Archive of Our Own

Yuuji had to find out from Nobara.

"So Yuuji," She hits the table, in this excited, attention-grabbing sort of way. Yuuji gives her full attention,  "What are you doing for Megumi's birthday?"

Her mind goes blank. What? Megumi’s birthday?

The next thing her mind goes over is, How did I not know? How did this not come up before? Did I even ask? But what kind of friend doesn't think to ask something like that? She must be some kind of selfish asshole.

Nobara brought this up, casually as if Yuuji already knew, as if she was already planning what to do, or what to get her.

"Uh based on your reaction...I'm guessing you didn't know," Nobara observes, scratching her head as if to say, this is awkward.

"No!" Yuuji snaps, then hurriedly asks, "How did you even know anyway?"

How did you know and I didn't?!

No way Megumi told Nobara and not her. She absolutely refused to believe that.

"Maki told me." She says, and Yuuji finds that answer only a little relieving. At least she's thinking about how two weeks is a lot better than finding out two days before.

It's sort of lucky Megumi was absent today because if she had been here then Nobara likely wouldn't have brought this up today then Yuuji would have never known.

"I can't believe you didn't know," Nobara's tone still in disbelief, Yuuji feels worse with every second. This feels like taunting, "You guys are always together, so I assumed you knew already."

She doesn't even have the energy to be upset at Nobara for this since she's too busy hating herself for not knowing when Nobara did. Did she not even ask Megumi when her birthday was? Maybe she did? Did she forget? Wasn't that worse if she simply forgot?

When Yuuji doesn't respond, Nobara tries to help her frozen state.

"C'mon, it's not your fault, Megumi always keeps big details to herself. She probably won't even mention it til the day of, if at all. Maki only told me since she thought I didn't know."

Maki and Megumi are cousins, but the two are so different in terms of personality, and appearance. Not to mention they also have different last names. So it's a little hard to remember they're even related.

Yuuji is glad Nobara confirmed it was Maki who told her. If Megumi did the day of she didn't know if she would recover.

Yes, the trio were friends, but pretty much everyone knew Megumi and Yuuji were just a little bit closer. Nobara didn't feel dejected by it or insecure about their friendship. Besides she was too busy talking to Maki nearly every second she could to worry about it even a little.

"So, now that you know what are we doing?" Nobara asks her. As if Yuuji was an expert gift-giver, planner, or expert anything. Yuuji just shrugs her shoulders in response.

"C'mon Yuuji, what does she like? You've been over to her house, you should know more than me."

"She's got a vinyl collection." Yuuji blurts out feeling stupid. She said those were her Dad's though... Yuuji also wouldn't know what to buy her even if she did try to get her some physical music.

"Obviously I could have guessed that, have you seen her?" Nobara scoffs, and if Megumi were here she'd probably glare her way.  (Though Yuuji will say, the girl does have this 'alt' look about her.)

"She's got an extensive makeup collection so I doubt she needs more of it." That also felt stupid to say, so she moves on.

"She loves Demon," Yuuji mentions casually, referring to Megumi's incredibly cute husky, "We could get her dog something?"

Yuuji shrugs feeling Nobara ridicule her with her dark brown eyes. How are her ideas getting progressively worse? She already knew what Nobara was going to say before she spoke.

"It's Megumi's birthday not her dog's birthday," Nobara snaps, "Sometimes you say dumb stuff only a guy would. Are you sure you haven't taken one too many balls to the head?"

Nobara was on the soccer team, and went to their games so obviously she knew the answer to this question.

"Shut up," Yuuji can only childishly say back, but she's not hurt, "You really cut deep when Megumi isn't here huh."

She fake-pouts, wanting to text Megumi that Nobara's being "kind of a meanie" all childishly but if Megumi's sick she probably doesn't want to be bothered by stupid stuff like this so she refrains.

"No, you are just too easy today."

"Okay, you come up with something then," Yuuji puts her elbows on the table, resting her hands on the bridge she creates. Her eyes now purposefully judging Nobara seeing as the girl can't come up with a good idea either.

"I don't know! The girl is such a blank slate, I thought you'd for sure have an answer."

"She's not a blank slate." Yuuji finds herself more upset by this than anything else Nobara has said thus far.

Megumi's got personality, and multiple hobbies, and interests. The question is only what would she like? What would Megumi find to be a good gift? Would she even care? The girl didn't even want them to know her birthday. This was impossible.

"We could ask her older sister. Or her foster Dads?"

"Asking Tsumiki sounds like a good idea," Yuuji answers, knowing Megumi is really fond of her older sister. She's closer to their age than her fathers are so maybe she'd have better ideas. Also Yuuji didn't know all that much about Megumi's relationship with her foster parents, it seemed to be good from when she met them.

"You've met her sister before?" Nobara asks curiously, seeing as Yuuji used her name directly, it sounds like they've even met.

"No, but when I came over, Megumi liked talking about her, they seemed pretty close."

"I wish I had siblings," She sighs, "I'm an only child."

"I know," Yuuji says, "And it explains a lot."

Nobara doesn't let the comment slide, kicking her friend under the table. Yuuji dramatically yelps even though pretty much nothing hurts her.

Seriously though, they need to figure out something to do for Megumi's birthday. It's not every day you turn 16, and Yuuji was of the opinion that Megumi deserved to be celebrated.

✦

Since the beginning of December, Tsumiki being home more was a bit odd. There was more than one reason why her sister might be home this month, but Megumi didn't bother to ask why. She had a theory already.

But in case she was wrong, and in case she was right; Megumi would rather not know for sure. Besides, it was nice having her sister at home. Nanako and Mimiko have someone else to bother now. The twins were kind of incessant when they decided to target you. They could only play with eachother or the dog for so long until they decided a human was much better prey.

Tsumiki was patient, (way more than her anyway, Megumi would just lock herself in her room when they got particularly annoying) and didn't seem to mind when they chose to ask her to play or attempt to interrupt what she was doing. Or even stealing her phone and hiding it somewhere wasn't enough to make the girl even a little bit angry. She was a saint.

Though now the twins were inventing their own language so the house was cut a long break.

Since she was staying over, Gojo and Geto granted her access to their funds for cooking dinner and such. Which is probably why Megumi heard her say she was going to try 'a bunch' of recipes now. With basically no budget for food for the six of them, Tsumiki was ecstatic.

Sunday is the day her sister gets all of her prep work done for the week. She's basically their personal chef now. For the entire house. Megumi has gotten used to just putting a pillow over her head or her headphones on in the morning to avoid all of the noise her sister makes when she starts cooking or cleaning or whatever she's doing. (Megumi specifically remembers the usage of something called an immersion blender, which she didn't even know they owned.)

Right now Megumi is on the couch, half asleep on this fine Sunday morning but on her phone so still mostly awake.

Tsumiki comes over to ask her something gently nudging Megumi with her foot. Flour is on her hands, and her face, and her hair is in a bun. Demon comes over to sniff her fingers now that she's out of the kitchen.  Megumi tries to steer the husky away from her, by sitting up and snapping her fingers. Demon comes over easily, forgetting about the smell of food on her older sister's hands. Megumi was the favorite.

"So..." Tsumiki starts, a slight smile on her face, "I'm thinking of being a little more elaborate with your lunches."

"Okay." Megumi answers without thinking about it.

"You don't mind?"

"Not really, you can do whatever you want to."

"Megumi you're so passive about everything," She drawls, and Megumi just looks up at her no emotion really showing on her face she's just looking at Tsumiki.

Demon makes a space for himself at the foot of their couch. Laying directly in front of where Megumi was, looking up at her expectantly. Megumi obliges his wishes and gives him pets. He closes his eyes, obviously content with that course of action.

Tsumiki looks between her sister and the dog, Megumi might like dogs better than people but that was just a hypothesis, "You better tell me how you like it tomorrow."

For some reason, she expects a full review even when she knows Megumi only really gives simple nondescript answers.

"It was good." And Tsumiki probably wants an enthusiastic: "It was great!" Which for some reason Megumi will not give. Because everything is good because Tsumiki made it. Suguru explained it to her after she expressed this dissatisfaction with Megumi's responses.

'Megumi is not the most outwardly expressive person. She kind of just exists so when she's really happy or excited it's something big and you'll know. I'm sure she will tell you when she really enjoys something. For now, you're doing just fine. It doesn't mean everything you make is bad at all.'

