Work Text:
Yuuji receives the call at 5:12pm.
He’s at the hospital by 5:24.
“Itadori-san! Thank you for coming! Surgery was a success and he’ll be with us for only about a week longer. A real shame! he’s so funny and energetic for someone his age.” The nurse beams at Yuuji, practically bouncing with glee to be the one to deliver the good news.
Yuuji clapped his hands in relief, rubbing his face repeatedly to let the news settle in his mind. His grandpa was going to be okay. Everything was going to be okay.
He bowed deeply to the nurse and reception.
“Mariko-san, thank you so, so much. I came as quickly as I could when I got the call. Everything’s really alright? It’ll only take a week to get gramps out of here?”
“Yes! It went super well! All the older ladies in the ward are sad to see him go so soon too, haha!”
Yuuji grimaced at that. He knew his grandfather had too much vitality for his age. Even in illness and injury he had a way with the ladies.
Yuuji really could take a page from his book, with this sponsorship deal and all.
He wondered what his grandfather would think of Fushiguro-san.
“So, can I go see him?”
He wanted to tell gramps about Fushiguro-san.
“No, sorry, we don’t recommend visitors for him until tomorrow morning, even if you are immediate family. He’ll just be sleeping anyway.”
This wasn’t majorly upsetting news. Surgery was a success, his grandpa was still up and kicking—clearly. Why not let the old man get some rest. Just as Yuuji was about to walk off to thank the other nurses, Mariko handed him a clipboard.
“This is just a little paper work for the processing of his discharge and the post-recovery service. He’ll need to be in a safe home and have a caretaker with him at all times.” She paused for a moment as if she was contemplating her next words deeply.
“Itadori-san, we understand given your career that its hard for you to care for him so the surgeons and hospital general recommended you hire a nurse from the hospital…”
Her eyes flitted to the ground, eyebrows furrowing.
“Or if you need something thats less tight on your budget for now you can hire a regular aged-care worker.”
“Oh.” Yuuji said dumbly. What she meant to say was. “Your father needs care that you cannot afford, but if you manage to make a quick buck there’s a cheaper alternative.”Yuuji probably should’ve given this poor nurse more credit, she most likely did not want to deliver this news herself. But it was still something he had to hear. It was still real nonetheless.
Yuuji took the clipboard and began flipping through the pages.
Maybe he should cut down on the cooking videos for a month? The ingredients were getting expensive, he had too many leftovers. He had to cut anyway for a competition, it’s fine. He could afford to not eat for a while.
“Hey, thanks for letting me know Mariko-san. It’s okay. I’ll figure this out. Don’t you worry about me. Remember who’s genes I’m carrying?”
He flexed his muscles comically, trying to get a smile from the poor girl.
Which he got at least. At the expense of his morale definitely, but a smile was a smile!
“Yeah, we’ll sort this out!”
She smiled at him and flexed a skinny bicep. He appreciated the nurses like her. Young and filled with vigour. Understanding and patient. They parted ways at the reception and Yuuji looked through the paperwork one more time.
He really, really wanted to call someone.
“Yello! Gojo Satoru speaking! Who dare interrupt my midday eyes-open nap!?”
“Sorry, sensei. It’s nearly 7 so I thought you’d be finished daydreaming about Getou-san.”
“Ah! Yuuji-kun. Funny of you to assume there’s a time of day where I’m not thinking about him! What makes you call me at this ungodly hour?”
Gojo Satoru was a strange one. Yuuji and him met at one of his competitions. Gojo’s company was sponsoring the event and he had made an appearance. Apparently he was scouting “rich and charismatic personalities on buff bodies”— which was just so unnerving as a pitch to Yuuji he had to give in to curiosity. Yuuji approached him and told him about his small YouTube gig. How he’d make cooking videos and had a little-but-homely fanbase and community. Gojo immediately asked him what his first name was and when he’d responded, began snickering almost maliciously.
“Yuuji-kun, how would you like to sign with my entertainment agency? We don’t really focus on managing talent and stuff but we have connections, and you’ll get to hang out with me! I’m super cool in case you haven’t already noticed. Here’s my card.”
Yuuji had definitely noticed something about his character, but he appreciated his high-energy and unwavering charisma. And Yuuji thought his sunglasses were cool.
“Uhm, yeah! Okay. If you’ll have me. Here’s my card too.”
Gojo looked at his card and laughed again, slapping Yuuji’s back. He walked off blowing a kiss at Yuuji as and gesturing a phone to his ear as he exited. ‘Call me’ he mouthed.
