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Megumi is different, this is something he knew before he understood what normal is to other people.
It wasn't the unusual family circumstances of his missing father figure throughout his short life so far, or his step mother who disappeared a few weeks ago -and two years of his father being MIA-, or how the only responsible figure in his life is his step sister who is merely a year older than him.
No, it was something in his mindset, in him, that is different.
Like how he finds other children that cry for their parents in the kindergarten confusing (What's the point of crying? It will not magically summon their parents or teleport them home. Wouldn't it make more sense to find a way to run away and walk home?), or how Tsumiki's quick and easy reaction to people in need -helping Grandpa crossing roads, or comforting other children with scraped knees- is not something he can consciously follow in a heartbeat until he is sure the person really need his little help, or how he cannot understand why people hurt others in purpose for no reason other than they can.
He often realizes that many things that others instinctively understand are not something he can process and absorb. Or the other way around. (Apparently dictionary and history books are not what children his age read.)
Not that he feels there is anything wrong with how he thinks.
Yes, he is probably a few years ahead of the others in maturity. Yes, he is not a naturally good person. Yes, he is too black and white in judging people's nature and behavior.
So what?
But most people can't seem to understand this for some reason. For example, Megumi do not understand why is it a problem that there is no adult figure that pick or drop him off from school, or how Megumi never throw a tantrum for anything until he throw something at seemingly random people, or why Megumi is very hostile to Haruki when Haruki pulls on other people's pants or hair.
The last one is purely because he is too angry by the stupidity of this snotty brat for hurting others with no consequence as the teacher just laughs Haruki's antics off as children being children.
Regardless, Megumi goes on with his days as usual, too busy worrying about the thinning secret cash Tsumiki found in Kaori-san's drawer and the disgusting looking creatures that loiters around his sight but invisible to others to even contemplate about his oddity.
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It's frustrating though sometimes having to formulate the simple words needed to explain to others why he did or think of certain things, even to Tsumiki.
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Then Gojo Satoru enters his life.
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It is impossible for Megumi to not notice the too tall teen with what must be bleached white hair.
One look was all he needed to know that the teen is not local and very much not meant to be in their quiet boring neighborhood. Had he encounter the odd teen anywhere else, Megumi would have taken a detour as soon as possible to not deal with random thing that may ruin his day, but the gangly teen was standing right in front of the gate to his apartment complex that he and Tsumiki may lose next month after their rent expires and no money to renew the lease.
Unfortunately, Gojo had been looking for him.
The rest of his first meeting with Gojo Satoru had been a confusing mess of too much information about things Megumi didn't think to be important. Like the reason why Tsumiki's mother left them a few weeks ago -how much money does a mere six year old plain Megumi worth anyway?-, or the disgusting creatures that only he could see are called curses and he is not the only one in this world that can see them, or his ability to create Shiro and Kuro are called ten shadow techniques and with it come the expectation to be a jujutsu.
What is a jujutsu? Who knows. How can his so-called technique and cursed energy defeat these curses? Megumi can guess but it doesn't look very healthy to let Shiro and Kuro eat them. Why is Gojo even helping a random kid like him? Maybe for his power but Megumi really cannot imagine how powerful he can be.
He is just a kid with moving shadows that can give him dogs.
Of course, this is assuming that everything Gojo says is true.
Honestly, he thought Gojo had been a random scammer that was messing around with him when he just walked away after claiming to 'take care of everything'. Why would a high class looking teen scam a poor kid like him is beyond Megumi's understanding. Rather than dwelling much on the possibly nothing, Megumi focused on trying to figure out what kind of paid labor children his and Tsumiki's age can do. Legally and safely anyway.
The answer is nothing to his disappointment.
He had even considered art or cooking, except those needed cash to buy the ingredients or supply. Cash they do not have so that is a no go. In the end, they resigned themselves to being assigned to nearby orphanages or going to this Zenin clan if what Gojo said were not empty words. All Megumi can do is help Tsumiki pack their stuff and try to find a semi-decent orphanage they can go to. No matter how bad the stories are about these places, it should be better than living on the streets with the possibility of them being kidnapped for evil purposes Megumi does not want to know.
Which is what this Zenin clan might do to him.