Of course, this paraphrase was simply how Tsumiki had remembered it and not entirely how it was said in truth.

"You could also ask the others to try it too."

"The others" being literally anyone else in the house. But Megumi knows two were outside, and the other two were sleeping in bed because these children sleep as long as they possibly can on weekends. It helps that they can sleep through a nuclear fallout alarm to be able to sleep this late into the morning.

"You know Satoru is the pickiest human in existence."

"Not for sweets," Megumi mutters but Tsumiki knows this.

Her attempts at getting him to try anything that wasn't diabetes-inducing was not going well. His reactions were more lackluster than anything Megumi's given when the food was not crepes or cake. Suguru always deemed this behavior childish whenever he saw it, and sometimes Satoru would up the ante.

"Suguru's always busy considering his job and everything, also..."

"Sensitive stomach yeah," Megumi recalls, which is funny since when she met him he could pretty much eat anything. "So I'm your test rabbit."

"Since when are you not?" She laughs.

In actuality, Megumi doesn't really mind. If she had to make her own lunch she'd probably just end up making fruit or ham and cheese sandwiches every day. Not even because she only liked sandwiches, simply because it was easy as shit and hardly any dishes to clean afterward.

Tsumiki saw eating as an entire event. She didn't do it just to survive, eating as a family was a remarkable thing, and whatever she chose to eat was supposed to be an enjoyable experience. She made it that way.

Megumi held no such beliefs. She ate when she was hungry, did what was easy and that was that.

Come Monday afternoon, lunchtime, Megumi entirely not remembering having agreed to Tsumiki's proposal, she opened her lunch to find the promised more elaborate lunches.

And woah.

Megumi really should have questioned what exactly "elaborate" meant to Tsumiki because what was this? She would consider this under words like, professional, expensive, ornate, colorful, just to name a few. Megumi is sure people would pay for quality like this, and here she was, a teenager eating it for lunch at school.

"Woah!" Yuuji nearly shouts in awe seeing Megumi's new bento box, and the gorgeous spread. While Yuuji was looking at her lunch, Megumi was looking at her face. She was mesmerized by the expression.

"Do you..." She finds herself asking, "Do you want some?"

Yuuji is about to say no, she can tell. But Megumi is inching her box closer to her, and Yuuji doesn't have the resolve to say no outright. It looked so delicious, and Megumi was offering.

"Can I? You sure?"

"Of course," Megumi says, if Tsumiki is going to be making her bentos five days a week the least she can do is share it. It's enough for a person and a half really. Her sister must know she doesn't always eat breakfast.

Yuuji's eyes are like stars in the way they just light up.

Megumi passes Yuuji a fork while she eats with her chopsticks. Yuuji was tentative at first but once Megumi takes the first bite she proceeds to follow. Megumi eats slowly, allowing Yuuji to eat most of it, and maybe she doesn't say a thing about it at all when Yuuji is particularly happy (and as a result, a little bit clingy) on this fine Monday afternoon.

✦

One thing about Yuuji and Nobara, is that they are not subtle.

As the days drew closer, they were so obviously scheming. They clearly knew. Megumi automatically blames Maki since she's likely the only one in close proximity who was aware of her turning 16 soon.

So yes, Megumi is onto them, but she doesn't say a word. Just giving them looks forcing them to move their planning to later, and just generally pretending that she can't hear them a few students away.

She wonders why her friends are so preoccupied with it. It's not even just her friends, her entire family is tiptoeing over mentioning it like it's taboo right now. While simultaneously planning like it's the event of the century.

It's Wednesday when she finds Yuuji and Nobara just talking normally and openly in the hallway,

'Yeah but if we start singing happy birthday in the lunchroom would anyone even join in?'

Megumi heard Yuuji's voice first, the two weren't even watching to see if she was around.

'Megumi's a sophomore people know her, and like her besides, people will sing happy birthday even when it's not anyone's birthday at all. It's fun to join in.'

'I don't know, I don't think she'll like being put on the spot like that...'

At least Yuuji has somewhat of the right idea. It's not even that she would dislike something like that, she'd hate it. Find it absolutely mortifying. She might have to fake having a highly-contagious respiratory illness for the next to weeks to recover.

Megumi tries to make her presence known by finally stepping closer. But she has to be literally within Nobara's personal space for them to even bother turning around.

Damn these two were more stupid when they were together. Two halves of one brain cell. It's like when they operate they enhance the dumbassery in both of them tenfold.

"Why are you looking at us like that?" Yuuji asks her. Her face betrays their intent, she looks like a child with her hand caught in a cookie jar. Nobara looks between them.

"Like what?" Megumi humors, knowing she's looking at them like they're ridiculous. Because they are.

"Like you can't believe we exist."

"I can't," She responds plainly, letting them think she didn't know exactly what they were doing a second ago, "Come on or we'll be late to our next class."

Nobara gets her arm around Megumi now slipping into her usual playfulness,

"I don't even know why you're worried about being late Megumi. Ms.Utahime doesn't ever get angry with you."

"It's just 'cause I'm the best in her class." Megumi shrugs, tone flat and Nobara rolls her eyes. Even though it was a perfect imitation of how she acts.

Nobara lets her arm go, and sidesteps back to Yuuji, who doesn't let her seek refuge there.

"Come on, even you have to admit you've literally said something exactly like that before." Yuuji mutters to Nobara, to which the girl just elbows her. Nobara's a lot more willing to fake-hit Yuuji than Megumi, almost like siblings will. The thought makes Megumi look at them a little more fondly now.

They get to Ms.Utahime's music class late, and Megumi doesn't get in trouble, as per Nobara's prediction. (But neither do Yuuji and her, so was it really even favoritism at all?)

Though her friends were horrible at subtlety, and the art of keeping secrets. Her family was also terrible at this.

Tsumiki was also making a big deal, seeing as she's trying out cake recipes using Gojo as a guinea pig instead. When Megumi looks at the whole mess of cakes on small plates in the kitchen like it's a goddamn wedding cake-tasting event, Megumi just turns around feigning obliviousness. Tsumiki just sighs behind her.

She was smart enough to know that Tsumiki was only trying this hard because the first years of her life were hardly acknowledged at all.

Their biological Dad wasn't exactly the best, but as Megumi had grown older she understood just how hard it was to manage working all the time just to afford the basic necessities and also be there for your growing children. She stopped hating her father for forgetting years ago, maybe if he hadn't died all that grief would have somewhere to go, or maybe she'd actually like hanging around him. She'll never really know.

Tsumiki herself had already turned 16 by the time Gojo and Geto had informally adopted them for real. So she missed the chance for a nice 16th birthday, and she wanted to give all she didn't get to Megumi.

What the girl forgets in her best intentions is that they weren't the same person. What Megumi likes isn't exactly the same as what Tsumiki likes and vice versa.

But she knew she was going to humor it all. Both her friends and her family because she cares for them more than anything else at the end of the day. Her birthday was just one day, she could give it up.

Let Tsumiki make her three-tiered Chocolate Vanilla Marble Cake, or whatever and let Nobara start a Happy Birthday Megumi singing chain in the lunchroom. Though obnoxious, she will survive. 

✦

Yuuji always had Megumi on her mind, but lately, after finding out her birthday was coming up, it became a little more undeniable. She kept trying to think of things to do for Megumi, something to buy her, or something to make for her, and nothing seemed to click. But at the same time, she just refused to give up.

It's that sort of feeling where you just have to find the answer, and it's right in your grasp, and she knew she could do something great if only her brain would let her have the answer.

She stopped listening to Nobara a while ago. Yuuji just felt off about all of it. She also didn't feel like explaining why because Nobara's kind of stubborn and the energy it would take to convince her to change her mind would be better spent just doing something else for Megumi on her own instead.

Yuuji thinks about what she knew about her best friend. Her preferences, her demeanor, and the time they've spent together. The day Megumi let Yuuji see her room, was the day she understood something significant.
Megumi's room was her safe space, it was written all over. The whole house was full of love and care, and Yuuji fully knew Megumi was truly special. She knew there was no one else she could even think about when this girl was right there in front of her.

She had a good heart, and Yuuji wanted to know more and cherish it. She deserved something that dedicated a lot of time and thought to it. But Yuuji didn't have time, or thoughts.

