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The sweet honey of the other’s arms laced the warm tea of the sun. Megumi could wake slowly, never forced into a plunging cold morning. His eyes began to take in the light, the blankets, the breeze, all before opening his eyes. It could only be familiar to him, could only feel so comfortable.
The honey boy behind him stirs for only a moment, just enough to bury his face into Megumi’s back to block out the light. He couldn’t help the small smile at this gesture, even if he experienced this Yuji every morning. His hand slid down the arm, fingers spreading and enveloping the boy’s tight grip on Megumi’s shirt. Gently he brushed his nails along the other boy’s rougher skin. He could only ever be soft with him.
Finally, Megumi opened his eyes and took in the golden room. It was still slightly messy from being in the midst of unpacking and a lazy day yesterday, but it looked lived in, loved. It never needed to be perfect, nor did he want it to be. The curtain fluttered on the cool breeze of the late morning, telling him Autumn had established itself. Ambulances and chatting could be barely heard along the wind, whispering that the rest of the city was already awake and moving.
Soon enough, a siren passed along below their window. Yuji let out a groan coated in sleep. He tried to curl further into Megumi’s back, begging for sleep again, but Megumi’s gentle laugh stopped him.
His laugh softly relaxes the boy’s grip, and he interlaced his fingers with Megumi’s.
“Morning,” Megumi sighed and turned his head to glance at Yuji. All of Yuji’s malice against the morning was forgotten at the sound of Megumi’s voice. His head shifted up, pressed close.
“Mornin’. Sleep well?” Yuji asked as he smiled against Megumi’s cheek.
“Mhm,” Megumi could only hum and nod, relishing in the feel of the boy pressed into him. “You?”
“I always do,” he admitted before pressing a quick kiss to Megumi’s cheek. Megumi knew he meant he always did with him. Megumi used to roll his eyes at this, the cheesiness of some of Yuji’s words. But when he realized the truth of it, the way he loved being loved by Yuji, all annoyance at the corny lines faded away. And he was still sleepy, it was hard to commit to agitation this early.
They remained here for another few minutes, until Yuji asked, “Are you ready for today?”
Yes, that. That was happening today. It was always inevitable, and he was happy about it. It still made the actual moment hard. But more than anything, he wanted her happiness. And she would never be gone, there would just be a little bit more distance. And that’s okay.
Megumi turned in Yuji’s arms and his hands snaked up to cup the other boy’s face. “Yeah. I think so,” he watched Yuji’s face for a minute, honey stirring within his eyes. It was kindness and warmth and comfort and joy; who would have thought he could find all he needed to live in just those two eyes. He couldn’t stop his next thought from coming out, “I’m glad you’ll be there.”
It was simple, no kind of dramatic declaration. That sweet gaze closed for a moment, a gentle smile appearing below. Megumi’s thumb brushed along the corner of it, an act he’s done a hundred times and will do a thousand times more. Megumi did not often speak his love out loud; he preferred action. Yuji knew this and was used to it. So when Megumi spoke it, it hit Yuji harder each and every time. But it became softer for Megumi, something he found easier and easier.
He continued to brush the spot as Yuji opened his eyes and eventually leaned in. The kiss was delicate and slow and full of love and morning breath. Megumi could live in the feeling, and in a way he does. He lives a gentle life with his honey boy and a sunshine-filled apartment. And he will happily spend the rest of his life this way.
Slowly he pulls away with the thought that he can have this forever. “Want some tea?” Want to spend forever together? Want to have a quiet life with me? Want to love me?
He already knows the answer. This is just a continuation of the routine, a subtle way of saying yes, I love you. “Yes please.” Yuji smiles and Megumi reflects it. He presses another quick peck before sliding out of the covers, avoiding pulling too much cold air underneath. Yuji pulls the covers up to his chin as he watches Megumi slide on slippers and a sweatshirt. Megumi looks back as he steps out of the bedroom, finding Yuji cocooned in bed the sweetest sight.
In the kitchen, he grabs two mugs, one tea bag, one scoop of coffee, and flicks on the kettle and the coffee maker. As their drinks brew, Megumi scours the fridge and pantry for some breakfast. It’s pretty bare bones - grocery shopping is now added to today’s list - but they have the staples. He pulls rice, leftover miso soup, seaweed for Yuji, and the tiny bit of fish leftover from last night’s dinner.
This is the only meal Megumi is always confident in making, so he will always cook it for Yuji. It helps that he’s always up first anyway, but he still enjoys the simplicity of it. He moves easily between heating up, cooking rice, making tea the way Yuji likes, and cleaning up as he goes. He also grabs a tray just in case it’s a breakfast in bed kind of morning.
But soon enough, Yuji seems to float in like a cartoon character on the scent. He hums contently, sleep still coating his movements. He rests his chin on Megumi’s shoulder, watching as he cooks up the fish. Megumi’s free hand quickly and softly cradles Yuji’s cheek.
Soon enough, nearly everything is done and Megumi needs to bounce around to get it all plated. He elbows Yuji in the stomach, “Go sit down, it’s almost ready.”