Megumi barely trusts any word coming from Gojo, but his firm affirmation of Tsumiki’s unhappiness at the hands of the unknown Zenin clan was the one thing Megumi was sure to be true.
Doesn’t mean he believes the rest of the things Gojo said.
So when Gojo waits for him right outside his apartment complex in the same position and wearing the exact same clothing like attempting to reenact their first meeting, Megumi can't help but eye the albino -apparently naturally white hair colored people exist- in both confusion and suspicion.
"Megumi-kun! I just finished taking care of them! I missed breakfast because of how tedious those old men are so let's eat lunch together!" The amount of cheer and energy in Gojo's voice betrays the amusement and glee for probably ruining the day of the people he is referring to.
"... So you're not a scammer?"
"Rude, Megumi-kun! I, Gojo Satoru, are many things but never a liar," Megumi is even less sure if he made the right decision to agree to Gojo offer as he is now realizing that the teen is not just flamboyant in looks and most likely dramatic in his action as well. That seems to promise a very loud and messy future with this guy around.
Not that he agreed to anything, technically. Gojo just did his own thing.
"Well, you never really explain what you want from me and what you will do to help me and Tsumiki," Megumi pauses, contemplating if he should add his last bit of thought before saying them anyway, "And why should we trust you to keep your word. Helping random kids to the extent you implied before is not what normal people do."
"You sure you're a first grader? Seriously, where is the blind trust innocent children usually show?"
"... I am not a normal child."
Megumi can practically feel the weight of Gojo’s gaze at his words, but he looks back at the teen, trying his best to look straight at the eyes hidden behind the round sunglasses. Whatever conclusion Gojo comes into has the albino grinning before ruffling his hair. Perhaps these easy touches will also be part of his new norm that he has to get used to.
"Well, good thing normal is overrated! It's good that I, too, am not a plain boring normal man. Anyway, lunch? I saw a good pancake place just two blocks from here," Megumi quickly resumes walking to the apartment complex when he sees Gojo’s hand going to hold him. Resigning himself to -ugh- affectionate touches from someone other than Tsumiki aside, holding his hand will not be something Megumi tolerates today.
"We don't have money to eat out," he stated bluntly, speed walking up the stairs despite the impossibility of leaving Gojo behind with his too long legs. Gojo, to Megumi’s disgust, is obnoxiously taking slow but long easy strides that cover three steps with every move. Damn them tall people bullying kids his age.
"I'll pay. Money is never a problem, especially for sweets," Gojo playfully declares with what must be a satisfied smirk at Megumi’s childish antics.
"Let me call for Tsumiki and we better eat proper food before dessert."
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“Is it really okay to talk about those things in public?” Megumi dubiously asks as he looks around the fairly filled restaurant.
“Funny how most people don't really pay attention to their surroundings and they can’t see so most will either think I’m humoring you kids or messed up in the head, which I could care less,” Gojo easily shrugs as he sips his soda.
“Thank you for treating us to this meal, Gojo-san,” Tsumiki cuts Megumi before he can retort back on how irresponsible Gojo is by leaving things up to chance, “I heard you are willing to take care of us in exchange for something you want from Megumi. What can my younger brother do for you?”
“For now? Nothing much,” Gojo shrugs at their similar looks of distrust at his answer, “The chibi is still tiny and scrawny. Gotta fatten him up before he is up for slaughter.”
“Stop messing around,” Megumi kicks Gojo under the table, getting a quick pinch from Tsumiki instantly at his act of violence. Seriously, his kick probably hurt him more than Gojo so Megumi does not deserve that pinch.
“Che, no fun you two,” Gojo slurps his soda loudly to express his disappointment at their lack of reaction, “Think of me as a secret agent scouting for recruits. Megumi got a recommendation letter so I decided to sponsor him and you, Tsumiki-chan. Your cute little brother specifically mentions you as a condition to be my little shadow.”
“Does it have to be Megumi?” Tsumiki asks while Megumi is wondering why Gojo is not giving the same answer as last time. Well, the idea is the same -training Megumi to be something- but he is not saying anything about curses or the other confusing stuff.
… Not like it matters since Tsumiki can’t see them.
“Yes, only Megumi can do it,” Megumi looks up at Gojo at that, sensing a certain hidden message from the way Gojo answers Tsumiki. Maybe the entire curse's existence is really a secret only those who can see can know.