She had no ideas, and she had a week and a half to change that. One quick look at her savings in a mason jar told her she might have to DIY something instead of Nobara's 12th idea of 'pooling their money together.'

Asking Choso for money was not an option in her opinion. She very shortly thought about calling her father, but talking to him without Choso knowing about it seemed underhanded even if it wasn't. Choso was very clear on his feelings about their father, but she doubted Choso would outright tell her not to contact him. (He might advise against it though)

So back to her notes. Which are blank. The yellow paper was still blank lines...

She rolls on her bed with a frustrated sigh, notepad next to her. She wasn't going to be writing anything anytime soon. Her hair fell off the bed as her head was over the edge, she felt the blood rush with gravity making her head feel heavy.

With her phone in hand, she searches the depths of her depravity. I.e, looking through her photos, but the specifically labeled, Megumi (with a blue heart and sparkles emoji after it) album. (If Nobara ever saw this, Yuuji would never hear the end of it.)

Megumi isn't aware of the album, but it's not like Yuuji took any of these photos without consent. It was just...organizing. It wasn't weird. Most of the photos were selfies they took together after games. (She could tell at a quick glance, since the navy jerseys had their respective numbers on it, 14 and 7.) When she first started taking these photos, Yuuji would ask and receive a half-shrug and nod in response until the ritual became a tradition. Other photos of them playing were taken by either Nobara or Maki when they were on the bench. Or Choso. One of them even ended up in the school's newspaper this year which was cool.

It's actually one of Yuuji's favorite photos ever.

Megumi in the middle of the frame, the background sort of faded out, but the focal point was her.  Her cleats right on the tip of the ball, and her face was fierce with a look of such concentration and focus.Yuuji would trust her with anything. If Megumi said anything it would be done. Her hair is slightly in her face and her legs have dirt all over them, but Yuuji will always think that she's the most gorgeous girl she's ever seen.

It was a perfect shot, the timing couldn't have been replicated in such a way again.  It was just right.

Holy fuck. I want to kiss her.

She has to think of something good for her birthday. Not only because she thinks Megumi deserves it, but because she wants Megumi to like her so bad.

She wants that so badly.

✦

When Tsumiki opened the door she was not expecting a teenager with long bright pink hair.

"Um, who...?" She starts to ask 'who are you?' awkwardly, but seeing the girl literally panting hands on her legs hunched over, she decides to wait until she gathers herself. It doesn't take long.

With an abrupt movement up, she pushes her body upright, clapping her hands together with what seems to be great enthusiasm. Tsumiki looked in the distance, was she running from something, she pondered. But when she sees Megumi, a bit behind, jogging to catch up. Okay so no danger, they're just running. But why?

She turns her attention back to the girl in front of her for the moment, and gradually this girl starts to look more familiar. Megumi mentioned her friends before. There's Nobara, and there's also,

"Are you..Yuuji?"

Tsumiki is pretty sure she was right. As she remembers it, Yuuji was the one with long pink hair, 'the most promising one on the team' she remembers Megumi casually saying. They've never officially met, but she remembers enough of what Megumi tells her to identify her. Her other friend, Nobara has short copper-brown hair, but lately Gojo more often refers to Yuuji, so Tsumiki safely assumes Yuuji is her best friend.

"Yep!" Yuuji answers with a small wave. The girl was so clearly extroverted, it might as well be written across her shirt. (Immediately Tsumiki realized the "opposites attract" thing might have some merit.)

"I beat Megumi at our race here, again and I...thought she'd at least be close by..."

She's looking around to find her, even though Megumi is closer than before, and even almost here. It's clearly an exaggeration.

"Huh I guess she's so far behind, I don't even see her," She jests, giving Tsumiki a genuinely kind smile, "Can I come in, she'll be more irritated if I sit and wait for her."

It doesn't seem like she'll get the chance since Megumi comes up to the house very quickly. 

"Yuuji, you act more and more like Nobara every day."

When Megumi speaks, it's obvious she's not as exhausted as Yuuji was when she arrived at the house. So Yuuji sprinted and Megumi probably ran more like a normal person it seemed.

"So do you! She's an essential influence on our trio."

Tsumiki can practically read Megumi's mind with the expression she made upon hearing that sentence.

A good one? Not necessarily.

Maybe Megumi is better at concealing exhaustion because when she comes to a full stop she downs an entire bottle of water, without taking a single breath in. When she comes back to the real world, her face is gleaning with sweat, and she uses her plain shirt to wipe her face as if it were habit. 

Tsumiki was not an athlete when she was in school and this was definitely 'athlete behavior.' But what wasn't athlete behavior was the fact Megumi's friend Yuuji was staring the whole time, as if she physically could not look away from her sister.

So it's like that? Hm.

"Are you both coming inside?" She urges, stepping aside and holding the door so they can step in already.

Neither of them looked cold in the slightest but she was getting cold only standing out there for a single minute. They both had sweaters but Yuuji's pastel yellow hoodie was tied around her waist, and Megumi's navy sweater was on, but it couldn't have been that warm.

"It's nice in the house, the oven is on. I don't even know why you're running it's really cold out."

"It's not that cold," Megumi comments, of course she'd think so. She thinks fall is never cold, and doesn't wear a real puffy jacket til it snows. She just likes to layer sweaters because she's weird like that.

"It's only cold if you're used to heat and not moving as much which is why I suggested running here." Yuuji explains. "I actually prefer running when it's like this rather than in the summer cause it's almost refreshing now."

"You're on the soccer team too, right?"

Tsumiki asks just to clarify, she's pretty sure Yuuji's also on the team. She's only been to one game, and from hearing what Megumi's said about Yuuji while she's been here since the beginning of the month the two talk outside of games all the time. They're friends even outside of the sport.

"Yeah, but Megumi is the star," She emphasizes, Megumi shakes her head, mouthing to Tsumiki, 'I'm not.'

"So what are you making?" Yuuji asks, and follows Megumi and Tsumiki to the kitchen. They have this L-shaped counter and seats usually utilized for breakfast, and Tsumiki prepping bento boxes.

"I had a craving and decided to make cookies, but I didn't want to make just one type, so I made shortbread, oatmeal raisin, and chocolate chip."

"Overachiever," Megumi comments right as Yuuji speaks.

"The best...Can I try one of these?"

She points to the shortbread still on the baking tray. It's no longer hot, but they're still slightly warm.

"Yeah! Of course."

Megumi takes one afterward as if waiting for Yuuji to pick one. She always knew she could eat whatever was in the house whenever she wanted. Plus, by now Tsumiki's goods were so abundant that Megumi is more looking forward to Yuuji's reaction rather than trying the cookies herself.

"So buttery...mmmm that's really good." Megumi just watches Yuuji plainly exhibit her enthusiasm. Red tints her face, and she must be so happy Gojo isn't here to see the two of them. (Though she'd probably excuse her reaction by saying they just ran from school to their house.)

Tsumiki smiles watching the both of them, something about being young and just spending time with your best friend was just so wholesome it made her heart melt.

"If you think those are good, these chocolate chip ones are even better."

"Megumi, I'm officially moving in. Your sisters amazing."

"You might change your mind in a second," Tsumiki mutters but she doesn't really mean it.

"Cookies!!!"

Shouting from upstairs rings like an ominous warning. Footsteps rage against the stairs and come down to a screeching halt when they see a pink-haired stranger in their house.

"Megumi's friend is here," Mimiko says, to Nanako in a sort of whisper where it was closer to speaking. Now the two stare. Like Yuuji's some sort of alien. Megumi rolls her eyes, and Yuuji stares back, squinting as if she can't see them. They're small, not microscopic.

"Nanako, Mimiko, you can say hello you know," Tsumiki advises, like the older sister she was.

"Hi."

They both say at the same time, very plainly. The two were so weird. But honestly getting them to say hello was still a feat since normally they don't acknowledge strangers at all. When they came to their house they hung around Geto as though he was their lifeline, slowly opening up to Gojo, then Megumi and Tsumiki last. (Her baked goods helped a ton.)

"Girls, I have enough for like 12 people." She baits them, and they come closer, sitting at the counter on Megumi's side.

"Your family is so big."

Yuuji comments, Megumi has been watching her nearly this whole time, she's on her third cookie by now. Megumi wasn't the biggest proponent of sweets but she'll indulge. She was also sure her sister might be sad for dinner if she doesn't take at least one bite of every type.

