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Yuuji's previous boyfriends were jerks.
Nobara can attest to that coz she's seen her best friend's journey since high school and now in college.
Those jerks only think to make Yuuji what they want Yuuji to be (wear this, don't wear this, make sure you have this, shave your legs, make your legs skinnier, you eat too much, you wear too much hoodies, read this so you won’t be such a himbo, color your hair coz pink is not a color for a man, stop talking if you'll only say dumb shit).
And Yuuji, her poor, gullible best friend, always obliges.
It's not because Yuuji's an idiot. Yeah, his choices of men are questionable at best, but no, her best friend is NOT an idiot.
What this is is a deep rooted fear of being left alone and neglected.
Yuuji doesn’t remember his parents. They died when he was just a toddler. Since then, he’d been passed around his relatives until he was adopted permanently by his grandfather during his first year of high school. But even that was short-lived when his grandfather died just a few weeks short of Yuuji turning second year.
He’s been alone since then and Nobara can’t fault Yuuji for his fears and for wanting to do anything in his power so he wouldn’t be alone anymore. She can only try her best to advise Yuuji and to support him with every heartbreak he went through.
But this Zenin Megumi was different.
After his most recent breakup that had Yuuji’s self-esteem down in the dumps (because of course he’d think it was his fault), Nobara dragged Yuuji out shopping, fed up that her best friend was cooping up when it wasn’t his fault to begin with (To reiterate: Yuuji’s ex boyfriends are JERKS!)
There, they ran into Maki and her twin sister, Mai, both of whom were instructed to tour the Zenin heir around town.
Yuuji wasn’t in the best headspace or appearance then. He barely even spoke to them, much less to Megumi, but the pinkette still caught the eye of the raven-haired heir.
It was Maki who gave Yuuji’s number to Megumi (only after she threatened him not to hurt Yuuji in any way or form, well aware of Yuuji’s failed love conquests).
Long story short, Megumi was able to convince Yuuji to give him a chance (after much pining on Megumi’s end coz Yuuji’s an oblivious dolt. And then a bit of panicking on Yuuji’s end because why would Megumi settle for him? Nobara promptly smacked him in the head for even thinking it.)
Nobara had her own doubts about the raven-haired and she didn’t shy from telling him of any of them. Threatening him if he hurt Yuuji or change whatever he thought Yuuji needed to change to look good.
For his benefit, Megumi just scowled at her and said Yuuji was always perfect the way he is. Nobara didn’t believe his words but it bled through his actions, if Yuuji’s happiness and giddiness was any indicator. To be honest, Nobara was happy that her best friend was happy because he deserved all of it.
Now they were celebrating their sixth month together and it was clear in the air that both wanted to take their relationship a little bit further.
Yuuji was a bumbling mess asking for Nobara’s help (as if it was his first time. But hey, it’s his first with Megumi so who was Nobara to judge?) Who would Nobara be if she didn’t help Yuuji for this special event? She put her designer skills to good use and dressed Yuuji ready for the event.
And that was how Nobara found herself standing outside Yuuji’s door in their shared apartment, tapping her foot on the ground and her finger on her crossed arm, getting impatient with her best friend.
“If you don’t go out of there—”
“I can’t wear this!” Yuuji wailed from inside his room.
“Yes, you can!”
“It’s too…tight! And revealing!”
“You’re not some 1800s debutant, idiot! A little skin won’t hurt!”
“This is too much skin!”
“No, it’s not! Open this door now or so help me, I will get a hammer and—”
“Alright, alright!”
And finally, the door opened and revealed a very red Yuuji, fidgeting because his hands were itching to cover what the clothes weren't covering. Red long sleeves that hung from his shoulder to display those creamy shoulder blades (and to give Megumi a good peek inside if Yuuji bent down just a little. And maybe the material was a bit see through. What? Yuuji had assets he needed to flaunt more.) And black tattered skinny jeans to give a little glimpse on those plump legs and delicious curvy ass. Finished it off with his signature red sneakers.
