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Right person, wrong time.
Yuji yelled “Preach!” into the air at the thought. He drowned his sorrows by drinking more beer at one of Nobara’s so-called parties. When in reality, the scene before him was nothing more like their usual get-togethers except she invited the second-years too.
Now that Yuji thought more of it, this was probably Nobara’s excuse for putting down her moves on Maki since she had been quite incessant in dragging her around from one corner to another. Despite the exasperated look on Maki’s face, Yuji didn’t miss her soft gaze on Nobara whenever she was laughing.
Good for them.
As the air in the room grew humid, Yuji could no longer ignore the pounding in his head as he clumsily headed towards the door. The music blaring might’ve also contributed to his headache, thanks to the speakers Megumi lent.
Speaking of Megumi, where is he?
He couldn’t have missed the boy in this cramped room with his hair standing out more than anyone else’s. Yuji’s eyes scanned across the room, but even in his tipsy haze, he still couldn’t find him. Figuring that Megumi might've headed outside already, Yuji dramatically opened the door, a small gust of wind blowing on his face.
The easiness was instantaneous and a walk in the chilly autumn air sounded like a nice way to sober up, so he stepped foot on the gravel path. What Yuji didn’t expect was to see Megumi crouching down near a tree, petting the school’s adopted cat.
It was a sight that Yuji wished he could keep forever especially with the undivided attention Megumi was giving the feline. Yuji’s mind almost deluded him into yearning for the same attention Megumi was giving to be directed at him but that’s neither here nor there. A few minutes or half an hour went by -- time is but a concept at Yuji’s current state of mind -- just silently observing Megumi spoiling the cat until the boy mentioned called him out.
“How long are you going to stand there?” Megumi asked, his gaze not once leaving the purring cat in his hands.
Yuji flinched in surprise, stammering in his words, “How did you know I was here?”
Megumi made it a point to give Yuji an annoyed glare before he reverted his attention back to the cat, giving her a final pat. As he stood up, dusting off his pants, Megumi walked away before motioning for Yuji to come along with a tilt of his head.
With a few large steps, Yuji found himself walking alongside Megumi. They fell into a comfortable silence with only the lull of the night wind accompanying their slow walk. Sobriety was slowly kicking in and Yuji’s gaze followed the trail of moonlight illuminating the path ahead.
As the silence lightly ebbed on his conscience, Yuji asked, “Why were you out here?”
“It was getting too crowded to my liking,” Megumi answered, followed by a loud sigh. “You?”
“Got a little tipsy so I thought I should walk it off.”
Yuji’s honesty caused a chuckle from Megumi before silence ensued again. Somehow this time, Megumi felt the air between them had grown awkward unlike previously -- or maybe he was the one feeling awkward since he’s been meaning to ask why Yuji was just standing there.
“I think that party was Nobara’s plot to see Maki dance,” Yuji initiated, breaking into another conversation. Megumi turned his head, looking at him but the boy’s focus was on the small rock he’s playing with his foot.
“Oh, I know that,” Megumi admitted, his shoulders shrugging lightly yet the dismissal caused a pang to Yuji. Alright, he knows he’s usually late with the uptake, but where’s the solidarity here?
“You knew?” Yuji’s raised arm effectively blocked Megumi from taking another step forward. “You should’ve told me! We could’ve been the best wingmen for her.”
“The best in what way?”
“I don’t know, but we could’ve come up with something for her.”
“That’s a great plan,” Megumi answered sarcastically.
“Well, it’s called a plan, Fushiguro. We need to brainstorm first,” Yuji mumbled, lips pouting.
“Yuji, she's got more game than the two of us combined. She’ll be fine.”
"Now you're just offending me. Since when do I have no game?" Yuji scoffed, crossing his arms as he turned away from Megumi. Albeit he wasn’t the most popular kid in school, but he was willing to bet he had way more experience and moves than Megumi. “Let me show you.”
“How about we drop this?” Megumi sighed loudly.
“No no no,” shaking his head vigorously, Yuji took a few steps closer to Megumi, standing a mere step away. The sudden forwardness caught Megumi off-guard as his slight stumble backward went unnoticed by Yuji. “You offended my entire existence. Now I have to prove it to you.”
Despite the smelly breath and the flushed cheeks were telling enough of what fueled this eagerness, Megumi stood there frozen and wide-eyed. His fists started clenching too hard yet the pain from his nails digging in his palm barely registered. Not when his focus zeroed on Yuji’s hooded eyes and parted lips.