"What about you Yuuji, do you have any siblings?"

Tsumiki talks to her as she puts more into the oven, setting their kitchen timer. The youngest are in their own little world just ignoring everything else, and Megumi is remaining her mostly quiet self. Though she's still paying attention to everything.

"Yeah, I have a half-brother," She answers, (Though she's sure she'd got other half-siblings as well somewhere knowing her Dad.) "He's older than me though."

"Megumi and I are half-siblings as well," Tsumiki says, not knowing Megumi's told her this already. "She's six years younger than me."

In her head, Megumi does some more thinking. She used to think that many years was huge, especially when she was younger, Tsumiki was in middle school and then in high school. For some reason, the gap always felt so big, and then she came to high school went to the places Tsumiki has stood in, and saw how she's grown and she realized maybe she's not as far from her as she thought so long ago.

Nanako and Mimiko kind of interrupt when they decide to run upstairs abruptly. It was sudden and mischievous so Megumi knew they definitely took some cookies upstairs to their room with them because all of the chocolate chip cookies Tsumiki had plated for them are gone. Little gremlins.

"I'm going to use the bathroom," Megumi tells Yuuji so that the girl doesn't feel too weird about being left alone with her older sister. But thinking about it when she walks away, it doesn't seem like something Yuuji would find awkward.

"Hey Tsumiki," Yuuji asks, after Megumi has gone upstairs by this point, "Megumi's birthday is next week, and I have no idea what to get her. I've been thinking about it for days. I was actually hoping I could speak to you and maybe you could point me in the right direction?"

Gosh, she's so adorable. These two were too cute. Watching them interact, and their long gazes, and simple touches. There's no way they're official otherwise she wouldn't hear the end of it from you-know-who.

Would it be bad to meddle like he would, or would it help? She's never been in this position before, and honestly, it was a little fun she will admit. Telling Yuuji what to do here might just help them out.

Just a little teasing maybe. Nothing major.

"Hmm, first, I want you to tell me how long you've liked my sister for."

Yuuji looks back up the stairs. As if Megumi would somehow appear and hear what was said.

Her shocked brown eyes, and flushed face were all as good as confirmation.

"What? How did you even—"

"Please, it's obvious. You two are not hiding anything." Tsumiki had long term boyfriends who were less open about their feelings than these two were.

"Fine," Yuuji relents, still stealing gazes back at the staircase. "I've sort of had a crush since we met, but then we became friends and I like her even more and..I don't want to mess anything up. I want her to like me back."

Trust me, she does. But she can't say that outright. One, they need to talk to eachother. Two, what if Tsumiki is somehow misreading Megumi? She didn't want to be the one to say she definitely likes you, and it isn't true. Megumi's always been a little weird pretty much forever. It's entirely possible she's not correct.

"I'm her sister, but knowing what Megumi likes is a challenge even for me. I think you should spend some time alone with her. On Saturday?"

Megumi's birthday is on Saturday and this way, they can get her out of the house, and make the house look all good when they come back. Kills two birds with a stone or something.

The previous idea was to get up early and set the house up before Megumi got up and surprise her, but this idea was much better because surprising her in the morning was too early before they cut the cake. Also the cake wasn't even agreed on yet because Gojo's got her trying endless amount of combinations. Her deadline for his foolishness is in two days, and then she'll actually think about what Megumi's birthday cake will look like on the outside.

"I can't do that," Yuuji says, even though Megumi and her spend time alone together quite often. The way Tsumiki was making it sound, spend some time alone with her, on Megumi's birthday no less...it felt like a ton of pressure, even though Tsumiki was so nonchalant about it's

"It's not like she even knows how I feel about her..."

Also can she really hog Megumi the day of her birthday? The girl has a big family that all probably want to spend time with her. Asking would be selfish and might put Megumi in a weird position right?

"It's not like it's a date," Tsumiki says, unaware of Yuuji's inner turmoil, "Say you want to hang out with her if she's not busy–and she won't be–and "invite" another friend, then make up an excuse for that friend not to show up so it's just you two."

"You sound like you've done this before."

"...Look, Yuuji I know you're deathly afraid of rejection," Everyone is at her age, "but if you don't try at all, you'll never get anywhere."

Maybe it's because Tsumiki was older, and everything out of her mouth sounds like she knows what she's talking about, Yuuji actually starts to think maybe this isn't a bad idea.

"Okay, I'll ask her." She finalizes, then asks, "You sure she just won't just say no?"

"I'm sure, Megumi doesn't want a big event, I'm sure spending time with you is something she actually wants to do."

"Are you planning a party at all?" Yuuji asks understanding now she may only be a pawn.

"Less of a party more of a dinner." She answers with this certain intonation in her voice.

Megumi comes down the stairs a second later, she even washed her face and fixed her hair, when Tsumiki notices this, all she can think is, What has Yuuji done to my sister?

✦

Yuuji's too much of a chicken to ask at school. So after school, when she's already home, after showering ruminating in her thoughts Yuuji decided to make a phone call. Hesitating over the call button and wondering if she should be doing this. Even though it wasn't...it felt like asking her out because Yuuji was so aware of her feelings now.

Spend time alone...

Realistically Yuuji couldn't take her out on a real date with no funds and no car to work with. Yuuji couldn't drive, and Choso's car was in need of repair. Her brother's been putting it off til the weekend to work on it, and has been using a motorcycle to get to work instead.

Megumi answered the phone immediately.

"Hey Yuuji," Megumi's voice is so casual, she's got no idea how nerve-wracking this is for her.  Tsumiki made this seem like a good idea but now she's wanting to back out.

"Do you maybe want to...hangoutwithmeonSaturday?"

It spills out of her like a guilty child'a confession. She wants to put her head in her pillow.

"What? Yuuji slow down." 

Her body seems to shiver, god, she's so glad Megumi cannot see her face right now.

"Uhm, I was calling to ask if you're free...on Saturday? It's okay if you're not I—" She's crticizing herself for sounding like the most people pleasing uwu doormat there is, but something came over her it seems. It was relieving Megumi interrupted to say yes.

"Yes. I'm free."

The overthinking part of herself needed clarification. She wasn't expecting Megumi to tell her yes she was free. It was her birthday! Would Megumi really want to spend time with Yuuji then?

"Do you...want to hang out with me then?"

"I mean, that was sort of implied?"

"Uh good, good. At my house?"

"I'll need your address."

Easy, she'll just text it.

"Okay, sounds...good."

Can she say anything other than good?

"It does." Megumi doesn't sound enthusiastic about these plans, but not upset. So a win? "Is it...just you and me?"

Yuuji wonders if she should go with Tsumiki's plan and say Nobara's coming. For some reason, her gut goes against it.

"Yeah—but I could always ask Nobara to join."

"No, I–think she's uh busy this Saturday anyway," Megumi says quickly, and Yuuji wonders if she's forgotten something Nobara had said. Sometimes the girl rants and it was easy to miss things. Megumi did always have the better memory.

✦

Tsumiki said Megumi just should be home by 3pm, 4pm the latest, since they wanted her back home for dinner and birthday cake. Yuuji knew Megumi hated getting up before 8, and ideally liked waking up at 10 so she wasn't going to take that away from her. She suggested they meet up at her house at 11, and had been cleaning up everyday since offering.

Maybe Nobara wasn't the only one who was rubbing off on her, because only Megumi cared this much about scheduling and having everything go her way.

Choso kept asking her if she was feeling okay, because Yuuji's never kept the house this tidy in her life. Her older brother thought something was bothering her or she was anxious, and truthfully maybe she was. Megumi's never seen her house before, never met her brother, and Megumi's home is so nice and–

"Yuuji," Nobara calls her, and Yuuji slips out of her trance. Tomorrow was the day.

"Yeah?" She looks finding Nobara's eyes a second later.

"You're strangely out of it today, are you good?"

"Of course!" She answers a bit too quickly, Megumi looks at her. She can't say she's been so caught up in planning and only focused on making this a good day for Megumi that the days are blurring into each other until it'll eventually be Saturday.

Which, if things go well, and Megumi is actually into her like Yuuji's only been hoping this whole time, maybe she'll actually get that kiss she's dying for.

Maybe.

"Hm." Nobara says, and she doesn't say anything but maybe she can guess. Megumi turns and asks if Yuuji wants a piece of her sushi.

