𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐢𝐭, as they have so many times before. to outside eyes, they look like friends who’ve known each other a lifetime, the comfort in their shared air and knocking knees. despite the familiarity, they’re quiet, save for the wind in their ears. megumi seems to be lost in thought, glaring down at the concrete with downturned brows and a deep-set frown.
‘ what if i told you to stay behind ? ‘ yuuji says, and it’s the dumbest thing megumi’s ever heard. he knew itadori wasn’t the brightest, but this is plain idiocy, bright and glaring in front of his face. stay behind, stay here and let everyone else die, let tsumiki die, without even being there to help. ‘ i don’t want to be the reason you die, fushiguro, ‘ itadori continues, digging even deeper into that hole of immeasurable stupidity. angrily, megumi scoffs, and shoots a glare directly at yuuji.
‘ we’d be even if you were, ‘ he says, simply because it’s true.
𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲, 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬, he unwraps the events of the last few months in his mind. saving itadori, and ultimately being the reason he died. the guilt that had pooled in his stomach during those two months of mourning, the way he shied away from the quiet that had sometimes sat heavy between he and nobara. the relief in seeing yuuji again had been whiplash, and everything that followed after was blurred together, leading them here : shibuya, veiled in ash and blood.
a string of last words, said by a boy who had admitted to himself long ago that he wasn’t afraid to die in order to win : i’m sorry, itadori.
𝐦𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐦𝐢 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐬, so deeply it aches in his bones. he cares, and worries, and keeps it under lock and key lest anybody know fushiguro has a heart. how can he protect it if it’s out in the open ? but yuuji sits next to him, face newly marred over the slope of his nose and the curve of his lip. megumi’s eyes trace sadly over the scars, wondering but never asking what had happened in their time apart.
‘ idiot. we’re not splitting up again.
besides, you’re the one that wouldn’t let me go off on my own, aren’t you ? ‘
