Chapter Text
He was running like his life was on the line, Megumi sprinted across the sports field, long legs stretching and bending with every step, he was barely 20 steps in and already huffing, puffing and sweating profusely.
He knew it was baseball tryouts, there was an announcement about it moments earlier on the loudspeaker but he knew this was the shortest path from his Literature in the Modern Age unit to his Intro to Biology unit. Curse this stupidly large campus. It was his second semester so he should’ve just not cared so much, he knew the flow but he was stubborn, he hated breaking rules and actually loved class content. He was warned that picking two complete different units would be a pain but didn’t expect it to be a physically, blood pumping, and lung clenching pain.
As he got closer to the baseball diamond shaped field, and the huddle of students trying out, he noticed Maki his family friend, staring at him with the confused risen eyebrow, mouth ajar and hands apart combo. Giving her best silent ‘what the fuck are you doing?’
Huffing he ignored her and every other person.
If he had half a mind in this moment, he would take the extra few seconds, and go around the pitch but he really did not want to be late to his literature class. He was not the kind of guy who could brush off being singled out for being late, he knew the professor was a real stickler for tardiness. Curse you Professor Ieiri. Didn't help she knew his uncle well, and him by association she totally would single him out for being a tad late.
“Oi! Kid! Tryouts stand over here! Don’t just run through kid,” The coach of the baseball team yelled, but Megumi was not paying attention or changing his route as he ran through; from third base and towards first, and in theory past the pitcher plate. In his preemptive calculations, he noticed the pitcher right in the middle of his path but he expected the pitcher to dodge him, to move out the way before he got there. But he didn’t. He wasn’t. He was still standing there focused on the batter, posture rigid, head tilted, hand waving, he confused to why they weren’t readying up; no idea of the out of breath Megumi running towards him. It was only when he followed everyone’s laughing expressions and moving eye contact he saw the running blur that was barreling straight into him.
“Shit…” the pitcher swore. He stumbled, trying to get out the way but Megumi foot stretched out and got caught; tripped and fell on the guy’s ankle. They tumbled across the grass.
“Agh” They groaned. Colliding. His head bumped into the pitcher’s, knocking his hat off his pink hair. He fell hard but luckily the grass cushioned most of the fall. Megumi blinked his vision cleared, the soft grass under his body, his fingers holding the freshly cut lawn. A few groans and breaths later, the pitcher stood first.
“Damn dude! you really got somewhere to be.” The pitcher laughed.
Megumi was already embarrassed enough having to run to get to class, but then having to run through a bunch of sweaty jocks and only to then knock into one of the tryouts was becoming too much for him. One more embarrassing thing and he would’ve contemplating just straight up dropping out.
Without wasting a moment Megumi rushed to stand. Looking up, he saw the pitcher reaching out his hand. Taking the hand was supposed to have been an easy option but as their fingers met a jolt of static and electricity rushed through Megumi.
Both of their hands clenched at the static. The pink haired guy finished pulling Megumi up to his feet. He jolted slightly at the strange sensation then finally looked the pitcher in his eyes.
He was smiling. The pitcher stood there, confident, proud and smiling corner to corner. A big toothy grin, his pink hair messy from the tumble and loss of his hat. He had a slight tan, and was pretty fit.
Doing his best to focus on the pitchers warm brown eyes and not their interlocking hands.
“Sorry,” Megumi mumbled; his voice low, heat rushed to Megumi’s face forcing him to let go of his hand. Then turned to continue his way to class finally finally noticing the grass stains on his new jeans.
—
All that running was futile, it was of no agonising purpose. Megumi spent the entire class lost in his own thoughts, thinking of that baseball pitcher he ran into. Luckily for him, like every other first class in existence, it was complete bullshit. Full of semester plans, ice breakers and introductions.
Professor Shoko Ieiri dismissed them all with plenty of reading to do before next class, he walked out with Nobara his classmate, friend and roommate, she’d spent the lesson stuck between looking at her phone and watching Megumi; laughing at his comedic blank face and betraying red flush on his ears that sabotaged his cool, calm demeanour.
She was talking while they made their way to their favourite cafe out of campus. She was definitely the talker in their friendship.
Nobara sat, taking photos of their iced coffee from every fathomable angle. With and without flash. Her tongue poking out as she focused on the photo’s composition. Megumi already used to all of this this, half a year with her and he’d already felt he knew her half his life. Being paired up in their first semester in a film class started a little rough, awkwardness was a Megumi specialty but she managed to coax her way to becoming his only close friend.
At the end of last semester they became housemates.
Megumi’s rich "uncle" rented out a three bedroom apartment off campus, land in the spirit of becoming the best uncle in the world, let Megumi live there while he studied but only with the stipulation that he get roommates to fill the other rooms. If he didn’t fill them by the second semester he’d find someone to room with them. Gojo was a master schemer, he really wanted to force Megumi to make some close friends, (much to Megumi’s dismay) but he had to agree to the terms, a free apartment is something you don’t say no to, especially when you love your personal space like he did.
“That Gojo guy sent a text that he found someone to be our third roommate,” Nobara said, finally setting her phone down. Gojo insisted on making a group chat with all of them. Mainly for landlord duties but Gojo always took any role further than needed. A new number was added to the group chat that morning after Gojo messaged that he found someone in the same year at them at college and seemed like a responsible kid.
“Yeah…” Megumi sighed. Thinking on how he’d go with getting used to another person. Face cringed, imagining all the awkward moments getting used to someone.
