Chapter Text
"Why don't you introduce yourself to the class?" the homeroom teacher suggested to the new transfer student who stood at the front of the class.
With a vivacious spark in his eyes, Itadori Yuji faced his peers. "Hi, everyone! The name's Itadori Yuji. Just moved here with my old man because of his job. I'm into all kinds of sports, love chowing down on good grub, gaming, and reading manga. Plus, I know a thing or two about karate and am wicked strong," he announced, his voice brimming with youthful enthusiasm. As he uttered the words, he couldn't resist flexing his arm, showcasing his young muscles, which elicited a chorus of light-hearted chuckles from his new classmates.
"Now, check out this hair," he continued, pointing to his pastel pink locks with a proud grin. "Got it from my dad! Isn't it rad?" With a quick bow, he concluded, "Please take good care of me!"
The classroom buzzed with whispers and curious glances as the new boy's presence injected a burst of excitement into the air. Yuji's infectious energy seemed to fill the room, promising endless adventures in the days to come. However, the animated atmosphere quickly shifted when the teacher suggested he take the empty seat next to Fushiguro Megumi.
As soon as the name left the teacher's lips, a heavy silence descended upon the room, signaling that there was more to Megumi than met the eye. The air crackled with unspoken tension, and curious gazes turned towards the enigmatic figure sitting calmly at the edge of the room.
Undeterred by the sudden shift in the atmosphere, Yuji made his way to the third row, his footsteps echoing softly in the hush of the classroom. With a friendly smile, he settled into the seat second from the window, next to Fushiguro Megumi.
"I'm Itadori Yuji. You can call me Yuji," he introduced himself personally to his deskmate, the brightness of his smile matching the gleam of his eyes.
Yuji anticipated a reciprocal introduction from the other boy, but instead, he was met with silence. Megumi maintained his distant gaze out the window, seemingly lost in his thoughts, completely disregarding Yuji's presence.
A pang of disappointment pricked at Yuji's cheerful facade, but he quickly brushed it aside, refusing to let it dampen his spirits. Turning his attention towards the front of the classroom, he hung his bag on the hook attached to the side of his desk, preparing for the start of the lesson.
The stark difference between Yuji's bubbling enthusiasm and Megumi's stoic silence created a tangible contrast, a silent tension brewing between them like two opposing currents converging at a pivotal juncture, hinting at the intriguing dynamics that awaited their interaction.
——
During a break between subjects, a group of boys gathered around Yuji's desk, their youthful curiosity piqued.
"What sports do you like to play, Yuji?" one of the boys inquired, his eyes alight with interest.
Grinning, Yuji leaned back in his seat, ready to share his passion. "I play a bit of everything, but my favorite has to be football (soccer). I'm at the top of my game as a center forward, but I can ace it on the wing or midfield too," he explained with a hint of pride in his voice.
"Really?" exclaimed another boy, his excitement palpable. "You should totally join my afterschool football club! We could use someone like you on our team!" The prospect of having Yuji's skills on their side ignited a spark of enthusiasm among the boys, hinting at the camaraderie and friendly competition that awaited in the days ahead.
"That sounds like fun. I'll definitely think about it and ask my dad," Yuji replied, his eyes gleaming with the prospect of joining the football club.
Eager to keep the conversation going, another boy chimed in, shifting the topic to manga. Standing behind the group, he pushed up the bridge of his glasses in anticipation. "So, what manga are you currently reading?"
A smile tugged at the corners of Yuji's lips as he delved into his favorite reads. "Oh, I'm all about sports manga like Haikyuu, but I also enjoy the action-packed thrill of Attack on Titans. Though, my heart truly belongs to supernatural tales like Demon Slayer and the darker, nitty-gritty world of Black Butler," he shared, his eyes alight with passion for his chosen genres. As he mentioned the latter two titles, he couldn't help but notice the subtle glance from Megumi, a silent exchange that spoke volumes, hinting at a shared interest or perhaps something more beneath the surface causing him to smile.