Now he’s signed with them and Gojo’s sort of like his mentor. Which is honestly really cool. Yuuji thinks Gojo’s insane but he’s so confident in himself it cancels right out in a way to being likeable. He likes Gojo a lot. He hopes calling him was the right choice.
“Sensei, once again it’s nealy 7pm, just letting you know that.“
“I’m aware Yuuji-kun~. What’s wrong? You don’t have to beat around the bush with me.”
There was an acute change in tone that he was not prepared for. In all the time Yuuji had spent with Gojo he seldom spoke seriously, and when he did it made Yuuji unbelievably nervous.
“No everything’s fine. Y’know my grandpa? His surgery went really well and all.”
“Yay! Now I can take your old man with me to the club!”
Yuuji choked. That was not imagery he needed in his head. He was experiencing whiplash at this point, he never understood how Gojo could go from terrifying to cartoon-like goofiness in a sentence.
“No, he’ll be alright with the hospital ladies I think. One of the women in his ward invited him to her bookclub, they seem to have a thing going.”
“Haha, really?”
Yuuji found himself forgetting why he was upset to begin with. Talking to Gojo had that effect.
“Yeah, he’s going to be discharged in a week.”
“Okay…?” Gojo spoke like he was expecting further response from Yuuji.
“…?” Yuuji felt like he just failed a test of sorts.
“Yuuji-kun. Where’s he gonna stay after his discharge?”
See? There it was again. The outsiders looking in and seeing what it was that made Yuuji waver.
First the nurse, now Gojo.
“I-I’m not sure yet, but I’m figuring something out. You know, budgeting. Haha!” He faked a laugh to seem unbothered.
“Right. Budgeting.” Gojo definitely noticed.
“Yeah.” Yuuji was, annoyingly enough, very much bothered.
“So you see, Yuuji-kun. The thing with budgets are that usually normal people use them.” Gojo was testing him again, he thought.
“I’m following, sensei.” He needed to pass this time.
“Right! So… you have a sponsor.” He was definitely going to fail.
“I can’t ask Fushiguro-san.”
“Oh?” He failed. He failed so hard.
Listen, in Yuuji’s defense, the whole sponsorship thing was totally more out of respect for the offer than actually needing to reap its benefits. Yuuji would never actually rely on Fushiguro-san, he just appreciated having his support as a sort of… Well. Okay there wasn’t a really good way to put it. Yuuji said yes because it seemed like Fushiguro-san would be more annoyed if he didn’t say yes, and it’s not like Fushiguro-san didn’t establish any rules. They definitely had rules and guidelines and all that professional business relationship stuff. Fushiguro-san acknowledged that Yuuji could handle himself independently and that he’d just be there to support him in case of emergencies, hence the calling rule. Yeah, and the calling rule went both ways so! The calling rule being: if Yuuji or Fushiguro-san needed each other for any reason, one would call the other and they’d have to see it through. That was the price Yuuji was willing to pay to not be forced compensation by his—okay there really is no good way to put it— benefactor. Fushiguro-san just wanted to be there for him if he needed it, never to force an expectation or reward on Yuuji and he appreciated that. It made him feel human, and not a like a commodity to be bought and sold. Yuuji offered a lot to Fushiguro-san but it seemed like he didn’t really want anything either, so they just settled for their little arrangement. It’s wholesome. Yuuji doesn’t to ruin it.
“Yuuji-kun, Megumi won’t care if you ask him for $10,000, a car, a house, a warehouse filled with wild ferrets…” He loved Gojo but he had zero clue what ran through his mind at any given moment.
He calls him Megumi. He said Megumi wouldn’t care what Yuuji asked him.
“Wait what-?”
“Doesn’t matter. My point is, why do you think he’d care if you asked him for advice? Do you even know why he asked to sponsor you?”
Come to think of it. Yuuji pondered for a moment.
“No, he never really told me ‘real’ reason. He told me I was an interesting prospect and he’d like to see out my development.”
“He- HE WHAT?” Laughter flowed out of him like ribbons. Yuuji also felt unnerved whenever Gojo laughed. It felt… omniscient.
He calmed down after a solid 2 minutes of maniacal laughter and breathlessly hummed, giggles still pouring out of him.
“Yuuji-kun, thank you for this valuable information. If you really wanna know you should ask him yourself, maybe. It’d be funny. Do it. It’d be so funny. Record it.”
That did not bode well with Yuuji.
“Listen, whatever you think is going to happen when you call him, isn’t. So just call him. I have a husband to dream about.” This was the least productive phone call he’d ever had in his life.
“Kay! Love, hugs and kisses!”