"Yes," Megumi was already holding a piece in her chopsticks, in her direction. Yuuji nods, and without thinking (because she doesn't have any utensils on her) she directly eats it off Megumi's chopsticks herself. Her fucking hands would have been better.

Why did I do that?

Nobara watches the exchange, and Megumi's expression hasn't changed at all, like that was what she was supposed to do.

"Sorry–Megumi! I'll get you–"

"Sit down," Megumi says, almost forcefully pulling Yuuji's hand to stop her from getting up and making a big deal, "Don't worry about it, not like you're sick are you?"

"I didn't even ask you if that was alright..." She mutters, still feeling embarrassed, but also relived Megumi isn't completely disgusted with her.

Nobara looks between the two of them. Grabs one of the pieces of sushi in Megumi's bento without asking (with her hands) and just says when she's finished chewing:

"You two...are absolutely sickening."

Neither of them acted as though they knew what she meant by that.

✦

When Yuuji had asked to hang out, Megumi couldn't think of a better thing to do with her time. She was elated, and she hoped Yuuji wouldn't say Nobara was coming as well. Not that she didn't like spending time with both of them, but she really really wanted to spend her birthday with just Yuuji. At least the first half of it anyway. Knowing that when she came home her family was planning something extra of course.

Yuuji pretended not to know when Megumi's birthday is, which she didn't mention because they were still being 'secretive.' She hoped this hang out wasn't an excuse to have a surprise party early or something. She really just wanted some quality time with her. Though when Yuuji mentioned meeting up at her house, thats what made Megumi think this wasn't that. She's never offered that before, and she's kind of excited actually. Maybe she'll meet Choso. Yuuji speaks very highly of her older brother.

Time with Yuuji, at her house, even if they just stay there that'd be fine. She's certain her family was going to decorate the house with whatever color palette Tsumiki decided best. They'd have flowers, and an overly done cake, and Megumi...didn't hate it.

She loved it, actually, it was everything she never got when she was younger, but...it still wasn't her somehow, and the exhaustion of the whole spectacle really wore her out. She didn't like having to greet so many people or introduce herself to others. Hopefully they got the underlying message from the year before and toned it down, but if not that's okay. At least she had Yuuji that day too.

When the time came to go to Yuuji's house, Geto offered to drop her off. Asking Gojo was the last option because the guy always makes the biggest deal about everything.

You're hanging out with a friend Megumi!!!

He's the embarrassing parent that's for sure, Geto was much more down to earth. She supposed that's why they worked together so well. They were similar in the ways that mattered and opposite in the ways that didn't.

"Just call or text me if you need me to pick you up." Geto says, Nanako and Mimiko are in the back playing some game and not waving goodbye. "Though these two are coming to the store with me so if
not at home Satoru will come by."

Noted. Track Geto's phone make sure he's at home...

"Thank you. Bye you two."

No response. Damn kids.

"Nanako, Mimiko, aren't you going to say bye to Megumi?"

"Bye Megumi," in unison, not looking up. They always listen to him and no one else.

Geto only sighs, "At least Shoko didn't gift them an iPad for Christmas, then you'd never see them."

Tsumiki and Geto would never let them turn into iPad kids. Gojo probably wouldn't either, but he does have a tendency to always say yes to whatever his kids want. Geto says it is due to his childhood. He was restricted with everything until he was 'an adult' so he wanted his kids to be happy and never want for anything.

"Have a good time Megumi and Happy Birthday."

There's this look in her foster fathers eyes that she can't really explain but it makes her feel slightly nostalgic or sad for seemingly no reason.

"Megumi! You're here!" Yuuji excitedly exclaims upon opening the door. She's so bright, and it almost sounds like she's surprised like she didn't think Megumi would be here at her house. Even though that was the agreed upon plan.

"Happy Birthdayyyy!!"

She's all energetic and exaggerated, pulling Megumi into a fierce hug before the girl can even react. If Yuuji were a little more observant she would have seen the way Megumi reacted—completely embarrassed and willing to this physical contact— which is unlike usual with anyone else.

"Choso is doing something to the car in the garage, I'll tell him you're here."

"Uh, okay," Megumi was going to meet Choso...great. She really wants to make a good impression because Yuuji looks up to Choso so much. He's her brother but also sort of a guardian to her too.

Megumi didn't know too much about Choso except Yuuji said he had managed to pull a girl who was a 10/10 "way too cool for him." A tall blonde with "gorgeous gorgeous hair and she rides a motorcycle"

(Megumi definitely didn't think about asking Geto to teach her how to ride one too)

She also knew Choso and Yuuji looked literally nothing alike, considering Yuuji's pink hair, and bright demeanor. Choso looked like an insomniac, with space buns.

"Megumi, you're not a vampire you don't need permission to step in," Yuuji laughs seeing as Megumi was still outside, stunned.

"Right..." why was she so nervous?

It's just Yuuji's house, it's just Yuuji's brother, and it's just...her birthday. They're spending time, alone. Yuuji looked so cute. She clearly listened to her makeup lessons and used some of the stuff she gave her.

It made her proud and simultaneously flustered that Yuuji put that much effort and listened to her.

Stepping into Yuuji's house was not like she expected. It was a one-level home, and it lacked some of the brightness Yuuji herself had.

With mostly neutrals and greyish blues, it wasn't too personal. Not that she'd say any of this, it was just an observation. It reminded her of one of those "flipped" homes where they try to keep everything as neutral and minimal as possible before they can sell it.

Yuuji comes back a minute later, pulling Choso by the arm. Choso looks unimpressed by his younger sisters' antics.

"You can pull away for one second. It's rude." Yuuji scolds almost.

Megumi heard Yuuji before she saw the two of them.

"...I told you yesterday! That's enough notice."

Fair, Megumi notes, but she's biased she's likely always going to be on Yuuji's side.

Choso and Yuuji come into view. Yuuji is a head shorter than Choso, and he's got black paint or oil on his fingers and pants. An obvious mechanic. Or at the minimum someone who was working on a car right now.

"You could have at least let me clean up a little," Choso mentions to Yuuji.

"Megumi doesn't mind, she lives with three sisters, and it's not that bad I cleaned the kitchen today."

Megumi is pretty sure her brother was talking about himself, but Choso shakes his head. Choosing not to explain it.

"Hi Yuuji's friend." Choso says slightly irritated and unwelcoming, "I'm Yuuji's older brother."

Yuuji elbows Choso. She also mouths something like, 'You know her name!' Her brother blatantly ignored it. Megumi is starting to think having a brother and a sister are more similar than she thought. Though if Tsumiki and Choso were the same age they're nothing alike.

"Hi," Megumi answers, feeling slightly awkward, then adding, "I'm Megumi Fushiguro."

Megumi glances at Yuuji looking for some support. Yuuji only looks between the two of them, hopeless.

"Nice to meet you Megumi," He says, but now he seems to have remembered something and is more intrigued, it's less like scraping glass.

"You're the friend Yuuji can't stop talking about I'm sure," Choso says, pointing then looking back to Yuuji, and now Megumi feels put on the spot.

Was that true?

Yuuji looks as though she might burst into flames, she pushes Choso in a fake lighthearted nature. Megumi knew enough about Yuuji to know how much force her "fake" punches can have.

Choso rubs his arm, his voice still monotone, "Nevermind you're probably the wrong one."

Okay maybe that response was worse based on Yuuji's visible anger now. Megumi decides to break it up.

"Yuuji's got a lot of friends," The pause felt unbearably long even if it was only half a second. "She's very popular."

"Hm," He replies and Megumi doesn't know how to feel about that. "I hear it's your birthday?"

"Yes."

"Strange to spend it here."

"We wanted to spend some time together before she went home to spend time with her family."

Yuuji explains, but that doesn't make it seem any less like Megumi isn't just one of Yuuji's friends.

"Ah," He answers like an afterthought. Choso looks at the two of them for an uncomfortable long amount of time. Or otherwise, three long seconds, and then decided to leave.

"I'm going to go, there's food in the fridge. Or you can raid the pantry, whatever you want just clean up afterwards."

"'Kay Choso," Yuuji seems visibly relieved it's them alone now.

"He's..interesting," Megumi says, lightly, Yuuji starts laughing.

"I swear he was not like this with Nobara."

