megutron

[megutroni]

ꕤMasterlistꕤ

𔓘M.Fushiguro

megumi and his not cat

when you stop doing the little things for megumi

“friendly” rivalry with megumi (where you see megumi as competition but he doesn't want to compete) ( part 1, part 2, part 3 )

The Weight of Our Names (Noble!AU)

⋆Y.Okkotsu

you go on a mission and come back lifeless, yuuta doesn’t know how to handle it ( part 1, part 2, part 3 )

[megutroni]

The Weight of Our Names

Chapter 2 1.2k words series masterlist

Years had passed since Megumi first arrived at the Zenin estate. The whispers had never truly disappeared. They had simply changed. Where people once questioned whether he belonged, they now spoke of him as if his future had already been decided.

The future Duke of Zenin.

A title that followed him into every room before he even stepped inside it. He had grown into it, whether he wanted to or not.

The lessons had become second nature. The etiquette, the politics, the endless social obligations. He had gathered supporters over the years, earned the respect of some, and the fear of others. Eventually, even the loudest critics within the family could no longer deny the obvious.

Megumi Fushiguro was the heir. Tonight's banquet was no exception. Hosted by House Itadori, the grand ballroom glittered with noble families from across the empire. Music drifted through the air. Laughter echoed from every corner and people kept trying to talk to him.

One after another, the same conversations, the same smiles, the same carefully chosen words. None of it felt genuine. By the time the fourth person attempted to "casually" discuss the future of the Zenin duchy, Megumi had reached his limit. So he excused himself and left.

The balcony was blissfully empty. Cool night air brushed against his face. Finally...silence. Megumi rested his hands against the stone railing and looked out toward the gardens below.

"This is stupid." He sighed.

At the exact same moment, another voice said, "This is stupid."

Megumi froze. A startled noise escaped from somewhere to his left. He turned. A young woman around his age stood near the opposite side of the balcony. Dressed elegantly enough to belong here, though she looked just as relieved to have escaped as he was.

You blinked. He blinked. For a moment neither of you moved. Then you burst out laughing.

Megumi immediately felt heat rise to the tips of his ears. "...Sorry."

Your laughter only grew. "No, no. It's okay." You covered her mouth, trying to compose yourself. "You just reminded me of how I met one of my closest friends."

Megumi frowned slightly. "This is how you make friends?"

That only made her laugh harder. "Not exactly."

"Good."

"Why?"

"Seems inefficient."

You stared at him. Then laughed again and to Megumi's annoyance, he wasn't entirely sure why. The corner of your mouth twitched.

"You sound fun."

"I've been told the opposite."

"By people at this banquet?"

"Mostly."

That earned another laugh. Megumi found himself relaxing slightly. It was strange. Most people became nervous around him eventually. You didn't seem nervous at all. In fact, you seemed perfectly comfortable treating him like a normal person.

"So who was this friend?"

"Maki."

"Maki?"

"Yeah." You smiled. "We met when we were kids."

Megumi nodded. There were probably hundreds of girls named Maki in the empire. The name meant nothing to him.

"And you became friends because you both thought something was stupid?"

"No."

"Then why?"

"Because she punched a boy for being rude."

Megumi blinked. "...What?"

"He deserved it."

"How do you know?"

"Because I wanted to punch him too."

For the first time that night, Megumi laughed. A short sound. It was barely there but enough.

You immediately pointed at him. "There it is."

His expression flattened. "What."

"You can laugh."

"I know."

"I wasn't sure."

A comfortable silence settled between you. Below, the lights from the gardens glowed softly. Inside, music continued to play. Neither of you seemed eager to return.

"Do you attend these often?" you asked.

Megumi sighed. "Unfortunately."

"Me too."

"Then why do you keep coming?"

"My father makes me."

"I'm in the same boat."

You stared at each other, then looked away. A few moments later, the balcony doors opened. A servant stepped outside.

"My lord, they are looking for you." Megumi suppressed a sigh. Of course they were.

At almost the same time, another servant appeared. "My lady, the Count has been searching for you."

Reader visibly deflated. "There goes my freedom."

"Good luck." Megumi found himself saying before he could stop himself.

She smiled. A genuine one. "You too."

Then they went their separate ways. No names exchanged. No titles mentioned. Just a strange conversation with a stranger.

A few days later, you visit the Zenin estate for your friend Maki. The servants direct you to the garden where Maki was already seated and drinking tea.

"Greetings Lady Maki." You smile.

"Lady [name]. Come sit." She gestures to the chair right across from her. You take note of the third chair that is placed in between you.

"Has Lady Nobara sent word that she's coming back today?"

Maki shakes her head. "No, there's someone I want you to meet."

Before you can ask anything else, footsteps approach from behind the hedges. A group of servants parts respectfully, and a tall dark-haired man steps forward. Your breath catches. You know him. The stranger from the balcony. His gaze lands on you almost immediately and stops.

"This is my cousin, Megumi Zenin." Maki’s voice cuts cleanly through the moment as she gestures toward him.

He doesn’t move right away. Just looks at you. "Wait...you're Count Nanami's daughter?"

Your eyes widen. "You're the future Duke Zenin?"

Maki raised her eyebrow and looked at both of you. "You guys know each other?"

A beat of silence stretched between the three of you. Neither of you moved. Megumi was the first to look away.

"We met briefly." he said.

His tone was controlled, careful. Not a lie. Just incomplete.

"At the banquet." You added.

Maki’s eyes narrowed slightly. "The Itadori banquet?"

You both answered at the same time. "Yes."

Another pause. Longer this time. Maki leaned back in her chair, studying both of you with growing suspicion.

"And you’re just… now telling me this?"

Megumi didn’t respond immediately.

You cleared your throat. "It wasn’t...important."

That made his eyes flick toward you for half a second. Then away again.

"It was a brief conversation," he added.

Maki hummed. Clearly unconvinced but she didn’t push further. Instead, she gestured lightly to the empty chair again.

"Sit."

Megumi hesitated. Then took the seat between you. The moment he sat down, the space between you felt suddenly smaller than it should have.

Maki leaned forward slightly. "Well," she said, dragging the word out, "since you two are already acquainted, this should be easier."

You glanced at her. "Easier?"

A faint, almost amused smile tugged at Maki’s lips. "Yes. I thought introductions might be awkward."

Megumi exhaled softly. "It still is."

That earned him a quiet snort from Maki. You almost smiled.Instead, you looked down at your hands.

"So why exactly are we here?" You glance at Maki.

Maki leaned back slightly.

"You’re both going to be present at court frequently from now on" she said flatly."It’s easier if you’re properly introduced now."

Then she gestured between them like it was obvious.

"So. Megumi Zenin. [Name] Nanami."

Megumi gives a small nod. "Megumi...Zenin" Then,after a pause, he adds "It’s… nice to meet you."

The words sound practiced but his eyes don’t. You hesitate for half a beat too long.

"[Name] Nanami. Likewise." you said softly.

Maki watches both of you for a moment longer than necessary. Her expression doesn’t change but something in her gaze sharpens slightly, like she’s quietly noting something she won’t say out loud.

"Good." she says simply. Then, like the matter is settled. "Don’t make it weird."

Neither of you respond. Which, unfortunately, only makes it slightly worse.

[megutroni]

The Weight of Our Names

Chapter 1 1.4k words series masterlist

Megumi learned early that silence could mean many things. Sometimes it meant peace. Other times, it meant waiting and more often than not, it meant something had already been taken from him.

His mother’s illness had started quietly. Nothing dramatic, nothing immediate. Just days where she stayed in bed a little longer, where her voice grew softer, where her hands trembled slightly when she thought no one was looking.

Megumi remembered sitting beside her once, watching the way sunlight filtered through the windows of their small home. 

"I’m just going to take a little nap, I’m a bit tired." She smiled at him. The kind of smile people give when they don’t want to be honest. She never really woke up from that nap.

After that, the house felt too big, too quiet. His father had left way before his mother got sick and never returned. Megumi assumed that he just got into an accident and passed away, nobody knowing who he was or where he belonged to. Over time, his father was a presence that no longer existed in conversations unless someone wanted to explain why things had fallen apart. 

Tsumiki stayed. She was older, but not enough to make the world easier. She tried her best to keep things afloat, normal. Imitated adults in a way that children do. Sometimes burning food, forgetting things, or pretending nothing was wrong when bills were piling up.

Megumi didn’t have the heart to tell her that she didn’t have to pretend, because he was pretending too. Whenever they had food on the table, he made sure she ate first. He never asked where their money came from. When she smiled, he acted like he didn’t notice how tired she looked. They didn’t talk about what they had lost, they just learned to live with it.

Until one day, someone came to the door and said his name like it meant something else entirely.

The knock came while they were eating their humble lunch. It sounded firm. Enough to make it clear that whoever stood outside will not take no for an answer. Tsumiki hesitated before opening the door. Megumi stayed seated. Three people stood outside, all dressed too neatly for their surroundings. Too composed for a place like this.

The man in front spoke first. "Megumi Fushiguro."

Tsumiki instinctively blocked Megumi from the man’s view. "What is it that you want?"

"We need him to come with us."

Tsumiki frowned. "Excuse me but who are you?" One of the men stepped forward and showed her a document bearing a seal on it. The wax stamp alone made her freeze. Nobility. Megumi couldn’t see anything from where he was sitting, but something in the way Tsumiki tensed up told him it was something significant.

"The Zenin household has acknowledged his lineage."

Megumi blinked as he took a bite of his food. Tsumiki’s hands gripped her skirt tightly. "That’s not possible…he’s just my brother…"

The man in front of her was unfazed. "He is the son of the late Duke Toji Zenin." The name meant nothing to Megumi, but Tsumiki’s face went pale. 

"No, you can’t just take him away." She said in a small voice.

"This is not a request."

Megumi wasn’t sure of what he was feeling but he was uneasy. He looked at Tsumiki and she turned back to look at him.

"Megumi…" Her voice was trembling. He still didn’t understand what was happening but by just looking at Tsumiki, he understood enough. This was not about him being asked, this was him being taken. Tsumiki turned back towards the man.

"He has a life here, you can’t just take him away just like that. He doesn’t even know you."

The man politely responded, still stoic. "He does not have one that matters to the Zenin house."

"Am I leaving?" Megumi asked. The man looked at him and nodded once. Megumi looked at Tsumiki again.

"No. You’re not going anywhere." Megumi stood up, as if he knew that Tsumiki’s words were just falling on deaf ears, towards the men who were just standing by the door, waiting. He stepped towards the door and Tsumiki grabbed his shoulder immediately.

"Dont. Please don’t" Megumi placed his hand over hers. "It’s fine." He was lying, but it was what he had learned to say when there was no other option left. Her hand fell.

When Megumi stepped outside after packing his bags, the air felt cold. Tsumiki didn’t follow him.

Weeks passed in a blur of unfamiliar rooms, unfamiliar rules, and unfamiliar names. The Zenin estate did not reject Megumi outright. The subsidiary family heads did not hide their displeasure. Whispers followed him through hallways, questions disguised as courtesy, eyes that lingered a second too long. But the acting head of the house silenced most of it with a single statement.

"He’s a child. Let him be."

It should have sounded protective, but it didn’t. So Megumi stopped expecting it to. Instead, he buried himself in his studies. First was etiquette, then history, then language, strategy, then the things that he felt were unnecessary. How to stand, how to bow, how to walk, as if everything had meaning.

Now, they wanted him to learn how to dance. The instructor had left him alone for a moment, likely out of frustration more than trust. Megumi stood in the middle of the practice room, replaying the steps he had been taught. Left. Turn. Step. It was supposed to be simple. His timing slipped again, and he clicked his tongue softly in annoyance.

"Your footwork is off." Megumi froze. It was a voice he didn’t recognize. He turned sharply.

A girl stood by the open doorway, about his age, someone he has never seen before. She looked entirely too relaxed to be inside a place like this. Megumi didn’t respond. He just stared. She tilted her head slightly, like his silence didn’t bother her at all.

"Do you need help?" You paused, then gave him a bashful smile. "I happen to be a very good dancer."

You stepped into the room before he could answer. Megumi’s posture stiffened instinctively. Still, he said nothing. You stopped in front of him, studying his stance for a moment, then reached out and gently took his hands. He flinched slightly at the contact but didn’t pull away. One of his hands was placed at your waist. The other, to your hand.

