more hurried than he intended as he scrambled to his feet.
You let out a quiet chuckle."Okay." Without questioning him, you shut your eyes. You heard the rustle of the blanket as he stepped away, followed by the sound of his footsteps disappearing across the grass. Curiosity tugged at you, but you resisted every urge to peek.
Behind you, Megumi walked over to the willow tree where he'd hidden one last surprise. Nestled behind the thick curtain of hanging branches was a bouquet he had carefully tucked away before you guys arrived, hoping you wouldn't notice it too soon. He picked it up carefully, making sure none of the flowers had been crushed.
Please like them.
He took one sharp inhale before slowly exhaling, trying to settle the pounding in his chest. His palms suddenly felt much warmer than they had a minute ago. This somehow felt even more nerve-wracking than asking you to come here. Walking back toward you, he stopped just in front of where you sat on the blanket. "Open them." His voice was noticeably softer this time.
You slowly opened your eyes. Standing before you was Megumi, both arms extended toward you, holding a gorgeous bouquet of lilies. Their delicate petals glowed beneath the golden evening light, shades of lavender, soft blue, white, and pale pink blending together beautifully. Their sweet floral fragrance reached you almost immediately, subtle but unmistakable. Your eyes widened. For a long moment, you couldn't say anything. Instead, your gaze slowly traveled from the bouquet up to Megumi's face. You looked at him with wide, doe-like eyes, as if you couldn't quite believe what you were seeing.
Megumi felt his heartbeat hammer against his ribs. He suddenly wasn't sure where to look. All he could manage was a small nod toward the bouquet in his hands, silently encouraging you to take it before he completely lost his nerve. A tiny pout formed on your lips as you reached forward with the utmost care, almost as though the flowers were too precious to touch. Your fingertips brushed against the paper wrapping before you gently accepted the bouquet into your arms.
You stared down at them for another moment, admiring every little detail—the carefully wrapped ribbon, the vibrant blooms, the way each stem had been arranged so neatly. You were feeling so many things all at once that you couldn't even begin sorting through them. All you could do was smile.
And that smile alone was enough to make Megumi's stomach flip like never before. From where he stood, the entire scene looked unreal. Behind you, the pond reflected the golden hues of the setting sun with streaks of soft purple beginning to peek through the sky. The willow branches swayed lazily overhead while the spring breeze carried flower petals across the grass. Nature was at its absolute peak.
But none of it compared to you.
The sunlight caught the edges of your hair, giving it a warm glow as you looked down at the bouquet with such genuine happiness. Your smile was soft, your eyes sparkled with wonder, and for a brief moment, everything else around him seemed to fade into the background.
I want to remember this. Not just the picnic. Not just today. This exact moment.
Very quietly, he reached into his pocket, moving as carefully as possible so he wouldn't startle you. His fingers wrapped around his phone while his eyes never left you for even a second. Slowly, he raised it just enough to frame you beneath the willow tree.
You looked...beautiful.
The quiet sound of the camera shutter immediately caught your attention. You looked up in surprise, turning toward him just as he lowered his phone. Thankfully, he'd managed to take the picture before you noticed. "Huh?" Your expression was filled with confusion as you looked between him and the phone. Megumi did his best to remain as casual as possible despite the slight warmth creeping onto his face. "For you to post." He peeked at you from behind his phone.
A laugh escaped your lips. "You could've just asked."
"Whatever." The corners of his mouth twitched upward almost imperceptibly.
Instead of teasing him any further, you decided to play along. Sitting up a little straighter, you held the bouquet closer and looked toward his camera with an amused smile. "Oh? Is this a photoshoot now?"
He gave the smallest shrug. "If you want."
You giggled before flashing a little peace sign toward the camera. Click. Then you formed a tiny heart with your fingers. Click. You glanced over your shoulder toward the pond, letting the sunset become your backdrop. Click. Finally, you lifted the bouquet beside your face, smiling as naturally as you could. Click.
"That's enough." You laughed, covering your face for a moment.
"I only took a few."
"You definitely took more than a few."
"Maybe."
As the little photoshoot came to an end, your attention drifted away from the camera lens and toward the phone itself. It was then that you noticed something tucked inside his clear phone case, your eyes narrowed in recognition. Is that an aster? Very carefully preserved despite its withered appearance.
You couldn't believe it. The lilies, the picnic, the music, the passion fruit juice, the way he'd remembered every little thing you'd casually mentioned over the past few months, and he kept that aster you gave him? There was no way this was casual. So was this what you thought it was or were you just making things up because you wanted it to be?
Megumi sat back down across from you, trying his best to ignore how violently his pulse hammered in his ears. He picked up his cup, taking a slow sip of juice to give his hands something to do. You watched him for another moment. If you didn't ask now you never would.
"So…what is all this?" Your voice came out much softer than you intended as you gestured to everything surrounding the two of you. The question froze him. Megumi immediately choked on his drink. He coughed, setting the cup down far quicker than intended as his heart seemed to plummet straight into his stomach.
Oh No. No no no. Not yet.
He wasn't ready. He hadn't practiced this part enough. His confession was supposed to happen later. After the food. After walking you to the dorms. Maybe beneath the stars when there wasn't any chance of ruining everything. His mind completely blanked. Finally, he forced out the first thing that came to mind.
"Well it's a hangout, right?" He shrugged, casually.
The words lingered between you. Like they'd been carved into the air itself.
Oh. Right.
Your fingers tightened almost imperceptibly around the bouquet.
Of course it was.
You gave a small nod, managing a faint smile that didn't quite reach your eyes. "Yeah." You looked down at the flowers resting in your lap. "...Right." The butterflies that had been fluttering in your chest all afternoon suddenly felt unbearably heavy. Something inside you quietly sank. Since when had you started hoping he'd say something else? I guess I misunderstood.
Across from you, Megumi immediately knew. Idiot. His stomach twisted painfully. Why would you say that? He wanted to grab the words back, wanted to explain. Wanted to tell you that he'd spent nearly two weeks planning this stupid picnic because you deserved something beautiful. That he'd gone to three different flower shops looking for lilies because he remembered you saying they were hard to find. That the dried aster petals in his phone case had been there since the day you tucked it behind his ear months ago.
Instead…He'd called it…a ‘hangout.’
The conversation started again after that. But neither of you were really there anymore. There was something different in your voice now. Quieter, more careful. The sparkle that had been in your eyes earlier had dimmed just enough for him to notice.
Maybe nobody else would've caught it. Megumi did. Every single change, pause, forced smile, every moment your gaze drifted away instead of finding his. Each one felt like another reminder that he'd just ruined the perfect opportunity. The guilt settled heavily in his chest.
Fix it. Say something. Anything.
But every sentence he came up with died before it reached his mouth. Eventually the conversation faded completely. Silence settled over the two of you once more. Only this time, it wasn't the comfortable kind. The music from the speaker suddenly felt too quiet, the breeze through the willow branches no longer sounded peaceful. Even the ducks on the pond seemed impossibly far away. The line he'd accidentally drawn between you sat there, invisible but impossible to ignore.
You kept your gaze lowered to your hands, gently running your thumb over the ribbon tied around the bouquet. "...It's getting late." You forced out a small smile. "Maybe we should—"
"No." The word left him before he could think. You looked up. Megumi had never interrupted you like that before. His fingers clenched so tightly around the edge of the picnic blanket that his knuckles had gone pale. He stared at the grass for a long moment, breathing through his nose as if he couldn't figure out how to make his lungs work.
"...I..." His voice cracked immediately. He clicked his tongue in annoyance with himself, rubbing a hand down his face. "I..." Another failed attempt. "...Damn it." His ears were bright red now. You watched him quietly, your own heart beginning to race.
"I keep..." He swallowed. "...I keep saying the wrong thing." Another pause. "When you asked..." He let out a shaky laugh that held no amusement. "...about all this..." His shoulders slumped. "I panicked." He looked over at you for just a second before looking away again. "I've been...trying to figure out how to say this all day." His words stumbled over each other.
"No...longer than today." He exhaled. "A while." His fingers tightened again. "I kept thinking if I planned everything right..." He glanced at the flowers in your lap. "...if I found the right place...got flowers you'd actually like...waited until sunset..." His laugh was quiet and self-deprecating. "...then maybe I'd know what to say." Another beat of silence. "I still don't."
He shook his head. "I've rehearsed this so many times." His voice came out barely above a whisper. "And somehow this is worse."
You didn't interrupt him. You simply watched.
Megumi closed his eyes for a moment before finally forcing himself to meet yours. "I told you this was just a hangout because..." He swallowed hard. "...because I got scared." His expression softened, every wall he'd carefully built over the years beginning to crumble.
"I thought if I told you..." he admitted quietly, "...and you didn't feel the same..." He couldn't even finish the sentence. "So I lied." Another breath. "I hate lying to you."
His gaze lingered on yours now, refusing to run away again. "This wasn't supposed to be casual." His voice steadied. "None of this was.”
His eyes flickered down to his phone for a second. "I kept that aster because..." A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "...it was the first flower you ever gave me. I know it's dried out. I know it's probably stupid. But I couldn't throw it away." His smile disappeared again as emotion settled over his features.
"Asters became my favorite flower because of you." The words came easier now, like a dam had finally broken.
"I started looking for excuses to talk to you. I'd catch myself wondering if you'd eaten yet, if you got to your dorm safely after a mission. I'd hear a song and think..." He huffed another embarrassed laugh. "'She'd probably like this one. I'd see something funny and my first thought was always..." He looked at you with an expression so open it almost hurt. "...I have to tell her."
His voice softened. "You became the person I wanted beside me. No matter what I was doing, no matter where I was." He shook his head. "You make everything quieter. My head's usually...loud. But when I'm with you..." He looked around at the pond, the willow tree swaying gently in the spring breeze, the warm orange light dancing across the water. "...it finally feels peaceful."
The sunset reflected in his eyes as he looked back at you. "And when you smiled just now..." His gaze drifted to the bouquet still cradled in your arms. "I thought that..." A tiny, breathless laugh escaped him. "...I've never seen anything more beautiful." He took one slow breath. Then another. His heartbeat felt loud enough for both of you to hear.
"I like you." The words were simple. Honest. "I wanted today to be perfect because you deserve it." His voice grew quiet again. "And because..." He held your gaze without looking away this time. "I wanted to be the one who gave it to you." Silence settled over the pond once more. Not awkward, not heavy, just full.
Megumi let out the breath he'd been holding for what felt like forever. "...So." A nervous smile, small and uncertain, finally appeared. "I guess..." He rubbed the back of his neck, looking away for only a second before finding your eyes again. "...I'm asking if you'll let this be more than just a hangout."
You couldn't believe everything you had just heard. Megumi wasn't the type to pour his heart out—not like that. Every hesitant word, every stumble, every confession had been pulled straight from the deepest parts of himself, and it completely unraveled the dam you'd been desperately holding together. The first thing that escaped you was a shaky laugh, your lips trembling as you fought to keep the tears from spilling over. You drew in a slow, steadying breath, hoping it would calm the way your heart seemed determined to beat out of your chest.
With gentle fingers, you plucked one of the lilies from the bouquet and tucked it behind your ear. The delicate petals brushed against your cheek, their sweet fragrance surrounding you. Then you reached for another flower. Cradling it carefully between your fingers, you looked back up at him. Your hand trembled ever so slightly as you inched closer, slowly lifting it toward him. Neither of you broke eye contact.
With the same tenderness from months ago, you tucked the flower above his ear. Your fingertips lingered for just a moment, brushing against the softness of his hair before grazing the warmth of his temple. Before your hand could drift away, his fingers gently closed around your wrist, so impossibly careful, as though he was silently asking for permission to hold on just a little longer. His thumb slowly slid against your skin before his hand found yours, carefully threading your fingers together.
Those usually guarded navy eyes searched every inch of your expression, quietly pleading for reassurance, for confirmation that this wasn't another hope he'd imagined. They softened with every passing second, the tension slowly melting away as he found nothing but warmth reflected back at him. Your hearts seemed to beat in perfect rhythm. Fast. Heavy. Close enough that you almost wondered if he could feel yours through your joined hands.
"Yes, Megs. I like you too." The words left your lips in barely more than a whisper, but they carried every feeling you'd struggled to put into words. A fond smile spread across your face, small and impossibly gentle, one that reached your eyes despite the tears gathering there.
Megumi simply stared at you. His lips parted ever so slightly, as though he'd forgotten how to breathe. The corners of his eyes softened, and his shoulders, tense for what felt like hours, finally eased. His hand trembled in yours, tightening just enough to reassure himself that you were real. He searched your face over and over, committing every detail to memory—the warmth in your eyes, the smile on your lips, the flower tucked behind your ear glowing beneath the golden light of the setting sun.
Without thinking, you found yourself inching closer. So did he. The distance between you grew impossibly small. Close enough to feel each other's breath. Close enough that your noses almost brushed. He hesitated. His eyes flickered between yours, searching them one last time. There was a question in them. When you didn't pull away—if anything, when you leaned in just the slightest bit more—his eyes dropped to your lips.
His free hand slowly lifted, almost timidly, until the back of his fingers grazed your cheek. He cradled the side of your face with unbelievable care, his touch so light it was as if he feared holding you any tighter would shatter the moment you'd built together. You instinctively leaned into the warmth of his palm. The smallest smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Then, with one last shaky breath, he closed the remaining distance.
His lips met yours in the gentlest kiss imaginable. Tentative. Almost hesitant. It lingered for only a heartbeat, both of you still learning the unfamiliar feeling. Neither of you pulled away though. Your fingers uncurled from his hand to guide it slowly to your waist. His eyes flickered down to watch your movement and then pulled you closer to him. Your lips meeting each other once again.
The second kiss was still gentle, but as you both slowly fall into the rhythm the nerves begin to fade. He wasn’t even thinking, his world narrowed down to this one moment of kissing you, trying to spell out every emotion he’s felt for you since the beginning with his lips over yours. The hand he had cradling your cheek traveled down to cup your nape. Your head tilted slightly, getting more comfortable while your arms wrapped around the back of his neck. The faint sweet tangy taste of passion fruit being passed between heavy breaths.
When the two of you finally ran out of air you pulled away in a daze. Your dress and his shirt evidently more wrinkled, a coat of your lipgloss on his lips, and both of your faces slightly flushed. After a beat of silence you both started giggling while adjusting your clothes and wiping off the messy gloss.
“So does this mean we’re official?” You ask teasingly with a nudge to his shoulder. Megumi’s brows furrow in confusion and eyes wide, “What? Was it not clear enough?” He asks, thinking you’re serious for a moment. You snicker at his reaction and he scoffs, realizing you were messing with him. He pulls you into a hug, which is only a means to start tickling you. You try to squirm away but to no avail, the only thing that causes is for the both of you to start rolling off the blanket and into the grass.
a/n: this is my first fanfic so pls have mercy (｡ᵕ ◞ _◟)
This is dumb. Megumi was never one for romance, but if he was, people think he would go for someone with the opposite personality because of the cliche; ‘opposites attract’. They were wrong, he has a crush on you, a friend who was as quiet and calm as he was, it’s not like he’d tell anyone though, nobody should know.
It’s recess, Yuji and Nobara are having one of their petty arguments while Megumi and you decide not to get involved. You were resting your chin on your palm, turning your glance between the two of them as they spoke. It was like watching a live reality show. You’d snicker to yourself sometimes when they got too ridiculous. At some point you decided to take a look at Megumi, but he was already looking at you. “Hey.”
He doesn’t break eye contact, dark blue eyes unreadable as always. His expression stays neutral, but there’s a slight softening around the edges—almost imperceptible, like the first crack in ice under warm light.
“…Hey.”
He glances away first, adjusting the sleeve of his black sweater like it’s suddenly bothering him. A beat passes before he mutters, “They’re exhausting.” But he doesn’t sound annoyed. Not really. More like he’s stating a fact you already know, sharing a quiet joke just between the two of you.
You nod in agreement and shrug, “When are they not?”
Both of you stayed quiet for a bit longer, just sitting next to each other while your other two friends were rambling on. They'd address each of you sometimes but you’d just respond with a nod or a hum.
“Wanna listen to music?” you asked abruptly.
He almost looks surprised at the question. But he quickly masks it, returning to his usual calm expression. “Sure.”
He fishes his phone from his pocket, opens the spotify app, and offers you one earbud. You gave a thankful nod as you placed the earbud in your ear. “Put that one playlist we made together,” you said. Leaning in towards him to see his phone screen, stretching your hand out to scroll through his library, your fingers brushing past his for a moment, “You still have it right?”
He can feel a slight heat rushing to his cheeks as your hand brushes his, the contact seemingly accidental but intimate nonetheless. He hopes you don’t notice the way his heart is suddenly beating just a little faster. “Yeah, I do.”
He nods, glancing at you as you scroll through his phone. There it is—the playlist you two had made together, a mix of both your music tastes. He watches as you select it, trying to act casual but acutely aware of every little touch between you.
“We should put a new cover on it. Or is this one fine?” you ask casually. It was an unspoken rule to have a picture of you two on it—a subtle but meaningful connection. The one on it right now was from a few months ago, a picture at a photobooth, just both of you with a small pressed lip smile.
He nods in agreement, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he looks at the picture. “Yeah, we should take another one.” He glances at you, the soft glow from his phone illuminating your face. He thinks you look prettier than usual but quickly diverts his gaze, not wanting to get caught staring.
“We’ve gotten much closer since then.” You hum in agreement, smiling slightly at the memory from that photobooth. You gestured for permission to grab his phone then went straight to his phone camera, made it face you for a quick selfie. “Make a heart,” you instructed while leaning your head closer to his. He feels a rush of warmth at the closeness, your hair grazing his cheek as you lean close. His heart skips a beat, but he keeps his composure, raising his hand and forming a heart with his fingers as you requested.
The picture captures the two of you close together, the subtle touch of your hair against his cheek, finger hearts, a casual smile on your face while he didn't smile but his eyes were softer than usual—a moment of intimacy in the midst of the noisy school hallway. “I love it,” you commented quietly while examining the picture fondly. He watches as you set the new picture as the playlist cover, his heart doing that strange fluttery thing again. “Make sure to send it to me later, yeah?” you hummed while placing his phone on his lap. He nods. The proximity between you two is comfortable. The closeness is comforting, a subtle connection that feels so natural now.
He glances at your hand, still close to his. The urge to take it in his own is hard to resist, but he bites it back. Instead, he says quietly, “You look pretty in the photo.”
“You look cute too..I guess…” was your mumbled response. Caught off guard completely from his comment, keeping your gaze forward as your cheeks threatened to tinge with pink.
"You guess?" He teases gently, nudging your shoulder lightly with a small smile playing on his lips. ‘You're adorable when you're flustered’, he thinks, but he keeps that to himself.
You scoffed at his teasing, nudging his shoulder back with the same gentleness. “Shut up, Megs.” Flicking his hand playfully, that same smile on your face.
He doesn’t pull away—doesn’t even flinch—when you flick his hand. Instead, he lets his fingers linger near yours, the contact warm and quiet. The way your knee presses against his feels like an anchor.
“...You started it,” he murmurs, voice low and teasing still, but there’s something softer underneath.
But the music? Still playing.
The playlist? Still named "ours."
And you two?
Closer than ever.
Yuji and Nobara have just finished their silly conversation and are finally turning their attention to you. “You guys done now?” you greeted them with a little smile and a polite nod.
Yuji grins widely, running a hand through his messy hair, while Nobara rolls her eyes dramatically.
"Yeah, we've reached the conclusion that my argument was clearly superior. As always." Nobara rolls her eyes. "In your dreams, Itadori. We all know I was right." They both banter back and forth, clearly not taking the argument too seriously. They turn their attention to you and Megumi—noticing the closeness. Yuji's eyes twinkle mischievously. "What are you two whispering about?"
“We were just listening to music,” you reply simply while gesturing to the earbuds in each other's ears.“It was more entertaining to watch your debate than be part of it.”
Megumi nods in agreement, his expression casual. "Fair enough. You guys were in your own little world." Yuji chuckles and ruffles his hair, a mischievous grin on his face. Nobara rolls her eyes but grins, nudging you lightly. "You weren't even paying attention to us at all, were you?"
“I think I stopped paying attention 15 minutes ago,” you teased.
“What do you guys wanna do now?” you asked, glancing in between all three of them, your gaze lingering on Megumi for a moment longer than the other two.
"Go get food. I'm starving," Yuji says, already standing up and stretching dramatically.
Nobara stands too, brushing off her skirt, "Only if we're not getting burgers again. We had them yesterday." Megumi stays seated, his knee still lightly touching yours. He notices your gaze lingering—just for a second longer than necessary—and looks down at his hands before speaking.
"We could go to that café near the park." He glances at you. "You like their coffee."
There's something thoughtful in his tone, the way he looked at you, how it seemed his request was just for the two of you. “Hmm that sounds good actually, I do love their coffee. Do you guys like that plan?” you ask with a hum to your other two friends. Yuji grins and claps his hands together, already excited about the plan. "Hell yeah! I was getting tired of our usual hangout spots. This'll be a great change."
Nobara shrugs, a small smirk on her face. "As long as there are sweets involved. I'm in."
Megumi nods in acknowledgment. He doesn't smile, but there's a slight softening of his usually stoic expression. He's actually looking forward to this—the quiet café with you.
"Then it's decided. Let's go."
The walk to the café was filled with the usual banter between Yuji and Nobara. They were loud by nature, with Yuji often cracking jokes and Nobara matching his energy with her own sharp retorts. Megumi and you, on the other hand, interjected occasionally. You two mostly observed the conversation, adding your thoughts when it felt natural. Megumi's attention, though, was half-focused on the conversation and half-focused on you—the way your hand brushed against his, the way you laughed at a joke, the way your eyes lit up.
After a while, you arrive at the café. It's a quaint, quieter place, exactly what Megumi would choose. The smell of coffee and pastries greets you at the door. The café hums softly with quiet music and the occasional clink of cups. Sunlight filters through the blinds, casting long stripes across the table. You're tucked into the booth beside Megumi—close enough that your shoulder brushes his whenever you shift.
He sips his black coffee, eyes low, but he’s paying more attention to you than the pastry in front of him. When you murmur about how cozy it is, he glances at you from the corner of his eye.
“...Told you,” he says quietly, voice just above a whisper so only you can hear. “Good coffee too.”
He nudges his cup slightly toward you in silent offering—his way of saying, ‘You know I got your favorite.’
Yuji is mid-sentence about some new horror film he wants to watch. Nobara groans dramatically. But Megumi barely registers them.
His focus?
You.
And maybe how nice it feels—the warmth between your arms where they touch under the table without either of you moving away.
“Thanks. You're the best.” you whisper back, giving him a little nudge with your elbow under the table as you sip the coffee. He doesn’t react much at first—just a slight dip of his chin, like ‘I know’—but the corner of his mouth twitches. Almost a smile.
While Yuji explains the plot of the movie, which you were actually interested in watching, you break a piece of your pastry and place it on Megumi's plate and then eat your piece. He finally looks at you fully. Dark blue eyes soft, guarded but warm, like he’s trying not to show how much little things from you mean. “You don’t have to feed me,” he murmurs under the chatter, voice low and dry. “I can afford my own food.” But he eats it anyway. Slowly. Deliberately. And when your arm brushes his again?
He leaves it there. Letting the warmth stay. Letting you stay close. Like this is where you belong.
When you feel the warmth of his arm on your stay, you quickly try to get a hold of yourself, to not let a stupid smile spread. So after clearing your throat you spoke, “When do you guys wanna watch the movie?” then taking a bite of the pastry, acting like holding Megumi’s hand wasn’t all you could think of.
"How about Saturday?" Yuji suggests, already excited."It releases Friday night, so we can go the next day!" Nobara nods. "Yeah. We should make it a full day thing. Arcade after, right?"
The conversation buzzes on, but Megumi stays quiet—watching you from the corner of his eye. He sees the way your fingers fidget with your fork, how you won’t look directly at him for too long now. And he knows. You're flustered. Good. He shifts slightly under the table—his hand brushing yours as he reaches for his coffee cup. Not an accident. Intentional.Soft. Brief contact that lingers in your nerves longer than it should. "...Saturday works," he says calmly, as if that small touch didn’t just send a spark through both of you.
It’s now Saturday and you’re all meeting up at the mall for the movie and arcade. You were already waiting by the snack stand with Nobara since you got there earlier to do some shopping. Megumi and Yuji arrive 20 minutes later, both with their hands in their pockets. Megumi's expression is indifferent as usual, but he can't ignore the way his heartbeat picked up the instant he saw you. Yuji grins and throws a casual greeting."Hey. How's the shopping spree?"
“Went well. I got a new necklace.” you shrugged casually, gesturing to the necklace which managed to match with your outfit perfectly. “We should get snacks already. The movie will start soon.” you added after everyone conversated for a minute.
The necklace catches the light as you move—simple, silver, elegant. Megumi’s eyes flicker to it for a heartbeat too long before he looks away, shoving his hands deeper into his pockets like they’re suddenly bothering him. “Yeah,” he agrees quietly, “Movie starts soon.” He falls into step beside you as the group moves toward the snack bar, close enough that his sleeve brushes your arm. When you order a medium popcorn and a soda, he silently adds a gummy pack to the tab. Just in case you want some later.
Yuji grabs an absurd amount of candy. Nobara rolls her eyes but tosses a gummy pack into her basket anyway. And Megumi? He watches you. Watches how your fingers tap lightly against your thigh, the same nervous habit he’s noticed before. And without looking at you, he says, “I like your necklace.”
Said low. Said quick. Like if he doesn’t rush it out now, he never will.
“Thanks. I really like it too,” you hum out a response. You all walk into the theater and take your seats, coincidentally Megumi and you sit together again.
The movie begins—an interesting horror flick with enough suspense to keep everyone’s attention.
The plot thickens. A jump scare. A scream and a flinch from Nobara. Some giggles from Yuji. Megumi stays stoic, expression calm, but his knee knocks against yours slightly as he shifts. Trying to get an optimal view between you and the screen. You’re not the type to be scared from movies but these jumpscares were definitely intense. You grimaced at the screen from an especially gory scene, then take a glance at Megumi, he's as stoic as ever, so you tugged on his hoodie sleeve slightly. “How does nothing faze you?” you whispered with a quiet chuckle. He glances down at where your fingers tug his sleeve, just a fraction of a second too long, before turning to you. The dim light from the screen casts shadows across his sharp features, but his eyes are soft. “...It’s just fake blood,” he murmurs, voice low and steady.“I’ve seen worse.” Another jump in the film—a loud crash—and Nobara actually yelps. Yuji cackles. Megumi doesn’t even flinch. But he does something small. Subtle. He shifts slightly closer to you on the seat, shoulder pressing into yours like an anchor. And when he speaks again, it’s quieter, just for you. “I’ll warn you before the next one.” Like it’s nothing. Like protecting you isn’t something that matters. But it does.
Your forearms are now sharing the arm rest of the theater seat. You were slowly reaching out for the soda cup that was in the cup holder in the front of the arm rest when suddenly another jumpscare hit, it genuinely made you flinch the hardest from the others. You clenched whatever was in your hand. Then you quickly realize that what was in your hand, was Megumi. Megumi's hand. You accidentally grabbed his hand. “Oh…i-im sorry i didnt—“ your usually calm and stoic expression was nowhere to be seen, panic and embarrassment filled it, your hand started letting go of his as you spoke.
When the jumpscare flashes across the screen, Megumi doesn’t even blink. His attention is on you.
On your hand—small, trembling, already pulling away like you’ve done something wrong.
Before your fingers can fully slip from his grasp, he shifts. Just slightly. And then his hand turns, catching yours before it leaves. Not tight. Not dramatic. A quiet hold in the dark theater light. “It’s fine,” he says lowly, voice calm like still water. “I don’t mind.” He doesn’t look at you, just keeps his eyes on the screen, but there’s a faint warmth creeping up his neck. His hand is just…there. Not gripping. Not forcing. Just offering. Like he’s saying, ‘I’ve got you,’ without saying it at all.
You nod slightly as if in a trance from his gentleness, your eyes look down to his hand, waiting for yours to stop hovering. So it does. Your hand intertwined with his, carefully, like this was a sacred act. Keeping your eyes forward on the screen when you did it, nibbling your lip, cheeks burning, heart pounding.
He doesn't react to the new contact. Doesn't tighten his fingers or shift his grip, but his shoulders relax ever so slightly. The warmth from his hand—warm and calloused and big—sinks into yours, sending a shiver through your nerves. He glances at your intertwined fingers, then away again like he's trying to look unfazed. But that faint flush creeping on his cheekbones? Gives him away. And he can't ignore the rapid beating of his own heart. Or the urge to smile. Just a little.
The movie starts reaching its peak, the adrenaline is high, focus has shifted towards it again. Whenever something caught you off guard your hand instinctively clenched around his slightly and he would rub his thumb over the back of your palm so tenderly, which is when you would become self aware again. It became so hard to hide a smile and how flushed your face became that you resorted to covering the bottom half of it with the jacket you were using as a blanket.
He notices every little thing. The way your grip tightens on his hand during the tense moments. The quiet hitch in your breath before a jumpscare. How, each time, you seem to forget—just for a second—that you’re holding his hand at all. And each time you squeeze? His thumb moves. Soft. Calm. Reassuring.
Like he’s saying, ‘I’m here,’ without breaking focus from the screen. Without giving anything away to Yuji or Nobara beside him who are too wrapped up in the chaos of the film anyway. But when he feels your fingers curl tighter, your palm warm and slightly damp from nerves, he doesn’t just comfort you once... He does it again. And again. Each pass of his thumb is slower than the last. Gentle. Steady rhythm under dim light and flickering images across your faces—underneath that half-covered smile hidden by fabric and false modesty. He stays still outwardly, but inside…it’s all falling apart in silence.
Because this?
You leaning into him like this?
Trusting him enough to hide behind your jacket but not let go of his hand?
Means more than anything else ever could.
The credits on the screen begin to roll. Yuji and Nobara stretch and chatter, discussing theories and critiques like they do after every film. But Megumi doesn't move. He watches you from his peripheral vision. The way your focus shifts to his hand, how you look conflicted between letting go and staying. The subtle way your fingers clench, gripping him a little tighter like you want that reassurance again. He stays still. Doesn't speak. Lets you make the first move.
It was fine to do this in the dark, but the second the lights in the theater turned on, panic settled in you and quickly let go of his hand. “So did you guys like the movie?” you cleared your throat while fidgeting with your hand. It was tingling, burning. his warmth lingering in your palm. Yuji launches into a loud review. Nobara argues over his interpretation. Megumi stands slowly, hands in his pockets again. His fingers curl slightly, as if remembering yours. "I liked it," he says quietly, eyes flickering to you for just a second. "Especially the ending." He doesn't mention the warmth. The way your hand fit in his. How he didn’t want that moment to end. But when you glance at him, nervous and flustered, he gives the smallest nod.
Not smiling, but calm, like everything’s fine, like ‘you’re safe.’
And that single look says what he never will:
‘I liked holding your hand.’
‘I still do.’
That look was all you needed for the anxiety and panic building up inside you to dissipate, crumbling in almost an instant. Understanding everything through his eyes, like you always did, silent communication only you two understood. Returning the same nod, “I liked it too. Crazy twist.”
The four of you began to walk towards the arcade now. Yuji and Nobara were a few steps ahead because of excitement and the fact they're still geeking about the movie. While walking with Megumi you let the back of your hand press against his. He glances at your hand, his own hand flexing subtly at the contact.
But his expression remains unchanged, eyes low, mouth slightly downturned like he's deep in thought. He's careful to keep up his facade in front of his friends.
Yuji's in a frenzy on the next video game while Nobara watches with a teasing grin when he fails a difficult level. "Dammit!" Yuji yells. "Why is this part so hard?!" Nobara cracks up, shaking her head.
"Dude, you just suck."
You snicker as you watch Yuji and Nobara play video games. “Yuji try again. Just aim higher,” you encouraged. Yuji grunts, grumbling about being given orders, but he follows your advice anyway.
He hits the target, getting past the level, and cheers loudly. Nobara cackles with laughter when he turns to face her with a huge grin. Seeing them have fun is fun in itself, amusing to say the least. While they're not paying attention your pinky finger reaches out for Megumi’s, curling around his so carefully. You take a sneaky glance towards him for a moment, there's no smile on your lips but in your eyes.“After they play this one, I wanna play the racing game over there.” You speak casually, acting like nothing is happening, nodding in the direction of the game.
Your pinkie gently curled around his has his whole attention. He can't help glancing at you, can't help the way his pulse jumps. But he plays it cool. "Hm?" he hums softly in response, pretending his heart isn't racing. "You like racing games?"
You nod your head with a pressed smile. “Mhm. One of my favorite arcade games. Besides shooting ones.” Once those two were done with their game you gave Megumi’s pinky a little tug to make him follow. “Play with me.” you say while gesturing to the seat next to yours. He follows without a word.
Slides into the seat beside you like it’s nothing, like his hand isn’t still tingling from where your pinky touched his, like he doesn’t feel every breath you take near him.
“Fine,” he says, voice dry, “but don’t blame me when I win.”
His fingers hover over the controls, posture straight, eyes locked on the screen—but when you look over at him for a second too long before the race starts. He side-eyes you, just once.A quiet challenge in that glance. And then—
GO!
The race begins. Tires screech. Megumi reacts fast, calm under pressure, but then…
You surprise him. Tight turns, perfect timing. Yuji and Nobara watch with growing interest behind both of you. "Whoa—she's actually beating Megumi!" Yuji blurts out loud. Nobara raises an eyebrow and smirks. "Huh... looks like someone finally met their match." On screen, you cross the finish line first by half a second. Megumi leans back slowly as defeat flashes onscreen beside his car name:
Player 2 — LOST
He’s not annoyed, not even close to it. He exhales something quiet, almost a sigh… or suppressed amusement? Without looking at you directly,“…Lucky break.” But there’s no heat behind it, only warmth.
“Sore loser.” you replied, an underlying giggle in your tone. There was such a proud glint in your eyes, how excited you were from not just playing but actually beating him at the game. Nobara and Yuji hype you up, nudging your shoulders and making pulling jokes. Your usual little smile was big now, all toothy.
"Sore loser?" Megumi scoffed, finally turning to face you, just slightly. His eyes catch yours.
And for a split second, so fast you might miss it, there’s something soft in them. Almost like he’s smiling on the inside. "...I let you win." He says it flat. Deadpan. Like he really expects you to believe that.
Yuji snorts. "Yeah right! You were dead serious the whole time!" Nobara leans in while snickering "Pride’s taking a hit today, isn’t it, Fushiguro?"
You’re glowing. Laughing. All teeth and light and warmth—and Megumi can’t look away. So instead of arguing?
“Play again.” He crosses his arms and looks back at the screen. He really wants to see that smile again…
You take him up on his challenge. Playing about two more rounds but only the same outcome. You beat him, he did try his best at the game but it was inevitable. “That was fun.” You smiled, the toothy, proud, bright smile.
Then Nobara sees the claw machine and makes you all chase after her. "I saw a plush of that cursed spirit from the last mission in there!" Nobara announces dramatically, already fishing out coins. "It’s coming home with me." Yuji groans. "You’re gonna waste all your cash again—" "I do not lose at claw machines," she snaps. Megumi watches from a distance, arms still crossed, though his fingers flex subtly against his sleeve where your hand had held his earlier. You step closer to the machine, peering inside at the prizes. And then you see it. A small black cat plush, simple, soft-looking, sat quietly among the chaos of gaudy toys… like it didn’t care if anyone noticed it. Just like someone else here.
"Huh..." You glance sideways at Megumi without turning your head. "That one’s cute." He stiffens slightly, as if caught off guard by being indirectly called “cute” and looks away fast. But when you aren't looking, he studies the black cat plush with new interest. "...It's just a toy," he mutters, voice flat.
You all watch Nobara try to get her plush for a while but to no luck. She failed so many times she had to go get more coins with Yuji so you and Megumi stayed behind to claim the machine. You noticed him looking at the black cat plush again. “Do you want it? We could try to get it.”
He doesn’t answer right away. Just stares at the plush, round eyes, unimpressed expression like it’s judging everyone in the arcade. "...No," he says flatly. "It's stupid." But he doesn’t look at you when he says it. And his hand flexes again, like he’s imagining reaching for it. You tilt your head more, not buying it for a second. So quietly, you step closer. Close enough that your shoulder brushes his arm. "Then why keep looking at it?" you whisper, voice low. "I’ll get it for you if you want." His breath hitches, just slightly, but he schools his face fast. "...I don't want some dumb plush." Liar.
Before he can protest further, you slide coins into the machine and take hold of the joystick.
Megumi watches, not the plush, but you through the reflection of the window. The way your fingers move with focus, how your tongue peeks out slightly between your lips when concentrating. The claw drops—MISSES. A beat of silence. You huff, a small laugh escaping. “Oh..woops..” He finally looks down at you. "Let me try." Not because he wants to win. But because he wants to see what happens if he gets it, for you instead. Or maybe something small that can belong to both of you.
He drops a few coins into the machine and takes the control. You stand next to him and watch closely. It seems Megumi knows how these things work, maybe he’s seen Yuji play enough to learn the trick. He aimed for the back of the plush, not the front. The claws open and close, adjust…and then they grip. The plush lifts. It hangs. Holds steady. Slowly rises out of the machine like a bird taking flight. And the claws open again, dropping the plush straight into the prize slot. “You did it!” you let out a surprised gasp and tap his shoulder repeatedly in excitement. You bend down to get the kitty out of the shoot and hold it out for him. “That was so cool.”
He doesn’t move at first, just stares at the prize slot like he can’t believe it actually worked. Inside, quiet and deep, something warm spreads through his chest. Unfamiliar. Too big to name.
"...I guess," he mutters, voice low, trying to sound smug—but it cracks slightly under your gaze.
He glances down at the plush but only to come back and hold your gaze for a moment. Then slowly shake his head. "Keep it." Just like that. No explanation. No argument. "Just... don't lose it."
Your brows lift at his words. Could he tell you wanted it too? Why is he just letting you keep it? When you open your mouth to urge him to take it back, Yuji and Nobara come back. So you admit defeat in trying to give it back. Instead you treasure it, a gift from him. Cradling it in your arms like nothing else matters.
Every time you four come to the arcade you take a picture at the photobooth so here you are, squished together into the booth. Nobara and you sat next to each other and Yuji sat next to Megumi.
The photobooth flashes three times—bright bursts in the dim arcade light.
First flash:
Nobara grinning with a peace sign, Yuji mid-laugh, you holding the black cat plush against your chest like it’s something precious with a small smile. Megumi sits stiffly in his corner, arms crossed, expression blank.
Second flash:
Yuji puts his arm over Megumi, while Nobara puts her arm over you, pulling everyone closer for a silly picture. You stick out the tip of your tongue while Nobara and Yuji go wild, and Megumi’s face is just of judgement.
Third Flash:
After a lot of convincing your friends finally got Megumi to smile for a picture with the rest of you. All four best friends with toothy smiles.
The booth printed out four strips for each. Your eyes light up seeing the picture, “It's adorable.” Yuji and Nobara took all your tickets to redeem some prizes so it was just you and Megumi again. Just there. “Wanna get a picture together?” you ask quietly. Just to have something to do while you wait. It's not like you haven't taken photos by yourselves before. He nods in agreement and we both sit inside the booth again.
For the first picture you both just lean into each other and you do a peace sign with a simple smile, he copied your mannerism. There was a 10 second interval, you posed next to him holding up the plushie he got and he had a blank look on his face. At the last second, you impulsively turned your head and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “Thanks..” you mumbled quietly, a shy look on your face, surprised about the fact you actually did that. That was the second picture, you kissing his cheek.
Megumi looks so caught off guard it’s almost comical. One hand half up like he just started reaching for you, one hand stiff in his pocket, head slightly turned. Not the cool, calm guy he usually is. Before you can apologize or explain or act like it didn't even happen, you feel a hand on the back of your neck. Cool fingers, pulling you closer, tilting your head back slightly. And without warning, his lips hit your cheek. Soft, warm, so gentle. Like you're something precious, too. And flash— that was the third picture.
Once the photoshoot is over and the pictures print you take one for each silently, still processing what just happened. When you see the photos your heart melts but the vibe in the booth still hasn't been addressed. You look up at Megumi, not really knowing what to say. “Um..” clearing your throat nervously, trying to gauge his reaction from the impulsive behavior. “That was..stupid.” you mumbled and rubbed the back of your neck as you tried to find the words.
"Stupid?" He repeats, voice low—almost a scoff—but there's no edge to it. He doesn’t look at you. Instead, he studies the strip of photos in his hands like they hold the secrets of the universe.
"...Yeah," he says finally, voice quieter now. "Totally stupid." Then he tucks the picture into his hoodie pocket, carefully, deliberately, and turns to face you.
"Just like how it was stupid for us to hold hands..."
A beat.
"...Stupid to look at you the way I do..."
Another pause. His fingers brush against the pocket where the photo now rests.
Then, so quietly only you can hear—
"...And stupid that I didn't do this sooner."
And before your brain catches up, He reaches out. Not for your hand this time. But to cup your jaw—gentle but sure—and leans in slowly, giving you every chance to pull away…until his lips meet yours in a soft, fleeting kiss under dim arcade lights. A little hum escaped you as you deepened the kiss a bit, saying ‘I wanted this too,’ as if confessing everything to each other just like this. After a minute or two you separated, your bodies still close to each other, just examining one another’s eyes. A moment later you start chuckling softly to yourself, “I'm happy.” you say quietly while reaching out for his hand.
"...Yeah," he whispers, "Me too." A smile plays at your lips when he confesses he feels the same way.
His eyes linger on you, on your lips, his thumb swipes gently over the back of your palm, like he needs to reassure himself that he just actually did that. Then—as if the world around them finally catches up—his eyes glance away for a moment. And his cheeks are pink. "...Should we go find Yuji and Nobara?"
You wouldn't be able to be this confident later but because of the emotional high you lean in and give him a quick kiss on the cheek again. “Yeah lets go,” you hum with a nod. With fingers intertwined, you lead him out of the photobooth to go find your friends. He lets you pull him along, fingers laced, palm warm in yours. Spotting them near the snack bar and you wave with your free hand. “There you guys are.”
At the snack bar, Yuji’s juggling three sodas like a clown. Nobara yells at him to stop before he drops them all. When they spot you two walking hand-in-hand? Nobara freezes mid-sip. Yuji nearly chokes on his drink. "Wait—WHAT?!" She narrows her eyes, scanning your faces. The blush on your cheeks, the way Megumi isn’t letting go even though he definitely should be if he wanted to hide it. "...Oh my god," she says slowly. “What's up?” you ask simply, acting like nothing is out of place, just super casually and nonchalantly like usual. But seeing them speechless was definitely the most amusing part of the day.
Yuji is the first to react, pointing at you both with one hand while his other hand struggles to keep his soda balanced. "Are you guys--?!" he blurts out, wide eyes going from your faces to your intertwined fingers like he can’t believe it. Nobara is the opposite; slow to react, but fast to understand. She stares at you for a whole minute before pointing an accusing finger in your direction. "...No freaking way, girl. Don't tell me you—you and Megumi?!"
Their reactions are so ridiculous it cracks your facade. You hum like you're thinking of an answer and then shrug. “Maybe.” you say in a teasing tone while Megumi squeezes your hand and looks at them with an unamused expression, our plushie in his other arm. Like if he was carrying our child.
They both explode.
Yuji chokes on his drink again. Nobara claps her hands over her mouth like she just saw a ghost. Both their eyes jump from your faces to your intertwined fingers and back. Yuji finally recovers, wiping soda off his chin. "For real?!" Nobara, still speechless, slowly drops her hand away. "When... when the hell did this—?" Megumi looks bored. "Just now." They go silent again.
Then, at the exact same time:
"NO WAY!"
"WHAT?!"
"YOU??"
"OH MY GOD!"
They look at each other. Then right back at you. In complete, utter shock. "Wait, seriously?! You have to tell us everything. How this happened—when—seriously. Now. Go."
“It just kinda happened.” you said simply. “Nothing too crazy.” you added while glancing up at Megumi. His eye twitches. "...That's it?" Nobara says, squinting at you like she doesn’t believe a word. "How did two of the most hardheaded people on the planet just…accidentally wind up dating?!" Yuji leans in, fascinated. "Dude… did you fight for her honor or something cool like that?!" Megumi pinches the bridge of his nose. "We held hands first." Silence. Then—
"YOU WHAT?!" —both scream simultaneously, loud enough to startle the snack bar cashier.
Megumi looks so done right now. Like he wants to disappear into his own shadow and stay there forever.
You gave the snack bar cashier an apologetic nod before shaking your head and taking a deep sigh before continuing. “During the movie. That's when that happened.” you explained in a quieter tone.
"...You're not helping," he mutters under his breath at you, voice low and strained.
Yuji clutches his chest dramatically. "No way… Megumi Fushiguro? Holding hands in the dark? Like some kind of romantic drama lead?" Nobara narrows her eyes—then slowly grins. "Wait... I saw something." Both of you and Yuji turn to stare as she pulls out her phone with a smug smirk.
"...I took pictures during the movie."
"What?!" —Megumi immediately tries to lunge for it—but she holds it up high above her head.
The screen lights up. It was a selfie of the four of you watching the movie, Nobara smiling with a peace sign, Yuji making a silly face, but the two of you were too focused watching the movie.“ I didn't notice before but now that you guys mention it…” Nobara zooms into it: The arm rest which you and Megumi were sharing, your hands intertwined. Crystal clear view. "...This," she says dramatically, voice rising an octave,"is evidence." Yuji grabs her phone and zooms in on Megumi's face with a gasp. "Dude! You were being all... soft! Like actual mush!" Megumi looks about ready to summon Mahoraga right here in this arcade just so he can delete reality itself.
Your eyes widen when you examine the picture, if you weren't looking at it closely you definitely wouldn't notice those hands together. You sigh deeply and rubbing the side of your temple. “Well yeah there you go…caught us.” you mumble and roll my eyes. (you’re definitely asking Nobara to send you that picture later.) “..and then we took pictures at the photobooth together like i said before and thats it.” you said simply after clearing your throat, hoping they will be satisfied with just that.
Both of theirs' eyes go wide. Like they can't actually believe it. “And that's it?!" Nobara groans, dropping the phone into her bag."That's your whole story?! The big romantic revelation?! Come oooonnnn!"
"Right? What the—" Yuji sputters. "What about... like, fireworks?! Or roses?!"
While you watch them whine you almost feel bad for them, they ARE your best friends, of course they're curious. You glance at Megumi, as if gauging his opinion on indulging them just this once. “Megs?..” you asked quietly while giving his hand a gentle squeeze. Megumi glances at you and instantly his expression softens. His shoulders relax slightly, which was all the answer you needed. "...Fine." Their reaction is instant. Nobara and Yuji's grins go from zero to a thousand in 0.7 seconds. "REALLY?! FINALLY!"
“Alright. Pay attention. I'll only explain once.” you clear your throat while signaling them to sit down and quiet down. “So he won me the cat plushie.”you begin, pointing towards the plushie he’s still holding. “Then while you guys were gone we went to the photobooth.” you show them your photo. “then we actually had a real kiss.” you summarized everything quickly and efficiently. Then braced impact.
Both of their jaws drop. "...No way," Yuji mumbles, voice barely audible. "Holy..." Nobara whispers, eyes locked onto the photos. A moment of shocked silence. "NO. FAIR!!” both scream simultaneously, loud enough to bring the attention of all the other arcade-goers. "You two are already all sweet with each other?!" Yuji wails. "And we didn't even get to see any of it!"
You roll your eyes and give them an unamused look. “Thats what the picture is for. Look at it now. You won't see it again.” you huffed in almost a strict tone. Giving them a few more moments to get a good look at it then put it away in your bag. “Take it easy. We're dating now so you’ll probably catch a cute moment or two with your own eyes.”
"Probably?" Nobara snaps, putting a hand on her hip and raising an eyebrow. "Now that we know, we're going to be watching like hawks." Yuji nods enthusiastically. "Totally. We gotta witness every adorable moment now!" Megumi sighs under his breath; he can already tell these two are going to be a pain.
As they start devising all their plans to catch you being lovey dovey, you glance at Megumi slowly and lean into his ear. “I think this is our chance to escape…but real slow so they don't notice…” you whisper to him while nodding towards the exit of the arcade. Megumi doesn’t even look at you. He just nods. Once, sharp and quiet, then slowly turns his body toward the exit like a shadow slipping through cracks.
His grip on your hand tightens slightly. Not in fear. In plan mode. "...On three," he murmurs under his breath, eyes still forward."One... two..." And then he yanks you gently but fast behind him as he starts moving, not running, not rushing, but stepping smoothly into the flow of people heading out, blending in with the crowd leaving after dark.
Nobara’s head whips around first. "Wait—where are they going?!"
Yuji blinks once… then shouts, "HEY! NO ESCAPING THE LOVEY-DOVEY REPORTING TEAM!!"
But it's too late. You're already near the door, the night air cool against your skin, and Megumi pulls you just outside into a quiet alley beside arcade lights flickering above…
Safe.
He turns to you the second you’re out of sight, chest rising and falling just slightly faster than normal—not from running, but you.Your laugh. Your eyes. The way your fingers are still tangled with his.
"...They're going to be insufferable," he mutters, voice low and dry—but there's no real annoyance in it.
Just quiet awe.
“Not just them. Gojo-sensei too, when he finds out.” you giggle quietly, wiping a tear from your eyes from how amusing this whole situation was. Then he leans back against the alley wall, tugging you gently closer by the hand until your shoulder brushes his chest. "...We could stay here a little longer."
“Yeah…or head back to the dorms.” you nod in agreement towards his suggestion.
The silence finally sets in, your safe haven, the distant hum of arcade music fades behind them as city lights flicker above, warm yellows cutting through night sky haze. The warmth from his hand and the softness in his face making that toothy smile of yours come back. Megumi looks down at where your hands are connected…then up at your face…
"…You're smiling again."
“I find myself wanting to do that a lot when I'm with you…”
He watches you quietly; watches the smile pull at your lips. The way you look up at him—how that simple upturn of your mouth and your warm, bright eyes makes him think...
This is peace.
His fingers tighten around yours—not enough to hurt, just anchoring. Like you might vanish if he lets go.
"...Idiot," he mutters, voice rougher than before. But his eyes? They're warm. Searching your face like it holds the answer to every question he's never asked out loud.
Then—softly—he lifts your joined hands to hold against his chest and presses a kiss on your lips; slow, deliberate…
The school bell of UA cuts through the hallway chatter like a hot knife through butter. The jarring signal turning excited conversation into nervous goodbyes as students take their separate ways to home room. Excusing yourself through the cluster of friend groups you pick up your pace to your new classroom. Navigating halls, memorizing door signs and scanning faces for any familiar features of friends from middle school till you eventually find your class. Classroom 1-A.
You take a deep breath, inhaling a bit of your sweet perfume that you purposely sprayed extra of while smoothing out non-existent wrinkles in your uniform skirt. You walk inside with a nervous anticipation and high hopes for the next 3 years of your journey to be a hero. Looking around the large unfamiliar classroom, you scan the faces of your new classmates.
One boy with white and red hair and heterochromia eyes sitting in the middle row, another boy with navy blue hair and glasses sitting in the front row. But as you scan your gaze catches on a certain spiky ash-blonde haired boy in the last row, 3rd seat from the front with a bothered scowl on his face and his chin propped against his hand. Crimson eyes staring out the window tracking a butterfly like its wings flapping personally offended him, eyebrows furrowed and lips slightly pressed together.
Your steps falter once, twice, before coming to a halt.
Who…is that?
You feel your heart rate increase, hands getting clammy at your sides and cheeks now dusted with pink blush. Your body feels too warm in the cold classroom, and you immediately blame it on the sun pouring in from the windows rather than the boy a few feet in front of you. His pale skin looks almost golden from the rays of sunshine painting his features, the sharp lines of his jaw looking drawn from the shadows the light casted. Adams'apple bobbling in his throat when he swallows and a sharp nose that exhaled sharply in annoyance when a student walked to close past his desk.
“Hey! Are you calling this seat?” A seemingly excited male voice snaps you out of your trance, your head turning to the side to see a red spiky haired boy with a big toothy grin and a pink haired girl standing next to him. It takes you a second to process his question, when it registers your cheeks turn a deeper shade of pink, realizing you were just staring at him like a deer in headlights.
“Oh, no go ahead. Sorry I was totally in your way.” You chuckle nervously and take a step back to let them pass, smiling apologetically.
The male laughs, “Nah no worries! Thanks!” He stands off to the side to let the girl go first, she smiles brightly at you in passing and takes the last seat in the row before he takes the one in front of her. You internally scold yourself before following, sitting down at the desk in front of him.
“I’m Eijiro Kirishima!”
Kirishima says happily with a hand on his chest like a proud soldier.
“And I’m Mina Ashido!”
Mina says excitedly, both of them looking at you like a new found best friend.
You smile at them both, committing the names to memory. “It's nice meeting you guys.” You say as casually as you can, feeling your nerves start to settle now that the initial one-sided embarrassment has subsided. As the minutes pass more students start shuffling in, you continue making casual conversation with the two, asking about what middle schools they went to, quirks, hero dreams, etc.
Eventually your teacher, Mr. Aizawa walks in, he starts going over the syllabus and expectations for the year. By the end of the first period, you kind of settled into a comfortable friend group with Kirishima and Mina. Later going on to meeting more classmates who became part of your circle were Denki, Sero, Jiro, and Yaoyorozu. The best part? That spiky blonde was roped into being part of this group, Katsuki Bakugo.
A third-year and member of the schools Big 3, Mirio Togata was giving your entire class a tour of the school grounds. As you all walk to the dorms, you're chatting excitedly with Mina.
“UA puts 5 star hotels to shame.” You state starstruck, looking up at the massive dorm building as the class walks on the trail to reach its entrance. The tall glass building reflects the afternoon sun, painting the campus in gorgeous shades of orange. Flowers along the trail dance in the breeze and clouds rolling idly by overheard create shapes that vaguely resemble animals.
“No kidding! Looks like something out of a movie!” Mina chuckles next to you as she follows your gaze upwards to the building.
Behind you two, Kirishima throws his arm over Bakugou's shoulders, excitedly looking up at the dorm building. “Yeah! Baku-bro, isn't this place insane?” Bakugou groans, shaking off Kirishima's arm from his shoulders with excessive force before shoving his hands deeper into his pockets.“Tch. It’s just a damn building, not the Tokyo Tower.” His voice was gruff and annoyed, displeased with what seemed like everything.
Kirishima takes no offense from Bakugou's tone or action, he just laughs it off and puts his hands in his pockets. “Oh come on man! Lighten up!”