In Nobara’s opinion, Yuuji looked good. She smirked, mentally patting herself for a job well done.
“I can’t wear this!” Yuuji wailed again. “Megumi won’t like it if I wear this.”
“Just because he hasn’t seen you wear something like that doesn’t mean he won’t like it, idiot,” Nobara affectionately scolded.
“But Nobaraaa…”
“Shush, you!” Nobara said, putting her hands on Yuuji’s shoulders to ground him. “You’re awesome. You’re hot. And if I were straight, I’d fuck you, but we’re both gay so it won’t work between us.”
Yuuji felt even more embarrassed but at the same time laughed at what Nobara said.
“Look,” Nobara continued, “the important thing is, you look fuckable because you ARE fuckable.”
“Stop staying that! The neighbors might hear!”
“I don’t care! They can say whatever they want for all I care. Now. Are you wearing the lingerie I gave you?”
Yuuji turned redder but nodded.
“Good! Yuuji, look at me.” Still red, Yuuji lifted his eyes to meet Nobara’s and with utmost sincerity, she said, “You’re beautiful. And Megumi’s lucky to have you.”
A sweet smile broke on Yuuji’s lips as he nodded. “Thank you.”
Before long, Megumi arrived and Nobara almost laughed at the usually stoic Megumi breaking his composure at the sight of Yuuji (eyes wide, jaw dropped, and bouquet of flowers almost falling from his grip). At the blush on Megumi’s face and with how he was pulling at the collar of his shirt, it was obvious to Nobara that he found Yuuji hot. (He looked ready to pounce on Yuuji.)
So Nobara wasn’t surprised when Megumi told Yuuji that the cinema they were going to was going to be sooo cold so could you please go and get yourself a jacket? Preferably a trench coat. I know it’s the middle of summer but you’ll definitely need it. Yuuji didn’t even question it, just smiled and nodded, trusting Megumi completely. Then Megumi pulled Nobara aside to demand why the hell did you dress him like that? Who the fuck did you want to be looking at him?
Nobara only sent a smirk his way and said, “As the boyfriend, it’s your job to keep the pests away. Besides,” she crossed her arms and her smirk widened, “If you’re patient, there may be a surprise waiting for you after uncovering your present.” And winked at Megumi.
She could see the gears turning in Megumi’s brain, his eyes dilating and she knew she hit the jackpot.
Before anything else can be said though, Yuuji went out of his room in a light trench coat like Megumi asked. They were about to go when Megumi gave one more look at Nobara, making both best friends pause. Nobara raised a perfectly trimmed brow in challenge but Megumi only pulled something from his pocket and quickly placed it on Nobara’s hand before swiftly ushering the pink-haired boy out.
Nobara heard Yuuji ask what it was but Megumi just told him it was something Nobara had asked from him.
Nobara didn’t ask anything from Megumi though but whatever questions she had in her mind was erased after she took a look at what Megumi gave her and cackled.
Hours later, bone-tired but extremely satisfied, Nobara sat in the cafe sipping a cold glass of watermelon shake with the company of her many, many, many shopping bags courtesy of Megumi’s black (unlimited) card.
If this was her reward for dressing Yuuji up, she would surely do it again.
Her phone vibrated on the table and her eyes slid down to see a text coming in followed by an attachment.
It was from an unknown number but when she opened it, she cackled out loud, enough to make the other patrons in the cafe look at her weirdly.
‘You have free rein tomorrow.’
And then a picture of a familiar red lacy lingerie she bought and told a certain someone to wear. Said lingerie was on the carpeted ground now, as if it was thrown away in a fevered haste.
Nobara grabbed her shopping bags. The night was still young but Nobara wasn’t done yet. There were still so many stores to visit.
She took the black card and kissed it.
She hopes Yuuji enjoys himself and experience the best time (and sex) he would ever experience (although she has no doubt Megumi will make sure he does) and then she will pamper herself because hell yes she deserved it.
She cackled again, uncaring of the stares she left in her wake.