"Follow my lead."

The first step came too quickly. Megumi stumbled. You didn’t laugh at him. Just adjusted her grip slightly, steadying him without comment. "It also helps if you count… so you don’t lose your footing."

"...One," Megumi whispered quietly. He avoided your eyes entirely, focusing instead on both your hands, on the rhythm. On anything that wasn’t the fact that you were standing too close.

You laughed softly. "You don’t have to count out loud." His ears warmed slightly and he stopped immediately. For a moment, Megumi almost forgot to think about anything else. Then the song ended. They stepped apart at the same time. You gave him a small practiced bow and he mirrored you, slightly slower.

"Thank you."

"No worries," you smiled. "I should go. Maki is probably looking for me." You turned to leave, and just like that the room felt quieter again.

Your soft footsteps echoed through the hall. It was very quiet, but you didn’t mind it. You reached the drawing room, the place where you were supposed to wait for Maki.

"Where were you?" 

Maki’s voice cut through the drawing room as soon as you entered. She was seated near the window, arms crossed, expression already unimpressed in the way only she could manage even as a child. You blinked once, then relaxed your posture slightly.

"I got bored," you said easily. "I was looking for you, but I got distracted and wandered off."

Technically, it wasn’t a lie. You had been bored. You had wandered. You just didn’t mention the part in the middle. Maki narrowed her eyes slightly.

"You always ‘wander off’ in places like this."

"It’s a big estate."

"You’re lucky I didn’t get dragged into another conversation with the elders. They’re exhausting."

You let out a small laugh before coming closer to her and sitting on the seat in front of her. "Sounds like you had a worse afternoon than me." 

Maki took a sip of her tea. "I always do." You also grab your teacup and take a sip. Maki glances at you. "Did you do anything interesting while you were gone?" 

"Not really, just got lost." You said softly, looking at your cup.

"Boring." Maki sighed, taking another sip of her tea.

[megutroni]

The Weight of Our Names

Megumi x Reader Noble!AU series masterlist

In an empire where names carry legacy and duty outweighs desire, [name], Count Nanami’s daughter burdened by her mother’s near-mythic reputation, and Megumi Fushiguro, the illegitimate son of Duke Zenin forced into a succession dispute, grow up under expectations they never chose. They first meet as children, a brief encounter that lingers far longer than either understands, and meet again years later beneath the suffocating court life, where every smile is measured and every alliance is political. In stolen moments away from ceremony and obligation, they find a rare kind of comfort in each other. As court pressures tighten through arranged marriages, succession disputes, and family duty, their quiet connection becomes the one place where they can exist as themselves, even as the world around them insists they are meant to become something else.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

[megutroni]

you go on a mission and come back lifeless, yuuta doesn’t know how to handle it (part 3)

part 2

The first day was awkward. Not because anyone wanted it to be. Nobody knew what to say. What was there to say?

The atmosphere only got worse when the others arrived at the farmhouse.

"Oh my goodness!" Granny practically lit up when she saw everyone. "So these are your friends?"

Before anyone could answer, she was already ushering them toward the house. "How sweet! They came all this way to visit you two."

Yuuta froze. You immediately covered your mouth, trying to hide your smile.

Gramps chuckled. "We would've cleaned up more if we'd known you were having company."

"No, it's not like—" Yuuta stopped. He had absolutely no idea how to explain any of this. Granny waved them off.

"No need to be embarrassed." Then she smiled warmly at everyone. "It's nice seeing young couples with so many friends."

There was a beat of silence.

Then Yuji blinked. "Wait."

Everyone turned toward him. Yuji looked between you and Yuuta.

"You guys have been living together this whole time?" Yuji asked, bewildered.

"Yuji." Maki responded immediately.

“Why are you like this?” Nobara added.

Panda sighed. "You’re making it weird."

"What? I'm just asking." Yuji tried defending himself.

"Salmon."

Megumi just observed in silence.

"Don’t worry, Okkotsu. I won’t tell the higher-ups you’ve gone full countryside arc." Gojo said, leaning toward Yuuta like it was a whisper. It wasn’t. Everyone heard him.

"GOJO-SENSEI."

Your laugh breaks the tension and everyone's eyes landed on you. For a brief second, the air felt light. Unfortunately, Granny chose that exact moment to clap her hands together.

"Since you're all visiting," Everyone went still. "You can help around the farm!"

The next few hours were chaos. Yuji and Megumi got assigned to hauling produce. Panda somehow ended up carrying feed bags. Toge and Nobara were helping stock vegetables. Maki got dragged into repairing a fence. Then Gojo...Somehow had disappeared.

"Where's Gojo-sensei?" Yuji asked.

Gramps looked around. "Huh." Then he pointed. "There."

Everyone turned. Gojo was sitting under a tree drinking tea. Yuji's eye twitched.

"How long has he been there?"

"About an hour."

"AN HOUR?!"

The chaos eventually settled. By late afternoon, the fields were quieter again. Yuuta stood near the edge of the porch, wiping sweat from his hands with a cloth Gramps had handed him earlier. Behind him, you stepped outside with two cups of water.

“You survived?”

He let out a quiet breath that might’ve been a laugh. “Barely.”

You handed him a cup. Your fingers brushed. Cold. Still cold. Yuuta noticed but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he just took the cup.

“…Thanks.”

For a moment, neither of you spoke. The sound of the others echoed faintly across the farm. Yuji shouting, Panda complaining, Nobara arguing about something completely unnecessary.

“…It’s kind of nice here,” he said softly.

You nodded. “Yeah.”

He paused. Then said quieter “I could get used to it.”

You didn’t answer right away. The silence that followed didn’t feel awkward. It just felt careful.

The second day felt different. It felt lighter. Yuuta noticed it the moment he woke up. The heaviness from the day before, whatever it had been, didn’t sit as sharply in his chest anymore. Even the air felt softer. Like the world had decided, for once, to stop pressing down on him.

You were already awake when he opened his eyes. Sitting by the window. Watching the morning light spill across the fields.

“…Morning,” he murmured.

You turned to him and smiled. “Morning.”

The day blurred into something almost normal.

Panda and Yuji turned everything into a competition. Nobara immediately joined in, refusing to lose on principle and loudly accusing everyone of cheating whenever she fell behind. Megumi tried to stay out of it. Unfortunately, that only made him the target. Maki pretended not to care while still winning every round. Toge quietly followed along, occasionally sabotaging Yuji with perfect timing. Gojo contributed nothing and still somehow made everything worse.

Yuuta laughed more than he realized he would. Not the quiet kind. Not the restrained kind. Real laughter. The kind that made his shoulders loosen without him noticing. At some point, he even forgot to look over his shoulder. Forgot to count the exits, forgot to listen for things that weren’t there.

Later, Yuji found you sitting by yourself. Away from the noise, watching them, watching Yuuta. His footsteps slowed and stopped. Then he scratched his head.

"...Mind if I sit here?"

You look up at him who was avoiding eye contact. "Sure." He sat down. For a while, neither of you spoke. The sound of the others carried faintly across the field. The laughter, shouting, life.

Yuji stared at his hands. Then at you. Then away again.

“…Are you really her?” The question wasn’t loud but it was heavy.

You didn’t move at first, didn't answer. You just kept staring far away. Yuji held his breath like he already knew he shouldn’t have asked. Then you turned toward him and smiled. It was small and sad. It wasn't denial, nor confirmation. Something in between, and that was enough.

Yuji’s chest tightened immediately. He looked down. Fists clenching in his lap. “…Sorry,” he whispered.

You shook your head slightly. “Yuji…” He looked up again. “…Can you do me a favor?” Your gaze looking far away again.

He hesitated. Then nodded. "Yeah." Yuji quickly wiped his eyes.

"Look after him for me, will you?"

Yuji froze. Then followed your gaze. You were watching Yuuta. Happy and alive in a way Yuji wasn't used to seeing him.

"...Yeah,I will." Yuji said quietly.

"...Actually, I have one more favor." You said bashfully. Yuji blinked. "What is it?" You turned to him and smiled softly. “I want to do a wedding ceremony tomorrow.” Yuji's eyes widened. "But don't tell Yuuta." You pressed an index finger to your lips. "It's a surprise."

Yuji stared at you, bewildered. "...A wedding?" You nodded, still grinning ear to ear. For a moment, Yuji didn't know what to do with that information but even though he didn't understand. He nodded.

"Okay."

That night, Yuuta didn't let go of you. Not once. He lay on top of you, torso in between your legs and his head resting on top of your chest. Your fingers were running gently through his hair.

"I was thinking" You said softly. Yuuta hummed in response, already half-asleep. "Hm?"

"I'm going to the village market tomorrow." He turned his head to look up at you. "Why?"

“I want to prepare something,” you said. “For everyone. For the last day.”

His arms tightened around you instinctively. “…Last day?”

You nodded once. “Yeah.” You smiled as you looked down at his sleepy face. “Just something small. A party.”

Yuuta relaxed again. “Oh.” Then he gives you a sleepy smile. "Okay."

He sounded content, like the world had finally given him something that wasn’t going to disappear.

“…What do you want me to cook?” you asked.

He shook his head slightly. “Anything’s fine.” Then lifted your hand. The one with the ring and pressed a slow kiss to it. Your breath hitched slightly. He smiled against your skin.

“You always make it better anyway.”

You laughed softly. “I’ll make your favorite then.” He paused. Then suddenly shifted and bit your collarbone lightly. Your face flushed. "What was that for?"

Yuuta grinned. “Because you mentioned my favorite food.” Then, whispered “And now I’m hungry.”

On the third day, the morning came quietly. Yuuta was still asleep when you slipped out of the room. Careful not to wake him. Careful not to break whatever fragile peace he had finally found.

Gojo was already waiting outside the guest house, leaning against the fence with his hands in his pockets like he had been there for a while.

“You’re late,” he said.

“I didn’t say a time.”

“Still late.”

You gave him a look.

He smiled like he didn’t care.

“Ready for your ‘grocery trip’?”

You didn’t answer immediately. Just glanced back toward the house. “…Yeah,” you said softly.

Before heading toward the village, you stopped at Granny and Gramps’ home. The same warm, familiar place that already felt like it had known you longer than it actually had.

Granny opened the door before you even knocked properly.

“Oh! You’re up early!” Her eyes softened when she saw you. “Come in, come in.” Gramps was already setting out tea like he had expected you.

Gojo stepped inside behind you, immediately making himself at home. Granny smiled warmly between the two of you.

“So,” she said, clasping her hands. “You’re leaving tomorrow?” You nodded.

“Yes.” The words felt heavier than they should have.

“Thank you,” you added quickly. “For everything. For letting us stay, for the food, for... just… everything.”

Granny waved a hand as if brushing the sentiment away. “Oh nonsense, dear. It was no trouble at all.” Then she tilted her head slightly, and smiled in that way older people do when they think they’ve figured something out. “Oh my…”

You blinked. “…hm?”

Her eyes sparkled. “So that’s why you’re going back to the city so suddenly!”

Gojo paused mid-sip of tea. You slowly straightened. “…yes?”

She leaned forward, delighted. “You’re expecting, aren’t you?”

Gojo choked slightly on his tea.

“No need to be shy! That explains everything!”

You and Gojo were quiet. Neither of you moved. For a second, the world felt like it had stopped making sense.

Then you exhaled softly. And smiled. “…Yeah,” you said gently. Gojo’s head snapped toward you.

Granny beamed immediately. “Oh, how wonderful!” She clasped your hands. “You must take care of yourself, dear! Don’t overwork yourself. And make sure that husband of yours helps you properly!”

You laughed lightly. “I will.”

Gojo slowly leaned back in his seat. “…Huh,” he muttered.

“You don’t have to come say goodbye tomorrow,” you said gently.

Granny blinked. “What?”

“It’ll be too emotional.”

Her expression softened immediately. “Oh, dear…”

You laughed quietly. “Besides, I’m not very good at goodbyes.”

Granny reached over and patted your hand. "Alright"

When you and Gojo stepped back outside, the air felt colder or maybe it just felt quieter. Gojo didn’t speak immediately.

“You know,” he said casually, “that was a pretty big lie.”

“I know.”

He studied you for a second. "Why?" You just looked straight ahead. "...Because I want there to be a place where it's real."

"Interesting."

The walk to the village continued in silence for a while. Until you broke it. "Gojo-sensei."