Bakugou's left eye twitches, “Shut up shittyhair! Only thing I'm lighting is your ass on fire!” He snaps back, Mina laughs. You chuckle alongside her, both of you turning back to see Kirishima laughing like it was the funniest joke in the world and not an outright threat while Bakugou mutters under his breath about ‘extras and their odd fixations with buildings’.
Your eyebrows furrow slightly as your brain starts catching up with his seemingly always annoyed and angry attitude.You shake your head slightly, filing away the observations before turning to face forward as the class reaches the dorm building.
As the tour continues, you start noticing more of his bad attitude and quick to anger temper towards everything. Small details of how he doesn't keep the door from shutting on the person walking behind him, interrupting Mirio as he speaks usually to comment that he's taking too long on his explanation, and the way he huffs dramatically whenever the group stops for more than thirty seconds.
At one point Mirio pauses to answer a question from one of your classmates, Bakugou clicks his tongue.
"Oi, lets get a damn move on!" He barks out with his hands clenching into fist in his pockets.
Mirio laughs. "Patience, young Bakugou! In due time!"
"Tch." He rolls his eyes so hard you're surprised they don't get stuck in the back of his head.
Of all the people in class to have a crush on, you somehow managed to pick the human embodiment of a grenade. A very attractive grenade. A grenade that looked perpetually one inconvenience away from committing a felony.
Time Skip - 6 months.
Six months had passed since the first day you stepped into Class 1-A. Unfortunately, your crush hadn’t gone away. If anything, it had gotten worse. Which was impressive considering the object of your affection seemed personally offended by the concept of human interaction.
The rest of your friend group had long since figured out how to handle Bakugou. Mina argued with him like it was a competitive sport. Denki constantly annoyed him for his own entertainment. Kirishima treated every threat as a friendly greeting. Even Jiro occasionally rolled her eyes and told him to shut up.
Bakugou never changed. He was still impatient. Still blunt. Still somehow capable of sounding irritated while having a rare, casual conversation. Yet everyone else carried on as usual around him.
Everyone except you. It wasn't intentional. But somewhere along the way you started paying attention to every reaction he had. Whether his expression darkened when someone interrupted him. Whether his eye twitched when Denki got too loud. Whether he looked annoyed by a topic of conversation.
You found yourself adjusting for him without even realizing it. Talking a little quieter. Thinking twice before making a joke. Checking his mood before saying something ridiculous. The worst part? You were naturally a ridiculous person. So whenever Bakugou wasn't around, you felt like yourself. Loud laughter. Terrible jokes. Dramatic storytelling. The whole nine-yards.
Then Bakugou would walk into the room and you'd immediately become aware of yourself again. You hated it. Especially because nobody else seemed affected, only you. As if your stupid crush had somehow rewired your brain.
Tonight was supposed to be a break from all that. After surviving a brutal week of classes and training, your friend group had decided to spend Friday night at an arcade.
The place was packed. Bright lights flashed from every direction while overlapping game music created a wall of noise loud enough to drown out everything. The smell of pizza and slushies drifted in the air like a taunt while Mina destroyed everyone at a dance game. Denki had somehow lost three consecutive rounds of basketball against Jiro and Sero was laughing so hard he nearly fell over. You spent the first hour bouncing between games and collecting enough tickets to buy nothing useful. For once, you weren't thinking about school, training, internships, or Bakugou.
Then everyone migrated toward a racing simulator. Immediately, chaos broke out over who got to play first. Unfortunately, there weren't enough seats for everyone. Which meant some people had to wait, and through a cruel twist of fate, you ended up being one of them. Alongside Bakugou.
Fantastic.
Sighing imperceptibly, you stood beside one of the machines while Kirishima waited nearby, enthusiastically commentating on the race currently happening on-screen.
"You're taking that corner too wide!" He shouted.
"I know!" Denki yelled back.
"No, you clearly don't!"
"You sound like Bakugou!"
"Don't compare me to him!"
Bakugou’s left eye twitched, “The hell does that mean you idiot!"
Kirishima laughed. Then his attention shifted toward the concession stand across the arcade.
"Oh, hold on. I'm grabbing a drink."
Without waiting for a response, he ran off towards the stand, counting tickets in his hands calculating how many he’ll need with his signature toothy grin.
The noise of the arcade seemed louder now, or maybe you were just more aware of it. You shifted your weight awkwardly, squaring your shoulders and standing a bit straighter against the wall before pulling out your phone and checking your notifications. There was nothing there, but you stared anyway. A habit you'd developed months ago because willing a notification to come through was easier than trying to figure out what to say to Bakugou.
Not that he looked interested in conversation anyway. He was standing beside you with his hands shoved into his pockets, eyes fixed on the racing game probably thinking how much better he'd be doing at it. His expression looked exactly the same as it always did, annoyed, like he'd rather be anywhere else.
A minute passed. Then another. You refreshed the same page on your phone for the third time. He glanced over at you, eyebrows furrowed. When it looked like he'd blow a fuse if he saw you checked your phone again Kirishima returned with a huge slushie. Your shoulders sagged in quiet relief and you pocketed your phone.
Thank god…
Minutes later, you ended up challenging Kirishima to a round of air hockey. Which turned out to be a mistake. A horrible mistake. Because somehow the game had escalated from a friendly match into a full-blown championship event.
"THAT DIDN'T COUNT!" You shouted, nearly climbing over the table after the puck bounced into your goal.
"It absolutely counted!" Kirishima yelled back, laughing so hard he could barely hold the striker.
"It ricocheted!"
"That's literally part of the game!"
Your entire friend group ended up around the air hockey table, all giggling and observing your antics. You didn't even notice until Mina nearly doubled over laughing. "Oh my god, you two are ridiculous."
"Tell him he cheated!" You demanded with a pout.
"He didn't cheat." She says cheerfully, breathless from laughing.
You huffed, crossing your arms over your chest, muttering to yourself. "Betrayal."
Across the arcade, Bakugou had been watching. For a moment, his eyes lingered. Watching you animatedly argue with Kirishima. Watching your exaggerated hand gestures. The loud laughter. The ridiculous dramatics. The complete lack of self-consciousness. Then he looked away with a scoff before thinking to himself,
Since when was this woman so damn loud?
Eventually you all used your tickets to buy useless plastic trinkets and candies. Mina bought a cherry lollipop, Denki, a slap bracelet he used mostly on Jiro instead of his own wrist. Kirishima won a teddy bear he ended up gifting to Mina, and you bought the first thing that caught your eye and made you smile.
As the night wound down and the arcade was closer to closing, you all decided to start heading back to the dorms. Everyone walked in pairs down the narrow sidewalk, all having separate conversations with their partner. Jiro and Yaoyorozu led the group talking about an upcoming test, Kirishima and Mina behind them naming the teddy bear with Denki and Sero right on their heels suggesting outrageous names. That left you and Bakugo walking side by side, the only two silent.
You weren’t exactly uncomfortable, just distracted by the teasing going on in front of you. Chuckling and shaking your head, occasionally giving your two scents on the names Denki and Sero were spewing. You walked casually, almost forgetting the grenade beside you. Almost.
The conversation in front of you became more of the four, so you took it as your sign to respectfully resign yourself. Now becoming more aware of the situation you’re in, you walked with your shoulders slightly more squared, your eyes gazing over the view of city buildings and closed up shops. Anything but the walking firecracker next to you, with his hands in his pockets and a slightly more relaxed scowl on his face.
After three more minutes of silent walking, your fingers started fidgeting with the hem on your shirt, teeth biting the inside of your cheek unconsciously.
Does he find this awkward? Does he wish he were with anyone else?
No, you know what? Screw it.
Before you could overthink it you cleared your throat, “Hey so, did you have a good time?” Your voice came out shakier than intended, your nervousness painfully obvious. You cursed yourself internally for it.
Bakugou side eyed you, crimson eyes narrowing as he reads between the lines of your tone. “Yeah, good enough of a time possible with you idiots.” His voice was gruff, annoyed as ever.
A quiet chuckle slipped out before you could stop it, his jaw ticked imperceptibly. You tried to think of something to say, your eyebrows furrowing once more in thought.
Bakugo walks alongside you with the long growing silence, except for the sound of the gears turning in your head. He keeps noticing the way you bite the inside of your cheek while you think of what to say, how your lips part slightly and then shut just as fast as you deem whatever you were about to say unworthy. His scowl deepens, jaw ticking and hands digging deeper into his pockets as if physically restraining himself from opening your jaw and making you speak.
“Just spit it out already, idiot. You’re pissing me off.” He breaks the silence with a borderline commanding tone, sharp crimson eyes locking onto yours.
You snap from your thoughts, looking at him wide eyed with slightly parted lips. Your mouth moves a couple times, your brain still trying to process the request.
“What?” You ask just to buy time and think of a proper sentence to say in the mess that is your thoughts.
“You deaf or something?” He snaps back, the last of his thin patience wavering into nothing. “Just say what you're thinking, is that so hard?” His voice is practically a growl.
You blink once, twice, trying to figure out why you're not more intimidated than you should be but more intrigued. You licked your lips and cleared your throat before speaking,
“The girls were talking about suggesting to watch a movie later in the common room. What kind of movie would you suggest?” Your voice came out quiet, but steadier than before.
See? Progress.
“Tch. Seriously? That's what took you so goddamn long?” He says gruffly, annoyed with how much of a big deal you were making about something so seemingly simple.
Nevermind.
A pause.
“Rom-com.” He replies slightly less annoyed from before now that you finally spit out your question. “Anything in that genre.” He continues, turning his head to face forward again casually like he didn't just short circuit your brain.
“Rom-com?” You say almost immediately, your tone higher pitched in disbelief and eyes widening slightly in surprise. “You…Katsuki Bakugou…like rom-coms?”
His expression twists in defenses.“Tch. Is that a goddamn problem nerd?” He barks back, causing you to laugh a full belly laugh. Denki and Sero look back at you sharing a surprised glances and a chuckle before turning back to face forward. Bakugou scowls impossibly further, a low growl from the depth of his throat bubbling up.
“Stop laughing idiot!” He whirls on you while yelling out, hands clenching into fist in his pockets and teeth grinding together. You only laughed harder, clutching your stomach as you felt muscles tense.
Your laughter filling the once awkward silence was like sunshine finally peeking out from behind rain clouds, invading his head and heart without warning. An unfamiliar sense of warmth blossoms in his chest. Before he could process it, his face muscles relaxed. Observing the way your eyes crinkled and your smile lines framed your soft lips. Cheeks turning a soft red from the laughter and your sweet perfume getting carried by the night breeze into his lungs. He inhaled like it was the first time he'd ever smelled it, and maybe in a sense it was. Before this moment, you were just another friend from the group, but now he’s really noticing you.
In your fit of laughter, Bakugou steps slow just barely to better match yours. He himself didn’t even notice his feet quietly adjusting to you, if he did he probably would've scowled and walked faster out of anger at himself for making an accommodation for anyone. His head dropped down slightly towards the sidewalk while his tongue pushed on the inside of his cheek to suppress a rare smile threatening to show. He should've been upset at you for laughing at him, and part of him was. But a small, unfamiliar part of him wanted nothing more than to keep being the reason you were laughing.
“I'm sorry-” You gasp out between laughs, completely unaware of the internal shift he just faced.
Your voice cutting him from his thoughts and making his face form right back into his default scowl, his head snapping up to face you again.
“Like hell you are!” He barks out with less heat than before, taking a hand out of his pocket to point an accusing finger at you. “ I'll make you damn sorry if you don't stop laughing!” Even as the threat spilled from his lips, it carried less weight than usual.
You wipe a stray tear from under your eye as your laughter dies down, not from his threat but because you simply needed air. “Okay, there is absolutely no way you like rom-coms.” You say with exaggerated hand movements and a bright amused smile.
He huffs and shoves his hand back in his pocket, facing forward and refusing to look at you. “Believe what you want idiot.” he mutters.
“No no no, let's talk about this,” you say chuckling before continuing, “which one made you realize you liked em? Oh let me guess, How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days?”
He rolls his eyes hard, “Please, that cheesy ass movie? Hell no. When Harry Met Sally, easy.” He states like it's the most obvious pick in the world. His scowl lightens just slightly as scenes from his favorite movie replay in his head.
You smiled a little brighter, “A classic. Didn't know you of all people would enjoy a friends to lovers trope.” You say surprised but happy to be getting to know more about him.
After all, this is basically the first real conversation you guys have had. The real cherry on top was that no one else knows about this side of him. You couldn't help but get your hopes up, your harmless crush on him suddenly becoming a small burning flame in your chest. Was this a new beginning for you guys? A first step towards a level above whatever friendship you guys had before?
He shrugs, still with his hands in his pockets. “Better than all that fake horror movie shit. What kind of moron trips while being chased?” He scoffs annoyed, rolling his eyes like he’s mentally replaying every time a protagonist has fallen while running away from the killer in a film.
You laugh, also visualizing it. “Hey no debate here. I love horror movies but they really do get annoying after coming up with a million ways to evade every situation the main character gets put in.”
He looks at you with a borderline shocked expression, surprised someone actually had the same opinion as him on this before the look disappears just as fast as it came. “At least someone gets it.” He mumbles almost amused.
You smile and chuckle, your head tilting slightly as you look at him walking next to you under the moonlight. Ash-blonde hair ruffling in the breeze that smelled faintly of fresh cut grass. Streetlights overhead casting shadows down his sharp nose and jawline while his eyebrows released some of the permanent tension that lived there.
You couldn't help but realize how light you felt in this moment with him. The chatter from the group up ahead had disappeared from your notice, your focus solely on the fact that Katsuki Bakugou was holding a conversation with you. He hadn’t told you to shut up, yet. Or speed walk away with a click of his tongue.
So, you took this as your invitation to keep talking. For the rest of the ten minute walk back to campus, you’re rambling animatedly about your favorite rom-coms, comedy and action movies. Your arms wave around enthusiastically as your lips move a million miles a minute about every topic. Bakugou gives his two-cents on every topic but not enough for it to be considered a two way conversation. A “Tch. That movie? Seriously? What are you? Five?” When explaining your favorite rom-com or “That’s the worst acting I’ve ever seen from so-called professionals. Why would anyone waste an hour and thirty minutes of their day for THAT movie.” While explaining your favorite action movie. You laughed it off and kept talking considering all the complaining he’s doing is because he’s sat down and watched them himself at some point. Only when the view of the towering glass UA dorm building came into view did he say,
“You’re a damn chatter box huh?” With an amused chuckle to himself, still looking forward with his hands shoved deep into his pockets and walking with that easy confidence he permanently carried. He didn’t say it to offend you or even judge you. To him it was merely an observation he decided to state out loud, not expecting to have caused any harm with his silly seeming comment.
However, whatever words you had on your tongue died right there, your mouth clamping shut and heart sinking in your chest with embarrassment.
Holy shit, I really did just chew his ear off. Damn it, the one conversation I had with him I absolutely blew it.
You rub the side of your arm while chewing on the inside of your right cheek, self criticizing every word you said up to this point. Bakugou immediately notices when you're silent, how could he not? Just two seconds ago your mouth was partially open about to say something but now you're suddenly as silent as a mouse. Just before Bakugou seemingly was about to speak,
“Hey! You guys down for a movie night?” Jiro suggests from her spot at the front. Everyone immediately agrees with excited “yes!” and “duh!” mostly from Mina, Denki, and Kirishima.
Oh fun. A movie night. Could this get any worse?
You think to yourself as you walk inside the dorm building, everyone saying quick goodbyes before disappearing into their rooms to change into comfy clothes.
The sound of the bathroom extractor and running faucet water echo off your room walls. You stand in front of your bathroom sink, hoodie and sweats pants on, hair up in a messy bun and makeup off. The warm water runs over your hands as you wash away the soap and mortification from that interaction with Bakugo. Your gaze moves to the reflection of your face in the mirror, scanning over your disappointed features as you visualize the clown makeup over your features. Yeah, that level of mortification.
Absolute idiot. Just had to keep talking huh?
You take a deep breath and turn off the running water, the faucet creaking and the water flow turning into a steady drip of single droplets till it eventually ceases. Pushing off the sink counter with a huff, you mentally prepare yourself to walk out of your safe space and into the warzone.
When you arrive, the entire group is already in the low-lit common area. Everyone standing around the kitchen island talking and laughing excitedly while Momo hands out snacks from the pantry. The smell of buttery popcorn cooking and the sound of cornels popping on the stove fill the room. A smile paints your lips at the sight of everyone having a good time, Kirishima already fist deep in his favorite chips, Mina with sour airhead strips laughing loudly with Sero, Denki with goldfish and sour candy standing next to Jiro like a lost puppy with a smile, and Jiro with a pack of M&M talking with Momo at the pantry.
Everyone is having a great time with each other, besides Bakugou.
Your eyebrows furrow in confusion as you scan the area, finding him away from the group and already sitting on the leather brown couch, staring at you as you walk further into the space. He occupies the left corner of the couch, man-spreading with his left arm draped across the back of the cushions and head turned to see you. The black slim TV remote with multi-colored buttons lays on his lap, hand loosely around it as the screen loads up to show the movies category on Netflix.
Your heart does an embarrassing leap in your chest as your steps unconsciously slow down, the sight of him like a king on his throne making your cheeks flush. Crimson eyes study your features like he’ll have a quiz on them, blonde eyebrows pulled together making his relaxed features seem tense.
You swallow the lump forming in your throat and quickly look away from him like you were caught committing a crime. Your nerves start to make your hands clammy under your hoodie sleeves, a cold sweat deciding to break out on the back of your neck causing hairs to stick uncomfortably to the damp skin.
Kirishima is the first to notice you walking further into the room, with a toothy grin and an excited glint in his eyes he announces your presence to the group. “There you are! We were waiting for you!” He says, causing heads to turn and smiles to be pointed your way. Everyone is painfully oblivious to the thickening tension between you and Bakugous whose eyes you can feel burning a hole through the back of your skull.
You smile and start making conversation while grabbing a bowl and helping Jiro to put in the popcorn. Conversation is easy as always, echos of laughter bringing a warmth back to your chest and settling your nerves. You're being your usual loud and stupid self, making terrible jokes that cause the group to laugh at you rather than with you. Not that you mind, their joy is so infectious you forget to care.
Periodically, your eyes flick to where Bakugou resides. His watching gaze and annoyed expression makes your heart race all over again, like the last 15 minutes of laughter and smiles did nothing to ease your mind. You look away and shake off the anxiety as best as you can, focusing on the smiling faces in front of you rather than the cold, calculating gaze behind them.
Soon enough people start to take their spots on the couch, Mina on the opposite corner of the couch, Denki in the middle with Jiro on his right and Sero on his left, and Momo sitting on a nearby arm chair nursing a cup of tea. You and Kirishima stay standing a little longer as he grabs a soda from the fridge, laughing hard from a ridiculous joke you made and he added onto.
Bakugou rolls his eyes at the sight of you and Kirishima, sighing loudly to grab your attention. “Oi! Any day now nerds!” He complains with a grumble, but his impatient tone suggests an underlying reasoning for wanting you guys to sit down. Jealousy? No, definelty not..
You and Kirishima share a glance before giggling like kids and walking to the couch, whispering about ‘firecrackers and their attitudes’ which only made Bakugo click his tongue and track his red haired best friend beside you with a glare.
Kirishima being the gentleman he is, stands off to the side to let you pick where you want to sit first with an encouraging smile and tilt of his head. You look over the options and your smile fades slowly. Left side with a scowling Bakugou whose gaze is now locked on you, or Mina on the right laughing at something Denki said.
“You’re a damn chatter box huh?”
His words echo fresh in your mind, the feeling of your heart sinking in your chest and your spirits crumbling for the hope of…well, anything, still stinging. The embarrassment hasn't faded despite the time that passed and your heart still feels heavy with disappointment. You guys were having a great conversation, at least you thought. Now, looking back, it just feels one sided. Like the conversation was a chore or rather a courtesy since he got stuck next to you.
Kirishima waits patiently behind you with that permanent smile in his expression, popping open his soda with a click and fizz. You blink back the thoughts and with your eyes downcast, you take a seat next to Mina.
Bakugou watches you sit down, tracking your form as you curl into the cushions and glance at him. For a brief second, you could have sworn disappointment flashed in his gaze. His lips pulled into the faintest of frowns, his eyebrows pulling downward in slight confusion before it quickly disappears and is masked by a scowl. He tears his eyes from you and focuses on the TV, adjusting his hips on the couch and resting his elbow on the armrest before putting his cheek against his fist.
You frown slightly and do the same as Kirishima walks in front of you to sit next to Bakugou, turning your attention to focus on the TV with a small sigh. When you look, really look at the movie queued on the screen, your heart plummets down to your stomach.
A newly released rom-com sits patiently on screen, the trailer starting with slow romantic jazz and a montage of the movie over the “Watch” button.
Your eyes snap to his again, regret settling like a hundred pound weight on your chest. The music from the movie turns to static in your ears over the sound of your pounding heart. The chatter of the group dulls into a faint buzz and the smell of the various assortment of snacks meddle together into something sour in your nose. Bakugo's gaze stays forward, that same unreadable but annoyed scowl, Kirishima next to him offers snacks that he refuses with a click of his tongue.
The fabric of your oversized hoodie felt too tight on your frame, the lights overhead felt more like spotlights, all pointing at you for making the wrong choice.
He planned a rom-com.
You realize then that Bakugo had purposely sat down earlier than everyone else, claimed a spot on the couch with the remote in hand, and picked a movie from the conversations you guys had…for you. Maybe he had planned something to say when you sat next to him, something only the two of you would’ve understood. Maybe it could’ve turned into an inside joke, maybe you could’ve joked over the acting or talked about the cliches. Maybe, he had wanted you to sit next to him. Now, you’ll never get to know.
Your thoughts get cut off from the common room lights getting shut off by Momo in the corner of the room. The movie starts to play as the calm music and scenic city play over the TV. You lay back into the cushions trying to mold yourself into the leather, hoping you could just disappear for the next hour and thirty minutes of this rom-com.
The rom- com passes in a blur of tension and romantic music, none of which you bother to try to pay attention to. Your thoughts were too loud to pay attention to the scenes in front of you, your heart too fast to relax and enjoy much of anything, and your eyes would glance at a bothered Bakugo every ten minutes trying to read his thoughts from his face. Which was proven a futile effort after the seventeenth time.
He didn’t move or speak much during the movie, he would occasionally yawn loudly or adjust his position on the couch. Arms behind his head against the couch and legs manspreading enough to be comfortable and inconvenience Kirishima next to him. Unbeknownst to you, after every glance you snuck at him, he snuck one back. When he watched your face turn forward in his peripheral vision, he’d side eye you just enough to see that small frown on your lips and sagging shoulders under your hoodie. His eyes would narrow imperceptibly and lips pull into a tight line before looking back to the TV, not really watching the movie either.
Eventually, the names of directors and producers rolled over the closing montage. Jiro grabs the remote and shuts off the TV, plummeting the room into darkness aside from the single lamp in the corner still on. Despite the exhaustion settling in your bones you don't move, not wanting to be rude and leave when everyone is still seated. The group was tired enough to be yawning but still wound up from all the sugary snacks and drinks, so after no debate you all stayed seated on the couch. Mina the first to stretch and everyone following after her with groans and exaggerated noises.
“Man, I am stuffed.” Mina says before flopping back against the cushions. Denki laughs and does the same after stretching, resting his head against Jiro's shoulder. “Well you did eat most of the popcorn.” Kirishima and Momo laugh next.
You chuckle and rest your head against the couch cushions, instinctively turning your face to the side and meeting Bakgo’s waiting gaze. Butterflies flap their wings in your stomach, warmth creeping up your neck threatening to turn into a blush on your cheeks. Your expression is tired and apologetic, trying to telepathically apologize with your half lidded eyes and small frown.
Bakugo's expression remains unreadable, but he isn't scowling. Crimson eyes roaming over your every feature seemingly lost in thought. The chatter of friends talking, the AC blowing overheard, the smell of sugar from candy, it all fades into the background underneath the way he’s looking at you. Like you're the only woman in the room worth looking at.
He can tell that your shoulders are sagging more than before, your eyes barely able to stay open and your posture melting further into the cushions with every passing second. After two more seconds he comes to a silent conclusion and rises from his spot on the couch, shoving his hands in his sweatpant pockets and leaving without a word.
Kirishima is the first to notice his sudden departure, “Yo, Bakubro! You out?” He calls out while taking the now available space on the couch. Bakugo turns his face enough just to side eye him, "What it look like Shitty-Hair? Obviously.” He grumbles and continues walking down the dark hallway. Kirishima laughs and waves him off with an enthusiastic “Goodnight!” You watch his form grow distant down the dark hallway, long strides eating up the distance between him and his room.
You look away when his silhouette is out of sight, waiting approximately two minutes before getting up from your spot with a yawn, excusing yourself with a tired smile and mumbling “good night” to everyone. You walk slowly to your dorm room, stumbling over your dragging feet and keeping close to the wall. You reach your room and fumble with the doorknob before pushing it open and disappearing inside, unaware of Bakugo standing just two doors down in the darkness.
The next day, it was a beautiful Saturday morning. Birds chirping a song outside your window as leaves float down from trees and rays of sunshine pour in through your curtains to color the wooden floorboards in shades of yellow. Your room was colder than usual, AC from the building paired with your ceiling fan making your spot under your comforter a cocoon of warmth. Just as you switch positions and melt into your matress your 8 am alarm blares from your phone, cutting through the quiet atmosphere with the persistent ringing.
You groan and shut off your alarm, deciding to throw off your blankets and get up. You're already awake so might as well make the most of it. After doing your usual morning routine your stomach announces its hunger with a loud grumble, “Yeah yeah I heard you.” You mumble to your stomach before throwing on your favorite hoodie and pj pants, walking out of your room towards the common room kitchen. Yawning and tripping over your slippers you manage to make it to the kitchen, stopping at the threshold when you see Bakugo already there in his usual black tanktop and sweats combo with a white towel around his neck.
His back is facing you as he throws in mangos, pineapples, bananas, protein powder, coconut water, and ice into a blender. Twisting the lid onto the blender cup with forearms flexing, locking the cup into the machine and- his motions come to a halt, head turning over his shoulders to look at you.
You both stare at each other for five seconds, heavy silence stretching out between you two before you look around the empty kitchen with a sheepish expression. With a nervous giggle, “Good morning.” You say with a voice crack, coughing after and smacking your chest.
Nice one. Real smooth.
Bakugo almost smiles, if you classify his lip barely twitching upwards a smile. “Morning.” He says with a gruff tone before turning back to his smoothie, hiding the amused expression growing on his features.
You walk further into the kitchen and head to the cabinet where the bowls reside, grabbing your favorite bowl with a chip on the rim and listening as the smoothie blends together. After two minutes of loud whirring the blender shuts off, he unlocks the cup and opens the lid, throwing in a metal straw and turning to face you. One hand holding the cup to his lips and the other braced against the counter where his lower back rests against.
Silence falls over the space between you, unspoken words from last night creating a blanket of tension. You close the cabinet and set down the bowl on the counter, walking to the fridge and grabbing the milk carton.
After a couple seconds of internal encouragement you clear your throat, “What uh, are you doing up so early?” You ask while shutting the fridge door and setting the milk cartoon down next to your bowl. His eyebrows furrow and he takes the straw out of his mouth, licking his lips before saying, “Training. Obviously.”
You mentally smack your palm over your face, cursing yourself for being so stupid. Bakugo always trains in the mornings, even on weekends. You know this because he never lets anyone forget how ahead he is and how lazy they are, claiming "villains don't take weekends off, why should heroes?”
“Right, yeah of course.” You say with an embarrassed chuckle, turning away and soundlessly mouthing curse words at yourself as you grab a spoon from the drawer. He tracks your movements while sipping his smoothie again, already knowing what you’re going to grab. You work on autopilot to grab your favorite cereal from the cabinet, walking back to your spot with everything lined up and waiting.
Seriously? You just had to ask what he was doing huh? Damn idiot. Couldn't have asked anything else? I mean cmon, we know he trains every morning. He's been training since birth. Why not ask about his smoothie? Or his-
“You’re seriously going to eat that?” Bakugo’s annoyed voice cuts through your thoughts and silence in the room.
You look over to him, eyes blinking at him trying to figure out if you just imagined his voice. “What?”
He rolls his eyes before repeating, “The cereal. You're seriously going to eat that?”
Your eyebrows furrow in defense, “What's wrong with cereal?” You say holding the box between your hands to your chest like you would a baby.
“Tch. It's straight sugar and processed chemicals. You expect to be a top hero with that in your diet?” He says back like the box kicked his puppy and burned his house to the ground.
You roll your eyes and set down the box, one hand on your hip and the other braced against the counter. “It’s Saturday. Calories don’t count on the weekends.” You say with a bit of sass, Bakugo stares at you like you've grown two heads. Eye twitching in disbelief at the nonsense just left your mouth. Before he could tell you how ridiculous that is you put a hand up to silence him, “No judging my breakfast TNT, unless you plan on making me some I don't want to hear it.” You say turning to face the counter and ripping open the box.
Bakugo scowls, slamming down his half finished smoothie and snatching the box from your hands just before you could pour it. You whirl on him with your mouth open to protest but are met with his face inches from yours, close enough to see every individual eye lash and smell his natural scent of salted caramel and sweat. “Don’t give me that attitude.” He growls lowly, smacking the box down on the counter away from you without breaking eye contact. “You’re not eating this junk, you hear me?”
You blink up at him, butterflies swarming in your stomach and air becoming thinner in your lungs. The kitchen around you fades to nothing, his towering frame blocking out any other sight. Time slowed down just for you, giving the chance for tension to grow with every second of eyecontact. Somewhere down the hall a classmate coughs, the smoke director chirps and the condensation on his smoothie cup glides down the plastic.
Before you could even think to react he backs up, walking over to the stove and grabbing a frying pan that was set on top of low heat. Your expression quickly twists into confusion as he sets down the frying pan in front of you before grabbing a clean plastic fork he found on the counter and throws it carelessly next to the pan. He snatches his smoothie from the counter and shoves his free hand into his pocket, “Eat it.” He grumbles and rounds the counter, sitting on the barstool in front of you.
You look away from him to the pan. Inside is a small portion of seasoned scrambled eggs, sausage links, bacon, and potatoes. It wasn’t much, most likely the remnants of his own breakfast but it was more than enough to hold you off till lunch.
When did he make this? Was it on the stove the entire time?
While you try to figure out how you missed this, an audible slurp from him across the counterechoes in the kitchen. “Oi. You gonna eat it with your eyes or sum?” He mumbles around the straw in his mouth while giving you an almost amused look.
You blink out of your daze and pick up the plastic fork, mumbling something incoherent before stabbing a piece of egg and sausage before putting it in your mouth. When the taste registers you look at him as you chew, the fluffy eggs with just the right amount of pepper and sausage link that falls apart in your mouth are damn near perfect.
At your staring he asks,“What?” With a grumble as you swallow. “You made this?” You ask, still completely shocked at how delicious that small bite was. “Tch. Yeah, so what?” He responds before finishing off his smoothie and carelessly throwing the empty cup into the sink. The clatter of plastic against metal reverberated in the kitchen before settling, "It's really good.” You say already stabbing more onto your fork. He huffs from the praise, a grin threatening to form on his lips. “Obviously. Did you think it'd be bad?”
“I thought it'd be poisoned." You respond quickly around the mouth full of potatoes. Bakugo's tongue pushed on the inside of his cheek and exhaled sharply from his nose, hiding his amused smile and chuckle. “Shut up and eat the damn food woman.” He grumbles and watches you scarf down the next bite.
He watches you finish the portion of food, arms crossed on the counter and veiny hands on his biceps. With a satisfied hum you set down the dirty dishes into the sink, starting the water and lathering soap onto the blue scrub. After a couple minutes of the only sound in the room being running water, scrub working over dirty dishes and the occasional chirp of the smoke detector, Bakugo speaks up. “Don’t think we aren’t going to talk about last night.” His voice gruff but calmer than you’ve ever heard it.
Your heart plummets thirty stories down, a cold chill running down your body. You glance up at him and then back to the dishes, “um, what about last night?”
He huffs, “Don’t give me that. You know what happened.” His words hang in the air like an invisible force, guilt settling in your chest once more. “Why’d you do it?” He asks, looking away from you to the distant wall.
You stop scrubbing the pan in your hand, looking up at him and taking a couple seconds to collect your thoughts. “I thought you didn’t want me to sit next to you is all.” You say softly, guilt evident in your tone.
His jaw ticks, “Why?” The question leaves him immediately, eyes looking back to you now. You look down to the pan, chewing on the inside of your cheek from nerves. “You said I was a chatterbox, so I assumed I was bothering you. Thought you’d want some space.” You explain yourself in a low tone, shoulders sagging and waiting for him to storm off.
The kitchen goes silent aside from the background noise, multiple seconds pass before turning into a minute. “That’s not what I meant.” Bakugo says with less patience than before. “It was just an observation, it was never meant to insult you damn it.” He continues with his hands clutching his biceps, anger mostly directed at himself in every line on his face.
You blink down at the pan once, twice, before finally looking at him. “You don’t hate me?” You ask before you could even process the thought. “Tch. Don’t be an idiot.” He grumbles before continuing, “I don’t hate you.”
You let out a breath you didn’t know you were holding, shoulders sagging in relief and heart rate starting to steady. “That’s reassuring.” You say with a chuckle, smiling at him and putting the soapy pan under the running water.
He huffs, but it’s half hearted. His shoulders lose tension imperceptibly, but you notice. You notice that his eyebrows aren’t furrowed, his eyes aren’t crinkled with their usual judgement, and his jaw isn’t clenched. You smile a little brighter, “Thank you, for talking about it. The last thing I wanted was for us to be awkward around each other.”
Bakugo studies the curve of your lips, the shape of your Cupid's bow and the color staining your cheeks. The way your eyes crinkled with happiness and smile lines that framed soft pink lips. For a split second, he felt like he’d never seen something so beautiful. He looks away when he catches himself staring with a grumble, “Shut up. Don't make it weird.”
You chuckle and continue washing dishes, feeling lighter and hopeful. For the next ten minutes Bakugo sits there as you clean, you ask him about his training and talk with him over his detailed schedule. Making jokes about being Type A and him yelling at you, making you laugh harder.
Over the next few months you and Bakugo grew closer. When you’d start conversations with him he’d give real responses rather than the short answers like he used too. He’d let you stand closer to him without complaint in crowded areas. He’d show trust by gravitating towards you when he wanted to stay quiet, letting you be loud for the both of you.
Slowly, you noticed things…progressing. He started inviting you to train with him in the mornings- okay, sure it was more of a suggestion with a time and a meeting spot but he didn’t look surprised when you showed up. He sat closer to you at lunch while you rambled on about Aizawa’s lecture an hour prior, glaring at you when he noticed your half eaten food getting cold on your tray. “Oi, talk later.” He’d say annoyed and push your tray further in front of you before going back to his own meal muttering about being ‘a damn babysitter.’ On weekend mornings he’d throw a towel over the blender so his morning smoothie wouldn’t wake you up from your sleeping state down the hall. Later when you'd stumble half awake to the kitchen, the smell of breakfast would greet you almost instantly. There sat Bakugo on his usual barstool with a plate of freshly cooked breakfast and a protein smoothie. But, in the pan was just enough to consider an extra serving for you. Not that he'd ever admit it, but he did make extra for you so you wouldn't eat that god awful cereal.
He initiated conversation with you while walking to class with an annoyed comment on the changing weather and other days sat in silence on the common room couch after a long day. Knees barely touching as he pretends to scroll through his phone and you read a book under a mountain of blankets. He took your health more seriously than you did, constantly commenting on the snacks you ate before throwing you one of his protein bars after snatching your bag of chips from your hands. “Keep eating like shit, I’m not dragging your ass when you need help in the field.” He’d comment when you protest, and immediately look away from your pouting expression. “Don’t look at me like that dumbass.” He’d grumble and walk away, leaving you with the protein bar and a belly full of butterflies. His expression started softening when he saw you, eyebrows relaxing and eyes uncrinckling. Standing almost shoulder-to-shoulder with you, letting his presence be enough to fill the silence. When a nickname you’d been dying to call him slipped out during conversation, you both froze, but he just looked away and said, “Keep talking idiot, don’t make it weird.” Was it outright permission? Not exactly, but it might as well have been.
Now it was the middle of fall, autumn colored leaves scattered on sidewalks and a cool breeze that smelled faintly of pine cones and rain drifted through the streets. It was your first day at your internship at Hawk’s agency. Bakugo was at Endeavors just down the street in his winter hero costume because, of course, even the breeze made him cold.
You spent your first day at Hawks side as he explains how everything runs and what your training schedule will look like. Red wings flaring out to stretch every few minutes as you walk down hallway after hallway. “My office is here, where I unfortunately do mountains of paperwork in one sitting till 3 am.” He said in a sarcastically cheerful tone with a look of repulsion at the glass office, earning him a laugh from you. He’d grin and continue with the tour of the facility, treating you like a celebrity on the red carpet escorting you around like a personal body guard. By the end of your first day it was clear you and Hawks were going to be good friends, your personalities meshed perfectly and respect went both ways, not just for recognition as a Pro Hero to an upcoming Hero, but for the undeniable fact that any room you walked into you could bring light.
As expected, you both became the best of friends. The internship quickly became more of a play date. Training was spent laughing between drills and combo attacks, patrol was spent talking endlessly about funny arrest stories from Hawks and Aizawa lectures from you, while paperwork was dreaded on in his office over boxes of takeout.
Every night like clockwork at 8 pm you’d call Bakugo for thirty minutes and go over your day. Telling him about every stupid joke during patrol and funny arrest stories. He would listen to you talk about Hawks like an old friend you'd known for years rather than a Pro Hero you met days ago with an annoyed scowl and clicks of his tongue. “You and featherbrain seem chipper.” He commented with a bothered tone, scowling at his wall mentally picturing Hawks face. You’d laugh it off and continue rambling. He could tell how happy you were at your agency and it made him jealous that ‘birdbrain’ was the cause. Despite him not wanting to admit it, you could hear it when he’d sigh or yawn loudly mid story, scoffing at the mention of Hawks every chance he got.
On the last day of the internship, Hawks invited every Pro Hero and their internship students to a night out. A reserved rooftop lounge in the heart of downtown for the night to celebrate the upcoming end of the internships.
You spent two hours getting ready for tonight. Your favorite getting ready playlist blasting from your phone speaker. Everything-shower was accomplished, lotion and perfume on, hair dolled up to your perfection, make-up flawless with no caking, and the dress you're wearing accentuates every dip and curve on your body. To say the least, you look stunning.
As you were slipping your kitten heels on, your phone rang from its spot on your nightstand. You walk over and smile at the familiar contact lighting up your screen. You pick up the phone and put it on speaker. “Hey Suki, what's up?” You say cheerfully and slip your heels on. A huff at the nickname can be heard from the other side and some rustling, “You’re going to that stupid party tonight right?” His gruff voice answers as a form of greeting. You chuckle, shaking your head and getting the first heel on. “Yeah I'm going. You?” He groans on the other end, “Yeah.” He says with an annoyed exhale. You can already picture his expression, fingers pinching the bridge of his nose with his phone to his ear. You smile to yourself and slip on the other heel. “I’ll see you there then.” You say excitedly before grabbing your phone from the charger. He sighs before mumbling, “Yeah whatever.” Hanging up right after. You chuckle to yourself and head out the door.
When you get to the party your jaw threatens to drop. The night sky was glittering with stars, a full moon illuminating the space along with several blue, purple, and red lights. Night traffic below sounded miles away, cars honking and faint shouting audible in the distance.
The rooftop was covered in strung up fairy lights, plush couches with coffee tables in front of each, standing tables without chairs along the railings and decorative plants in many corners. The back held the bar where a bartender shook a drink for Present Mic with two hands, the dance floor was just in front of it with two massive speakers hidden near the bar.
The entire class 1-A was already there mingling around the rooftop, Jiro next to Denki as he spoke to Sero with a bright smile. Ochaco with Tsuyu on one of the couches nearest the entrance, and Tenya with Momo at one of the standing tables likely talking about class related topics. But, as always, your eye caught on Bakugo.
He was wearing a black button up long sleeve, black belt with a grenade buckle and black pants. Ash-blonde hair spiky and rustling in the autumn breeze and crimson eyes assessing every passing hero as if sizing them up for a fight. Which, to be honest, he probably is doing.
Sensing someone watching him, his gaze lands on you, eyes roaming slowly from the top of your head to the bottom of your feet. His eyes widen ever so slightly, throat suddenly going dry and hands sweatier than usual in his pockets.
You walk over to where he stands next to Mina and Kirishima with a smile, Mina immediately greeting you with a tight hug and a squeal. “There you are! You look gorgeous!” You laugh and hug her back, “Says you!” Kirishima whistles playfully with an ear to ear grin. “Looking fancy!” He says with a lighthearted tone, giving you a side hug in the process. You look over to Katsuki next, “Long time no see huh?” You say with a warm smile. He gives you another up-down look before muttering, “Clearly.” Mostly to himself. You chuckle and smooth out your dress, “Forgot what I looked like or something?” He huffs, which you’ve come to realize is his form of a chuckle, and looks away to the distant bar. “Tch. Don’t be ridiculous.” He grumbles and clenches his jaw.
Your eyebrows furrow as you study his demeanor, he seemed…nervous. But why? Mina and Kirishima share a knowing glance before smiling to themselves, clearly knowing something you don't.
The rest of the evening passed easier than expected. Music drifted through the rooftop lounge while heroes laughed over drinks and internship students swapped stories from the past week.
Hawks, naturally, was everywhere.
He pulled you into conversations, introduced you to heroes you hadn’t met yet, somehow convinced Present Mic to tell the story of the time he’d accidentally blown out every microphone in a three-block radius, and convinced you to dance the Macerena with him. You laughed until your stomach hurt, smiling so bright your cheeks hurt from the strain.
And every single time…Katsuki noticed. He stood off to the side by the railing watching you trip over your heels on the dance floor. He noticed the way Hawks could make you laugh within seconds. The way you lightly shoved his shoulder after another joke. The way Hawks leaned down to hear you over the music with his smug grin and sharp eyes.
Katsuki hated every second of it. But why? He scowled to himself and came to a silent conclusion. By the time the party started winding down, he’d had enough.
He found you standing near the railing overlooking the city, taking in the cool autumn breeze as you recharge your social battery after the night you've had. You took in deep breaths and looked down to cars stopping at traffic lights and citizens closing up shops for the night.
“Oi.” A familiar gruff voice cut through the peace.
You startled and turned to face Katsuki, putting a hand over your chest as you exhaled with a chuckle. “Oh—hey, Suki-”
“Come here.” Without waiting, he stepped forward and grabbed your wrist between his thumb and pointer finger, walking you both toward the quieter end of the rooftop.
You stumbled but caught your footing, “Kat what the hell?” He huffs and turns his head over his shoulder to glare at you. “I should be asking that."He snaps back before facing forward again, the corner between the bar and railing slowly coming into view. You physically lean back like his words put a wall between you. “What are you so mad about?” You say back, annoyed at his attitude. He responds with, “Tch.” And pulls you faster.
When you're finally away from prying eyes and listening ears he whirls on you, pinning you against the wall with his hands on either side of your head. “Just what the hell do you think you're doing?” His tone is accusing, crimson eyes narrowed in frustration and nostrils flaring. You blink a couple times, completely taken aback.“Wha-”
“The past week has been Hawks this Hawks that. So just what's going on?” Your expression twists into confusion and offense. “Nothings going on Katsuki-”
“Like hell there isn't. You think I don't know that smile? That laugh?” He says sharply before continuing. “I know you. I know you forget to zip your backpack after class. I know that regardless how tired you are you won't leave the room first out of respect. I know you forget your water bottle after a long training session. I know how you prefer drinking energy drinks over coffee. I know you hum your favorite song when you think no one can hear. I know you damn it.” He says all in one breath, panting after but never breaking eye contact.
You forgot how to breathe, eyes wide and heart racing. The city below, the music still playing over the speaker, the clinking of cups, it all fades to nothing. You stare up at him like you're seeing him for the first time, bringing your hands up to cup his face. He doesn't flinch, doesn’t blink, doesn't even breathe. “Say something damn it.” His voice breaks. His cheek turning in your palm as if chasing comfort.
You brush your thumb back and forth on his cheek, a smile pulling your lips. “Ask me, Katsuki.” You whisper, tilting your head to the side. “Please.”
He stares at you for a minute, memorizing this moment with you like he won't get another. “Be my woman.” He says softly, softer than you'd ever heard before. “Be the voice I hear every morning when I wake up and every night before I go to sleep. Be the woman I work everyday to deserve.”
You laugh breathlessly, not because anything is funny, but because the grenade you’ve had a crush on for months is asking you to be his. You wrap your arms around his neck and bury your face in the crock of his neck, inhaling his caramel sweet scent and feeling his warmth seep into your bones. “Yes. A million times yes.” You murmur into his skin.
His arms wrap around your waist like an iron band, pulling you flush against his chest with no intention of letting go. Not tonight, not ever. He laughs breathlessly with his chin resting on the top of your head, shoulders sagging in relief and lips twisted into a smile.
Seconds later you feel his hand leave your waist and cradle the back of your neck, pulling you gently away from where your face was and leaning you back enough to look at you. “You’re mine, you understand?” He asks and doesn’t wait for a response before dipping his head down and pressing a firm kiss to your lips. “All damn mine.” He murmurs against your lips before kissing you again.
The kiss was a mixture of passion and devotion, like your lips moving against his was unraveling him in ways he never thought possible. He spelled promises with every motion, swore oaths of loyalty with every groan. Because, when Katsuki met you, he knew you’d be his everything.
a/n: we highkey laughed our butts off while making up the scenarios. hopefully y'all laugh at them too.
SATORU GOJO
Growing up, you didn't have much. Your parents were barely making ends meet, both working two jobs to sustain bills and your education. You started working as soon as you could to help fund your own expenses, giving them less to worry and pay for. They never asked you to, they'd tell you to just focus on your studies but you couldn't. Not while they suffered and worked harder than most to put food in your lunch box and clean clothes in your closet. You were hard working and smart, never taking handouts and always earning what was yours. All the while studying hard during your lunch breaks at work and staying up countless nights to cram for exams. That is what Gojo always admired.
From the first time he met you at that small coffee shop you waitressed at, your nose in a book as you wipe down tables and fixed chairs, till your very first date that you insisted on splitting the bill. He played along of course, but the bill had been taken care of before you ever saw the price. He loved your stubborn and hard working nature, loved how upset you got and tried to pry the bill amount out of him, but most of all he loved how you didn't care about his generational wealth. Despite being the richest sorcerer alive since birth, you still tried arguing over a measly 70 dollar date.
Once you started dating, it took a long time to get accustomed to being taken care of by him. He’d constantly show up with your favorite comfort meals after your shift, sitting in his sports car with his hand massaging your thigh as you ate and told him about rude customers. Snacks during your late night study sessions in your room where he’d brush your hair and ask you questions on the material, peeking over your shoulder and occasionally kissing your ear to purposely distract you as you recited the contents of your workbook.
He’d also buy you clothes without you needing to tell him your size, “I thought you’d look good in this babe.” He’d say with a proud smirk before shoving it into your hands and ushering you to your bathroom to try it on. To say Gojo was spoiling you rotten was an understatement, on date nights he’d insist on buying you a completely new outfit down to designer sunglasses and heels. Necklaces worth your paycheck and anything you even glanced at. “What’s so wrong with spoiling my honey? You work hard, let me care for you.” He’d say with a quick kiss to your cheek before grabbing all the bags from your hands and ushering you to his parked sports car.
For months you’d feel guilty at how much he was spending on you, often scolding him on how he never even glanced at the bill before tapping his black metal card. He'd listen to you scold him with a small amused smirk, twirling your hair in his fingers and occasionally humming his acknowledgment of your words. You thought he'd grow out of the habit, but boy were you wrong.
Now, years later the sound of utensils clinking against kaolin porcelain china plates fills the lavish dining room in the Gojo Estate. You, your husband Satoru, and your two beautiful teenage kids sit at the table enjoying a 3 course dinner, all hand made by your private chefs. You sit next to your husband whose hand is on your thigh, stroking your soft skin with his thumb lazily as he eats with his free hand. Despite the grand table, you and your husband all sit at the head together. Your daughter to your left and your son to your husband's right.
You ask your kids how school went between sips of your wine, your husband graciously refills your glass only to steal sips from the spot your maroon lipstick stains the rim, glancing sideways at you with a playful gleam in his eyes and a smirk. Your daughter goes on to tell a story of how she tried out for the ballet competitive dancing club and got in. Your son after going on to explain a similar story with the baseball club.
“The club is exclusively for travel competitions. Apparently last year, the club traveled all around Europe for two weeks doing competitions against the best schools world wide.” Your daughter says excitedly between bites of her Alaska salmon.
“Yeah, same for the baseball club. Some third years were telling the newbies that last year the club traveled around America playing against some prestigious private schools.” Your son says in a more relaxed tone before putting a piece of lamb in his mouth.
You smile warmly, chewing and swallowing the piece of food you had in your mouth before speaking. “That's amazing sweethearts.” you say proudly, setting down your fork.
Your husband sets down your wine glass he was drinking from with a proud smile. “Atta kids. I knew my DNA would serve you right.” He chuckles and winks to his kids.
You chuckle at your husband and the kids do too. Taking his bigger hand in your smaller one you look between the two, “So, when do you guys start? Do we need to go out tomorrow and get you the proper supplies?” You’re already mentally planning the mall day, which stores to hit up for your daughter's necessities and which for your son.
Your husband smiles big at your eagerness, squeezing your hand gently in his and stroking your knuckles with his thumb before speaking. “You kids tell us what you need, can't have you guys looking like rookies.”
Your daughter's expression turns sheepish, almost worried. “Yeah, but the club is really expensive.” she says softly, setting down her fork before your son follows after.
“Yeah, the baseball club is too.” he says before wiping his mouth with a napkin and taking a sip of his water.
“Are you sure we can afford it?” Your daughter asks, genuinely worried that her and her brother are asking for too much.
The word afford hangs in the air like a heavy blanket, you can practically feel Gojo’s blood heart rate start to spike. “Oh boy.” You mutter, putting your elbow on the table and your free hand over your forehead, shaking your head, looking down at the table. Your husband's smile slowly fades, waiting for the part where his son starts laughing and saying 'You should've seen your faces!' The part doesn’t come. Your kids look between you two, your daughter's eyebrows furrowing, and your son leaning forward in his chair, looking equally confused.
After a couple of tense seconds of silence, “We’re buying the teams.” Your husband says flatly, leaving no room for debate. You sigh, “Honey…”
Your kids' eyes widen in shock. “What? Dad-” Your daughter starts but is quickly interrupted by Gojo. “No no no, what is it with the two most important women in my life thinking we’re broke? I mean seriously!” he says, offended.
“Honey, that was like 16 years ago.” You defend yourself in vain. Gojo lets go of your hand to point an accusing finger at you. “Oh no no no, just last week I told you to take the Master card, and you didn't! Would it kill you to spend my money?” he says with a dramatic huff.
You click your tongue and smack his hand that points at you, “Would you stop it? We don't need to buy anything-”
“Two jets. One for baseball and the other for ballet. Custom wrap for the team names and custom jerseys. We’ll rent out the mall tomorrow to get them the necessities without hassle. You get whatever you want and you're actually buying it this time. In every color they have.” He states confidently, already pulling out his phone to make all the calls necessary to make this happen.
Your kids are wide eyed, looking between each other and you two with shocked expressions. “Wait Dad!-" Your daughter is quickly cut off by your husband getting up from his seat at the table. Grabbing your chin between his thumb and pointer finger before kissing you deeply on the lips with a teasing hum.
He tastes like the fruity wine he's been stealing from your glass and something specifically Gojo. You smile against his lips, forgetting about the semi-argument from seconds ago. Even with your eyes closed you know his free hand is already holding his phone against his ear waiting for the ringing on the other end to pick up.
“Get a room.” Your son grumbles and pushes away his dinner. Gojo smirks against your lips and chuckles lightly before pulling away when the phone answers. He winks at you before kissing both kids on the head and walking away, talking in that energetic playful tone he always has.
You lick your lips, savoring his taste on you before looking back to your kids with a smile. “You guys get some rest, we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”
TOJI FUSHIGURO
You and Toji had only been dating for a few months, but somehow it already felt like you’d known him forever. He didn’t have much. Everyone knew that. Most days he was bouncing between odd jobs, helping someone move furniture, fixing things around town, taking whatever work he could find. Other days he’d spend hours in a bar somewhere, betting on races and somehow convincing himself he’d finally hit it big this time. His bank account was usually empty. His apartment was barely furnished. His car made sounds that definitely shouldn’t have been coming from a functioning vehicle. But none of that mattered to you. Because despite having so little, he somehow gave you more than anyone else ever had.
When his bets actually paid off, he’d show up at your door with flowers, acting like it wasn’t a big deal even though you knew he’d spent half his winnings on them. When you complained about craving ice cream at midnight, he’d groan dramatically, throw on a hoodie, and disappear into the night only to come back twenty minutes later with your favorite flavor. On anniversaries he’d save up for weeks just to take you somewhere nice, pretending he hadn’t planned the entire thing down to the smallest detail. He wasn’t perfect. He was stubborn, annoying, sometimes reckless. But he loved you in a way that felt real. And that was enough.
At first, your friends were happy for you. They told you how much brighter you seemed lately, how often you smiled, how you talked about him with a look they’d never seen on your face before. Everyone seemed supportive. Everyone except her, your best friend. The first comment was easy to ignore. “You could do better.” You laughed it off. The second comment was harder. “He seems like a lot of work.” Then came the constant questions. “What does he even do?” “Does he have a plan?” “How is he supposed to take care of you?” You defended him every single time. Because she didn’t know him. She didn’t know about the way he’d remember every tiny detail you mentioned. She didn’t know the sacrifices he made quietly without ever talking about them. But no matter what you said, she never seemed convinced.
As the months passed, her behavior became harder to ignore. Whenever your friends asked about Toji, she’d suddenly lose interest in the conversation. You’d be showing pictures from a date, and she’d roll her eyes. Someone would mention how happy you looked together, and she’d let out a dramatic sigh. Sometimes you’d catch her staring at her phone while everyone else was listening to your story. Other times she’d make faces she thought nobody noticed. But you noticed, every single one. The worst part wasn’t even the comments. It was how obvious her bitterness became. Your other friends were excited for you, your family liked him, even people who barely knew him could see how much he cared about you. Yet somehow your supposed best friend was the only person who seemed incapable of being happy for you.