"Nobara's come over?"

Totally not jealous, totally not jealous.

"Yeah, it was only sometime last week, remember that assignment we did together?"

"Oh," Megumi's jealousy not entirely squandered but managed.

"You hungry?" Yuuji asks, oblivious. Megumi nods no then clarifies because Yuuji wasn't actually looking at her to see her nod.

"Not really, Tsumiki made me a giant breakfast," Megumi says feeling full just thinking about the giant spread her older sister made her an hour ago. A traditional breakfast, the one Tsumiki's mother would make them on Sundays before she died. Just the look of it when Megumi got out of bed this morning was enough to hit her straight to the heart.

Her older sister never said it, but it was likely her mother who made her want to cook. Though she always preferred baking, Tsumiki would always cook for the people she cared for and Megumi was always appreciative of it.

"Good," Yuuji answers, "Because I'm not making you a real meal anyway!"

Huh?

Megumi looks curiously as Yuuji begins to take things out of their cabinets and fridge.

Sugar, water, skewers?!

"What are you doing?"

Yuuji doesn't answer, she's looking in the fridge then the counter then the fridge again. She's looking for something...

"Here! I'm so dumb, I put the grapes in the freezer by accident."

Grapes?

Megumi just didn't even ask Yuuji would tell her soon. Likely.

"Okay so—" Yuuji takes that tone of voice she always does when she's about to go on some really long rant, Megumi braces herself.

"I came across so many different accounts who decided to make this, so I decided to make it, and I think, of course, how hard could it be? I watched three people make it with no problems, and it's basically like four ingredients anyway it can't be that hard."

Dramatic pause. For effect of course.

"...I was stupid, it was that hard," Yuuji's gestures and her voice rises and Megumi finds this to be the silliest thing especially since Yuuji's talking so fast."

"I let the sugar stay too long and it started to turn brown and I'm like oh shit I guess it's ready now? I take it off the heat and now I turn—" She shifts her body making movements to demonstrate—" my skewers in the burning hot molten sugar and fuck my skewer snaps into the sugar and my dumb ass decided to fish it out with my hands—"

Oh my god— Megumi has to hold her laughter it wasn't funny thinking about Yuuji being injured but the way she speaks about it doesn't seem like she got too hurt by this.

"I pulled my hand back once I realized 'Wait lemme not burn myself!' But now it doesn't even matter anymore because not only is the fruit coated it's literally hardening because the sugar is cooling so fast, and now I'm panicking even more because how am I going to clean all of this!?"

She takes a breath, looking at Megumi like just telling the story was incredibly exhausting.

"Anyway I'm making it again."

"...Are you sure?" Megumi asks, after hearing all that maybe she thinks that's not the best idea. She's also deciphered that Yuuji was making tanghulu, the Chinese snack that's been going viral for like a few months. She is well aware how easy it is to make because Nanako and Mimiko had asked Geto for some and he easily figured out how to do it himself within 15 minutes.

Megumi decided not to mention how easy it was to make, because that wouldn't be very productive now would it.

"Yes! Very, I wanted to make it again for you." Yuuji says, and seeing Megumi's face, "Don't look at me like that! I did a trial run two days ago, I'm actually an expert now, that fiasco was just my bad."

'My bad' she says.

"I taught her how to do it!"

Choso's yell from wherever he was in the house shocks both of them, but makes Megumi laugh, and Yuuji yell.

"Don't give yourself so much credit!"

Yuuji directs Megumi to put the grapes on skewers while Yuuji starts to heat the sugar in a two inch deep saucepan.

"See this is way easier to use than that tiny ass pot I used when I tried to do it in the first time."

Megumi looks at said tiny ass pot, and she could see how you wouldn't know when the sugar was ready if you just eyeballed it, the sides and bottom of the pot were...very discolored.

(Tsumiki would cry if those were her pots and pans. Her Fig colored Le Creuset looks like it's never been used.)

Megumi hears the repeated startup of Yuuji's gas stove. The smell of gas becoming a little prominent. She's never had this problem since they have an electric stove. It's easier to clean.

"Uhh hold on a second," Yuuji says, rushing over to find something.

Megumi continues putting the green grapes on skewers until there's seven with five on each.

"Found it!"

A long red lighter.

"Sometimes the stove just hates me," She says as she lights it up, and clicks it on. "Okay we are set!"

"So basically, you put the sugar in, then the water and do not stir it."

"Got it." She knew how to do it already, she was just going to let Yuuji explain like she had no idea what was going on.

"It's gonna take like 15 minutes, I think, I don't know I just test it every so often til the sugar is hard."

Yuuji shrugs. She stands next to the stove still while the sugar is starting to bubble.

Megumi starts to eat the grapes left in the container. She is going to assume they're washed.

"Green grapes or purple?" She asks Yuuji.

"Purple, but green is better for this, less sweet."

"Purple grapes are alright."

"Woah woah woah, what'd you even ask me for then!"

"Just kidding." No. Maybe.

Megumi's smiling so hard her face starts to hurt a little. As if reading her mind, Yuuji has to comment.

"I don't think I've seen you smile so much Megumi. We've only gotten started."

Yuuji says it playfully but it's different from her normal tone in a way. It makes Megumi's smile falter just because it's brought to her attention.

"I didn't say that to make you stop, I like you're smile. It's cute."

It's cute.

Her voice just rings in her mind, Megumi's heart sings.

"You think I'm cute?"

Why did she say that, why did she say that? Why did she say that!

"Yes. Of course I do," Yuuji answers like it's the most factual thing in the world. Like she's saying the sky is blue. "I'd have to be blind not to think so."

Yuuji leans toward Megumi, only to take a grape from the counter. Or maybe that was only her outward excuse.

"You're so," Megumi trails off, not even knowing what to say. She knows she's...not ugly, but to call herself pretty or cute felt somewhat self-centered in a way. She only made her appearance in ways that made herself feel comfortable. Sometimes that meant putting on makeup, sometimes that meant some less effort. But Yuuji always looked pretty to her.

On the field, in class, with makeup, without, with her hair up, or with it down.

Megumi just could look at her forever. Her tanned skin and features, her pink hair and her smile, her eyes and the way her cheeks seemed to always have that subtle natural flush. She always was so radiant like she flowed from within, and her personality only increased that radiance.

Yuuji I'm so glad to be spending time with you today.

Birthdays were always spent with family, but Megumi was glad to make time for her best friend. (For her huge embarrassing crush)

They kept talking, starting to talk about the weather lately, how it's so cold. Yuuji said she was working out indoors so she doesn't ruin her reputation when she came back to the field. Megumi realized she should be doing that since she hadn't run in weeks.

"We can work out together sometimes. Though it's harder to me than just being outside, and I hate lifting weights. But I want stronger arms so..."

Yuuji with toned arms was one thing but even stronger? Jesus she's strong as is! Megumi thought it must be some human mutation how strong Yuuji was at the size that she was.

"I didn't know you were so serious about exercise," Megumi comments, not meaning anything else than what she says.

"I guess I only thought about it recently, I only stayed in shape because I played sports for fun, but I guess I think about what if I'm not on a team anymore I still want to be able to stay in shape, and be healthy."

"You're right, we only have less than two years left, I guess you could join a college team though," Megumi says, and something in Yuuji's expression changes.

"Yeah, that would be cool." It's not with the Yuuji-level enthusiasm she expected. But Megumi doesn't push it anymore.

"The sugar's done," She can sort of smell it, Yuuji takes a toothpick and swirls it, blowing on it and waiting a few seconds for it to harden.

"Almost," Yuuji corrects.

Don't you need a bowl of iced water?

Megumi wants to see if Yuuji remembers.

As if on cue:

"Oh! I forgot something important!"

"Quick! Megumi watch the stove I'll be righttt back!"

Yuuji was indeed right back, with a bowl of ice, running it under the sink until the bowl was full.

"Ok now we are good," Megumi tests the sugar herself this time, and it's perfect. Too perfect, they have to work quickly.

There's only five grapes on each skewer because the skewers weren't that big and Megumi didn't want to crowd them, or make it hard to dip. Or even worse have too much weight and it snap.

"Easy!" Yuuji says once they've coated three. The first three are in the ice bath and Megumi takes those out when the next one is done.

"Should I give one to Choso?"

"You can offer, but he might say no. He said the sugar was too thick last time I made them."