3 dial tones. He guessed that was it then.
Yuuji opened his contacts app and scrolled to Fushiguro’s name, tapping and hovering his thumb on the call button.
“Megumi”, huh? I’d like to be able to call him that one day, too.
Gojo promptly texts Megumi without further context,
Man Child 7:02pm
“He’s going through a tough time so try not to act like you for a moment.”
Read 7:05pm
Yuuji calls Fushiguro-san at 7:12pm
He picks up on the third ring.
“Oh, hey! Sorry for calling you, you just got off work didn’t you?”
He instantly regrets listening to Gojo’s advice.
“No don’t worry. It’s okay, Itadori-san”
Fushiguro-san’s voice washes over him like liquid gold. He thinks this is probably enough to keep him going for a week, but he’s already here, he may never muster up the courage to do this again. And who knows? Maybe Fushiguro-san is good at giving advice, he’s mature in that kind of way.
“Sooo. You’re probably wondering why I’m calling, Fushiguro-san-“
“Just Fushiguro is fine.”
Ah fuck. Try not to act like me.
“Fushiguro, right. I’m sorry to call you at this time but I sort of need help right now and I asked Gojo for help but he said to ask you and I like feel bad because I don’t feel like our relationship is one where I can just-“
“Itadori-san, what do you need?”
Yuuji took a deep breath. Hearing Fushiguro-san’s voice after so long shouldn’t have had such a massive effect on him, but it did and he would have to work through whatever that mean later.
“I-I’m sorry, my grandpa is getting discharged from the hospital. Which is great news and all but he needs somewhere safe to stay and a nurse to care for him during his recovery period and- and I can’t take him and I feel horrible about it but I’m already dealing with the new changes to my career and the new entertainment deal and my schedule is just so full all the time and I want him to be safe Fushiguro-san- I mean, Fushiguro…”
Yuuji feels himself choking up, he feels his throat contracting around the words that he’d been keeping stuffed down within and curses himself for threatening to let them out. He feels his eyes prick with an unfamiliar sting, he can’t cry, not this type of crying. His grandfather’s okay. Gramps is okay, but still.
“Are you alright…?”
All he can think about is himself. The contracts and sets and shoots and matches and-
“Itadori-san?”
Fushiguro’s smooth tenor is laced with a hint of something new. It breaks Yuuji out of his thoughts for a moment, the soft tone of the man of the phone catching him off-guard. What was that? It was so much more different than his usual stern “Itadori-san.” It reminds him that there’s another person on this phone call. A real voice listening. He needs to get a grip. Why can’t he pull himself together and get something done on his own?
“Ah, Fushiguro, I think I was just freaking out for no reason. Sorry to dump all that on you. You just finished work, right? Go relax! I won’t hold you up any longer.”
“Where are you?”
Yuuji didn’t know what it was. Or maybe thats a lie. Maybe he knew exactly what pushed him over the edge that night. Maybe he knew that Fushiguro’s voice, despite being a near-stranger’s, felt more like home than any hotel he’d stayed at for the past month of his travels, felt more earnest than any of the men in suits deciding his life for him. Maybe Yuuji was going insane, choosing this one to finally unravel in front of. Yuuji tries to visualise Fushiguro’s expression at this very moment, tries to rationalize why that very image makes him cry over the phone.
“You don’t even know me, Fushiguro. Why?”
“Itadori-san, are you-“
Ah, he got it. It was concern. Fushiguro was concerned for the boy he chose. Yuuji was making a fool of himself to the man who chose him— because of the man who chose him.
“F-Fushiguro, do you have some spare time?” He unknowingly hiccuped through the speaker.
“Itadori-san, I do, but— well can you breathe for me real deeply? I can help you count if you need?”
He didn’t know when his innocent tears became violent sobs, raking his nose, cheeks, lips, falling onto the cement. He didn’t know when he'd forgotten how to breathe.
“I-I, okay.”
“In on one, out on two. One…”
He forced his eyes to focus on the ground in front of him, on each and every crack and piece of earth peaking through the grey.
Focus, Fushiguro is listening.
He inhales on the one.
“Okay hold for me please. One, two, three. Two…”
Exhales on the two.
“That’s it, one…two..”
They go like this for what feels like a lifetime, Fushiguro bringing him back to life, filling his lungs with air like he knows it’s all Yuuji’s ever needed in his life.
“Itadori-san, I’m coming to see you, are you somewhere in public right now?”
Urgency, that’s new too. Yuuji doesn’t care why anymore, he knows he needs to see Fushiguro, he knows he needs to apologise for being defective this early on.