You confronted her more than once. “Why can’t you just support me?” And every time she’d give some excuse. “I’m just looking out for you.” “I don’t want to see you get hurt.” “I’m being realistic.” But the more she spoke, the less believable it sounded. Because it wasn't a concern. Concern comes from love. This felt different, it felt personal.
One Thursday night, everything finally clicked. You were sitting in her living room, curled up on the couch, talking excitedly about a date Toji had planned for the weekend. You were smiling without realizing it. Talking about how secretive he’d been all week, how he’d been saving money for something special, how excited you were to spend time with him. The entire time she just stared at you. Her expression looked almost irritated, like your happiness was physically bothering her. When you finished talking, silence filled the room.
Then she scoffed harshly, “Can he even afford to buy you flowers?” Her lips twisted into a smirk. The room went quiet. For a second you just stared at her. Not because the comment hurt. But because suddenly everything made sense. Every eye roll, every rude remark, every passive-aggressive comment, every time she tried to convince you to leave him, every moment she’d dismissed your happiness. It all clicked together. And for the first time, you realized she wasn’t worried about you. She never had been.
Whether it was jealousy, bitterness, or something else entirely, she simply couldn’t stand seeing you happy with someone she didn’t approve of. The realization hurt more than the comment itself. Because this was someone you’d trusted for years, someone you considered family. And instead of supporting you, she’d spent months trying to tear down the healthiest relationship you’d ever had.
You stood up. She looked confused. “What?” You shook your head. “You know what? I think we’re done.” Her expression immediately changed. “What are you talking about?” But there was nothing left to explain. A real friend doesn’t compete with your happiness, a real friend doesn’t constantly belittle the person you love, and a real friend certainly doesn’t make you feel guilty for being happy. You left her house that night and never looked back. Later, when you told Toji what happened, he just wrapped an arm around your shoulders and pulled you closer. “No more ice cream for her then.” You laughed so hard you nearly cried. And in that moment, losing a fake friend felt a lot less painful than keeping one.
Now, years later you’re curled up on the couch next to your husband Toji tucked under his arm as he sips his favorite beer with his free hand watching some boxing match on the TV. His fingertips draw unconscious patterns on your arm as you read a book and draw lazy patterns on his thigh with your unoccupied hand when the front door opens.
“I’m home.” The familiar aloof voice of your son Megumi carries throughout the house. You lean off of Toji’s shoulder, earning yourself a displeased groan from the man and smiling at your son with your usual warm smile.
“Hey, how was school?” You ask, setting down your book on the couch and settling back into your husband's side. Toji groans again and settles you better into his side, his arm falling from your shoulders to around your waist and hand now resting on your thigh. He sips his beer and side eyes his son as acknowledgement.
“It was fine.” Megumi says flatly from the front door where he’s slipping off his shoes and jacket. You watch him set down his house keys next before speaking again, “How's Yuji and Nobara?” You ask as Megumi walks over towards the kitchen and grabs a water bottle.
“Good. They want to go out tonight to some arcade.” He says simply before taking a long sip. You smile excitedly, smacking Toji’s thigh so he could acknowledge that your usually introverted son wants to go out. He side eyes you, silently saying, 'What was that for?' with his eyes before groaning and turning off the TV.
“About time you get a life.” Toji mutters to his son before sipping his beer, you click your tongue and smack his thigh harder. He chuckles and smirks around the beer bottle pressed to his scarred lips.
Megumi pays no mind to his father's words, walking over to the couch and sitting down on your left with his water bottle in his hands. With a final glare at Toji, you look at your son, smiling and excited for him. “Oh yeah? Sounds like a good time.”
“Would be.” He says simply as he stares off to the screen of the TV. Your eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “You're not going?” You ask, slightly disappointed. Toji snorts, “What a shocker.” Your husband says sarcastically.
You roll your eyes and turn to better face your son, “Why aren't you going, Megs? Does it not sound fun?” Megumi shrugs, “The arcade is new. It's expensive, so I figured we couldn't afford it.”
When the word ‘afford’ leaves his mouth, your face drops. Toji spits out the beer that was in his mouth and bursts out laughing. Megumi’s usual stoic expression falters, concern growing on every line of his face. Your eye twitches as you stare at your son and the word replays in your head like a drum, Toji coughing and laughing up a storm while setting down his beer on the coffee table in front of you all and smacking his chest with his now free hand, trying to draw in breath. “Oh, here we go.” He gasps out between fits of laughter.
“Wha-“ Megumi tries to ask but is quickly interrupted by you, “Oh Megumi…my sweet boy…WE can afford it.” You say as if that word leaves a bad taste in your tongue. Sitting up you dig into Toji’s pocket as you continue speaking, “Here’s what you’re gonna do.” Toji sighs deeply and adjusts himself so you can better reach into his pocket. Opening the wallet you take out a fat band of cash, undoing the rubber band around it. “You will buy tickets for you AND your friends to this arcade,” you say while placing a stack on your son’s hand, his eyes widening from the amount of money that alone already is. “THEN you will buy as much food and play as many games as you all desire.” Emphasizing your words with another stack, Toji next to you stroking your thigh under his big hand to offer some form of support. “And you’re not allowed to take a single step into this home unless this entire band is spent.” You place the last part of the money on his hand. Megumi is speechless at this point, he looks up at his father for help but Toji just gives him a slight shrug as if telling him, ‘just go with it, kid.’
Megumi just blinks between the both of you in confusion then just sighs. “Uh…okay…thanks then..i guess.” He stands up slowly while organizing the stack in his hands better while staring at you. “You’re telling me what this is about when I'm back.” He says in a slightly reprimanding tone, eyes sharp as if they’re trying to figure out where everything went wrong while backing up towards the stairs to his room.
You and Toji settled back into the couch together, his arm over your shoulder this time to have you pulled as close as possible to his side while Megumi was getting ready. Once he was done and said his goodbyes to both of you, the front door shut, leaving just the faint scent of his cologne. A few moments pass, and there you go muttering to yourself, ‘Pfft…afford..tch..we can afford it…’ shaking your head slightly. Toji presses his scared slips together slightly, an amused smirk on his face, before tilting his gaze to you, holding back a chuckle. “We can beat the ashes of the horse before bed, but not right now, the match is getting good, yeah?” He hums while kissing the underside of your ear and caressing your collarbone.
KENTO NANAMI
You and Nanami have been dating for a while now. Friday morning, you woke up early and had an amazing slow morning together. Your apartment smells like coffee, his cologne, and fresh laundry that's still laid out on your couch from last night. Before he was out the door to his job, he left you with a lingering kiss on the lips that tasted like his bitter black coffee and something uniquely him. “I’ll be home at 8:33 tonight, dear. Assuming the train is actually on time tonight. Call me if you need me, I'll answer.” He says to you as he adjusts his glasses one final time and smiles slightly before disappearing out the door.
Hours later, you're sitting at home getting some work done on your computer when a message from him lights up your phone. You set down your drink onto the coffee table in front of you before opening his message and reading it, a growing frown pulling on your lips. “Dear, I'm clocking in overtime tonight. Gojo needs these reports on his desk by morning. I love you, don't wait up.” After reading his message, you respond, mid-sentence, having a light bulb moment. Knowing that when he clocks in over time, he usually goes straight home. You made up your mind to go to his apartment tonight and surprise him.
After wrapping up all your work, you made your way to his apartment at 6pm. Your boyfriend has a routine of cleaning his house every Saturday, but the way his superiors have been overworking him, you decided to do that for him, deep cleaning his bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, and living room. Now it’s 7:35 pm, and you’re starting to prep ingredients for your signature sandwich, which he loves, when you realize he has run out of bread. You quickly make a run to his favorite bakery that’s across the street from his place, hoping it doesn’t close yet. Running into the bakery 15 minutes before closing, looking like a semi-disaster after all you did at his place, with an apologetic, relieved smile on your face.
“Oh, good, you're still open.” You say, out of breath, walking up to the counter. You’re greeted with an annoyed teenager who's popping her gum loudly and rolling her eyes after checking the time.
“Yup.” She says exaggerated and sarcastically, clearly not in any mood for your presence. You smile apologetically again, heading straight to grab two loaves of baguettes and pastries from the glass display case. After 4 minutes of walking around and grabbing the necessities, you walk up to the counter, emptying the contents of stuff from your hands and onto the surface. The snarky teenager rolls her eyes before looking you up and down slowly. “This it?” She says, annoyed, you nod and say yes. She scoffs, looking you up and down more slowly this time. “You can afford all this?” Your face drops at her comment as she rings you up. Taking your card from your wallet and the payment goes through without a hitch, the girl scoffs. You take the bag full of food and walk out of the bakery, doing double takes at the girl as if not believing the interaction you just had.
Nanami is walking down the hallway to his apartment with a defeated spirit. Standing in front of his place, he sends you a quick text while undoing his tie. Then, as he opens the door, the scent of cleanliness and your perfume engulf him. For a moment, he was confused. Why did his place smell clean? And of you? Until he walked into the kitchen and saw his beautiful girlfriend waiting for him on the bar stool with fresh sandwiches and his favorite pastries on the counter. “Ken baby, hey! You hungry?” You say brightly, already up from your seat and walking over to him for a hug around the neck. He hugs you by the waist, looking around astonished at his very clean apartment, his favorite sandwich on the counter with his usual weekend pastries, and a lovely girlfriend who feels like home in his arms. “Hon, you didn't have to.” He mumbles gratefully into your shoulder, hugging you tighter and pulling you flush against his toned body. You spent an amazing night together, sharing stories of your day between bites of your sandwiches and smiles after sips of wine. Despite the night you were having, the words from that snarky teenager stayed in your subconscious.
Now, years later, you and Nanami are married with a beautiful teenage daughter who's the spitting image of you two. You were cleaning up around the kitchen after you and your husband had lunch. He was off from work today, so you spent your time deep cleaning the house and getting ready for the weekend. Your daughter appears in the doorframe moments later, “Mom! Dad! I’m home!” Her voice carries from the front door to the kitchen, and a smile appears on your face almost instantly.
Your usually stoic husband relaxes a bit, his shoulders dropping ever so slightly. “In here!” you call out, your husband setting down his cleaning supplies to help his daughter with her school bags before kissing the top of her head. “How was your day, honey?” he asks in his usual tone, but it carries a hint of warmth, the tone reserved for just you and your baby girl. “It was good!” She says while giving her dad a quick kiss on the cheek and doing the same to you. “Actually, there’s a dilemma I’m having that I want you guys to hear out.” She continues in a slightly more serious tone as she grabs a barstool to sit on. You and Nanami give each other a quick glance and put down everything to pay attention. “Hit us.” You respond, Nanami giving his daughter a quick nod signaling her to continue. “Alright so it was club rush today and the music club really caught my eye so I applied to it.” She finally spoke, almost testing how the words would land. “That’s great, sweetheart! I’m glad something interested you.” You replied, then there’s a pause, “What’s the dilemma?” asks Nanami in a tone that he’s ready to fix any of his daughter’s problems right away. “The dilemma is that we have to have our own piano to practice at home, and the ones they were recommending were a pretty penny or two, so…I was wondering if we could afford it?”
Your head snaps towards your husband immediately, your finger pointing to your daughter, half accusingly, half in defense. “You see!? The horse got up!” Nanami mumbles to himself while taking off his glasses, “Oh boy..” pinching the bridge of his nose, he nods slowly, “Yes, dear, it did get up.” Your daughter is just looking between the two of you, very confused, “So, like, am I missing something here?” She asks, clear that something she said had triggered you.
“Yes. You’re missing that piano.” Your head snaps again towards your daughter, and you walk towards her, leaning over the counter. “On that note, the piano is gonna be mahogany wood. A violin in the same wood, matching set.” In the background, Nanami is approaching you from behind, careful not to disrupt you. “In fact, the office is now becoming your practice studio.” He stands by your side while you begin your rambling, placing a hand on your waist and the other giving grounding squeezes to your shoulder. “Your dad is strong, he can help me carry out all the furniture, right, Ken?” You ask quickly before continuing, your daughter is completely distraught by your plans, and before she interrupts. “Yes, my love, of course.” Nanami replies in a calm voice, the teenage girl gives him a bewildered look as if asking, ‘You’re actually going along with this?!’
He replies with a knowing nod, ‘I'll explain later,’ it said. Your daughter just sighs as your rambling just becomes white noise.
“Of course, we can afford this new hobby, sweetheart. Actually, I’m even getting you a tutor. That's a great idea, right?” Nanami nods, letting out a deep exhale while pressing a kiss on your temple. “Yes, love.”
HIROMI HIGURUMA
At the beginning of your relationship with Higuruma, you both already knew you guys were forever. So much so that during one of his celebratory dinners with his colleagues over a grueling case, he wanted to announce his biggest achievement of all, being able to land the fiancée title. That’s right, just a few months into dating, he had already decided to get the gears going just a tad bit faster. You were super excited but also extremely nervous to meet his colleagues, especially to announce the upgrade of your relationship status. So you decided to doll yourself up as best as you possibly could, nails done the day before, your hair styled to perfection, and now you are doing your makeup with laser focus. Having the black dress Higuruma absolutely adores waiting for you, splayed carefully on the side of your bed to make sure the fabric doesn’t get stained or wrinkled. Black-red bottom heels were neatly placed in front of the dress on the floor, jewelry placed above the dress, and your purse that’s going to carry your phone, lip combo, and, most importantly, your engagement ring already placed next to the dress.
Everything is going smoothly, your getting-ready playlist is on the TV as you take your sweet time with every step, just really enjoying the process of getting dolled up. Then a notification with a specific ringtone interrupts. “Hey doll, we’re running a bit late to wrap things up, but you can start heading out soon. My secretary is on the way to the reservation, so you can meet her there. I love you, see you soon.” Oh, how giddy every text from him still makes you. Taking his message as your cue, you do your last touches on the makeup before getting the dress, shoes, and bag all on you. Making sure you have everything with you— “Oh shit, I forgot my wallet!” You say as you are walking towards the front door while checking your bag. When you’re about to go back to get it, you remember you have a lawyer finacée who will personally sue you if you pay for something yourself.
20 minutes later, you were walking into the designated restaurant with a nervous smile, hand clutching your purse as you looked around for Higuruma’s secretary. After a total of 3 seconds, you spot her sitting down on one of the couches in the waiting area. Her bleach blonde hair and red lipstick that looked way too bright for the occasion made her stand out like a sore thumb. She was scrolling through her phone with a seemingly annoyed expression, maybe it’s been a stressful few hours for her. Before making your way over to her, you take a deep breath through your nose, mustering up all the sociability in your bones and scanning her for a way to start this conversation.
You clear your throat before speaking, “Hi! You’re Higuruma’s secretary, right?” You say as calmly as you can with a polite smile on your painted lips. She looks up from her phone at you, “Uh, yeah. Who are you?” She says, her face scrunched in, already seeming disapproving. “Perfect! It’s great to finally meet you! I’m—“ your introduction gets cut short from her phone ringing. Without sparing you another glance, she immediately turns her head away from you and answers it. You retract the handshake you were expecting and wait for her phone call to end, it almost seemed like she was extending it on purpose..? Once it ended, she didn’t turn her attention back to you, she just opened up her social media instead. Well, alright…maybe you should try another tactic. “Oh, girl, I love that necklace you have on. Where’s it from?” You ask with a cheerful tone before taking the seat next to her. She sighs exasperatedly and turns her scrutinizing gaze to you slowly, looking you up and down before responding, “I’d tell you, but I don’t think you can afford it.”
Her tone was sharp, almost chuckling to herself at the end. Her comment left you momentarily speechless. Did this stranger actually just say that to you?
“What did you just say?” A deep, authoritative voice from behind you spoke up, a very familiar one. Both of you turn to face Higuruma, whose usually stoic expression seemed extremely displeased with what he’d just heard directed to his fiancée. “O-oh, nothing, it was just a joke, right girl?” She laughs nervously while giving you a slight nudge with her elbow. You snap out of your stunned daze and scoff, your face a mix of disbelief and disgust, before rubbing your arm where hers had touched you. “Yeah, a joke.” You say back to her, rolling your eyes and standing from your spot next to her to walk over to your fiancé. Higuruma notices your attitude towards her and immediately scoffs, “Lying to a lawyer? Not the brightest idea you’ve had.” He says to his secretary before his hand finds your waist, firmly pulling you closer to his side with a gentle protectiveness only you get to see.
The secretary is struggling to find an excuse while the physical proximity between you two is making her glitch. “Let me make this clear for you. You do not speak to my fiancée like that. Do you understand?” He says while reaching into his pocket with his free hand. Her eyes widen comically large, her words stuttering in disbelief. “Y-you’re w-what?!” His colleagues gasp, clearly not expecting this dinner to become such a spectacle. “My fiancée.” He repeats in his usual calm tone as he slips your engagement ring onto your finger gently before holding up your hand to press a soft kiss to your knuckles, then showing everyone around you two the stone on your ring finger like a key piece of evidence in a court case. “Are we all clear on how to speak to my fiancé?”
Now, years later, you guys are happily married with a beautiful daughter that just arrived home from an after-school hangout. “I’m home!” She calls out, and the sounds of her locking the front door shut while pushing away the plastic curtain that separates the half-remodeled kitchen and dining area are heard from the living room, where you and your husband were. “Here, sweetheart!” You call out to her as you keep typing on your laptop, shifting on the couch cushions with Higuruma to your right. She rushes over to the room and greets both of you with a hug, “What are you guys up to, huh?” she asks curiously while taking out a snack from the pantry before stopping to stand on the opposite side of the counter in front of both of you. “Just finished up some work. You arrived just in time.” Higuruma speaks, a relieved grin on his face as he closes his case folders and sets them aside. You shut your laptop as well. “Whew, work has us beat. But how have you been, hun? Tell us everything.” You add while leaning your cheek on your hand, ready to hear all about her day. “My day has been whatever, nothing noteworthy. The only thing is, my friends have been pestering me about the senior trip coming up.” She sighs, rolling her eyes and shaking her head slightly as she continues, “It's this end-of-the-year trip to Okinawa for a week. The whole senior class is invited, but not everyone's going because it's super expensive.”
You look at Higuruma at the same time he looks at you, both of you with confused expressions on your faces before turning back to your daughter. “What’s the problem?” He asks before you could.
Your daughter sighs, “I mean, I know we’re remodeling the house right now, and that's not cheap, so I just figured we couldn't afford that right now.”
As soon as those words leave your daughter's lips, you take a sharp inhale, eyes wide as if you’ve just been personally insulted. Higuruma groans as he brings both of his hands to his face, leaning back against the couch cushion, looking up as if he’s praying that he completely misheard that sentence. Your daughter is glancing between the two of you, clearly noticing the mood change, “What’s...wrong?” she asks cautiously. Your brows raise while crossing your arms over your chest, “Sweetheart, you are going on that trip. In fact, you will be the best dressed there.” You scoff, your husband by your side, still in the same position, rolling his eyes towards you. “Doll…” he speaks with a deep exhale, with the utmost amount of patience in his tone. “Yes. Exactly, you’re gonna look like a doll,” you say while gesturing to him, taking his nickname towards you completely out of context already. “Tomorrow you’re skipping school, and we’re going to the mall. You’re gonna buy four different outfits per day of your trip.” Higuruma just sits there, blinking while staring at you, then he looks towards his daughter with the same disbelief in his expression, but then that twinkle of amusement blooms quietly in his eyes. His exhale attempts to hide his chuckle while he shakes his head, taking out his wallet from his right pocket. His other arm drapes on the back of the couch, “So the black Amex or the gold Amex, Barbie?” Your head turns to him sharply, his comedic cooperation seeming like he’s trying to add more fuel to your ever-growing fire.
“Okay, stop. Seriously, what is going on?” Your daughter interrupts your next sentence before it starts. Your husband chuckles, his hand starting to draw lazy taunting patterns on your arm, “Well, if you must know, your mother is reliving a traumatic experience from 18 years ago. Nothing to concern yourself with.” You scoff, trying to swat his hand from your arm, “I’m not–” “No, no doll, we understand that this is your way of coping. Is revenge sweet, 18 years later?” He says with his usual tone, carrying hints of amusement. You stare at him for a solid five seconds, your lips slightly parted, too irritated to even have a comeback, eyes glaring a hole through his face. “Hiromi.” You scold not only with your expression but with your tone that implies the ice he’s dancing on is getting thinner. Although his usual deadpan expression remains, his eyes still glitter with taunting ideas, “We’re really showing her now, huh? Is it everything you’ve dreamed of?” Your brows furrow from his endless teasing, you reach for his other hand that holds the wallet, and snatch it from him with a huff. “Tch…afford..” you bicker grudgingly as you pick out the card you want for yourself. “Do you feel accomplished, honey?” he draws his words out oh so sweetly with a classy touch of mockery. He’s leaning closer to you, brows furrowed in a facade of pity. You place the credit card of your choice down on the table rather harshly, keeping the scowl on your face in check to not fall deeper into his bait.
“Higuruma.”
“Yes dear?”
“Enough.”
“Enough of what, my love? Use your words.”
Your daughter watched this childish bickering that happens between the two of you way too often. She mimics the same expression of her father’s, face palmed, looking up as if trying to escape her reality. Soon enough, she remembered her free will and sighed, leaving the card on the table and walking to her room down the hall to save herself the trouble of trying to understand what this was about.
CHOSO KAMO
The first time you encountered Choso Kamo, you knew you'd be head over heels for him and fast. Sure, his looks were the first eye catcher, obviously, but there was just something about the way he carried himself. How would you even start talking to him without blushing? Would he find it weird if you tried initiating conversation? This is all that was going through your head during the group hangout with your friend Yuji, who introduced you to him only an hour ago.
This hangout took you from the movies, to the arcade, to a ramen shop, and finally to a few stores around the mall. In the specific store you were at, you observed all your friends disperse into groups of two, and by some miracle, you ended up paired with Choso, #dreamcometrue.
You glance at him from time to time, taking note of his hairstyle, the band t-shirt with baggy jeans combo, worn-out sneakers, and the faint smell of his warm sandalwood cologne. His expression wasn’t deadpan or uninterested, just kinda..neutral, in a way that only he could pull off without looking bored. You can tell he was quietly observing the group as they walked ahead, looking around as if assessing potential threats when someone got too close to his younger brother. You found it sweet how intensely he worried for his brother when he stubbed his toe against the ice cream shop's door. Choso physically flinched like he felt it himself.
Even now, with Yuji’s friend yapping his ear off about some concert outfit she wants to buy, all he does is hum his acknowledgement of her words every now and then with his eyes forward to the group and his hands casually shoved in his pockets. You try to talk to the girl, you do, but every time you ask about the concert she's going to, she gives you an uninterested look and a half-ass response. It was clear that the only attention she wanted was from Choso. At some point, you just gave up on trying to socialize with her and started doing your own thing, browsing through the accessories and different clothing items the store had to offer. However, no matter how long you kept walking, her irritating voice followed you around. You glanced behind you, and Choso followed behind you like a line leader. You assumed he followed mindlessly, not like he was actually enjoying your company, so you shrugged it off and kept doing your own. While flipping through multiple hangers of clothes, finally a certain dress caught your eye.
It was definitely a sight, the quality of the fabric of the dress was incredible, and the details on the seams were so cohesive that it became mesmerizing. You studied the dress in your hands for a minute or two until a low voice behind you spoke, “That’s a great choice.” Your head turned to look at Choso, who was standing a respectful distance behind you, hands in his pockets and one ankle hooked over the other as he leaned the side of his body against the nearest wall with the same neutral expression. You blink twice before finally snapping from your daze and responding, “Oh yeah?” is all you could muster while trying to hide the shock in your tone that he is actually talking to you right now. “Mhm. I think it would suit you,” he replied in his usual calm but especially gentle tone that makes you melt, “From everything we’ve been looking at, this is the best.” Did…he just say we? Like he’s been paying attention to you this entire time? When this realization hits, you can’t help but smile at how adorable he is, “You’re right. I like this one a lot too.”
While you share this sweet moment with your crush, a frustrated scoff is heard from behind both of you, “Can you even afford that?” That girl snickers while giving you a nasty up-down look as she walks up to stand too close to Choso at his position against the wall. Her comment takes you aback, completely unprovoked and just plain unnecessary, as you open your mouth to clap back, Choso beats you to it, “That’s rude. Don’t say that to your friend.” His expression shifts slightly in distaste towards her comment, brows furrowed and lips in a small frown, before taking two steps towards you and away from her. “Even if she couldn’t, why would you judge her?”
The girl is completely speechless, and her face flushes with embarrassment. “Whatever..” she mutters, rolling her eyes while walking away with her pride bruised. You watch her leave completely defeated, your head slowly turns back to the man standing next to you with disbelief written all over it, “What?” he blinks at you like that was nothing. The innocent glint in his eyes makes your lips form into a smile once again, and you just laugh, “Thanks for being my knight in shining armor.” You said with a hint of teasing in your tone while giving him a playful jab with your elbow.
Just as you predicted, this man did in fact become your one and only true love. Years later, this blossomed into the beautiful marriage you have today, with a son just as sweet and adorable as he is. Here are the three of you in a car ride back home from picking up your son from kindergarten, and he’s telling you all about what he learned today. “And after we colored during recess.” He said all wide-eyed with a bright smile in the backseat, “That sounds fun! Did you like coloring?” You asked in that mom tone you have now acquired from the 5 years of being one. “Yes! I wanna color more!” He chirped happily, giggling with a sparkle in those big brown, innocent eyes that were identical to your husband's. Choso was in the driver’s seat with a hand on your thigh, drawing loving lazy patterns as he watched his son from the rearview mirror with a smile on his face. “Coloring is a great hobby, we should get you new supplies to do it at home.” He said with excitement in his tone, already imagining all the doodles his son’s brilliant mind could come up with. When the expected excited giggles and immediate enthusiastic child response doesn’t come, you and Choso share a confused glance at each other. “Is something wrong, bud?” He asks softly, adjusting in the driver’s seat to get a better look at his son’s face through the review mirror, concern etched into his expression. A beat of silence.
“Um…but..Mommy doesn’t have any paper rectangles in her purse.” Your son mumbles, the sound of his voice shy with a hint of sadness.
Both your expressions soften almost instantly as the realization sets in, sharing another glance, but this one with a smile. One of the recent things Choso has been teaching your son is money. Since he always comes shopping with both of you and is constantly playing with dollar bills your husband hands him, while waiting in line to pay, Choso started explaining what the paper in his small baby's hands is used for. Explaining the money in simple terms with the patience only a loving father has, and a warm, proud smile as he picks up on it quickly.
Choso squeezes your thigh gently, his big hand grabbing onto every inch he can. “Baby, you see?! He does remember what I taught him!” Your husband turns his head towards you with a proud glint in his eyes before looking back to the road. You were silent for a couple of seconds, a smile fading slowly as a realization set in. You turn your head towards him very slowly, “Our son just called me broke.”
Your words came out as if your heart had been shattered into pieces. Your husband’s expression changes instantly as he notices your reaction, “I’m sure he didn’t mean it like that, hon-“ He gets cut off by the sound of the shuffling you're doing in your seat to fully turn around and look at your son in the backseat. “Mommy is gonna prove to you that she has a lot of money.” You say reaching out to hold his hand, your son readily taking hold of it, obviously misunderstanding the situation. “Cho baby, pull over.” You say with the sweetest tone you could possibly muster, Choso glances at you again with growing concern for what he thinks is about to happen. “I think that might be unnecessa—“ Your eyes make contact with him sharply. “Choso. Pull over.” He sighs deeply before switching lanes to the nearest supplies store, “Honey...” You huff, letting go of your son's small hand and turning back to face forward in your seat as you gather your purse. “Let’s go.”
Without waiting for a response, you get out of the car, walk to your son's side of the car, and get him out of his car seat before securing him on your hip with your arms around him. Choso locks the car door and walks over to you both before putting his hand on your lower back and guiding you inside. Your son swings his legs on either side of you, looking at the store with an awestruck expression. Minutes later, you’re walking through the halls of the art section, leading the way with Choso pushing the shopping cart as you drag your hand through the shelves, knocking every product into the cart. “Baby, you missed one.” Choso says softly from behind you and nods towards the paint you missed. You knock it into the shopping cart with a satisfied smile, “See? Mommy can afford it.” You say sweetly to your son before bouncing him on your hip to make him smile brighter than he already is, looking at all his new art supplies with a twinkle in his eyes. “Wow! Mommy, this is all for me!?” He says excitedly, Choso just smiles at the interaction, shaking his head slightly as he starts following behind you to the checkout.
RYOMEN SUKUNA
After a grueling day of work, phone calls, and online meetings, you and your husband finally get the chance to sit back, relax, and watch the reality TV show that he swears he’s not interested in. Salty snacks, sweet treats, and drinks are on a tray you gathered up quickly before settling into your side of the bed.
Sukuna grumbles as he walks into your shared bedroom, the top pair of his arms drying his hair with a towel after his shower, “That show has another episode tonight. Such distasteful forms of entertainment.” Shaking his head in irritation while grabbing the remote from his nightstand with his free bottom right hand. You roll your eyes, hand digging into the warm bowl of popcorn, “If you don’t want to watch it, we don’t have to.” His face scrunches up as if he had just been offended while settling into his side of the bed. He looks you up and down with his usual annoyance and scoffs, “Entertainment is entertainment, woman.” His sassy attitude always amuses you. How can you take him seriously when he’s cuddling up next to you? His arm wraps around you and pulls you closer to his side while turning on the TV. “Right, right, sorry your highness.” You giggle as your hand brings some popcorn to the mouth on his stomach, and he shoots you a quick glare, huffing before reluctantly accepting the food, “Don’t let it happen again.”
After about 20 minutes of watching the episode, you both are extremely focused on the drama that the snacks have been left untouched for a bit, reaching for them slower and slower than the last time. Sukuna swears this is boring, but he’s the one who comments the most, “This mortal won’t stop talking,” one moment, and then a, “How awfully irritating this is,” another moment. All these complaints, but if you even imply to change the show, an immediate glare from his second set of eyes meets your peripheral vision, his bottom arm pulling you closer by the waist while the top arms are crossed behind his head. His hand caresses your side mindlessly, occasionally getting low enough to your hip and getting a sneaky squeeze before coming back to the middle of your waist.
As the episode is reaching its pinnacle of drama, you and your husband are so focused that you have to remember to manually blink or your eyes will get too dry. Suddenly, the door to your bedroom bursts open, both of your heads snap towards the door, you did a slight jump from being off guard, but Sukuna was just annoyed from the interruption. “Oh, there you guys are.” Your daughter let out a breath of relief while walking towards your bed. “Hi, sweetheart! How was your hangout?” You reply, sitting up straighter to greet your daughter, Sukuna huffs from the fact that you pulled away from his side and crosses his bottom pair of arms over his chest. “Ugh, Mom, that’s what I came to talk to you guys about. My friends were being such assholes.” She sat on the edge of the bed, a defeated sort of tone in her voice.
Your brows raise immediately from her words, reaching for the remote, and you pause the show. The second you do that, Sukuna groans, “Woman.” Your eyes snap to your husband’s, the most menacing look on your face for a split second makes him get his act right, reluctantly, of course, but it is done nonetheless. “Tell us everything.” You resume speaking to your daughter, patting the middle of the bed for her to come closer to you guys. She exhales loudly again while slumping herself over the space between your legs and your husband’s. “So while we were hanging out, the prom topic came up, and I started asking where everyone was getting their dresses from…” she started, a little pout forming on her lips as she spoke, “and you won’t believe what they said to me..” The emphasis becomes even more pronounced as she snatches the bag of gummies off your tray. “We’d tell you, but I don't think you can afford to shop there.” She mimics the voice of her friend while stuffing her face with a few gummies.
Your face drops, scoffing while the unprovoked comment is still processing in your brain, however Sukuna remains with his usual scowl. “Like who the hell says that?” She scoffs while shaking her head in frustration as if she’s reliving the baffling and embarrassing moment over and over. You dig into the gummy bag your daughter is holding and take out a handful of them. “Here’s what we’re gonna do.” You start by waving the sour little gummy worm around, “First, you are blocking them, cause ‘friends’ is the last thing they are to you,” then toss that gummy into your mouth. “Second, I’m calling up my assistant to make a list of the most luxurious boutiques. You’re gonna skip school, and we’re all going there.” You say while chewing, “Because you are going to be the best dressed and styled at that prom. Trust me, I'm hiring a makeup artist and a hairstylist too.” Then, as you pop another two gummies in your mouth before you start to speak again. Or so you thought.
“Let’s kill them.” A gravely voice suddenly interrupts the conversation, one that never usually has anything to say. Both of your heads turn to Sukuna, who is glancing between the two of you. Your daughter glances at you, then at him, “What?” He said plainly. Pinching the bridge of your nose, a deep exhale escapes you, “Dear…we can’t do that. Just making sure she shows off is fine.” His brow raises, and he clicks his tongue, “Back in my day, death was the lightest sentence to receive.” You reach out to caress his bicep in comfort, appreciating his attempt to help despite it being outrageous, “I know. Luckily, it isn’t the Heian era anymore.” An amused snicker escapes you as his face scrunches up in reminiscence of his golden age. “In fact, wiping out the entire familial bloodline sounds more appropriate for this matter.” He nods his head in approval of his own idea, while your laughter only increases, “Dear, that’s absurd—“ but you’re interrupted.
“Now that is proper revenge. Fantastic idea, Dad!” Your daughter chirps, her expression completely opposite from a few moments before. “Can you include her pets, too? She loves her fat hamsters more than anything, so you have to destroy them.” She adds while sitting up and giving puppy eyes to her father, who cracks a proud smile. “Of course, Child. The creatures shall receive their sentence first, then the rest of her loved ones, as we save the most grueling punishment for the peasant.” Your daughter shrieks in absolute joy and jumps toward Sukuna, embracing him as strongly as she possibly could, “You’re the best! Thank you so much!!” His bottom set of arms embraces her openly, nodding with a pleased look on his face. “No one dares to insult my mortal spawn and remain capable of drawing breath.” As this adorable moment between father and daughter occurs, you can’t decide if this is sweet or something you should actually be concerned about.
a/n: we highkey laughed our butts off while making up the scenarios. hopefully y'all laugh at them too.
SATORU GOJO
Growing up, you didn't have much. Your parents were barely making ends meet, both working two jobs to sustain bills and your education. You started working as soon as you could to help fund your own expenses, giving them less to worry and pay for. They never asked you to, they'd tell you to just focus on your studies but you couldn't. Not while they suffered and worked harder than most to put food in your lunch box and clean clothes in your closet. You were hard working and smart, never taking handouts and always earning what was yours. All the while studying hard during your lunch breaks at work and staying up countless nights to cram for exams. That is what Gojo always admired.
From the first time he met you at that small coffee shop you waitressed at, your nose in a book as you wipe down tables and fixed chairs, till your very first date that you insisted on splitting the bill. He played along of course, but the bill had been taken care of before you ever saw the price. He loved your stubborn and hard working nature, loved how upset you got and tried to pry the bill amount out of him, but most of all he loved how you didn't care about his generational wealth. Despite being the richest sorcerer alive since birth, you still tried arguing over a measly 70 dollar date.
Once you started dating, it took a long time to get accustomed to being taken care of by him. He’d constantly show up with your favorite comfort meals after your shift, sitting in his sports car with his hand massaging your thigh as you ate and told him about rude customers. Snacks during your late night study sessions in your room where he’d brush your hair and ask you questions on the material, peeking over your shoulder and occasionally kissing your ear to purposely distract you as you recited the contents of your workbook.
He’d also buy you clothes without you needing to tell him your size, “I thought you’d look good in this babe.” He’d say with a proud smirk before shoving it into your hands and ushering you to your bathroom to try it on. To say Gojo was spoiling you rotten was an understatement, on date nights he’d insist on buying you a completely new outfit down to designer sunglasses and heels. Necklaces worth your paycheck and anything you even glanced at. “What’s so wrong with spoiling my honey? You work hard, let me care for you.” He’d say with a quick kiss to your cheek before grabbing all the bags from your hands and ushering you to his parked sports car.
For months you’d feel guilty at how much he was spending on you, often scolding him on how he never even glanced at the bill before tapping his black metal card. He'd listen to you scold him with a small amused smirk, twirling your hair in his fingers and occasionally humming his acknowledgment of your words. You thought he'd grow out of the habit, but boy were you wrong.
Now, years later the sound of utensils clinking against kaolin porcelain china plates fills the lavish dining room in the Gojo Estate. You, your husband Satoru, and your two beautiful teenage kids sit at the table enjoying a 3 course dinner, all hand made by your private chefs. You sit next to your husband whose hand is on your thigh, stroking your soft skin with his thumb lazily as he eats with his free hand. Despite the grand table, you and your husband all sit at the head together. Your daughter to your left and your son to your husband's right.
You ask your kids how school went between sips of your wine, your husband graciously refills your glass only to steal sips from the spot your maroon lipstick stains the rim, glancing sideways at you with a playful gleam in his eyes and a smirk. Your daughter goes on to tell a story of how she tried out for the ballet competitive dancing club and got in. Your son after going on to explain a similar story with the baseball club.
“The club is exclusively for travel competitions. Apparently last year, the club traveled all around Europe for two weeks doing competitions against the best schools world wide.” Your daughter says excitedly between bites of her Alaska salmon.
“Yeah, same for the baseball club. Some third years were telling the newbies that last year the club traveled around America playing against some prestigious private schools.” Your son says in a more relaxed tone before putting a piece of lamb in his mouth.
You smile warmly, chewing and swallowing the piece of food you had in your mouth before speaking. “That's amazing sweethearts.” you say proudly, setting down your fork.
Your husband sets down your wine glass he was drinking from with a proud smile. “Atta kids. I knew my DNA would serve you right.” He chuckles and winks to his kids.
You chuckle at your husband and the kids do too. Taking his bigger hand in your smaller one you look between the two, “So, when do you guys start? Do we need to go out tomorrow and get you the proper supplies?” You’re already mentally planning the mall day, which stores to hit up for your daughter's necessities and which for your son.
Your husband smiles big at your eagerness, squeezing your hand gently in his and stroking your knuckles with his thumb before speaking. “You kids tell us what you need, can't have you guys looking like rookies.”
Your daughter's expression turns sheepish, almost worried. “Yeah, but the club is really expensive.” she says softly, setting down her fork before your son follows after.
“Yeah, the baseball club is too.” he says before wiping his mouth with a napkin and taking a sip of his water.
“Are you sure we can afford it?” Your daughter asks, genuinely worried that her and her brother are asking for too much.
The word afford hangs in the air like a heavy blanket, you can practically feel Gojo’s blood heart rate start to spike. “Oh boy.” You mutter, putting your elbow on the table and your free hand over your forehead, shaking your head, looking down at the table. Your husband's smile slowly fades, waiting for the part where his son starts laughing and saying 'You should've seen your faces!' The part doesn’t come. Your kids look between you two, your daughter's eyebrows furrowing, and your son leaning forward in his chair, looking equally confused.
After a couple of tense seconds of silence, “We’re buying the teams.” Your husband says flatly, leaving no room for debate. You sigh, “Honey…”
Your kids' eyes widen in shock. “What? Dad-” Your daughter starts but is quickly interrupted by Gojo. “No no no, what is it with the two most important women in my life thinking we’re broke? I mean seriously!” he says, offended.
“Honey, that was like 16 years ago.” You defend yourself in vain. Gojo lets go of your hand to point an accusing finger at you. “Oh no no no, just last week I told you to take the Master card, and you didn't! Would it kill you to spend my money?” he says with a dramatic huff.
You click your tongue and smack his hand that points at you, “Would you stop it? We don't need to buy anything-”
“Two jets. One for baseball and the other for ballet. Custom wrap for the team names and custom jerseys. We’ll rent out the mall tomorrow to get them the necessities without hassle. You get whatever you want and you're actually buying it this time. In every color they have.” He states confidently, already pulling out his phone to make all the calls necessary to make this happen.
Your kids are wide eyed, looking between each other and you two with shocked expressions. “Wait Dad!-" Your daughter is quickly cut off by your husband getting up from his seat at the table. Grabbing your chin between his thumb and pointer finger before kissing you deeply on the lips with a teasing hum.
He tastes like the fruity wine he's been stealing from your glass and something specifically Gojo. You smile against his lips, forgetting about the semi-argument from seconds ago. Even with your eyes closed you know his free hand is already holding his phone against his ear waiting for the ringing on the other end to pick up.
“Get a room.” Your son grumbles and pushes away his dinner. Gojo smirks against your lips and chuckles lightly before pulling away when the phone answers. He winks at you before kissing both kids on the head and walking away, talking in that energetic playful tone he always has.
You lick your lips, savoring his taste on you before looking back to your kids with a smile. “You guys get some rest, we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”
TOJI FUSHIGURO
You and Toji had only been dating for a few months, but somehow it already felt like you’d known him forever. He didn’t have much. Everyone knew that. Most days he was bouncing between odd jobs, helping someone move furniture, fixing things around town, taking whatever work he could find. Other days he’d spend hours in a bar somewhere, betting on races and somehow convincing himself he’d finally hit it big this time. His bank account was usually empty. His apartment was barely furnished. His car made sounds that definitely shouldn’t have been coming from a functioning vehicle. But none of that mattered to you. Because despite having so little, he somehow gave you more than anyone else ever had.
When his bets actually paid off, he’d show up at your door with flowers, acting like it wasn’t a big deal even though you knew he’d spent half his winnings on them. When you complained about craving ice cream at midnight, he’d groan dramatically, throw on a hoodie, and disappear into the night only to come back twenty minutes later with your favorite flavor. On anniversaries he’d save up for weeks just to take you somewhere nice, pretending he hadn’t planned the entire thing down to the smallest detail. He wasn’t perfect. He was stubborn, annoying, sometimes reckless. But he loved you in a way that felt real. And that was enough.
At first, your friends were happy for you. They told you how much brighter you seemed lately, how often you smiled, how you talked about him with a look they’d never seen on your face before. Everyone seemed supportive. Everyone except her, your best friend. The first comment was easy to ignore. “You could do better.” You laughed it off. The second comment was harder. “He seems like a lot of work.” Then came the constant questions. “What does he even do?” “Does he have a plan?” “How is he supposed to take care of you?” You defended him every single time. Because she didn’t know him. She didn’t know about the way he’d remember every tiny detail you mentioned. She didn’t know the sacrifices he made quietly without ever talking about them. But no matter what you said, she never seemed convinced.
As the months passed, her behavior became harder to ignore. Whenever your friends asked about Toji, she’d suddenly lose interest in the conversation. You’d be showing pictures from a date, and she’d roll her eyes. Someone would mention how happy you looked together, and she’d let out a dramatic sigh. Sometimes you’d catch her staring at her phone while everyone else was listening to your story. Other times she’d make faces she thought nobody noticed. But you noticed, every single one. The worst part wasn’t even the comments. It was how obvious her bitterness became. Your other friends were excited for you, your family liked him, even people who barely knew him could see how much he cared about you. Yet somehow your supposed best friend was the only person who seemed incapable of being happy for you.
You confronted her more than once. “Why can’t you just support me?” And every time she’d give some excuse. “I’m just looking out for you.” “I don’t want to see you get hurt.” “I’m being realistic.” But the more she spoke, the less believable it sounded. Because it wasn't a concern. Concern comes from love. This felt different, it felt personal.
One Thursday night, everything finally clicked. You were sitting in her living room, curled up on the couch, talking excitedly about a date Toji had planned for the weekend. You were smiling without realizing it. Talking about how secretive he’d been all week, how he’d been saving money for something special, how excited you were to spend time with him. The entire time she just stared at you. Her expression looked almost irritated, like your happiness was physically bothering her. When you finished talking, silence filled the room.
Then she scoffed harshly, “Can he even afford to buy you flowers?” Her lips twisted into a smirk. The room went quiet. For a second you just stared at her. Not because the comment hurt. But because suddenly everything made sense. Every eye roll, every rude remark, every passive-aggressive comment, every time she tried to convince you to leave him, every moment she’d dismissed your happiness. It all clicked together. And for the first time, you realized she wasn’t worried about you. She never had been.
Whether it was jealousy, bitterness, or something else entirely, she simply couldn’t stand seeing you happy with someone she didn’t approve of. The realization hurt more than the comment itself. Because this was someone you’d trusted for years, someone you considered family. And instead of supporting you, she’d spent months trying to tear down the healthiest relationship you’d ever had.
You stood up. She looked confused. “What?” You shook your head. “You know what? I think we’re done.” Her expression immediately changed. “What are you talking about?” But there was nothing left to explain. A real friend doesn’t compete with your happiness, a real friend doesn’t constantly belittle the person you love, and a real friend certainly doesn’t make you feel guilty for being happy. You left her house that night and never looked back. Later, when you told Toji what happened, he just wrapped an arm around your shoulders and pulled you closer. “No more ice cream for her then.” You laughed so hard you nearly cried. And in that moment, losing a fake friend felt a lot less painful than keeping one.
Now, years later you’re curled up on the couch next to your husband Toji tucked under his arm as he sips his favorite beer with his free hand watching some boxing match on the TV. His fingertips draw unconscious patterns on your arm as you read a book and draw lazy patterns on his thigh with your unoccupied hand when the front door opens.
“I’m home.” The familiar aloof voice of your son Megumi carries throughout the house. You lean off of Toji’s shoulder, earning yourself a displeased groan from the man and smiling at your son with your usual warm smile.
“Hey, how was school?” You ask, setting down your book on the couch and settling back into your husband's side. Toji groans again and settles you better into his side, his arm falling from your shoulders to around your waist and hand now resting on your thigh. He sips his beer and side eyes his son as acknowledgement.
“It was fine.” Megumi says flatly from the front door where he’s slipping off his shoes and jacket. You watch him set down his house keys next before speaking again, “How's Yuji and Nobara?” You ask as Megumi walks over towards the kitchen and grabs a water bottle.
“Good. They want to go out tonight to some arcade.” He says simply before taking a long sip. You smile excitedly, smacking Toji’s thigh so he could acknowledge that your usually introverted son wants to go out. He side eyes you, silently saying, 'What was that for?' with his eyes before groaning and turning off the TV.
“About time you get a life.” Toji mutters to his son before sipping his beer, you click your tongue and smack his thigh harder. He chuckles and smirks around the beer bottle pressed to his scarred lips.
Megumi pays no mind to his father's words, walking over to the couch and sitting down on your left with his water bottle in his hands. With a final glare at Toji, you look at your son, smiling and excited for him. “Oh yeah? Sounds like a good time.”
“Would be.” He says simply as he stares off to the screen of the TV. Your eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “You're not going?” You ask, slightly disappointed. Toji snorts, “What a shocker.” Your husband says sarcastically.
You roll your eyes and turn to better face your son, “Why aren't you going, Megs? Does it not sound fun?” Megumi shrugs, “The arcade is new. It's expensive, so I figured we couldn't afford it.”
When the word ‘afford’ leaves his mouth, your face drops. Toji spits out the beer that was in his mouth and bursts out laughing. Megumi’s usual stoic expression falters, concern growing on every line of his face. Your eye twitches as you stare at your son and the word replays in your head like a drum, Toji coughing and laughing up a storm while setting down his beer on the coffee table in front of you all and smacking his chest with his now free hand, trying to draw in breath. “Oh, here we go.” He gasps out between fits of laughter.
“Wha-“ Megumi tries to ask but is quickly interrupted by you, “Oh Megumi…my sweet boy…WE can afford it.” You say as if that word leaves a bad taste in your tongue. Sitting up you dig into Toji’s pocket as you continue speaking, “Here’s what you’re gonna do.” Toji sighs deeply and adjusts himself so you can better reach into his pocket. Opening the wallet you take out a fat band of cash, undoing the rubber band around it. “You will buy tickets for you AND your friends to this arcade,” you say while placing a stack on your son’s hand, his eyes widening from the amount of money that alone already is. “THEN you will buy as much food and play as many games as you all desire.” Emphasizing your words with another stack, Toji next to you stroking your thigh under his big hand to offer some form of support. “And you’re not allowed to take a single step into this home unless this entire band is spent.” You place the last part of the money on his hand. Megumi is speechless at this point, he looks up at his father for help but Toji just gives him a slight shrug as if telling him, ‘just go with it, kid.’
Megumi just blinks between the both of you in confusion then just sighs. “Uh…okay…thanks then..i guess.” He stands up slowly while organizing the stack in his hands better while staring at you. “You’re telling me what this is about when I'm back.” He says in a slightly reprimanding tone, eyes sharp as if they’re trying to figure out where everything went wrong while backing up towards the stairs to his room.
You and Toji settled back into the couch together, his arm over your shoulder this time to have you pulled as close as possible to his side while Megumi was getting ready. Once he was done and said his goodbyes to both of you, the front door shut, leaving just the faint scent of his cologne. A few moments pass, and there you go muttering to yourself, ‘Pfft…afford..tch..we can afford it…’ shaking your head slightly. Toji presses his scared slips together slightly, an amused smirk on his face, before tilting his gaze to you, holding back a chuckle. “We can beat the ashes of the horse before bed, but not right now, the match is getting good, yeah?” He hums while kissing the underside of your ear and caressing your collarbone.
KENTO NANAMI
You and Nanami have been dating for a while now. Friday morning, you woke up early and had an amazing slow morning together. Your apartment smells like coffee, his cologne, and fresh laundry that's still laid out on your couch from last night. Before he was out the door to his job, he left you with a lingering kiss on the lips that tasted like his bitter black coffee and something uniquely him. “I’ll be home at 8:33 tonight, dear. Assuming the train is actually on time tonight. Call me if you need me, I'll answer.” He says to you as he adjusts his glasses one final time and smiles slightly before disappearing out the door.
Hours later, you're sitting at home getting some work done on your computer when a message from him lights up your phone. You set down your drink onto the coffee table in front of you before opening his message and reading it, a growing frown pulling on your lips. “Dear, I'm clocking in overtime tonight. Gojo needs these reports on his desk by morning. I love you, don't wait up.” After reading his message, you respond, mid-sentence, having a light bulb moment. Knowing that when he clocks in over time, he usually goes straight home. You made up your mind to go to his apartment tonight and surprise him.
After wrapping up all your work, you made your way to his apartment at 6pm. Your boyfriend has a routine of cleaning his house every Saturday, but the way his superiors have been overworking him, you decided to do that for him, deep cleaning his bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, and living room. Now it’s 7:35 pm, and you’re starting to prep ingredients for your signature sandwich, which he loves, when you realize he has run out of bread. You quickly make a run to his favorite bakery that’s across the street from his place, hoping it doesn’t close yet. Running into the bakery 15 minutes before closing, looking like a semi-disaster after all you did at his place, with an apologetic, relieved smile on your face.
“Oh, good, you're still open.” You say, out of breath, walking up to the counter. You’re greeted with an annoyed teenager who's popping her gum loudly and rolling her eyes after checking the time.
“Yup.” She says exaggerated and sarcastically, clearly not in any mood for your presence. You smile apologetically again, heading straight to grab two loaves of baguettes and pastries from the glass display case. After 4 minutes of walking around and grabbing the necessities, you walk up to the counter, emptying the contents of stuff from your hands and onto the surface. The snarky teenager rolls her eyes before looking you up and down slowly. “This it?” She says, annoyed, you nod and say yes. She scoffs, looking you up and down more slowly this time. “You can afford all this?” Your face drops at her comment as she rings you up. Taking your card from your wallet and the payment goes through without a hitch, the girl scoffs. You take the bag full of food and walk out of the bakery, doing double takes at the girl as if not believing the interaction you just had.
Nanami is walking down the hallway to his apartment with a defeated spirit. Standing in front of his place, he sends you a quick text while undoing his tie. Then, as he opens the door, the scent of cleanliness and your perfume engulf him. For a moment, he was confused. Why did his place smell clean? And of you? Until he walked into the kitchen and saw his beautiful girlfriend waiting for him on the bar stool with fresh sandwiches and his favorite pastries on the counter. “Ken baby, hey! You hungry?” You say brightly, already up from your seat and walking over to him for a hug around the neck. He hugs you by the waist, looking around astonished at his very clean apartment, his favorite sandwich on the counter with his usual weekend pastries, and a lovely girlfriend who feels like home in his arms. “Hon, you didn't have to.” He mumbles gratefully into your shoulder, hugging you tighter and pulling you flush against his toned body. You spent an amazing night together, sharing stories of your day between bites of your sandwiches and smiles after sips of wine. Despite the night you were having, the words from that snarky teenager stayed in your subconscious.
Now, years later, you and Nanami are married with a beautiful teenage daughter who's the spitting image of you two. You were cleaning up around the kitchen after you and your husband had lunch. He was off from work today, so you spent your time deep cleaning the house and getting ready for the weekend. Your daughter appears in the doorframe moments later, “Mom! Dad! I’m home!” Her voice carries from the front door to the kitchen, and a smile appears on your face almost instantly.
Your usually stoic husband relaxes a bit, his shoulders dropping ever so slightly. “In here!” you call out, your husband setting down his cleaning supplies to help his daughter with her school bags before kissing the top of her head. “How was your day, honey?” he asks in his usual tone, but it carries a hint of warmth, the tone reserved for just you and your baby girl. “It was good!” She says while giving her dad a quick kiss on the cheek and doing the same to you. “Actually, there’s a dilemma I’m having that I want you guys to hear out.” She continues in a slightly more serious tone as she grabs a barstool to sit on. You and Nanami give each other a quick glance and put down everything to pay attention. “Hit us.” You respond, Nanami giving his daughter a quick nod signaling her to continue. “Alright so it was club rush today and the music club really caught my eye so I applied to it.” She finally spoke, almost testing how the words would land. “That’s great, sweetheart! I’m glad something interested you.” You replied, then there’s a pause, “What’s the dilemma?” asks Nanami in a tone that he’s ready to fix any of his daughter’s problems right away. “The dilemma is that we have to have our own piano to practice at home, and the ones they were recommending were a pretty penny or two, so…I was wondering if we could afford it?”
Your head snaps towards your husband immediately, your finger pointing to your daughter, half accusingly, half in defense. “You see!? The horse got up!” Nanami mumbles to himself while taking off his glasses, “Oh boy..” pinching the bridge of his nose, he nods slowly, “Yes, dear, it did get up.” Your daughter is just looking between the two of you, very confused, “So, like, am I missing something here?” She asks, clear that something she said had triggered you.
“Yes. You’re missing that piano.” Your head snaps again towards your daughter, and you walk towards her, leaning over the counter. “On that note, the piano is gonna be mahogany wood. A violin in the same wood, matching set.” In the background, Nanami is approaching you from behind, careful not to disrupt you. “In fact, the office is now becoming your practice studio.” He stands by your side while you begin your rambling, placing a hand on your waist and the other giving grounding squeezes to your shoulder. “Your dad is strong, he can help me carry out all the furniture, right, Ken?” You ask quickly before continuing, your daughter is completely distraught by your plans, and before she interrupts. “Yes, my love, of course.” Nanami replies in a calm voice, the teenage girl gives him a bewildered look as if asking, ‘You’re actually going along with this?!’
