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Megumi had always been a rather antisocial person.
In elementary school, he hadn't been able to go a day without being called a brat or crass. In junior high, he could barely go a week without getting into a fight. It was a miracle from the heavens he'd never been expelled.
So, when one of his songs he'd published as a first year suddenly skyrocketed in popularity, he knew there was no way he could become a regular celebrity.
His newfound fans kept asking for more and more, and of course, he delivered, all without even showing his face. He was rather lucky he lived in a time where you would use VR models for performances.
He knew they would never even bother to listen to him if they knew who he really was. Who would? In real life, he was just a loser who couldn't carry on a conversation without throwing a punch or saying something wrong.
How could anyone ever like someone like him?
A loud noise snapped Megumi out of his self-deprecating train of thought.
“MEGUMI!!” A familiar (and annoying) voice beamed. He'd gotten somewhat used to it by now, but his guardian was always up to something.
“What?” Megumi yelled out without looking away from his notepad. Another loud noise. Had Gojo seriously just busted down his door…?
All Megumi could do was stare as he kicked the broken door out of the way. “No time to explain, Gumi!” The white haired one huffed as if he'd just ran a marathon.
“What… the… fuck?”
“Hey, language! Y'know, I thought I raised you better than this!” Megumi rolled his eyes. “I'm seventeen, not five.” Gojo looked melancholically nostalgic for a moment before resuming to his typical brainless persona.
“Anyways, I know you love music, and you really need to make some friends. I know you're a star now, and blah blah blah, but I was once in your shoes, and I know it can get pretty lonely at the top.”
Megumi gave him a look.
Whatever his guardian was about to say, he knew for sure he wouldn't like it.
“So… I got you a blind show ticket!” Gojo cheered, gesturing for Megumi to take the ticket in his hand. “What exactly is a blind show?” He questioned.
“I'll only tell you if you promise to go.” His guardian sighed. “I know you, and I know that you won't let yourself take this opportunity the moment you hear it's something new.”
Megumi was honestly fine with never knowing what the tickets were for, but the rare genuine concern in the man's eyes made him feel as though he had no other choice than to accept the offer.
“Fine.” Megumi muttered. “What are the tickets for?”
Gojo did a brief happy dance before his face shifted into a grimace.
“Think of a blind date, but for a performance.” He nervously explained.
“You don't mean to say you bought a ticket setting me up to perform with a stranger, right?”
“That's exactly what I did!” His guardian grinned cheekily.
“What if I don't know the song? How many people will be there? What if someone recognizes me?”
“Relax, Megs,” His guardian assured. “You know the song like the back of your hand, and all of the fellow performers are super nice! There's one that I think you'll like a lot.” He winked at him.
“I'm personally convinced my overthinking is only there to compensate for your underthinking.”
Gojo laughed and shrugged. “Can't argue with that. By the way, the concert starts tomorrow at 8.”
“WHAT?”
.
.
.
The next day, Megumi drove all over town to find a suitable outfit. What was one supposed to wear to a concert? After what seemed like hours of searching, he ended up at what seemed like an upscale Hot Topic.
He looked around nervously before entering the building. All he could describe it as was heaven.
The shop had a dark atmosphere, while dozens of shirts that seemed to have just the bands that he liked on them were hung around the room. He even spotted some vintage records out of the corner of his eye.
“Welcome in! If there's anything I can help you with, please let me know- not that I know anything, but I can ask my older brother!”
Megumi looked up at the awkward voice. A boy, about his age, stood behind the register with a toothy grin. He had fluffy pink hair and a few strange tattoos along his tanned face.
He flashed the clerk a slight smile and continued looking around.
He definitely didn't look like he belonged in a store like this; he wore baggy jeans with an oversized hoodie and a gold chain. Then again, Megumi was wearing skinny jeans. Who was he to judge?
The more he walked around the store, the more he realized he had no idea what he was doing or what he was looking for. He glanced back at the store clerk. Maybe he could ask him what to wear. Although he was desperately hoping to escape social interaction (until later, at least) he knew he didn't really have a choice.
“Um. Hey, do you know anything about concert outfits?” He mumbled to the cashier awkwardly. Great start, Megumi. The pink-haired boy leaned in slightly. “What kind of concert are we talking?”
Megumi hadn't even asked Gojo that. Talk about poor planning.
“The thing is… I don't know. Just… probably not classical?”
“Well, I do happen to be an expert when it comes to performance outfits!” The boy chirped, showing the same infectious grin as before.