"Hm?"

“Do you remember what I said when you asked me about marrying Yuuta?”

His steps slowed. "...wow" You matched his pace. "What?" You both stop walking.

"I'm impressed."

You frowned. "By what?" Gojo glanced at you sideways. "The replica quality." You fully faced him. "...What?" Gojo grinned faintly. "Yuuta really outdid himself."

You stared at him, then sighed. "Of course I remember."

His voice was lighter now, but less playful. "(name) told me you wanted me to walk you down the aisle if Okkotsu ever proposed."

You blinked. "...because I said you were like a dad to me." Gojo started walking and you followed behind. "Yeah" He said simply.

"I also remember you accidentally—"

"Absolutely not." Gojo’s arm suddenly looped around your shoulders. His hand covered your mouth before you could finish the sentence.

“Let’s focus,” he said brightly, dragging you forward. “We’ve got a very important ring to find.”

“Mmm—!”

“Priorities.” Your muffled protest didn’t stop him.

The first shop didn't have it, neither did the second or the third. Outside, Gojo glanced over.

"You're picky."

"I'm not"

"You've rejected three rings."

You pouted. "Because they weren't right." Gojo rolled his eyes. "That's usually how being picky works."

You visited another three more shops, and their rings were either the wrong shade, wrong shape, too thin, or something else all together. Gojo finally stopped walking.

"Okay." He sighed. You turn to look at him. "What?"

"You're not looking for a wedding ring." You didn't answer. "You're looking for his ring."

You fiddled with the ring on your finger then averted your gaze from Gojo. "...the one he gave me."

"There are thousands of rings."

"I know."

"You're probably not gonna find an identical one."

You looked at the ring on your finger and smiled. "Then I'll keep looking." For some reason. The answer bothered Gojo and it wasn't because of the ring. It was because the way you said it, like somebody running out of time.

It didn't take you too long to find it after that conversation. The moment you saw it, you recognized it immediately. "There." You pointed towards the display case. "That one."

Gojo looked at the ring. It was almost identical. Close enough that Yuuta probably wouldn't notice or close enough that he would. The jeweler carefully placed it in your hands. You stared at it quietly. Then smiled. "I'll take it."

The walk back to the house was unusually quiet. The small box rested safely in your hands. Gojo glanced at it once. Then looked away.

"You know," he said eventually.

"Hm?"

"Most people would've bought the first ring they liked."

You laughed softly. "Good thing I'm not most people."

"Clearly."

"He got me one." Your thumb brushed over the box. "He should get one too."

Neither of you spoke after that, because there wasn't really anything left to say.

They told Yuuta to dress nicely. He didn’t question it. Not when Panda was unusually insistent. Not when Yuji was practically vibrating with energy. Not when Gojo refused to look him in the eye for too long. Something was happening. He just didn’t know what. Until they led him outside.

The backyard had changed. Yuuta stopped walking the moment he saw it. For a second, he couldn’t process what he was looking at. String lights hung between the trees. Wildflowers lined a narrow path cut through the grass. Simple decorations, clearly handmade, but arranged with care that made his chest tighten for reasons he couldn’t explain yet.

"…What is this?" No one answered him.

Behind him, Panda gently placed his hands on Yuuta’s shoulders. "Stand still."

"What?"

"Just trust me."

Yuuta frowned. "Trust you for wha—"

A rustle of movement cut him off. Yuji appeared at the far end of the yard. Throwing flower petals dramatically down the makeshift aisle.

Yuuta froze. "…What is going on?"

Yuji was already halfway down the aisle now, still scattering petals with entirely too much enthusiasm and then It clicked. His breath caught because this wasn’t just decoration. This was a ceremony, a wedding ceremony.

Yuuta’s head snapped up. At the other end of the aisle, You stood there. For a moment, everything else disappeared. The world narrowed down to just you. The white dress, the veil, the bouquet in your hands—white lilies, forget-me-nots, and wisteria trembling slightly with your grip.

The dress he had chosen.

His throat tightened instantly. Like something inside him had been pulled too hard, too fast. Beside you, Gojo stood with his arm linked with yours and for once, he wasn’t smiling, not really. Just watching.

Yuuta took a step forward without realizing it. Gojo noticed.

He leaned slightly toward you. "…Don’t make me regret this," he murmured. You let out a small laugh. Then stepped forward.

Each step down the aisle felt unreal. Yuuta couldn’t hear anything properly anymore. Just the sound of his own heartbeat. Too loud. Too fast. You stopped in front of him.

"Hey handsome."

Yuuta exhaled shakily. A sound that almost turned into a laugh.

"…Hey beautiful."

His hand reached for yours immediately. Gripping it tightly. Like if he let go, everything would disappear.

Behind him, Panda, cleared his throat. "Alright, uh… we are gathered here today…" It was messy, unpolished, barely held together but no one interrupted.

When it came time for the rings, You stepped forward first and pulled out a small box.

Yuuta blinked. "…That’s"

"I used Gojo-sensei’s credit card for this," you said casually.

The entire group erupted.

Gojo immediately pointed at you. "HEY!"

Yuji was laughing so hard he had to bend over. Panda nearly dropped the fake script. Even Megumi looked away, shoulders shaking slightly. Yuuta just stared. Then laughed.

The ceremony ended the way it began. Yuuta found you standing a little apart from everything. He walked over slowly. You didn’t turn right away. “…You did all this,” he said softly. "Mhm"

He reached for your hand and didn't let go. "Why?" You smiled.

"I'm happy."

Yuuta furrowed his eyebrows. "That’s not an answer." You turned towards him fully. "I got to marry you." Your thumbs brushed the back of his hands. "I got to live a life like this with you."

With a shaky voice, “You deserve a life where you’re not being hunted for existing.” Yuuta’s grip tightened.

His voice came out rough. "…What are you trying to say?"

You looked at him for a long moment. Like you were memorizing something. Then smiled.

"I’ll wait for you."

His eyes widened slightly.

"So please…" Your fingers squeezed his. "…Live a long life." The wind moved through the flowers.

"And when the time comes," you said quietly, "tell me your stories."

Yuuta shook his head slightly. "No…" But his voice broke anyway.

You stepped closer. "And in another life…" Your forehead touched his.

"I’ll find you." A breath. "And I’ll love you all over again." Yuuta pulled you closer without thinking. His hand trembled slightly where it rested against your back.

"…Don’t say that," he whispered.

Yuuta closed his eyes. "…We could just stay," The words sounded small. Like he already knew they weren’t possible.

"I know."

His grip tightened. "…Then don’t leave." Silence settled between you. Then you brushed his cheek.

"You always hold on so tightly."

"Because I lose people." The answer came instantly. "I couldn't save Rika, I couldn't save—"

"Yuuta, you don't have to save me." He looked at you.

"You carry every loss with you," you said. "And you’re tired."

A broken laugh escaped him. "Maybe."

Your thumb brushed beneath his eye. "You won’t lose me just because you let yourself live."

Yuuta stared at you. Slowly, painfully, he understood. You weren’t leaving because you wanted to. It was simply time. Tears slipped down his face. You wiped one away.

"Live, okay?" After a long moment, he nodded. You grinned. "That's my Yuuta." His laugh broke into a sob. You pressed your forehead to his one last time. Then the air shifted. The wind stilled. The distant voices faded. Your hand in his grew lighter. Yuuta swallowed hard but didn’t tighten his grip. He only held your hand gently.

"Yuuta." Your voice sounded faint now."

"Yeah?"

"I love you." His composure shattered.

"I love you too." Your form started fading. Behind him, laughter stopped. "I'll be waiting."

Then you were gone.

The next morning, Granny appeared at the gate just as they were leaving. "Oh! I made it in time!"

She hurried forward, slightly out of breath, holding something carefully wrapped in cloth.

"The missus said not to bother you all, said goodbye would be too emotional," she said, waving a hand. "But I wanted to give you this before you left."

She pressed it into Yuuta’s hands. A handmade quilted baby blanket. Cream fabric. Soft sage-green stitching. Delicate floral patterns carefully sewn into every corner.

Yuuta froze. His fingers tightened slightly around it. "…This is…"

Granny smiled warmly. “I thought maybe someday you’d need it.”

His throat tightened almost painfully. "…Thank you." His voice barely worked. “She would’ve loved this.”

“Take care of her, dear and the baby too.”

Yuuta didn’t correct her. He couldn’t. So he just nodded. "…I will."

Time moved after that. Not quickly, not slowly. Just forward.

The higher-ups didn’t execute Yuuta. Gojo barely managed to convince them. But they didn’t forgive him either. So they gave him something worse. Permission to live under a leash. Assigned missions, constant surveillance. A life that looked free from a distance. But never felt like it up close.

"You know," Gojo said one evening, hands in his pockets, watching Yuuta prepare for another assignment, "I’m not sure this is what she meant when she said ‘live a long life.’"

Yuuta didn’t look up. "…It is."

Gojo tilted his head slightly. "You’re just working yourself to death slowly instead."

Yuuta finally met his gaze. Calm. Tired. "I promised her I’d live and I will." No matter what shape it takes.

Later that day, Yuuta stopped at a small coffee shop near the station. The cashier smiled politely.

"You look awfully young to be married."

Yuuta paused. Then glanced down at his hand. The ring.

"…Do I?"

The cashier laughed lightly. "When did you know she was the one?"

Silence stretched. Yuuta’s expression softened. "The moment our eyes met."

Jujutsu High.

His first day.

The air heavy with cursed energy. Tension was in every corner of the room. Everyone was ready for a fight they assumed was coming.

Yuuta was standing at the center of it all. He was nervous, overwhelmed, dangerous without meaning to be.

Then he looked up and saw you. For the first time, your eyes met. You sat still on your seat while everyone else was tense and ready for combat. Then, the corners of your lips turned and gave him a gentle smile.

[megutroni]

you go on a mission and come back lifeless, yuuta doesn’t know how to handle it (part 2)

part 1

The rain was coming down heavily. The sun was setting and Yuuta didn't really know where to go, he just kept moving. He still couldn't believe it. The moment he saw your eyes open, he knew he couldn’t stay there, knew he couldn’t let anyone else see you like that, knew they would take you away again. Fix you, contain you, decide what you were allowed to be.

He couldn’t let that happen. Not again. Not after everything.

He didn’t know how many hours had passed since you woke up, didn’t know how far he had brought you. He didn’t care. All he could think about was distance. So he kept moving. Yuuta didn’t slow down, he couldn’t afford to. Because in his mind, there was only one certainty left. If he stopped, you would be taken from him again.

Yuuta found an old structure on the edge of a rural road. It looked like an abandoned shed that had just enough space for them to stand under to shelter from the rain. Both of you stood there for a moment, catching your breath. You brush your damp hair away from your face, white dress soaked through and clinging onto your skin, his suit doing the same.

Yuuta stared at you for a while before finally speaking. "...Are you okay?" You turn to him, wiping your cheek from a water droplet that dripped from your hair and smiled. "I'm fine."

"Are you cold?" He reached for your hand almost instinctively, to warm it up. However, the moment his fingers closed around yours, he froze.

Your hand was cold. Not "been outside too long" cold. Ice-cold. Yuuta's breath caught, because for the first time, he looked at you. Your skin was pale, too pale. The color washed out in a way the storm couldn't explain. It almost looked blue in the dim light. You were still beautiful but something was wrong in a way his body understood before his mind did.

His hands trembled slightly. You looked up at him in concern. "...Yuuta?"

He swallowed the lump in his throat then smiled. "I'm fine." His voice came out soft and reassuring, like it always did with you. Your hand tightened around his.

"You're shaking."

"It's just the cold."

Then, as if by some miracle, a truck slowed down and stopped right in front of you. A window rolled down and inside, an elderly couple leaned out, looking at you through the rain. The woman gasped sofly.

"Oh my, you two look like you eloped!"

Yuuta's heart skipped a beat. Then both of you slowly turned to look at each other, something like irony flickered between you two. A ghost of normal life. A life that could’ve been possible.

Yuuta let out a quiet, breathy laugh. "…Yeah," Then, softer "Something like that." Still staring at you.

The older man chuckled. 'Well, don’t stay out in the rain. You’ll catch your death." Both of you stiffened at the statement, unsure of what to say.

“We’ve got a guest house back up the road. All our kids moved to the city years ago. It’s just us now, so, plenty of space. You can stay there tonight.”