“Fukuiyama Municipal Hospital.”
“Thank you, I’ll be there soon.”
Three tones and Yuuji is all alone. His breath is restored and he thinks that’s enough. He can feel the early autumn breeze on his skin and he thinks that’s enough. But he won’t move, he has to apologise to Fushiguro, he has to see what new face might go with that new voice of his.
Megumi is panicking. His mind is reeling and he desperately needs to compose himself before he sees Itadori in the state he’s assuming he’s in. Which is—once again, assuming— post-breakdown. Which already concerning to begin with because he’d already received the news from the hospital of Itadori’s grandfather’s successful surgery and was planning to contact Itadori to congratulate him and ask if he needed anything. But- okay, wait. Megumi needed to reel it in for a second. Tsumiki always told him to just piece things one by one when he was freaking out. He can do that. He’s going to do that.
It all started with that cryptic text from Gojo which already annoyed him to begin with— don’t act like me? What’s wrong with acting like me?— and the lack of response from him when he tried to enquire further as to what he meant, who “He” was. Of course, with Gojo being Gojo and what not, he received no reply and instead got the phone call that was foreseen by Gojo’s prophecy and took a moment to notice the caller’s ID.
Itadori Yuuji, at 7:12pm calling him.
Now despite the fact that Megumi had informed Itadori that he could contact him any time of day, he was still shocked to receive a call from him this soon after their first meeting. Itadori seemed like a busy- no- he was a busy man. He was also incredibly considerate of Megumi’s schedule and even promised to accommodate their meeting times to him. It isn’t the time of day that’s got him confused, it’s the motivation behind it. They haven’t arranged a formal meeting yet, and Itadori was exceedingly cautious of Megumi during their first meeting, which was fair, Megumi didn’t really offer any assurance or reasoning for the contract. Because if he did. He would have to…
Yuuji called him at 7:12pm and Megumi picked up after three rings, not because he didn’t want to pick up quickly but because he was stunned and nervous and worried and flustered and-
So he picked up after three rings and then.
“Fushiguro-sama, we’ve arrived. Is that the boy you’re looking for?”
So, Megumi didn’t get too far in his analytical breakdown of what lead to his current dilemma, which isn’t great because now he has to go comfort Itadori and see what he can do to help and just pretend to not have a tiny crush on him and- Oh no, he has to be comforting.
“Yes, thank you Ichiji-san.”
He exits the car, adjusting his scarf and reaching into his coat pocket.
“Please buy some tissues and warm food, also some painkillers. Message me when you’re back.”
He hands Ichiji his company card through the window of the driver’s seat, and sends him off.
With all his strength and self-control, he steels himself and tramps to the familiar pink head of hair sitting nearby on one of the benches by the gates of the ward. The autumn breeze cuts through his coat easily, he shivers once, and strides forward.
After looking at Itadori more closely he begins to feel guilty for even shivering to begin with. The man’s form is small, hunched, as if he’s trying to take up as little space on the bench as possible— which is still a lot of space; the man has a strong build. He’s dressed so, so lightly. A thin white T-shirt (from his sponsor brand, Megumi notes internally), a pair of basketball shorts and long socks tucked into a pair of sneakers. Did he perhaps just finish training? Why didn’t he go home and get dressed before coming to see his grandfather? Was it really that urgent? It was at this point Megumi had to remind himself that not all families were as broken as his was, and obviously this was a huge event for Itadori.
He stepped closer, feeling colder as he approached.
“Itadori-san?”
Itadori kept his head down.
I suppose he’s still a little lightheaded from all the crying earlier.
Inching closer once again, he calls out
“Itadori-san, it’s Fushiguro. Ichiji will be picking us up soon. I’ve arranged some food in case you haven’t eaten yet.”
Did he say too much? Itadori isn’t even looking. What is he supposed to do? Should he have just gotten Ichiji or Gojo to talk to him? Why did he offer to come to begin with-
Itadori shuffles in his space for a moment before lifting his head slowly. Megumi watches him carefully.
His face is red, all of it. His forearms are covered in goosebumps and there’s a slight shiver when he readjusts his position in the seat to face Megumi.
“Fushiguro? You’re actually here?”
He straightened his posture and stretched his limbs, yawning.
Inspecting his face again, he notices faint sleep lines. He was… napping? On a hospital bench. In 13° weather. He gives Megumi a small smile.
whatisheabouttodothisisfartoounprofessionalbutheneedstochecktomakesurehejustneedsto-
He just needs to.
“Itadori-san, excuse me for a moment.”
“Huh? Sure.”