"Hey, Megumi, do you read supernatural anime as well?" Yuji asked hopefully, turning his attention to the boy with spectrally disheveled black hair, a faint glimmer of expectation in his eyes.
Yet, as before, Megumi remained aloof, engrossing himself in scribbling something in his notebook, a veil of indifference cloaking his features.
"Give up on him. He's a loner," a nearby boy huffed, his tone tinged with annoyance. It was evident that Megumi's dismissive response had rubbed some of the classmates the wrong way, leaving an air of mystery and detachment surrounding him that seemed impenetrable to their attempts to reach out.
As the teacher called the class back to their desks to begin the next lesson, Yuji's optimistic spirit remained undimmed. With a quiet hum, he mused to himself that there was nobody he couldn't befriend, and Megumi would be no different. Determination glinted in his eyes as he set his sights on bridging the gap and unraveling the mystery surrounding his enigmatic classmate, ready to delve into the challenge with unwavering resolve.
——
Navigating through the bustling lunchroom, Yuji caught sight of a group of classmates enthusiastically waving him over to join them. However, he made a beeline for a different table and took a seat across from Fushiguro Megumi, who sat alone, a veil of solitude enveloping him.
Megumi glanced up from his lunch, wearing a faintly puzzled expression. "What do you want?" he inquired, his voice devoid of emotion, masking any hint of curiosity.
Yuji's eyes widened in playful surprise. "Whoa. You actually can speak!" he quipped, a light chuckle escaping him at the revelation, considering he hadn't heard Megumi utter a word all day.
"Can't I just sit and eat lunch with my deskmate?" Yuji asked innocently, his tone carrying a hint of genuine curiosity and companionship.
Megumi eyed him with a hint of suspicion before responding in his usual monotone, "Do what you want," before resuming his meal in a shroud of silence.
A quiet tension lingered in the air between them, a delicate balance of curiosity and detachment as Yuji sought to bridge the gap, hoping to uncover the layers of complexity that lay beneath Megumi's enigmatic facade.
——
"Quit following me!" Megumi exclaimed in annoyance, his voice betraying the first glimpse of emotion that Yuji had seen from him.
"I'm not following you, though. This is the way to my home," Yuji retorted with a huff, maintaining a small distance behind the slightly shorter boy.
Curiosity getting the best of him, Yuji seized the opportunity to address a question that had been lingering since that morning. "Why did your parents give you a girl's name?" he inquired, his innocent curiosity driving the query. The mention of Megumi's name had initially led Yuji to believe his desk mate was a girl, until the seating arrangements were clarified.
Megumi abruptly halted in his tracks, fixing Yuji with a piercing glare that spoke volumes of his displeasure at the question. His features darkened, a shadow passing over his face as if the inquiry had struck a nerve.
"Whoa, okay. Sorry, sorry. Touchy subject," Yuji backpedaled, raising his hands in a gesture of apology, realizing he had unintentionally crossed a line.
With a steely resolve, Megumi turned on his heel and quickened his pace, but Yuji refused to be deterred, matching his strides as they walked, a subtle tension simmering between them.
"I like the name, though. I think it suits you. I looked up the meaning earlier. It means blessing or grace, right?" Yuji persisted, unwilling to let go of the topic. "My name means relaxed or caring. Do you think it fits me?" he inquired with a touch of vulnerability, accompanied by a hopeful smile, seeking a connection through the exploration of their names' meanings.
Megumi clenched his fists at his sides, a flicker of emotion passing over his features as he quickened his pace, determined to evade further discussion. Silence enveloped them until they reached the corner of the parking lot of the apartment complex that housed Megumi's home.
Yuji's brow furrowed in disappointment at the lack of response, realizing their time together had come to an end as they parted ways. With a wave and a buoyant spirit, he began to jog off, calling out, "See you tomorrow, Megumi-chan!"