Should I push him? Why is he even doing this out of nowhere? Then how should I stop him?
.
Why can’t I lift my arms?
.
.
.
.
Do I even want to stop him?
Megumi’s refusal to admit his true honest feelings proved to be damning because their proximity was a cruel reminder of his yearning -- to feel something akin to romantic affection from his pink-haired counterpart.
If having Yuji prove his ‘moves’ on him was as far as he could get, then so be it.
And so with every little move, it seemed to last an eternity under Megumi’s unwavering eyes. Starting with the way Yuji’s hand hesitantly reached Megumi's face, his knuckles brushing his cheeks as light as a feather.
The contact was brief and delicate, but Megumi's cheeks flushed as if it was burned from the touch. The urge to close his eyes grew stronger, but Megumi was insistent in keeping his eyes open, not wanting to miss what Yuji was going to do next.
A loud noise was audible to his ears, only for Megumi to realize he was hearing his rapid breathing. But not soon after, his breath caught in his throat when Yuji’s tongue darted to swipe across his bottom lip. Megumi’s eyes couldn’t help but flutter close. It went above rationality how euphoric his entire body felt from a small sensual gesture, and they haven’t even touched.
What started as a faint peck against the corner of Megumi’s lips continued into a soft caress as Yuji’s lips traced the span of his jawline. A guttural moan managed to escape Megumi’s lips as his head unconsciously leaned back. Despite their lips never finding each other, it was enough to plummet Megumi’s emotions into a frenzy.
The moment was gone as soon as it happened, and in his embarrassment -- caused by the moan that easily slipped through -- he turned his back towards Yuji and the latter couldn’t be more grateful. He was equally as embarrassed, if not more, as Yuji had difficulty with hiding the visible hardness around his crotch.
“That should prove it, I think,” Yuji mumbled hurriedly. Without waiting for a reply, Yuji turned away without as much as a glance back as he strode the opposite way.
The missing presence was immediately palpable to Megumi but before he could reach out for the other person, his pink hair was nowhere to be seen under the night. The coldness had never felt so bone-chilling until the warmth Yuji carried with him was gone.
An hour might’ve passed by before Megumi could move again, heading back to his room. In his walk back inside the building, his fingers subconsciously touched where Yuji had earlier given him a light peck. The spark left at the corner of his lips was still tangible to the touch and a smile formed on his lips.
It was a night to remember because he’s not sure they can go beyond what they just did.
Romantic relationships were unlikely but possible in jujutsu, given the danger that entailed from being a sorcerer. The majority had never considered pursuing such a prospect, including him. The impossibility was further exaggerated once Yuji had swallowed one of Sukuna’s fingers.
A guaranteed death sentence fell on Yuji’s shoulders and only thanks to Gojo’s persuasion that they were granted an extension. But Megumi knows all too well that time is very feeble and intimidating when there’s an underlying deadline they’re counting down towards.
So in his resolve that night, Megumi had promised to himself. From then on, he should consider it enough, loving and cherishing Yuji from a distance. For every breath that he takes, he’ll make sure that by the time Yuji has to leave, he’s felt nothing but loved.
Megumi was so wrong.
He thought that liking someone from afar was enough especially knowing that it’s bound to end tragically either way. But the way he backpedaled from his resolve so quickly, all because of one fine autumn day.
It was after they finished their mission earlier than expected that Nobara proposed an outrageously impulsive plan. A trip to Disney Sea. Megumi thought nothing more of it since he’ll be dragged along anyways, whether he chose to or not.
Everything was as he expected as Nobara’s and Yuji’s enthusiasm was infectious towards each other but draining towards Megumi. Until it happened.
At first, it was an innocent interlocking of their arms as they walked towards the popcorn stall Nobara had been raving about. But something changed and Megumi couldn’t stop staring at his and Yuji’s intertwined hands while the said boy was speaking animatedly about how excited he was for the Journey to the Center of Earth ride.
“My friends got me so hyped about this one. I’m so glad we got the fast pass in time!”
“Say that again to my face, Itadori,” Nobara exclaimed proudly with her chest puffed out, hands resting on her hips.
Not sparing a second to think how idiotic they would look, Yuji went as far as raising both of his arms as he bowed repeatedly to a snickering Nobara. But it took a few seconds for Megumi to realize that Yuji’s hand was no longer in his when his hand clenched to nothing.