Megumi looks at the finished one, taking two, and offering one to Choso. First she took a bite of her own tanghulu, and saw that it was even better than Geto's, and it was crunchy and the grapes were cold, it was delicious.

Seeing Megumi's outward delight, Choso does accept the tanghulu with a strange look and a thank you.

"Huh he did say yes? Favoritism." Yuuji mutters jokingly, finishing the very last one.

"Ah delicious! They look so crisp."

Yuuji taps two of them together, it makes a satisfying sound.

"Oh my god you hear that? Megumi listennn."

Megumi doesn't speak. This is way too amusing.

"Should film ASMR of you biting into it, get 1 million views first try."

Yuuji holds up her phone like she's recording and Megumi automatically pushes it away.

"This is a moment between you and me, not for the strangers into weird sounds."

"Tanghulu ASMR is killer though," Yuuji says, but putting her phone out of reach completely. She notices something when she looks back up, "Hey! You ate yours already."

"Only one, I had to convince your brother it wasn't an assassination attempt of your doing."

"Not this time..."

"We can try this one together. Pretend it's the first time I'm ever eating it now."

The first time was actually two months ago but she's revirginized her tastebuds for Yuuji's tanghulu right here.

"One...two..."

"Wait let's do something even more ridiculous," Yuuji interrupts, taking Megumi's arm and crossing it over hers, so Yuuji was essentially feeding Megumi, and Megumi's hand holding the stick Yuuji is going to eat.

It felt so...Instagram worthy even though no one was watching them. In a way that made it even better.

"Three."

They bite into it at the same time, and maybe because Megumi already ate an entire one, she relishes more in Yuuji's pleased reaction.

Her smile at the fact they broke apart instantly in a weird uncrisscross motion, and tried to stop small shards of sugar from littering their clothes or the floor with the palm of their hand.

"Mmmm," Yuuji hums emphatically, "So good."

Megumi nearly rolls her eyes, but she's still laughing instead at how Yuuji practically inhales the cold grapes in their steel sharp sugar encasing, and races to eat another.

"You're my good luck charm," She says after the second round, "They didn't turn out nearly as good as when I made them myself."

"Maybe you just got better at it."

Nah it's definitely because you put the grapes in the freezer instead of the fridge before this, is what Megumi thinks only to herself.

✦

The rest of Megumi's time at Yuuji's was spent talking as they cleaned up the kitchen. Yuuji bringing Megumi to her room to chat some more.

Yuuji started to put on a TV show and Megumi fell asleep for ten minutes watching it, her head leaned on Yuuji'a shoulder as they laid in her bed watching the show on Yuuji's laptop. Megumi wasn't even tired, the show was boring and didn't have any gay people in it, so she clocked out.

Yuuji however had seen it before and caught her up to speed on the pilot. Megumi totally could have guessed the entirety of it.

"Look the main character and the main characters mom are totally unlikeable...but it's good!"

"How does that make it good?"

"Nostalgia."

"What?"

"People watch it, for the nostalgia. I watched like most of it when it was on cable, but now streaming. Before I didn't know that this girl was selfish, and really unlikeable then I just watched it and I was always rooting for her."

Huh that makes some sense now.

"Okay," Megumi says.

"If you have nothing to watch maybe check it out, there's definitely things that haven't aged well but...I just really want to know who's team you're on."

"...Team?"

"So! She dates three guys, okay? And everyone in the like, 'fandom' I guess picks a side."

"Sounds familiar."

"Uh huh, so I'm team—actually I'm not gonna tell you in case you watch it. I want your full uncorrupted opinion."

"Gotcha..." Megumi says, she literally couldn't give a fuck about the show but Yuuji just made everything more enjoyable to listen to somehow. She was whipped, irrefutably.

Maybe she could watch this old show for her.

Damn it's been three hours. They had max two left before they should go to Megumi's house. She almost didn't want to go back home because she was having such a great time.

Yuuji's room was cozy, lots of pink and different textures, she had like four different pillows, and one was a heart shaped with this furry pillowcase on it Megumi just ran her hands through while Yuuji spoke to her.

She also had some artwork up, Megumi wondered if she did that herself or not.

They started to sit in silence but Megumi didn't feel awkward by it. If anything she felt refreshed. Whenever she has to hang out with someone else, it always feels awkward when silence builds so she forces herself to interact as to not endure the unwilling silence.

Even with Geto, she knew him for so long but if they're sitting in a room together and neither of them are talking it almost feels awkward. Gojo can talk enough for two people so Megumi can feel comfortable tuning him out, but as for his husband that isn't the same. Or even Nobara, there aren't many chances for just Megumi and Nobara to interact, so during normal times Yuuji's filler and pushes them together. Though Megumi cares for the both of them it's clear Yuuji and Nobara's dynamic is a little different somehow.

Megumi's not...jealous, just—aware of it. Yuuji wouldn't have a clue what she was talking about if she ever bothered to mention it though.

"What are you looking at?" Megumi comments when she finds Yuuji looking at her. This peaceful glow on her face.

"You," Yuuji answers unashamed, unbothered.

Megumi, completely bothered, almost shamelessly, looks back, "Why?"

"Because you're right here. And you're so pretty."

Okay, Megumi will admit, she put 110% into her appearance today. It was only because it was her birthday! Maybe also because she was going to see her best friend in her own house for the first time.

"I uh used a new setting powder, it kinda makes me look super matte though," Megumi says, trying to detract from Yuuji's brown eyes. Don't look at me like that it makes me think...

"You always look pretty whether you put makeup on or not," Yuuji comments, "But I think there's something else special about you today..."

Megumi lets her words go unanswered, and goes back to reading her book. But suddenly the words on the page are no longer interesting.

Yuuji's so...affectionate today. Between the hug, the consistent and frequent compliments. She's confident and more vocal but still the same, it's just like Yuuji had a bit of a change and if Megumi was delusional she'd think...

"Hey," Megumi calls over, putting the book away on the edge Yuuji's bed. It falls when she crawls over the other side accidentally kicking it. Megumi noticed but decided in a split second she didn't care.

Yuuji looked a little confused but didn't say anything as Megumi came over, at the edge of the bed, looking at Yuuji with this sort of determination in her eyes with seemingly no cause.

"Okay," She takes a breath, she's sitting down at the other edge of Yuuji's bed now, while Yuuji herself was in her chair. There's approximately two feet of distance between them.

"It's my birthday," Megumi says. There's enough of a pause between them for Yuuji to say,

"I know."

"I know you know, I just. I'm saying it because I'm going to ask—I'm going to ask you to do something and I need you to remember it's my birthday and you...if this is the wrong thing I want you to pretend nothing happened."

"Okay...?"

She's still confused but she'll do whatever Megumi wants. That was out of the question.

"If it's the wrong thing...it might make things really awkward between us so just remember what I said. Okay?"

"Yes, okay okay!" Yuuji says not liking to listen to this dramatic explanation just tell her what it is because—

Megumi leans over, stopping her train of thought completely with a simple kiss.

It's not wrong, it's just a little bit uncomfortable. Yuuji wasn't expecting it, she didn't prepare for it, she's never even done it before. So when Megumi just steals her first kiss it's—unexpected.

Not unwanted.

Yuuji moves in closer to get more comfortable, pulling Megumi into her sphere of gravity with her fingers around her shirt.

They seperate and Megumi looks a little wide eyed.

Yuuji thinks they have a lot of words to say. There's so much they could say. But right now Yuuji Itadori doesn't want to say a single word at all.

"Yuu—"

Now it was her turn to surprise her and Yuuji kisses her back with much more intent and much less unease.

They fit perfectly and melt into each other seamlessly, and Megumi can only lean in as Yuuji guides them through this like she's done it one thousand times before.

When Megumi's finally breathing for real again, she looks at Yuuji like she's never seen her before.

"That wasn't the wrong thing."

✦

Megumi wasn't sure if it was right to bring Yuuji back to her house but she did it anyway.

Yuuji fixed her makeup before they left, and Megumi did the same. It seems makeup wasn't kiss-proof despite what the movies sometimes made it look like.

She knew just because Yuuji and her kissed it didn't mean they were dating. But she kinda wanted to skip the prerequisites and say it already.

"So I guess you like me back."

"Yes! Of course?!" Megumi nearly shakes Yuuji's shoulders to get it into her thick skull.