A cold, dewy hand presses against Yuuji’s forehead. Yuuji isn’t sure if he’s dreaming or not.
“Itadori-san, I believe you have a fever. Sorry for touching you without permission, I just needed to confirm-“
“Even in my dreams, you’re so formal and civilised, it’s cute.”
Yuuji blinks twice at Fushiguro’s reddening expression.
“You’re cute.”
He beams. Thank god Yuuji had gotten to see what the black-haired boy's face could do, even in his dreams. A flustered Fushiguro might be a goal to work toward in the real world, after he apologises of course. Maybe he could retry things with Fushiguro, forget about the contract and just get to know him? Get to feel that homely comfort again without all the pretense.
Since he’s dreaming anyway, he should just practise.
“You’re more than cute, you’re gorgeous. ‘M sorry Fushiguro. If I was a better man I’d be more worthy of your sponsorship, but now look.”
Fushiguro blinked at him dreamily, seemingly entranced by every word he was saying.
“I’ve made you come out here in the cold, at night, because I started crying over something so stupid. I’m sorry, I hope you’ll accept my apology, Fushiguro-san. Say, c’mere a sec…”
Fushiguro stared for a moment, he looked to be stuck between his thoughts and Yuuji’s words. Always in his own world. Fushiguro was so close here. So, so close and yet...
Yuuji lightly slid his hand up Fushiguro’s coat sleeve. Staring up at his eyes, meeting deep jade irises that almost glistened in the moonlight.
“I’m sorry, this is all so sudden. Y’know, when I first met you, back at the party? I noticed your eyes first. I thought to myself ‘That man has really pretty eyes.’ I even zoned out for a bit staring at you and Maki punched me in the stomach.”
“Oi, Megumi, you know that youtube guy you’ve got the hots for? Gojo signed him to his entertainment agency, he’s coming to their event.”
“I am not going to any event organised by that man, I have work to do. He knows this. Can we just not talk about Gojo today. I don’t have the strength or energ-“
“No, Megumi, your boy-crush is going. Don’t you know what this means?”
“I don’t like whatever you’re thinking.”
“I train with him sometimes. Trust me, just come to the party, dress well and do your whole pretty-boy emo daddy issues thing. He’ll like what he sees.”
“I’ll think about it…”
Fushiguro’s daze started to break, quickly shaking and beginning to retract his hand.
“Itadori-san, you’re sick, we should take you home quickly-“
“I saw you at that party, and I heard you speak. All business and stoic-ey?” He chuckled to himself. Pulling Fushiguro’s hand out of his sleeve and rubbing his thumb over his knuckles.
“I was like- ‘I have to make him laugh. He cannot look like that all the time.’ and I never forgot about that.”
“Itadori-san…”
Fushiguro turned his head away from Yuuji.
“Then Gojo told me you wanted to sponsor me. I was hesitant; my whole thing is being selfmade, right?”
Yuuji felt it now, Fushiguro was trembling. It feels really cold for a dream. Maybe if he willed it he could make Fushiguro warm up a little.
“But you told me you’d only give me what I asked for, and how strange is that to tell to someone you’ve only met once before? You confuse me Fushiguro-san. Ah, sorry. Fushiguro.”
He pulled Fushiguro closer to his lap, his knees inbetween Yuuji's thighs. Still looking up at his turned head, still enraptured by the practically pulsing red flush on his ear tips— from the cold, Yuuji was sure.
“It’s just that, if I wanted you to tell me why you chose me. If I wanted you to tell me why you didn’t ask a thing from me and allowed me to request the world of you.”
Megumi turned his head, eyes widening as he looked down at Itadori, still smiling at him like nothing was wrong, like he wasn’t pouring his heart out to a real-fake himself.
“Say, Fushiguro. Would you tell me?”
Stun-locked. He froze immediately.
There’s no doubt about it, Itadori definitely just fainted in front of him. After saying whatever it was that he just said. After leaving Megumi with that profoundly confrontational question. Megumi Fushiguro who, by nature, did not do feelings!
Megumi Fushiguro who’s heart was definitely not beating, running laps at a million miles a minute. Megumi Fushiguro who was an adult man and did not have butterflies in his stomach and definitely did not just fall for his protégé.
At this point in time, with a passed out Itadori, once again on a hospital bench in 13° weather at what- Megumi took a glance at his phone- 8:45pm…
Wait.
He unlocked his phone and checked his notifications.
Ichiji Kiyotaka
Two missed calls
“Oh my god, Ichiji.”
Megumi had an Itadori to fix and a lot of thinking to do.