"…Are you sure?" Yuuta asked.

The woman smiled. "Of course, dear."

The guest house was modest, enough for a small family. It was a bit dusty from the lack of visitors but still clean. There were fresh towels, dry clothes laid out on the bed, and homemade food, warm and waiting on the table.

Yuuta stood in the doorway for a moment, just observing you. For a brief, dangerous second, his mind slipped. He imagined what life would have been like if things were different. If this place wasn't temporary. How it would look like to have little kids that looked like a mix of you and him running around the floors. His chest tightened because it felt close enough to touch and still completely out of reach.

"Yuu, come in and warm up. Don't want you getting sick now."

Yuuta blinked and exhaled softly, like he’d been underwater for too long. He gave you a small smile, like he always did for you. Then he stepped inside. Closing the door behind him.

Yuuta stood in the doorway of the small bedroom for a moment longer than necessary. There was only one bed. Of course there was. They thought we eloped. He didn’t comment on it. Behind him, the faint sound of rain still lingered against the windows, softer now.

You stepped outside of the bathroom, drying your hair with a towel. You were wearing an oversized shirt and shorts. Yuuta felt a faint blush creep up on his cheeks.

"You should head in while the water is still warm."

"Yeah...Thanks."

You looked less cold than before, less pale, yet something about you still didn't feel quite right. When you were both finally dry and changed, the room felt different. Yuuta stood near the edge of the bed, staring at it like it might give him instructions.

You sat down first, testing the mattress, then patted the space beside you. "Come on, you're still shaking."

"I'm not." He replied quickly. You gave him a look. He hesitated and sat down right next to you, mattress dippping slightly. Yuuta stared forward for a moment. Trying to convince himself this was just exhaustion or stress or just grief catching up in strange ways, but it didn’t feel like grief. Grief was supposed to feel like loss.

This felt like something still here. Something refusing to be fully understood.

"Are you warmer now?" Yuuta broke the silence. You turn to look at him. "I think so." Yuuta turned toward you and gently brushed your jaw with his fingers.

"You're still cold though." He whispered.

You smiled and placed your hand over his. "Probably just the rain."

Before you could finish talking Yuuta started leaning in a closing the distance between you. He pressed his lips softly against yours, almost testing if it was allowed. The moment you kissed him back, something in him shifted. The kiss deepened, slow and heavy with everything he’d been holding back. His other hand slid to your waist, pulling you closer and on top of him as his lips moved against yours with quiet urgency.

When you finally parted, foreheads resting together and breaths mingling, Yuuta kept his eyes closed for a moment longer. There was a brief moment of silence.

"I was thinking."

"Dangerous." You said softly but playfully. His mouth twitched slightly. "...Yeah." You placed both of your hands on the sides of his face and rubbed your thumbs on his cheeks. His arms around your waist tightened slightly.

"Maybe we should just stay like this for a while." He said quietly, eyes still closed.

"Like what?" Your eyes traced every line on his face, trailing on his lips for a while.

"Like...this." One of his hands slipped under your shirt and started absentmindedly tracing circles on your back. The gesture was familiar, comforting. The kind of thing he used to do when he was lost in thought.

"I don't know how long we have...so I just want to stay here." He finally opens his eyes and gazes into yours.

"Okay."

Yuuta woke slowly.

For a moment, he didn't know where he was. The room was quiet. Sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting pale gold across the floorboards. Then he felt the weight in his arms.His eyes drifted downward. You were still there, curled against him, cheek pressed against his shoulder. One of your arms loosely draped across his waist.

Yuuta had no memory of pulling you closer during the night. Yet somehow, his arms were wrapped around you so tightly that he almost felt guilty. Like he'd been afraid you'd disappear if he loosened his grip. For the first time in what felt like forever, Yuuta allowed himself to simply look at you. No panic, no running, no thinking about what came next. Just this moment. Just you.

A gentle knock came later that morning. Yuuta opened the door to see the elderly woman standing outside carrying a basket overflowing with clothes.

"Good morning." She smiled warmly. "I found some things my children left behind years ago. They should fit you both well enough."

She placed the basket into Yuuta's arms. "Thank you."

"No worries dear. They've been sitting in storage collecting dust anyway." Her eyes drifted past him briefly toward the guest house. Then softened. "You two get settled alright?"

"Yeah." The answer came easier than expected.

Then before he could overthink it, "We were actually hoping to stay a while." The woman blinked in surprise and smiled in glee. "Of course you can." Relief flickered across Yuuta's face.

"I can help pay for expenses," he responded quickly. "Or find work nearby."

The woman laughed. "Oh, honey, we aren't running a hotel." Still, she seemed pleased by the offer. After a moment she tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Though my husband would probably appreciate some help around the farm."

Yuuta nodded immediately. "I can do that."

The days that followed began to settle into a rhythm. Simple, quiet, almost normal. Both you and Yuuta had gotten close enough to the elderly couple that you had started calling them Granny and Gramps.

Each morning, Yuuta accompanied Gramps into the fields. The work was exhausting in a way missions never were. It was physical and honest. There were no curses to fight, no lives hanging in the balance. Just dirt beneath his nails and long afternoons beneath the sun. For someone else, it might have been boring. For Yuuta, it felt strangely peaceful.

Meanwhile, you spent your days helping Granny. Helping clean their house, cooking, helping stock produce. Sometimes assisting at the small roadside shop where they sold vegetables from the farm. The locals quickly grew fond of you. The old couple even more so.

"Oh my! Dear, you're so cold! Are you sick?"

You had picked up a vegetable that fell on the floor from the bin at the roadside shop, and while handing it to Granny, your fingers brushed against hers.

You stood up from the ground and took a moment to respond. The air turned still and uneasy. Granny's smile faltered.

Just slightly.

You turned towards her and smiled. "I'm alright Granny. My hands just get cold easily."

She breathed a sigh of relief. A hand was placed on her chest as if she was going to get heart burn from worry.

"You youngins should take good care of your health. Otherwise, you'll have trouble getting pregnant!"

Heat immediately rushed to your face "Granny!"

It was easy to pretend. Easy to fall into routine. Easy to imagine this was what life was supposed to be. Some nights, Yuuta would watch you from across the dinner table while the grandparents talked endlessly about their children living in the city.

For a few precious moments, he could almost convince himself that nothing had happened at all. That there had never been a funeral. Just this little house. This quiet town and the future he'd always wanted.

The sun was beginning to set by the time Yuuta made his way back from the fields. His shoulders ached, his hands were sore. Dirt clung stubbornly beneath his fingernails despite multiple attempts to clean them.

Yuuta opened the door of the guest house. For a brief moment, everything was quiet. Then you popped out from the kitchen. "There you are."

Yuuta paused. You stood by the hallway, wiping your hands on a kitchen towel. Yuuta could smell dinner drifting off from the kitchen, it felt warm. The sunset's light burned through the windows and gave the house a slight orange glow behind you. "Welcome home, Yuu."

Something in his chest tightened so suddenly it almost hurt.

Welcome home. Not welcome back. Not how was work. Home. For a second, he couldn't speak because nobody had ever said those words to him quite like that before. Not in a way that made him feel like he belonged somewhere. Like someone had been waiting for him. Like his return mattered.

Your expression softened slightly. "Yuuta?"

He quickly looked away, embarrassed by how much the words affected him. "...Sorry."

You smiled. "Go get cleaned up. Dinner's almost ready."

"Okay."

After washing away the dirt and sweat from the day, Yuuta quietly made his way toward the kitchen. You were standing at the counter, focused on stirring something in a pot. The sleeves of your borrowed sweater were pushed up to your elbows, and a few loose strands of hair had escaped whatever attempt you'd made to keep it neat.

Without a word, he wrapped his arms around your waist from behind and rested his chin on your shoulder. You continued stirring the pot. Neither of you spoke. The silence wasn't awkward. It was the kind that didn't need filling. After a while, you leaned back slightly into him and Yuuta closed his eyes.

The kitchen was warm, Dinner was cooking.

Outside, the evening sun painted everything gold, and for one dangerous moment, he thought, I want this forever. The thought came so naturally it frightened him.

The next morning, Granny appeared at breakfast looking unusually excited.

"You two have plans tonight?"

Yuuta glanced up from his tea. "Not really."

"Perfect." She smiled. "There'll be a summer festival in the village tonight."

You immediately looked interested. "A festival?"

She nodded enthusiastically. "Food stalls, games, fireworks. The whole town comes together every year."

You and Yuuta exchanged a glance. Neither of you had ever actually gone to one, not properly. There was always a mission, training, assignments, some emergency, something.

Your smile widened. "We should go."

Yuuta couldn't help but smile back. "...Yeah." Because for once, there was no reason for you not to go.

By evening, the village looked completely transformed. Paper lanterns glowed along the streets. Children ran between stalls carrying prizes and snacks, laughter filled the air, music drifted from somewhere deeper within the crowd.

Yuuta found himself slowing down just to take everything in. It felt strangely unreal. It was like stepping into a life that belonged to someone else, someone normal. Beside him, your eyes were practically sparkling.

"Look at all the food."

Yuuta laughed. "That's the first thing you noticed?"

"Obviously."

Eventually, the crowds became too much. So the two of you followed a narrow path leading up a grassy hill overlooking the village. From there, the festival looked smaller. The distant laughter drifted upward on the summer breeze. Then, the fireworks began.

A brilliant burst of gold illuminated the night sky. Then red. Then blue. The explosions echoed through the valley. One after another. You stood beside him in comfortable silence, shoulders touching, watching. For a while, neither of you spoke. Then Yuuta found himself looking away from the fireworks and toward you. The colors danced across your face.

For the first time in days, the strange paleness seemed less obvious. The faint blue tint disappeared beneath the shifting light. The warmth from the fireworks reflected in your eyes. And for one impossible moment, you looked alive. Completely alive.

"...I wanted to marry you."

The words slipped out before he could stop them.

You blinked. Slowly turning toward him. Yuuta swallowed. His hands suddenly felt clumsy. Nervous.

Just like they had the day he'd bought it.

With slightly trembling fingers, he reached into his pocket, then pulled out a small box. He opened it. Inside rested a simple gold ring. Nothing extravagant. Just something he thought you'd like.

"I was going to ask after graduation." The light of the fireworks reflected off the ring.

"I thought..." His voice caught briefly. "...I thought we had more time."

For a moment, you simply stared. Then your eyes widened. A faint pink dusted your cheeks.

"Funny you say that." You laughed softly. "Because I told Gojo-sensei that you were the only person I'd ever marry."

Yuuta stared. The world seemed to pause. Even the fireworks sounded distant. You smiled. That familiar smile. The one he'd fallen in love with years ago.

"So I told him..." Your gaze softened. "...if you ever asked, I'd say yes."

For a second, Yuuta forgot to breathe. Then you laughed again. A little embarrassed.

"We don't need a wedding."

Yuuta blinked. "What?"

"We can just keep living like we have." Your fingers found his. "As husband and wife." You squeezed his hand gently. "That's enough for me."

Yuuta stared at you. At the woman he'd loved for years. At the future he'd spent so long dreaming about. At the impossible miracle sitting beside him beneath a sky full of fireworks. His vision blurred. Slowly, carefully, he slid the ring onto your finger. It fit perfectly.

"That's enough for me too."

The walk back to the guest house was filled with laughter. Old memories, stories from missions, arguments about who had embarrassed themselves more during training. Before you knew it, you had reached home.

"I'll get the bath ready."

The moment the two of you stepped inside, you slipped off your shoes and hurried toward the bathroom.

Yuuta laughed softly. "Don't use all the hot water."

"No promises." Your voice disappeared down the hallway.

The house felt strangely quiet afterward. Yuuta moved toward the living room and lowered himself onto the couch. The smile on his face lingered.

"Okkotsu."

His body froze. The voice was familiar. Far too familiar. Slowly, Yuuta looked up and found several pairs of eyes staring back at him.

Gojo stood near the window. Maki beside him, Panda, Toge, Nobara, Yuji, Megumi and sitting silently at Megumi's side, Divine Dog.

Yuuta's expression darkened immediately. "...Gojo-sensei."

The room fell silent. Nobody smiled. Nobody moved.

"You've been difficult to find."

Yuuta didn't answer.

"You need to come back to Tokyo."

"No." The response came instantly. Gojo sighed. "Okkotsu—"

"No." Yuuta stood.