Yuji lets out a whine, dramatically doubling over his stomach. “Ugh, you go from sweet to angry in milliseconds.” Megumi just side-eyed him as he scooped cooked rice into bowls. “Fine, fine, sitting down.”
“God, you’re such a baby.” Yuji huffed a laugh as he witnessed the tiny smile on the other boy’s face. Teasing was also a form of love in this house, especially once Megumi was actually awake.
But, Yuji still listened. He sat down and watched Megumi finish up in the kitchen. He rested his head on his hand, admiring. When Megumi had spun around for the tray, now just to transport, he caught the lovesick look on the boy’s face. He had to keep moving, but the sight of Yuji watching him like that? The back of his neck heated, his cheeks flushed; suddenly he needed to get out of the sweatshirt and shove his face out of the window. Yes, his love was familiar by now, but every once in a while he became a nervous kid with his first crush again. The same excited shiver and heat he felt the first time he saw that look directed at him would take over his body. He couldn’t help but sigh at his unconscious reaction.
To still feel like a smitten kid was as exhausting as it was beautiful.
He pushed the thoughts back, allowing muscle memory to take over and finish making breakfast. He put everything onto the tray, brought it over, and sat across from Yuji. They took their bowls and drinks, Yuji thanked him for the food, and they ate. The comfortable noise of the city and the wind and the chewing were all the music they needed.
Megumi set down his chopsticks and focused on his coffee, watching Yuji as he sipped. He ate like he did everything else: with passion, fervor, completely all in. It was admirable and disgusting and fascinating, and thank god he loved him. The way he ravenously ate, yet seemed to savor every bite. The “mmm!” coming out whenever he switched what he was eating.
By the time Megumi set his cup down and continued on eating, Yuji was on his last bites. With his mouth still half full, “Thank you Megumi, it was so good!” He took a moment to swallow the last bite before going into some story. Now that he was awake, he was awake. Again, he lives passionately.
Megumi listened and ate the rest of his food slowly, the only silence appearing for the moments Yuji took a sip of his tea. Megumi would nod or ask a simple question randomly, but mainly he just listened. He was happy just to hear Yuji’s voice.
This continued as Yuji washed dishes and Megumi dried. As they made the bed and cleaned up the apartment. Yuji just rambled away about anything and everything. Megumi chatted more, sharing more opinions on whatever gossip Yuji knew or questions about those dumb movies he loved.
They weaved between each other as the cleaning continued. A hand on the back or a kiss on the cheek as one passed by, a cleaning product already being handed over before the other could get the question out, the easy smiles when they caught each others’ gazes.
It was already 12 by the time they finished, and they needed to leave by 12:30. Was Yuji more talkative and proactive as a distraction? At first, he thought, I’ll thank him later. But why not now? Today was already filled with him being more affectionate, more aware of his love.
Yuji was still talking away as he changed when Megumi pulled his face up and kissed him deeply. Cutting off words, it only took a second for Yuji to relax into him. His pants remained unbuttoned on his hips as his hands slid to Megumi’s waist. Yuji stood up more fully and adjusted quickly, tilting their faces as lips slotted and then spread open. Anything else could wait when Megumi kissed him.
Megumi’s hands slid to Yuji’s neck, fingers tangling into the grown-out hair at the nape of his neck. He gently scratched and kept his fingers moving throughout his hair as soft lips and tongues nearly melded together. He tasted of tea and rice and honey and home. Megumi felt no control over his own body; it either trusted in muscle memory or followed the boy of his affections.
After time froze for a while, the two pulled away breathless. Lips were both dried out and more wet, warm breaths mingled between them.
“I’m absolutely not complaining, but what was that for?” Yuji asked, an edge of desperation and rawness in his voice.
Megumi looked into his eyes, only centimeters apart. “A thank you for the distraction.”
He could feel Yuji’s face somehow grow warmer. “I should’ve known you would notice.” A small smirk appeared, as though he was proud of himself for doing it and proud of Megumi for reading him that easily.
Megumi pulled his head back just enough to look up at Yuji’s hair, which he had just messed up. Yuji held his waist tight; Megumi could let his complete weight go and Yuji would still hold him upright. But he watched as Megumi ran a hand back up to his hair, brushing through it. His eyes glanced at Megumi’s lips, nearly falling back into him.
“You need to fix your hair before we go.” Megumi broke him out of the spell, and Yuji took a second. Megumi stepped away and continued changing his own clothes.
“My hair…” he sidestepped to the mirror, “Hey! You did this to me! It was fine before…” He shot accusations before grumbling about sorry I don’t use a full jar of gel like you do every day and you’re lucky I love you, you ass.
Yuji finished putting on his clothes and stomped to the bathroom in order to deal with his hair. Megumi laughed under his breath as he reminisced on the feel of Yuji against his lips.
—
The two walked side by side into the city center, allowing the crowds to consume them. To simply blend in — walk with the workers and students and families and wanderers —was a luxury. They could still be in their own world, just the two, yet they still witnessed the outside. Megumi never felt anxious in a crowd anymore. His attention was always fully on Yuji, his hand just within reach when needed or wanted.