He thought that was the end of it, that Yuji wouldn’t initiate any more physical touches, but as they go on their awaited ride, Megumi tensed up when he noticed a slight squeeze to his left thigh. It was brief but obvious albeit.
His head snapped so quickly to look at the perpetrator only to witness Yuji grinning -- adorably but Megumi would rather die on a hill than admit it out loud. Megumi wasn’t sure if the confusion was visible on his face, but his mind was reeling from all these fleeting touches. Was it intentional?
The sensation from the roller coaster was lost on him even as a huge gust of wind hit his face as the ride went into a steep fall. While others screamed at the rush of adrenaline, Megumi was unphased since his insides are the exact reflection of this ride he’s going through. His own adrenaline-pumping rollercoaster in the form of Itadori Yuji.
As soon as the ride was over, Megumi pulled Yuji aside. His eyes stayed at Nobara’s back as he whispered, “Open the door for me at midnight.”
For the rest of the day, Megumi made it his effort to remain some semblance of space between the two of them which resulted in Yuji throwing puppy eyes at him the whole time. Yuji seemed to underestimate his effect on Megumi because if he didn’t do that, he would lose his mind before they could even return to their campus.
As oblivious Yuji and Megumi were to the third party in their friendship, Nobara caught on to their tension -- perceptive that she is -- because as soon as they stepped foot inside the building of their living quarters, she huffed exasperatedly, “You’re both hopeless.”
The last that the other two boys see of her is her door slamming closed. They looked at each other at the same time, brows both furrowing in amusement before breaking into laughter together.
As their shared moment died down, the tension that was present never left and Megumi would start squirming if he didn’t leave any second from now. Before he could delve into it, his feet took him away and into his room, leaving Yuji in the hallway, blinking in confusion.
His hand briefly reached out to the space that Megumi stood a moment ago only to be reminded of the warmth of Megumi’s lips when he whispered about meeting at midnight. The corners of Yuji’s lips unconsciously quirk upwards into a smile as he entered his room.
So wait was what Yuji did for the rest of the night. Time couldn’t have gone agonizingly slower as his stare was intent on every passing tick of the moving arm in his clock. To preoccupy himself, Yuji ended up showering -- even then, he did so as if his ass was late for class -- and he picked up his latest Shonen Jump.
Despite his efforts, it all remained futile since Yuji’s gaze always finds its way back to the foreboding clock on his wall.
As Yuji dramatically started feeling like dying from the wait, a few raps on the door were enough to make him dash so quickly in his life for something unrelated to school. He was greeted with the sight of Megumi scratching the back of his neck, his eyes refusing to meet Yuji’s as he stepped inside.
Megumi turned down Yuji’s offer for a drink as he took a seat by the bed, his entire posture a little too stiff even for someone who would stay impassive throughout the day.
“I’ll cut to the chase,” Megumi started, his voice wavering before he hid it with a cough. He was still avoiding Yuji’s eyes and it was starting to annoy him. “What happened at Disney Sea. I need to know whether you were just feeling especially touchy or if it meant something more.”
He noticed , Yuji thought to himself as he suppressed a smile. So it worked.
“Never pegged you for being so direct about this, Gumi,” Yuji cooed teasingly, emphasizing the nickname. His lips all puckered up before he swiftly dodged Megumi’s arm swinging to his side.
“Just answer me.”
Megumi was nearing desperation at this point because simply asking this inside Yuji’s room was a bold move in his book and his shyness was closing in on him. It didn’t help that the blush creeping up his neck was making him self-aware.
“Well, what do you want it to be?”
“Huh?” Megumi responded instantaneously, incredulous at the question thrown back to him.
“If you want those touches to be a fluke, then they are. But if you want it to mean more-” Yuji’s voice drifted as he closed in on their small distance, standing just right in front of Megumi.
He paid attention to any sign in Megumi’s movements that would tell him that he’s overstepping, but he saw none. Only receptiveness. Gentle as he could be, Yuji’s finger lightly brushed against Megumi’s jaw before they settled underneath his chin, tilting him to look up.
When Megumi could look nowhere else but Yuji’s searching eyes, there it was. His answer. Megumi could spit the most believable lies, but all it takes is one look in his eyes and you see his honesty.
And he’s saying he wants more.