"They will order you to get executed."

The silence stretched.

Then Maki spoke. "What have you been doing all this time?"

Before Yuuta could answer,

"Yuuta?"

The voice came from the hallway.

Everyone turned and froze. You stood there, looking confused.

"Yuuta, you didn't tell me we had visitors."

The room went completely still.

Yuji's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "WHAT?!"

You jumped slightly. "Yuji?"

"YOU'RE DEAD!"

"YUJI!" Maki snapped.

"RIGHT, SORRY."

Divine Dog growled. The sound immediately cut through the room. Your smile faltered. Megumi's expression hardened. The growling continued. His eyes moved from you to Yuuta.

"What did you do?"

The question landed heavily. Yuuta's jaw tightened. You looked between everyone. Confused. Then smiled again. Oblivious to the tension.

"I'll make tea." Nobody stopped you. You disappeared into the kitchen. The moment you were gone, Gojo spoke. "It's not her."

Yuuta's head snapped toward him.

"Whatever came back isn't her."

"You're wrong."

Gojo held his gaze. "Okkotsu."

"You're wrong." Yuuta's voice was rising now. "It has her memories." Nobody moved. "It talks like her." His hands clenched. "It laughs like her." The words came faster. "She remembers things nobody else knows."

Gojo remained silent.

Yuuta took a step forward. "It is her." The room vibrated slightly. Cursed energy leaking from the edges of his control. "I used her remaining cursed energy." The confession hung in the air.

"I brought her back."

Nobody spoke. Because nobody knew how to answer that.

"Tea's ready."

The tension shattered instantly. You stepped into the room carrying a tray. Completely unaware, smiling at everyone.

"There's snacks too."

Yuji looked like he was about to cry. Panda looked away. Even Maki couldn't meet your eyes.

You hesitated, smile fading slightly. "...Will you guys be staying long?"

Nobody answered. Then you smiled again. Smaller this time.

"Please stay."

Gojo looked at you. Really looked at you. Then glanced toward Yuuta. Toward the ring on your finger. A quiet sigh escaped him.

"...Three days."

Every head in the room whipped toward him.

"WHAT?" Yuji blurted.

"Gojo-sensei—" Maki started.

Megumi looked genuinely irritated.

Gojo ignored all of them. His eyes remained on Yuuta.

part 3

[megutroni]

you go on a mission and come back lifeless, yuuta doesn’t know how to handle it

"Yuu."

A soft voice echoed behind him. It was warm, familiar. The kind of voice he could recognize anywhere, even in a dream. Yuuta turned. There you were, standing a few feet away, the wind blowing your hair, the sunlight illuminating your face just right. Everything felt peaceful.

"There you are." Yuuta sighed in relief. You laughed softly as the both of you walked towards each other, closing the distance. The moment he was an arm's reach, you wrapped your arms around his torso. Yuuta felt warm. He could feel the steady beat of your heart and that made him want to hug you back tighter.

For a while, neither of you spoke. Yuuta didn't want to. For some reason, he felt that the moment seemed fragile. As if speaking too loud would break it.

You pulled your head back, just a little bit to look at his face, still smiling. Yuuta felt like there was something different about it though. It looked sad.

You reached up and brushed a hand on his cheek. "I love you."

He blinked and let out a faint laugh. "I know."

"Take care of yourself, okay?"

Yuuta's smile disappeared. "....What?" A strange feeling started overwhelming him.

"Promise me."

It started getting heavy. Uncomfortable. Their surroundings started getting darker. The air got colder.

"What are you talking about?" Yuuta frowned.

You didn't answer. You just stared into his eyes. Suddenly, Yuuta felt something wet touch his feet. Something black was seeping through the grass. Not water, something thicker, darker, like ink. It surged upward like a violent wave, rising quickly.

Yuuta grabbed you closer. "(name)?"

The dark liquid quickly engulfed their bodies, from their legs, their torsos, their chests, their neck.

"Yuuta, I'm—" Before you could finish, the dark liquid devoured you both. It swallowed everything, coloring everything in darkness.

"(name)!!" Yuuta jolted upright. Sweat dripped down from his forehead, his breath was ragged, and his heart pounded against his ribs. For several seconds, he couldn't move, his hands trembled. He looked around slowly to make sure he still wasn't dreaming. His dorm room looked normal. Everything was fine, and yet the feelings he felt from the dream remained.

Yuuta pressed his palms on his face. The image of your smile was stuck in his head.

Take care of yourself ,okay?

For some reason, it felt more like a warning than a dream.

Morning came too quickly.

Yuuta wasn’t fully rested, but he was already dressed when you found him in the common room, staring blankly at the coffee machine like it had personally wronged him.

“You’re up early,” you said.

He blinked, then turned toward you like he’d just remembered the world existed.

“…Couldn’t sleep much.” You studied him for a second longer than usual. “Nightmare?” That made his expression shift slightly, he felt read like a book.

“Something like that,” he admitted. You didn't pry, instead, you offered to make him breakfast and he agreed. Quiet mornings were rare in Jujutsu High considering the type of people you have as classmates so you learned to appreciate it when the opportunity presents itself.

You and Yuuta just sat by the porch, hands intertwined, leaned against each other, watching nature do its thing. For a while, neither of you talked about missions, or curses, or anything heavy. Yuuta actually laughed at one point when you pointed out that one of the clouds in the sky looked like Panda.

"I think that looks more like Gojo-sensei." Yuuta states with a serious face. You slapped a hand over your mouth as you tried not to laugh. The mood felt just right and Yuuta completely forgot about his nightmare.

The mission call came just after noon. You were mid-conversation when your phone buzzed. The shift in your expression was immediate. Yuuta noticed before you even looked at the screen.

“What is it?” he asked.

You sighed quietly. "....Mission." The air in the room changed and Yuuta sat up straighter. "Already?" You nod and read the details of the mission.

There was an unlicensed exorcist sighted and immediate response was requested. Just like that. You stood up from the couch, Yuuta already feeling cold from your warmth leaving.

"I have to go now."

"Alone?" He was worried. Of course he was, there had been this uncomfortable sinking feeling in his stomach since he woke up and now it's back.

"No, I'll be meeting up with a team there." You smiled, trying to reassure him. However, his expression didn't change. He stood up and placed both his hands on your elbows, rubbing his thumbs on your skin.

"I can come with you."

"It's not required." You said gently. "I know," He responded quickly.

"but that's not what I meant..." You looked into his eyes which was filled with worry. You smiled. "I'll be okay." He didn't say anything. He just kept rubbing his thumbs back and forth on your elbows while looking at your face, as if he's trying to memorize it.

Then in a quiet voice, he says, "Just be careful." Your expression softens. "I always am." He reaches his hand up to your face an gently touches your cheek with his knuckles. "Take care of yourself." He whispers.

You let out a small laugh. "That goes for you too." Yuuta blinked and nodded. "You’re thinking too hard again," you said.

"…Am I?"

"Yes." Yuuta let out a faint exhale that could be mistaken for a laugh. "Come back." It wasn't a command, not even really a request.

"I will." You smiled then gently grabbed the front of Yuuta's uniform to pull him closer, his face now inches away from yours. His hands land on your waist for stability, eyes widening slightly in surprise.

You leaned forward the rest of the way. The kiss was gentle, familiar. The kind of kiss that came from years of knowing each other rather than sudden passion. Yuuta immediately melted into it. One hand slid higher along your waist, drawing you slightly closer, not enough to stop you from leaving. Just enough to feel you there.

When the kiss broke, neither of you moved very far. Yuuta rested his forehead lightly against yours. A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"There," you whispered.

"There what?"

"So you have something nice to think about while I'm gone." A faint laugh escaped him. "That's not fair." You grinned. "It worked, though."

Unfortunately, it had. Yuuta's ears turned slightly pink. He looked away for all of two seconds before meeting your gaze again.

"I love you."

The words came easily. Like they always did with you. Your smile softened.

"I love you too."

Yuuta stopped sleeping properly after you left. At first it was just the dream. The same one, every night. He stopped reacting to it outwardly after the second night. By the third, he just sat up in bed afterward, breathing slowly until his heartbeat stopped trying to break through his ribs. By the fourth, he stopped trying to go back to sleep at all.

"Seriously." Maki’s voice cut through the quiet training hall. Yuuta barely registered it at first. He was sitting on the edge of the mat, bandage loose around his hands, staring at nothing in particular.

"Are you even listening to me?"

He blinked. "…Yeah."

Maki crossed her arms. "No, you’re not."

Then Yuuta sighed slightly. "Sorry."

"You look awful."

Yuuta exhaled, a faint smile on his face. "...Thanks."

"I'm serious." Yuuta didn't argue. Maki clicked her tongue. “When’s the last time you actually slept?” Yuuta avoided her gaze. "…Not really recently." She stared at him even more.

"Since she left?" For a moment, he didn't answer. Then in a quiet voice, he said. "Yeah." Maki plops herself right next to Yuuta. "She's fine, you know." Yuuta glanced towards her.

"She's strong, and she's not alone. So, if something went wrong, we would know."

Yuuta lowered his gaze again and gave a small tired smile. "Yeah...you're right."

Yuuta was in the hallway when the doors opened. He didn't notice the shift at first, not the silence spreading through the people that gathered, not how Maki stopped walking, not the way everyone avoided looking at the center of the group forming at the entrance.

Until he decided to look up. Everything stopped. Your body was being carried in carefully, wrapped in a sheet that didn't move. Everything went quiet. Yuuta couldn't hear anything, not even his own breathing.

He dropped his notebook. Your notebook. The one he borrowed to study because your handwriting was neater. He took one step forward. Then another, slow and uncertain.

Someone said his name but it sounded muffled. He didn't respond, because his attention was already fixed on the sheet, on the shape beneath it. His hands felt numb, chest feeling tight.

Yuuta reached the edge of the stretcher and stopped. Part of him still expected you to sit up and tell him it was just one big prank. Only silence greeted him. He took a shaky breath. His fingers hovered uselessly near the edge of the sheet before falling back to his side. He couldn’t touch it. Not yet. Not like this.

The next few days passed like a blur he couldn’t step out of. Time didn’t feel like time anymore. Just moments that kept happening without meaning. He stopped sleeping, properly eating, going anywhere unless someone physically dragged him. Most of the time, he stayed in his room.

Sitting, staring, thinking. He should have been there. He should have gone with you. He should have taken the mission request himself. He should have insisted. He should have noticed something was wrong sooner. These thoughts kept circling his mind until the worst one came.

He thought he had more time. He looked at the small box on his desk and reached for it. He opened it and stared at the contents for a long time until his hands started shaking.

It was late in the afternoon when Yuuta heard a knock on his door. He didn't answer. Then the knocks became stronger until the door opened without Yuuta having to stand up and move a muscle. He didn't look up, already knowing who it was.

"Gojo-sensei..."

Gojo stepped inside, hands in his pockets like he always does. "You're making the room depressing." Gojo started up lightly. Yuuta didn't respond. Gojo sighed.

"You planning on sitting here forever?"

"I don't know what else I'm supposed to do." Yuuta said in barely a whisper.

Gojo leaned against the wall and stared at him intently. "Yeah, I figured you might say that." Yuuta finally looked up at him. Behind his eyes was just emptiness. "You know what the problem is?" Gojo asked "You're trying to make it make sense." He continued without waiting for an answer. Yuuta didn't move.

"It won't. You think if you go over it enough times, you'll find the moment you could've changed it."

Yuuta's hands tightened slightly on his lap.

"But there isn't one." Gojo crouched infront of him. "…She wouldn’t want this version of you," he said quietly. Yuuta's breath hitched. He clutched the small box on his hand tighter.

“You’ve got five minutes,” he said casually. “Then I’m dragging you out myself.” The door clicked shut behind him and for the first time in days, Yuuta looked away from the wall.

"...Okkotsu?"

Yuuta blinked. The room slowly came into focus. He was not in his room. He was somewhere quieter, colder.

"We need to decide on her funeral attire."

Their words didn't register immediately. Yuuta just stared at them like they spoke a language he didn't speak. Funeral attire.

"...Why me?" He asked. His voice sounded empty.

"She has you listed as her family" They said softly. Yuuta took a deep breath in. He didn't correct them, didn't ask them to explain.

"I see."