“Will it be dangerous?”
“Technically? But there is absolutely nothing to worry about for the next half a decade since all the chibi will do is physical training under yours truly,” Gojo pauses just to let the waiter place their food on the table, casually swapping the pancake and hamburger steak placed wrongly by the waiter as the waiter assumes the pancakes to be Tsumiki’s order.
“Anyways, Megumegu will join me on missions as an intern starting middle school to build up exp and level up. Not everyday, but weekly? Not sure yet, but it’s good preparation for what comes after middle school,” Gojo's smirk is really obnoxious as he pauses for what must be a dramatic effect, “You will be going to Jujutsu Tech and study with me as your sensei.”
“You? You’re a teacher?” Megumi let his words come out as full of skepticism as he feels, not even flinching at Tsumiki’s soft pinch in reminder for him to behave.
“Not yet, but I will be! Starting next year actually,” Gojo proudly declares.
“Aren’t you a high schooler?”
“So?”
“You don’t have the teaching license to teach in high school with a mere high school diploma.”
“But I’m the strongest!”
Megumi gets the feeling that Gojo is going to use that as an answer for way too many things and expects it to be a good enough answer. His flattest unimpressed look when he shoots the teen across from them merely makes Gojo perk up and preen. How does he even convey that with his sunglasses covering his eyes, Megumi has no idea nor he thinks he wants to know.
“Gojo-san, do we have no other option?” Tsumiki’s tone nearly turns pleading and Megumi sends a warning glare to Gojo to behave and not tease his sister. Ever since Megumi told her of the reason why Kaori-san left them, Tsumiki starts to turn her protective big sis mode on so having this conversation right after may not be a good idea.
Too late. Oh well.
“It’s either me or the little sea urchin’s uncle. That uncle is not a big fan of civilians so you’ll both be separated at best, and you don’t want to know what’s the worst that can happen,” the sharper turn of Gojo’s smile really tells Megumi he will be better off not asking for details. Even he understands that ignorance is good for some adult things.
Knowing his sister, Megumi turns to Tsumiki to reassure her with a nod at her hesitance. The worry remains on Tsumiki’s brow, but she knows he has made up his mind. He is her stubborn younger brother that never changes his decision once he commits to it.
With that, both of them turn back to Gojo who is watching their exchange with interest.
“We’ll be in your care from now on then Gojo-san.”
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“First thing first, we need to move the two of you to a new place.”
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The new place Gojo assigned them is a large three bedroom apartment on the top floor in the nicest area of their neighborhood that Megumi knows of. It had been empty, safe for the basic furniture and microwave. Even their futons only appear after Gojo returns from who knows where when they were unpacking.
They didn’t even realize he was gone until he came back with two child size futons and one adult sized one for himself.
“Let’s go buy some wardrobe tomorrow. Do you cook? We can just buy take outs everyday but if you do cook, then we need more cooking stuff. There is only a microwave here despite the stove. More towels and better pillows but these will do for now. We definitely need a bigger TV too, and-,” it is then it dawned on Megumi that Gojo is talking as if he is going to live there.
“Are you going to live here too?” his mouth speaks before his brain can stop it and find other reasons for why Gojo includes himself in the we when he is talking about-
“Of course! I did say I’ll be responsible for taking care of the two of you!”
Majority of his brain already doubts Gojo, expecting him to disappear into thin air by tomorrow.
And he does, but he comes back by late afternoon before hauling them to the nearest shopping mall in the area, spending way too much money in rapid succession before Megumi can finish calculating in his head the total money wasted and too short to see the total covered by Gojo.
And he does it again the day after, gone with the fridge full-
But he comes back.
Again.
And again.
And again.
And-
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A month into their cohabitation, Megumi resigned himself to having Gojo as a semi-permanent fixture in his life.
(If he glares at his reflection in disappointment for accidentally being the first person to say ‘Welcome home’ to Gojo before realizing that he is accepting Gojo as part of his family now, no one but him has to know.)
(No glare of his is enough to snuff the now blazing hope of Gojo always coming home to them.)
(He is not calling Gojo Satoru-nii.)
(Not yet.)
(Ugh.)
(Curse him for having a whole new definition of normal just because of one guy.)