That was all it took for Yuji to bend lower, his hand moving to rest on the back of Megumi’s neck. As Yuji closed his eyes, their lips met in a sweet yet fluttering kiss. As if they’re testing the waters, trying to get a feel of what the other tastes like, and Yuji likes it.
He leaned in again -- with more certainty this time -- pressing his lips to Megumi’s welcoming ones. A sigh escaped Megumi’s lips as he melted under Yuji’s touch, and it took a light swipe to his bottom lip for him to pull Yuji onto the bed with him. The boy groaned at their position, and the fervent way Megumi’s hands were clutching against his shirt.
As much as Yuji would like to keep going, he also would like to take the time to make things clear between them. So with all of his willpower, Yuji pulled away. He felt like he should get an award for his resistance because his resolve was that close to breaking once a small whimper came out of Megumi’s lips as he chased after Yuji’s lips.
“We should probably talk about this,” Yuji muttered as he closed his eyes, avoiding seeing the hooded eyes and glossy lips of the person underneath him.
And as much as Megumi yearned for that kiss to happen, he knew in the back of his mind that Yuji was right. They should talk about it.
“Something more is going on. That I can suffice,” Megumi mumbled, his throaty voice betraying how much their kiss affected him.
“It took that kiss for you to come to that conclusion?” Yuji’s voice was laced with amusement as his breathy chuckle escaped in between words. Thinking it uncomfortable that he’s on top of Megumi as their conversation turned serious, Yuji lifted himself off only to be pulled back with a light tug to his front.
“I’m not good with words,” Megumi whispered, his cheeks blushing madly and it sent Yuji’s heart into a ricochet.
“I know. So, we’re doing this right?”
Megumi nodded before he looked up, his eyes clear with earnest, “Stay alive for me, Yuji. I don’t think I can take it if you were to-”
“And you said you’re not good with words,” Yuji replied with a chuckle, lips grinning at the confession.
“Don’t interrupt!”
Yuji’s chuckle turned into laughter as he scooted closer to the warmth radiating off Megumi’s body. His chin rested on one of Megumi’s shoulder blades, his head turned to Megumi. It tickled when he whispered into Megumi’s ears.
“And then?”
“I want this relationship with you.”
“Me too. Even with how menacing you are,” and with that, he earned a smack to the back of his head. Yuji admitted he rightfully deserved that before he continued, “I find it hard not to like you so much. I want you to live long happily.”
“Us,” Megumi exclaimed, his breath stilling as he turned his head to see Yuji’s raised brows at him. “I want us to live long happily. I want it to be with you.”
Yuji smiled tenderly at his words. It felt nice and heartwarming to hear Megumi express such a strong conviction for their long lives despite the bitter reality they’re in. That night, everything suddenly felt possible with the confidence laced in Megumi’s simple words.
And with that, Yuji’s arms slowly enveloped the front of Megumi’s waist. It felt right like his arm was supposed to be there.
With a dreamy sigh, Yuji mumbled, “And so we will.”
The change in the air was subtle but as always, Nobara could tell something changed for the better before either Yuji or Megumi could open their mouths.
"Did you guys talk it out?"
"Holy shit," Yuji exclaimed loudly. His face gave away that he's impressed while Megumi rolled his eyes as he stood idly next to him. "And we didn't even say anything. How'd you do that every time?"
"It doesn't take a genius to see you worked some stuff out," Nobara answered with a sigh. She shook her head in pity, knowing in her heart they're both a hopeless case in the romance department. At least this time, they worked it out.
"Told you she's better than both of us combined," Megumi whispered for only Yuji to hear, and the pink-haired boy crossed his arms in forced defeat.
"Beats me," Yuji mumbled as his focus returned to their mission ahead.
The apartment they just entered was said to be infested with a cursed spirit. Only when Yuji's sharp senses had caught on another presence growing fainter that it dawned on him that they're facing not one, but two grade one cursed spirits.
Without a word, Yuji's heels turned towards the door, his steps falling into a run as he heard Megumi shout, "Don't fucking die!"
"You betcha," Yuji screamed back in full confidence.
Simply knowing that he has someone waiting for him to come back preferably unscathed by the end of this mission, and not even stopping there. For that someone to be so precious and irreplaceable to him, who will always welcome him with open arms was enough to propel Yuji into a state of bliss.
And he wouldn't want the years he had left to be any different.