“Based on the fact that you walked into this store and how you look pretty uncomfortable in what you're wearing now, I'd assume most of the stuff in here is your style.” Huh. Good observation.
The boy turned around and slowly stared at him from head to toe. Megumi could feel his face heat up ever so slightly. Was he checking him out? I mean, he was technically checking him out at the counter, so he couldn't be talking, but-
“Ah! I think this will suit you perfectly!”
Oh. Megumi cringed internally. Was he that socially clueless?
The clerk had pulled out a black rhinestone belt from on top of the shelf next to them. It was definitely way more… flashy than Megumi was expecting.
“Are you sure this will work?” Megumi questioned. The other gave him a reassuring smile. “You seem like you don't like things too showy or grandiose, but I promise you this will look great. Even if you don't pick it out, just try it for me, ok?”
How was this guy so good at reading people?
“I bet you're wondering now how I'm so good at reading people. I'm just gifted like that.” Megumi rolled his eyes to hide his shock, earning a chuckle from the boy.
“Oh! We have Scream shirts too! Everyone loves Scream! I personally prefer Human Earthworm, but I usually keep that to myself…” The clerk mumbles. “Human Earthworm? That movie about the crazy guy who turns people into worms? Better than Scream?”
“Hey! Don't give me that look! You see, it's actually a cinematic masterpiece. Some people just don't understand the complexities of true film art!” The boy looked like he had no idea what he just said, and Megumi burst out laughing.
He fully expected the other to scold him about his rudeness until the clerk started laughing as well.
Once they finally settled down, the boy’s expression shifted until he was staring into Megumi’s eyes quizzically. “So, why do you think Scream is better?”
The two spent way more time than they should have talking, laughing, and learning new things about each other. He learned the clerk’s name was Itadori, and he was also a musician. Megumi mentioned he was a musician too, but tried to describe his identity as cryptically as possible despite Itadori's insistent probing.
Megumi didn't want to admit it, but he actually liked the clerk. When he would say something sarcastic, Itadori would just chuckle and move along unlike so many others that would criticize him for being himself.
Don't get him wrong, he thought Itadori was a complete idiot. Just a… likable idiot.
Maybe he would go back to the shop again later. For now, he had to finish preparing for that stupid concert…
.
.
.
Gojo had demanded Megumi drive to the concert in one of his fancy cars. He didn't want to seem pretentious, but his guardian insisted he needed to be as fashionable as possible driving there.
If there was one thing about Gojo, it was that he was rich and not afraid to let everyone know.
Unfortunately, driving in an expensive car had the exact effect Megumi assumed it would. The few people standing in the alleyway stared at him and whispered as he opened the driver door to get out. He wanted to yell at all of them to mind their own business, but he held his tongue.
The venue was… strange, to say the least. The only indication that there was anything going on was a neon pink arrow pointing to a seemingly broken door.
When he opened it, it looked like something out of a movie.
Neon lights of all colors swirled around the room. Loud electronic music blared through speakers by a large stage at the front of the room. Hundreds of (drunk?) people crowded and danced around, seeming to have zero spatial awareness as they bumped into each other.
Megumi gulped. He really shouldn't have agreed to do this.
He muttered mixtures of “Sorry” and “‘Scuse me” as he pushed through the crowd towards the stage. Once he made it to the back, he had to let out a sigh of relief. There were only a few people there, fortunately.
The ginger girl approached him first. “What's up with you? Go on, introduce yourself!” She prodded. “Um. Fushiguro Megumi. You?”
“Kugisaki Nobara! Don't forget it!” The dark-green haired girl with magenta glasses next to her elbowed her shoulder. “Don't mind my girlfriend. She can be a little too much sometimes.” Nobara barred her teeth. “Maki Zenin. Nice to meet you Fushiguro.”
Zenin. A name that he knew all too well. His deadbeat excuse of a dad was a Zenin, and he'd forced the responsibility of raising a child onto Gojo when he was but a child himself.
He reminded himself to be careful around Maki, but gave her a smile.
He looked around the room. There was a small group chatting in the corner that consisted of a guy wearing a panda bag, a guy who exuded the most terrifying energy Megumi had ever felt, and a guy with a strange tattoo on his mouth. What was with everyone and these tattoos?
He decided against approaching that group since they seemed to be deep in conversation. He looked around the room to see if there was anyone else and-
Pink hair. Tattoos. Tanned skin. Gold chain.