He replies with a knowing nod, ‘I'll explain later,’ it said. Your daughter just sighs as your rambling just becomes white noise.
“Of course, we can afford this new hobby, sweetheart. Actually, I’m even getting you a tutor. That's a great idea, right?” Nanami nods, letting out a deep exhale while pressing a kiss on your temple. “Yes, love.”
HIROMI HIGURUMA
At the beginning of your relationship with Higuruma, you both already knew you guys were forever. So much so that during one of his celebratory dinners with his colleagues over a grueling case, he wanted to announce his biggest achievement of all, being able to land the fiancée title. That’s right, just a few months into dating, he had already decided to get the gears going just a tad bit faster. You were super excited but also extremely nervous to meet his colleagues, especially to announce the upgrade of your relationship status. So you decided to doll yourself up as best as you possibly could, nails done the day before, your hair styled to perfection, and now you are doing your makeup with laser focus. Having the black dress Higuruma absolutely adores waiting for you, splayed carefully on the side of your bed to make sure the fabric doesn’t get stained or wrinkled. Black-red bottom heels were neatly placed in front of the dress on the floor, jewelry placed above the dress, and your purse that’s going to carry your phone, lip combo, and, most importantly, your engagement ring already placed next to the dress.
Everything is going smoothly, your getting-ready playlist is on the TV as you take your sweet time with every step, just really enjoying the process of getting dolled up. Then a notification with a specific ringtone interrupts. “Hey doll, we’re running a bit late to wrap things up, but you can start heading out soon. My secretary is on the way to the reservation, so you can meet her there. I love you, see you soon.” Oh, how giddy every text from him still makes you. Taking his message as your cue, you do your last touches on the makeup before getting the dress, shoes, and bag all on you. Making sure you have everything with you— “Oh shit, I forgot my wallet!” You say as you are walking towards the front door while checking your bag. When you’re about to go back to get it, you remember you have a lawyer finacée who will personally sue you if you pay for something yourself.
20 minutes later, you were walking into the designated restaurant with a nervous smile, hand clutching your purse as you looked around for Higuruma’s secretary. After a total of 3 seconds, you spot her sitting down on one of the couches in the waiting area. Her bleach blonde hair and red lipstick that looked way too bright for the occasion made her stand out like a sore thumb. She was scrolling through her phone with a seemingly annoyed expression, maybe it’s been a stressful few hours for her. Before making your way over to her, you take a deep breath through your nose, mustering up all the sociability in your bones and scanning her for a way to start this conversation.
You clear your throat before speaking, “Hi! You’re Higuruma’s secretary, right?” You say as calmly as you can with a polite smile on your painted lips. She looks up from her phone at you, “Uh, yeah. Who are you?” She says, her face scrunched in, already seeming disapproving. “Perfect! It’s great to finally meet you! I’m—“ your introduction gets cut short from her phone ringing. Without sparing you another glance, she immediately turns her head away from you and answers it. You retract the handshake you were expecting and wait for her phone call to end, it almost seemed like she was extending it on purpose..? Once it ended, she didn’t turn her attention back to you, she just opened up her social media instead. Well, alright…maybe you should try another tactic. “Oh, girl, I love that necklace you have on. Where’s it from?” You ask with a cheerful tone before taking the seat next to her. She sighs exasperatedly and turns her scrutinizing gaze to you slowly, looking you up and down before responding, “I’d tell you, but I don’t think you can afford it.”
Her tone was sharp, almost chuckling to herself at the end. Her comment left you momentarily speechless. Did this stranger actually just say that to you?
“What did you just say?” A deep, authoritative voice from behind you spoke up, a very familiar one. Both of you turn to face Higuruma, whose usually stoic expression seemed extremely displeased with what he’d just heard directed to his fiancée. “O-oh, nothing, it was just a joke, right girl?” She laughs nervously while giving you a slight nudge with her elbow. You snap out of your stunned daze and scoff, your face a mix of disbelief and disgust, before rubbing your arm where hers had touched you. “Yeah, a joke.” You say back to her, rolling your eyes and standing from your spot next to her to walk over to your fiancé. Higuruma notices your attitude towards her and immediately scoffs, “Lying to a lawyer? Not the brightest idea you’ve had.” He says to his secretary before his hand finds your waist, firmly pulling you closer to his side with a gentle protectiveness only you get to see.
The secretary is struggling to find an excuse while the physical proximity between you two is making her glitch. “Let me make this clear for you. You do not speak to my fiancée like that. Do you understand?” He says while reaching into his pocket with his free hand. Her eyes widen comically large, her words stuttering in disbelief. “Y-you’re w-what?!” His colleagues gasp, clearly not expecting this dinner to become such a spectacle. “My fiancée.” He repeats in his usual calm tone as he slips your engagement ring onto your finger gently before holding up your hand to press a soft kiss to your knuckles, then showing everyone around you two the stone on your ring finger like a key piece of evidence in a court case. “Are we all clear on how to speak to my fiancé?”
Now, years later, you guys are happily married with a beautiful daughter that just arrived home from an after-school hangout. “I’m home!” She calls out, and the sounds of her locking the front door shut while pushing away the plastic curtain that separates the half-remodeled kitchen and dining area are heard from the living room, where you and your husband were. “Here, sweetheart!” You call out to her as you keep typing on your laptop, shifting on the couch cushions with Higuruma to your right. She rushes over to the room and greets both of you with a hug, “What are you guys up to, huh?” she asks curiously while taking out a snack from the pantry before stopping to stand on the opposite side of the counter in front of both of you. “Just finished up some work. You arrived just in time.” Higuruma speaks, a relieved grin on his face as he closes his case folders and sets them aside. You shut your laptop as well. “Whew, work has us beat. But how have you been, hun? Tell us everything.” You add while leaning your cheek on your hand, ready to hear all about her day. “My day has been whatever, nothing noteworthy. The only thing is, my friends have been pestering me about the senior trip coming up.” She sighs, rolling her eyes and shaking her head slightly as she continues, “It's this end-of-the-year trip to Okinawa for a week. The whole senior class is invited, but not everyone's going because it's super expensive.”
You look at Higuruma at the same time he looks at you, both of you with confused expressions on your faces before turning back to your daughter. “What’s the problem?” He asks before you could.
Your daughter sighs, “I mean, I know we’re remodeling the house right now, and that's not cheap, so I just figured we couldn't afford that right now.”
As soon as those words leave your daughter's lips, you take a sharp inhale, eyes wide as if you’ve just been personally insulted. Higuruma groans as he brings both of his hands to his face, leaning back against the couch cushion, looking up as if he’s praying that he completely misheard that sentence. Your daughter is glancing between the two of you, clearly noticing the mood change, “What’s...wrong?” she asks cautiously. Your brows raise while crossing your arms over your chest, “Sweetheart, you are going on that trip. In fact, you will be the best dressed there.” You scoff, your husband by your side, still in the same position, rolling his eyes towards you. “Doll…” he speaks with a deep exhale, with the utmost amount of patience in his tone. “Yes. Exactly, you’re gonna look like a doll,” you say while gesturing to him, taking his nickname towards you completely out of context already. “Tomorrow you’re skipping school, and we’re going to the mall. You’re gonna buy four different outfits per day of your trip.” Higuruma just sits there, blinking while staring at you, then he looks towards his daughter with the same disbelief in his expression, but then that twinkle of amusement blooms quietly in his eyes. His exhale attempts to hide his chuckle while he shakes his head, taking out his wallet from his right pocket. His other arm drapes on the back of the couch, “So the black Amex or the gold Amex, Barbie?” Your head turns to him sharply, his comedic cooperation seeming like he’s trying to add more fuel to your ever-growing fire.
“Okay, stop. Seriously, what is going on?” Your daughter interrupts your next sentence before it starts. Your husband chuckles, his hand starting to draw lazy taunting patterns on your arm, “Well, if you must know, your mother is reliving a traumatic experience from 18 years ago. Nothing to concern yourself with.” You scoff, trying to swat his hand from your arm, “I’m not–” “No, no doll, we understand that this is your way of coping. Is revenge sweet, 18 years later?” He says with his usual tone, carrying hints of amusement. You stare at him for a solid five seconds, your lips slightly parted, too irritated to even have a comeback, eyes glaring a hole through his face. “Hiromi.” You scold not only with your expression but with your tone that implies the ice he’s dancing on is getting thinner. Although his usual deadpan expression remains, his eyes still glitter with taunting ideas, “We’re really showing her now, huh? Is it everything you’ve dreamed of?” Your brows furrow from his endless teasing, you reach for his other hand that holds the wallet, and snatch it from him with a huff. “Tch…afford..” you bicker grudgingly as you pick out the card you want for yourself. “Do you feel accomplished, honey?” he draws his words out oh so sweetly with a classy touch of mockery. He’s leaning closer to you, brows furrowed in a facade of pity. You place the credit card of your choice down on the table rather harshly, keeping the scowl on your face in check to not fall deeper into his bait.
“Higuruma.”
“Yes dear?”
“Enough.”
“Enough of what, my love? Use your words.”
Your daughter watched this childish bickering that happens between the two of you way too often. She mimics the same expression of her father’s, face palmed, looking up as if trying to escape her reality. Soon enough, she remembered her free will and sighed, leaving the card on the table and walking to her room down the hall to save herself the trouble of trying to understand what this was about.
CHOSO KAMO
The first time you encountered Choso Kamo, you knew you'd be head over heels for him and fast. Sure, his looks were the first eye catcher, obviously, but there was just something about the way he carried himself. How would you even start talking to him without blushing? Would he find it weird if you tried initiating conversation? This is all that was going through your head during the group hangout with your friend Yuji, who introduced you to him only an hour ago.
This hangout took you from the movies, to the arcade, to a ramen shop, and finally to a few stores around the mall. In the specific store you were at, you observed all your friends disperse into groups of two, and by some miracle, you ended up paired with Choso, #dreamcometrue.
You glance at him from time to time, taking note of his hairstyle, the band t-shirt with baggy jeans combo, worn-out sneakers, and the faint smell of his warm sandalwood cologne. His expression wasn’t deadpan or uninterested, just kinda..neutral, in a way that only he could pull off without looking bored. You can tell he was quietly observing the group as they walked ahead, looking around as if assessing potential threats when someone got too close to his younger brother. You found it sweet how intensely he worried for his brother when he stubbed his toe against the ice cream shop's door. Choso physically flinched like he felt it himself.
Even now, with Yuji’s friend yapping his ear off about some concert outfit she wants to buy, all he does is hum his acknowledgement of her words every now and then with his eyes forward to the group and his hands casually shoved in his pockets. You try to talk to the girl, you do, but every time you ask about the concert she's going to, she gives you an uninterested look and a half-ass response. It was clear that the only attention she wanted was from Choso. At some point, you just gave up on trying to socialize with her and started doing your own thing, browsing through the accessories and different clothing items the store had to offer. However, no matter how long you kept walking, her irritating voice followed you around. You glanced behind you, and Choso followed behind you like a line leader. You assumed he followed mindlessly, not like he was actually enjoying your company, so you shrugged it off and kept doing your own. While flipping through multiple hangers of clothes, finally a certain dress caught your eye.
It was definitely a sight, the quality of the fabric of the dress was incredible, and the details on the seams were so cohesive that it became mesmerizing. You studied the dress in your hands for a minute or two until a low voice behind you spoke, “That’s a great choice.” Your head turned to look at Choso, who was standing a respectful distance behind you, hands in his pockets and one ankle hooked over the other as he leaned the side of his body against the nearest wall with the same neutral expression. You blink twice before finally snapping from your daze and responding, “Oh yeah?” is all you could muster while trying to hide the shock in your tone that he is actually talking to you right now. “Mhm. I think it would suit you,” he replied in his usual calm but especially gentle tone that makes you melt, “From everything we’ve been looking at, this is the best.” Did…he just say we? Like he’s been paying attention to you this entire time? When this realization hits, you can’t help but smile at how adorable he is, “You’re right. I like this one a lot too.”
While you share this sweet moment with your crush, a frustrated scoff is heard from behind both of you, “Can you even afford that?” That girl snickers while giving you a nasty up-down look as she walks up to stand too close to Choso at his position against the wall. Her comment takes you aback, completely unprovoked and just plain unnecessary, as you open your mouth to clap back, Choso beats you to it, “That’s rude. Don’t say that to your friend.” His expression shifts slightly in distaste towards her comment, brows furrowed and lips in a small frown, before taking two steps towards you and away from her. “Even if she couldn’t, why would you judge her?”
The girl is completely speechless, and her face flushes with embarrassment. “Whatever..” she mutters, rolling her eyes while walking away with her pride bruised. You watch her leave completely defeated, your head slowly turns back to the man standing next to you with disbelief written all over it, “What?” he blinks at you like that was nothing. The innocent glint in his eyes makes your lips form into a smile once again, and you just laugh, “Thanks for being my knight in shining armor.” You said with a hint of teasing in your tone while giving him a playful jab with your elbow.
Just as you predicted, this man did in fact become your one and only true love. Years later, this blossomed into the beautiful marriage you have today, with a son just as sweet and adorable as he is. Here are the three of you in a car ride back home from picking up your son from kindergarten, and he’s telling you all about what he learned today. “And after we colored during recess.” He said all wide-eyed with a bright smile in the backseat, “That sounds fun! Did you like coloring?” You asked in that mom tone you have now acquired from the 5 years of being one. “Yes! I wanna color more!” He chirped happily, giggling with a sparkle in those big brown, innocent eyes that were identical to your husband's. Choso was in the driver’s seat with a hand on your thigh, drawing loving lazy patterns as he watched his son from the rearview mirror with a smile on his face. “Coloring is a great hobby, we should get you new supplies to do it at home.” He said with excitement in his tone, already imagining all the doodles his son’s brilliant mind could come up with. When the expected excited giggles and immediate enthusiastic child response doesn’t come, you and Choso share a confused glance at each other. “Is something wrong, bud?” He asks softly, adjusting in the driver’s seat to get a better look at his son’s face through the review mirror, concern etched into his expression. A beat of silence.
“Um…but..Mommy doesn’t have any paper rectangles in her purse.” Your son mumbles, the sound of his voice shy with a hint of sadness.
Both your expressions soften almost instantly as the realization sets in, sharing another glance, but this one with a smile. One of the recent things Choso has been teaching your son is money. Since he always comes shopping with both of you and is constantly playing with dollar bills your husband hands him, while waiting in line to pay, Choso started explaining what the paper in his small baby's hands is used for. Explaining the money in simple terms with the patience only a loving father has, and a warm, proud smile as he picks up on it quickly.
Choso squeezes your thigh gently, his big hand grabbing onto every inch he can. “Baby, you see?! He does remember what I taught him!” Your husband turns his head towards you with a proud glint in his eyes before looking back to the road. You were silent for a couple of seconds, a smile fading slowly as a realization set in. You turn your head towards him very slowly, “Our son just called me broke.”
Your words came out as if your heart had been shattered into pieces. Your husband’s expression changes instantly as he notices your reaction, “I’m sure he didn’t mean it like that, hon-“ He gets cut off by the sound of the shuffling you're doing in your seat to fully turn around and look at your son in the backseat. “Mommy is gonna prove to you that she has a lot of money.” You say reaching out to hold his hand, your son readily taking hold of it, obviously misunderstanding the situation. “Cho baby, pull over.” You say with the sweetest tone you could possibly muster, Choso glances at you again with growing concern for what he thinks is about to happen. “I think that might be unnecessa—“ Your eyes make contact with him sharply. “Choso. Pull over.” He sighs deeply before switching lanes to the nearest supplies store, “Honey...” You huff, letting go of your son's small hand and turning back to face forward in your seat as you gather your purse. “Let’s go.”
Without waiting for a response, you get out of the car, walk to your son's side of the car, and get him out of his car seat before securing him on your hip with your arms around him. Choso locks the car door and walks over to you both before putting his hand on your lower back and guiding you inside. Your son swings his legs on either side of you, looking at the store with an awestruck expression. Minutes later, you’re walking through the halls of the art section, leading the way with Choso pushing the shopping cart as you drag your hand through the shelves, knocking every product into the cart. “Baby, you missed one.” Choso says softly from behind you and nods towards the paint you missed. You knock it into the shopping cart with a satisfied smile, “See? Mommy can afford it.” You say sweetly to your son before bouncing him on your hip to make him smile brighter than he already is, looking at all his new art supplies with a twinkle in his eyes. “Wow! Mommy, this is all for me!?” He says excitedly, Choso just smiles at the interaction, shaking his head slightly as he starts following behind you to the checkout.
RYOMEN SUKUNA
After a grueling day of work, phone calls, and online meetings, you and your husband finally get the chance to sit back, relax, and watch the reality TV show that he swears he’s not interested in. Salty snacks, sweet treats, and drinks are on a tray you gathered up quickly before settling into your side of the bed.
Sukuna grumbles as he walks into your shared bedroom, the top pair of his arms drying his hair with a towel after his shower, “That show has another episode tonight. Such distasteful forms of entertainment.” Shaking his head in irritation while grabbing the remote from his nightstand with his free bottom right hand. You roll your eyes, hand digging into the warm bowl of popcorn, “If you don’t want to watch it, we don’t have to.” His face scrunches up as if he had just been offended while settling into his side of the bed. He looks you up and down with his usual annoyance and scoffs, “Entertainment is entertainment, woman.” His sassy attitude always amuses you. How can you take him seriously when he’s cuddling up next to you? His arm wraps around you and pulls you closer to his side while turning on the TV. “Right, right, sorry your highness.” You giggle as your hand brings some popcorn to the mouth on his stomach, and he shoots you a quick glare, huffing before reluctantly accepting the food, “Don’t let it happen again.”
After about 20 minutes of watching the episode, you both are extremely focused on the drama that the snacks have been left untouched for a bit, reaching for them slower and slower than the last time. Sukuna swears this is boring, but he’s the one who comments the most, “This mortal won’t stop talking,” one moment, and then a, “How awfully irritating this is,” another moment. All these complaints, but if you even imply to change the show, an immediate glare from his second set of eyes meets your peripheral vision, his bottom arm pulling you closer by the waist while the top arms are crossed behind his head. His hand caresses your side mindlessly, occasionally getting low enough to your hip and getting a sneaky squeeze before coming back to the middle of your waist.
As the episode is reaching its pinnacle of drama, you and your husband are so focused that you have to remember to manually blink or your eyes will get too dry. Suddenly, the door to your bedroom bursts open, both of your heads snap towards the door, you did a slight jump from being off guard, but Sukuna was just annoyed from the interruption. “Oh, there you guys are.” Your daughter let out a breath of relief while walking towards your bed. “Hi, sweetheart! How was your hangout?” You reply, sitting up straighter to greet your daughter, Sukuna huffs from the fact that you pulled away from his side and crosses his bottom pair of arms over his chest. “Ugh, Mom, that’s what I came to talk to you guys about. My friends were being such assholes.” She sat on the edge of the bed, a defeated sort of tone in her voice.
Your brows raise immediately from her words, reaching for the remote, and you pause the show. The second you do that, Sukuna groans, “Woman.” Your eyes snap to your husband’s, the most menacing look on your face for a split second makes him get his act right, reluctantly, of course, but it is done nonetheless. “Tell us everything.” You resume speaking to your daughter, patting the middle of the bed for her to come closer to you guys. She exhales loudly again while slumping herself over the space between your legs and your husband’s. “So while we were hanging out, the prom topic came up, and I started asking where everyone was getting their dresses from…” she started, a little pout forming on her lips as she spoke, “and you won’t believe what they said to me..” The emphasis becomes even more pronounced as she snatches the bag of gummies off your tray. “We’d tell you, but I don't think you can afford to shop there.” She mimics the voice of her friend while stuffing her face with a few gummies.
Your face drops, scoffing while the unprovoked comment is still processing in your brain, however Sukuna remains with his usual scowl. “Like who the hell says that?” She scoffs while shaking her head in frustration as if she’s reliving the baffling and embarrassing moment over and over. You dig into the gummy bag your daughter is holding and take out a handful of them. “Here’s what we’re gonna do.” You start by waving the sour little gummy worm around, “First, you are blocking them, cause ‘friends’ is the last thing they are to you,” then toss that gummy into your mouth. “Second, I’m calling up my assistant to make a list of the most luxurious boutiques. You’re gonna skip school, and we’re all going there.” You say while chewing, “Because you are going to be the best dressed and styled at that prom. Trust me, I'm hiring a makeup artist and a hairstylist too.” Then, as you pop another two gummies in your mouth before you start to speak again. Or so you thought.
“Let’s kill them.” A gravely voice suddenly interrupts the conversation, one that never usually has anything to say. Both of your heads turn to Sukuna, who is glancing between the two of you. Your daughter glances at you, then at him, “What?” He said plainly. Pinching the bridge of your nose, a deep exhale escapes you, “Dear…we can’t do that. Just making sure she shows off is fine.” His brow raises, and he clicks his tongue, “Back in my day, death was the lightest sentence to receive.” You reach out to caress his bicep in comfort, appreciating his attempt to help despite it being outrageous, “I know. Luckily, it isn’t the Heian era anymore.” An amused snicker escapes you as his face scrunches up in reminiscence of his golden age. “In fact, wiping out the entire familial bloodline sounds more appropriate for this matter.” He nods his head in approval of his own idea, while your laughter only increases, “Dear, that’s absurd—“ but you’re interrupted.
“Now that is proper revenge. Fantastic idea, Dad!” Your daughter chirps, her expression completely opposite from a few moments before. “Can you include her pets, too? She loves her fat hamsters more than anything, so you have to destroy them.” She adds while sitting up and giving puppy eyes to her father, who cracks a proud smile. “Of course, Child. The creatures shall receive their sentence first, then the rest of her loved ones, as we save the most grueling punishment for the peasant.” Your daughter shrieks in absolute joy and jumps toward Sukuna, embracing him as strongly as she possibly could, “You’re the best! Thank you so much!!” His bottom set of arms embraces her openly, nodding with a pleased look on his face. “No one dares to insult my mortal spawn and remain capable of drawing breath.” As this adorable moment between father and daughter occurs, you can’t decide if this is sweet or something you should actually be concerned about.
synopsis: college AU, friends to lovers (sorta) <3
wc: 7.8k
a/n: highkey gave up towards the end lol
The moment you stepped into the two-story frat house, the shift from the cool October night air to the humid, overcrowded interior hit you like a wall. The scent of cheap alcohol, sweat, and something vaguely burnt hung in the air, thick enough to taste. Scattered lamps cast pools of warm light throughout the house while a strand of fairy lights draped across the living room ceiling served as the only illumination for the rest of the space.
You didn’t even want to come. After hours of studying for an upcoming exam, you were mentally drained and couldn’t think of anything better than crawling into your sheets and knocking out with your comfort show on the TV. Your best friend, however, had other plans. She showed up right after you took a shower and practically dressed you before dragging you from your dorm, insisting that you “needed to live a little” and that you simply “hadn’t experienced the right party yet.”
Now, barely fifteen minutes later, she’d abandoned you to make out with Geto in the corner.
Great. Just great.
Leaning against the wall with your hands fidgeting in front of you, you stared out at the crowd. House music pulsed through the floorboards as conversations blended into a constant, unintelligible hum. Your gaze drifted across the room, taking in the chaos around you. A group of students crowded around the wooden kitchen table shouting over bets being placed on a heated game of beer pong. Nearby, a cluster of girls wearing too much make up and laughing far louder than necessary at something Gojo had said near the staircase.
You resisted the urge to roll your eyes.
One of them is going to make a regrettable decision before the end of the night.
With a quiet sigh, you continued scanning the room, more out of boredom than curiosity. Your attention skimmed over faces, conversations, and half-empty cups before catching on someone seated alone on the worn brown leather couch.
Choso sat beneath strands of fairy lights, their soft golden glow casting a warm sheen across his features. The thick black birthmark stretching across his straight nose and the faint purple shadows beneath his eyes lent him a perpetually tired look, one that only seemed to enhance his quiet handsomeness. Reclined in his seat with an effortless sprawl, he held his phone in one hand and a red plastic cup in the other.
His black-painted nails tapped absentmindedly against the screen as he scrolled through what appeared to be a game. Dark hair was gathered into its usual messy space buns, a pair of silver rings sat upon both his middle fingers and thumbs. Baggy dark-wash jeans hung loosely over his frame, paired with a worn black AC/DC T-shirt and Birkenstocks. Every so often, without looking away from his phone, he lifted the cup to his lips and took a casual sip before returning to his game.
You have heard rumors of Choso, everyone on campus has. The devilishly handsome 6 '1 mystery man who's both intimidating and unfailingly polite. Gets high enough grades to keep his scholarship but manages to have fun in settings like this as long as his younger brother Yuji was around. There was a story floating around campus a week prior that after being the only man to ace his midterm in his gov class, that same night he and Yuji did back flips off the frat house roof into the pool.
Looking at him now, that story felt like a story woven from drunken rambling. But, no one really knows Choso Kamo. Not for lack of trying, many girls try to know him in more ways than one, but the outcome was always the same. He’d offer them polite conversation, a small smile if he felt like it, before excusing himself and walking away with his wired headphones in his ears and hands in his pockets.
You, on the other hand, were completely out of place. Dressed in a modest cream colored sweater with light wash jeans and glasses perched on your nose were the soft spoken library assistant that never touched alcohol in her life and preferred books over people. Aced every exam and were seen walking with your head in a thriller novel more times than anyone cares to remember.
You tutor underclassmen as a side hustle on top of your job at the campus cafe where you were well known for making a mean espresso and your warm easy-going personality. Despite the stereotype most students categorize you under, you weren’t shy, in fact quite the opposite. You enjoyed meeting new people and bonding over small things like pastry orders or the weather, but in places like these where people can’t form a coherent sentence or walk in a straight line, you felt painfully out of place.
Surrounded by slurred conversations and reckless decisions, your expression unconsciously twisted into a small frown. Lost in thought, you didn’t realize you’d been staring unblinkingly at Choso for nearly three minutes with a racing heart. You hadn’t meant to stare, not at his biceps that strained around his shirt or his jeans that seemed too tight when he lifted his hips slightly to adjust on the couch, but god was it a sight to see. The moment you realized where your head was at, you blinked rapidly as moisture returned to your stinging eyes. Still, even after snapping back to reality, your gaze lingered for a moment longer on his long fingers and soft looking lips. He really was unfairly attractive. Not in the polished, meticulously groomed way some men tried to be, but in the effortless sort of way that suggested he’d rolled out of bed looking exactly like this. Relaxed. Comfortable. Completely unbothered by the chaos surrounding him.
You found yourself envying that. Even from across the room, there was something undeniably easygoing about him. People stumbled past his spot on the couch every few minutes, occasionally clipping his foot or bumping into his knee. Each time, he simply tucked his legs in a little farther or offered a small nod of acknowledgment before returning to whatever game occupied his phone. No irritation. No annoyance. Just quiet patience.
You rubbed your irritated eyes beneath your glasses carefully, avoiding your mascara-coated lashes. The music pounding through the house drowned out nearly everything else, and you barely registered the sound of approaching footsteps. It wasn’t until two bodies planted themselves directly in front of you that you looked up.
Well, you noticed their presence long before you properly saw them. The sharp scent of cheap Fireball and overpowering cologne hit you like a physical blow, causing your nose to wrinkle instinctively. You fought the urge to cough while blinking away the brief sting in your eyes. Once you finally focused on the source of your misery you internally groaned.
The first guy had brown hair tucked beneath a backward red baseball cap. He wore a wrinkled white tank top and a pair of oversized jorts that looked like they’d survived several questionable decisions already that evening. His friend wasn’t much better.
Baggy black jeans hung low on his hips, paired with a black tank top and a silver hoop piercing through one nostril. While the first attempted what was apparently supposed to be a pickup line, the second openly looked you up and down as though evaluating something on a store shelf.
Your smile remained polite, though noticeably strained. You offered a nervous laugh and declined their advances as kindly as possible.
Unfortunately, neither seemed interested in taking the hint.
“Aw come on baby, don't be like that. Just one drink? You can trust me.” Backwards cap guy slurred, punctuated by a hiccup and a lopsided drunken grin, offering you a red plastic cup with unsteady hands that you politely decline again.
“If not with him, what about me? Won't you drink with me?” Nose piercing guy spoke up next, his eyes half-lidded and body swaying slightly side to side like he’s on a choppy boat ride.
Before you could decline yet again, “She said no.” A deep steady voice said from behind them.
The three of you look to see Choso standing there a few feet away, one hand in his front pocket with the other holding up a red cup to his lips while intense brown eyes peering at them over the rim.
The two boys exchanged a curious glance before looking between you and him, a nervous laugh slipping out of one of them. “We were just—” The cap-wearing guy started.
“Don’t bother,” Choso cut in evenly, lowering his cup to his side. “Clearly, words don’t mean much to you.”
His tone was quiet, but there was an edge to it now—subtle irritation pressed just beneath the surface.
The second guy tried again, lifting his hands slightly in defense. “Look man, we didn’t—”
Choso exhaled through his nose, an annoyed sigh that ended the conversation more effectively than any raised voice could have. “Save it.” His tone was calm but final, flat in a deadpan way that made goosebumps rise on your arms.
He regarded them both for a moment, expression flat, almost bored, like they were nothing more than an inconvenience he had no interest in entertaining. Truth is, he wasn't the type to get involved in other people's drama, but this case was an exception. You were the exception.
Without another word, he set his cup down on the nearest table and slid his hands into his pockets. Then he walked forward. The two boys stepped back instinctively as he passed, his presence enough to part them without effort. They stumbled aside, muttering curses under their breath, but neither made any attempt to stop him.
Choso came to a stop beside you, leaning lightly against the wall as if he had been there the entire time. You looked up at him, caught somewhere between shock, gratitude, and lingering disbelief. He didn’t look away. His gaze stayed on you, steady and unreadable, before softening—just slightly. A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips as his eyes moved over your face, as if quietly memorizing the details. The tension in your shoulders finally loosened. With him there, the space beside you felt suddenly quieter, steadier. You offered him a small, grateful look, and something subtle shifted in his expression in response—an acknowledgment, brief but clear. He gave you a single nod.
The two boys in front of you share yet another confused glance before Choso speaks up again,“You guys can go now.” His voice leaves no room for suggestion despite his words. They mumble something incoherent more pride than language and stumble away like fussy toddlers whining about losing something they didn’t understand was never theirs. He doesn’t take his eyes off you as they walk away, adjusting on the wall to face you better. One shoulder pressed lightly to the surface, one ankle crossed over the other, hands still tucked into his pockets. Completely at ease, as if this had always been where he intended to stand. “You okay?” He says with a small smile.
You turn to face him better as well, hands in front of you and picking underneath your nails with a nervous chuckle. “Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Thank you for, you know…that.” You say softly with a sheepish laugh.
Choso chuckles, his eyes glancing from your nervous fidgeting to your eyes. “Anytime.” The word should’ve felt simple, but you couldn't understand why it felt heavier coming from him. Like it meant more than just politeness
You chalk it up to him just being polite, I mean he would do that for any girl who needs help. But why is he looking at you like that? Like you’re a flower growing through cracked pavement, a rainbow peeking out from behind a storm cloud. His gaze doesn't feel judgemental or scrutinizing when you're so clearly out of place. He doesn’t blame you for their actions with a “you’re asking for it standing here all alone.” If anything, his gaze feels almost grateful, grateful he had the pleasure of meeting you while also making one hell of a first impression in a room he had already stopped paying attention to.
“You work at the cafe on campus, right?” He says with a soft tone, despite his towering frame and intense kind of vibe, he sounds extremely inviting.
“Yeah, I do,” you replied, a small smile tugging at your lips. “How’d you know?”
The café came to mind immediately—the soft afternoon light spilling through the windows, the small vases of flowers on each table, the cream-colored walls lined with photographs of places you’d never been but liked pretending you might visit someday. The comforting rhythm of espresso machines and quiet conversations that never felt rushed.
Choso nodded slightly at your question, as if it were obvious. “I’ve seen you working behind the counter,” he said simply. “A few times.” He didn’t tell you that he remembered you from the many times you added extra napkins and creamer pods to his usual coffee order free of charge. He didn’t tell the only reason he intervened was because you weren't a stranger to him.
That made you pause. You tried to place him in your memory, faces of regular customers, students passing through between classes, quiet moments behind the counter, but nothing immediately clicked. “I usually work the morning shifts,” you said, still thinking. “When do you usually go in?”
A faint hum of acknowledgment left him, neither agreement nor correction. “8:30 am, right before my first class.”
Ah, your usual rush hour where you hardly notice anyone’s faces and solely focus on their request for coffee. “8:30 is usually rush hour, forgive me for not remembering you.” You say softly with a chuckle, hardly noticing your hands stopping their picking underneath your nails and the way the rest of the party faded from your focus.
He chuckled with you again and smiled, the sight so intoxicating you felt your heart flutter and mind go fuzzy. “Nothing to forgive. You're a busy woman.” He said with a small shrug and an understanding smile.
You looked at him a little more closely now, trying to memorize every detail of his smile up close and cursing yourself internally for not memorizing it sooner. He didn’t feel like a rumor or a passing story anymore, he felt like peace. A willow tree in an open field with cascading branches that sweep the ground bathed in a silver glow of moonlight.
“You don’t really seem like the party type,” You said softly, voicing your thoughts without meaning too. It came out low, like you were in a dream-like state while looking at him. Which, to be fair, you are. Regardless, you cursed yourself internally for it.
Shit, way too forward. Nice going, now he thinks-
Choso hummed like he was considering the statement rather than taking offense to it. “I get that a lot,” he replied. There was a brief pause before he added, “To be honest, I don’t really know where I fit in.”
You paused, your self internal scrutiny coming to a halt. The way he offered up conversation that could easily lead to more personal talk wasn't expected. After a couple seconds of internal debate you decide to risk it.
“Where do you usually feel most comfortable?” You ask softly, looking at him with the same patience and kindness he’s been displaying for you and others all night.
Choso lets out a small exhale, not quite a sigh but almost. “I don't really have a place. Anywhere with my brother is where I feel most at peace.” He says lost in thoughts of which you guess are about his brother. “The whole party life isn't really my thing, but Yuji really likes it so I go with him. Hence why I’m here. Seeing him happy is enough to make the experience worth it.”
You nodded slowly, letting his words mold your understanding of him further. His sense of self seemed shaky, clouded by a strong sense of purpose to be the best older brother he could be. That makes it hard for him to separate himself from the role he plays in Yuji's life from who he is as an individual. Your heart shattered a little at the realization that he probably doesn’t have a home that isn't centered around Yuji, a safe space to decompress after carrying the weight of his responsibilities.
You exhaled slowly, expelling the sudden sadness and smiling up at him. “Well, let's find out where you fit in, together.” The offer comes out natural and sincere.
Choso’s eyes widened with surprise. Whatever he thought you were going to say, it definitely wasn’t that. No one had ever offered to be his partner before, he was always the one offering his hand, not the other way around. His eyes start to water as he stares at you like you're an angel sent from heaven, which in that moment he decided that's exactly what you are to him.
His angel.
You noticed the tears threatening to spill and your heart cracked, regret and panic flooding your system. “Shit. I'm so sorry, that was so weird to say. I didn't mean-” Choso stops you mid panic with his hand capturing your wrist gently, his thumb tracing over your pulse point that immediately sky rocketed at his touch. Looking down at your small hand like he’s trying to memorize your finger print,“Promise?” He says small, so low you almost missed it.
Your nerves settled when you realized he wasn’t upset, but rather grateful for your extended invitation for company while navigating life. You smiled warm and sweet, “Promise.” You said already committing to whatever this promise entails.
Choso looks back up at you with a sheen in his eyes from unshed tears and a small smile, the silence that fell over you two was comfortable, the weight of the promise made didn’t feel heavy like a burden, but rather a nervous excitement for the future. You both looked at each other for multiple seconds, both building up opinions of one another with his thumb still gliding over your soft skin. You watch him come to a silent conclusion before releasing your wrist with one last pass over your skin and speaking again, “Would it be too much to ask you to get out of here and grab some food with me?”
Your eyebrows raised in surprise while your cheeks heated up ever so slightly, your heart fluttering a rhythmic beat in your chest as your hand fell to your side. The skin there is still tingling from where he held you.
Is this a date? Surely not, but…maybe one day?
“No, it wouldn't be too much.” You said with a smile, feeling so damn lucky you wanted to try your hand at a lottery ticket.
Choso smiled a little brighter, eyes crinkling ever so slightly and brown eyes looking a little less tired. “I know a good sushi spot down the road. You okay with that?”
You snort, are you okay with that he says. Please, who wouldn’t be? Sushi accompanied with a late night walk under the stars with Choso Kamo? You’d have to be clinically insane to decline that offer.
“Always.” You chuckle and lean off the wall at the same time he does. He chuckles and walks to stand next to you, walking slower on purpose so you don't have a hard time keeping up with his longer strides.
“Noted.” He says before opening the frat house door for you to walk out first.
For the next 15 minutes you followed his lead down the sidewalk towards the sushi place. A cool night breeze drifting by carrying the faint scent of grass to your noses. Street lights and neon business signs provide more than enough light for your journey. Choso stays on the side closest to the street without a second thought. His eyes scanning the area ahead with his hands still tucked in his pockets as you guys bond over bands you both like, classes you liked or disliked taking, and recent shows you've been watching. Every time you spoke he never interrupted, his gaze flickering from the street ahead to you as you spoke about a professor you swore had it out for you.
You guys bonded over Chase Atlantic, Nirvana, Weezer, Arctic Monkeys, Fleetwood Mac, and other bands most people assume are a one man show before immediately planning a playlist together labeled “after the party” in tribute to the night you met, both of you introducing the other to songs that made your fingers tap to the beat against your leg. You had asked him about AC/DC while pointing to his T-shirt and saw him light up like a kid on Christmas morning. You learned that when he first started playing guitar, which you didn't know but immediately found him ten times hotter for, his favorite song to play was Thunderstruck.
“I know it's basic but it’s just too good, right?” He said before immediately playing the air guitar for you while explaining the cords and frets with a bright smile, the calm and composed version of him you had met earlier replaced with something almost boysish. You found it utterly adorable. You laughed and started doing it with him, “Yeah that's it! You're a natural!” He cheered you on when you dramatically swung your arm in a wide arc pretending to play the imaginary instrument.
When you sat down at the restaurant the conversation shifted to more personal topics, family, school stress, routines and habits they've acquired in college. You opened up to him about things you've never told anyone before without a second thought, not knowing why you trusted him so much but you couldn't find a reason to stop talking. He listened to every word you said like they were holy scripture, his gaze remaining solely on you even when the waiter came by to refill drinks.
When the conversation drifted to family he confirmed the rumor of Yuji and himself indeed doing a back flip off the frat house roof, his defense, “Yuji’s puppy dog eyes are really hard to say no to okay?!” You both laughed and he shook his head before putting a piece of sushi in his mouth.
You realized how much he adored his younger brother in the way whenever he spoke about him a permanent smile lived on his lips. His smile was so contagious you hardly noticed how long you'd been smiling with him till your cheeks began to protest.
It was clear Choso was a simple man, he wore his heart on his sleeve, had a deep rooted sense of loyalty, and was driven by emotion rather than reason. The quiet side of him wasn't for show or act, but merely for the people he didn't connect with. He has no reason to express himself with people he had no interest in being around. You, though, were clearly someone he clicked with. He found himself showing sides that only Yuji ever saw. That boyish and playful side that showed when he got excited about a topic or object, that protective desire that flares when someone he cares for is in need. That sensitive and soft side that he can't control and doesn’t want to put a lid on.
After the dinner you both exchanged phone numbers, no reason other than both of you wanting to stay in contact. He hands you his phone unlocked on the keypad, fingers brushing briefly together before you type in your number and save your name with a cute emoji. Though the contact was brief, it was more than enough to send both your hearts fluttering
He stares at the contact like he’s been given the greatest gift life has to offer. A couple seconds go by before he speaks, “When can I text you? Is tonight okay?” He says falling into step beside you on the side walk with his hands and phone back in his pockets.
“You can text me whenever Cho.” You say realizing that he’s walking you to your dorm without you having to ask, you smile and respond
Choso’s heart skips a beat right there in the middle of a deserted sidewalk on a random Friday night in October. To him, the stars shine a bit brighter, color is more vibrant despite the deep blue night sky, the background noise of your feet walking alongside him feel brand new. The nickname in your sweet tone replays in his mind like a melody, a new favorite song he can’t get enough of. His cheeks stained a light pink with his lips pulling into a shy smile, a barely audible, “Okay.” Is all he can muster in his flustered state.
Not too long later, he drops off at your dorm front door. You spend the night debriefing with your best friend excitedly over the contents of both your nights. After gushing for about 30 minutes you decide it's time for bed. Setting down your phone on the nightstand with a smile, you drift off to sleep minutes later.
TIMESKIP
4 months go by in a blur of college classes, studying, Choso, and work at the cafe along with tutoring underclassmen. To say your schedule was packed was an understatement. Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays you had 4 classes a day in the afternoons. A shift at the cafe from 7 am to 12 pm everyday. Tuesdays and Thursdays you reserved for homework in the library where you'd also tutor a minimum of 2 students. Still, Choso somehow managed to squeeze into your schedule. Not in the clingy demanding attention way, just the subtle steady presence that puts you at ease knowing he’s in your corner.
You guys wouldn’t text nearly as much as you called, Choso preferred calling you after your classes to hear your voice as you recapped your lesson to him, asking you questions and humming in response as you gave him an answer. He listened on the other end of the line like you were his favorite podcast. Working out at the gym to the sound of your voice playing through his wired headphones as you explained the rest of your day's schedule to him.
“I have a tutoring session with a freshmen today. He needs help in Intro to History.” You said fumbling with the strap of your bag on your shoulder while switching your phone to your other ear. “Said he’s been having trouble with memorizing the timeline of events.”
Choso hummed on the other end, the sound of him occasionally grunting through his reps and the clanking of machinery could be heard in between his sentences. “Yeah- mgh~ that’s the part most people- ngh~ tend to struggle on.” He said breathlessly into the phone. You blushed as he spoke, your entire body getting warm at the way he sounded and the mental images you conjured in your head of how he probably looks working out.
Choso with his wolf-cut hair down, damp black strands sticking to his sweaty forehead and the back of his neck. Flushed face panting and groaning through a set of chest-press repping your body weight with ease. Black tank top hugging his lean frame and sweatpants low on his hips with a sliver of abs peeking out where his hand disappears underneath his tank top to scratches his abdomen. B+ print in grey sweatpants. Biceps with a fresh pump and veins crawling up his arms like lightning.
You’d be lying if you said the scenarios of Choso doing and saying filthy things to you hadn't satisfied some past midnight cravings during ovulation week. But what were you supposed to do when the sound of him breathless and groaning replayed in your head rent free? You'd feel guilty in the morning for doing such perverted acts to the thought of sweet Choso, but the memory of what were the best orgasms, yes plural, of your life left you feeling rejuvenated.
Not that you knew, but Choso wasn’t always the dotted sweetheart you knew him for. He was still a man at the end of the day. A better man than half the boys on campus of course, but he did have…urges. Choso often laid in bed wide awake despite it being well past midnight, hand in his pants with your smile crystal clear in his mind. The curve of your cupids bow making the prettiest of hearts he’s ever seen. Lips always glossy with your favorite lip combo and smile lines framing them like ribbons tied around a gift.
You really did live up to the nickname he gave you. At least in his eyes anyway.
Angel.
The embodiment of a warm hug and social butterfly while the most revealing piece of clothing you owned was an off the shoulder navy blue sweater that you wore once to a tutoring session. It was almost comical how that sliver of exposed soft skin was in more of Choso’s fantasies than you’ll ever know.
But, Choso is still a sweatheart. He started showing up at the cafe on Thursdays during the last hour of your shift, walking in with the same detached and tired expression he always carried. But as soon as his eyes landed on you behind the counter, smiling and greeting customers with that familiar warmth, all his face features would soften at once. He’d order an almond milk latte with caramel drizzle lining the cup along with a croissant with cream cheese on the side to sit in the same corner table closest to the register, closest to you, and watch you work. Sometimes a sketch book decorated the table and a pencil spun between his fingers before moving over the paper with fluidity only found in bodies of water.
Having him there was like an anchor in a storm, in your case, the storm was rush hour. You’d be behind the counter making lattes, espressos, cappuccinos, and warming up pastries from the display case with your hair up in a messy bun and an apron around your waist, overwhelmed and stressed till you see his tired brown eyes watching you at the register. You’d smile almost instantly and go up to the counter to put in his usual order, but before you could speak, “Deep breath first.” He’d say with his usual calm voice before taking three big deep breaths with you. “You’re doing great. You got this.” He’d say only for you to hear before taking his usual seat.
He’d wait for you to get off to walk you to your next class and listen intently while you describe your shift in detail, offering hums of acknowledgement and his two scents on rude customer stories. Your clothes smell of coffee and something uniquely you as you shake out your hair from its messy bun. “I mean seriously, who orders half the store and expects it to come out in 5 minutes?” You complained as you relieved the morning with an annoyed expression, Choso next to you hummed and took off a stray crumb from your sweater. “She was really rude, and obnoxiously loud on that business call.” You snap your fingers and point to him, “YES.” Then ramble on animatedly about how people have no manners while he watched you with a small smile and steering you through campus towards your class. Because yeah, he memorized where your classes were.
Occasionally on free weekends where both your schedules aligned you'd spend the day lazily in his decorated dorm room. Vinyl records, legos, and drawings he made of album covers and portraits of Yuji and himself were on his cream colored walls. His sleek maroon red electric and wooden acoustic guitars rest on stands in the corner of his room, shelves with books and guitar picks he’s collected over the years sit dusted and clean over the amp on the floor. Fluffy grey bed sheets that resembled clouds were always clean and smelling faintly of him and fresh laundry.
You often laid in his bed watching him play his acoustic guitar on the floor as you explained your most current read. Giving him the full run down on the plot, characters, and what you've read up to, his hands move over every chord without glancing away from you as you speak. He would ask questions and get genuinely invested as you spoke, complaining about the protagonist's choices and asking why the author would ever write such an outcome. “Like yeah I get the therapist was shady but did the author have to kill her? I mean that was totally unnecessary." He said about a murder mystery thriller you were explaining to him. “Right? We got such good info from her sections of the book and now that she's dead the author stopped writing her POV. It's a genius idea but like c’moonnn.” You grumbled along with him as the acoustic cover of Creep filled the room from his guitar.
After a while he started offering to teach you. He sat on the floor in front of you while you were perched on the edge of his bed with his electric guitar resting against your thigh. He taught you how to play basic songs like Happy Birthday and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star with the patience and kindness you’d find in a pediatric nurse. You don’t know how you managed to learn anything with Choso at your feet looking up at you with that softness reserved only for you. The crush you had on him got worse day by day, and his crush on you did the same. Whenever you mess up or rage quit after missing another chord, he’d laugh at your pouting face and squeeze your knee with his calloused hand, “I know angel, it's frustrating. If you want to watch a movie or listen to me play we can do that instead.” He said with a soft smile while tuning his electric guitar with practiced precision.
You never told him, but once when he had left the room to take a quick shower you snooped around his room. His desk drawers, T-shirt cabinet, the box he had at the foot of his bed that contained spare blankets and pillows, and under his bed to find nothing, not even dust. You didn’t even know what you were looking for, so feeling defeated and stupid you huffed and sat on his bed. Just when you were going to lay back and scroll on your phone, his school bag fell over and his sketch book fell out. You hesitated for approximately 2 seconds before opening it up to the first page. You found regular sketches of guitars, a scenic lake in a clearing in the woods, portraits of Yuji- you flipped one more page and your heart skipped a beat.
In that page there were 5 sketches of you at work, candid ones of you smiling at a customers, one with your hair up in a messy bun and your eye brows furrowed in concentration, one of you cleaning a table while pushing away a loose strand of hair, one from his perspective of you smiling at him before ringing up his order, and lastly a drawing of you mid motion of taking off your usual messy bun. You felt your innocent crush turn into a whole hearted desire to be his, to be his muse in every drawing, his inspiration while song writing, his woman.
Around campus, he was still that calm, stoic, mystery everyone gravitated towards. Often seen walking around with his hands casually in his jean pockets with wired headphones blocking out potential conversation starters. Eyes half lidded looking straight ahead but not really seeing anything when all he could picture was your face smiling at him. But now, you were always at his side. Either sharing headphones and with your nose in a book, Choso stayed patiently beside you like a silent body guard. His frame towering over you protectively, leaning into your space unconsciously like you had a gravitational pull on him. Whether walking to the library to study over coffee and banana bread from the local market or walking you to your dorm after a long day of classes, Choso was always at your side, even if it was just for five minutes a day, he made it a point to see you.
A week later, Choso was walking you back to your dorm after spending the entire day stretched out on his couch watching every Jurassic Park movie in order. The night air was cool, carrying the faint scent of rain-soaked pavement as the campus slowly quieted around you. Earlier, he’d insisted on paying for every snack and drink you’d tossed into the basket during your convenience store run, and despite your protests, he’d carried the bag the entire way back.
Now the two of you walked side by side beneath the glow of the streetlights. “You still screamed at the kitchen scene,” Choso said suddenly.
You glanced over at him with a defensive expression. “The raptors were opening doors Cho.” You exaggerate those two words like they were reason enough. Which to you, it absolutely was.
A chuckle that resembled more of a snort escaped him, “You knew they were going to open the door sweetheart.” He said back with a smile tugging at his lips.
“That doesn’t make it less terrifying!” You argued back half heartedly, hands flailing in dramatic defense.
“I saw you jump before they even touched the handle.” He says a little louder with a playful tone, chuckling at the memory of you screaming and chucking the bow of popcorn backwards during the jump-scare.
“Oh, be quiet.” You huff and punch his arm playfully, a smile threatening to form on your lips despite your defensive tone seconds ago.
Choso’s laugh lingered between you two for a second longer before fading into something softer, eventually ceasing. The conversation drifted into a comfortable silence. It wasn’t awkward. It never was anymore. Somewhere between movie marathons, late-night conversations, and countless hours spent in each other’s company, silence had become easy.
Your dorm building came into view at the end of the path. “Well,” you said, slowing your pace with that familiar smile Choso has come to long for each morning. “This is me.” You nod to your dorm building. Choso stopped beside you with a hum.
Usually this was the part where one of you made a joke, said goodnight, and headed your separate ways. Instead, he remained quiet for a couple seconds longer.
“I really like being around you.” He said nervously, hand coming to rub the side of his forearm. It was a look you'd never seen on Choso, he was usually unshakeable, the strong rooted tree in a storm. But with the way he said his sentence, there was something vulnerable behind it.
“I look forward to seeing you.” He continued, suddenly having a hard time looking at you.
Your heart skipped a beat. Is this really happening?
“And when something happens, you’re usually the first person I want to tell.” His eyes finally returned to yours. Steady. Honest. Searching.
“I think I’ve felt that way for a while.”
For a second, neither of you spoke. You stood there looking at each other with searching expressions. Then Choso shifted slightly, the hand rubbing his forearm moving to the back of his neck. A nervous habit you’d only seen a handful of times before Yuji’s doctor appointment or a big exam.
“I asked Yuji for advice.” He admits lowly, his deep voice making it sound more like a murmur.
Your eyebrows shot up in surprise. Choso never goes to his brother unless it's really important. “You did?” You ask confused but carrying hits of underlying hope.
“Yes,” He pauses before adding. “It wasn’t helpful.”
You laughed and his expression softened immediately at the sound. The familiar shake in your shoulders and light pink blush on your cheeks made his heart flutter in his chest. “But he did tell me I was supposed to actually ask.”
You stopped laughing and looked at him with a lingering smile. “Ask what?”
For the first time all evening, Choso looked genuinely nervous. Not enough to back down. Just enough to reveal how much your answer mattered. Before speaking he took a deep breath in, “Would you go on a date with me?”
The question was quiet. No grand speech. No dramatic confession. Just complete sincerity. “I know we already spend a lot of time together,” he continued. “But I’d like to take you somewhere intentionally.” His gaze was unwavering, nervous but never leaving your face. “As a date.”
You were shocked for a total of 5 seconds before tackling him in a tight hug around the neck with excited squeals and laughter. Saying yes every other second and shaking him side to side excitedly. He wrapped his arms around your waist immediately, steadying you both while exhaling a breath he didn’t know he was holding and putting his face in the crock of your neck. “Thank you.” He muttered into your skin before hugging you tighter.
One date turned to two, then two turned into five.
He took care of everything every time, from making sure he had enough gas in case you wanted a sweet treat after to the time of day you'd prefer so your makeup wouldn't get cakey in the heat and your hair frizzy in the humidity. He knew how much you hated that. You’d receive a text two days before the date explaining the dress code, time he’d be there to pick you up, a picture of what he was wearing and a smiley face emoji. He always showed up 5 minutes early with a bouquet of your favorite flowers in hand that were wrapped in a brown Trader Joe's bag to give you enough compliments to satisfy a year without them. Looking at you in your date attire like you were Aphrodite herself, he'd say, “You look beautiful, angel. How did I get so lucky?” While kissing your hand before arranging your new flowers in a vase. Removing the thorns and cutting each floor at a 45 degree angle before meticulously placing them in the most aesthetic way possible. He knew how much you loved taking pictures of the bouquets to post on your story.
Now it was nearing the end of spring, flowers were in their final stages of blooming and the colors of daily life were painted in golden rays of sunlight at all times. You had just gotten out of your last class of the day on Friday when you got an incoming call from Choso. You smiled, feeling your heart do a little leap in your chest before answering on the third ring, “Cho, hey, perfect timing. I just got out of class.” You said softly into the phone as you walked through campus towards your dorm room building.
Choso huffed an amused sound through the phone before speaking, “I know angel. Look right.”
“Huh?” You said before turning your face to the right, seeing Choso sitting underneath a sun drenched tree on a nearby bench, tired eyes soft and a small smile on his face. Black baggy jeans with a grey shirt and deep purple zip up zipped half way, his hair down and framing his face perfectly. Your eyes lit up before hanging up the phone and speed walking over. He was already up before you hung up, long strides eating up the distance between you easily. When he got to you he wrapped his arms around your waist tight and picked you up slightly off the ground, spinning you both around to make you giggle. Your arms around his neck and body pressed flush to his.
When he set you down you were looking up at him with a happiness that's been radiating off you ever since your first date. His heart skipped a beat in his chest the way it always did when looking at you before memorizing every feature on your face for the millionth time. “I have a surprise for you.” He said fighting the urge to kiss you senseless right there.
