Chapter Text
空想ではいつも Despite my constant fantasies,
誰にも負けないヒーローになるのに Of being an undefeated hero,
現実はいつもなぜit's not great Why is reality always “it’s not great”,
乗り切れない波の上 Drowning under an inescapable wave.
Fushiguro Megumi had never had a comfortable childhood. Abandoned, living in a rundown maisonette in a corner of Saitama city with a stepmother and his stepsister Tsumiki, he lived off dwindling family funds left by his missing father. After being left several years with the two young children, even Tsumiki’s mother went and disappeared. Megumi didn’t remember his real mother; he was too small when she died. He couldn’t quite remember his father either, much less that woman so-called Tsumiki’s mother. Not that he wanted to remember.
He never quite understood the warmth of parental love, so Fushiguro Megumi could only turn to his sister for comfort. To be honest, he used to think of her as a nuisance, but soon, he realized Tsumiki was the kindest person in the world, and Megumi desperately needed that kindness.
Tsumiki was a gentle, affectionate child, beloved by both teachers and friends. A tender smile always present on her young face, she took her mother’s disappearance in stride, even though only barely in 2nd grade of elementary. She knocked on neighbours’ doors, smiling bashfully, asking to be taught how to cook, “so that Megumi can eat well even though it’s just me!” She learnt to pay bills, learnt to go grocery shopping, to get the most out of money, learnt to handle nosy adults; Tsumiki was careful not to let their situation slip to the authorities, even her teachers. If it ever did... the two will be separated. Megumi didn’t want that.
Every day she slept late, and woke up early, making sure to have bento side dishes prepared, chilled well, so when Megumi brought it to school (he just started that spring) it’ll have warmed up to just the perfect temperature for lunch. “I learned it from anime!” she cheerily admitted when Megumi asked how she knew that’ll work, as she climbed a small stool, allowing her to reach the tabletop. She worked enthusiastically, cutting vegetables and slicing gingered beef - Megumi loved ginger, you see - with a bright grin. Megumi swore he could see flower petals scattered around her at these times. It made him smile a little too. (Don’t tell Tsumiki, she’d laugh at him.)
Nonetheless, there were days when Tsumiki got sad. On these days, Tsumiki wouldn’t cook. She’d instead get some instant meals from a nearby convenience, and heat them in the microwave while sniffling. On these days, Megumi always sat quietly in the hallway, peeking at her from the entrance. Tsumiki would look at a picture in her wallet; a crinkled polaroid of her mother. She’d sob. “Why did you leave us? Didn’t you love us? Didn’t you love me?”
But she’d always, always notice Megumi. Wiping her tears on her sleeve, Tsumiki would smile. Smile like the sun rising on a fresh spring day, full of hope. “Megumi! Come here, let’s eat!” On these days, Megumi prayed, fervently hoping the world would spare a little happiness for his sister. Let them stay poor, he doesn’t care, as long as Tsumiki can be happy, and he can stay by her side - Fushiguro Megumi will be fine.
(ちょっとだけ面くらいそうな Just a little bit confused,
現状逃げたくて急いだ hurriedly running away from the present,
窮地追い込まれるcorner) predicaments pushing me into a corner,
Why 見透かされてるんだ Why, my true nature can be seen.
Gojo was a strange man. He appeared on Megumi’s doorstep in sunglasses, exuding the aura of someone who had the world in his hands. Megumi was wary, remembering Tsumiki’s warnings to never talk to strangers. He turned to leave, choosing to ignore this obviously deranged white-haired (what’s with that ostentatious get-up anyway?) and head home to Tsumiki’s warm ginger soup. He wonders if there were any leftover pickled ginger from yesterday. There’s no such thing as too much ginger, after all.
“You’re Fushiguro Megumi, right, little buddy?” So, the man knew his name. Megumi stopped and looked at him critically. “Yes, what do you need, weirdo?” The man chuckles. “Ah, I’m a... An acquaintance of your father, if I might say. I have a really big debt to pay.” A bitter smile hung on his lips as he spoke, Megumi noticed. “I was, somewhat, entrusted, to take care of you and... Tsumiki, was it?”
“First of all, mister, I don’t remember or care, really about my dad. I’ve lived all this time without one, don’t think I’ll ever need one anymore.” Megumi’s words were sharp, and his tone matter-of-fact. The man at least had the grace to look surprised.