"Sorry the inital shock is wearing off now I'm wondering if you wanted to do that just cause."

"Yuuji," She says seriously, "I was so worried, and now you're telling me you thought I did that 'just cause'?!?!"

"I don't know Megumi! I like you but  you're unreadable sometimes."

Like me back

I like you

Yuuji really could just say it.

Megumi had to tell her too.

"I like you." She says bluntly. Then again, "I like you I like you I like you."

Suddenly she's nearly lunging at Yuuji pulling her into a hug for the ages, and Yuuji takes a second (that felt like a minute) to just appreciate the moment because Megumi never hugs first.

Fuck was it her birthday? This was the greatest day.

Choso is going to flip.

She didn't have to tell him anything yet.

"Hey Megumi?" Yuuji takes herself out of this great moment to remind her best friend of something.

"Yeah?"

"Don't you have to get home? I promised your sister I wouldn't hog you."

"You're not hogging me."

"But it's 3, nearly 4."

Wait what?

"Shit, okay, I will call my Dad," Megumi says, thinking of Geto. But the thought of leaving Yuuji here after this revelation feels...weird.

"Why don't you come too?"

"Me?" Yuuji points to herself, "I don't know if I can intrude on your birthday like that..."

"You're not intruding if I invite you."

"But it's—"

"I'm sure they don't care that much if I bring you, it might even be good in case Tsumiki made too much cake."

Megumi didn't think Yuuji would need so much convincing.

Putting her hands in the motion of a prayer she closes her eyes.

"Please Yuuji come to my house today it's my birthday~."

Yuuji laughs, pushing her hands aside.

"Okay, okay." She obliges, now pushing Megumi back playfully, but she finds herself pushing a little too much, and Megumi's flat on her back in an instant.

The wind completely knocked out of her.

Something flipped in Megumi, maybe the demonstration of that ease of strength, or the newly placed highlighter on the highlights of her gorgeous face but Megumi was enamored.

"Kiss me again," She says.

"What?" Yuuji knows they just kissed earlier, many times now but it still felt like she was dreaming hearing those words from her lips.

"Kiss me again," She says, but she's not moving. Does she expect her too...

Yuuji moves, going over Megumi elbows on the bed, keeping her above her, and leaning down in a slow motion, she kisses Megumi gently. It's not like the rushed and passionate way before.

It's sweet and careful. Then deep and insistent.

Suddenly the door is open and Choso walks in.

"Yu—" he stops in his tracks, "What are you doing?!"

"Uhm...what does it look like?"

Don't answer that.

Choso doesn't answer that. Instead with a sigh, and a hand over his head.

"Megumi's father is calling...not sure how he got our home phone number. Cause you don't even know it."

"Oh um..." Megumi starts awkwardly, Yuuji gets up from her place on the bed. The only way Geto or Gojo would call is if they tried to reach her and couldn't. Which is entirely possible.

Choso hands her the home phone without complaint, leaving the room but not without giving a sideways glance at Yuuji.

"Megumiiiii!" It's Gojo. Of course. Only he would have the audacity to call.

"Yes," She says through gritted teeth. Hopefully this call wasn't going to be a complete waste of time.

"I hope you're having fun but the family misses you so don't take too long, okay?"

God why did that melt her heart. Fine she'll leave. But Yuuji is coming with her.

"Okay," She answers, less angry he called. "Come pick me up then will you?"

"You got it Megs."

She doesn't have the energy to say not to call her that. Likely to Gojo's amusement.

"Goodbye."

Megumi addresses Yuuji now,

"He'll be here soon. You're coming with me."

"You didn't mention it to him?"

"It'll be fine."

When Gojo gets here, Megumi just says "Yuuji's coming too," and doesn't say anything else about it.

"Oooo~," He says, "Megumi, this Yuuji of yours has you acting so differently lately."

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"More talking, more lively, you even wake up smiling and everyone knows you're allergic to mornings."

"I'm not allergic to—"

"It's true, you look downright pissed at our first class every morning."

"That's just my face."

Gojo starts laughing. Megumi contemplates her decision if Gojo and Yuuji were going to corner her now.

Luckily driving is much, much faster than walking and they get home pretty quickly. Now that Megumi's 16, she vaguely thinks about how she should learn to drive.

Opening the door to her house, Megumi's old enough to know there's a party but they "surprise" her anyway with cheers and a fully redecorated house. A blue and white "Happy Birthday" triangle banner on the living room wall. Confetti poppers made a mess on the floor as soon as they came in.

It's loud, it's messy, and thankfully, not over the top.

Megumi smiles as much as she can manage to, and everyone comes up to hug her except Geto who can see she's basically over it already. Nanako and Mimiko do it quickly so they can move to doing something else as fast as possible.

"Aww," Yuuji says from behind her watching the twins leave, "Do I get a hug too?!"

"We've hugged enough," Megumi says, giving her a side-hug anyway.

Tsumiki comes up to her last. Pulling her into the tightest squeeze, "Megumiiii Happy Birthday little sis."

Little sis?! Yuuji seems to ask with her eyes, and Megumi doesn't comment with her words or otherwise.

"You brought Yuuji!" Tsumiki exclaims, surprised and joyful. Yuuji moves onto the heels of her feet to the tips of her toes. She's totally not nervous.

"I wanted her here." Simple as that.

"Come on guys, did you eat? Wait! Do you want cake first? Or like real food? I made both?"

As Tsumiki starts to ramble all happily, Yuuji starts to grab Megumi's hand before realizing maybe she shouldn't. Megumi notices, and grabs her hand in turn. If asked Megumi would say something, if not, it didn't matter that much anyway.

Just that Yuuji was hers.

✦

That next Monday, Yuuji and Megumi don't keep it much of a secret the fact that they're dating.

First it starts with Yuuji telling Nobara how Megumi's birthday went. At first Nobara is a little hurt she wasn't 'invited' before realizing exactly why. Initially Yuuji leaves out the most important part— kissing until Megumi comes over to spill the details herself.

Yuuji was being considerate not knowing if Megumi wanted their business out there. Cause Nobara will tell everyone. But it seemed Megumi wanted people to know they were "a thing" now. To Yuuji this seemed a little unlike her but she doesn't think too much of it.

"Just don't split up the team by breaking up. It'd be devastating."

"You're literally dating Maki."

"Yeah but your duo is the best one I can't even pretend. Me, I'm fodder since I don't want to do the extra shit all you guys do. Plus Maki isn't as involved in the team anymore 'cause of college applications."

Nobara looks a little wistful, but glosses over it.

"So! I can't believe Megumi told me you guys kissed and YOU didn't. Just who are you impersonating my friend? And also–does this mean you guys are dating now?"

"Yes?" Yuuji hesitantly answers, to which Megumi at the same times says much more sure of it:

"Yes."

Then she faces Yuuji, "Why are you not sure?"

"I don't know!"

"Sounds like the two of you have some more to work through." Nobara says, looking a little bit like she wants to laugh at them, "I'll leave you to it, I'm just gonna make sure everyone I know knows this too."

With that mischievous glance, she heads off, first to Miwa for some reason (when were they friendly? The two wonder vaguely) and Megumi and Yuuji turn back to each other letting her do her thing.

"Why are you unsure?"

"I don't know, we didn't 'say' dating, so I didn't want to...presume."

"Presume Yuuji? Presume?"

"Lover's quarrel?" Maki and Nobara were here way too fast. Maki also had that cocky smirk on her face, Megumi always swore they'd be absolutely insufferable if they were a cis boy.

"Shut up we're talking."

"Just kiss and make up."

"What?"

"Kiss and make up."

To which Nobara starts chanting:

"Kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss!" Nobara starts, loud enough for some random people in the cafeteria to hear as well. Someone else joins in.

Now Mai, Momo, and Miwa were in the mix, chanting as well. Megumi's red as a tomato, Yuuji is just stunned.

This was worse than Happy Birthday being sung by the cafeteria somehow. So maybe some part to get everyone to shut up, and maybe some part to confirm to Yuuji that yes they are dating now–Megumi pulls Yuuji in for a kiss feeling not too happy about being observed by 5+ people.

After the initial wave of pure embarrassment, for some reason the cheers from it actually made her very happy somehow. Plus the fact she's kissing Yuuji in public was all the confirmation her girlfriend needed