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It had been a couple of weeks since Megumi and Nobara became a couple, and they (mostly Nobara) made it known to all their friends and colleagues that they are in a relationship.
They had to clarify to some bewildered people that, yes, Fushiguro Megumi has the capacity to be in a romantic relationship despite his stoic and apathetic personality, and, no, Kugisaki Nobara did not blackmail him into it.
A mixture of congratulations, surprised looks, and a lot of teasing came their way. Gojo especially made a whole spectacle out of it. He kept going on for days about how quickly Megumi grew up, and how Nobara should be careful because all he knew was the playboy lifestyle – to which an annoyed Megumi would refute all his claims.
Despite all the teasing they got, Megumi and Nobara were genuinely happy and excited with where this relationship could take them in the future. Not only that, it is somewhat nerve-wracking as well since this is their first romantic relationship after all. Both didn’t know how to act as a couple at first, but they are slowly getting used to it.
People around them were pleasantly surprised to see Megumi more expressive than usual, while Nobara was noticeably softer whenever Megumi was around.
Like a warm hearth on a chilly winter night, or an ice-cold drink on a hot summer day, the combination of Megumi and Nobara enabled them to balance out and bring out the best in each other.
All was well and all, but Megumi was bothered by one thing.
He sees it. The change in her was evident whenever there were more than two people in the room, whenever they were about to go outside, and whenever she sensed other people nearby.
He's not sure whether it's a big problem or not, but he was worried if it had something to do with him.
-----
Megumi should've known better that when you put off something for later, it is bound to bother you again sometime soon.
The problem loomed over him once more when he lost her in a busy shopping street at Harajuku. Rows of people filled the area with their colorful clothes and snacks in hand. All the chatter and the occasional bumping of shoulders were gradually making Megumi irritated with the crowd.
It was their day off and they went out for a 'much-needed date', as Nobara called it. However, Megumi thinks it was just a plot to get him to buy her something, judging by the state of his wallet.
That isn’t his main problem though. What he doesn’t get is why Nobara wasn't initiating any kind of skinship. At all.
Well, at least not in public.
In private, she doesn't hesitate to give Megumi a back hug whenever she wants his attention. She even makes it a point to kiss his cheek or ruffle his hair whenever she thanks him for something.
Even in a post-training setting where Megumi would be all sweaty, Nobara wouldn’t hesitate to get close to wipe his sweat off for him. With the occasional teasing of his toned body, of course.
To be honest, he wasn't really bothered with it as much as he thought he would be. Megumi was actually enjoying the physical contact with his girlfriend. He's gradually getting used to it to the point that he unconsciously looks for it.
Unaware of his own behavior, he is always getting closer to her and placing his hand in convenient and accessible places. Always within her reach. Always ready to connect and intertwine.
Her touches were warm and welcoming, and not at all malicious and threatening.
He always thought she would be the type to be expressive in her actions even in front of others, and he knows this is true. But why not now?
Now facing a huge crowd with no Nobara in sight, Megumi is now forced to face the problem of not being with his girlfriend. Street lights are now beginning to illuminate the streets and stores have opened their outdoor lamps, so he needed to hurry because it would be harder to look for her in the night.
Calling her phone proved to be useless as it directed him to a monotone voice telling him that the phone was out of service. After a long beep, he tried to call her again. And again. And again.
"Where are you?" Nobara is missing and he is just growing more anxious by the minute.
Megumi figured walking around the street and entering stores she might be interested in could be counterproductive because of the possibility that they might miss each other. Instead, he decided to be on standby in front of a crepe store popular with girls. She might visit this store when she gets hungry.
"Why did she wander off without telling me?" he grumbled while waiting.
No.... It's my stupid fault I lost her.
He thought of all the times Nobara initiated skinship, and he felt so stupid and disappointed in himself.
All this time I’ve been waiting for her to hold my hand when I should’ve done that myself.
As if he was not having a rough day already, two girls approached him. He could tell that they were trying to flirt with him and invite him somewhere. He's seen this from Yuuji's mangas.
"No thank you, I'm busy."
Unfortunately for him, the girls were persistent, unconvinced that a guy standing alone would be busy.
Just when he was about to tell them off, a familiar voice spoke up amid the crowded place.
"Hey! There you are! I've been looking all over for you."
Before Megumi could completely register what was happening, a force pulled him to the side and kissed him directly on his lips, a bit roughly if he might add. But he doesn’t panic, as he would know that voice and these lips anywhere.
The kiss lasted only seven seconds before Nobara pulled away. She looked directly into his eyes, silently apologizing for being gone so long.