Your eyes brows shut up and your smile grew brighter, “Oh yeah? What is it?” You said curious and excited running your hands through his hair and watching his eyes flutter shut when your nails massaged his scalp. A satisfied groan from the bottom of his throat rumbles up, “Can’t say. You have to see it first.” He mumbled before opening his eyes and looking down at you. “Want to see it?”
You smiled excitedly and nodded. He walked with you side by side up to your dorm room, listening to you list of items you think the surprise could be. He smiled the entire time and took silent note of every item you said for later purposes. When you arrived at your dorm you unlocked the front door, Choso very quite behind you. “I think its for sure-” You get cut off at the sight of rose petals at the front of your door, a trail of them leading to your bedroom. You glanced back at him with a hopeful and shocked expression. He nodded forward, signaling you to continue down the rose petal path. Your heart was beating fast in your chest, excitement for what you think is coming behind your room door.
Slowly, you followed the path through the dorm, Choso trailing just behind you, close enough that you could feel his presence but careful not to crowd you. The petals wound through the living room and down the hallway until they reached your bedroom door.
When you pushed it open, your breath caught in your throat.
Soft string lights glowed around the room, casting everything in warm golden light. More rose petals were scattered across the floor and your desk was covered in some of your favorite things—your favorite snacks, flowers in your favorite color, little trinkets you’d pointed out months ago and forgotten about, movie tickets from dates you’d gone on together, and photographs the two of you had taken over the last several months.
Everywhere you looked were pieces of your relationship. Moments Choso had cherished. Moments he had kept because they involved you.
You brought a hand to your mouth.
“Choso…” Your voice was soft, tears threatening to spill out from your eyes.
He was quiet. When you turned around, he was standing near the doorway watching you. Not the decorations. Not all of his hard work.
You.
The woman he spent hours planning this for and the only thing he seemed to care about was whether it made you smile.
“It took me a while to figure out what to do, how to ask you.” He admitted with his voice softer than usual, nervous like the day he asked you out for the first time.
He walked forward till he was standing right in front of you. Close enough to take your hands. Close enough for you to see the nervous hope behind his calm expression.
A couple seconds pass before he gently intertwined his fingers with yours, his thumb brushing over your skin like you were the softest of silk.
“Being with you has made me happier than I knew I could be.” The sincerity in his voice nearly broke you, sniffling back happy tears and a smile pulling on your lips. He continued, “I don’t want to keep wondering if we’re headed toward the same thing.”
He squeezed your hands softly, almost like reassurance to himself that this was actually happening and you were smiling, not an ounce of rejection in your gaze.
“So…will you let me be your boyfriend?”
The room went silent. String lights glowed around you. Rose petals and memories covered almost every surface, and Choso stood there patiently, looking at you as though your answer was the most important thing in the world.
The second you nodded and whispered, “..yes.” with a happy tear rolling down your cheek, his entire expression changed. Relief flooded his eyes, then followed by disbelief and happiness. A disbeliefing laugh escaped him before he pulled you into his chest by your waist, foreheads pressed together and his big hands coming up to cup your face, he brushed his thumb across the fallen tear and brushed your nose with his. Closing his eyes and letting out a small shaky breath before kissing you.
A kiss so light you could have mistaken it for the AC. When he didn’t feel you pull away, he pressed his lips against yours again, gentle and unhurried. Nothing outside of the feeling of kissing you and the smell of your familiar perfume mattered to Choso in this moment. His lips moved over yours with quiet passion and overwhelming affection, memorizing the curve of where your nose fitting against his like a puzzle piece, memorizing the feeling of your face in his palms and the happy hums that leave you when he kisses you faster. His entire purpose for drawing breath was to kiss you a little longer, to hold you a little longer, and to pull back to whisper “My sweet angel.” like a prayer.
your stuff is so stinkin cute and you get megumi's character so good, i'm obsessed. i love the butterflies i get when i read these, they make me feel like a little school girl with a crush 😭
AHHH THANK YOU SO MUCHHHH!!! im so happy to hear you like em!!
i got some more stuff in the works at the moment with other jjk characters so hopefully you’ll like those too, also if you have any requests lmk and ill do my best to fulfill them!!!
summary: friends to lovers, slow burn, mutual pinining, miscommunication, yearning, oblivious idiots in love, heavy on the flower/nature symbolism.
word count: 12k
a/n: this was so stinkin' cute i almost got heartburn when proofreading. also yes it's a bit corny at times don't hate me.
Megumi sat alone on the concrete steps outside the dorms, elbows resting on his knees as the late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the courtyard. The sounds of laughter drifted through the air, mixing with the distant chatter of students heading home. His eyes followed you without meaning to.
You were standing beside Yuji, laughing at something he'd said. Megumi couldn't hear the joke, but it didn't matter. What caught his attention was the way your smile seemed effortless around him, the way Yuji always managed to make you laugh. Watching the two of you together made something uncomfortable twist in his chest.
Yuji was easy to talk to, funny, and friendly. The kind of person people naturally gravitated toward. Meanwhile, Megumi struggled to hold conversations longer than a few minutes before retreating back into silence. His gaze dropped to the ground, wondering what it would be like if you looked at him that way. If you sought him out, if he could make you laugh without overthinking every word that came out of his mouth.
Maybe if he had the courage to tell you how he felt, if he were funnier, or if he were better at being someone people wanted to be around. Maybe then you'd see him.
A few feet away, your conversation with Yuji finally came to an end. You had originally planned to spend the afternoon with him but, "Sorry," Yuji had said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I completely forgot. Choso's been bugging me about hanging out all week." You laughed it off and told him not to worry about it, but now you found yourself standing alone with nothing to do.
Pulling out your phone, you scrolled through your contacts absentmindedly. Most of the names passed by without much thought until your thumb paused over one in particular. Megumi Fushiguro. You stared at the name for a moment.
You wouldn't exactly call the two of you close friends. Megumi was quiet, sometimes so quiet it was hard to tell what he was thinking. But whenever you talked to him, there was something oddly comforting about his presence. He listened when people spoke, he was dependable, kind even if he wasn't very expressive about it.
You realized you'd never actually tried spending time with him one on one before. Maybe he'd say no or leave you on read. Still, it couldn't hurt to ask. A small smile tugged at your lips as you opened your messages and began typing.
hii megumi, how are youu?
He was thinking of walking back to his dorm when you sent your message. Megumi stared at his phone, thumb hovering over the screen. For a moment, he wondered if he'd imagined the notification. Your name sat at the top of the lockscreen, bright and impossible to ignore. His pulse quickened. Why were you texting him?
He opened the message, reading it once. Then twice. Then a third time just to make sure he wasn't somehow misinterpreting it. A dozen possible responses flashed through his mind.
His fingers moved across the keyboard before stopping. He deleted the entire message, tried again. After nearly a minute of overthinking, he finally settled on something simple.
Fine. You?
A few seconds passed before another message appeared.
Did you need something?
The second message sounded colder than he'd intended, but it was already sent before he could stop himself. Megumi groaned quietly and dragged a hand down his face. Nice job. Real smooth.
When your phone buzzed, you glanced down at the response. Your lips flattened slightly. It wasn't exactly enthusiastic. Then again, it was Megumi. Most of the time, getting more than a few words out of him felt like an accomplishment.
i'm gooddd thanks for asking :)
You sent the first message without much thought. The next one was harder. Your thumbs hovered over the keyboard. You weren't even sure why you felt nervous, it was only Megumi. Still, a strange sense of embarrassment crept up your neck as you typed.
i just wanted to know if you maybe wanted to hang out with me?
The moment you hit send, regret flooded your system. Too direct. Way too direct. Before you could overthink yourself into oblivion, you hurriedly typed another message.
if you're busy that's fine tho!!
You turned off your phone and buried your face in your hands. Why did I say it like that?
Megumi's phone vibrated again. Then again. His eyes widened as he read the messages. His brain completely stalled. You wanted to hang out with him. Not Yuji. Not Nobara. Him.
A sharp breath caught in his throat. For a second, he genuinely wondered if this was some kind of prank. Maybe you meant to text someone else. Maybe you were inviting a group and just hadn't mentioned it yet. But the words were right there.
His heart hammered so hard he could feel it in his ears. The logical part of his brain was already screaming at him to respond before you thought he was ignoring you. The problem was that every response sounded stupid. Megumi deleted the same message at least six times.
Meanwhile, the little ‘typing…’ bubble still hadn't appeared on your screen. Because Megumi Fushiguro was currently having the biggest crisis of his life over a simple invitation to hang out. After what seemed like the most torturous 5 minutes of his life, he finally perfected his response.
Sure. When?
Your eyes lit up. No way THE Megumi Fushiguro just decided to hang out with you, didn't even have to force him. Is luck on your side?
yay! can you meet up with me now?
It was really happening. He was actually, truly, really going to spend time with you. Megumi typed, his fingers shaking so much he kept hitting the wrong keys. He finally sent:
Yeah. Where?
Your response was sent almost immediately.
i was just thinking to go on a walk and we can just see what to do from there :)
That works.
The response was short, but for Megumi, that was practically enthusiasm.
Before he could overthink anything else, he pushed himself off the dorm steps. A little too quickly. His foot caught on the edge of the pavement, and he stumbled forward, barely catching himself. "Seriously..." he muttered under his breath. Checking his reflection in his phone screen, then shoved it in his pocket. He started walking before he finished typing: "On my way." His steps were fast, uneven, almost a jog.
While you waited for Megumi to arrive, you wandered over to a vending machine near the edge of campus. The machine hummed softly as you scanned the rows of drinks behind the glass. You paused. You had absolutely no idea what Megumi liked. Actually, now that you thought about it, you didn't know much about his preferences at all. After a moment of consideration, you picked two bottles of passion fruit juice, one for yourself and one for him. If he didn't like it, at least you'd tried. The machine rattled loudly before dropping the drinks into the tray below. You grabbed them and leaned against the nearby wall, checking your phone while you waited.
Megumi walked down the sidewalk with his hands in his pockets. As he turned the corner, he caught sight of you, standing next to the vending machine. His pulse quickened. When your gaze flickered over him, Megumi realized he'd been standing there frozen, staring. "Hey..." He straightened up. You smiled warmly at the sight of him, “Hii Megumii, it's good to see you!” You said while handing him one of the drinks, "I didn't know what you like so I just got these. I hope you like it.”
Megumi blinked at the drink, then at you. The sweetness of your smile hit him like a spell he wasn’t prepared for. "Thanks." He took the bottle, fingers brushing yours, just for a second, and quickly looked away. “Of course, anytime.” You opened your bottle and took a sip, the flavor of the juice was so refreshing, a good balance between sweet and acidic. He watched you drink. How your eyes lit up. The way your throat moved when you swallowed. He wanted to look away, to focus on something else, to get these thoughts out of his head, but it was impossible. The plastic was still cool in his hand. "Passion fruit…” He said quietly. “I've never tried it."
Your eyes widened. "Really? It's one of my favorite flavors." The excitement in your voice made something twist pleasantly in his chest. You pointed toward the bottle. "Try it and tell me if you like it."
He nodded then unscrewed the cap, raised the bottle to his lips and took a cautious sip. The flavor exploded across his taste buds. He took another sip without thinking, and another. It was better than he'd thought it would be. "It’s...good," he said, a little embarrassed that he'd practically gulped it down.
You couldn't help laughing. A soft sound that made his heart skip embarrassingly hard. "I'm glad you like it." Your gaze flickered to the nearly half-empty bottle. "If you want more, you can just have mine." Megumi hesitated and shook his head. "No—I'm alright," he said quickly.
“C’mon let’s go on our walk.” You stepped forward first. Megumi watched you for half a second before following, his longer strides quickly closed the distance between you. The afternoon breeze drifted through the trees overhead, carrying the scent of fresh grass and distant flowers. For a while, neither of you spoke. Megumi kept his gaze ahead, occasionally sneaking glances in your direction whenever he thought you weren't looking.
The two of you continued down the winding path, your footsteps falling into an easy rhythm. To your surprise, the silence wasn't nearly as uncomfortable as you'd expected. Megumi wasn't much of a talker, that much was obvious, but somehow it worked. The occasional rustle of leaves overhead filled the gaps between conversations. Birds called from distant trees. The soft crunch of gravel beneath your shoes became its own kind of background music. It felt peaceful, comfortable, the kind of quiet that didn't demand to be filled. You took another sip of your juice and tilted your head toward the horizon.
"This is the perfect time to go on a walk." Megumi glanced over. "The sun's going down, and it makes the sky look so pretty." His eyes followed your gaze. The evening sky stretched endlessly above the campus grounds. Gold melted into orange, which faded into soft shades of pink and purple, wispy clouds caught the sunlight like brushstrokes across a canvas. It really was beautiful. But as Megumi looked at the sunset, his attention drifted. Back to you. The warm light painted everything in gold. Your hair, your eyes, the curve of your smile. For a moment, he forgot about the sky entirely. A thought appeared before he could stop it.
‘You're prettier than the sun.’
The realization made his stomach twist. Megumi immediately looked away. Heat crept up the back of his neck. He wasn't sure whether to feel embarrassed or guilty for thinking something so cheesy. Probably both.
A cool breeze drifted through the trees. You closed your eyes for a second, enjoying the feeling against your skin. "This weather is so nice." Megumi quietly nodded. "Yeah." For him, the weather wasn't what made the afternoon feel nice. But he wasn't about to say that out loud.
Just beyond the path, a cluster of wildflowers had bloomed beneath a nearby tree. Tiny patches of color scattered among the green grass. Your entire face lit up. "Ah!" Megumi nearly jumped. You pointed excitedly toward them. "Megs, follow me!" Before he could react, you were already hurrying toward the flowers.
Megumi stopped walking. The only thing echoing in his head was one word. Megs. His heart skipped. Then immediately started racing. Did you just— No. You definitely did. The nickname replayed over and over in his mind. As though you'd been calling him that for years. A ridiculous amount of happiness bloomed in his chest over something so small.
Ahead of him, you turned around. "Are you coming?" Megumi blinked. "Oh." Right, the flowers. "Yeah." His voice came out quieter than usual. He quickly followed after you, easily catching up. Truthfully, if you had pointed in the opposite direction and told him to walk for ten miles, he probably would've done that too. Every time you smiled at him, every time you said his name –or apparently gave him a nickname– he found himself wanting to stay by your side a little longer.
You stopped at the edge of the flower patch. Rows upon rows of asters stretched across the grass, their petals glowing softly beneath the fading sunlight. Your eyes lit up,"They're so pretty..." You crouched down beside the flowers, carefully brushing your fingers over a few petals.
He lowered himself beside you, leaving enough space between you to be respectful but close enough to see what had caught your attention. For a while, neither of you said anything. The silence felt natural and peaceful. You pulled your phone from your pocket and angled it toward the flowers. A soft click, then another, then one more from a slightly different angle. Megumi watched as you studied the pictures with quiet satisfaction. After a moment, your attention drifted to one of the blooms nearby. Carefully, you plucked it from its stem. "These only bloom in autumn." You turned it over in your hands before tucking it behind your ear. Megumi's breath caught slightly. The flower looked like it belonged there, as though it had always been part of you. His gaze lingered for a second before he forced himself to look back toward the flower patch. "How do you know that?"
"My mom loves these flowers." You absentmindedly adjusted the flower. "Every autumn my dad would bring her bouquets of them all the time." A quiet laugh escaped you. "Honestly, it was more like a flower garden than a house." Megumi found himself smiling faintly at the image. He could almost picture it. Flowers filling every room, a house smelling constantly of fresh blooms.
"My favorite flower is actually a spring flower." Pulling up your phone, you unlocked it and showed him your wallpaper. Clusters of colorful lilies filled the screen. Megumi leaned closer to look. "These." The excitement in your voice made it obvious how much you liked them.
"They're pretty." The words slipped out before he could stop himself. Your smile widened, then you turned toward him. "Do you like flowers?" He looked back toward the flower tucked behind your ear. "...Not really." The answer came automatically. Megumi lowered his gaze, thinking. "Tsumiki liked flowers." His voice was quieter now. The mention of her name carried years of memories with it. "White ones, mostly."
A small smile touched his lips. "Nothing complicated. Just simple flowers." For a moment, the two of you sat there surrounded by asters and evening sunlight. The breeze stirred the grass around you. "I never paid much attention to them." His eyes drifted back toward the flower tucked carefully behind your ear. A thoughtful silence settled over him. Then he spoke again, softer this time. "Maybe I wouldn't mind them now."
You tilted your head, a questioning look forming on your face. Megumi immediately looked away, the tips of his ears turning pink. Because what he hadn't said, what he'd never admit out loud, was that flowers had become a lot more interesting the moment he started seeing them through your eyes.
That was probably the most he'd talked since the two of you met up. Maybe you were making progress. "Well..." Your gaze drifted back toward the flowers, then carefully plucked another aster, twirling it thoughtfully between your fingers. "Maybe..." Megumi watched curiously, you looked up at him, "...we can find a flower you'll like." The smile you gave him was gentle enough to make his chest tighten. Before he could process what you meant, you leaned forward. With surprising care, you tucked the aster behind his ear, the petals brushed against his dark hair. "There." You pulled back to admire your work, "Now we match." Megumi stared, stared, and stared. Until his mouth moved before his brain could stop it."I like this one."
The words slipped out instinctively. Your laughter immediately followed which always seemed to make him feel lighter too,"You're just saying that to please me, silly." Megumi's face heated instantly. The worst part was that he couldn't explain himself without sounding completely ridiculous because he wasn't talking about the flower…at least not entirely.
You pulled out your phone again,"Ooh, wait." Before he could ask what you were doing, you scooted slightly closer. Close enough that he could feel the warmth of your shoulder beside his. You lifted the camera, "Smile." The picture snapped before he could fully prepare himself. You checked the screen, a grin spread across your face, "It turned out really cute." Megumi hesitantly leaned over, his eyes landing on the photo. Your smile looked natural and happy, his expression was softer than usual, much softer. He barely recognized himself. "It turned out really cute, right?" you asked, then your eyes brightened with an idea, "Do you mind if I post it?" Megumi's stomach immediately dropped, would other people notice? Would they take one look at the picture and immediately figure out what he was trying so desperately to hide?
Still, when he looked back at your hopeful expression, saying no felt impossible, "Yeah." His voice came out quieter than intended, "Go for it." Your face lit up instantly, "Yay! Thanks!" The excitement in your voice made the embarrassment worth it. You immediately began typing away on your phone, Megumi watched with quiet amusement.
"Oh!" You looked up, "You should add me here so I can tag you." For some reason, the idea of being tagged in your post made his heart skip. "Later though," you added quickly, slipping your phone back into your pocket, a teasing smile pulled at your lips. "Focus on hanging out with me now." Megumi stared, the comment was probably harmless, very casual, something anyone could've said. Yet his pulse immediately sped up. Because all he heard was: Pay attention to me. Which was the easiest request you'd made all afternoon. "Okay." A tiny smile appeared on his face. Small enough that most people would've missed it. But this time, he wasn't looking at the flowers, or the sunset, or the path ahead. His attention was exactly where you'd asked for it to be. On you.
You froze. Megumi seemed to realize what he'd done almost immediately. The smile disappeared as quickly as it had appeared, and he lowered his gaze toward the ground. As if trying to hide it, as if it had slipped out by accident. But you'd already seen it. A real smile, not the awkward little ones he occasionally gave when he felt obligated to be polite. Your heart fluttered unexpectedly. Without realizing it, you found yourself staring. Trying to memorize it, trying to figure out what had made him smile, trying to figure out how to make it happen again.
Megumi could feel your eyes on him. At first, he tried to ignore it. But after several seconds, it became impossible. He glanced up while you were still looking at him. Not in a strange way or judgmental. Just...looking, thoughtful, focused, like you were studying something important. A dangerous part of him wondered if there was something else behind that look. Something he didn't dare hope for. Immediately, he shut the thought down. You were just curious. That was all. "What're you looking at?"
The question snapped you out of your thoughts. For a moment, you pressed your lips together. Trying and failing to come up with a less embarrassing answer. Eventually, you gave up. "You, dummy." You replied in a teasing tone. Megumi immediately regretted asking, noticing his expression and you laughed. "Has anyone ever told you that you have a nice smile?"
People complimented each other all the time, so why did it feel like you'd just reached into his chest and squeezed his heart? His first instinct was to brush it off, pretend it didn't affect him, act indifferent, but your expression made that impossible. You looked sincere and somehow that made it worse. "Not really." His voice sounded distant, almost surprised, he thought for a moment. "Maybe Tsumiki."
Your eyes widened. "Really?" The disbelief slipped out before you could stop it. Then again... the answer made sense. Megumi didn't smile often. Not because he couldn't, but because he always seemed to be carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. You shook your head. "Your sister was spot on." Megumi immediately looked away, which only made you smile more. A few seconds passed. Then you added quietly, "Your smile is really cute, Megs."
His chest tightened so suddenly it almost hurt. Megumi ducked his head immediately, hoping it would hide how red his face had become. "Cut it out." His voice came out weaker than intended. "You’re teasing me." The accusation lacked any real conviction.
"What?" You sounded genuinely confused. "I'm not teasing you." You shifted closer, close enough that he couldn't avoid looking at you. "I'm serious. It should be illegal to have a smile as cute as yours." A quiet giggle followed while you lightly bumped your shoulder against his.
That name. That tone. That nudge. It hit him like a curse, straight to the chest. His gaze drifted away for a second before coming back to the warmth in your eyes. The softness that never seemed forced whenever you looked at him. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't understand why you were looking at him like that. "...You're gonna make me say something dumb if you keep talking like that," he muttered. The truth was that he wanted to say a lot of dumb things, but still clung to the last bit of caution he had left. Still worried that if he said too much, you'd look at him differently.
“What do you wanna say? I’ll hear anything and everything that's on your mind.” Your voice came out light and easy, accompanied by a quiet hum. You wanted to know what was hidden underneath all those walls he kept around himself.
The words echoed through Megumi's mind, his heart felt lodged somewhere in his throat. If only you knew how badly he wanted to tell you everything. Megumi shook his head. "You'd be here all night."
“Then I'll be here with you all night.” The response left your mouth before you could stop it. Your eyes widened slightly, immediately realizing how that sounded. “Uh..but yeah…you don't have to be cautious around me. I want you to be comfortable.” The clarification came perhaps a little too quickly, but the sincerity behind it remained unchanged. You wanted him to relax, to stop treating every word like it needed to be carefully measured before being spoken.
"…You make that sound so easy." His voice was barely above a whisper, the words carried more weight than he intended. Because for you, maybe it was easy, you wore your emotions where people could see them. Megumi had spent years doing the opposite. Yet somehow, in a single afternoon, you had made him want to try.
He stared down at the bottle in his hands, his fingers absentmindedly turning it back and forth. "I’ve never been good at this," he admitted, fingers fidgeting with the bottle in his hand. "Talking like… this." He swallowed hard. The confession felt strangely vulnerable. "But if I was gonna say something dumb—" His eyes slowly lifted until they found yours again. "It’d probably be that… I'm happy right now." The words lingered between you, entirely unguarded.
“Really?” The smile that spread across your face was immediate. There was something almost childlike about the excitement in your expression, as though hearing those words from him was enough to make your entire afternoon even better. “I’m glad you’re happy. I'm really happy too. Hanging out with you is fun.”
"Yeah," he said quietly, blue eyes finally lifting from the ground to meet yours. "It is." The words felt painfully small compared to everything he actually wanted to say. He wanted to ask if you'd do this again. Tomorrow, next week, whenever your schedules allow. The questions crowded the back of his throat, none of them escaped.
“We have some time before it gets dark. Do you wanna sit under that tree?” You pointed toward the willow tree standing a short distance away. He followed your hand with his eyes, a small nod was all the answer he needed to give. Neither of you rushed toward the tree. Instead, the two of you naturally fell into step beside one another, your shoulders occasionally brushing as you walked through the field while the sky above slowly deepened into shades of lavender and gold.
When the two of you reached the willow tree, he lowered himself to the ground, settling against the sturdy trunk with a quiet sigh. He stretched his long legs out in front of him, hands resting loosely at his sides. You sat beside him without hesitation, close enough that the warmth lingering from his body brushed against your side, yet leaving the smallest sliver of space between you. Leaning back against the trunk just as he was, you turned your head and stole another glance at him. The flower you had tucked into his hair earlier was still there, its pale petals shifting gently whenever the breeze caught them. A smile tugged at your lips.
“Forgot to mention but i really like your hoodie.” You commented while giving him an up-down look, he was stylish in a minimal effort way that fit him perfectly. It wasn't the compliment itself that caught him off guard, it was the way your eyes slowly traveled over him. You're looking at me. "Thanks," he muttered. "It's comfortable." A quiet beat drifted between you, "But I—uh—I like how you look too."
You weren't doing much better. The cool breeze brushed against your face, yet somehow your cheeks only felt warmer. “Thanks Megs.” Your mind scrambled to make sense of the unfamiliar warmth blooming in your chest. Every explanation you reached for somehow felt too small for what you were feeling.
Megumi noticed. He could almost see the thoughts spinning behind your eyes, countless questions and emotions flickering across your expression as you looked at him. He wanted to know every single one of them. He cleared his throat, "Can I ask you something?"
“Ask me anything you want.” you hum, still trying to figure yourself out. Somewhere along the way, something had shifted inside you. You just couldn't pinpoint exactly when it had happened. Was it when he smiled? When he lets you see the softer parts of himself? Or had it begun long before today, quietly waiting for a chance to surface?
"...Why me?" His voice was so quiet it nearly disappeared with the rustling willow branches above you. A beat passed. Then another. "I mean—today wasn't planned," he continued, every word leaving him carefully, like each one had to fight its way free. "You could’ve hung out with one of your friends." His blue eyes searched yours with an uncertainty so honest it almost hurt to look at. "So... why did you text me?"
There was something different in his voice, something fragile you hadn't heard from him before. It wasn't simple curiosity. You took your time before answering. “I've always been curious about you.”
A gentle breeze swept through the willow branches overhead, stirring the golden leaves until they danced above you. A few loose petals drifted lazily through the air. One settled delicately in your hair. Another landed against the sleeve of his hoodie, unnoticed. Megumi turned fully toward you. "And now?" His voice remained soft, but there was an earnestness behind it that made your heart skip. "Are you still…curious?"
You held his gaze without realizing it. “I'm so curious, it’s killing me. The more I find out, the more I want to know.” The confession slipped out before you could overthink it, only after the words left your mouth did your confidence begin to falter. “Is that..weird?”
"No. It's not." he said quietly. Silence settled comfortably between you again. Neither of you seemed eager to break it. Above you, the willow branches swayed lazily, filtering the growing starlight into shifting patterns across the grass.
"...Can I ask you something else?" He says almost hesitantly.
“Hm?” you hummed softly, turning your gaze towards him.
"...Can I keep being the one you pick?" His voice barely rose above the breeze. It didn't sound like he was asking about just another afternoon together. It sounded like he was asking for a place in your life, for every ordinary day after this one. Like he was quietly placing his heart into your hands and trusting you not to let it fall. "I know it’s selfish," he added quickly. "But... I want to be."
Your heart ached. “Yes Megs, I'll choose you. It's okay to be a little selfish sometimes.” You answered softly. The gentleness in your voice nearly undid him. God...his chest hurt. How much longer would he need to control his need for you?
TIMESKIP - 6 Months
For the past six months, the amount of time you spent with Megumi Fushiguro had increased exponentially. At first, the two of you only texted. Then, one afternoon after class, you mentioned struggling to understand a topic from history. Instead of sending another paragraph, Megumi surprised you by asking if he could call you. The conversation started awkwardly, neither of you quite sure what to say at first, but the moment he began explaining the Heian era, everything fell into place. He broke down each concept so smoothly that it finally made sense. He never spoke in a way that made you feel stupid for not understanding. If anything, he made learning feel exciting, encouraging you to ask more questions instead of feeling embarrassed for having them.
By the end of his explanation, you finally understood the lesson that had frustrated you all day. "You’re such a great teacher, Megs." A quiet pause followed. "...Shut up." You couldn't help but laugh.
For the next week or so, texting during the day remained the norm, but nights slowly became something entirely different. Once everyone else had gone to bed and the dorms had settled into silence, the two of you would spend hours on the phone talking about absolutely everything. Sometimes the conversations were completely ridiculous, filled with terrible jokes and pointless debates that somehow lasted an hour. Other nights became unexpectedly personal, the two of you peeling back layers of yourselves without even realizing it.
One evening the conversation drifted toward music. After nearly twenty minutes of relentless teasing and shameless begging, you finally managed to wear Megumi down. "...Fine," he sighed. "...Weezer." The second the band's name left his mouth, you gasped so loudly that there was complete silence on the other end of the call. "...Are you okay?" Instead of answering, you immediately switched the call to FaceTime.
When your camera turned on, Megumi was greeted by the sight of an entire section of your wall dedicated to your favorite Weezer albums. Vinyl records, posters, CDs, you looked absurdly proud of the collection. For the first time that night, Megumi looked genuinely speechless.
"...You've got to be kidding me."
"I knew you had good taste."
"I regret telling you."
"You absolutely don't." His quiet sigh was accompanied by the faintest smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
What started as an innocent reveal quickly spiraled into a heated debate over which albums deserved the most recognition and which songs were criminally underrated. Neither of you were willing to admit defeat, constantly interrupting each other with reasons why your own rankings were objectively correct. Every now and then, though, you'd stumble across a song you both agreed deserved more love.
Ever since that first FaceTime call, that's how both of your nights ended. After long, grueling days filled with training, classes, and studying, you'd retreat to your dorms only to find each other waiting on the other side of the screen. Sometimes the conversations lasted for hours, jumping from one random topic to another without any real direction. Other nights, words weren't necessary at all. You'd quietly exist in each other's company while cleaning your rooms, reading, playing games, finishing homework, or simply lying in bed waiting for sleep to come. Occasionally, one of you would even fall asleep before remembering to hang up, leaving the other to smile at the sound of soft breathing through the speaker before ending the call. It simply became routine, the favorite part of both your days.
By that point, you and Megumi were practically attached at the hip. Online. In person, however, things were...different.
Despite spending hours talking every single night, the two of you barely interacted during lessons or training. At most, you'd exchange a small greeting before heading in different directions, almost like the conversations you'd shared until three in the morning had never happened. It never sat right with you. You tried starting conversations between classes or walking beside him after training, but Megumi always seemed strangely nervous whenever there wasn't a phone screen separating you.
The truth was, he was terrified. Over FaceTime, he could hide behind the comfort of his room. He could glance away when you smiled or collect his thoughts before speaking. In person, he had nowhere to hide. Every smile threatened to linger too long, every glance risked saying more than he ever intended. He was terrified that if he let himself become too comfortable around you, everyone would notice the way his eyes softened whenever you laughed, or how naturally he gravitated toward you. They'd realize just how hopelessly enamored he was.
Eventually, you decided enough was enough. One afternoon, Gojo sensei clapped his hands together at the front of the classroom. "Alright! Pair up for the project." Before anyone else had the chance to say a word, you spoke. "I'll work with Megumi." The room fell quiet for a brief moment. Megumi looked up from his notebook, blinking in surprise. "...Me?" You smiled. "Yeah, come on."
Working together turned into eating lunch together, lunch became sneaking away during recess to raid the vending machines for snacks before anyone noticed you were gone, those little outings gradually evolved into spending time with Yuji and Nobara as a group. The funny thing was, both of you had hung out with Yuji and Nobara separately countless times before. Somehow, though, none of you had ever thought to spend time all together. Once you did, it just worked.
One afternoon, the four of you were hanging out in the common room of the dorms. Yuji was somehow trying to convince Nobara that he could beat her at tic-tac-toe despite losing every previous attempt, while Megumi sat nearby pretending to read. You were laughing at their bickering when Panda and Yuta suddenly called your name from across the room. "Hey! We need a tie breaker!"
Megumi watched you retreat with an expression so subtle most people would've missed it. His eyes followed you until you disappeared into the crowd, and the room suddenly felt quieter. Like a puppy watching its owner walk away, he did his best to hide the disappointment settling in his chest. He told himself you'd be back in a few minutes, yet he still found himself glancing over every so often without realizing it.
Unfortunately for him, Yuji and Nobara knew him far too well. The two exchanged a knowing look before Yuji finally blurted out, "Fushiguro...are you into her?" Megumi froze. For the briefest second, his expression cracked before he quickly composed himself, looking back down at his book as though nothing had happened. "What the hell are you talking about, Itadori?" He scoffed, hoping his usual monotone would bury the embarrassing truth before it ever reached the surface. It didn't.
Yuji and Nobara immediately scooted closer, completely unconvinced. "Dude," Yuji said, nudging his shoulder. "You have to ask her out."
"I don't like her." The response came far too quickly. "Come onnn," Nobara groaned, rolling her eyes. "Don't be like that. Just admit it."
"I knew I wasn't imagining things," Yuji muttered to himself, nodding proudly as if he'd just solved an impossible mystery. Megumi shot him an irritated glare, right before he could snap back, Nobara cut in. "If you ask her out, she'll definitely say yes."
The words echoed in his mind longer than they should have. His eyes drifted toward where you were standing with Panda and Yuta, animatedly arguing about whatever ridiculous debate they'd dragged you into. "...You guys are insane." He exhaled slowly, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Bro," Yuji exclaimed, "you're insane for not making a move already!" Nobara immediately smacked the back of his head. "Ow!"
"Keep your voice down, idiot." She turned back to Megumi. "Listen, Fushiguro." Her teasing expression softened into something surprisingly sincere. "She likes you. Just do it." Megumi didn't answer. He couldn't. Those words stayed with him long after everyone had gone their separate ways.
For the next few days, he tried to forget the conversation entirely. He trained, went to class, completed missions, and answered your texts like he always did. Yet every time you smiled at him, every time your eyes softened when they met his, every time you unconsciously found your way to stand beside him during conversations, Nobara's voice crept back into his thoughts.
She likes you.
He hated how much he thought about it. There was no way he could assume something like that. But with each passing day, his curiosity grew stronger. Stronger than the voice telling him he wasn't enough, stronger than the fear of being wrong. And for the first time in a long time, Megumi found himself wondering what would happen if, just maybe, Yuji and Nobara weren't completely insane after all.
Megumi made his decision. He was going to ask you out. First, he needed an actual plan. If he was going to do this, he refused to make it half-hearted. The problem was that every idea he came up with was immediately thrown out. Every possibility somehow managed to feel like either too little, too much, or unbearably corny.
The next morning, he sought out the only two people he knew would have an opinion on the matter. "...I need help." Yuji nearly dropped the drink he was holding. "No way." Nobara stared at Megumi for a second before a grin slowly spread across her face. "He's finally doing it."
"I'm not 'doing it,'" Megumi muttered. "I just...need ideas."
"Oh my God," Yuji gasped dramatically. "Operation: Make Her Fall for Fushiguro is officially underway."
For the next several days, the three of them became completely absorbed in planning. Yuji insisted every date needed something exciting, Nobara repeatedly shut down his terrible ideas before they could even be considered, and Megumi found himself acting as the only voice of reason. Somehow, despite all the arguing, the plan slowly started coming together. Unfortunately, keeping it a surprise meant they had to avoid you.
For the first time in months, the four of you stopped hanging out together after class. Instead, it was always just Megumi, Yuji, and Nobara disappearing somewhere with suspicious excuses.
"We're...busy." "It's a thing." "You'll see later."
Every explanation felt vague enough to make you raise an eyebrow. At first, you brushed it off. They were probably just doing something together. Still it felt strange.
Then Megumi started missing your nightly calls. The first night, your phone buzzed.
Sorry. I'm busy tonight.
You smiled to yourself and typed back.
No worries. Talk tomorrow.
The second night brought another message.
Sorry. Still busy.
Your smile wasn't quite as convincing that time. By the fourth apology, you found yourself staring at your phone longer than you meant to.
Sorry. I'm busy.
You knew he probably wasn't avoiding you on purpose.Whatever he was doing must've been important. That didn't stop the disappointment from settling in your chest every time another apology appeared across your screen. You hated how much it bothered you.
After days of planning, everything was finally ready. It wasn't anything extravagant, but it was something he genuinely believed you'd enjoy. There was just one problem. He still had to ask you. That somehow felt more terrifying than planning the entire date. Sitting alone in his room, he unlocked his phone and pulled up your contact. Your name stared back at him from the screen. His thumb hovered over the keyboard, but he couldn't bring himself to type anything.
What if she's busy? What if she says no? What if she realizes it's a date?
He let out a long, quiet sigh, leaning back against the wall. "...Get it together." After another minute of doing absolutely nothing, he finally started typing.
Hey. Wanna hang out tomorrow?
Very simple, casual, normal. He reread the message once, then again, and again. Before his thoughts could spiral any further, he closed his eyes and pressed send.
yeah ofc :)
Without realizing it, the tension in his shoulders eased. A small breath escaped him, then another notification appeared.
you got anything in mind?
Surprise.
Meet me by the vending machine at 6 pm.
A few seconds later, your reply came through.
alrightyy see you then!
You smiled at your phone before locking the screen and setting it on your nightstand. You stretched out across your bed, staring up at the ceiling with your hands folded behind your head.
A surprise? That wasn't very Megumi.
Normally he'd tell you exactly where you were going, what time to be ready, and probably remind you twice to bring a jacket if it was cold. The secrecy caught you completely off guard. A dozen possibilities ran through your mind.
You started getting ready almost an hour and a half before you were supposed to meet Megumi. It felt a little ridiculous considering the two of you had hung out countless times before, but something about not seeing him one on one for almost a week had you strangely nervous. You found yourself putting more effort in your appearance, wearing your favorite sundress, taking more time on your makeup, trying a new hairstyle, and having a few extra sprays of your favorite perfume. You slipped on your shoes before taking one final glance at yourself in the mirror.
"...Hopefully he notices." The words left your mouth before you could stop them. Your cheeks immediately warmed. "What am I saying?" you muttered, laughing quietly at yourself as you grabbed your phone and headed for the door. It was just Megumi. You'd hung out with him dozens of times before. So why did this one feel...different?
Megumi had been standing by the vending machines for nearly ten minutes already. To anyone passing by, he looked exactly the same as always, hands tucked into his pockets, relaxed posture, calm expression, eyes lazily scanning the courtyard. If someone asked, they'd assume he was simply waiting for a friend.
On the inside, however, he was one poorly timed thought away from panicking. He checked the time on his phone again. 5:57. Three more minutes. He sighed quietly, slipping his phone back into his pocket.
Against his better judgment, he'd actually put some effort into his appearance. Not enough for it to be obvious, of course. His outfit sat a little neater than usual, his hair had been fixed more than once before leaving his room, and he might've sprayed on an extra bit of cologne. Maybe two. Not that anyone needed to know that.
His heart seemed to beat faster with every passing second. 5:59.
Relax. It's just her.
The thought was supposed to calm him down, it did the exact opposite. The clock on his phone flipped to 6:00. Almost instinctively, he looked up, and there you were.
Walking toward him with an easy smile, the golden evening light catching around you as the breeze gently played with your hair. For a brief moment, the rest of the campus seemed to disappear. Megumi forgot every sentence he'd rehearsed.
The sundress suited you perfectly, flowing softly with each step while hugging your figure just enough to make his face warm. Your hair framed your face effortlessly, moving with the wind like it had been styled specifically for this moment. Then his eyes settled on your face. He noticed everything, the subtle shimmer around your eyes, the way your makeup made them seem even brighter whenever you smiled, the gloss on your lips catching the fading sunlight. Even before you were close enough for him to properly think again, your familiar perfume reached him, and something about it immediately settled into his memory.
She...she looks...
No words came, none of them seemed enough.
"Hi, Megs!" you called with the same bright smile you always reserved for him. He quickly cleared his throat. "Hey." He prayed his voice sounded normal."You've been waiting long?" you asked, stopping beside him. Megumi shook his head almost immediately. "No. I just got here." You looked him up and down, your smile growing just a little. "You look nice."
“Thanks." It came out quieter than he intended. "You do too," he added after an awkward beat, rubbing the back of his neck. "Really...nice." Neither of you noticed the identical smiles that had unknowingly spread across both of your faces.
"Ready?" Megumi asked. You nodded eagerly. "Lead the way." He turned and started walking, secretly letting out the breath he'd been holding ever since he'd first seen you.
Okay. So far, so good.
Despite how badly the two of you had been panicking beforehand, the nervousness that had consumed both of you while getting ready slowly melted away, replaced by the familiar rhythm you'd built over months of late-night calls and countless conversations. You talked about training, complained about Gojo's latest antics, laughed over something ridiculous Yuji had done earlier that week, and debated whether Nobara would ever admit when she was wrong.
"Never," Megumi answered immediately.
You laughed. "Not even if someone proved her wrong?"
"No."
"What if the evidence was literally right in front of her?" He glanced over at you with the faintest hint of amusement. "Especially then." You giggled, the sound making the corner of his mouth twitch upward before he could stop it. When the talking faded, neither of you rushed to fill the silence.
Instead, you simply walked beside one another, your footsteps naturally falling into the same pace without either of you noticing. The quiet never felt awkward. As the walk continued, the realization hit that this is the same path from your first hangout a few months ago, did he plan this on purpose? Surely not.
Spring had transformed the campus entirely since that day. Everything felt alive. You'd always loved spring. The peaceful silence drew your attention toward the pond just ahead. As you got closer, the water reflected streaks of gold, pink, and soft orange from the setting sun, each ripple turning the colors into moving brushstrokes across its surface. Near the edge, a family of ducks floated together, the tiny ducklings eagerly following behind their parents in an uneven little line.
"They're so cute..." A smile spread across your face as you watched them paddle across the water. The breeze brushed a few loose strands of hair across your cheek. "It's so beautiful," you murmured softly. Megumi looked over. "...Yeah." His voice came out just above a whisper. "It really is." But he wasn't looking at the pond, he wasn't watching the sunset shimmer across the water, he didn't even notice the ducks. His eyes had settled on you instead.
The golden light painted soft highlights across your face, catching in your eyes every time you looked around in quiet wonder. The breeze carried the familiar scent of your perfume toward him again as strands of your hair danced gently in the wind. You looked so completely at peace, smiling at something as simple as a family of ducks swimming together.
Beautiful, he thought. The word came so naturally it startled him.
Once you appreciated the view for long enough, you turned your gaze forward and could already spot the willow tree from months ago. As you studied the nostalgia filled tree, your eyes fell upon a picnic blanket. You stopped immediately, your feet refusing to move any further. The white blanket rested beneath the hanging willow branches, creating a little secluded corner that felt like a little world of its own. Beside you, Megumi's heartbeat sped up.
Do you hate it? Did I do too much? I think I'm starting to sweat.
His eyes stayed glued to your face, trying to read every little reaction. He had spent far longer preparing this than he'd ever admit. Every plate had been rearranged at least three times before meeting up.
"Did you…prepare all this?" You asked quietly, still in a daze. Months ago, you had casually mentioned wanting to have a picnic once spring came around, but you never imagined he'd actually remember. It had been such an offhand comment that even you had almost forgotten about it.
"Yeah...uh I know you probably wanted it to be a group thing but–" He replied, gaze drifting toward the grass as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"No no I like it…actually I love it." You interrupted, your cheeks flushing as butterflies erupted in your stomach.
His eyes widened slightly before a proud smile threatened to appear, "Really? I'm glad." He let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. He gestured toward the blanket with a small nod. "Come on." His voice was gentle as he walked over first, sitting down beneath the shade of the willow tree. You followed after him, carefully sitting beside him on the soft white blanket. For the first few moments, you simply looked around, taking in everything he'd prepared. A neatly organized charcuterie board sat in the center with different cheeses, crackers, cured meats, and little jars of jam. Beside it were fresh pastries, neatly sliced fruit, a bottle of passion fruit juice, and two cups waiting to be filled. Everything had its own little plate or bowl, arranged so neatly it almost felt too pretty to touch.
He even remembered the passion fruit.
Not too loudly, Megumi reached over and turned on a small speaker. The opening notes of your favorite Weezer album drifted softly through the air, blending with the rustling leaves overhead, the distant chirping of birds, and the occasional splash from the nearby pond. It wasn't loud enough to interrupt the peaceful atmosphere, it simply became part of it.
This was so perfect. Too perfect.
The warm spring breeze brushed against your skin, carrying the scent of flowers and fresh grass. For just a moment, everything else disappeared. School, missions, responsibilities...none of it seemed important anymore. All that mattered was this quiet evening beneath the tree with him. You looked up, only to find Megumi already watching you. Your eyes met for a split second before you smiled sheepishly. "This is so sweet. Thank you." He shrugged his shoulders as if none of this had taken hours of planning. "It was nothing." You couldn't help but smile even wider. You knew he didn't believe that himself. Megumi cleared his throat. "Start digging in while I pour you some juice."
"Alright." You hummed softly, reaching for your phone before touching any of the food. The picnic looked far too pretty to ruin without capturing it first. You quickly snapped a few pictures from different angles. Smiling to yourself, you saved your favorite one to post on your story later before finally setting your phone aside.
Taking one of the cute little plates, you carefully started picking out a few crackers, different cheeses, and slices of meat, arranging them far less neatly than Megumi had. You popped a piece of fresh fruit into your mouth before looking back up at him. Across from you, Megumi was busy unscrewing the bottle of passion fruit juice. He carefully poured it into one of the cups, making sure not to spill a single drop before extending it toward you. You accepted it with a thankful grin and a small nod. "Thanks." He simply gave a quiet hum in response. You took a sip, immediately smiling to yourself. The juice was still perfectly cold, making the sweet, tropical flavor stand out even more.
Megumi began filling his own plate, selecting a few crackers and snacks with the same quiet precision he seemed to do everything with. While his attention was on the food, you reached over and grabbed the bottle of juice. "I got you." You said casually, already lifting it toward his cup. The moment he noticed, he reacted almost instantly. "No."
His hand reached over to gently take the bottle from yours before you could pour anything. He shot you a small reprimanding look, one eyebrow raising ever so slightly. "I can do it." You blinked at him before letting out an amused laugh.
"Megumi, it's just juice."
"I know."
"Then let me pour it."
"No."
His answer came so quickly that it caught you off guard. Without another word, he carefully poured the juice himself before setting the bottle back down exactly where it had been. You couldn't help but laugh again, shaking your head with a smile. "You're ridiculous." He looked away, pretending to be focused on adjusting the placement of his cup.
"You don't have to do everything for me, you know." You teased.
"I know." He replied quietly. "I just want to." The words slipped out before he could stop them. His gentlemanly attitude made you chuckle. It wasn't like he wasn't a gentleman with you usually, but he was definitely being extra this afternoon and truthfully, you didn't mind it one bit. After that little interaction, one topic naturally flowed into another, interrupted only by the occasional laugh or teasing remark. Everything felt so light when you were with him. Maybe part of it was the warmth of spring surrounding you, or maybe it was the way your heart fluttered every time he looked at you for just a second too long.
Megumi's eyes met yours. His expression softened before his eyes widened slightly, almost like he'd just remembered something. "Hey, close your eyes real quick." His words came out a little more hurried than he intended as he scrambled to his feet.
You let out a quiet chuckle."Okay." Without questioning him, you shut your eyes. You heard the rustle of the blanket as he stepped away, followed by the sound of his footsteps disappearing across the grass. Curiosity tugged at you, but you resisted every urge to peek.
Behind you, Megumi walked over to the willow tree where he'd hidden one last surprise. Nestled behind the thick curtain of hanging branches was a bouquet he had carefully tucked away before you guys arrived, hoping you wouldn't notice it too soon. He picked it up carefully, making sure none of the flowers had been crushed.
Please like them.
He took one sharp inhale before slowly exhaling, trying to settle the pounding in his chest. His palms suddenly felt much warmer than they had a minute ago. This somehow felt even more nerve-wracking than asking you to come here. Walking back toward you, he stopped just in front of where you sat on the blanket. "Open them." His voice was noticeably softer this time.
You slowly opened your eyes. Standing before you was Megumi, both arms extended toward you, holding a gorgeous bouquet of lilies. Their delicate petals glowed beneath the golden evening light, shades of lavender, soft blue, white, and pale pink blending together beautifully. Their sweet floral fragrance reached you almost immediately, subtle but unmistakable. Your eyes widened. For a long moment, you couldn't say anything. Instead, your gaze slowly traveled from the bouquet up to Megumi's face. You looked at him with wide, doe-like eyes, as if you couldn't quite believe what you were seeing.
Megumi felt his heartbeat hammer against his ribs. He suddenly wasn't sure where to look. All he could manage was a small nod toward the bouquet in his hands, silently encouraging you to take it before he completely lost his nerve. A tiny pout formed on your lips as you reached forward with the utmost care, almost as though the flowers were too precious to touch. Your fingertips brushed against the paper wrapping before you gently accepted the bouquet into your arms.
You stared down at them for another moment, admiring every little detail—the carefully wrapped ribbon, the vibrant blooms, the way each stem had been arranged so neatly. You were feeling so many things all at once that you couldn't even begin sorting through them. All you could do was smile.
And that smile alone was enough to make Megumi's stomach flip like never before. From where he stood, the entire scene looked unreal. Behind you, the pond reflected the golden hues of the setting sun with streaks of soft purple beginning to peek through the sky. The willow branches swayed lazily overhead while the spring breeze carried flower petals across the grass. Nature was at its absolute peak.
But none of it compared to you.
The sunlight caught the edges of your hair, giving it a warm glow as you looked down at the bouquet with such genuine happiness. Your smile was soft, your eyes sparkled with wonder, and for a brief moment, everything else around him seemed to fade into the background.
I want to remember this. Not just the picnic. Not just today. This exact moment.
Very quietly, he reached into his pocket, moving as carefully as possible so he wouldn't startle you. His fingers wrapped around his phone while his eyes never left you for even a second. Slowly, he raised it just enough to frame you beneath the willow tree.
You looked...beautiful.
The quiet sound of the camera shutter immediately caught your attention. You looked up in surprise, turning toward him just as he lowered his phone. Thankfully, he'd managed to take the picture before you noticed. "Huh?" Your expression was filled with confusion as you looked between him and the phone. Megumi did his best to remain as casual as possible despite the slight warmth creeping onto his face. "For you to post." He peeked at you from behind his phone.
A laugh escaped your lips. "You could've just asked."
"Whatever." The corners of his mouth twitched upward almost imperceptibly.
Instead of teasing him any further, you decided to play along. Sitting up a little straighter, you held the bouquet closer and looked toward his camera with an amused smile. "Oh? Is this a photoshoot now?"
He gave the smallest shrug. "If you want."
You giggled before flashing a little peace sign toward the camera. Click. Then you formed a tiny heart with your fingers. Click. You glanced over your shoulder toward the pond, letting the sunset become your backdrop. Click. Finally, you lifted the bouquet beside your face, smiling as naturally as you could. Click.
"That's enough." You laughed, covering your face for a moment.
"I only took a few."
"You definitely took more than a few."
"Maybe."
As the little photoshoot came to an end, your attention drifted away from the camera lens and toward the phone itself. It was then that you noticed something tucked inside his clear phone case, your eyes narrowed in recognition. Is that an aster? Very carefully preserved despite its withered appearance.
You couldn't believe it. The lilies, the picnic, the music, the passion fruit juice, the way he'd remembered every little thing you'd casually mentioned over the past few months, and he kept that aster you gave him? There was no way this was casual. So was this what you thought it was or were you just making things up because you wanted it to be?
Megumi sat back down across from you, trying his best to ignore how violently his pulse hammered in his ears. He picked up his cup, taking a slow sip of juice to give his hands something to do. You watched him for another moment. If you didn't ask now you never would.
"So…what is all this?" Your voice came out much softer than you intended as you gestured to everything surrounding the two of you. The question froze him. Megumi immediately choked on his drink. He coughed, setting the cup down far quicker than intended as his heart seemed to plummet straight into his stomach.
Oh No. No no no. Not yet.
He wasn't ready. He hadn't practiced this part enough. His confession was supposed to happen later. After the food. After walking you to the dorms. Maybe beneath the stars when there wasn't any chance of ruining everything. His mind completely blanked. Finally, he forced out the first thing that came to mind.
"Well it's a hangout, right?" He shrugged, casually.
The words lingered between you. Like they'd been carved into the air itself.
Oh. Right.
Your fingers tightened almost imperceptibly around the bouquet.
Of course it was.
You gave a small nod, managing a faint smile that didn't quite reach your eyes. "Yeah." You looked down at the flowers resting in your lap. "...Right." The butterflies that had been fluttering in your chest all afternoon suddenly felt unbearably heavy. Something inside you quietly sank. Since when had you started hoping he'd say something else? I guess I misunderstood.
Across from you, Megumi immediately knew. Idiot. His stomach twisted painfully. Why would you say that? He wanted to grab the words back, wanted to explain. Wanted to tell you that he'd spent nearly two weeks planning this stupid picnic because you deserved something beautiful. That he'd gone to three different flower shops looking for lilies because he remembered you saying they were hard to find. That the dried aster petals in his phone case had been there since the day you tucked it behind his ear months ago.
Instead…He'd called it…a ‘hangout.’
The conversation started again after that. But neither of you were really there anymore. There was something different in your voice now. Quieter, more careful. The sparkle that had been in your eyes earlier had dimmed just enough for him to notice.
Maybe nobody else would've caught it. Megumi did. Every single change, pause, forced smile, every moment your gaze drifted away instead of finding his. Each one felt like another reminder that he'd just ruined the perfect opportunity. The guilt settled heavily in his chest.
Fix it. Say something. Anything.
But every sentence he came up with died before it reached his mouth. Eventually the conversation faded completely. Silence settled over the two of you once more. Only this time, it wasn't the comfortable kind. The music from the speaker suddenly felt too quiet, the breeze through the willow branches no longer sounded peaceful. Even the ducks on the pond seemed impossibly far away. The line he'd accidentally drawn between you sat there, invisible but impossible to ignore.
You kept your gaze lowered to your hands, gently running your thumb over the ribbon tied around the bouquet. "...It's getting late." You forced out a small smile. "Maybe we should—"
"No." The word left him before he could think. You looked up. Megumi had never interrupted you like that before. His fingers clenched so tightly around the edge of the picnic blanket that his knuckles had gone pale. He stared at the grass for a long moment, breathing through his nose as if he couldn't figure out how to make his lungs work.
"...I..." His voice cracked immediately. He clicked his tongue in annoyance with himself, rubbing a hand down his face. "I..." Another failed attempt. "...Damn it." His ears were bright red now. You watched him quietly, your own heart beginning to race.
"I keep..." He swallowed. "...I keep saying the wrong thing." Another pause. "When you asked..." He let out a shaky laugh that held no amusement. "...about all this..." His shoulders slumped. "I panicked." He looked over at you for just a second before looking away again. "I've been...trying to figure out how to say this all day." His words stumbled over each other.