“Eh... Ah, Megumi, he’s part of the Zen’in family. You know, that celebrity family!” The Zen’in clan was famous across Japan, being one of the most influential families-cum-companies in the entertainment industry. Actors, singers, even theatre troupes; the Zen’in ruled. Yet Megumi really could care less.
“So?”
“Your dad, entrusted me to bring you into my company instead! To, like, beat the Zen’in back. They’re monopolizing the industry like pigs, really. Imagine having a pure-blood Zen’in debuting under Gojo’s tutelage? Hehe, interesting...” Oh, so this man is a Gojo. From what he had overheard from Tsumiki gossiping with the next-door lady, the Gojo had been another influential talent company, but their popularity these days was banking, only supported by a single extremely high-profile actor. Megumi hoped it’s not this guy.
“Is there any benefit to this? What, I’ll need to be a celebrity? Why would I even agree?” Gojo clicked his tongue. “Megumi, boy, are you really in 1st grade? What’s with the jaded attitude, so serious!” He brandished his arms, wiggling his fingers with a goofy smile on his face. (Megumi is beyond creeped out now.) “I’ll be sponsoring you and Tsumiki for life – wait, more like my agency will – until you finish training, and debut! Perks, you’ll have a job secured, working for a lucrative industry – a chance to die for!”
“What about Tsumiki?”
“What about her?” Gojo tilted his head in confusion.
“What about her?” Megumi repeated, albeit less patiently.
“Uh... I did mention she’ll be sponsored too, right? Don’t worry, she‘ll be given options if she wants to be part of the entertainment industry too.”
“... As long as she’s fine and I can stay with her, I’ll agree to your terms.”
-
One reason why Megumi didn’t really hesitate to take Gojo Satoru up on his offer was that Tsumiki loved to watch idol artists and actors. She tuned in to every single episode of M-Stage, she set countless reminders whenever Arashi or Hey!Say!JUMP had a TV performance, she broke down over her favourite voice actor debuting as a vocal artist, she downloaded anime audio dramas to listen while in the kitchen; Tsumiki found solace in fangirling.
“Megumi, look, today, Uchida-kun’s releasing his new MV, I’m so excited!” Just a few hours ago she had been sobbing, counting the money they’re left with. There wasn’t much, Tsumiki would be forced to start doing part-time jobs or borrow money from their neighbours to put food on the table. They’re still in elementary school, damn it.
But looking at her now, you’d think she came from a normal family. One with loving parents, living in a clean, functioning house, with working toilets and lights. A family where she can flourish and grow up - like that girl living across the street, with new clothes every season, having enough money to attend dance classes. Tsumiki smiled so radiantly, so full of love, it’s as if she lived comfortably, blessed by the world. She’s happy, and it’s all simply because her favourite voice actor will be performing a new song and uploading it to YouTube.
Megumi wanted to protect that smile. If taking up Gojo’s offer, he can be the cause of that smile...
Contrary to his usually solemn demeanour, he likes singing and dancing. It made Tsumiki laugh. Whenever she ropes him into imitating the dances Hey!Say!JUMP do on-stage, he feels refreshed, as Tsumiki claps her hand in delight, both jumping around together in the living room like frogs. Only in those moments, Megumi allowed himself to feel like a normal child, growing up with his sister, with a bright future ahead, happy and content.
Again, if accepting Gojo’s offer can ease Tsumiki’s financial struggles in any way... Megumi would gladly offer his soul in a contract to the devil for the job. (He didn’t realize his analogy was correct, until much, much later.)
Ring, ring. Click.
“Gojo, mister?”
“Eh, Megumi...? Uh, it’s like, 2 AM...”
“I’ll take you up on your offer.”
“Huh?!”
By the end of an hour-long call, Gojo had explained what his offer entailed. Megumi exhaled heavily as he put his (Tsumiki’s) phone onto the table. There’s no way back now.
In the first year of high school, Megumi will be enrolled into Jujutsu Academy, a talent training school for wannabe voice actors and idols-in-training. The academy was in Tokyo. The time taken for his debut will be based on his performance there. If everything goes well, he’ll be signed under Gojo’s parent company, Jujutsu Tech Entertainment, aka JujuTech, which is the biggest shareholder for the academy.
For now, he’ll keep on staying in Saitama, living a normal life. Oh, Gojo’s sponsoring a new house for them to live in, and also providing a funds account. They’re not poor anymore. Good. It’s still a long way off, high school. He can re-think this later.