They took him to a room with lots of cabinets. They showed him options. Simple, formal, uniforms, some folded fabric that looked too bright for what they were meant for. Yuuta didn't look at most of them. His eyes just skimmed through the displays as the person brought out and explained what they had in stock.

Until his eyes landed on that dress. It was simple, clean lines, not decorated, not elaborate, soft. It looked like something that you would wear if you were to go on a date with him. He started at it for a long time, until people in the room stopped speaking and just exchanged glances.

"I'll choose that white dress." Yuuta finally broke the silence.

"O..okay."

He stood alone for a long time, looking at nothing as the others shuffle and pack up the dress. A white dress. Something you might have laughed at him for choosing. Because he had been planning, not now, not soon, but someday. A future where he would’ve asked you properly. Yuuta’s breath caught. His hand moved slightly. Then stopped.

He had come to see you earlier than the scheduled time. When he finally saw you, he forgot how to breathe. Everything narrowed down to one thing. You, lying still, dressed in white in the exact shade he had chosen without realizing what he was doing to himself.

His lips parted, no sound came out. His fingers twitched at his sides. All he could see was the dress and all he could think was that he had picked it. His knees felt weak. He felt something inside him crack.

The air in the room changed. Everything felt colder, much colder than it was before. The pressure in the room dropped as cursed energy started leaking from the middle of the room. In the center of it all, stood Yuuta. All of his attention was still fixed on you. He reached for your hand unconsciously and once he touched your skin he felt a lump in his throat. You were cold. Too cold.

"...No" He whispered as he curled his hand into yours. "...No,no,no" His head hung low and his grip on your hand tightened slightly. As if warmth could be forced back in. As if time would respond to him if he just held on long enough. His cursed energy stirred violently which made the lights flicker.

The pressure started getting heavier and heavier. Someone had yelled his name but it fell on deaf ears.

"Yuuta!"

Yuuta's thoughts were screaming loudly in his ears.

I thought I had more time. I thought I had more time. I thought I had more time. I—

Yuuta opened his eyes. "I'm not done." His cursed energy surged outward. He felt as if time had slowed down but he could hear someone yelling.

"Someone stop him!" but he paid them no mind. His fingers tightened around yours.

And something answered.

Not from outside.

From inside the space itself.

A pressure coiling, gathering, responding to emotion too strong to stay contained. Not a curse in form. Not yet in name, but something listening. Yuuta’s breath came uneven. His eyes welled up. "...You can't go." He whispered, like a promise he was forcing the world to obey.

The air cracked. A violent surge of cursed energy erupted through the room. Someone screamed. The lights shattered. Then everything went silent, and when the dust settled...Yuuta Okkotsu was gone

and so were you.

part 2

[megutroni]

“friendly” rivalry with megumi part 3 part 2

The trip back to Jujutsu High was unusually quiet. Normally, you would have spent the entire ride arguing with Megumi. About the mission, about the score between you, about who had contributed more, anything, really. Instead, you found yourself staring out the window.

The silence felt strange.

"You were right." The words slipped out before you could stop them.

"What?"

You rolled your eyes and sighed. "I said you were right." He stared. You could feel him staring at you while you kept your eyes out the window. "The mission wasn't a competition." You shifted uncomfortably in your seat. "If I had kept running ahead, things would've gone badly."

The car was quiet. For a second, you thought Megumi wasn't going to respond. "Glad you figured it out." Your eye twitched. You contemplated on starting up another fight but exhaustion was finally catching up to you and your eyes started feeling heavy.

The car hit a bump and you jolted awake. Your head felt strangely warm. The world was tilted. Thats when you decided to look up, and immediately froze. At some point, while you were asleep, you had slumped sideways directly onto Megumi's shoulder.

Megumi was completely still. He was just looking out the window, as if your head wasn't resting on him. Feeling the tips of your ears turn red, you slowly sat upright and mumbled an apology.

"It's fine." Megumi said, still looking out the window.

A few minutes later, the gates of Jujutsu High came into view. Before you could even reach for the door handle, Megumi was already out of his seat. You grabbed your bag and climbed out of the vehicle. The evening air hit your face immediately.

"Fushiguro. (y/n)." Gojo stood by the entrance, hands in his pockets.

"How'd the mission go?"

"The curse is exorcised," Megumi answered.

"Excellent." Gojo's grin widened. You immediately didn't trust it.

"Why are you smiling like that?" You questioned.

"I don't know what you're talking about?" Gojo kept smiling and shrugged. You narrowed your eyes at him. Megumi looked ready to leave. Unfortunately for him, Gojo wasn't finished.

"You two took longer than expected."

"It was stronger than we were told," Megumi replied.

"Mmhm." Gojo's gaze drifted between the two of you. Then to the light scratch on your cheek. Then back to the two of you.

"What."

"Nothing."

"You keep saying that, but your face says otherwise." Gojo placed a hand dramatically over his chest.

"I'm wounded that you think I'd pry into the private lives of my students." Both you and Megumi stared at him. "You're literally the nosiest person I know," you deadpanned.

"Thank you."

"That wasn't a compliment."

Gojo ignored you. "Anyway, good job surviving."

"Surviving?" you repeated, eyebrows furrowed.

"You'd be surprised how many sorcerers fail that part."

The joking tone disappeared for just a moment. Just long enough to remind you what the job actually was. The mission flashed through your mind. The regenerating curse. The collapsing gym. Megumi grabbing your arm and the closet. You quickly looked elsewhere, the tips of your ears turning red.

Gojo's gaze lingered on you for a second. Then he grinned again.

The next couple days, you felt more aware of Megumi's presence. It became impossible to ignore him, but for a different reason.

Before, whenever you saw him, your first thought was always the same. I need to beat him. Now, you noticed things, annoying things.

Like how he always arrived to class a few minutes early. How he would quietly lend Yuji his notes whenever he forgot to write something down. How he always stopped to pet Divine Dog before dismissing it. How he pushed his hair back whenever he was concentrating. How long his fingers were.

"You've been staring at Fushiguro for like five minutes."

You nearly choked on your drink.

Across the cafeteria, Megumi was sitting with Yuji, who was enthusiastically talking with his hands while Megumi quietly ate his lunch. You immediately looked away.

"I was not."

Nobara raised an eyebrow. "You absolutely were."

"I was thinking."

"About Fushiguro."

"No."

"Then why were you looking at him?"

You opened your mouth. Then closed it. Then opened it again.

"...I wasn't."

"A convincing argument." She gave you a side eye.

You groaned and dropped your forehead onto the table.

This was ridiculous. You weren't staring at Megumi.

You were simply...observing. Yes. That sounded reasonable. Across the room, Yuji suddenly laughed at something and nearly fell out of his chair. Megumi reached out and grabbed the back of his jacket before he could hit the floor. The movement was automatic. Like he hadn't even thought about it. Your eyes followed him again before you could stop yourself.

Nobara gasped dramatically. "Oh my god."

"What now?" You groaned.

"You did it again."

"I hate you."

"No, you don't." Unfortunately, she was right. Which somehow made it worse. As if sensing he was being watched, Megumi glanced in your direction. Your eyes met. You immediately looked down at your lunch. Heat rushed to your face. Across the table, Nobara looked seconds away from passing out from excitement.

"Don't." You gave her a look.

"I'm not saying anything."

You buried your face in your hands. From somewhere across the cafeteria, you could've sworn you heard Yuji yell "WAIT, ARE YOU—" The rest was cut off by what sounded suspiciously like Megumi smacking him in the back of the head.

"I'm leaving." You said, standing up.

"Running away won't solve your problems," Nobara called after you with a grin on her face.

"Watch me."

You practically escaped the cafeteria. The cool air outside felt refreshing against your face. Unfortunately, it did absolutely nothing to stop your thoughts. This was ridiculous. You weren't interested in Megumi. You were just paying more attention to him, as a rival. That's all.

Or at least, that's what you kept telling yourself.

The problem was that it became harder and harder to believe. It started with small things. One afternoon during class, you reached for a worksheet at the same time Megumi did. Your fingers brushed. You immediately pulled your hand back. Megumi did the same. Neither of you acknowledged it.

Then there was the time during training when he grabbed your wrist to stop you from walking into one of Gojo's traps. You spent the next ten minutes trying to remember what Gojo had been talking about. You couldn't.

Then there was the movie night Yuji insisted everyone attend. You and Megumi somehow ended up sitting next to each other. Halfway through the movie, your shoulders were pressed against each other. Neither of you moved away. Neither of you paid attention to the movie after that.

The worst part?

Megumi was acting strange too. You caught him looking at you more often. As if he had something he wanted to say. It drove you insane. You found yourself seeking him out. He started lingering after conversations should have ended.

You stopped challenging him to spar. Neither of you knew when it happened. Only that something had changed. And neither of you knew what to do about it.

The classroom was empty.

Chairs pushed in, desks slightly scuffed from the day. The faint sound of footsteps from the hallway outside slowly fading away. Everyone else had already left except you and Megumi. You didn’t really know why you stayed and neither did he, probably.

You stood by your desk, fiddling with the strap of your bag that was placed on it. Megumi stood by right next to you, packing up his bag slower than usual.

"You’ve been weird lately." The words slipped out before you could think better of them.

Megumi paused and glanced at you. “…So have you.”

You huffed softly.

"That’s not an answer."

“I know.”

You finally looked up. Megumi was already looking at you. Your heart skipped a beat. For a second, neither of you spoke. The air between you felt different than it used to. Less like rivalry.More like something you couldn’t name yet.

“…Can I ask you something?” you said quietly.

Megumi nodded once.

You hesitated. “When we first met… I thought you were going to take everything from me.”

Megumi frowned slightly. “Everything?”

“The top spot,” you clarified, almost embarrassed to say it out loud now.

“That’s what this was about?”

You glared weakly. “Don’t say it like that.”

“I’m not judging.” You knew he wasn’t. You looked away. “I worked so hard to be the best. And then you showed up like it was nothing. I couldn’t stop trying to beat you.”

Silence.

“…At some point, I stopped caring about winning.”

That made Megumi still. You forced yourself to continue.

“I don’t even know when it changed.” You let out a small laugh. “when I stopped trying to beat you." You finally looked at him. “I think I just… like being around you.” Your voice softened. “Even when you’re annoying.”

That earned the smallest exhale from him. Almost a laugh. Your chest tightened.

“And I think I like you more than I was supposed to.”

Megumi looked down at his desk for a moment. When he spoke, his voice was quieter than usual.

“When you stopped challenging me to spar…” You blinked. He adjusted the strap of his bag.

“I thought you were avoiding me.” You were surprised at the revelation. You didn't think he cared.

“I wasn’t.”

“I know.”

“I like when you’re around.” Megumi finally looked at you again. His expression was calm, but his ears were slightly red.

“You make everything less boring.”

You frowned slightly.

“That makes no sense.” Yuji and Nobara are the loudest and most fun classmates you have ever had.

“I know.” He chuckled.

“But I notice everything more when you’re there.”

You felt your face flush. The wind was slightly blowing cold air through the window. You took a step forward. Megumi did the same. Now there wasn’t much space between you. Not like the closet. Not like the mission. You could hear your heart beat loudly. Or was it his?

Finally, you let out a small, nervous laugh.

“So… what now?” You look up at him expectantly.

Megumi hesitated. “I don’t know.” He answered honestly. That should’ve been disappointing. Instead, it made you smile. Because for once, Megumi Fushiguro didn’t have a plan and neither did you.

“…We figure it out?” you asked. He smiled and nodded once.

“Yeah.” Then, almost at the same time, “Together.”

You weren’t sure who moved first. But suddenly, the space between you wasn’t just small anymore. It was nothing. Megumi’s eyes flicked down for the briefest second like he’d realized the same thing you had. Neither of you stepped back.

Your faces were so close to each other, you could feel the air from his breath. His fingers brush against yours and you interlock your fingers together. Your foreheads almost touch.

A loud clap echoed from the hallway.

Both of you froze.

“Ahhh,” a familiar voice sighed dramatically. “Young love.”

The door slid open.

Gojo leaned against the frame like he owned the building, hands in his pockets, head tilted like he was watching the ending of a very satisfying movie. Behind him was Panda, who immediately looked like he regretted everything.

You blinked. Megumi’s expression darkened instantly.

“…How long have you been there?” he asked.

Gojo tapped his chin. “Oh, the whole time.”

“That’s a lie,” you said immediately, dread filling your stomach.