"No...longer than today." He exhaled. "A while." His fingers tightened again. "I kept thinking if I planned everything right..." He glanced at the flowers in your lap. "...if I found the right place...got flowers you'd actually like...waited until sunset..." His laugh was quiet and self-deprecating. "...then maybe I'd know what to say." Another beat of silence. "I still don't."
He shook his head. "I've rehearsed this so many times." His voice came out barely above a whisper. "And somehow this is worse."
You didn't interrupt him. You simply watched.
Megumi closed his eyes for a moment before finally forcing himself to meet yours. "I told you this was just a hangout because..." He swallowed hard. "...because I got scared." His expression softened, every wall he'd carefully built over the years beginning to crumble.
"I thought if I told you..." he admitted quietly, "...and you didn't feel the same..." He couldn't even finish the sentence. "So I lied." Another breath. "I hate lying to you."
His gaze lingered on yours now, refusing to run away again. "This wasn't supposed to be casual." His voice steadied. "None of this was.”
His eyes flickered down to his phone for a second. "I kept that aster because..." A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "...it was the first flower you ever gave me. I know it's dried out. I know it's probably stupid. But I couldn't throw it away." His smile disappeared again as emotion settled over his features.
"Asters became my favorite flower because of you." The words came easier now, like a dam had finally broken.
"I started looking for excuses to talk to you. I'd catch myself wondering if you'd eaten yet, if you got to your dorm safely after a mission. I'd hear a song and think..." He huffed another embarrassed laugh. "'She'd probably like this one. I'd see something funny and my first thought was always..." He looked at you with an expression so open it almost hurt. "...I have to tell her."
His voice softened. "You became the person I wanted beside me. No matter what I was doing, no matter where I was." He shook his head. "You make everything quieter. My head's usually...loud. But when I'm with you..." He looked around at the pond, the willow tree swaying gently in the spring breeze, the warm orange light dancing across the water. "...it finally feels peaceful."
The sunset reflected in his eyes as he looked back at you. "And when you smiled just now..." His gaze drifted to the bouquet still cradled in your arms. "I thought that..." A tiny, breathless laugh escaped him. "...I've never seen anything more beautiful." He took one slow breath. Then another. His heartbeat felt loud enough for both of you to hear.
"I like you." The words were simple. Honest. "I wanted today to be perfect because you deserve it." His voice grew quiet again. "And because..." He held your gaze without looking away this time. "I wanted to be the one who gave it to you." Silence settled over the pond once more. Not awkward, not heavy, just full.
Megumi let out the breath he'd been holding for what felt like forever. "...So." A nervous smile, small and uncertain, finally appeared. "I guess..." He rubbed the back of his neck, looking away for only a second before finding your eyes again. "...I'm asking if you'll let this be more than just a hangout."
You couldn't believe everything you had just heard. Megumi wasn't the type to pour his heart out—not like that. Every hesitant word, every stumble, every confession had been pulled straight from the deepest parts of himself, and it completely unraveled the dam you'd been desperately holding together. The first thing that escaped you was a shaky laugh, your lips trembling as you fought to keep the tears from spilling over. You drew in a slow, steadying breath, hoping it would calm the way your heart seemed determined to beat out of your chest.
With gentle fingers, you plucked one of the lilies from the bouquet and tucked it behind your ear. The delicate petals brushed against your cheek, their sweet fragrance surrounding you. Then you reached for another flower. Cradling it carefully between your fingers, you looked back up at him. Your hand trembled ever so slightly as you inched closer, slowly lifting it toward him. Neither of you broke eye contact.
With the same tenderness from months ago, you tucked the flower above his ear. Your fingertips lingered for just a moment, brushing against the softness of his hair before grazing the warmth of his temple. Before your hand could drift away, his fingers gently closed around your wrist, so impossibly careful, as though he was silently asking for permission to hold on just a little longer. His thumb slowly slid against your skin before his hand found yours, carefully threading your fingers together.
Those usually guarded navy eyes searched every inch of your expression, quietly pleading for reassurance, for confirmation that this wasn't another hope he'd imagined. They softened with every passing second, the tension slowly melting away as he found nothing but warmth reflected back at him. Your hearts seemed to beat in perfect rhythm. Fast. Heavy. Close enough that you almost wondered if he could feel yours through your joined hands.
"Yes, Megs. I like you too." The words left your lips in barely more than a whisper, but they carried every feeling you'd struggled to put into words. A fond smile spread across your face, small and impossibly gentle, one that reached your eyes despite the tears gathering there.
Megumi simply stared at you. His lips parted ever so slightly, as though he'd forgotten how to breathe. The corners of his eyes softened, and his shoulders, tense for what felt like hours, finally eased. His hand trembled in yours, tightening just enough to reassure himself that you were real. He searched your face over and over, committing every detail to memory—the warmth in your eyes, the smile on your lips, the flower tucked behind your ear glowing beneath the golden light of the setting sun.
Without thinking, you found yourself inching closer. So did he. The distance between you grew impossibly small. Close enough to feel each other's breath. Close enough that your noses almost brushed. He hesitated. His eyes flickered between yours, searching them one last time. There was a question in them. When you didn't pull away—if anything, when you leaned in just the slightest bit more—his eyes dropped to your lips.
His free hand slowly lifted, almost timidly, until the back of his fingers grazed your cheek. He cradled the side of your face with unbelievable care, his touch so light it was as if he feared holding you any tighter would shatter the moment you'd built together. You instinctively leaned into the warmth of his palm. The smallest smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Then, with one last shaky breath, he closed the remaining distance.
His lips met yours in the gentlest kiss imaginable. Tentative. Almost hesitant. It lingered for only a heartbeat, both of you still learning the unfamiliar feeling. Neither of you pulled away though. Your fingers uncurled from his hand to guide it slowly to your waist. His eyes flickered down to watch your movement and then pulled you closer to him. Your lips meeting each other once again.
The second kiss was still gentle, but as you both slowly fall into the rhythm the nerves begin to fade. He wasn’t even thinking, his world narrowed down to this one moment of kissing you, trying to spell out every emotion he’s felt for you since the beginning with his lips over yours. The hand he had cradling your cheek traveled down to cup your nape. Your head tilted slightly, getting more comfortable while your arms wrapped around the back of his neck. The faint sweet tangy taste of passion fruit being passed between heavy breaths.
When the two of you finally ran out of air you pulled away in a daze. Your dress and his shirt evidently more wrinkled, a coat of your lipgloss on his lips, and both of your faces slightly flushed. After a beat of silence you both started giggling while adjusting your clothes and wiping off the messy gloss.
“So does this mean we’re official?” You ask teasingly with a nudge to his shoulder. Megumi’s brows furrow in confusion and eyes wide, “What? Was it not clear enough?” He asks, thinking you’re serious for a moment. You snicker at his reaction and he scoffs, realizing you were messing with him. He pulls you into a hug, which is only a means to start tickling you. You try to squirm away but to no avail, the only thing that causes is for the both of you to start rolling off the blanket and into the grass.
summary: friends to lovers, slow burn, mutual pinining, miscommunication, yearning, oblivious idiots in love, heavy on the flower/nature symbolism.
word count: 12k
a/n: this was so stinkin' cute i almost got heartburn when proofreading. also yes it's a bit corny at times don't hate me.
Megumi sat alone on the concrete steps outside the dorms, elbows resting on his knees as the late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the courtyard. The sounds of laughter drifted through the air, mixing with the distant chatter of students heading home. His eyes followed you without meaning to.
You were standing beside Yuji, laughing at something he'd said. Megumi couldn't hear the joke, but it didn't matter. What caught his attention was the way your smile seemed effortless around him, the way Yuji always managed to make you laugh. Watching the two of you together made something uncomfortable twist in his chest.
Yuji was easy to talk to, funny, and friendly. The kind of person people naturally gravitated toward. Meanwhile, Megumi struggled to hold conversations longer than a few minutes before retreating back into silence. His gaze dropped to the ground, wondering what it would be like if you looked at him that way. If you sought him out, if he could make you laugh without overthinking every word that came out of his mouth.
Maybe if he had the courage to tell you how he felt, if he were funnier, or if he were better at being someone people wanted to be around. Maybe then you'd see him.
A few feet away, your conversation with Yuji finally came to an end. You had originally planned to spend the afternoon with him but, "Sorry," Yuji had said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I completely forgot. Choso's been bugging me about hanging out all week." You laughed it off and told him not to worry about it, but now you found yourself standing alone with nothing to do.
Pulling out your phone, you scrolled through your contacts absentmindedly. Most of the names passed by without much thought until your thumb paused over one in particular. Megumi Fushiguro. You stared at the name for a moment.
You wouldn't exactly call the two of you close friends. Megumi was quiet, sometimes so quiet it was hard to tell what he was thinking. But whenever you talked to him, there was something oddly comforting about his presence. He listened when people spoke, he was dependable, kind even if he wasn't very expressive about it.
You realized you'd never actually tried spending time with him one on one before. Maybe he'd say no or leave you on read. Still, it couldn't hurt to ask. A small smile tugged at your lips as you opened your messages and began typing.
hii megumi, how are youu?
He was thinking of walking back to his dorm when you sent your message. Megumi stared at his phone, thumb hovering over the screen. For a moment, he wondered if he'd imagined the notification. Your name sat at the top of the lockscreen, bright and impossible to ignore. His pulse quickened. Why were you texting him?
He opened the message, reading it once. Then twice. Then a third time just to make sure he wasn't somehow misinterpreting it. A dozen possible responses flashed through his mind.
His fingers moved across the keyboard before stopping. He deleted the entire message, tried again. After nearly a minute of overthinking, he finally settled on something simple.
Fine. You?
A few seconds passed before another message appeared.
Did you need something?
The second message sounded colder than he'd intended, but it was already sent before he could stop himself. Megumi groaned quietly and dragged a hand down his face. Nice job. Real smooth.
When your phone buzzed, you glanced down at the response. Your lips flattened slightly. It wasn't exactly enthusiastic. Then again, it was Megumi. Most of the time, getting more than a few words out of him felt like an accomplishment.
i'm gooddd thanks for asking :)
You sent the first message without much thought. The next one was harder. Your thumbs hovered over the keyboard. You weren't even sure why you felt nervous, it was only Megumi. Still, a strange sense of embarrassment crept up your neck as you typed.
i just wanted to know if you maybe wanted to hang out with me?
The moment you hit send, regret flooded your system. Too direct. Way too direct. Before you could overthink yourself into oblivion, you hurriedly typed another message.
if you're busy that's fine tho!!
You turned off your phone and buried your face in your hands. Why did I say it like that?
Megumi's phone vibrated again. Then again. His eyes widened as he read the messages. His brain completely stalled. You wanted to hang out with him. Not Yuji. Not Nobara. Him.
A sharp breath caught in his throat. For a second, he genuinely wondered if this was some kind of prank. Maybe you meant to text someone else. Maybe you were inviting a group and just hadn't mentioned it yet. But the words were right there.
His heart hammered so hard he could feel it in his ears. The logical part of his brain was already screaming at him to respond before you thought he was ignoring you. The problem was that every response sounded stupid. Megumi deleted the same message at least six times.
Meanwhile, the little ‘typing…’ bubble still hadn't appeared on your screen. Because Megumi Fushiguro was currently having the biggest crisis of his life over a simple invitation to hang out. After what seemed like the most torturous 5 minutes of his life, he finally perfected his response.
Sure. When?
Your eyes lit up. No way THE Megumi Fushiguro just decided to hang out with you, didn't even have to force him. Is luck on your side?
yay! can you meet up with me now?
It was really happening. He was actually, truly, really going to spend time with you. Megumi typed, his fingers shaking so much he kept hitting the wrong keys. He finally sent:
Yeah. Where?
Your response was sent almost immediately.
i was just thinking to go on a walk and we can just see what to do from there :)
That works.
The response was short, but for Megumi, that was practically enthusiasm.
Before he could overthink anything else, he pushed himself off the dorm steps. A little too quickly. His foot caught on the edge of the pavement, and he stumbled forward, barely catching himself. "Seriously..." he muttered under his breath. Checking his reflection in his phone screen, then shoved it in his pocket. He started walking before he finished typing: "On my way." His steps were fast, uneven, almost a jog.
While you waited for Megumi to arrive, you wandered over to a vending machine near the edge of campus. The machine hummed softly as you scanned the rows of drinks behind the glass. You paused. You had absolutely no idea what Megumi liked. Actually, now that you thought about it, you didn't know much about his preferences at all. After a moment of consideration, you picked two bottles of passion fruit juice, one for yourself and one for him. If he didn't like it, at least you'd tried. The machine rattled loudly before dropping the drinks into the tray below. You grabbed them and leaned against the nearby wall, checking your phone while you waited.
Megumi walked down the sidewalk with his hands in his pockets. As he turned the corner, he caught sight of you, standing next to the vending machine. His pulse quickened. When your gaze flickered over him, Megumi realized he'd been standing there frozen, staring. "Hey..." He straightened up. You smiled warmly at the sight of him, “Hii Megumii, it's good to see you!” You said while handing him one of the drinks, "I didn't know what you like so I just got these. I hope you like it.”
Megumi blinked at the drink, then at you. The sweetness of your smile hit him like a spell he wasn’t prepared for. "Thanks." He took the bottle, fingers brushing yours, just for a second, and quickly looked away. “Of course, anytime.” You opened your bottle and took a sip, the flavor of the juice was so refreshing, a good balance between sweet and acidic. He watched you drink. How your eyes lit up. The way your throat moved when you swallowed. He wanted to look away, to focus on something else, to get these thoughts out of his head, but it was impossible. The plastic was still cool in his hand. "Passion fruit…” He said quietly. “I've never tried it."
Your eyes widened. "Really? It's one of my favorite flavors." The excitement in your voice made something twist pleasantly in his chest. You pointed toward the bottle. "Try it and tell me if you like it."
He nodded then unscrewed the cap, raised the bottle to his lips and took a cautious sip. The flavor exploded across his taste buds. He took another sip without thinking, and another. It was better than he'd thought it would be. "It’s...good," he said, a little embarrassed that he'd practically gulped it down.
You couldn't help laughing. A soft sound that made his heart skip embarrassingly hard. "I'm glad you like it." Your gaze flickered to the nearly half-empty bottle. "If you want more, you can just have mine." Megumi hesitated and shook his head. "No—I'm alright," he said quickly.
“C’mon let’s go on our walk.” You stepped forward first. Megumi watched you for half a second before following, his longer strides quickly closed the distance between you. The afternoon breeze drifted through the trees overhead, carrying the scent of fresh grass and distant flowers. For a while, neither of you spoke. Megumi kept his gaze ahead, occasionally sneaking glances in your direction whenever he thought you weren't looking.
The two of you continued down the winding path, your footsteps falling into an easy rhythm. To your surprise, the silence wasn't nearly as uncomfortable as you'd expected. Megumi wasn't much of a talker, that much was obvious, but somehow it worked. The occasional rustle of leaves overhead filled the gaps between conversations. Birds called from distant trees. The soft crunch of gravel beneath your shoes became its own kind of background music. It felt peaceful, comfortable, the kind of quiet that didn't demand to be filled. You took another sip of your juice and tilted your head toward the horizon.
"This is the perfect time to go on a walk." Megumi glanced over. "The sun's going down, and it makes the sky look so pretty." His eyes followed your gaze. The evening sky stretched endlessly above the campus grounds. Gold melted into orange, which faded into soft shades of pink and purple, wispy clouds caught the sunlight like brushstrokes across a canvas. It really was beautiful. But as Megumi looked at the sunset, his attention drifted. Back to you. The warm light painted everything in gold. Your hair, your eyes, the curve of your smile. For a moment, he forgot about the sky entirely. A thought appeared before he could stop it.
‘You're prettier than the sun.’
The realization made his stomach twist. Megumi immediately looked away. Heat crept up the back of his neck. He wasn't sure whether to feel embarrassed or guilty for thinking something so cheesy. Probably both.
A cool breeze drifted through the trees. You closed your eyes for a second, enjoying the feeling against your skin. "This weather is so nice." Megumi quietly nodded. "Yeah." For him, the weather wasn't what made the afternoon feel nice. But he wasn't about to say that out loud.
Just beyond the path, a cluster of wildflowers had bloomed beneath a nearby tree. Tiny patches of color scattered among the green grass. Your entire face lit up. "Ah!" Megumi nearly jumped. You pointed excitedly toward them. "Megs, follow me!" Before he could react, you were already hurrying toward the flowers.
Megumi stopped walking. The only thing echoing in his head was one word. Megs. His heart skipped. Then immediately started racing. Did you just— No. You definitely did. The nickname replayed over and over in his mind. As though you'd been calling him that for years. A ridiculous amount of happiness bloomed in his chest over something so small.
Ahead of him, you turned around. "Are you coming?" Megumi blinked. "Oh." Right, the flowers. "Yeah." His voice came out quieter than usual. He quickly followed after you, easily catching up. Truthfully, if you had pointed in the opposite direction and told him to walk for ten miles, he probably would've done that too. Every time you smiled at him, every time you said his name –or apparently gave him a nickname– he found himself wanting to stay by your side a little longer.
You stopped at the edge of the flower patch. Rows upon rows of asters stretched across the grass, their petals glowing softly beneath the fading sunlight. Your eyes lit up,"They're so pretty..." You crouched down beside the flowers, carefully brushing your fingers over a few petals.
He lowered himself beside you, leaving enough space between you to be respectful but close enough to see what had caught your attention. For a while, neither of you said anything. The silence felt natural and peaceful. You pulled your phone from your pocket and angled it toward the flowers. A soft click, then another, then one more from a slightly different angle. Megumi watched as you studied the pictures with quiet satisfaction. After a moment, your attention drifted to one of the blooms nearby. Carefully, you plucked it from its stem. "These only bloom in autumn." You turned it over in your hands before tucking it behind your ear. Megumi's breath caught slightly. The flower looked like it belonged there, as though it had always been part of you. His gaze lingered for a second before he forced himself to look back toward the flower patch. "How do you know that?"
"My mom loves these flowers." You absentmindedly adjusted the flower. "Every autumn my dad would bring her bouquets of them all the time." A quiet laugh escaped you. "Honestly, it was more like a flower garden than a house." Megumi found himself smiling faintly at the image. He could almost picture it. Flowers filling every room, a house smelling constantly of fresh blooms.
"My favorite flower is actually a spring flower." Pulling up your phone, you unlocked it and showed him your wallpaper. Clusters of colorful lilies filled the screen. Megumi leaned closer to look. "These." The excitement in your voice made it obvious how much you liked them.
"They're pretty." The words slipped out before he could stop himself. Your smile widened, then you turned toward him. "Do you like flowers?" He looked back toward the flower tucked behind your ear. "...Not really." The answer came automatically. Megumi lowered his gaze, thinking. "Tsumiki liked flowers." His voice was quieter now. The mention of her name carried years of memories with it. "White ones, mostly."
A small smile touched his lips. "Nothing complicated. Just simple flowers." For a moment, the two of you sat there surrounded by asters and evening sunlight. The breeze stirred the grass around you. "I never paid much attention to them." His eyes drifted back toward the flower tucked carefully behind your ear. A thoughtful silence settled over him. Then he spoke again, softer this time. "Maybe I wouldn't mind them now."
You tilted your head, a questioning look forming on your face. Megumi immediately looked away, the tips of his ears turning pink. Because what he hadn't said, what he'd never admit out loud, was that flowers had become a lot more interesting the moment he started seeing them through your eyes.
That was probably the most he'd talked since the two of you met up. Maybe you were making progress. "Well..." Your gaze drifted back toward the flowers, then carefully plucked another aster, twirling it thoughtfully between your fingers. "Maybe..." Megumi watched curiously, you looked up at him, "...we can find a flower you'll like." The smile you gave him was gentle enough to make his chest tighten. Before he could process what you meant, you leaned forward. With surprising care, you tucked the aster behind his ear, the petals brushed against his dark hair. "There." You pulled back to admire your work, "Now we match." Megumi stared, stared, and stared. Until his mouth moved before his brain could stop it."I like this one."
The words slipped out instinctively. Your laughter immediately followed which always seemed to make him feel lighter too,"You're just saying that to please me, silly." Megumi's face heated instantly. The worst part was that he couldn't explain himself without sounding completely ridiculous because he wasn't talking about the flower…at least not entirely.
You pulled out your phone again,"Ooh, wait." Before he could ask what you were doing, you scooted slightly closer. Close enough that he could feel the warmth of your shoulder beside his. You lifted the camera, "Smile." The picture snapped before he could fully prepare himself. You checked the screen, a grin spread across your face, "It turned out really cute." Megumi hesitantly leaned over, his eyes landing on the photo. Your smile looked natural and happy, his expression was softer than usual, much softer. He barely recognized himself. "It turned out really cute, right?" you asked, then your eyes brightened with an idea, "Do you mind if I post it?" Megumi's stomach immediately dropped, would other people notice? Would they take one look at the picture and immediately figure out what he was trying so desperately to hide?
Still, when he looked back at your hopeful expression, saying no felt impossible, "Yeah." His voice came out quieter than intended, "Go for it." Your face lit up instantly, "Yay! Thanks!" The excitement in your voice made the embarrassment worth it. You immediately began typing away on your phone, Megumi watched with quiet amusement.
"Oh!" You looked up, "You should add me here so I can tag you." For some reason, the idea of being tagged in your post made his heart skip. "Later though," you added quickly, slipping your phone back into your pocket, a teasing smile pulled at your lips. "Focus on hanging out with me now." Megumi stared, the comment was probably harmless, very casual, something anyone could've said. Yet his pulse immediately sped up. Because all he heard was: Pay attention to me. Which was the easiest request you'd made all afternoon. "Okay." A tiny smile appeared on his face. Small enough that most people would've missed it. But this time, he wasn't looking at the flowers, or the sunset, or the path ahead. His attention was exactly where you'd asked for it to be. On you.
You froze. Megumi seemed to realize what he'd done almost immediately. The smile disappeared as quickly as it had appeared, and he lowered his gaze toward the ground. As if trying to hide it, as if it had slipped out by accident. But you'd already seen it. A real smile, not the awkward little ones he occasionally gave when he felt obligated to be polite. Your heart fluttered unexpectedly. Without realizing it, you found yourself staring. Trying to memorize it, trying to figure out what had made him smile, trying to figure out how to make it happen again.
Megumi could feel your eyes on him. At first, he tried to ignore it. But after several seconds, it became impossible. He glanced up while you were still looking at him. Not in a strange way or judgmental. Just...looking, thoughtful, focused, like you were studying something important. A dangerous part of him wondered if there was something else behind that look. Something he didn't dare hope for. Immediately, he shut the thought down. You were just curious. That was all. "What're you looking at?"
The question snapped you out of your thoughts. For a moment, you pressed your lips together. Trying and failing to come up with a less embarrassing answer. Eventually, you gave up. "You, dummy." You replied in a teasing tone. Megumi immediately regretted asking, noticing his expression and you laughed. "Has anyone ever told you that you have a nice smile?"
People complimented each other all the time, so why did it feel like you'd just reached into his chest and squeezed his heart? His first instinct was to brush it off, pretend it didn't affect him, act indifferent, but your expression made that impossible. You looked sincere and somehow that made it worse. "Not really." His voice sounded distant, almost surprised, he thought for a moment. "Maybe Tsumiki."
Your eyes widened. "Really?" The disbelief slipped out before you could stop it. Then again... the answer made sense. Megumi didn't smile often. Not because he couldn't, but because he always seemed to be carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. You shook your head. "Your sister was spot on." Megumi immediately looked away, which only made you smile more. A few seconds passed. Then you added quietly, "Your smile is really cute, Megs."
His chest tightened so suddenly it almost hurt. Megumi ducked his head immediately, hoping it would hide how red his face had become. "Cut it out." His voice came out weaker than intended. "You’re teasing me." The accusation lacked any real conviction.
"What?" You sounded genuinely confused. "I'm not teasing you." You shifted closer, close enough that he couldn't avoid looking at you. "I'm serious. It should be illegal to have a smile as cute as yours." A quiet giggle followed while you lightly bumped your shoulder against his.
That name. That tone. That nudge. It hit him like a curse, straight to the chest. His gaze drifted away for a second before coming back to the warmth in your eyes. The softness that never seemed forced whenever you looked at him. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't understand why you were looking at him like that. "...You're gonna make me say something dumb if you keep talking like that," he muttered. The truth was that he wanted to say a lot of dumb things, but still clung to the last bit of caution he had left. Still worried that if he said too much, you'd look at him differently.
“What do you wanna say? I’ll hear anything and everything that's on your mind.” Your voice came out light and easy, accompanied by a quiet hum. You wanted to know what was hidden underneath all those walls he kept around himself.
The words echoed through Megumi's mind, his heart felt lodged somewhere in his throat. If only you knew how badly he wanted to tell you everything. Megumi shook his head. "You'd be here all night."
“Then I'll be here with you all night.” The response left your mouth before you could stop it. Your eyes widened slightly, immediately realizing how that sounded. “Uh..but yeah…you don't have to be cautious around me. I want you to be comfortable.” The clarification came perhaps a little too quickly, but the sincerity behind it remained unchanged. You wanted him to relax, to stop treating every word like it needed to be carefully measured before being spoken.
"…You make that sound so easy." His voice was barely above a whisper, the words carried more weight than he intended. Because for you, maybe it was easy, you wore your emotions where people could see them. Megumi had spent years doing the opposite. Yet somehow, in a single afternoon, you had made him want to try.
He stared down at the bottle in his hands, his fingers absentmindedly turning it back and forth. "I’ve never been good at this," he admitted, fingers fidgeting with the bottle in his hand. "Talking like… this." He swallowed hard. The confession felt strangely vulnerable. "But if I was gonna say something dumb—" His eyes slowly lifted until they found yours again. "It’d probably be that… I'm happy right now." The words lingered between you, entirely unguarded.
“Really?” The smile that spread across your face was immediate. There was something almost childlike about the excitement in your expression, as though hearing those words from him was enough to make your entire afternoon even better. “I’m glad you’re happy. I'm really happy too. Hanging out with you is fun.”
"Yeah," he said quietly, blue eyes finally lifting from the ground to meet yours. "It is." The words felt painfully small compared to everything he actually wanted to say. He wanted to ask if you'd do this again. Tomorrow, next week, whenever your schedules allow. The questions crowded the back of his throat, none of them escaped.
“We have some time before it gets dark. Do you wanna sit under that tree?” You pointed toward the willow tree standing a short distance away. He followed your hand with his eyes, a small nod was all the answer he needed to give. Neither of you rushed toward the tree. Instead, the two of you naturally fell into step beside one another, your shoulders occasionally brushing as you walked through the field while the sky above slowly deepened into shades of lavender and gold.
When the two of you reached the willow tree, he lowered himself to the ground, settling against the sturdy trunk with a quiet sigh. He stretched his long legs out in front of him, hands resting loosely at his sides. You sat beside him without hesitation, close enough that the warmth lingering from his body brushed against your side, yet leaving the smallest sliver of space between you. Leaning back against the trunk just as he was, you turned your head and stole another glance at him. The flower you had tucked into his hair earlier was still there, its pale petals shifting gently whenever the breeze caught them. A smile tugged at your lips.
“Forgot to mention but i really like your hoodie.” You commented while giving him an up-down look, he was stylish in a minimal effort way that fit him perfectly. It wasn't the compliment itself that caught him off guard, it was the way your eyes slowly traveled over him. You're looking at me. "Thanks," he muttered. "It's comfortable." A quiet beat drifted between you, "But I—uh—I like how you look too."
You weren't doing much better. The cool breeze brushed against your face, yet somehow your cheeks only felt warmer. “Thanks Megs.” Your mind scrambled to make sense of the unfamiliar warmth blooming in your chest. Every explanation you reached for somehow felt too small for what you were feeling.
Megumi noticed. He could almost see the thoughts spinning behind your eyes, countless questions and emotions flickering across your expression as you looked at him. He wanted to know every single one of them. He cleared his throat, "Can I ask you something?"
“Ask me anything you want.” you hum, still trying to figure yourself out. Somewhere along the way, something had shifted inside you. You just couldn't pinpoint exactly when it had happened. Was it when he smiled? When he lets you see the softer parts of himself? Or had it begun long before today, quietly waiting for a chance to surface?
"...Why me?" His voice was so quiet it nearly disappeared with the rustling willow branches above you. A beat passed. Then another. "I mean—today wasn't planned," he continued, every word leaving him carefully, like each one had to fight its way free. "You could’ve hung out with one of your friends." His blue eyes searched yours with an uncertainty so honest it almost hurt to look at. "So... why did you text me?"
There was something different in his voice, something fragile you hadn't heard from him before. It wasn't simple curiosity. You took your time before answering. “I've always been curious about you.”
A gentle breeze swept through the willow branches overhead, stirring the golden leaves until they danced above you. A few loose petals drifted lazily through the air. One settled delicately in your hair. Another landed against the sleeve of his hoodie, unnoticed. Megumi turned fully toward you. "And now?" His voice remained soft, but there was an earnestness behind it that made your heart skip. "Are you still…curious?"
You held his gaze without realizing it. “I'm so curious, it’s killing me. The more I find out, the more I want to know.” The confession slipped out before you could overthink it, only after the words left your mouth did your confidence begin to falter. “Is that..weird?”
"No. It's not." he said quietly. Silence settled comfortably between you again. Neither of you seemed eager to break it. Above you, the willow branches swayed lazily, filtering the growing starlight into shifting patterns across the grass.
"...Can I ask you something else?" He says almost hesitantly.
“Hm?” you hummed softly, turning your gaze towards him.
"...Can I keep being the one you pick?" His voice barely rose above the breeze. It didn't sound like he was asking about just another afternoon together. It sounded like he was asking for a place in your life, for every ordinary day after this one. Like he was quietly placing his heart into your hands and trusting you not to let it fall. "I know it’s selfish," he added quickly. "But... I want to be."
Your heart ached. “Yes Megs, I'll choose you. It's okay to be a little selfish sometimes.” You answered softly. The gentleness in your voice nearly undid him. God...his chest hurt. How much longer would he need to control his need for you?
TIMESKIP - 6 Months
For the past six months, the amount of time you spent with Megumi Fushiguro had increased exponentially. At first, the two of you only texted. Then, one afternoon after class, you mentioned struggling to understand a topic from history. Instead of sending another paragraph, Megumi surprised you by asking if he could call you. The conversation started awkwardly, neither of you quite sure what to say at first, but the moment he began explaining the Heian era, everything fell into place. He broke down each concept so smoothly that it finally made sense. He never spoke in a way that made you feel stupid for not understanding. If anything, he made learning feel exciting, encouraging you to ask more questions instead of feeling embarrassed for having them.
By the end of his explanation, you finally understood the lesson that had frustrated you all day. "You’re such a great teacher, Megs." A quiet pause followed. "...Shut up." You couldn't help but laugh.
For the next week or so, texting during the day remained the norm, but nights slowly became something entirely different. Once everyone else had gone to bed and the dorms had settled into silence, the two of you would spend hours on the phone talking about absolutely everything. Sometimes the conversations were completely ridiculous, filled with terrible jokes and pointless debates that somehow lasted an hour. Other nights became unexpectedly personal, the two of you peeling back layers of yourselves without even realizing it.
One evening the conversation drifted toward music. After nearly twenty minutes of relentless teasing and shameless begging, you finally managed to wear Megumi down. "...Fine," he sighed. "...Weezer." The second the band's name left his mouth, you gasped so loudly that there was complete silence on the other end of the call. "...Are you okay?" Instead of answering, you immediately switched the call to FaceTime.
When your camera turned on, Megumi was greeted by the sight of an entire section of your wall dedicated to your favorite Weezer albums. Vinyl records, posters, CDs, you looked absurdly proud of the collection. For the first time that night, Megumi looked genuinely speechless.
"...You've got to be kidding me."
"I knew you had good taste."
"I regret telling you."
"You absolutely don't." His quiet sigh was accompanied by the faintest smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
What started as an innocent reveal quickly spiraled into a heated debate over which albums deserved the most recognition and which songs were criminally underrated. Neither of you were willing to admit defeat, constantly interrupting each other with reasons why your own rankings were objectively correct. Every now and then, though, you'd stumble across a song you both agreed deserved more love.
Ever since that first FaceTime call, that's how both of your nights ended. After long, grueling days filled with training, classes, and studying, you'd retreat to your dorms only to find each other waiting on the other side of the screen. Sometimes the conversations lasted for hours, jumping from one random topic to another without any real direction. Other nights, words weren't necessary at all. You'd quietly exist in each other's company while cleaning your rooms, reading, playing games, finishing homework, or simply lying in bed waiting for sleep to come. Occasionally, one of you would even fall asleep before remembering to hang up, leaving the other to smile at the sound of soft breathing through the speaker before ending the call. It simply became routine, the favorite part of both your days.
By that point, you and Megumi were practically attached at the hip. Online. In person, however, things were...different.
Despite spending hours talking every single night, the two of you barely interacted during lessons or training. At most, you'd exchange a small greeting before heading in different directions, almost like the conversations you'd shared until three in the morning had never happened. It never sat right with you. You tried starting conversations between classes or walking beside him after training, but Megumi always seemed strangely nervous whenever there wasn't a phone screen separating you.
The truth was, he was terrified. Over FaceTime, he could hide behind the comfort of his room. He could glance away when you smiled or collect his thoughts before speaking. In person, he had nowhere to hide. Every smile threatened to linger too long, every glance risked saying more than he ever intended. He was terrified that if he let himself become too comfortable around you, everyone would notice the way his eyes softened whenever you laughed, or how naturally he gravitated toward you. They'd realize just how hopelessly enamored he was.
Eventually, you decided enough was enough. One afternoon, Gojo sensei clapped his hands together at the front of the classroom. "Alright! Pair up for the project." Before anyone else had the chance to say a word, you spoke. "I'll work with Megumi." The room fell quiet for a brief moment. Megumi looked up from his notebook, blinking in surprise. "...Me?" You smiled. "Yeah, come on."
Working together turned into eating lunch together, lunch became sneaking away during recess to raid the vending machines for snacks before anyone noticed you were gone, those little outings gradually evolved into spending time with Yuji and Nobara as a group. The funny thing was, both of you had hung out with Yuji and Nobara separately countless times before. Somehow, though, none of you had ever thought to spend time all together. Once you did, it just worked.
One afternoon, the four of you were hanging out in the common room of the dorms. Yuji was somehow trying to convince Nobara that he could beat her at tic-tac-toe despite losing every previous attempt, while Megumi sat nearby pretending to read. You were laughing at their bickering when Panda and Yuta suddenly called your name from across the room. "Hey! We need a tie breaker!"
Megumi watched you retreat with an expression so subtle most people would've missed it. His eyes followed you until you disappeared into the crowd, and the room suddenly felt quieter. Like a puppy watching its owner walk away, he did his best to hide the disappointment settling in his chest. He told himself you'd be back in a few minutes, yet he still found himself glancing over every so often without realizing it.
Unfortunately for him, Yuji and Nobara knew him far too well. The two exchanged a knowing look before Yuji finally blurted out, "Fushiguro...are you into her?" Megumi froze. For the briefest second, his expression cracked before he quickly composed himself, looking back down at his book as though nothing had happened. "What the hell are you talking about, Itadori?" He scoffed, hoping his usual monotone would bury the embarrassing truth before it ever reached the surface. It didn't.
Yuji and Nobara immediately scooted closer, completely unconvinced. "Dude," Yuji said, nudging his shoulder. "You have to ask her out."
"I don't like her." The response came far too quickly. "Come onnn," Nobara groaned, rolling her eyes. "Don't be like that. Just admit it."
"I knew I wasn't imagining things," Yuji muttered to himself, nodding proudly as if he'd just solved an impossible mystery. Megumi shot him an irritated glare, right before he could snap back, Nobara cut in. "If you ask her out, she'll definitely say yes."
The words echoed in his mind longer than they should have. His eyes drifted toward where you were standing with Panda and Yuta, animatedly arguing about whatever ridiculous debate they'd dragged you into. "...You guys are insane." He exhaled slowly, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Bro," Yuji exclaimed, "you're insane for not making a move already!" Nobara immediately smacked the back of his head. "Ow!"
"Keep your voice down, idiot." She turned back to Megumi. "Listen, Fushiguro." Her teasing expression softened into something surprisingly sincere. "She likes you. Just do it." Megumi didn't answer. He couldn't. Those words stayed with him long after everyone had gone their separate ways.
For the next few days, he tried to forget the conversation entirely. He trained, went to class, completed missions, and answered your texts like he always did. Yet every time you smiled at him, every time your eyes softened when they met his, every time you unconsciously found your way to stand beside him during conversations, Nobara's voice crept back into his thoughts.
She likes you.
He hated how much he thought about it. There was no way he could assume something like that. But with each passing day, his curiosity grew stronger. Stronger than the voice telling him he wasn't enough, stronger than the fear of being wrong. And for the first time in a long time, Megumi found himself wondering what would happen if, just maybe, Yuji and Nobara weren't completely insane after all.
Megumi made his decision. He was going to ask you out. First, he needed an actual plan. If he was going to do this, he refused to make it half-hearted. The problem was that every idea he came up with was immediately thrown out. Every possibility somehow managed to feel like either too little, too much, or unbearably corny.
The next morning, he sought out the only two people he knew would have an opinion on the matter. "...I need help." Yuji nearly dropped the drink he was holding. "No way." Nobara stared at Megumi for a second before a grin slowly spread across her face. "He's finally doing it."
"I'm not 'doing it,'" Megumi muttered. "I just...need ideas."
"Oh my God," Yuji gasped dramatically. "Operation: Make Her Fall for Fushiguro is officially underway."
For the next several days, the three of them became completely absorbed in planning. Yuji insisted every date needed something exciting, Nobara repeatedly shut down his terrible ideas before they could even be considered, and Megumi found himself acting as the only voice of reason. Somehow, despite all the arguing, the plan slowly started coming together. Unfortunately, keeping it a surprise meant they had to avoid you.
For the first time in months, the four of you stopped hanging out together after class. Instead, it was always just Megumi, Yuji, and Nobara disappearing somewhere with suspicious excuses.
"We're...busy." "It's a thing." "You'll see later."
Every explanation felt vague enough to make you raise an eyebrow. At first, you brushed it off. They were probably just doing something together. Still it felt strange.
Then Megumi started missing your nightly calls. The first night, your phone buzzed.
Sorry. I'm busy tonight.
You smiled to yourself and typed back.
No worries. Talk tomorrow.
The second night brought another message.
Sorry. Still busy.
Your smile wasn't quite as convincing that time. By the fourth apology, you found yourself staring at your phone longer than you meant to.
Sorry. I'm busy.
You knew he probably wasn't avoiding you on purpose.Whatever he was doing must've been important. That didn't stop the disappointment from settling in your chest every time another apology appeared across your screen. You hated how much it bothered you.
After days of planning, everything was finally ready. It wasn't anything extravagant, but it was something he genuinely believed you'd enjoy. There was just one problem. He still had to ask you. That somehow felt more terrifying than planning the entire date. Sitting alone in his room, he unlocked his phone and pulled up your contact. Your name stared back at him from the screen. His thumb hovered over the keyboard, but he couldn't bring himself to type anything.
What if she's busy? What if she says no? What if she realizes it's a date?
He let out a long, quiet sigh, leaning back against the wall. "...Get it together." After another minute of doing absolutely nothing, he finally started typing.
Hey. Wanna hang out tomorrow?
Very simple, casual, normal. He reread the message once, then again, and again. Before his thoughts could spiral any further, he closed his eyes and pressed send.
yeah ofc :)
Without realizing it, the tension in his shoulders eased. A small breath escaped him, then another notification appeared.
you got anything in mind?
Surprise.
Meet me by the vending machine at 6 pm.
A few seconds later, your reply came through.
alrightyy see you then!
You smiled at your phone before locking the screen and setting it on your nightstand. You stretched out across your bed, staring up at the ceiling with your hands folded behind your head.
A surprise? That wasn't very Megumi.
Normally he'd tell you exactly where you were going, what time to be ready, and probably remind you twice to bring a jacket if it was cold. The secrecy caught you completely off guard. A dozen possibilities ran through your mind.
You started getting ready almost an hour and a half before you were supposed to meet Megumi. It felt a little ridiculous considering the two of you had hung out countless times before, but something about not seeing him one on one for almost a week had you strangely nervous. You found yourself putting more effort in your appearance, wearing your favorite sundress, taking more time on your makeup, trying a new hairstyle, and having a few extra sprays of your favorite perfume. You slipped on your shoes before taking one final glance at yourself in the mirror.
"...Hopefully he notices." The words left your mouth before you could stop them. Your cheeks immediately warmed. "What am I saying?" you muttered, laughing quietly at yourself as you grabbed your phone and headed for the door. It was just Megumi. You'd hung out with him dozens of times before. So why did this one feel...different?
Megumi had been standing by the vending machines for nearly ten minutes already. To anyone passing by, he looked exactly the same as always, hands tucked into his pockets, relaxed posture, calm expression, eyes lazily scanning the courtyard. If someone asked, they'd assume he was simply waiting for a friend.
On the inside, however, he was one poorly timed thought away from panicking. He checked the time on his phone again. 5:57. Three more minutes. He sighed quietly, slipping his phone back into his pocket.
Against his better judgment, he'd actually put some effort into his appearance. Not enough for it to be obvious, of course. His outfit sat a little neater than usual, his hair had been fixed more than once before leaving his room, and he might've sprayed on an extra bit of cologne. Maybe two. Not that anyone needed to know that.
His heart seemed to beat faster with every passing second. 5:59.
Relax. It's just her.
The thought was supposed to calm him down, it did the exact opposite. The clock on his phone flipped to 6:00. Almost instinctively, he looked up, and there you were.
Walking toward him with an easy smile, the golden evening light catching around you as the breeze gently played with your hair. For a brief moment, the rest of the campus seemed to disappear. Megumi forgot every sentence he'd rehearsed.
The sundress suited you perfectly, flowing softly with each step while hugging your figure just enough to make his face warm. Your hair framed your face effortlessly, moving with the wind like it had been styled specifically for this moment. Then his eyes settled on your face. He noticed everything, the subtle shimmer around your eyes, the way your makeup made them seem even brighter whenever you smiled, the gloss on your lips catching the fading sunlight. Even before you were close enough for him to properly think again, your familiar perfume reached him, and something about it immediately settled into his memory.
She...she looks...
No words came, none of them seemed enough.
"Hi, Megs!" you called with the same bright smile you always reserved for him. He quickly cleared his throat. "Hey." He prayed his voice sounded normal."You've been waiting long?" you asked, stopping beside him. Megumi shook his head almost immediately. "No. I just got here." You looked him up and down, your smile growing just a little. "You look nice."
“Thanks." It came out quieter than he intended. "You do too," he added after an awkward beat, rubbing the back of his neck. "Really...nice." Neither of you noticed the identical smiles that had unknowingly spread across both of your faces.
"Ready?" Megumi asked. You nodded eagerly. "Lead the way." He turned and started walking, secretly letting out the breath he'd been holding ever since he'd first seen you.
Okay. So far, so good.
Despite how badly the two of you had been panicking beforehand, the nervousness that had consumed both of you while getting ready slowly melted away, replaced by the familiar rhythm you'd built over months of late-night calls and countless conversations. You talked about training, complained about Gojo's latest antics, laughed over something ridiculous Yuji had done earlier that week, and debated whether Nobara would ever admit when she was wrong.
"Never," Megumi answered immediately.
You laughed. "Not even if someone proved her wrong?"
"No."
"What if the evidence was literally right in front of her?" He glanced over at you with the faintest hint of amusement. "Especially then." You giggled, the sound making the corner of his mouth twitch upward before he could stop it. When the talking faded, neither of you rushed to fill the silence.
Instead, you simply walked beside one another, your footsteps naturally falling into the same pace without either of you noticing. The quiet never felt awkward. As the walk continued, the realization hit that this is the same path from your first hangout a few months ago, did he plan this on purpose? Surely not.
Spring had transformed the campus entirely since that day. Everything felt alive. You'd always loved spring. The peaceful silence drew your attention toward the pond just ahead. As you got closer, the water reflected streaks of gold, pink, and soft orange from the setting sun, each ripple turning the colors into moving brushstrokes across its surface. Near the edge, a family of ducks floated together, the tiny ducklings eagerly following behind their parents in an uneven little line.
"They're so cute..." A smile spread across your face as you watched them paddle across the water. The breeze brushed a few loose strands of hair across your cheek. "It's so beautiful," you murmured softly. Megumi looked over. "...Yeah." His voice came out just above a whisper. "It really is." But he wasn't looking at the pond, he wasn't watching the sunset shimmer across the water, he didn't even notice the ducks. His eyes had settled on you instead.
The golden light painted soft highlights across your face, catching in your eyes every time you looked around in quiet wonder. The breeze carried the familiar scent of your perfume toward him again as strands of your hair danced gently in the wind. You looked so completely at peace, smiling at something as simple as a family of ducks swimming together.
Beautiful, he thought. The word came so naturally it startled him.
Once you appreciated the view for long enough, you turned your gaze forward and could already spot the willow tree from months ago. As you studied the nostalgia filled tree, your eyes fell upon a picnic blanket. You stopped immediately, your feet refusing to move any further. The white blanket rested beneath the hanging willow branches, creating a little secluded corner that felt like a little world of its own. Beside you, Megumi's heartbeat sped up.
Do you hate it? Did I do too much? I think I'm starting to sweat.
His eyes stayed glued to your face, trying to read every little reaction. He had spent far longer preparing this than he'd ever admit. Every plate had been rearranged at least three times before meeting up.
"Did you…prepare all this?" You asked quietly, still in a daze. Months ago, you had casually mentioned wanting to have a picnic once spring came around, but you never imagined he'd actually remember. It had been such an offhand comment that even you had almost forgotten about it.
"Yeah...uh I know you probably wanted it to be a group thing but–" He replied, gaze drifting toward the grass as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"No no I like it…actually I love it." You interrupted, your cheeks flushing as butterflies erupted in your stomach.
His eyes widened slightly before a proud smile threatened to appear, "Really? I'm glad." He let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. He gestured toward the blanket with a small nod. "Come on." His voice was gentle as he walked over first, sitting down beneath the shade of the willow tree. You followed after him, carefully sitting beside him on the soft white blanket. For the first few moments, you simply looked around, taking in everything he'd prepared. A neatly organized charcuterie board sat in the center with different cheeses, crackers, cured meats, and little jars of jam. Beside it were fresh pastries, neatly sliced fruit, a bottle of passion fruit juice, and two cups waiting to be filled. Everything had its own little plate or bowl, arranged so neatly it almost felt too pretty to touch.
He even remembered the passion fruit.
Not too loudly, Megumi reached over and turned on a small speaker. The opening notes of your favorite Weezer album drifted softly through the air, blending with the rustling leaves overhead, the distant chirping of birds, and the occasional splash from the nearby pond. It wasn't loud enough to interrupt the peaceful atmosphere, it simply became part of it.
This was so perfect. Too perfect.
The warm spring breeze brushed against your skin, carrying the scent of flowers and fresh grass. For just a moment, everything else disappeared. School, missions, responsibilities...none of it seemed important anymore. All that mattered was this quiet evening beneath the tree with him. You looked up, only to find Megumi already watching you. Your eyes met for a split second before you smiled sheepishly. "This is so sweet. Thank you." He shrugged his shoulders as if none of this had taken hours of planning. "It was nothing." You couldn't help but smile even wider. You knew he didn't believe that himself. Megumi cleared his throat. "Start digging in while I pour you some juice."
"Alright." You hummed softly, reaching for your phone before touching any of the food. The picnic looked far too pretty to ruin without capturing it first. You quickly snapped a few pictures from different angles. Smiling to yourself, you saved your favorite one to post on your story later before finally setting your phone aside.
Taking one of the cute little plates, you carefully started picking out a few crackers, different cheeses, and slices of meat, arranging them far less neatly than Megumi had. You popped a piece of fresh fruit into your mouth before looking back up at him. Across from you, Megumi was busy unscrewing the bottle of passion fruit juice. He carefully poured it into one of the cups, making sure not to spill a single drop before extending it toward you. You accepted it with a thankful grin and a small nod. "Thanks." He simply gave a quiet hum in response. You took a sip, immediately smiling to yourself. The juice was still perfectly cold, making the sweet, tropical flavor stand out even more.
Megumi began filling his own plate, selecting a few crackers and snacks with the same quiet precision he seemed to do everything with. While his attention was on the food, you reached over and grabbed the bottle of juice. "I got you." You said casually, already lifting it toward his cup. The moment he noticed, he reacted almost instantly. "No."
His hand reached over to gently take the bottle from yours before you could pour anything. He shot you a small reprimanding look, one eyebrow raising ever so slightly. "I can do it." You blinked at him before letting out an amused laugh.
"Megumi, it's just juice."
"I know."
"Then let me pour it."
"No."
His answer came so quickly that it caught you off guard. Without another word, he carefully poured the juice himself before setting the bottle back down exactly where it had been. You couldn't help but laugh again, shaking your head with a smile. "You're ridiculous." He looked away, pretending to be focused on adjusting the placement of his cup.
"You don't have to do everything for me, you know." You teased.
"I know." He replied quietly. "I just want to." The words slipped out before he could stop them. His gentlemanly attitude made you chuckle. It wasn't like he wasn't a gentleman with you usually, but he was definitely being extra this afternoon and truthfully, you didn't mind it one bit. After that little interaction, one topic naturally flowed into another, interrupted only by the occasional laugh or teasing remark. Everything felt so light when you were with him. Maybe part of it was the warmth of spring surrounding you, or maybe it was the way your heart fluttered every time he looked at you for just a second too long.
Megumi's eyes met yours. His expression softened before his eyes widened slightly, almost like he'd just remembered something. "Hey, close your eyes real quick." His words came out a little more hurried than he intended as he scrambled to his feet.
You let out a quiet chuckle."Okay." Without questioning him, you shut your eyes. You heard the rustle of the blanket as he stepped away, followed by the sound of his footsteps disappearing across the grass. Curiosity tugged at you, but you resisted every urge to peek.
Behind you, Megumi walked over to the willow tree where he'd hidden one last surprise. Nestled behind the thick curtain of hanging branches was a bouquet he had carefully tucked away before you guys arrived, hoping you wouldn't notice it too soon. He picked it up carefully, making sure none of the flowers had been crushed.
Please like them.
He took one sharp inhale before slowly exhaling, trying to settle the pounding in his chest. His palms suddenly felt much warmer than they had a minute ago. This somehow felt even more nerve-wracking than asking you to come here. Walking back toward you, he stopped just in front of where you sat on the blanket. "Open them." His voice was noticeably softer this time.
You slowly opened your eyes. Standing before you was Megumi, both arms extended toward you, holding a gorgeous bouquet of lilies. Their delicate petals glowed beneath the golden evening light, shades of lavender, soft blue, white, and pale pink blending together beautifully. Their sweet floral fragrance reached you almost immediately, subtle but unmistakable. Your eyes widened. For a long moment, you couldn't say anything. Instead, your gaze slowly traveled from the bouquet up to Megumi's face. You looked at him with wide, doe-like eyes, as if you couldn't quite believe what you were seeing.
Megumi felt his heartbeat hammer against his ribs. He suddenly wasn't sure where to look. All he could manage was a small nod toward the bouquet in his hands, silently encouraging you to take it before he completely lost his nerve. A tiny pout formed on your lips as you reached forward with the utmost care, almost as though the flowers were too precious to touch. Your fingertips brushed against the paper wrapping before you gently accepted the bouquet into your arms.
You stared down at them for another moment, admiring every little detail—the carefully wrapped ribbon, the vibrant blooms, the way each stem had been arranged so neatly. You were feeling so many things all at once that you couldn't even begin sorting through them. All you could do was smile.
And that smile alone was enough to make Megumi's stomach flip like never before. From where he stood, the entire scene looked unreal. Behind you, the pond reflected the golden hues of the setting sun with streaks of soft purple beginning to peek through the sky. The willow branches swayed lazily overhead while the spring breeze carried flower petals across the grass. Nature was at its absolute peak.
But none of it compared to you.
The sunlight caught the edges of your hair, giving it a warm glow as you looked down at the bouquet with such genuine happiness. Your smile was soft, your eyes sparkled with wonder, and for a brief moment, everything else around him seemed to fade into the background.
I want to remember this. Not just the picnic. Not just today. This exact moment.
Very quietly, he reached into his pocket, moving as carefully as possible so he wouldn't startle you. His fingers wrapped around his phone while his eyes never left you for even a second. Slowly, he raised it just enough to frame you beneath the willow tree.
You looked...beautiful.
The quiet sound of the camera shutter immediately caught your attention. You looked up in surprise, turning toward him just as he lowered his phone. Thankfully, he'd managed to take the picture before you noticed. "Huh?" Your expression was filled with confusion as you looked between him and the phone. Megumi did his best to remain as casual as possible despite the slight warmth creeping onto his face. "For you to post." He peeked at you from behind his phone.
A laugh escaped your lips. "You could've just asked."
"Whatever." The corners of his mouth twitched upward almost imperceptibly.
Instead of teasing him any further, you decided to play along. Sitting up a little straighter, you held the bouquet closer and looked toward his camera with an amused smile. "Oh? Is this a photoshoot now?"
He gave the smallest shrug. "If you want."
You giggled before flashing a little peace sign toward the camera. Click. Then you formed a tiny heart with your fingers. Click. You glanced over your shoulder toward the pond, letting the sunset become your backdrop. Click. Finally, you lifted the bouquet beside your face, smiling as naturally as you could. Click.
"That's enough." You laughed, covering your face for a moment.
"I only took a few."
"You definitely took more than a few."
"Maybe."
As the little photoshoot came to an end, your attention drifted away from the camera lens and toward the phone itself. It was then that you noticed something tucked inside his clear phone case, your eyes narrowed in recognition. Is that an aster? Very carefully preserved despite its withered appearance.
You couldn't believe it. The lilies, the picnic, the music, the passion fruit juice, the way he'd remembered every little thing you'd casually mentioned over the past few months, and he kept that aster you gave him? There was no way this was casual. So was this what you thought it was or were you just making things up because you wanted it to be?
Megumi sat back down across from you, trying his best to ignore how violently his pulse hammered in his ears. He picked up his cup, taking a slow sip of juice to give his hands something to do. You watched him for another moment. If you didn't ask now you never would.
"So…what is all this?" Your voice came out much softer than you intended as you gestured to everything surrounding the two of you. The question froze him. Megumi immediately choked on his drink. He coughed, setting the cup down far quicker than intended as his heart seemed to plummet straight into his stomach.