Now, to tell Tsumiki.
(It went well, not surprisingly. Tsumiki wanted to learn management, by the way. “I want to be Megumi’s manager!” she said. Megumi’s fine with that.)
-
It was finally Megumi’s third, and last, year at Saitama Municipal Middle School.
Tsumiki’s supposed to enter high school this year. She had graduated middle school with smiles and laughter, excitedly trying on her new school’s spring uniform, already anticipating the entrance ceremony coming April 1.
There’s only one year left until Megumi must move away to Tokyo to honour his deal with Gojo. It was supposed to be a good year, one they can enjoy together; one Megumi can still spend as a bratty teenager, with Tsumiki nagging him endlessly. It was supposed to be a normal year.
Yet the universe, just, won’t, give them, a rest.
Why did Tsumiki have to be involved in a car accident?
Why did she have to be hospitalized?
Why won’t she wake up? Why is she just lying there?
Why did she have to leave Megumi alone?
Stupid sister.
(ならもう恐れない If that’s it, there’s nothing else to fear,
なにかが目覚める脳内) I’ve come to my senses, in my mind.
“Gojo, mister...” “Oh, you can call me GTG, the one and only, Great! Teacher! Gojo! Congratulations, you’ve enrolled!” The white-haired man had been showing him around Jujutsu Academy, a sprawling complex of classes, dormitories and training studios nestled in an expanse of nature right in the suburbs of Tokyo.
Megumi noticed he looked more mature, a solemn slant to his stance. Also, his round shades had evolved slightly over the years, getting slightly bigger and darker, totally hiding the piercing azure eyes Gojo Satoru had people falling at his feet for. Word was that those eyes seemed to contain the universe, bottomless, infinite, even cameras had no hope of capturing their beauty. They captured the audience from beyond the screen, reining them in; to top it off, Gojo was a masterful actor. All his roles were executed exquisitely, genres wide-ranging, and always going beyond expectations. Truly, the ‘Japan’s strongest talent’ title fits him well.
It had been a great shock to the whole industry when THE Gojo Satoru announced he’s retiring, turning to coach new actors and artists in a talent academy. Megumi heard rumours that thousands of people, young and old, with their resumes in hand, lined up in front of JujuTech’s main office as early as 3 AM, trying to apply for a spot at the academy. Unfortunately for them, Gojo Satoru is also famed for being a whimsical man. He does not simply allow anybody to be his student. It’s a stroke of luck that one of them just had to be Fushiguro Megumi.
“... Gojo-sensei.” (“Eh, Megumi, that’s bo—ring! GTG sounds so much better!”)
“Can you... Can you move Tsumiki to a hospital near here? It’s not very convenient having to travel to Saitama every time I check up on her. And I do that every week.” The transportation costs were not cheap, even though it's just a prefecture over, considering Tokyo being a metropolis and all that. Megumi couldn’t drive either.
Gojo waved his hands, chuckling lightly. “Megumi, do you think I’m so inconsiderate? Your sister’s been transferred to a hospital here already. It’s a private hospital owned by JujuTech, so even when you debut later and become the new national poster-boy, there’ll be no hassles or problems for you to visit.” He then leaned in, winking conspiratorially. “Much easier to escape from the paparazzi there than anywhere else in the world!”
“Thank you.” Megumi expressed with just a slight hint of reluctance. Being indebted to this man will mean a lot of trouble, but there’s nothing he could do about it. He’s truly grateful for Gojo’s help, but it’s still bothersome. The least he could do for now was a ‘thank you’ here and there.
The man wasn’t fazed by Megumi’s lukewarm reaction anyway. Whistling merrily, Gojo led Megumi back to the dorms. There was an ominous joy to his gait, and the black-haired boy pondered on it with apprehension. True enough, as soon as they arrived at the building’s entrance, Gojo turned to Megumi and flashed his most dazzling smile yet known to the boy. “Tomorrow, be sure to wake up nice and early, okay! You have to greet the second-year trainees, the other first-year, Kugisaki Nobara, get a uniform ordered, basic assessment test, health check-up, ooh, interview with the principal – “, on and on, while dumping a whole set of papers and pamphlets into his arms. Megumi tuned the obnoxious mentor’s excited chatter out.
Tsumiki, it’s going to be busy from now. I promise I’ll work hard.
I’ll make you proud.
So stay strong, please stay alive.
光が差すまで Until the light shines.