Gojo smiled. “You two are very bad at noticing your surroundings when you’re emotionally compromised.”

Megumi’s eye twitched. “That’s not an answer.”

“It’s the answer you’re getting.”

Panda sighed loudly. “I told you this was a bad idea.”

Gojo ignored him completely. Instead, he strolled further into the classroom and leaned against one of the desks.

“So,” he said casually, “I guess Panda owes me money.”

Panda immediately groaned. Gojo held out his hand. With the slow reluctance of a man watching his savings disappear, Panda pulled out a few bills and slapped them into Gojo’s palm.

“This is rigged,” Panda muttered.

“I prefer ‘highly accurate prediction making,’” Gojo corrected.

Megumi stared at him. “…Prediction?”

Gojo nodded brightly. “Oh yeah. I had a bet going.”

Silence.

You blinked. “…A bet?”

Gojo pointed between the two of you. “Whether you two would figure it out first, or die of unresolved tension before graduation.”

“What?” you said.

Panda raised a hand. “I voted for death.”

"We're leaving." Megumi grabbed his bag with one hand and intertwined the other with yours, dragging you out of the classroom. You looked at Megumi. He was just staring straight towards the hallway, avoiding eye contact, the tips of his ears slightly red.

From the classroom, Gojo’s voice floated in again.

“I’m proud of you two, by the way!”

"You're making it worse!"

[megutroni]

“friendly” rivalry with megumi part 2 part 1

For a moment, you wondered if you had gotten it all wrong. Maybe Megumi wasn’t trying to beat you. Maybe he never had been. The thought should have made you feel better. Instead, it only made you more irritated.

“Whatever.” You muttered as you handed Megumi his book, already open to the page he was reading before. “You’re still scared.” He reaches out to grab his book.

“That’s not—“ before Megumi could finish his reply, one of the assistants stood in the doorway.

“Fushiguro. (y/n).” Both of you looked towards the door at the same time. “You two have been assigned a mission.”

You glanced at Megumi. He looked at you.

“Absolutely not.”

“No way.”

The mission was about 3 hours away from Tokyo. A 2nd grade curse had been spotted terrorizing an elementary school and both you and Megumi had been sent to exorcise it.

This would be the perfect opportunity to show them who’s the best! You thought.

Arriving at the gate, a veil was set and both of you guys took a step inside. The sounds of the outside world had disappeared. It was eerily quiet.

Megumi summoned his divine dog. You unsheathed your sword as well to be ready. The dog stood between you two and you couldn’t resist to sneak a pet to the head of the dog. It huffed and leaned into your touch, its tail wagging in delight.

“What are you doing?” Megumi was eying your hand.

“What? Can’t a girl appreciate a shikigami?” You said as you kept petting it.

You heard a rumble in the distance and the dog immediately went on alert mode and barked. The school wasn’t particularly large, there were only two floors.

As you entered the building, you noticed that some of the classrooms had flickering lights. The scene felt like something straight from a horror movie.

Another low rumble echoed throughout the building. Dust drifted from the ceiling and the divine dog growled.

“It’s moving.” Megumi stated. Tightening the grip on your sword and imbuing more cursed energy into it, you rushed forward. “Then let’s go find it!”

“(y/n)!” You heard him call your name but you ignored him. You could feel that you were getting closer and closer to the curse and you were getting excited.

“If you keep running ahead, you’re going to get yourself killed.” Megumi’s voice echoed from behind you. You turned around. “That’s a bit dramatic.”

“No it’s not.”

“You’re worrying too much.”

“And you don’t worry enough.”

You both glared at each other. Despite that, you listened to him and walked together, right behind the divine dog. As you neared the gymnasium, the dog suddenly started barking.

Both of you stopped and looked at each other. It was eerily quiet. Then as if on cue, the doors to the gym exploded. A massive arm burst through the debris and swung towards you.

You stumbled backwards, barely having time to react as the divine dog pounced on the arm and sent it crashing back into the hole it came from. You gulped nervously and stood up. There was no time to waste.

Before Megumi could say anything, you ran inside. “(y/n)!”

It was dark, but the flickering lights were able to provide you vision on how massive this curse truly was. It had a serpent’s lower body but its upper body resembled that of a human, however, its head did not.

Its head nearly brushed the ceiling and it had 4 arms with sharp claws. The curse turned and smiled. A chill ran down your spine. You gripped your sword and imbued more cursed energy into it and launched forward.

A little off to the side, you see the divine dog trying to bite the curse’s tail off. It swung one of its massive arms at you and you ducked. You slashed upwards and the blade cut his arm off cleanly.

You put some distance between you, hiding behind a piece of debris, a small smile on your face. This was progress. Then his arm started sizzling and steaming. From out of the steam, a new one had grown.

“You’re kidding…” You looked at its arm in disbelief. This was going to be so much harder than you thought. The curse laughed manically.

“I told you not to run ahead.” Megumi appeared right behind you. You glanced at him then back at the curse. “Now is not the time.” You both looked at the curse and dodge as it slams its arm right between you two.

Taking up another opportunity, you decided to go in and strike while it was hunched over. Surely the head! You thought. But as you swung your sword the curse turned its head and your weapon just grazed its cheek. It prepared to strike you again but you were so close that you wouldn’t have time to—

A slimy tongue wrapped around your waist and pulled you quickly as the curse slammed its fist to where you were standing just now.

“You can’t just keep charging at it.” The slimy tongue unwrapped itself from your waist as you stood up.

“And standing around isn’t going to kill it either.” You refused to look at Megumi. Instead, you kept your eyes on the cut on the curse’s face.

“That’s not what I’m saying.” You could feel Megumi staring holes at the back of your head. You decided to turn around and face him. For the first time since entering the school, he looked genuinely angry. Not annoyed, not tired, angry.

“I’m saying this isn’t a competition.” You pursed your lips into a thin line and looked away. “You don’t think I know that?”

“Then stop acting like it is.” Megumi’s hands were tightly balled into fists, his knuckles almost turning white. You knew he was right, and that’s what made it hit harder.

“I just don’t want to drag your body back to Jujutsu High because you did something stupid. That’s all." You finally turned to look at him. He was staring directly at you, no longer clenching his fists. Your expression softened.

The floor beneath your feet rumbled. You turn around and the curse was heading straight towards you.

“We need to run!” Megumi grabbed your arm and pulled you to run out of the gym. Dust exploded into the air as the curse slammed its arms right behind you, hot on your trail. You stumbled from the overwhelming amount of dust and debris but Megumi didn’t let go.

“Move!”

“I’m moving!”

You were back in the hallways and the dust cleared but you still kept running. “Left!” Megumi pulled your arm to the left, both your shoes skidding slightly on the floor.

“This way!” Megumi opens a supply closet and you both run inside it. Your back hit the door as Megumi pushed it shut behind you. The supply closet was barely big enough for the two of you. You tried to catch your breath while leaning on the door and looking down.

Megumi still had one of his hands holding onto your arm while the other one was propped on the door caging you in. He was also trying to catch his breath.

Outside, you could hear the curse slither past you, the floor rumbling slightly as it moved. Then, silence. You both stayed still, holding your breaths, waiting. Then after a moment, you both exhaled at the same time. Your eyes flicked down and realized that Megumi was still holding you with a firm grip.

You looked up to say something and froze. He was close. Too close. You could feel the air coming out of his nose at the top of your head.

“It stopped.” Megumi finally broke the silence.

“Yeah..” You responded quietly, still looking up at his face. Your eyes lingered without meaning to. His eyelashes were longer than you’d expected.

“We should….“ Megumi’s gaze flicked towards you and he paused mid breath. He too, suddenly realized how close you were. He stepped back, putting as much room as he could in the small supply closet.

“We should move.” He continued for you.

“Ah!” You suddenly remembered something. Megumi’s eyes flicked towards you.

“What’s wrong? Are you hur—“

“The head!”

“What.”

“I grazed his cheek earlier and it didn’t heal! So his head must be his weak point!” Megumi’s eyes widened in realization, gears turning in his head. Then he looks at you as if he’s figured it all out.

“Alright so heres the plan…”

‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚.‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚.‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚.

You were standing in the middle of the field, chest rising and falling as you tried to catch your breath. You had a small graze on your cheek, but other than that, you were fine.

The curse’s remains dissolved into nothing. Megumi lowered his hand slowly, Nue fading above him. Divine Dog returned to his side, injured but intact. For a moment, neither of you spoke. Then you exhaled.

“…We did it.”

“Yeah,” Megumi said quietly.

The adrenaline started to wear off, and suddenly, everything from the closet felt louder in hindsight.

part 3

[megutroni]

“friendly” rivalry with megumi part 1 part 2

Growing up, your parents only ever valued you when you were at the top of your class. Getting second place gets you glances, and third place, disappointment. You learned quickly that being good wasn’t enough. You had to be the best and it became second nature.

Your efforts paid off and you ended up at the top of your class. That is until your first year in Jujutsu High, where you met Megumi Fushiguro.

You didn’t think much of him at first. He was quiet, kept to himself most of the time but he was nice. He was the type of person who stood in the corner of a room and somehow still attracted attention.

When combat training began, warning signs started flashing in your head. While everyone else struggled against the cursed corpses Gojo had prepared, Megumi moved through them with surprising efficiency.

He made precise decisions in a span of seconds and did not get hit even once.

Then came the written exams, after receiving your paper, you let out a sigh of relief after seeing the 99 marked at the top of the page. You turned to see what Yuji and Nobara got and they both got a 68 and 84 respectively. Then, turning towards Megumi’s desk, you see the number 99 also written on the corner of his paper.

“We got the same score.” Megumi turned to look at you. “Okay?”

You narrowed your eyes at him. “You’re not upset?” Megumi looked at you like you grew 3 heads. “Why would I be upset?”

“Because we tied.” You said matter of factly

“Good for you.” And thats when irritation started bubbling in your stomach.

After that, it became impossible to ignore Megumi Fushiguro. During strategy lessons, his answers matched yours. During missions, he adapted faster than anyone else. During training, he somehow managed to stay one step ahead without appearing to try. The worst part? He didn’t seem interested in competing. Not even a little.

To be frank, his nonchalance is making you even more irritated. Why are you the only one that’s getting pressed? He’s making it seem like being the best doesn’t matter. As if you weren’t worth the competition.

It was infuriating.

So naturally, you challenged him to a sparring match. When Yuji heard of the news, he started jumping and cheering for you. “My money is on (y/n)!”

“Okay, I’ll bet my money on Fushiguro!” Nobara slapped Megumi’s back, looking like he would rather be anywhere else.

A few minutes later, both of you are standing in front of each other on the training grounds. Yuji, Nobara, and now Gojo has joined in on watching you fight. “Who are you betting your money on sensei?”

“That’s a secret~”

“Boooo!”

You adjusted your posture and your grip on your wooden sword. Across from you, Megumi looked annoyingly calm like it was just another training session. It irked you immediately.

“You know, most people would be at least a little nervous.”

“I’m not most people.” Your eye twitched.

Gojo clapped his hands together.

“Alright! First clean hit wins.”You grinned.

Perfect.The moment the signal was given, you lunged. Fast. The distance between you and Megumi disappeared in an instant. Your sword swung toward his shoulder and missed.

Megumi dodged at the last second. You pivoted immediately and swung again.

Blocked.

The wooden practice weapons collided with a sharp crack. For the first time, Megumi’s expression sharpened. It was just silence between you besides the sound of your wooden swords hitting each other. Meanwhile Yuji and Nobara are screaming on the bleachers.

“GET HIS ASS (Y/N)!”

“COME ON FUSHIGURO!”

You couldn’t hear their yelling over the sound of your heart beat. You were getting exhausted. For the first time in years, you were struggling and not because your opponent was stronger. It was because he was keeping up. He was able to read your every move and block every attack.

But despite all of that, you smiled.

“Why are you smiling?” Megumi was genuinely confused.

“Because this is fun.” and at that moment, Megumi got distracted. You swung your sword and tapped him gently on his shoulder.

A clean hit.

“YEAAAAAAAAHHH” Yuji cheered loudly from the stands.

“I win.” You gave him a smug smile.

“I was distracted.” Megumi looked slightly annoyed by the loss. You could hear Nobara screaming in the background saying something about her money.

“I want a rematch.” Megumi stated. You were taken aback. “A win is a win.” You shrug.