Oh No. No no no. Not yet.
He wasn't ready. He hadn't practiced this part enough. His confession was supposed to happen later. After the food. After walking you to the dorms. Maybe beneath the stars when there wasn't any chance of ruining everything. His mind completely blanked. Finally, he forced out the first thing that came to mind.
"Well it's a hangout, right?" He shrugged, casually.
The words lingered between you. Like they'd been carved into the air itself.
Oh. Right.
Your fingers tightened almost imperceptibly around the bouquet.
Of course it was.
You gave a small nod, managing a faint smile that didn't quite reach your eyes. "Yeah." You looked down at the flowers resting in your lap. "...Right." The butterflies that had been fluttering in your chest all afternoon suddenly felt unbearably heavy. Something inside you quietly sank. Since when had you started hoping he'd say something else? I guess I misunderstood.
Across from you, Megumi immediately knew. Idiot. His stomach twisted painfully. Why would you say that? He wanted to grab the words back, wanted to explain. Wanted to tell you that he'd spent nearly two weeks planning this stupid picnic because you deserved something beautiful. That he'd gone to three different flower shops looking for lilies because he remembered you saying they were hard to find. That the dried aster petals in his phone case had been there since the day you tucked it behind his ear months ago.
Instead…He'd called it…a ‘hangout.’
The conversation started again after that. But neither of you were really there anymore. There was something different in your voice now. Quieter, more careful. The sparkle that had been in your eyes earlier had dimmed just enough for him to notice.
Maybe nobody else would've caught it. Megumi did. Every single change, pause, forced smile, every moment your gaze drifted away instead of finding his. Each one felt like another reminder that he'd just ruined the perfect opportunity. The guilt settled heavily in his chest.
Fix it. Say something. Anything.
But every sentence he came up with died before it reached his mouth. Eventually the conversation faded completely. Silence settled over the two of you once more. Only this time, it wasn't the comfortable kind. The music from the speaker suddenly felt too quiet, the breeze through the willow branches no longer sounded peaceful. Even the ducks on the pond seemed impossibly far away. The line he'd accidentally drawn between you sat there, invisible but impossible to ignore.
You kept your gaze lowered to your hands, gently running your thumb over the ribbon tied around the bouquet. "...It's getting late." You forced out a small smile. "Maybe we should—"
"No." The word left him before he could think. You looked up. Megumi had never interrupted you like that before. His fingers clenched so tightly around the edge of the picnic blanket that his knuckles had gone pale. He stared at the grass for a long moment, breathing through his nose as if he couldn't figure out how to make his lungs work.
"...I..." His voice cracked immediately. He clicked his tongue in annoyance with himself, rubbing a hand down his face. "I..." Another failed attempt. "...Damn it." His ears were bright red now. You watched him quietly, your own heart beginning to race.
"I keep..." He swallowed. "...I keep saying the wrong thing." Another pause. "When you asked..." He let out a shaky laugh that held no amusement. "...about all this..." His shoulders slumped. "I panicked." He looked over at you for just a second before looking away again. "I've been...trying to figure out how to say this all day." His words stumbled over each other.
"No...longer than today." He exhaled. "A while." His fingers tightened again. "I kept thinking if I planned everything right..." He glanced at the flowers in your lap. "...if I found the right place...got flowers you'd actually like...waited until sunset..." His laugh was quiet and self-deprecating. "...then maybe I'd know what to say." Another beat of silence. "I still don't."
He shook his head. "I've rehearsed this so many times." His voice came out barely above a whisper. "And somehow this is worse."
You didn't interrupt him. You simply watched.
Megumi closed his eyes for a moment before finally forcing himself to meet yours. "I told you this was just a hangout because..." He swallowed hard. "...because I got scared." His expression softened, every wall he'd carefully built over the years beginning to crumble.
"I thought if I told you..." he admitted quietly, "...and you didn't feel the same..." He couldn't even finish the sentence. "So I lied." Another breath. "I hate lying to you."
His gaze lingered on yours now, refusing to run away again. "This wasn't supposed to be casual." His voice steadied. "None of this was.”
His eyes flickered down to his phone for a second. "I kept that aster because..." A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "...it was the first flower you ever gave me. I know it's dried out. I know it's probably stupid. But I couldn't throw it away." His smile disappeared again as emotion settled over his features.
"Asters became my favorite flower because of you." The words came easier now, like a dam had finally broken.
"I started looking for excuses to talk to you. I'd catch myself wondering if you'd eaten yet, if you got to your dorm safely after a mission. I'd hear a song and think..." He huffed another embarrassed laugh. "'She'd probably like this one. I'd see something funny and my first thought was always..." He looked at you with an expression so open it almost hurt. "...I have to tell her."
His voice softened. "You became the person I wanted beside me. No matter what I was doing, no matter where I was." He shook his head. "You make everything quieter. My head's usually...loud. But when I'm with you..." He looked around at the pond, the willow tree swaying gently in the spring breeze, the warm orange light dancing across the water. "...it finally feels peaceful."
The sunset reflected in his eyes as he looked back at you. "And when you smiled just now..." His gaze drifted to the bouquet still cradled in your arms. "I thought that..." A tiny, breathless laugh escaped him. "...I've never seen anything more beautiful." He took one slow breath. Then another. His heartbeat felt loud enough for both of you to hear.
"I like you." The words were simple. Honest. "I wanted today to be perfect because you deserve it." His voice grew quiet again. "And because..." He held your gaze without looking away this time. "I wanted to be the one who gave it to you." Silence settled over the pond once more. Not awkward, not heavy, just full.
Megumi let out the breath he'd been holding for what felt like forever. "...So." A nervous smile, small and uncertain, finally appeared. "I guess..." He rubbed the back of his neck, looking away for only a second before finding your eyes again. "...I'm asking if you'll let this be more than just a hangout."
You couldn't believe everything you had just heard. Megumi wasn't the type to pour his heart out—not like that. Every hesitant word, every stumble, every confession had been pulled straight from the deepest parts of himself, and it completely unraveled the dam you'd been desperately holding together. The first thing that escaped you was a shaky laugh, your lips trembling as you fought to keep the tears from spilling over. You drew in a slow, steadying breath, hoping it would calm the way your heart seemed determined to beat out of your chest.
With gentle fingers, you plucked one of the lilies from the bouquet and tucked it behind your ear. The delicate petals brushed against your cheek, their sweet fragrance surrounding you. Then you reached for another flower. Cradling it carefully between your fingers, you looked back up at him. Your hand trembled ever so slightly as you inched closer, slowly lifting it toward him. Neither of you broke eye contact.
With the same tenderness from months ago, you tucked the flower above his ear. Your fingertips lingered for just a moment, brushing against the softness of his hair before grazing the warmth of his temple. Before your hand could drift away, his fingers gently closed around your wrist, so impossibly careful, as though he was silently asking for permission to hold on just a little longer. His thumb slowly slid against your skin before his hand found yours, carefully threading your fingers together.
Those usually guarded navy eyes searched every inch of your expression, quietly pleading for reassurance, for confirmation that this wasn't another hope he'd imagined. They softened with every passing second, the tension slowly melting away as he found nothing but warmth reflected back at him. Your hearts seemed to beat in perfect rhythm. Fast. Heavy. Close enough that you almost wondered if he could feel yours through your joined hands.
"Yes, Megs. I like you too." The words left your lips in barely more than a whisper, but they carried every feeling you'd struggled to put into words. A fond smile spread across your face, small and impossibly gentle, one that reached your eyes despite the tears gathering there.
Megumi simply stared at you. His lips parted ever so slightly, as though he'd forgotten how to breathe. The corners of his eyes softened, and his shoulders, tense for what felt like hours, finally eased. His hand trembled in yours, tightening just enough to reassure himself that you were real. He searched your face over and over, committing every detail to memory—the warmth in your eyes, the smile on your lips, the flower tucked behind your ear glowing beneath the golden light of the setting sun.
Without thinking, you found yourself inching closer. So did he. The distance between you grew impossibly small. Close enough to feel each other's breath. Close enough that your noses almost brushed. He hesitated. His eyes flickered between yours, searching them one last time. There was a question in them. When you didn't pull away—if anything, when you leaned in just the slightest bit more—his eyes dropped to your lips.
His free hand slowly lifted, almost timidly, until the back of his fingers grazed your cheek. He cradled the side of your face with unbelievable care, his touch so light it was as if he feared holding you any tighter would shatter the moment you'd built together. You instinctively leaned into the warmth of his palm. The smallest smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Then, with one last shaky breath, he closed the remaining distance.
His lips met yours in the gentlest kiss imaginable. Tentative. Almost hesitant. It lingered for only a heartbeat, both of you still learning the unfamiliar feeling. Neither of you pulled away though. Your fingers uncurled from his hand to guide it slowly to your waist. His eyes flickered down to watch your movement and then pulled you closer to him. Your lips meeting each other once again.
The second kiss was still gentle, but as you both slowly fall into the rhythm the nerves begin to fade. He wasn’t even thinking, his world narrowed down to this one moment of kissing you, trying to spell out every emotion he’s felt for you since the beginning with his lips over yours. The hand he had cradling your cheek traveled down to cup your nape. Your head tilted slightly, getting more comfortable while your arms wrapped around the back of his neck. The faint sweet tangy taste of passion fruit being passed between heavy breaths.
When the two of you finally ran out of air you pulled away in a daze. Your dress and his shirt evidently more wrinkled, a coat of your lipgloss on his lips, and both of your faces slightly flushed. After a beat of silence you both started giggling while adjusting your clothes and wiping off the messy gloss.
“So does this mean we’re official?” You ask teasingly with a nudge to his shoulder. Megumi’s brows furrow in confusion and eyes wide, “What? Was it not clear enough?” He asks, thinking you’re serious for a moment. You snicker at his reaction and he scoffs, realizing you were messing with him. He pulls you into a hug, which is only a means to start tickling you. You try to squirm away but to no avail, the only thing that causes is for the both of you to start rolling off the blanket and into the grass.
a/u: this is my first fic so please lmk what I could improve on :)
“If I was your boyfriend, I wouldn't let my friends talk about you like that. Just saying.” Yuji says casually before sipping his boba with his usual relaxed and content expression, walking down the hallway towards your dorm room with his unoccupied hand in the pocket of his hoodie. You roll your eyes and finish chewing the tapioca in your mouth before speaking, “You’ve been listening to that Justin Bieber song way too much, Yu.” Chuckling while speaking and shaking your head with a smile as you swirl your straw around in your cup as a reflex. The previous conversation on how your now ex-talking stage was talking about you behind your back, momentarily forgotten.
Yuji had overheard that douche’s friends making fun of you and him laughing along with them, not even trying to defend you. Did Yuji have a couple not-so-nice words with them? Yes. Did it end with each of those assholes with a broken bloody nose? Also yes. It’s not like he intended to fight them, he never goes out looking for trouble with others, not that they put up much of a fight anyway but what was he supposed to do? One, they came at him, stupid idea. Two, he wasn't about to let them talk shit about his childhood best friend and secret crush. No way, he’d rather eat rocks than let some losers judge you and get away with it after charging at him.
When you heard of the interaction you blocked and deleted that asshole's contact on every platform. Yuji has been at your hip ever since, well he's been at your side since you can remember but now more than lately. Today he insisted on getting you a sweet treat to help cheer you up even though you've been more than fine, hence why you both are now walking back into your dorm room after a run to the local boba shop in town.
Yuji whirls his head to the side to look at you with an expression that borders on offended as he opens your door and steps out of your path to let you in first, “There is no such thing as too much Bieber! That song is peak!” He barks out as you pass him with a forming pout on his taro tea coated lips, brown puppy dog eyes narrowed slightly, and nostrils flaring with every step he takes inside and towards your bed. You laugh as the door clicks shut behind him, shoulders shaking slightly and eyes down cast as you slip off your shoes and push them into your closet. “Okay yeah, it’s good, but all you’ve been talking about for the last week is what you’d do for your imaginary girlfriend.” You take the final sip of your boba before walking over to your messy desk and throwing out the empty cup in the trash bin beside the wooden furniture. You didn't exactly have time to organize anything before Yuji bursted in an hour prior and dragged you out by your wrist to the boba shop.
“She’s not imaginary! She’s just in the future!” He grumbles back in defense for the girlfriend he doesn’t have but wishes he did, kicking off his shoes and scooting back to sit against the headboard of your bed with his legs stretched out in front of him. If there is one thing to know about Yuji Itadori, he is definitely a lover boy. You snort and walk over, getting comfy at the end of your bed and turning on the small TV you have atop of your dresser. “How about we focus on the present then yeah?” you say with a chuckle while flipping through Netflix for a horror movie. Yuji rolls his eyes while slurping up the last bit of his boba, twisting his head to look at the TV and nudging the side of your thigh with his sock covered foot when he sees one he likes. “Yeah yeah, whatever you say.” He responds with a mumble and pouts.
You smile and click on the movie as he throws the now empty cup into the trash bin by your desk, nearly missing but surprising you both when the cup clinks into the metal square. With a now proud smile he leans further back against your headboard, getting comfy under your covers with his hands behind his head and licking the remaining sugar off his lips while the beginning credits roll. You throw the remote onto his lap before scooting further back to rest against your dorm room wall, which is pressed towards your bed. As the movie starts with its slow ominous intro of the directors names and the city montage, your mind starts to wander. You try to stay focused on the movie but the cozy smell and warmth radiating off Yuji only a couple inches away, makes it hard to focus on anything other than him.
You've been noticing how Yuji has been extra clingy lately with small actions. Claiming he was just bored whenever he would call or show up unannounced at your dorm room after his late night gym sessions or the consistent happy “Good morning!” text. You don't mind it, not in the slightest. Getting to see Yuji more often has been just the distraction you needed from school and training. He shows up at your dorm around 10 pm, pink damp hair sticking to his forehead from sweat and his clothes doing the same. His red hoodie and grey sweatpants sticking to his frame to the point his biceps strain against the fabric and a sliver of his stomach along with his Calvin Klein boxers peaking out from his sweatpants when he stretches his arms above his head. You’d complain about his sweaty smell and he’d give you the tightest bear hug he could without hurting you. A playful grin on his face, making you laugh and squirm to get away from him rubbing his damp hair on your shoulder but it never actually bothered you. His usual cozy smell fixed with the evidence of his hard work was strangely comforting.
Of course, he never showed up empty handed, with a bag from the local convenience store full of snacks and drinks. You often stay up talking about random topics, from Gojo and his teachings to planning random hangouts that’ll probably never happen. I mean seriously, do you really want to hike around Mount Fuji? You're fit, but who would ever want to spend their Saturday morning like that?
You guys have been attached at the hip since childhood, chasing butterflies at the park during spring and playing tag in community pools during the summer to escape the heat. Even as a kid, Yuji was overly affectionate. Giving you small flowers he found at the park that were your favorite color and breaking his last cookie in half to share with you. He was always smiling and giggling, never realizing how truly kind he was.
Even now as teenagers he was still the same ray of sunshine, an affectionate golden retriever, and walking teddy bear. In crowded areas he’ll sling his arm over your shoulders and keep you tucked close as he pushes through the sea of bodies. Apologizing and excusing you guys to people in passing with a warm smile, all the while putting his own larger but lean frame slightly in front of yours to make sure he took all the accidental hits from strangers walking. He follows the sidewalk rule religiously, guiding you by your waist to the opposite side of traffic without a second thought, all while continuing conversation like it doesn't melt your heart every time. During hard times in your life, like when you fail an exam or your period cramps are kicking your ass Yuji lets himself inside your dorm with a fresh bouquet of your favorite flowers and favorite chocolates. He sits on the edge of your bed talking softly with you above the hum of your heating pad on your belly about his day. He tucks in your blanket more securely over your shoulders every couple of minutes and pushes strands of your hair away from your forehead gently.
For the longest time you were simply comfortable with this affection and friendship, till something in your mind clicked two weeks ago.
One day you were walking out towards the field to train with Panda, the sun was beaming bright in the sky with a small breeze filtering through the trees causing leaves to shake and fall to the grass. There wasn't a cloud in the sky which meant it was absolutely boiling. As you walked to your meeting spot fanning yourself with your hand, you heard a familiar cheerful voice laughing from across the field. You turned your head to see Yuji, your cotton candy haired best friend shirtless and glistening under the sun. Every muscle on display, his broad shoulders, big biceps, lean abs and v-line making him look like he was carved from marble. Sweat sticking to his skin like he took a dip in the pool, muscles rippling like waves in the ocean with every jab and kick he sent towards Megumi.
Your steps came to a sudden halt, face blushing red and not from the sun. Heat pools low in your belly, a sudden and unfamiliar feeling that makes you squirm in place. You were studying every twitch of his abs after a kick and every flex of his bicep from a punch. You were fascinated by the way sweat trails down his body and how damn sexy he looks in his element.
Not only was he a sight to see but he was smiling and laughing the entire time, like he wasn't rewriting how you viewed him. Granted, he didn't know you were watching, but how could you not? Yuji never bragged about his physique, hell Megumi and now you are probably the only ones to know of it. That humble part of him always went over your head, but now you're seeing him in a completely new light. Seeing him for the gentle and carved from stone man he truly was. The breeze rolled above your overly heated skin, snapping you from your thoughts and causing you to reluctantly stop staring. You couldn't pay attention to your training in the slightest. Every 5 seconds mental images of Yuji’s rippling abs and bright carefree smile flashed in your head causing you to miss every punch you threw to Panda.
After that day, you paid less and less attention to your now ex-talking stage, catching yourself paying more attention to Yuji. You really started seeing him. The man who smiled and made everyone feel welcome and comfortable in any setting, the sensitive man who pouted when Nobara didn't want to watch Human Earth Worm 4 with him. When he saw an injured bird attempt to fly and winced like he felt its pain, but then flips the switch to protect you from some jerk who wouldn't let go of your wrist after rejecting his request for your number. You never really saw Yuji, only his title as your childhood best friend. But that came crashing down when you and him took a late night walk to clear your heads after a grueling day of exams and training.
It was a beautiful night out, full moon illuminating the falling cherry blossom petals as you walked the concrete path through a familiar local park. Grass blades swaying in the drifting wind with crickets chirping a song for the two of you.
“I missed you today.” Yuji said before sipping his favorite cherry flavored slushie, licking his lips with a small smile when the taste registers on his tongue. You hum your acknowledgement of his words while sipping your own slushie, swallowing before speaking, “We were only apart for like 4 hours, Yu.” You chuckle and nudge his side gently with your elbow. He laughs and puts his free hand to the spot you nudged, rubbing and wincing dramatically for show. “First off, ouch. Second, my days are always better with you in it.” He says with content before switching his slushie to his left hand and throwing his right arm around your shoulders, tucking you in close to his side. You smile around the straw in your mouth and fall into pace with him, his warm smell mixed with the sugar from his slushie feeling like home.
His warmth slowly seeping through the fabric of your hoodie and resting in your bones, feeling your body unconsciously relax against his. He realizes it and smiles, laying his cheek on the top of your head as he steers you two to a bench nearby.
“You’re such an idiot.” You say playfully, following at his side to the bench and sipping your own sugary drink. “Yeah. But I’m your idiot aren’t I?” He asks happily but clearly tired from the long day, his voice slightly lower despite the tone. You roll your eyes with a smile and sit on the bench, Yuji not letting go in the slightest. If anything, he pulls you impossibly closer. “Mhm.” You hum hum around your straw and sigh with content, watching the pink petals drift down onto dark blades of grass.
The full moon hung high in the sky, clouds idly drifting by overhead with stars painting the dark sky. The sweet soft floral smell of cherry blossom petals mixed with Yuji lulled your senses to the point of peace. Yuji, who had been looking at you ever since you guys sat down, watching your eyes roaming over every detail of the scene in front of you. He didn't care for the view of the park, the view of you tucked under his arm safe and cozy was the picture he'd want to remember the most.
You snuggle into his side, the condensation on your slushie cup making your hands cold and wet. You set it down next to you and dry your hands on your sweatpants, leaving wet stains behind. Yuji chuckled softly against the top of your head, saying the first thing that came to mind. “You’re going to get a cold.” He said so softly you nearly missed it. Despite knowing that it’ll be impossible to get a cold from wet hands, you smiled up at him anyway and said, “I’m okay…I have you.” Yuji smiled a little brighter, his arm around you becoming slightly tighter and his body straightening up like a proud protector of something rare and valuable. You chuckled softly again as he adjusted, that smile of his making your heart melt so fast you barely recognized why. It hit you then, how often you'd been staring at his soft pink lips lately, how unconsciously you'd lick your own as if savoring the imaginary taste of him. You waited to feel disgusted with yourself at the thought, waited to feel wrong for it, but the feeling never came. The only thing you could think of was how badly you wanted Yuji Itadori to kiss you.
“Helllooooo.” Yuji drags out, waving his hand in front of your face and snapping you from your trance. Eyes blinking rapidly as the view of your dorm room greets you exactly how you left it before disappearing in thought. Looking at Yuji, like a deer in headlights, not even realizing that half the movie just went by, “What?” You ask slightly flustered from your earlier thoughts, light pink blush dusting your cheeks. Yuji studies your expression, the flashing lights from the movie forgotten in the background casting shadows over his face which accentuate his jawline and cheekbones. The color on your cheeks and the way your chest seems to rise and fall a little faster doesn't escape him. “You okay? You haven't moved for the last thirty minutes. Was starting to think you fell asleep with your eyes open.” He says playfully but his tone is still laced with concern. You open your mouth to respond, and then immediately shut it. How do you explain what you were just thinking? Should you even explain it?
As if sensing your internal conflict, Yuji smiles small and opens his left arm from his spot against your headboard. “You don't have to tell me, just let me help.” He says almost pleading. You blink twice as if to make sure you weren't day dreaming again, when Yuji's open arm doesn't vanish, still waiting patiently for you, you smile small and crawl over. You sit next to him and snuggle into his side with a content sigh, his strong arm wrapping around your frame like a missing puzzle piece. He pulls the blanket over you and adjusts to make you as comfortable as possible. “I’ve got ya.” He whispers into your hair with his hand drawing lazy patterns on your arm. You smile and let your eyes fall shut, relaxing into him further and letting him care for you in a way that makes your heart flutter.
Yuji doesn't talk much after that, the movie continues playing but neither of you are watching anymore. You’re practically asleep against him, stretched out legs against his under the warm blanket wrapping you in a cocoon of warmth and comfort. Shortly after the movie ends you both are dead asleep, Yuji snoring lightly with his head tipped back against the headboard and mouth parted open slightly. Even in his relaxed state his arm never falls away from around you, keeping you safely pressed against him the entire night.
The next day you both wake up around the same time, a path of drool down Yuji's mouth that he sleepily wiped away with the back of his hand as you laughed. You guys got ready for the day of errands, throwing on casual comfy clothes that accidentally matched to run by a couple of stores. This wasn't the first time Yuji had accidentally slept over, so you learned to keep a drawer for some of his clothes in case of days like this. You spent the day side by side grabbing groceries and trying new food spots around town. A cute little hidden cafe by the farmers market you both went to, a new pastry shop by your childhood park, and lastly a bento shop by your usual movie theater. You talked and laughed like always, skipping cracks on the sidewalk like you used to do as children and raced to try and stop Yuji from opening the door for you. He still got there first, if on the rare chance he didn't, he would shove you only hard enough to get you out of the way to open it for you with a dramatic bow and a goofy smile before saying, “After you, m’lady.”
When you get back to the dorms you both end up getting messages simultaneously from the group chat you're in with Megumi and Nobara. After some back and forth, the group decides on going out to the arcade, Yuji reluctantly leaves you to get ready in your dorm but not before a hug that lasted longer than necessary and a pout. “I’ll be back to get you in 2 hours. Don't take long!” he said cheerfully with a wave before disappearing down the hallway.
You take the time to get dolled up with the expectation to take cute pictures and polaroids at the arcade. You do the whole nine yards, from an ‘everything shower’ to wearing accessories you've never worn but always wanted to. You wear your favorite outfit that looks stunning, sticking to every dip and curve of your body. Hair done to perfection just the way you intended and makeup so flawless it looks natural. You spray extra pumps of your expensive perfume you only save for occasions and slip on your shoes before stepping in front of your full body mirror. You smile at the reflection of yourself. You feel good, look good, smell good, and can't wait for this hangout.
When Yuji enters your dorm unannounced to pick you up as always he short circuits. “Woah…i mean-” he shakes his head fast trying to take back his words but it was too late. You were already chuckling and turning to face him. “Cute or what? I want to take pictures tonight.” You give him a slow twirl so he can see the full outfit, hair, makeup, and shoes. His jaw is slack, eyeing you up and down like a kid with his favorite lollipop flavor. “You look good. Good is more of an understatement actually.” He mumbles almost to himself, still dazed in disbelief. It’s true Yuji usually sees you in training clothes or pjs, so seeing you all dolled up is definitely one of his favorite versions of you.
Roughly two hours later you and your friend group were at the arcade, pictures were taken, Yuji had won a massive teddy bear, Megumi has slapped him over the head 8 times for being loud and stupid while Nobara laughed at him every time and somehow managed to get more tokens than all of us combined. Yuji was glued to your hip more than usual, eyeing you up and down like he’s seeing you for the first time all over again. If he isn’t at a machine, he’s at your side. If a guy gets too close, his smile slowly drops and is replaced with a death stare. You didn’t think much of it and just thought he was being protective, of course some part of you kind of wanted it to mean something else but that would never happen, right?
You were in the middle of watching an air hockey game between Yuji and Nobara, you and Megumi on the sidelines watching them bicker and yell at each other after Nobara got a point. You were kind of shocked at how good of a day you were having. Slow morning with your favorite person, yummy treats, lots of laughs, good conversations, and now a fun group hangout. You were certain that nothing could sour your mood.
The same moment a smile touches your lips at the thought, a familiar male voice calls your name from the other side of the arcade. Your head turns to see who it is, and the face that greets you instantly dulls your smile. That same ex-talking stage that laughed along with his friends is now half way across the arcade, eyes roaming over your figure and outfit like he’d never seen you before. To make matters worse, his entire friend group is in the back doing the exact same, ogling you like a prize to be won on the claw machine. He starts waving you over, trying to get you to go talk to him for a minute.
Yuji looked over when he heard your name and his jaw clenched, his fist wrapping so tightly around the paddle it creaks in protest. “Asshole can’t learn his lesson the first time.” He grumbles, game forgotten and now replaced with the overwhelming feeling to crush the guy’s nose in. Before Yuji could take a step over to him, you were already moving. That caused Yuji to freeze in place. What were you doing? Why are you walking away from him for that prick?
You end up talking with him for around fifteen minutes, and in those fifteen minutes Yuji didn’t move an inch away from the spot you left him at. Megumi and Nobara had long since moved on, now at a nearby basketball machine where Megumi surprisingly did decently on. Yuji’s expression was observant and extremely annoyed. How the hell are you even talking to him right now? Can’t you see how he’s eyeing you like a piece of meat? He watched you smile, watched you laugh and look at that loser with the same look you used to give him when you actually liked him. Yuji’s every instinct was telling him to go over there and drag you away, have your eyes on him and talk to him.
But he didn’t move, not until he saw that prick start moving closer and closer during the conversation. When his shirt was near to touching yours, Yuji finally moved. He stalked right over weaving between bodies and couples around the arcade without apologizing when bumping into them, he was a man on a mission and he was going to execute it. Mission: Get you the hell away from that asshole. He closed the distance in a few more quick strides, grabbing your wrist with a muttered “Excuse her” before dragging you away to the nearest empty corner.
You stumbled and didn’t look back, “Yuji slow down! What are you doing?” You say to him as you find your ground and match pace with him. He doesn’t let go of your wrist, doesn’t speak, doesn’t even look at you yet, and that bothered you. This isn’t the Yuji you usually see, you could tell he’s upset. But about what? And why?
When you finally reach the corner between a massive connect four game and a Call Of Duty shooting game he whirls on you, big hands on your shoulders and usual soft brown eyes burning through yours with an intensity you usually never see from him. “Why the hell are you talking to that guy? Don’t you remember what he said about you?” Yuji says almost urgently, desperate for answers and reassurance that you’re not thinking what he thinks you’re thinking.
You sigh, “Of course I remember, but he apologized profusely-“ you try to defend him but are quickly cut off.
“Yeah, because I punched him black and blue. He wasn’t sorry when he was laughing with his friends.” His grip on your shoulders tightening a fraction, never enough to hurt you, just enough to ground himself. You could practically feel his body thrumming with anger. Your lips form into a thin line before spiraling again, “I know Yu but I really think he meant it-“
“He didn’t.” He interrupts you again. He never interrupts you, not like this anyway. Not with the purpose to stop your sentence like he’s afraid of the answer. When he interrupts you it’s usually with a laugh or a comment during a silly conversation before telling you to continue. “He doesn’t respect you. If he did, he never would’ve said what he said. Why can’t you see that?” He says almost pleadingly with hints of anger.
“Yuji you couldn’t possibly know what he did and didn’t mean.” Your voice raises slightly. Why is he acting so weird right now? He’s usually supportive of every one of your decisions regardless of how stupid they are cause he knows he’ll be there to protect you. “He seemed really genuine. He suggested we could try again.” You say small, almost embarrassed to admit you had considered it for a split second before Yuji dragged you away.
Yuji’s jaw clenched, taking a step back from you and taking his hands off your shoulders like you burned him before interlocking his fingers behind his pink head of hair, the textbook sight of stress. Biceps straining against the fabric of his cream colored shirt. He searched your eyes and body language with a gaze almost reverent. “How could you not see your worth? Why can’t you see it? How can’t you see that he isn’t boyfriend material? If I was your boyfriend I’d never let you go. Never say such disrespectful things to you or about you. Boyfriends are meant to be your gentleman, so what the hell could you possibly see in that guy!?”
There they were, those damn words again. The same words he’s been saying for weeks. You knew he was right, you knew every word he was saying had a truth you couldn’t deny and that’s what pissed you off. This wasn’t about the truth anymore, your pride was bruised and you weren’t thinking straight. How could you have been so stupid to think that asshole changed? And to make matters worse, you snap back the first thing that came to mind, “You’re not my boyfriend Yuji!”
“What if I want to be huh!?” He snaps back almost immediately, hands falling from behind his head and reaching for your shoulders again. His tone is desperate and angry, hands clutching your shoulders like you’ll disappear if he lets go. “What if I want to be your boyfriend? What if I want to be your gentleman?”
Your mouth clamps shut, did you just hear that right? “..What?” You mumble, still trying to process what just happened. Instead of getting more aggravated, he’s…confessing? A small blush creeps up your cheeks, so many emotions flashing through your eyes that Yuji has come to love looking into.
He takes a steadying breath, searching your expression for any signs of rejection. When he finds only hope in your eyes, he continues. “I really, really like you. I’ve liked you for a while now, I want to be your boyfriend. I know we’ve been friends forever and I’m not experienced in this relationship stuff but….I’m so damn willing for you. Always for you.” His voice gets softer and softer the more he speaks, vulnerability and honesty lacing every word.
Seconds pass in silence, his confession hanging in the air as you come to three realizations.
One, Yuji has been your friend for so long you never even considered him as your boyfriend. Now that you have, there’s no way in hell you’re settling for friendship. You can practically picture it, date nights where you go out and enjoy a dinner with easy conversations and laughs, slow rainy nights spent inside where you binge watch movies and cuddle on the couch, stolen kisses in the hallway before class and inside jokes that’ll mean more to you both. Every good thing you've ever wanted in a relationship is already there. The trust. The comfort. The way he can make you laugh when you're having the worst day imaginable. The way silence with him never feels awkward. The way he's always been so stable in your life that you can rely on him fully knowing he’ll come running.
Two, you completely missed all the signs of his growing crush on you, but looking back he was soooo obvious. The constant showing up, the unnecessary times he’d put his arm across your shoulders on the train or on the back of your desk chair in class. The bags full of snacks he’d bring to your dorm for late night movie marathons were always your favorites, maybe two bags of chips and some candy he actually likes for himself. He would actively seek you out any chance he could. You realized you'd run into him more and more frequently in the hallways after classes that were too far apart to ever see each other unless he changed course on purpose. He’d be going on a jog at the same time you were training out in the field with Panda. Regardless of where you were, he'd always sit in the seat closest to you to drape his arm behind wherever you were sitting.
Three, you like him too. Not just a little. Not because he's standing in front of you pouring his heart out. You like him for the man he’s proven to be time and time again without an expectation to love him. Yuji is energetic, empathetic, and surprisingly emotionally intelligent with himself and others, often noticing when others are struggling before they say anything and being able to navigate his emotions on his own. It hits you that you've liked him for longer than you've realized, admiring him when you were kids swinging on monkey bars to an underlying crush hidden behind the comfortability of the friendship in your now teenage years . Maybe that's why his texts are always the first ones you answer. Why your eyes search for him whenever something funny happens. Why seeing him hurt after training has always made your chest ache in a way that feels different from everyone else.
The future you'd imagined only seconds ago suddenly doesn't feel hypothetical anymore. It feels like something you want. It feels so close you can grab onto it if you stretch out your hand. Something you've wanted all along and denied yourself the option in fear of not deserving him.
“Yuji..” You finally speak up, your voice softer than you've ever spoken. Yuji’s expression softens at the tone you used his name in, brown puppy dogs eyes searching yours trying to read your thoughts. “Yeah?” he says back after a couple moments. “What is it?”
You smile so fondly while maintaining eye contact, taking just a moment to commit this to memory. The metallic smell of the machines and sugar from the concession stand fills your nose. Yuji in front of you with blue and purple lights casting shadows along his sharp jawline and outline of his nose. Your hands suddenly feel clammy with nerves and excitement, the sound of games being played and tokens being won fade to nothing. “You should kiss me.” Your words leave you in almost a whisper, taking a step forward towards him causing you to tilt your head back to continue looking at him. Yuji's eyes widened in surprise, then nervousness, and then replaced with excitement. His hands on your shoulders twitching slightly with anticipation. “Really? Like on the lips? Right now? Right here? I mean i dont care where-” you laugh at his rambling, his eyes wide with excitement and soft lips pulling into a smile as you laugh. He realized then that your laugh is something he’d do anything to draw out of you. A sound he needs more than oxygen. “Yes Yu, right n-” You're immediately cut off by his hands cupping your face and his lips crashing to yours.
He hums into the kiss like he's been dreaming of this very moment forever, which he definitely has. Your hands find his hips on instinct as your lips move with his, soft and testing but with growing confidence in both your movements. When the feeling of your hands register in his brain he steps closer to you. His right hand moves to thread through your hair and cradle the back of your head while the left moves down to snake fully around your waist, his calloused hand and strong arm pulling you flush against him. You tip your head back into his hand for a better angle, your lipgloss sliding across your joined lips and reaching the tips of your tongues. His fingers flexing against your waist, holding you like you're both a porcelain doll and his anchor f his soul threatening to leave his body.
Before you could wrap your arms around his neck and make the kiss deeper a very annoyed fake cough comes from your left. You pull away to look at who it is and Yuji pouts, groaning in protest. Megumi and Nobara are staring at you both, Megumi standing there with his hands in his pockets and an unimpressed look on his face. Nobara’s jaw is on the floor, clearly upset that she missed a couple chapters. “You do know we're in public right?” Megumi says flatly. Nobara in the process of recalculating every single one of your exchanges within the last month just stares wide eyed and jaw slack. You open your mouth to speak but your head gets turned by Yuji whose lips find yours again. Even with your eyes closed, you know Yuji is currently flipping off his best friend with a smile on his lips that are back to moving against yours.
TIMESKIP
One year later, you and Yuji have been dating ever since that night at the arcade. Everyone said the honeymoon phase would end but you could tell it never would. Yuji gets genuinely excited about seeing you regardless of whether it's been five minutes or five days. He texts you whenever something reminds him of you, shows up at your dorm with your favorite snacks without being asked, even more than before, and celebrates your accomplishments like they're his own. There have been countless afternoons spent doing absolutely nothing together, lounging around in bed, watching movies or talking about random topics until three in the morning. He makes you laugh so often that you'd start expecting it, expecting him to throw in dumb jokes or exaggerated stories just to see you smile and hear you laugh. If you thought he was clingy and touchy before as friends, you underestimated how he would take the boyfriend title to its full advantage. Physical affection no matter the time or place became constant.
If his hand wasn't on you, he wasn't around. He would draw lazy patterns on your thigh under your desk in class, occasionally spreading his calloused hand wide on your thigh to massage the muscle and feel as much of you as possible. His arm now lives around your waist rather than your shoulders when in crowded train stations or just walking down the sidewalk together. He gravitates toward being as close to you as possible, keeping you tucked at his side like he physically couldn't stand not feeling you.
What became more evident was the newfound safety you felt with him. Yuji listens intently when you speak about what upsets you and reassures you with a patience only told in fairy tales. He remembers small details about things you've mentioned months ago and never makes you feel less than when you give him attitude during your period. To any other female he’s around, which is literally just Nobara, he’ll make playful comments like “You’re awfully emotional today.” But with you he won’t mutter a word other than praises like “You’re doing great baby. I know it hurts but you’re so strong. I’ve got you.” while rubbing your stomach in slow circles with just the right pressure to ease your cramps. He’s always your first call when something good or bad happens, the person you look for instinctively in a crowded room, and the one whose presence makes even bad days easier to handle.
The relationship isn't perfect, none ever is. He can be impulsive, stubborn, and sometimes reckless, but every disagreement would end with honest conversations because Yuji isn't someone who lets pride get in the way of caring about the people he loves, especially you. He'd humble himself more than he already does if it meant loving you properly. Despite being a year in, the butterflies are still there. But they've been joined by something deeper, the quiet certainty that your boyfriend is also your best friend, and that every day with him somehow makes the next one something to look forward to.
a/n: this is my first fanfic so pls have mercy (｡ᵕ ◞ _◟)
This is dumb. Megumi was never one for romance, but if he was, people think he would go for someone with the opposite personality because of the cliche; ‘opposites attract’. They were wrong, he has a crush on you, a friend who was as quiet and calm as he was, it’s not like he’d tell anyone though, nobody should know.
It’s recess, Yuji and Nobara are having one of their petty arguments while Megumi and you decide not to get involved. You were resting your chin on your palm, turning your glance between the two of them as they spoke. It was like watching a live reality show. You’d snicker to yourself sometimes when they got too ridiculous. At some point you decided to take a look at Megumi, but he was already looking at you. “Hey.”
He doesn’t break eye contact, dark blue eyes unreadable as always. His expression stays neutral, but there’s a slight softening around the edges—almost imperceptible, like the first crack in ice under warm light.
“…Hey.”
He glances away first, adjusting the sleeve of his black sweater like it’s suddenly bothering him. A beat passes before he mutters, “They’re exhausting.” But he doesn’t sound annoyed. Not really. More like he’s stating a fact you already know, sharing a quiet joke just between the two of you.
You nod in agreement and shrug, “When are they not?”
Both of you stayed quiet for a bit longer, just sitting next to each other while your other two friends were rambling on. They'd address each of you sometimes but you’d just respond with a nod or a hum.
“Wanna listen to music?” you asked abruptly.
He almost looks surprised at the question. But he quickly masks it, returning to his usual calm expression. “Sure.”
He fishes his phone from his pocket, opens the spotify app, and offers you one earbud. You gave a thankful nod as you placed the earbud in your ear. “Put that one playlist we made together,” you said. Leaning in towards him to see his phone screen, stretching your hand out to scroll through his library, your fingers brushing past his for a moment, “You still have it right?”
He can feel a slight heat rushing to his cheeks as your hand brushes his, the contact seemingly accidental but intimate nonetheless. He hopes you don’t notice the way his heart is suddenly beating just a little faster. “Yeah, I do.”
He nods, glancing at you as you scroll through his phone. There it is—the playlist you two had made together, a mix of both your music tastes. He watches as you select it, trying to act casual but acutely aware of every little touch between you.
“We should put a new cover on it. Or is this one fine?” you ask casually. It was an unspoken rule to have a picture of you two on it—a subtle but meaningful connection. The one on it right now was from a few months ago, a picture at a photobooth, just both of you with a small pressed lip smile.
He nods in agreement, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he looks at the picture. “Yeah, we should take another one.” He glances at you, the soft glow from his phone illuminating your face. He thinks you look prettier than usual but quickly diverts his gaze, not wanting to get caught staring.
“We’ve gotten much closer since then.” You hum in agreement, smiling slightly at the memory from that photobooth. You gestured for permission to grab his phone then went straight to his phone camera, made it face you for a quick selfie. “Make a heart,” you instructed while leaning your head closer to his. He feels a rush of warmth at the closeness, your hair grazing his cheek as you lean close. His heart skips a beat, but he keeps his composure, raising his hand and forming a heart with his fingers as you requested.
The picture captures the two of you close together, the subtle touch of your hair against his cheek, finger hearts, a casual smile on your face while he didn't smile but his eyes were softer than usual—a moment of intimacy in the midst of the noisy school hallway. “I love it,” you commented quietly while examining the picture fondly. He watches as you set the new picture as the playlist cover, his heart doing that strange fluttery thing again. “Make sure to send it to me later, yeah?” you hummed while placing his phone on his lap. He nods. The proximity between you two is comfortable. The closeness is comforting, a subtle connection that feels so natural now.
He glances at your hand, still close to his. The urge to take it in his own is hard to resist, but he bites it back. Instead, he says quietly, “You look pretty in the photo.”
“You look cute too..I guess…” was your mumbled response. Caught off guard completely from his comment, keeping your gaze forward as your cheeks threatened to tinge with pink.
"You guess?" He teases gently, nudging your shoulder lightly with a small smile playing on his lips. ‘You're adorable when you're flustered’, he thinks, but he keeps that to himself.
You scoffed at his teasing, nudging his shoulder back with the same gentleness. “Shut up, Megs.” Flicking his hand playfully, that same smile on your face.
He doesn’t pull away—doesn’t even flinch—when you flick his hand. Instead, he lets his fingers linger near yours, the contact warm and quiet. The way your knee presses against his feels like an anchor.
“...You started it,” he murmurs, voice low and teasing still, but there’s something softer underneath.
But the music? Still playing.
The playlist? Still named "ours."
And you two?
Closer than ever.
Yuji and Nobara have just finished their silly conversation and are finally turning their attention to you. “You guys done now?” you greeted them with a little smile and a polite nod.
Yuji grins widely, running a hand through his messy hair, while Nobara rolls her eyes dramatically.
"Yeah, we've reached the conclusion that my argument was clearly superior. As always." Nobara rolls her eyes. "In your dreams, Itadori. We all know I was right." They both banter back and forth, clearly not taking the argument too seriously. They turn their attention to you and Megumi—noticing the closeness. Yuji's eyes twinkle mischievously. "What are you two whispering about?"
“We were just listening to music,” you reply simply while gesturing to the earbuds in each other's ears.“It was more entertaining to watch your debate than be part of it.”
Megumi nods in agreement, his expression casual. "Fair enough. You guys were in your own little world." Yuji chuckles and ruffles his hair, a mischievous grin on his face. Nobara rolls her eyes but grins, nudging you lightly. "You weren't even paying attention to us at all, were you?"
“I think I stopped paying attention 15 minutes ago,” you teased.
“What do you guys wanna do now?” you asked, glancing in between all three of them, your gaze lingering on Megumi for a moment longer than the other two.
"Go get food. I'm starving," Yuji says, already standing up and stretching dramatically.
Nobara stands too, brushing off her skirt, "Only if we're not getting burgers again. We had them yesterday." Megumi stays seated, his knee still lightly touching yours. He notices your gaze lingering—just for a second longer than necessary—and looks down at his hands before speaking.
"We could go to that café near the park." He glances at you. "You like their coffee."
There's something thoughtful in his tone, the way he looked at you, how it seemed his request was just for the two of you. “Hmm that sounds good actually, I do love their coffee. Do you guys like that plan?” you ask with a hum to your other two friends. Yuji grins and claps his hands together, already excited about the plan. "Hell yeah! I was getting tired of our usual hangout spots. This'll be a great change."
Nobara shrugs, a small smirk on her face. "As long as there are sweets involved. I'm in."
Megumi nods in acknowledgment. He doesn't smile, but there's a slight softening of his usually stoic expression. He's actually looking forward to this—the quiet café with you.
"Then it's decided. Let's go."
The walk to the café was filled with the usual banter between Yuji and Nobara. They were loud by nature, with Yuji often cracking jokes and Nobara matching his energy with her own sharp retorts. Megumi and you, on the other hand, interjected occasionally. You two mostly observed the conversation, adding your thoughts when it felt natural. Megumi's attention, though, was half-focused on the conversation and half-focused on you—the way your hand brushed against his, the way you laughed at a joke, the way your eyes lit up.
After a while, you arrive at the café. It's a quaint, quieter place, exactly what Megumi would choose. The smell of coffee and pastries greets you at the door. The café hums softly with quiet music and the occasional clink of cups. Sunlight filters through the blinds, casting long stripes across the table. You're tucked into the booth beside Megumi—close enough that your shoulder brushes his whenever you shift.
He sips his black coffee, eyes low, but he’s paying more attention to you than the pastry in front of him. When you murmur about how cozy it is, he glances at you from the corner of his eye.
“...Told you,” he says quietly, voice just above a whisper so only you can hear. “Good coffee too.”
He nudges his cup slightly toward you in silent offering—his way of saying, ‘You know I got your favorite.’
Yuji is mid-sentence about some new horror film he wants to watch. Nobara groans dramatically. But Megumi barely registers them.
His focus?
You.
And maybe how nice it feels—the warmth between your arms where they touch under the table without either of you moving away.
“Thanks. You're the best.” you whisper back, giving him a little nudge with your elbow under the table as you sip the coffee. He doesn’t react much at first—just a slight dip of his chin, like ‘I know’—but the corner of his mouth twitches. Almost a smile.
While Yuji explains the plot of the movie, which you were actually interested in watching, you break a piece of your pastry and place it on Megumi's plate and then eat your piece. He finally looks at you fully. Dark blue eyes soft, guarded but warm, like he’s trying not to show how much little things from you mean. “You don’t have to feed me,” he murmurs under the chatter, voice low and dry. “I can afford my own food.” But he eats it anyway. Slowly. Deliberately. And when your arm brushes his again?
He leaves it there. Letting the warmth stay. Letting you stay close. Like this is where you belong.
When you feel the warmth of his arm on your stay, you quickly try to get a hold of yourself, to not let a stupid smile spread. So after clearing your throat you spoke, “When do you guys wanna watch the movie?” then taking a bite of the pastry, acting like holding Megumi’s hand wasn’t all you could think of.
"How about Saturday?" Yuji suggests, already excited."It releases Friday night, so we can go the next day!" Nobara nods. "Yeah. We should make it a full day thing. Arcade after, right?"
The conversation buzzes on, but Megumi stays quiet—watching you from the corner of his eye. He sees the way your fingers fidget with your fork, how you won’t look directly at him for too long now. And he knows. You're flustered. Good. He shifts slightly under the table—his hand brushing yours as he reaches for his coffee cup. Not an accident. Intentional.Soft. Brief contact that lingers in your nerves longer than it should. "...Saturday works," he says calmly, as if that small touch didn’t just send a spark through both of you.
It’s now Saturday and you’re all meeting up at the mall for the movie and arcade. You were already waiting by the snack stand with Nobara since you got there earlier to do some shopping. Megumi and Yuji arrive 20 minutes later, both with their hands in their pockets. Megumi's expression is indifferent as usual, but he can't ignore the way his heartbeat picked up the instant he saw you. Yuji grins and throws a casual greeting."Hey. How's the shopping spree?"
“Went well. I got a new necklace.” you shrugged casually, gesturing to the necklace which managed to match with your outfit perfectly. “We should get snacks already. The movie will start soon.” you added after everyone conversated for a minute.
The necklace catches the light as you move—simple, silver, elegant. Megumi’s eyes flicker to it for a heartbeat too long before he looks away, shoving his hands deeper into his pockets like they’re suddenly bothering him. “Yeah,” he agrees quietly, “Movie starts soon.” He falls into step beside you as the group moves toward the snack bar, close enough that his sleeve brushes your arm. When you order a medium popcorn and a soda, he silently adds a gummy pack to the tab. Just in case you want some later.
Yuji grabs an absurd amount of candy. Nobara rolls her eyes but tosses a gummy pack into her basket anyway. And Megumi? He watches you. Watches how your fingers tap lightly against your thigh, the same nervous habit he’s noticed before. And without looking at you, he says, “I like your necklace.”
Said low. Said quick. Like if he doesn’t rush it out now, he never will.
“Thanks. I really like it too,” you hum out a response. You all walk into the theater and take your seats, coincidentally Megumi and you sit together again.
The movie begins—an interesting horror flick with enough suspense to keep everyone’s attention.
The plot thickens. A jump scare. A scream and a flinch from Nobara. Some giggles from Yuji. Megumi stays stoic, expression calm, but his knee knocks against yours slightly as he shifts. Trying to get an optimal view between you and the screen. You’re not the type to be scared from movies but these jumpscares were definitely intense. You grimaced at the screen from an especially gory scene, then take a glance at Megumi, he's as stoic as ever, so you tugged on his hoodie sleeve slightly. “How does nothing faze you?” you whispered with a quiet chuckle. He glances down at where your fingers tug his sleeve, just a fraction of a second too long, before turning to you. The dim light from the screen casts shadows across his sharp features, but his eyes are soft. “...It’s just fake blood,” he murmurs, voice low and steady.“I’ve seen worse.” Another jump in the film—a loud crash—and Nobara actually yelps. Yuji cackles. Megumi doesn’t even flinch. But he does something small. Subtle. He shifts slightly closer to you on the seat, shoulder pressing into yours like an anchor. And when he speaks again, it’s quieter, just for you. “I’ll warn you before the next one.” Like it’s nothing. Like protecting you isn’t something that matters. But it does.
Your forearms are now sharing the arm rest of the theater seat. You were slowly reaching out for the soda cup that was in the cup holder in the front of the arm rest when suddenly another jumpscare hit, it genuinely made you flinch the hardest from the others. You clenched whatever was in your hand. Then you quickly realize that what was in your hand, was Megumi. Megumi's hand. You accidentally grabbed his hand. “Oh…i-im sorry i didnt—“ your usually calm and stoic expression was nowhere to be seen, panic and embarrassment filled it, your hand started letting go of his as you spoke.
When the jumpscare flashes across the screen, Megumi doesn’t even blink. His attention is on you.
On your hand—small, trembling, already pulling away like you’ve done something wrong.
Before your fingers can fully slip from his grasp, he shifts. Just slightly. And then his hand turns, catching yours before it leaves. Not tight. Not dramatic. A quiet hold in the dark theater light. “It’s fine,” he says lowly, voice calm like still water. “I don’t mind.” He doesn’t look at you, just keeps his eyes on the screen, but there’s a faint warmth creeping up his neck. His hand is just…there. Not gripping. Not forcing. Just offering. Like he’s saying, ‘I’ve got you,’ without saying it at all.
You nod slightly as if in a trance from his gentleness, your eyes look down to his hand, waiting for yours to stop hovering. So it does. Your hand intertwined with his, carefully, like this was a sacred act. Keeping your eyes forward on the screen when you did it, nibbling your lip, cheeks burning, heart pounding.
He doesn't react to the new contact. Doesn't tighten his fingers or shift his grip, but his shoulders relax ever so slightly. The warmth from his hand—warm and calloused and big—sinks into yours, sending a shiver through your nerves. He glances at your intertwined fingers, then away again like he's trying to look unfazed. But that faint flush creeping on his cheekbones? Gives him away. And he can't ignore the rapid beating of his own heart. Or the urge to smile. Just a little.
The movie starts reaching its peak, the adrenaline is high, focus has shifted towards it again. Whenever something caught you off guard your hand instinctively clenched around his slightly and he would rub his thumb over the back of your palm so tenderly, which is when you would become self aware again. It became so hard to hide a smile and how flushed your face became that you resorted to covering the bottom half of it with the jacket you were using as a blanket.
He notices every little thing. The way your grip tightens on his hand during the tense moments. The quiet hitch in your breath before a jumpscare. How, each time, you seem to forget—just for a second—that you’re holding his hand at all. And each time you squeeze? His thumb moves. Soft. Calm. Reassuring.
Like he’s saying, ‘I’m here,’ without breaking focus from the screen. Without giving anything away to Yuji or Nobara beside him who are too wrapped up in the chaos of the film anyway. But when he feels your fingers curl tighter, your palm warm and slightly damp from nerves, he doesn’t just comfort you once... He does it again. And again. Each pass of his thumb is slower than the last. Gentle. Steady rhythm under dim light and flickering images across your faces—underneath that half-covered smile hidden by fabric and false modesty. He stays still outwardly, but inside…it’s all falling apart in silence.
Because this?
You leaning into him like this?
Trusting him enough to hide behind your jacket but not let go of his hand?
Means more than anything else ever could.
The credits on the screen begin to roll. Yuji and Nobara stretch and chatter, discussing theories and critiques like they do after every film. But Megumi doesn't move. He watches you from his peripheral vision. The way your focus shifts to his hand, how you look conflicted between letting go and staying. The subtle way your fingers clench, gripping him a little tighter like you want that reassurance again. He stays still. Doesn't speak. Lets you make the first move.
It was fine to do this in the dark, but the second the lights in the theater turned on, panic settled in you and quickly let go of his hand. “So did you guys like the movie?” you cleared your throat while fidgeting with your hand. It was tingling, burning. his warmth lingering in your palm. Yuji launches into a loud review. Nobara argues over his interpretation. Megumi stands slowly, hands in his pockets again. His fingers curl slightly, as if remembering yours. "I liked it," he says quietly, eyes flickering to you for just a second. "Especially the ending." He doesn't mention the warmth. The way your hand fit in his. How he didn’t want that moment to end. But when you glance at him, nervous and flustered, he gives the smallest nod.
Not smiling, but calm, like everything’s fine, like ‘you’re safe.’
And that single look says what he never will:
‘I liked holding your hand.’
‘I still do.’
That look was all you needed for the anxiety and panic building up inside you to dissipate, crumbling in almost an instant. Understanding everything through his eyes, like you always did, silent communication only you two understood. Returning the same nod, “I liked it too. Crazy twist.”
The four of you began to walk towards the arcade now. Yuji and Nobara were a few steps ahead because of excitement and the fact they're still geeking about the movie. While walking with Megumi you let the back of your hand press against his. He glances at your hand, his own hand flexing subtly at the contact.
But his expression remains unchanged, eyes low, mouth slightly downturned like he's deep in thought. He's careful to keep up his facade in front of his friends.
Yuji's in a frenzy on the next video game while Nobara watches with a teasing grin when he fails a difficult level. "Dammit!" Yuji yells. "Why is this part so hard?!" Nobara cracks up, shaking her head.