A sharp protest echoed behind him as Megumi's voice cut through the air, "Don't call me that!" His parting words lingering in the air, hinting at a dynamic yet to be fully explored between the two young boys.
——
"How was school, Yuji?" Jin Itadori inquired as he entered the kitchen, greeted by the sight of his son diligently working on his homework at the table.
"It was great! Everybody was friendly," Yuji replied with a wide grin, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.
Excitedly, Yuji continued, "Oh, there's this one kid, my deskmate. He's super introverted and serious. He shows so little emotion and doesn't seem to have a single friend. I am totally going to make him my friend, Dad!" he declared with unwavering determination, his youthful optimism shining through.
Jin couldn't help but chuckle at his son's excitement. Yuji's bright and cheerful nature had been a source of strength, especially in the wake of his mother's passing. Grateful for his son's resilience, Jin had no doubt that Yuji would succeed in his endeavor to befriend his serious deskmate.
"I don't doubt it," Jin smiled warmly, his confidence in Yuji's ability to connect and brighten the lives of those around him unwavering. The bond between father and son, marked by resilience and unwavering support, held a promise of hope and companionship.
——
"I'm home, Megumi-kun," Tsumiki greeted as she entered the house, her steps echoing faintly in the hallway. Her arrival was belated due to her commitment to after-school study courses.
"Welcome home, Nee-san," Megumi responded, rising from his spot on the floor where he had been engrossed in a well-loved manga, its pages worn from countless readings.
"I heard there was a new transfer student. Was he in your class?" Tsumiki inquired, setting down her belongings before making her way into the kitchen.
Megumi let out a weary sigh, reluctant to dwell on the events of the day. "He's my deskmate and a weirdo. He wouldn't leave me alone all day," he replied with a hint of frustration, his tone carrying a hint of exasperation at the memory of the persistent newcomer. Tsumiki's soft chuckle in response to his exasperated sigh filled the room, a comforting familiarity within their shared bond as step-siblings.
——
Yuji and his father strolled down the aisles of the local grocery store, their cart slowly filling up with essential items. Amidst the hustle and bustle of shoppers, Yuji's sharp eyes caught sight of a familiar figure sporting a tousled mop of black hair.
"Huh. Megumi-chan?!" Yuji called out in excitement, his heart racing as he dashed towards the other boy who was engrossed in selecting a bag of rice.
Caught off guard by the sudden, boisterous summons, Megumi jumped slightly, his usually composed demeanor momentarily disrupted. A blush tinted his cheeks as he turned to face Yuji, a flicker of embarrassment crossing his features. "I said not to call me that!" he exclaimed, his discomfort evident in his protest against the use of the endearing honorific.
"Oh, who is this, Yuji?" Jin inquired as he caught up with his son, intrigued by the sudden interaction.
"This is Megumi-chan. The boy I was talking about, my deskmate," Yuji introduced with a wide smile, a glimmer of excitement dancing in his eyes.
As Jin extended a friendly greeting, Megumi shifted uncomfortably under the sudden scrutiny, a mix of surprise and unease crossing his features at the unexpected encounter with Yuji's father.
"Hello, Megumi-kun. I am Jin, Yuji's father. Nice to meet you," Jin offered a warm welcome, noting Megumi's discomfort with a sympathetic gaze.
"M-m-meet you," Megumi stammered out in response, his nerves palpable in his awkward reply. Sensing the tension, he attempted to make a quick escape. "I have to go," he mumbled, eager to distance himself from the overwhelming situation.
"Okay. Take care, Megumi," Jin called after the swiftly departing boy, his gaze following Megumi's hurried exit. Returning his attention to Yuji, Jin couldn't help but chuckle softly under his breath that he was adorable.
"I know, right?" Yuji beamed in agreement, sharing his father's sentiment as they resumed their grocery shopping with a shared sense of amusement and warmth.