Itadori.
Why was he here? How was this possible? Was it fate?
Oh. He'd been staring.
He looked down at the ground quickly with a sneer on his face, but it was too late. Itadori's face lit up as he ran towards Megumi.
“Fushiguro! Fushiguro! I didn't know you would be here! I'm so happy to see you!” He was happy to see him?
“Hey, Itadori.” He murmured, averting his gaze with a hand on his neck.
“Have you met the others yet? Nobara can be a bit…” He gestured towards her and Maki, who were both pointing and snickering at them. “Yeah. She's kind of weird. But once you get to know her, she's really cool!”
Megumi nodded incredulously before raising his eyebrows.
“I have a question… why are you here?” He asked. Itadori made a pouty face, and it took everything in Megumi to not turn red.
“So… you didn't want to see me?” Itadori accused, dramatically placing a hand over his forehead.
“Wait! No, no, no, that's not what I meant– I really wanted to see you! I meant- shit.” Megumi let out an exasperated sigh.
The other was rolling on the floor laughing before quickly recomposing himself. “I'm glad.” Itadori winked. “My sensei actually suggested I come here. You guys are like polar opposites, actually. He has this really cool white hair and can't stay serious for the life of him!”
Megumi blinked. He couldn't possibly mean…
“He said his son would be here and that I would really like him. He made me make a bet that if I did, I had to pay him 20 bucks. You don't happen to know the guy, do you?”
He honestly had no idea what to say, so he stayed silent.
“Fushiguro? You do know something!”
Luckily, he didn't have to explain anything. Right when Itadori said that, the flashing lights dimmed and a man wearing even baggier pants than Itadori with long, tied up hair and huge ear piercings stepped out onto the stage.
Despite the man's uplifting energy, he looked like he really didn't want to be up there.
“Good evening everyone! Who's ready to hear some blind match ups?” The crowd erupted into cheers.
“As usual, our raffle winner will be the one to spin the wheel to see who our first two artists are! Please welcome to the stage… Aoi Todo!”
An uncannily oversized man walked onto the stage. “This is for my brother, Yuuji!” He yelled. Megumi turned around to face Itadori who had the most proud smile he'd ever seen plastered onto his face. “That's my brother.” He mumbled.
“I choose… Itadori and Fushiguro! My brother will carry them both!” The crowd, again, went wild. He looked behind him to see Itadori with a bashful smile on his face.
Did they seriously have to go first? What if he messed it up in front of Itadori? What if he didn't really know the song like Gojo promised?
Megumi sighed. He was probably just overthinking. “I can't believe I get to perform with you Fushiguro!” Itadori cheered. Despite his futile attempts to hide it, he was happy too. He did wonder about the whole brother thing, a win was a win, right?
“Itadori and Fushiguro, please come to the stage!”
The two looked at each other with matching nervous expressions.
Itadori took Megumi's hand.
“Come on. We've got this!”
As the two walked onto the stage, they could see all of the anticipating eyes of the crowd.
Oh. They were still holding hands.
Megumi nodded and Itadori let go. The announcer looked in between the two with a mischievous smile before gesturing to the crowd. “Drumroll, please!”
…
…
“The first group will be singing… Be Quiet and Drive!”
Megumi lets out a slight gasp while Itadori's nervousness fades into confidence. Maybe Gojo was right- this used to be one of his favorite songs. Judging by Itadori's reaction, he liked it too.
“Let's hear it for the performers! Remember, they've had no prior planning or preparation to sing this song, so let's see how they do!”
Megumi shivered. He knew they would be going into this blind, but not this blind. He looked over at Itadori, who was already looking at him.
You look nervous. Do you want me to start? Itadori mouthed.
Megumi nodded. Thank goodness he could read lips.
The lights went out completely before the music started.
When he first saw Itadori backstage, he wondered what he sounded like. Now, hearing him, he could only describe the sound as hypnotic. Even his expression while he sang just made Megumi want to stare for eternity.
Before he knew it, Itadori looked over at him with a determined smile to cue him in. Somehow, his worry had faded into confidence as he smiled back at Itadori.
The crowd cheered as they swapped. Megumi was having so much fun so he forgot to even worry about messing up.
He hadn't felt this way in a long time.
By the time they'd finished the song, the crowd had gone insane. Megumi took one final glance at Itadori. A sheen of sweat covered his face and he had the most energetic grin he'd shown yet.
He really liked Itadori.
And thought he was kinda hot.
Wait, what?