Then, Gojo suddenly pops up in between you two. “What about a best of three?”

“That sounds like a great idea!” You beamed.

“How about no?” Megumi grumbled. You looked at Megumi. “Would you really accept a loss like that?” His eye twitched.

The rematch happened the next day and Megumi won. Then you. Then him. Then you. Until your overall score ended up being a tie and somehow that bothered you even more.

For weeks, it’s all you could think of. Every time you saw Megumi, you were reminded of the tie. You hated it. You hated how your spot at the top is being challenged. Most of all, you hated how he acted like none of it mattered.

Then one afternoon, you saw him at his desk reading a book. This was the perfect opportunity. You walked up to him.

“Spar.” and without even looking at you “No.”

“Spar.”

“No.”

You grabbed the book he was reading, making sure to use your finger to bookmark the page he was at.

“Give it back.”

“After you spar with me.”

“No.”

“Are you scared?” You place your other hand on his desk and lean forward.

“I’m studying.”

“Study after I win.” Megumi sighed and ran a hand over his face.

“Why are you like this?”

“Because we’re tied.” You smiled at him.

“So?”

“We need a winner.”

“No we don’t”

“Yes” “No” “Yes” “No” “Yes”

By the door, Nobara yells, “JUST DATE ALREADY”

Both you and Megumi whip your heads towards her and immediately yell, “NO” The silence was deafening. Then all you could hear was Yuji’s laughter. You stood up straight and looked back at Megumi. He ran his hand through his hair and shook his head.

And for the first time, you noticed. He didn’t look annoyed, just tired. As if the rivalry between you two didn’t cross his mind at all. The realization settled uncomfortably in your chest.

part 2

[megutroni]

when you stop doing the little things for megumi ❀

Megumi didn't notice it at first or at least, that's what he told himself. The sports drink that usually appeared beside his bag after training wasn't there.

Normally, by the time he finished training and wiped the sweat from his face, there would be a cold bottle waiting for him. Sometimes it was his preferred flavor. Sometimes it wasn't. Either way, it was always there. This time, there was nothing.

He stared at the empty patch of concrete beside his bag for a second longer than necessary before looking away. Not a big deal. He could buy one himself. The next day, after a particularly rough training session, he reached into his bag for fresh bandages.

There weren't any. Megumi paused. Usually, whenever he ran low, a new roll would mysteriously appear before he even remembered to replace it himself. Strange.

He ended up borrowing some from Shoko's supplies and didn't think much of it. At least, he tried not to. A few days later, his Divine Dogs approached him during training with its ears lowered. They nudged insistently against his hand. Megumi frowned.

"What?"

The Dogs whined. Then glanced toward the edge of the training field. Toward the spot where you usually sat while waiting for your own classes. The spot was empty. Megumi followed their gaze for a moment. Then looked away and resumed training.

The following week, he found himself noticing more things. No folded note reminding him about a schedule change. No extra umbrella left outside his dorm when rain was forecasted. No casual text reminding him to eat before a mission. No treats slipped for the Divine Dogs when you thought nobody was looking. The absence of those things shouldn't have stood out. Yet somehow they did.

And whats worse, He kept looking for you without meaning to. The cafeteria. The training grounds. The library. The hallways between classes. Every time a figure appeared in his peripheral vision, his attention shifted automatically before he could stop himself. Only to realize it wasn't you.

You were still around. He saw you occasionally. You attended classes. You went on missions. You talked with the others. But whenever Megumi entered a room, you no longer drifted naturally toward him. You no longer sat beside him. You no longer left little pieces of yourself scattered throughout his day. The little things had stopped.

No drinks.

No reminders.

No treats.

Nothing.

Megumi told himself it didn't matter.

Then he realized he'd spent nearly ten minutes staring at his phone after receiving a mission notification because, for a split second, he'd thought it might be a message from you. That realization irritated him far more than it should have.

"You're acting weird."

Megumi looked up. Yuji and Nobara were staring at him from across the cafeteria table.

"I'm not."

"You definitely are," Nobara said immediately.

"I'm not."

"You keep looking at the door."

"I don't."

"You literally just did."

Megumi immediately glanced toward the entrance. Nobara pointed.

"See?"

"..."

Yuji gasped dramatically.

"Wait."

"What?"

"You and (y/n) got into a fight!" Megumi frowned.

"We didn't."

Nobara narrowed her eyes and leaned closer.

"Then why haven't you been glued to each other lately?"

"We're not glued to each other."

Nobara and Yuji exchanged a look. Megumi hated that look. The one that said they knew something he didn't. Fortunately, Gojo appeared before they could continue. Unfortunately, it was Gojo.

"Ooooh."

Megumi immediately regretted being born. Gojo dropped into the empty seat beside him and threw an arm around his shoulders.

"Someone's having relationship problems."

"We aren't dating."

"I didn't say you were."

"..."

Gojo's grin widened.

Megumi considered leaving the country.

Later that evening, after spending an unreasonable amount of time pretending he wasn't thinking about the situation, he found himself standing outside your dorm room.

He stared at the door. Then at the floor. Then back at the door. This was stupid. There was no reason for him to be here. He should leave. Instead, he knocked. A few moments later, the door opened.

You blinked in surprise.

"Megumi?"

He suddenly realized he had absolutely no plan. No explanation. No prepared excuse. Nothing.

You waited patiently.

"Uh... what's up?" You smiled awkwardly.

Megumi shoved his hands into his pockets, unable to look at you.

"You stopped."

You tilted your head.

"Stopped what?"

"The..."

He hated this.

"The things."

"The things?"

"The drinks."

"Oh." Your expression was unreadable.

"The notes."

"Oh."

"The dog treats."

"Oh."

Every response somehow made this worse. You looked at him for a moment. Then your expression softened with understanding.

"I figured you probably didn't want them anymore."

Megumi stared.

"What?"

"You never really said anything." You laughed awkwardly and scratched the side of your neck. "I know you're not exactly the expressive type." That was putting it mildly.

"So I started wondering if maybe I was being annoying."

Megumi's brows furrowed. You continued before he could respond.

"I mean, I was always leaving stuff for you, bringing things, reminding you about things."

You smiled sheepishly.

"At some point I thought maybe I should stop forcing myself into your routine."

The words hit harder than they should have. Because the truth was, he had noticed. Every single one.

The drinks waiting beside his bag after training.

The notes tucked into his textbooks.

The treats that made Divine Dog immediately seek you out whenever you appeared.

The extra bandages.

The umbrellas.

The reminders.

The way you somehow remembered details he forgot himself. The way you quietly took care of things without expecting acknowledgment. The way his day always seemed to run a little smoother whenever you were around. He'd noticed all of it. He just hadn't realized how much he'd come to expect it. How much he'd come to rely on it. Until it disappeared.

"You weren't bothering me."

Your smile faltered slightly.

For some reason, seeing that uncertainty on your face made something uncomfortable tighten in his chest.

"I wasn't?"

"No."

You stared at him. Megumi held your gaze. Neither of you looked away. The hallway suddenly felt very quiet.

"You noticed?" you asked softly, quietly. Face feeling warm.

Megumi hesitated. Then nodded once. His face was also feeling warm.

"I noticed."

Your eyes widened slightly. Because that was probably the closest thing to a confession Megumi Fushiguro had ever given. The silence that followed felt strange. Not awkward. Just... different. Like both of you were realizing something at the same time.

Then suddenly—

"Oh my God."

Both of you froze, turning slowly. Gojo was hanging upside down outside the nearby window. Somehow. Neither of you questioned how.

"THAT'S what it was."

"GO AWAY."

Megumi had never spoken faster in his life. His face turning red. Gojo ignored him completely.

"You missed her."

"I did not."

"You missed her little acts of service."

"I didn't."

"You absolutely did."

"I didn't."

"You spent weeks pouting because nobody was leaving sports drinks beside your bag."

"I was not pouting."

"You were emotionally pouting."

Megumi looked ready to summon Mahoraga. Gojo pointed dramatically between the two of you.

"Congratulations, Megumi. You like her."

The silence afterward was devastating. Because for the first time, Megumi couldn't immediately deny it.

The words just sat there.

His gaze drifted toward you. You were looking at him too, face a bit flushed and suddenly all those little things didn't seem little at all.

Not the drinks. Not the notes. Not the treats. Not the countless quiet ways you'd woven yourself into his everyday life.

Because somewhere along the way, without either of you noticing, you had become part of his routine and the moment that routine disappeared, he'd realized just how much he wanted you there.

[megutroni]

megumi and his not cat

You hear a meow as your near the training grounds where Megumi had been since this morning. There, by the grass, sat a fluffy black cat just watching him train, its head and tail moving side to side following Megumi's every move. You kept your eyes on the cat as you walked closer towards them, holding a snack, intrigued.

"Did you know you had a friend watching you train?" Megumi stopped his movements and stared at you, loss for words.

"That cat has been there staring at me since I started." He sighed and picked up a towel to wipe his sweat.

"I think it likes you." You stare at Megumi as he stares at the cat that's rubbing itself on his legs. "Are you sure it's not yours?"

He gives you a pointed look and starts walking away, the cat meowing and following him. "Do I look like a cat person?" You smile and think. Absolutely.

That same day you went to the store and bought some cat food for the stray cat. Since Megumi said it's not his cat, then that means no one is taking care of it. So you plan on leaving food for it in case it gets hungry. You remember seeing it behind the dorms before so you grabbed a bowl and left the food there. Hopefully, it smells the food and comes by.

The next morning, you see the cat by the dorms, grooming itself. "Oh! Good morning kitty. Did you eat the food I left you?" The cat stopped and started rubbing itself on your legs. Your face started feeling warm as you feel that the cat has appreciated your gesture. You crouch and put your hand out and the cat started rubbing its face into your hand as well. You almost squealed in delight. You pulled out your phone and started taking photos.

"What are you doing?"

Megumi's voice came from behind you, startling you.

"I'm having some bonding time with the cat."

Megumi raised his eyebrow and just stared at the cat which also just stared back at him. Then, all of a sudden, it left your side and walked over to him. The corner of Megumi's mouth almost lifted into a smile.

"Hey! That's not fair!"

Megumi crouched down and gave it some treats before leaving and walking away. The cat still following him.

You crossed your arms and watched them disappear around the corner.

"Traitor"

The cat meowed. You swore it sounded smug.

Over the next few days, the routine repeated itself.

You'd find the cat somewhere around campus, spend a few minutes petting it, maybe sneak it a few treats, and then inevitably Megumi would appear. And every single time, the cat would abandon you without hesitation. It was becoming personal. One afternoon, after training, you spotted the fluffy black menace stretched out beneath a tree near the dorms.

"There you are."

The cat lazily opened one eye. You crouched beside it and scratched under its chin.

"Tell me the truth. Did Megumi bribe you?"

The cat purred.

"Unbelievable."

"You know talking to it won't get you any answers."

You looked up to find Megumi standing nearby with his hands in his pockets. The cat immediately sat up. You pointed accusingly.

"See? It only does that when you're around."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"You absolutely do."

The cat got to its feet and walked straight past you. Straight to Megumi. Again. You threw your hands into the air.

"This is discrimination."

For the briefest moment, Megumi's lips twitched. You stared.

"Wait."

"What?"

"Did you just smile?"

"I didn't."

"You did."

"I didn't."

"You smiled at the cat."

Megumi looked away. The tips of his ears were slightly red. You gasped dramatically.

"Oh my god."

"Stop."

"You're attached."

"I'm not attached."

The cat chose that exact moment to wind itself around his ankles. Silence. You slowly pointed. Megumi sighed.

"...It's just a cat."

"That's the voice of someone who's absolutely attached to a cat."

He shot you a glare, but there wasn't much force behind it. The cat let out a pleased purr. Megumi sat down and started petting the cat. Then, to both of your surprise, it suddenly jumped into Megumi's lap. The world stopped. You stared. Megumi stared. The cat settled down comfortably and closed its eyes.

"..."

You pulled out your phone.

"Don't." You smirk.

Click.

"Delete that."

"No."

"Delete it."

"This is the happiest I've ever seen you."

"It's sleeping."

"On your lap."

"It's a cat."

"It's your cat."

"It's not my cat."

The cat purred louder. You didn't notice how big your smile was while looking at the cat and taking photos.

Megumi did.

And for a moment, he found himself looking at you instead of the cat.