“You’ll live.” She said with a smug laugh, “and if not, after your wake I’ll beg Gojo to let me stay in that apartment. Those few weeks in that dorm was enough to haunt a seasoned veteran,” She shivered with every memory. “Mi casa su casa, your uncle is my uncle.”
“That is not what that means.”
__
Gojo was bringing over the roommate and some takeout for dinner, after a basketball team tryout. Gojo was a coach for the college basketball team and apparently the new roommate was a mid year transfer, some sports prodigy.
Megumi and Nobara went around the apartment, cleaning it as well as they could. The common areas were already pretty clean so it didn’t take long before they were seated on the couch waiting and dreading for Gojo to walk through the front door.
The rattle of keys and the quiet mumbling and laughs from the other side made them aware to Gojo’s presence, they fixed their posture. Megumi found himself rubbing his hands against his pants trying to wipe the nerves away. The door opened, Gojo’s tuff of white hair the first thing in view.
“My dear brooding nephew!” (Megumi scowled.) “And the eternally youthful Nobara,” (Nobara grinned.) “meet your newest best friend! Yujiiiii Itadoriiii!!” Cheered the ever bright Gojo walking into the apartment and to the side the allow room for the new roommate to walk in; Gojo was laughing a little to himself, seemingly finding himself incredibly funny.
With pizzaz and twinkle of his fingers Gojo motioned for the stranger to walk through. With confidence and a wide, toothy smile Yuji walked through, his right hand behind his head. His eyes were closed from grinning so much.
He finally opened them to greet Megumi and Nobara. “Hi! I’m…” he looked at Megumi, his eyes widened as he pointed. “You!”
Megumi’s ears became a deep red, he was fighting really hard to avoid a full blown blush. His eyes meeting Yuji’s instantly recognising those brown eyes. His heart was hammering and mind racing.
“Didn’t know I’d see you again. Must be fate to have met you so soon after you ran into me,” Yuji said so casually.
Megumi wasn’t feeling casual.
“You’ve met before?” Gojo asked, peaking between the two young adults.
“We have” They answered at the same time.
“Only once.” Megumi clarified. His eyes scanning over Yuji.
“I didn’t notice him as he ran through; while I tried out for baseball, until it was too late and BAM he knocked right into me. Losing footing and falling to the ground,” Yuji said.
Nobara was snickering.
“Megumi was running?!” Gojo laughed which got him another mean scowl from Megumi.
“He was.”
“I had to.” Megumi sighed. Then he turned towards Yuji again. “I really do apologise for crashing into you.”
“It’s alright,” Yuji smiled again. Megumi nodded.
“Wait you tried out for baseball, what about the basketball team! I’ve gone out of my way giving you extra pointers to get you on our team,” Gojo whined in that perfect dramatic tone he was so good at.
“I’ve tried out for everything,” Yuji said plainly. “I just really didn’t want to go to class and sports is the only excuse that teachers don’t bother about.”
“Hmm,” Gojo squinted.
“I’m loyal to basketball, I swear!” Yuji bounced around.
They all got settled, sitting around the dining table. All giving out proper introductions this time. Gojo brought some fried chicken for them all. Seated around that table they ate and conversation flowed. Yuji and Nobara got along really well. Immediately creating a bond that would secure Yuji as a beloved member of their apartment.
Megumi spent the whole dinner stealing glances at Yuji.
—
“So this is my room?” Yuji asked, peaking his head into the bare room. All it had was a bed, a closet and a small dresser by the bed that doubled as an end table. It was basically a fresh slate; void of any decorations and any excess furniture he could need. It was free for him to decorate and mess all he wants.
“Yeah,” Megumi answered following him. Gojo left a few minutes ago and Yuji wanted to scope out the apartment and get settled for the night. “My room is right next to yours and Kugisaki’s is the one on the other side of the hallway next to the bathroom.”
“Nice!” Yuji focused on the fact he had a room all to his self, in a whole new city with some new friends. He placed his bags down, pulling out a framed photo on one of the dressers and a poster of some model or actress, Megumi couldn’t recognise. He couldn’t help but feel his heart sink watching Yuji put up the poster but he didn’t really know why.
“This is the bathroom,” Megumi showed, “try not to spend too long in there, there is only one bathroom and Nobara is already pretty good at hogging it.”
“Hey!!” A loud Nobara called out, clearly listening in.
“Noted!”
“This is the laundry, avoid leaving your wet clothes in there for the next person to either hang, or put it in the dryer.”
“Easy,” Yuji smiled, nodding along to everything Megumi was saying.
“You already saw the living room and dining room. It’s a common area so just try keep things tidy. You’re welcome to bring friends over just let us know before hand. And the kitchen.” They walked through the apartment, the kitchen was pretty tiny, just a few counter tops, a two stove burner, a microwave and a medium sized fridge. “We’re pretty fine with sharing stuff, we go grocery shopping every Tuesday. You’re welcome to join us or… o-or just do it yourself.”
“A-Ok!” Yuji saluted.
“So yeah… any questions you can always message us when we’re not around or just ask.”
“He’s trying to act all cool and chill but he’s actually pretty particular about tidiness” Nobara snickered as she walked through, interrupting them, she was already in her pyjamas, had her hair pulled back and off her face with a cat ear head band.
“I’m not that bad,” Megumi tried to defend himself
Nobara scoffed, “you’re a great roommate, honestly, but you’re really funny to watch after I make myself a tea. You wipe down everything, adjust every thing single thing I’ve touched or just slightly bumped.”
“I… fair…” He nodded letting out a sigh.
Yuji was looking between Megumi and Nobara as they talked. Megumi caught his gaze, his breath caught when looking over at Yuji.