"Dude, you just suck."
You snicker as you watch Yuji and Nobara play video games. “Yuji try again. Just aim higher,” you encouraged. Yuji grunts, grumbling about being given orders, but he follows your advice anyway.
He hits the target, getting past the level, and cheers loudly. Nobara cackles with laughter when he turns to face her with a huge grin. Seeing them have fun is fun in itself, amusing to say the least. While they're not paying attention your pinky finger reaches out for Megumi’s, curling around his so carefully. You take a sneaky glance towards him for a moment, there's no smile on your lips but in your eyes.“After they play this one, I wanna play the racing game over there.” You speak casually, acting like nothing is happening, nodding in the direction of the game.
Your pinkie gently curled around his has his whole attention. He can't help glancing at you, can't help the way his pulse jumps. But he plays it cool. "Hm?" he hums softly in response, pretending his heart isn't racing. "You like racing games?"
You nod your head with a pressed smile. “Mhm. One of my favorite arcade games. Besides shooting ones.” Once those two were done with their game you gave Megumi’s pinky a little tug to make him follow. “Play with me.” you say while gesturing to the seat next to yours. He follows without a word.
Slides into the seat beside you like it’s nothing, like his hand isn’t still tingling from where your pinky touched his, like he doesn’t feel every breath you take near him.
“Fine,” he says, voice dry, “but don’t blame me when I win.”
His fingers hover over the controls, posture straight, eyes locked on the screen—but when you look over at him for a second too long before the race starts. He side-eyes you, just once.A quiet challenge in that glance. And then—
GO!
The race begins. Tires screech. Megumi reacts fast, calm under pressure, but then…
You surprise him. Tight turns, perfect timing. Yuji and Nobara watch with growing interest behind both of you. "Whoa—she's actually beating Megumi!" Yuji blurts out loud. Nobara raises an eyebrow and smirks. "Huh... looks like someone finally met their match." On screen, you cross the finish line first by half a second. Megumi leans back slowly as defeat flashes onscreen beside his car name:
Player 2 — LOST
He’s not annoyed, not even close to it. He exhales something quiet, almost a sigh… or suppressed amusement? Without looking at you directly,“…Lucky break.” But there’s no heat behind it, only warmth.
“Sore loser.” you replied, an underlying giggle in your tone. There was such a proud glint in your eyes, how excited you were from not just playing but actually beating him at the game. Nobara and Yuji hype you up, nudging your shoulders and making pulling jokes. Your usual little smile was big now, all toothy.
"Sore loser?" Megumi scoffed, finally turning to face you, just slightly. His eyes catch yours.
And for a split second, so fast you might miss it, there’s something soft in them. Almost like he’s smiling on the inside. "...I let you win." He says it flat. Deadpan. Like he really expects you to believe that.
Yuji snorts. "Yeah right! You were dead serious the whole time!" Nobara leans in while snickering "Pride’s taking a hit today, isn’t it, Fushiguro?"
You’re glowing. Laughing. All teeth and light and warmth—and Megumi can’t look away. So instead of arguing?
“Play again.” He crosses his arms and looks back at the screen. He really wants to see that smile again…
You take him up on his challenge. Playing about two more rounds but only the same outcome. You beat him, he did try his best at the game but it was inevitable. “That was fun.” You smiled, the toothy, proud, bright smile.
Then Nobara sees the claw machine and makes you all chase after her. "I saw a plush of that cursed spirit from the last mission in there!" Nobara announces dramatically, already fishing out coins. "It’s coming home with me." Yuji groans. "You’re gonna waste all your cash again—" "I do not lose at claw machines," she snaps. Megumi watches from a distance, arms still crossed, though his fingers flex subtly against his sleeve where your hand had held his earlier. You step closer to the machine, peering inside at the prizes. And then you see it. A small black cat plush, simple, soft-looking, sat quietly among the chaos of gaudy toys… like it didn’t care if anyone noticed it. Just like someone else here.
"Huh..." You glance sideways at Megumi without turning your head. "That one’s cute." He stiffens slightly, as if caught off guard by being indirectly called “cute” and looks away fast. But when you aren't looking, he studies the black cat plush with new interest. "...It's just a toy," he mutters, voice flat.
You all watch Nobara try to get her plush for a while but to no luck. She failed so many times she had to go get more coins with Yuji so you and Megumi stayed behind to claim the machine. You noticed him looking at the black cat plush again. “Do you want it? We could try to get it.”
He doesn’t answer right away. Just stares at the plush, round eyes, unimpressed expression like it’s judging everyone in the arcade. "...No," he says flatly. "It's stupid." But he doesn’t look at you when he says it. And his hand flexes again, like he’s imagining reaching for it. You tilt your head more, not buying it for a second. So quietly, you step closer. Close enough that your shoulder brushes his arm. "Then why keep looking at it?" you whisper, voice low. "I’ll get it for you if you want." His breath hitches, just slightly, but he schools his face fast. "...I don't want some dumb plush." Liar.
Before he can protest further, you slide coins into the machine and take hold of the joystick.
Megumi watches, not the plush, but you through the reflection of the window. The way your fingers move with focus, how your tongue peeks out slightly between your lips when concentrating. The claw drops—MISSES. A beat of silence. You huff, a small laugh escaping. “Oh..woops..” He finally looks down at you. "Let me try." Not because he wants to win. But because he wants to see what happens if he gets it, for you instead. Or maybe something small that can belong to both of you.
He drops a few coins into the machine and takes the control. You stand next to him and watch closely. It seems Megumi knows how these things work, maybe he’s seen Yuji play enough to learn the trick. He aimed for the back of the plush, not the front. The claws open and close, adjust…and then they grip. The plush lifts. It hangs. Holds steady. Slowly rises out of the machine like a bird taking flight. And the claws open again, dropping the plush straight into the prize slot. “You did it!” you let out a surprised gasp and tap his shoulder repeatedly in excitement. You bend down to get the kitty out of the shoot and hold it out for him. “That was so cool.”
He doesn’t move at first, just stares at the prize slot like he can’t believe it actually worked. Inside, quiet and deep, something warm spreads through his chest. Unfamiliar. Too big to name.
"...I guess," he mutters, voice low, trying to sound smug—but it cracks slightly under your gaze.
He glances down at the plush but only to come back and hold your gaze for a moment. Then slowly shake his head. "Keep it." Just like that. No explanation. No argument. "Just... don't lose it."
Your brows lift at his words. Could he tell you wanted it too? Why is he just letting you keep it? When you open your mouth to urge him to take it back, Yuji and Nobara come back. So you admit defeat in trying to give it back. Instead you treasure it, a gift from him. Cradling it in your arms like nothing else matters.
Every time you four come to the arcade you take a picture at the photobooth so here you are, squished together into the booth. Nobara and you sat next to each other and Yuji sat next to Megumi.
The photobooth flashes three times—bright bursts in the dim arcade light.
First flash:
Nobara grinning with a peace sign, Yuji mid-laugh, you holding the black cat plush against your chest like it’s something precious with a small smile. Megumi sits stiffly in his corner, arms crossed, expression blank.
Second flash:
Yuji puts his arm over Megumi, while Nobara puts her arm over you, pulling everyone closer for a silly picture. You stick out the tip of your tongue while Nobara and Yuji go wild, and Megumi’s face is just of judgement.
Third Flash:
After a lot of convincing your friends finally got Megumi to smile for a picture with the rest of you. All four best friends with toothy smiles.
The booth printed out four strips for each. Your eyes light up seeing the picture, “It's adorable.” Yuji and Nobara took all your tickets to redeem some prizes so it was just you and Megumi again. Just there. “Wanna get a picture together?” you ask quietly. Just to have something to do while you wait. It's not like you haven't taken photos by yourselves before. He nods in agreement and we both sit inside the booth again.
For the first picture you both just lean into each other and you do a peace sign with a simple smile, he copied your mannerism. There was a 10 second interval, you posed next to him holding up the plushie he got and he had a blank look on his face. At the last second, you impulsively turned your head and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “Thanks..” you mumbled quietly, a shy look on your face, surprised about the fact you actually did that. That was the second picture, you kissing his cheek.
Megumi looks so caught off guard it’s almost comical. One hand half up like he just started reaching for you, one hand stiff in his pocket, head slightly turned. Not the cool, calm guy he usually is. Before you can apologize or explain or act like it didn't even happen, you feel a hand on the back of your neck. Cool fingers, pulling you closer, tilting your head back slightly. And without warning, his lips hit your cheek. Soft, warm, so gentle. Like you're something precious, too. And flash— that was the third picture.
Once the photoshoot is over and the pictures print you take one for each silently, still processing what just happened. When you see the photos your heart melts but the vibe in the booth still hasn't been addressed. You look up at Megumi, not really knowing what to say. “Um..” clearing your throat nervously, trying to gauge his reaction from the impulsive behavior. “That was..stupid.” you mumbled and rubbed the back of your neck as you tried to find the words.
"Stupid?" He repeats, voice low—almost a scoff—but there's no edge to it. He doesn’t look at you. Instead, he studies the strip of photos in his hands like they hold the secrets of the universe.
"...Yeah," he says finally, voice quieter now. "Totally stupid." Then he tucks the picture into his hoodie pocket, carefully, deliberately, and turns to face you.
"Just like how it was stupid for us to hold hands..."
A beat.
"...Stupid to look at you the way I do..."
Another pause. His fingers brush against the pocket where the photo now rests.
Then, so quietly only you can hear—
"...And stupid that I didn't do this sooner."
And before your brain catches up, He reaches out. Not for your hand this time. But to cup your jaw—gentle but sure—and leans in slowly, giving you every chance to pull away…until his lips meet yours in a soft, fleeting kiss under dim arcade lights. A little hum escaped you as you deepened the kiss a bit, saying ‘I wanted this too,’ as if confessing everything to each other just like this. After a minute or two you separated, your bodies still close to each other, just examining one another’s eyes. A moment later you start chuckling softly to yourself, “I'm happy.” you say quietly while reaching out for his hand.
"...Yeah," he whispers, "Me too." A smile plays at your lips when he confesses he feels the same way.
His eyes linger on you, on your lips, his thumb swipes gently over the back of your palm, like he needs to reassure himself that he just actually did that. Then—as if the world around them finally catches up—his eyes glance away for a moment. And his cheeks are pink. "...Should we go find Yuji and Nobara?"
You wouldn't be able to be this confident later but because of the emotional high you lean in and give him a quick kiss on the cheek again. “Yeah lets go,” you hum with a nod. With fingers intertwined, you lead him out of the photobooth to go find your friends. He lets you pull him along, fingers laced, palm warm in yours. Spotting them near the snack bar and you wave with your free hand. “There you guys are.”
At the snack bar, Yuji’s juggling three sodas like a clown. Nobara yells at him to stop before he drops them all. When they spot you two walking hand-in-hand? Nobara freezes mid-sip. Yuji nearly chokes on his drink. "Wait—WHAT?!" She narrows her eyes, scanning your faces. The blush on your cheeks, the way Megumi isn’t letting go even though he definitely should be if he wanted to hide it. "...Oh my god," she says slowly. “What's up?” you ask simply, acting like nothing is out of place, just super casually and nonchalantly like usual. But seeing them speechless was definitely the most amusing part of the day.
Yuji is the first to react, pointing at you both with one hand while his other hand struggles to keep his soda balanced. "Are you guys--?!" he blurts out, wide eyes going from your faces to your intertwined fingers like he can’t believe it. Nobara is the opposite; slow to react, but fast to understand. She stares at you for a whole minute before pointing an accusing finger in your direction. "...No freaking way, girl. Don't tell me you—you and Megumi?!"
Their reactions are so ridiculous it cracks your facade. You hum like you're thinking of an answer and then shrug. “Maybe.” you say in a teasing tone while Megumi squeezes your hand and looks at them with an unamused expression, our plushie in his other arm. Like if he was carrying our child.
They both explode.
Yuji chokes on his drink again. Nobara claps her hands over her mouth like she just saw a ghost. Both their eyes jump from your faces to your intertwined fingers and back. Yuji finally recovers, wiping soda off his chin. "For real?!" Nobara, still speechless, slowly drops her hand away. "When... when the hell did this—?" Megumi looks bored. "Just now." They go silent again.
Then, at the exact same time:
"NO WAY!"
"WHAT?!"
"YOU??"
"OH MY GOD!"
They look at each other. Then right back at you. In complete, utter shock. "Wait, seriously?! You have to tell us everything. How this happened—when—seriously. Now. Go."
“It just kinda happened.” you said simply. “Nothing too crazy.” you added while glancing up at Megumi. His eye twitches. "...That's it?" Nobara says, squinting at you like she doesn’t believe a word. "How did two of the most hardheaded people on the planet just…accidentally wind up dating?!" Yuji leans in, fascinated. "Dude… did you fight for her honor or something cool like that?!" Megumi pinches the bridge of his nose. "We held hands first." Silence. Then—
"YOU WHAT?!" —both scream simultaneously, loud enough to startle the snack bar cashier.
Megumi looks so done right now. Like he wants to disappear into his own shadow and stay there forever.
You gave the snack bar cashier an apologetic nod before shaking your head and taking a deep sigh before continuing. “During the movie. That's when that happened.” you explained in a quieter tone.
"...You're not helping," he mutters under his breath at you, voice low and strained.
Yuji clutches his chest dramatically. "No way… Megumi Fushiguro? Holding hands in the dark? Like some kind of romantic drama lead?" Nobara narrows her eyes—then slowly grins. "Wait... I saw something." Both of you and Yuji turn to stare as she pulls out her phone with a smug smirk.
"...I took pictures during the movie."
"What?!" —Megumi immediately tries to lunge for it—but she holds it up high above her head.
The screen lights up. It was a selfie of the four of you watching the movie, Nobara smiling with a peace sign, Yuji making a silly face, but the two of you were too focused watching the movie.“ I didn't notice before but now that you guys mention it…” Nobara zooms into it: The arm rest which you and Megumi were sharing, your hands intertwined. Crystal clear view. "...This," she says dramatically, voice rising an octave,"is evidence." Yuji grabs her phone and zooms in on Megumi's face with a gasp. "Dude! You were being all... soft! Like actual mush!" Megumi looks about ready to summon Mahoraga right here in this arcade just so he can delete reality itself.
Your eyes widen when you examine the picture, if you weren't looking at it closely you definitely wouldn't notice those hands together. You sigh deeply and rubbing the side of your temple. “Well yeah there you go…caught us.” you mumble and roll my eyes. (you’re definitely asking Nobara to send you that picture later.) “..and then we took pictures at the photobooth together like i said before and thats it.” you said simply after clearing your throat, hoping they will be satisfied with just that.
Both of theirs' eyes go wide. Like they can't actually believe it. “And that's it?!" Nobara groans, dropping the phone into her bag."That's your whole story?! The big romantic revelation?! Come oooonnnn!"
"Right? What the—" Yuji sputters. "What about... like, fireworks?! Or roses?!"
While you watch them whine you almost feel bad for them, they ARE your best friends, of course they're curious. You glance at Megumi, as if gauging his opinion on indulging them just this once. “Megs?..” you asked quietly while giving his hand a gentle squeeze. Megumi glances at you and instantly his expression softens. His shoulders relax slightly, which was all the answer you needed. "...Fine." Their reaction is instant. Nobara and Yuji's grins go from zero to a thousand in 0.7 seconds. "REALLY?! FINALLY!"
“Alright. Pay attention. I'll only explain once.” you clear your throat while signaling them to sit down and quiet down. “So he won me the cat plushie.”you begin, pointing towards the plushie he’s still holding. “Then while you guys were gone we went to the photobooth.” you show them your photo. “then we actually had a real kiss.” you summarized everything quickly and efficiently. Then braced impact.
Both of their jaws drop. "...No way," Yuji mumbles, voice barely audible. "Holy..." Nobara whispers, eyes locked onto the photos. A moment of shocked silence. "NO. FAIR!!” both scream simultaneously, loud enough to bring the attention of all the other arcade-goers. "You two are already all sweet with each other?!" Yuji wails. "And we didn't even get to see any of it!"
You roll your eyes and give them an unamused look. “Thats what the picture is for. Look at it now. You won't see it again.” you huffed in almost a strict tone. Giving them a few more moments to get a good look at it then put it away in your bag. “Take it easy. We're dating now so you’ll probably catch a cute moment or two with your own eyes.”
"Probably?" Nobara snaps, putting a hand on her hip and raising an eyebrow. "Now that we know, we're going to be watching like hawks." Yuji nods enthusiastically. "Totally. We gotta witness every adorable moment now!" Megumi sighs under his breath; he can already tell these two are going to be a pain.
As they start devising all their plans to catch you being lovey dovey, you glance at Megumi slowly and lean into his ear. “I think this is our chance to escape…but real slow so they don't notice…” you whisper to him while nodding towards the exit of the arcade. Megumi doesn’t even look at you. He just nods. Once, sharp and quiet, then slowly turns his body toward the exit like a shadow slipping through cracks.
His grip on your hand tightens slightly. Not in fear. In plan mode. "...On three," he murmurs under his breath, eyes still forward."One... two..." And then he yanks you gently but fast behind him as he starts moving, not running, not rushing, but stepping smoothly into the flow of people heading out, blending in with the crowd leaving after dark.
Nobara’s head whips around first. "Wait—where are they going?!"
Yuji blinks once… then shouts, "HEY! NO ESCAPING THE LOVEY-DOVEY REPORTING TEAM!!"
But it's too late. You're already near the door, the night air cool against your skin, and Megumi pulls you just outside into a quiet alley beside arcade lights flickering above…
Safe.
He turns to you the second you’re out of sight, chest rising and falling just slightly faster than normal—not from running, but you.Your laugh. Your eyes. The way your fingers are still tangled with his.
"...They're going to be insufferable," he mutters, voice low and dry—but there's no real annoyance in it.
Just quiet awe.
“Not just them. Gojo-sensei too, when he finds out.” you giggle quietly, wiping a tear from your eyes from how amusing this whole situation was. Then he leans back against the alley wall, tugging you gently closer by the hand until your shoulder brushes his chest. "...We could stay here a little longer."
“Yeah…or head back to the dorms.” you nod in agreement towards his suggestion.
The silence finally sets in, your safe haven, the distant hum of arcade music fades behind them as city lights flicker above, warm yellows cutting through night sky haze. The warmth from his hand and the softness in his face making that toothy smile of yours come back. Megumi looks down at where your hands are connected…then up at your face…
"…You're smiling again."
“I find myself wanting to do that a lot when I'm with you…”
He watches you quietly; watches the smile pull at your lips. The way you look up at him—how that simple upturn of your mouth and your warm, bright eyes makes him think...
This is peace.
His fingers tighten around yours—not enough to hurt, just anchoring. Like you might vanish if he lets go.
"...Idiot," he mutters, voice rougher than before. But his eyes? They're warm. Searching your face like it holds the answer to every question he's never asked out loud.
Then—softly—he lifts your joined hands to hold against his chest and presses a kiss on your lips; slow, deliberate…
a/n: this is my first fanfic so pls have mercy (｡ᵕ ◞ _◟)
This is dumb. Megumi was never one for romance, but if he was, people think he would go for someone with the opposite personality because of the cliche; ‘opposites attract’. They were wrong, he has a crush on you, a friend who was as quiet and calm as he was, it’s not like he’d tell anyone though, nobody should know.
It’s recess, Yuji and Nobara are having one of their petty arguments while Megumi and you decide not to get involved. You were resting your chin on your palm, turning your glance between the two of them as they spoke. It was like watching a live reality show. You’d snicker to yourself sometimes when they got too ridiculous. At some point you decided to take a look at Megumi, but he was already looking at you. “Hey.”
He doesn’t break eye contact, dark blue eyes unreadable as always. His expression stays neutral, but there’s a slight softening around the edges—almost imperceptible, like the first crack in ice under warm light.
“…Hey.”
He glances away first, adjusting the sleeve of his black sweater like it’s suddenly bothering him. A beat passes before he mutters, “They’re exhausting.” But he doesn’t sound annoyed. Not really. More like he’s stating a fact you already know, sharing a quiet joke just between the two of you.
You nod in agreement and shrug, “When are they not?”
Both of you stayed quiet for a bit longer, just sitting next to each other while your other two friends were rambling on. They'd address each of you sometimes but you’d just respond with a nod or a hum.
“Wanna listen to music?” you asked abruptly.
He almost looks surprised at the question. But he quickly masks it, returning to his usual calm expression. “Sure.”
He fishes his phone from his pocket, opens the spotify app, and offers you one earbud. You gave a thankful nod as you placed the earbud in your ear. “Put that one playlist we made together,” you said. Leaning in towards him to see his phone screen, stretching your hand out to scroll through his library, your fingers brushing past his for a moment, “You still have it right?”
He can feel a slight heat rushing to his cheeks as your hand brushes his, the contact seemingly accidental but intimate nonetheless. He hopes you don’t notice the way his heart is suddenly beating just a little faster. “Yeah, I do.”
He nods, glancing at you as you scroll through his phone. There it is—the playlist you two had made together, a mix of both your music tastes. He watches as you select it, trying to act casual but acutely aware of every little touch between you.
“We should put a new cover on it. Or is this one fine?” you ask casually. It was an unspoken rule to have a picture of you two on it—a subtle but meaningful connection. The one on it right now was from a few months ago, a picture at a photobooth, just both of you with a small pressed lip smile.
He nods in agreement, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he looks at the picture. “Yeah, we should take another one.” He glances at you, the soft glow from his phone illuminating your face. He thinks you look prettier than usual but quickly diverts his gaze, not wanting to get caught staring.
“We’ve gotten much closer since then.” You hum in agreement, smiling slightly at the memory from that photobooth. You gestured for permission to grab his phone then went straight to his phone camera, made it face you for a quick selfie. “Make a heart,” you instructed while leaning your head closer to his. He feels a rush of warmth at the closeness, your hair grazing his cheek as you lean close. His heart skips a beat, but he keeps his composure, raising his hand and forming a heart with his fingers as you requested.
The picture captures the two of you close together, the subtle touch of your hair against his cheek, finger hearts, a casual smile on your face while he didn't smile but his eyes were softer than usual—a moment of intimacy in the midst of the noisy school hallway. “I love it,” you commented quietly while examining the picture fondly. He watches as you set the new picture as the playlist cover, his heart doing that strange fluttery thing again. “Make sure to send it to me later, yeah?” you hummed while placing his phone on his lap. He nods. The proximity between you two is comfortable. The closeness is comforting, a subtle connection that feels so natural now.
He glances at your hand, still close to his. The urge to take it in his own is hard to resist, but he bites it back. Instead, he says quietly, “You look pretty in the photo.”
“You look cute too..I guess…” was your mumbled response. Caught off guard completely from his comment, keeping your gaze forward as your cheeks threatened to tinge with pink.
"You guess?" He teases gently, nudging your shoulder lightly with a small smile playing on his lips. ‘You're adorable when you're flustered’, he thinks, but he keeps that to himself.
You scoffed at his teasing, nudging his shoulder back with the same gentleness. “Shut up, Megs.” Flicking his hand playfully, that same smile on your face.
He doesn’t pull away—doesn’t even flinch—when you flick his hand. Instead, he lets his fingers linger near yours, the contact warm and quiet. The way your knee presses against his feels like an anchor.
“...You started it,” he murmurs, voice low and teasing still, but there’s something softer underneath.
But the music? Still playing.
The playlist? Still named "ours."
And you two?
Closer than ever.
Yuji and Nobara have just finished their silly conversation and are finally turning their attention to you. “You guys done now?” you greeted them with a little smile and a polite nod.
Yuji grins widely, running a hand through his messy hair, while Nobara rolls her eyes dramatically.
"Yeah, we've reached the conclusion that my argument was clearly superior. As always." Nobara rolls her eyes. "In your dreams, Itadori. We all know I was right." They both banter back and forth, clearly not taking the argument too seriously. They turn their attention to you and Megumi—noticing the closeness. Yuji's eyes twinkle mischievously. "What are you two whispering about?"
“We were just listening to music,” you reply simply while gesturing to the earbuds in each other's ears.“It was more entertaining to watch your debate than be part of it.”
Megumi nods in agreement, his expression casual. "Fair enough. You guys were in your own little world." Yuji chuckles and ruffles his hair, a mischievous grin on his face. Nobara rolls her eyes but grins, nudging you lightly. "You weren't even paying attention to us at all, were you?"
“I think I stopped paying attention 15 minutes ago,” you teased.
“What do you guys wanna do now?” you asked, glancing in between all three of them, your gaze lingering on Megumi for a moment longer than the other two.
"Go get food. I'm starving," Yuji says, already standing up and stretching dramatically.
Nobara stands too, brushing off her skirt, "Only if we're not getting burgers again. We had them yesterday." Megumi stays seated, his knee still lightly touching yours. He notices your gaze lingering—just for a second longer than necessary—and looks down at his hands before speaking.
"We could go to that café near the park." He glances at you. "You like their coffee."
There's something thoughtful in his tone, the way he looked at you, how it seemed his request was just for the two of you. “Hmm that sounds good actually, I do love their coffee. Do you guys like that plan?” you ask with a hum to your other two friends. Yuji grins and claps his hands together, already excited about the plan. "Hell yeah! I was getting tired of our usual hangout spots. This'll be a great change."
Nobara shrugs, a small smirk on her face. "As long as there are sweets involved. I'm in."
Megumi nods in acknowledgment. He doesn't smile, but there's a slight softening of his usually stoic expression. He's actually looking forward to this—the quiet café with you.
"Then it's decided. Let's go."
The walk to the café was filled with the usual banter between Yuji and Nobara. They were loud by nature, with Yuji often cracking jokes and Nobara matching his energy with her own sharp retorts. Megumi and you, on the other hand, interjected occasionally. You two mostly observed the conversation, adding your thoughts when it felt natural. Megumi's attention, though, was half-focused on the conversation and half-focused on you—the way your hand brushed against his, the way you laughed at a joke, the way your eyes lit up.
After a while, you arrive at the café. It's a quaint, quieter place, exactly what Megumi would choose. The smell of coffee and pastries greets you at the door. The café hums softly with quiet music and the occasional clink of cups. Sunlight filters through the blinds, casting long stripes across the table. You're tucked into the booth beside Megumi—close enough that your shoulder brushes his whenever you shift.
He sips his black coffee, eyes low, but he’s paying more attention to you than the pastry in front of him. When you murmur about how cozy it is, he glances at you from the corner of his eye.
“...Told you,” he says quietly, voice just above a whisper so only you can hear. “Good coffee too.”
He nudges his cup slightly toward you in silent offering—his way of saying, ‘You know I got your favorite.’
Yuji is mid-sentence about some new horror film he wants to watch. Nobara groans dramatically. But Megumi barely registers them.
His focus?
You.
And maybe how nice it feels—the warmth between your arms where they touch under the table without either of you moving away.
“Thanks. You're the best.” you whisper back, giving him a little nudge with your elbow under the table as you sip the coffee. He doesn’t react much at first—just a slight dip of his chin, like ‘I know’—but the corner of his mouth twitches. Almost a smile.
While Yuji explains the plot of the movie, which you were actually interested in watching, you break a piece of your pastry and place it on Megumi's plate and then eat your piece. He finally looks at you fully. Dark blue eyes soft, guarded but warm, like he’s trying not to show how much little things from you mean. “You don’t have to feed me,” he murmurs under the chatter, voice low and dry. “I can afford my own food.” But he eats it anyway. Slowly. Deliberately. And when your arm brushes his again?
He leaves it there. Letting the warmth stay. Letting you stay close. Like this is where you belong.
When you feel the warmth of his arm on your stay, you quickly try to get a hold of yourself, to not let a stupid smile spread. So after clearing your throat you spoke, “When do you guys wanna watch the movie?” then taking a bite of the pastry, acting like holding Megumi’s hand wasn’t all you could think of.
"How about Saturday?" Yuji suggests, already excited."It releases Friday night, so we can go the next day!" Nobara nods. "Yeah. We should make it a full day thing. Arcade after, right?"
The conversation buzzes on, but Megumi stays quiet—watching you from the corner of his eye. He sees the way your fingers fidget with your fork, how you won’t look directly at him for too long now. And he knows. You're flustered. Good. He shifts slightly under the table—his hand brushing yours as he reaches for his coffee cup. Not an accident. Intentional.Soft. Brief contact that lingers in your nerves longer than it should. "...Saturday works," he says calmly, as if that small touch didn’t just send a spark through both of you.
It’s now Saturday and you’re all meeting up at the mall for the movie and arcade. You were already waiting by the snack stand with Nobara since you got there earlier to do some shopping. Megumi and Yuji arrive 20 minutes later, both with their hands in their pockets. Megumi's expression is indifferent as usual, but he can't ignore the way his heartbeat picked up the instant he saw you. Yuji grins and throws a casual greeting."Hey. How's the shopping spree?"
“Went well. I got a new necklace.” you shrugged casually, gesturing to the necklace which managed to match with your outfit perfectly. “We should get snacks already. The movie will start soon.” you added after everyone conversated for a minute.
The necklace catches the light as you move—simple, silver, elegant. Megumi’s eyes flicker to it for a heartbeat too long before he looks away, shoving his hands deeper into his pockets like they’re suddenly bothering him. “Yeah,” he agrees quietly, “Movie starts soon.” He falls into step beside you as the group moves toward the snack bar, close enough that his sleeve brushes your arm. When you order a medium popcorn and a soda, he silently adds a gummy pack to the tab. Just in case you want some later.
Yuji grabs an absurd amount of candy. Nobara rolls her eyes but tosses a gummy pack into her basket anyway. And Megumi? He watches you. Watches how your fingers tap lightly against your thigh, the same nervous habit he’s noticed before. And without looking at you, he says, “I like your necklace.”
Said low. Said quick. Like if he doesn’t rush it out now, he never will.
“Thanks. I really like it too,” you hum out a response. You all walk into the theater and take your seats, coincidentally Megumi and you sit together again.
The movie begins—an interesting horror flick with enough suspense to keep everyone’s attention.
The plot thickens. A jump scare. A scream and a flinch from Nobara. Some giggles from Yuji. Megumi stays stoic, expression calm, but his knee knocks against yours slightly as he shifts. Trying to get an optimal view between you and the screen. You’re not the type to be scared from movies but these jumpscares were definitely intense. You grimaced at the screen from an especially gory scene, then take a glance at Megumi, he's as stoic as ever, so you tugged on his hoodie sleeve slightly. “How does nothing faze you?” you whispered with a quiet chuckle. He glances down at where your fingers tug his sleeve, just a fraction of a second too long, before turning to you. The dim light from the screen casts shadows across his sharp features, but his eyes are soft. “...It’s just fake blood,” he murmurs, voice low and steady.“I’ve seen worse.” Another jump in the film—a loud crash—and Nobara actually yelps. Yuji cackles. Megumi doesn’t even flinch. But he does something small. Subtle. He shifts slightly closer to you on the seat, shoulder pressing into yours like an anchor. And when he speaks again, it’s quieter, just for you. “I’ll warn you before the next one.” Like it’s nothing. Like protecting you isn’t something that matters. But it does.
Your forearms are now sharing the arm rest of the theater seat. You were slowly reaching out for the soda cup that was in the cup holder in the front of the arm rest when suddenly another jumpscare hit, it genuinely made you flinch the hardest from the others. You clenched whatever was in your hand. Then you quickly realize that what was in your hand, was Megumi. Megumi's hand. You accidentally grabbed his hand. “Oh…i-im sorry i didnt—“ your usually calm and stoic expression was nowhere to be seen, panic and embarrassment filled it, your hand started letting go of his as you spoke.
When the jumpscare flashes across the screen, Megumi doesn’t even blink. His attention is on you.
On your hand—small, trembling, already pulling away like you’ve done something wrong.
Before your fingers can fully slip from his grasp, he shifts. Just slightly. And then his hand turns, catching yours before it leaves. Not tight. Not dramatic. A quiet hold in the dark theater light. “It’s fine,” he says lowly, voice calm like still water. “I don’t mind.” He doesn’t look at you, just keeps his eyes on the screen, but there’s a faint warmth creeping up his neck. His hand is just…there. Not gripping. Not forcing. Just offering. Like he’s saying, ‘I’ve got you,’ without saying it at all.
You nod slightly as if in a trance from his gentleness, your eyes look down to his hand, waiting for yours to stop hovering. So it does. Your hand intertwined with his, carefully, like this was a sacred act. Keeping your eyes forward on the screen when you did it, nibbling your lip, cheeks burning, heart pounding.
He doesn't react to the new contact. Doesn't tighten his fingers or shift his grip, but his shoulders relax ever so slightly. The warmth from his hand—warm and calloused and big—sinks into yours, sending a shiver through your nerves. He glances at your intertwined fingers, then away again like he's trying to look unfazed. But that faint flush creeping on his cheekbones? Gives him away. And he can't ignore the rapid beating of his own heart. Or the urge to smile. Just a little.
The movie starts reaching its peak, the adrenaline is high, focus has shifted towards it again. Whenever something caught you off guard your hand instinctively clenched around his slightly and he would rub his thumb over the back of your palm so tenderly, which is when you would become self aware again. It became so hard to hide a smile and how flushed your face became that you resorted to covering the bottom half of it with the jacket you were using as a blanket.
He notices every little thing. The way your grip tightens on his hand during the tense moments. The quiet hitch in your breath before a jumpscare. How, each time, you seem to forget—just for a second—that you’re holding his hand at all. And each time you squeeze? His thumb moves. Soft. Calm. Reassuring.
Like he’s saying, ‘I’m here,’ without breaking focus from the screen. Without giving anything away to Yuji or Nobara beside him who are too wrapped up in the chaos of the film anyway. But when he feels your fingers curl tighter, your palm warm and slightly damp from nerves, he doesn’t just comfort you once... He does it again. And again. Each pass of his thumb is slower than the last. Gentle. Steady rhythm under dim light and flickering images across your faces—underneath that half-covered smile hidden by fabric and false modesty. He stays still outwardly, but inside…it’s all falling apart in silence.
Because this?
You leaning into him like this?
Trusting him enough to hide behind your jacket but not let go of his hand?
Means more than anything else ever could.
The credits on the screen begin to roll. Yuji and Nobara stretch and chatter, discussing theories and critiques like they do after every film. But Megumi doesn't move. He watches you from his peripheral vision. The way your focus shifts to his hand, how you look conflicted between letting go and staying. The subtle way your fingers clench, gripping him a little tighter like you want that reassurance again. He stays still. Doesn't speak. Lets you make the first move.
It was fine to do this in the dark, but the second the lights in the theater turned on, panic settled in you and quickly let go of his hand. “So did you guys like the movie?” you cleared your throat while fidgeting with your hand. It was tingling, burning. his warmth lingering in your palm. Yuji launches into a loud review. Nobara argues over his interpretation. Megumi stands slowly, hands in his pockets again. His fingers curl slightly, as if remembering yours. "I liked it," he says quietly, eyes flickering to you for just a second. "Especially the ending." He doesn't mention the warmth. The way your hand fit in his. How he didn’t want that moment to end. But when you glance at him, nervous and flustered, he gives the smallest nod.
Not smiling, but calm, like everything’s fine, like ‘you’re safe.’
And that single look says what he never will:
‘I liked holding your hand.’
‘I still do.’
That look was all you needed for the anxiety and panic building up inside you to dissipate, crumbling in almost an instant. Understanding everything through his eyes, like you always did, silent communication only you two understood. Returning the same nod, “I liked it too. Crazy twist.”
The four of you began to walk towards the arcade now. Yuji and Nobara were a few steps ahead because of excitement and the fact they're still geeking about the movie. While walking with Megumi you let the back of your hand press against his. He glances at your hand, his own hand flexing subtly at the contact.
But his expression remains unchanged, eyes low, mouth slightly downturned like he's deep in thought. He's careful to keep up his facade in front of his friends.
Yuji's in a frenzy on the next video game while Nobara watches with a teasing grin when he fails a difficult level. "Dammit!" Yuji yells. "Why is this part so hard?!" Nobara cracks up, shaking her head.
"Dude, you just suck."
You snicker as you watch Yuji and Nobara play video games. “Yuji try again. Just aim higher,” you encouraged. Yuji grunts, grumbling about being given orders, but he follows your advice anyway.
He hits the target, getting past the level, and cheers loudly. Nobara cackles with laughter when he turns to face her with a huge grin. Seeing them have fun is fun in itself, amusing to say the least. While they're not paying attention your pinky finger reaches out for Megumi’s, curling around his so carefully. You take a sneaky glance towards him for a moment, there's no smile on your lips but in your eyes.“After they play this one, I wanna play the racing game over there.” You speak casually, acting like nothing is happening, nodding in the direction of the game.
Your pinkie gently curled around his has his whole attention. He can't help glancing at you, can't help the way his pulse jumps. But he plays it cool. "Hm?" he hums softly in response, pretending his heart isn't racing. "You like racing games?"
You nod your head with a pressed smile. “Mhm. One of my favorite arcade games. Besides shooting ones.” Once those two were done with their game you gave Megumi’s pinky a little tug to make him follow. “Play with me.” you say while gesturing to the seat next to yours. He follows without a word.
Slides into the seat beside you like it’s nothing, like his hand isn’t still tingling from where your pinky touched his, like he doesn’t feel every breath you take near him.
“Fine,” he says, voice dry, “but don’t blame me when I win.”
His fingers hover over the controls, posture straight, eyes locked on the screen—but when you look over at him for a second too long before the race starts. He side-eyes you, just once.A quiet challenge in that glance. And then—
GO!
The race begins. Tires screech. Megumi reacts fast, calm under pressure, but then…
You surprise him. Tight turns, perfect timing. Yuji and Nobara watch with growing interest behind both of you. "Whoa—she's actually beating Megumi!" Yuji blurts out loud. Nobara raises an eyebrow and smirks. "Huh... looks like someone finally met their match." On screen, you cross the finish line first by half a second. Megumi leans back slowly as defeat flashes onscreen beside his car name:
Player 2 — LOST
He’s not annoyed, not even close to it. He exhales something quiet, almost a sigh… or suppressed amusement? Without looking at you directly,“…Lucky break.” But there’s no heat behind it, only warmth.
“Sore loser.” you replied, an underlying giggle in your tone. There was such a proud glint in your eyes, how excited you were from not just playing but actually beating him at the game. Nobara and Yuji hype you up, nudging your shoulders and making pulling jokes. Your usual little smile was big now, all toothy.
"Sore loser?" Megumi scoffed, finally turning to face you, just slightly. His eyes catch yours.
And for a split second, so fast you might miss it, there’s something soft in them. Almost like he’s smiling on the inside. "...I let you win." He says it flat. Deadpan. Like he really expects you to believe that.
Yuji snorts. "Yeah right! You were dead serious the whole time!" Nobara leans in while snickering "Pride’s taking a hit today, isn’t it, Fushiguro?"
You’re glowing. Laughing. All teeth and light and warmth—and Megumi can’t look away. So instead of arguing?
“Play again.” He crosses his arms and looks back at the screen. He really wants to see that smile again…
You take him up on his challenge. Playing about two more rounds but only the same outcome. You beat him, he did try his best at the game but it was inevitable. “That was fun.” You smiled, the toothy, proud, bright smile.
Then Nobara sees the claw machine and makes you all chase after her. "I saw a plush of that cursed spirit from the last mission in there!" Nobara announces dramatically, already fishing out coins. "It’s coming home with me." Yuji groans. "You’re gonna waste all your cash again—" "I do not lose at claw machines," she snaps. Megumi watches from a distance, arms still crossed, though his fingers flex subtly against his sleeve where your hand had held his earlier. You step closer to the machine, peering inside at the prizes. And then you see it. A small black cat plush, simple, soft-looking, sat quietly among the chaos of gaudy toys… like it didn’t care if anyone noticed it. Just like someone else here.
"Huh..." You glance sideways at Megumi without turning your head. "That one’s cute." He stiffens slightly, as if caught off guard by being indirectly called “cute” and looks away fast. But when you aren't looking, he studies the black cat plush with new interest. "...It's just a toy," he mutters, voice flat.
You all watch Nobara try to get her plush for a while but to no luck. She failed so many times she had to go get more coins with Yuji so you and Megumi stayed behind to claim the machine. You noticed him looking at the black cat plush again. “Do you want it? We could try to get it.”
He doesn’t answer right away. Just stares at the plush, round eyes, unimpressed expression like it’s judging everyone in the arcade. "...No," he says flatly. "It's stupid." But he doesn’t look at you when he says it. And his hand flexes again, like he’s imagining reaching for it. You tilt your head more, not buying it for a second. So quietly, you step closer. Close enough that your shoulder brushes his arm. "Then why keep looking at it?" you whisper, voice low. "I’ll get it for you if you want." His breath hitches, just slightly, but he schools his face fast. "...I don't want some dumb plush." Liar.
Before he can protest further, you slide coins into the machine and take hold of the joystick.
Megumi watches, not the plush, but you through the reflection of the window. The way your fingers move with focus, how your tongue peeks out slightly between your lips when concentrating. The claw drops—MISSES. A beat of silence. You huff, a small laugh escaping. “Oh..woops..” He finally looks down at you. "Let me try." Not because he wants to win. But because he wants to see what happens if he gets it, for you instead. Or maybe something small that can belong to both of you.
He drops a few coins into the machine and takes the control. You stand next to him and watch closely. It seems Megumi knows how these things work, maybe he’s seen Yuji play enough to learn the trick. He aimed for the back of the plush, not the front. The claws open and close, adjust…and then they grip. The plush lifts. It hangs. Holds steady. Slowly rises out of the machine like a bird taking flight. And the claws open again, dropping the plush straight into the prize slot. “You did it!” you let out a surprised gasp and tap his shoulder repeatedly in excitement. You bend down to get the kitty out of the shoot and hold it out for him. “That was so cool.”
He doesn’t move at first, just stares at the prize slot like he can’t believe it actually worked. Inside, quiet and deep, something warm spreads through his chest. Unfamiliar. Too big to name.
"...I guess," he mutters, voice low, trying to sound smug—but it cracks slightly under your gaze.
He glances down at the plush but only to come back and hold your gaze for a moment. Then slowly shake his head. "Keep it." Just like that. No explanation. No argument. "Just... don't lose it."
Your brows lift at his words. Could he tell you wanted it too? Why is he just letting you keep it? When you open your mouth to urge him to take it back, Yuji and Nobara come back. So you admit defeat in trying to give it back. Instead you treasure it, a gift from him. Cradling it in your arms like nothing else matters.
Every time you four come to the arcade you take a picture at the photobooth so here you are, squished together into the booth. Nobara and you sat next to each other and Yuji sat next to Megumi.
The photobooth flashes three times—bright bursts in the dim arcade light.
First flash:
Nobara grinning with a peace sign, Yuji mid-laugh, you holding the black cat plush against your chest like it’s something precious with a small smile. Megumi sits stiffly in his corner, arms crossed, expression blank.
Second flash:
Yuji puts his arm over Megumi, while Nobara puts her arm over you, pulling everyone closer for a silly picture. You stick out the tip of your tongue while Nobara and Yuji go wild, and Megumi’s face is just of judgement.
Third Flash:
After a lot of convincing your friends finally got Megumi to smile for a picture with the rest of you. All four best friends with toothy smiles.
The booth printed out four strips for each. Your eyes light up seeing the picture, “It's adorable.” Yuji and Nobara took all your tickets to redeem some prizes so it was just you and Megumi again. Just there. “Wanna get a picture together?” you ask quietly. Just to have something to do while you wait. It's not like you haven't taken photos by yourselves before. He nods in agreement and we both sit inside the booth again.
For the first picture you both just lean into each other and you do a peace sign with a simple smile, he copied your mannerism. There was a 10 second interval, you posed next to him holding up the plushie he got and he had a blank look on his face. At the last second, you impulsively turned your head and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “Thanks..” you mumbled quietly, a shy look on your face, surprised about the fact you actually did that. That was the second picture, you kissing his cheek.
Megumi looks so caught off guard it’s almost comical. One hand half up like he just started reaching for you, one hand stiff in his pocket, head slightly turned. Not the cool, calm guy he usually is. Before you can apologize or explain or act like it didn't even happen, you feel a hand on the back of your neck. Cool fingers, pulling you closer, tilting your head back slightly. And without warning, his lips hit your cheek. Soft, warm, so gentle. Like you're something precious, too. And flash— that was the third picture.
Once the photoshoot is over and the pictures print you take one for each silently, still processing what just happened. When you see the photos your heart melts but the vibe in the booth still hasn't been addressed. You look up at Megumi, not really knowing what to say. “Um..” clearing your throat nervously, trying to gauge his reaction from the impulsive behavior. “That was..stupid.” you mumbled and rubbed the back of your neck as you tried to find the words.
"Stupid?" He repeats, voice low—almost a scoff—but there's no edge to it. He doesn’t look at you. Instead, he studies the strip of photos in his hands like they hold the secrets of the universe.
"...Yeah," he says finally, voice quieter now. "Totally stupid." Then he tucks the picture into his hoodie pocket, carefully, deliberately, and turns to face you.
"Just like how it was stupid for us to hold hands..."
A beat.
"...Stupid to look at you the way I do..."
Another pause. His fingers brush against the pocket where the photo now rests.
Then, so quietly only you can hear—
"...And stupid that I didn't do this sooner."
And before your brain catches up, He reaches out. Not for your hand this time. But to cup your jaw—gentle but sure—and leans in slowly, giving you every chance to pull away…until his lips meet yours in a soft, fleeting kiss under dim arcade lights. A little hum escaped you as you deepened the kiss a bit, saying ‘I wanted this too,’ as if confessing everything to each other just like this. After a minute or two you separated, your bodies still close to each other, just examining one another’s eyes. A moment later you start chuckling softly to yourself, “I'm happy.” you say quietly while reaching out for his hand.
"...Yeah," he whispers, "Me too." A smile plays at your lips when he confesses he feels the same way.
His eyes linger on you, on your lips, his thumb swipes gently over the back of your palm, like he needs to reassure himself that he just actually did that. Then—as if the world around them finally catches up—his eyes glance away for a moment. And his cheeks are pink. "...Should we go find Yuji and Nobara?"
You wouldn't be able to be this confident later but because of the emotional high you lean in and give him a quick kiss on the cheek again. “Yeah lets go,” you hum with a nod. With fingers intertwined, you lead him out of the photobooth to go find your friends. He lets you pull him along, fingers laced, palm warm in yours. Spotting them near the snack bar and you wave with your free hand. “There you guys are.”
At the snack bar, Yuji’s juggling three sodas like a clown. Nobara yells at him to stop before he drops them all. When they spot you two walking hand-in-hand? Nobara freezes mid-sip. Yuji nearly chokes on his drink. "Wait—WHAT?!" She narrows her eyes, scanning your faces. The blush on your cheeks, the way Megumi isn’t letting go even though he definitely should be if he wanted to hide it. "...Oh my god," she says slowly. “What's up?” you ask simply, acting like nothing is out of place, just super casually and nonchalantly like usual. But seeing them speechless was definitely the most amusing part of the day.
Yuji is the first to react, pointing at you both with one hand while his other hand struggles to keep his soda balanced. "Are you guys--?!" he blurts out, wide eyes going from your faces to your intertwined fingers like he can’t believe it. Nobara is the opposite; slow to react, but fast to understand. She stares at you for a whole minute before pointing an accusing finger in your direction. "...No freaking way, girl. Don't tell me you—you and Megumi?!"
Their reactions are so ridiculous it cracks your facade. You hum like you're thinking of an answer and then shrug. “Maybe.” you say in a teasing tone while Megumi squeezes your hand and looks at them with an unamused expression, our plushie in his other arm. Like if he was carrying our child.
They both explode.
Yuji chokes on his drink again. Nobara claps her hands over her mouth like she just saw a ghost. Both their eyes jump from your faces to your intertwined fingers and back. Yuji finally recovers, wiping soda off his chin. "For real?!" Nobara, still speechless, slowly drops her hand away. "When... when the hell did this—?" Megumi looks bored. "Just now." They go silent again.
Then, at the exact same time:
"NO WAY!"
"WHAT?!"
"YOU??"
"OH MY GOD!"
They look at each other. Then right back at you. In complete, utter shock. "Wait, seriously?! You have to tell us everything. How this happened—when—seriously. Now. Go."
“It just kinda happened.” you said simply. “Nothing too crazy.” you added while glancing up at Megumi. His eye twitches. "...That's it?" Nobara says, squinting at you like she doesn’t believe a word. "How did two of the most hardheaded people on the planet just…accidentally wind up dating?!" Yuji leans in, fascinated. "Dude… did you fight for her honor or something cool like that?!" Megumi pinches the bridge of his nose. "We held hands first." Silence. Then—
"YOU WHAT?!" —both scream simultaneously, loud enough to startle the snack bar cashier.
Megumi looks so done right now. Like he wants to disappear into his own shadow and stay there forever.
You gave the snack bar cashier an apologetic nod before shaking your head and taking a deep sigh before continuing. “During the movie. That's when that happened.” you explained in a quieter tone.
"...You're not helping," he mutters under his breath at you, voice low and strained.
Yuji clutches his chest dramatically. "No way… Megumi Fushiguro? Holding hands in the dark? Like some kind of romantic drama lead?" Nobara narrows her eyes—then slowly grins. "Wait... I saw something." Both of you and Yuji turn to stare as she pulls out her phone with a smug smirk.
"...I took pictures during the movie."
"What?!" —Megumi immediately tries to lunge for it—but she holds it up high above her head.
The screen lights up. It was a selfie of the four of you watching the movie, Nobara smiling with a peace sign, Yuji making a silly face, but the two of you were too focused watching the movie.“ I didn't notice before but now that you guys mention it…” Nobara zooms into it: The arm rest which you and Megumi were sharing, your hands intertwined. Crystal clear view. "...This," she says dramatically, voice rising an octave,"is evidence." Yuji grabs her phone and zooms in on Megumi's face with a gasp. "Dude! You were being all... soft! Like actual mush!" Megumi looks about ready to summon Mahoraga right here in this arcade just so he can delete reality itself.
Your eyes widen when you examine the picture, if you weren't looking at it closely you definitely wouldn't notice those hands together. You sigh deeply and rubbing the side of your temple. “Well yeah there you go…caught us.” you mumble and roll my eyes. (you’re definitely asking Nobara to send you that picture later.) “..and then we took pictures at the photobooth together like i said before and thats it.” you said simply after clearing your throat, hoping they will be satisfied with just that.
Both of theirs' eyes go wide. Like they can't actually believe it. “And that's it?!" Nobara groans, dropping the phone into her bag."That's your whole story?! The big romantic revelation?! Come oooonnnn!"
"Right? What the—" Yuji sputters. "What about... like, fireworks?! Or roses?!"
While you watch them whine you almost feel bad for them, they ARE your best friends, of course they're curious. You glance at Megumi, as if gauging his opinion on indulging them just this once. “Megs?..” you asked quietly while giving his hand a gentle squeeze. Megumi glances at you and instantly his expression softens. His shoulders relax slightly, which was all the answer you needed. "...Fine." Their reaction is instant. Nobara and Yuji's grins go from zero to a thousand in 0.7 seconds. "REALLY?! FINALLY!"
“Alright. Pay attention. I'll only explain once.” you clear your throat while signaling them to sit down and quiet down. “So he won me the cat plushie.”you begin, pointing towards the plushie he’s still holding. “Then while you guys were gone we went to the photobooth.” you show them your photo. “then we actually had a real kiss.” you summarized everything quickly and efficiently. Then braced impact.
Both of their jaws drop. "...No way," Yuji mumbles, voice barely audible. "Holy..." Nobara whispers, eyes locked onto the photos. A moment of shocked silence. "NO. FAIR!!” both scream simultaneously, loud enough to bring the attention of all the other arcade-goers. "You two are already all sweet with each other?!" Yuji wails. "And we didn't even get to see any of it!"
You roll your eyes and give them an unamused look. “Thats what the picture is for. Look at it now. You won't see it again.” you huffed in almost a strict tone. Giving them a few more moments to get a good look at it then put it away in your bag. “Take it easy. We're dating now so you’ll probably catch a cute moment or two with your own eyes.”
"Probably?" Nobara snaps, putting a hand on her hip and raising an eyebrow. "Now that we know, we're going to be watching like hawks." Yuji nods enthusiastically. "Totally. We gotta witness every adorable moment now!" Megumi sighs under his breath; he can already tell these two are going to be a pain.
As they start devising all their plans to catch you being lovey dovey, you glance at Megumi slowly and lean into his ear. “I think this is our chance to escape…but real slow so they don't notice…” you whisper to him while nodding towards the exit of the arcade. Megumi doesn’t even look at you. He just nods. Once, sharp and quiet, then slowly turns his body toward the exit like a shadow slipping through cracks.
His grip on your hand tightens slightly. Not in fear. In plan mode. "...On three," he murmurs under his breath, eyes still forward."One... two..." And then he yanks you gently but fast behind him as he starts moving, not running, not rushing, but stepping smoothly into the flow of people heading out, blending in with the crowd leaving after dark.
Nobara’s head whips around first. "Wait—where are they going?!"
Yuji blinks once… then shouts, "HEY! NO ESCAPING THE LOVEY-DOVEY REPORTING TEAM!!"
But it's too late. You're already near the door, the night air cool against your skin, and Megumi pulls you just outside into a quiet alley beside arcade lights flickering above…
Safe.
He turns to you the second you’re out of sight, chest rising and falling just slightly faster than normal—not from running, but you.Your laugh. Your eyes. The way your fingers are still tangled with his.
"...They're going to be insufferable," he mutters, voice low and dry—but there's no real annoyance in it.
Just quiet awe.
“Not just them. Gojo-sensei too, when he finds out.” you giggle quietly, wiping a tear from your eyes from how amusing this whole situation was. Then he leans back against the alley wall, tugging you gently closer by the hand until your shoulder brushes his chest. "...We could stay here a little longer."
“Yeah…or head back to the dorms.” you nod in agreement towards his suggestion.
The silence finally sets in, your safe haven, the distant hum of arcade music fades behind them as city lights flicker above, warm yellows cutting through night sky haze. The warmth from his hand and the softness in his face making that toothy smile of yours come back. Megumi looks down at where your hands are connected…then up at your face…
"…You're smiling again."
“I find myself wanting to do that a lot when I'm with you…”
He watches you quietly; watches the smile pull at your lips. The way you look up at him—how that simple upturn of your mouth and your warm, bright eyes makes him think...
This is peace.
His fingers tighten around yours—not enough to hurt, just anchoring. Like you might vanish if he lets go.
"...Idiot," he mutters, voice rougher than before. But his eyes? They're warm. Searching your face like it holds the answer to every question he's never asked out loud.
Then—softly—he lifts your joined hands to hold against his chest and presses a kiss on your lips; slow, deliberate…