She cut the moment short as she glared to the side and used an icy tone, “Are you girls lost?”
The girls got the message and they hastily shuffled away.
With not a moment to lose, Megumi began inspecting Nobara for any visible distress.
“You okay? Where were you?”
“I’m fine, I’m fine. Really sorry about that. When I tried to call you, I dropped my phone and it got busted.” She sighed showing him her broken screen and dislodged phone battery.
"Hmmm… I think it can still be fixed. Do you want to do it now?" Megumi offered knowing Nobara would need her phone to check her social media and look at the latest trends.
"Nah it's fine, I can ask Ijichi-san if he can fix it for me. Besides, I'm kinda tired now. Are you ready to go home?"
-----
This isn't like her.
Nobara animatedly talked about her day while walking along Jujutsu High's stone pavements. She was complaining about something, but Megumi was distracted by his own thoughts.
Noticing he had a distant look in his eyes, Nobara got closer and nudged his elbow, "Megumi, you’re not listening! Is there something on your mind?"
He stopped in his tracks and mumbled softly, almost like a whisper, "Why..... you.... my...."
"Come again?"
".... don't....... to..... hands..."
"Speak louder!"
"WHY DON’T YOU WANT TO HOLD MY HANDS?"
"Huh?" Nobara blinked twice with a tint of pink on her cheeks.
Megumi, feeling embarrassed from blurting the question out, tried to explain, "When it's just the two of us, you don't hesitate to hold me, but... don't you want to hold my hands when we're outside too?"
Dumbfounded seeing his puppy-dog eyes, Nobara answered, "Well of course I'd love to hold your hand, but... I figured you wouldn't be up to it with other people around."
It’s his turn to look surprised. Nobara was giving way to him. She thought of him when all he wanted was to give everything to her.
"But you want to?"
"Of course..." Nobara bashfully answered, "It would be so cute, and… I'd like it if you're always there beside me… Not that I need you there all the time! It's just that... it makes me happy being able to hold you like that.”
Looking away from Megumi as she tries to cover up how red she’s turning, she suddenly exclaims, "Plus! I want to shove it to other people's faces when they try to flirt with you or send you suggestive looks… The nerve of those two girls."
In a calmer tone, she continued, "... I want to show the whole world how proud I am to be your girlfriend.”
"Then why don't you?" Megumi said, much calmer now that he understands the situation. He took her hand and smoothed his thumb over her knuckles, appreciating each callus on her palm born from the battles she fought.
"Please hold my hand."
Whenever you want. Wherever we may be.
Holding her hand means getting to be with her. Getting physically affectionate means that Nobara will be happy. And if she's happy, that's all that matters.
"I didn't want to make you uncomfortable," Nobara said giving his hand an assuring squeeze.
The thought of her being considerate of him makes his heart skip a beat, and a smile escapes him.
"Then just ask me if it makes me uncomfortable, idiot." Megumi raised their clasped hands and used it to do a light bump on her head.
"Don't do that again. Just be you."
Giggling to herself, "You are absolutely right, my good sir. Never doing that again."
The couple started walking again, hand-in-hand. Suddenly, Nobara thought of something.
"Then you don't mind if I hold your hand in public?"
"I'll be okay."
"How about a hug?"
"Just go for it."
"A kiss?" A glint of mischievousness appeared in Nobara's eye as she asked the question.
He trusts her. She's more sensible than most people he knows anyway. He knows that she won't do anything excessive, and as long as she thinks it’s appropriate, it's fine by him.
Megumi figured that if he wanted Nobara to be freely physically affectionate, he had to initiate some too. It's only right and she deserves to be with someone who speaks her language to her.
He pushed her to a nearby wall as gently as possible, careful not to hit her head. Megumi spoke in a low, husky voice which transitioned to a whisper as he moved closer to her.
"A kiss? Just one kiss? You can do that and more. But if you think you can make out with me in public, then you know I won't back down, right?"
Teasing her is so much fun.
"W-what?"
He slowly leaned more into her.
Nobara, a blushing mess, closed her eyes and braced herself. She wanted to do this the whole time they were outside, finally she’s getting what she deserves.
And then… he pinched her cheek.
"Kugisaki Nobara is getting shy?" Megumi said with a calm look but teasing smirk.
"MEGUMI!"
"You're too adorable, Nobara."
He took her hand again and started going down the path. Nobara was quiet for a moment until he heard her ask, "How about you? Do you want anything from me?"
Megumi squeezed her hand tighter, committing to memory the feeling of warmth he held.
"You're right here. You're alive. That's enough for me.”
"Quality time, got it!" Nobara hugged his arm feeling giddy all over.