Chapter Text
The days following the late-night conversation saw a subtle shift in Megumi. He wasn’t miraculously better—Gojo knew better than to expect that—but there was a difference in how he carried himself. His movements were less burdened, and the faint dark circles under his eyes had begun to fade. He even started engaging more during training sessions, though his usual deadpan delivery was still intact.
But progress wasn’t linear, and Gojo kept his watchful eye on the boy. He knew the weight Megumi carried, the quiet battles he fought in his head. Gojo had carried that kind of weight himself once, long ago.
He wouldn’t let Megumi carry it alone.
It was a rare afternoon when Gojo managed to corner Megumi with no missions or classes to act as an excuse. They were sitting in the school's courtyard under a gnarled tree, the autumn breeze ruffling their hair. Megumi had a book in hand, his expression calm and focused.
"Hey," Gojo said suddenly, breaking the silence.
Megumi glanced up, his brows knitting slightly in annoyance. "What?"
"You’ve been doing better lately," Gojo remarked, his voice light but sincere. "Sleeping more. Kicking more curse butt. And I haven’t caught you zoning out during class for at least a week. That’s gotta be a record."
Megumi rolled his eyes, but a faint blush dusted his cheeks. "Thanks, I guess."
Gojo grinned, leaning back against the tree. "So... what’s the secret? Journaling? Meditation? Or is it my unparalleled mentoring skills?"
Megumi’s lips twitched, almost forming a smile. "It’s not you, if that’s what you’re fishing for."
"Ouch, Megumi-kun, my fragile heart," Gojo said, clutching his chest dramatically.
After a pause, Megumi lowered his book, his tone more serious. "I’ve just... been trying to take things one day at a time. Like you said. Writing helps sometimes. So does talking to Tsumiki when I can. And I guess... knowing you’re there helps too." His voice trailed off, quieter than before.
Gojo froze, caught off guard by the admission. Then, a slow smile spread across his face—not his usual teasing grin, but something softer, almost proud. "I’m glad to hear that, Megumi. Really."
They sat in silence for a while, the weight of the conversation giving way to a companionable stillness.
But things weren’t always quiet.
D O N ' T C O P Y , D O N ' T R E P O S T , D O N ' T P L A G I A R I Z E , D O N ' T T R A N S L A T E , D O N ' T C O P Y , D O N ' T R E P O S T , D O N ' T P L A G I A R I Z E , D O N ' T T R A N S L A T E , D O N ' T C O P Y , D O N ' T R E P O S T , D O N ' T P L A G I A R I Z E , D O N ' T T R A N S L A T E , D O N ' T C O P Y , D O N ' T R E P O S T , D O N ' T P L A G I A R I Z E , D O N ' T T R A N S L A T E , D O N ' T C O P Y , D O N ' T R E P O S T , D O N ' T P L A G I A R I Z E , D O N ' T T R A N S L A T E , D O N ' T C O P Y , D O N ' T R E P O S T , D O N ' T P L A G I A R I Z E , D O N ' T T R A N S L A T E , D O N ' T C O P Y , D O N ' T R E P O S T , D O N ' T P L A G I A R I Z E , D O N ' T T R A N S L A T E , D O N ' T C O P Y , D O N ' T R E P O S T , D O N ' T P L A G I A R I Z E , D O N ' T T R A N S L A T E , D O N ' T C O P Y , D O N ' T R E P O S T , D O N ' T P L A G I A R I Z E , D O N ' T T R A N S L A T E , D O N ' T C O P Y , D O N ' T R E P O S T , D O N ' T P L A G I A R I Z E , D O N ' T T R A N S L A T E ,
A week later, during a mission in the outskirts of Kyoto, Megumi found himself overwhelmed. The curse they were fighting was stronger than anticipated, its movements erratic and unpredictable. Megumi’s mind raced as he tried to summon his shikigami, but the creatures faltered, their forms flickering as his focus wavered.
"Megumi!" Gojo’s voice cut through the chaos like a blade. He appeared at Megumi’s side in an instant, his Infinity keeping the curse at bay. "Hey, focus. What’s going on?"
"I..." Megumi’s breath came in short gasps, his vision blurring. The weight was back, pressing down on his chest. "I can’t—"
"Stop," Gojo said firmly, his hands gripping Megumi’s shoulders. His usual carefree demeanor was gone, replaced by a calm intensity. "Breathe. You’ve got this. I’m here."
The words steadied him, grounding him in the present. Megumi closed his eyes, inhaling deeply, and when he opened them, his shikigami surged to life, their forms solid and fierce. Together, he and Gojo finished the fight, the curse dissolving into nothingness.
Afterward, as they sat on a boulder catching their breath, Gojo turned to him, his tone gentle. "What happened back there?"
Megumi hesitated, his hands clenched in his lap. "I... I froze. I started thinking about what would happen if I failed, if I got someone hurt—"
"Whoa, whoa," Gojo interrupted, holding up a hand. "Megumi, stop. You didn’t fail. And no one got hurt. You handled it, and that’s what matters."
"But what if next time—"
"There’s no ‘what if,’" Gojo said firmly. "You can’t live in the future. You’ll drive yourself crazy. Trust me, I know. You did your best, and that’s enough. Got it?"
Megumi didn’t respond right away, his gaze fixed on the ground. Finally, he nodded, though his expression was still clouded with doubt.
Gojo sighed, ruffling the boy’s hair. "You’re stronger than you think, Megumi. Stronger than you give yourself credit for. And I’ll keep reminding you of that until you believe it."
That night, back at Jujutsu High, Megumi found himself staring at the journal on his desk. He opened it, flipping to a fresh page.
I’m tired, but I’m trying. Today was hard, but I didn’t give up. Gojo says I’m stronger than I think. I don’t know if he’s right, but I want to believe him. Maybe I’ll get there someday.
He closed the journal, setting it aside before climbing into bed. As he pulled the blanket over himself, a faint sense of calm settled over him. The weight wasn’t gone, but it was lighter now, easier to bear.
And for the first time in a long time, Megumi allowed himself to hope.