They had previously agreed on a restaurant close to the station. It was better to relieve any worries about being late; the boys were happy to travel a little farther to make this as easy as possible. It was a modern, simple sushi restaurant. The staple meal could offer a bit of comfort to all of them.
When they entered, they scanned the tables to find a lone girl with loads of luggage around her. Yuji pointed to her to the hostess, and she led them over. Handing over menus and quickly bowing, the hostess left them.
Tsumiki looked over her shoulder, a genuine smile gracing her features. “Hi, Megumi, Yuji!” She lit up, even though Megumi could almost taste the bittersweet feeling emanating from her. Of course, she would stay positive and light. But he knew she was still scared, still anxious about the unknown that was approaching.
“Hi, Tsumiki,” Megumi said gently, squeezing her shoulder before walking around her to sit across the table.
“How are you doing?” Yuji easily asked as he slid next to Megumi, his thigh closing the distance and anchoring Megumi down.
“I mean, you know I’m excited, but it’s still a little scary. But I’m okay.” She nodded, more to herself. “How are you two?”
Tsumiki was the first to know about them. She had already witnessed Megumi when he was in a desperate crush, so she was relieved to see them get together. Tsumiki was thankful for Yuji, she knew he was the best person she could ask for for Megumi. Though she may never admit it, Yuji being here allowed her into this next chapter. Knowing Megumi had the love of his life with him every day, she wouldn’t need to worry about him so much.
“We’re good! The new place is shaping up nice. All those windows and a balcony! It’s perfect so far. We’ve done almost nothing this weekend, it’s been great.” Yuji laughed through his last words. Like nearly every weekend wasn’t a little lazy lately.
They continue chatting, tiptoeing around the piles of luggage surrounding them. Was it worse or better to talk about it? Megumi wasn’t sure. He liked the distraction from Yuji earlier, but this was Tsumiki’s life. He figured if she wanted to talk about it more, she would.
So, they just continue as normal. Chatting, joking, ordering, eating. All too soon, the check appears. Megumi and Tsumiki both slap their hands to it. Megumi narrows his eyes, Tsumiki smiles mischievously.
“I invited you here, I’m paying.” Tsumiki states, her sweet tone contrasting the hold she has on the check.
“I don’t care, you’re leaving in an hour. It’s mine.”
Yuji could only look between the two, a laugh suppressed between pressed lips. He had long since learned to not get between them. He had tried to break up a petty argument between the two before, and it just ended in him getting yelled at by the both of them.
“Exactly, it’s my last time here for a while, let me pay.” Her voice was growing an edge.
“You paid last time. We’re here to see you off. You’ll have enough to pay for in Kyoto, Tsumiki.” As her name was bitten out, he used his free hand to grab her wrist and relax her grip. The check whipped back to Megumi, a smug look on his face.
Yuji finally let out the laugh he was holding in. They both looked at him with confusion, then back at each other, still unsure where that was coming from.
Megumi nudges Yuji’s thigh, breaking him out of his laughter. “What?” He asked a little breathless.
“What are you laughing at?”
Yuji relaxed and looked at the two of them, a glint in his eye. “You two were fighting to pay. You’re still the same with the fighting, but it was a weirdly sweet thing to do.”
Megumi flushes as he reaches for his wallet. Tsumiki’s eyes water.
—
The three carry Tsumiki’s entire life through a small park that sits between the restaurant and the station. Yuji pulled her largest luggage, Tsumiki kept her backpack and smaller luggage, and Megumi carried a large duffle bag behind them.
The rhythmic beat of the luggage wheels was the only sound for a while. They watched the fluttering leaves, others walk through lives they would never see, and Megumi kept glancing between Tsumiki and Yuji.
It felt like he was committing her to memory. She wasn’t dying and she really was only a call away, a train ride away, but a piece of him was fading. He would now discover new versions of her each time they met. But little Tsumiki would always be how he knows her.
It felt like he was seeing the future when glancing at Yuji. He didn’t need to commit him to memory; he was already etched into his mind, his heart, his soul. He would evolve with him, would see every big and small version of Yuji. Those glances were more of a comfort.
“Are you going to be okay?” Megumi’s words came out quieter, less sure than he wanted.
Tsumiki sighed, looking up at the tree they passed.
“The only constant is change. As cliche as it is, and as difficult to accept as it is, it’s true. Our lives continue on an infinite possibilities of paths. Yours converged with Yuji’s. Mine leads me away. Others will see paths we can’t imagine.” She looks to Megumi. “Yes. I’ll be okay. I won’t be that far, we’re just a couple more steps apart now.”
His smile and his eyes felt watery. He was happy for her, happy she was creating a new life for herself. That didn’t mean it didn’t hurt a little.
Megumi just nodded a little. He met her gaze, an unspoken familial love fell heavy on his heart.
He allowed the weight, balancing it along with her bag. They soon heard a crowd growing in noise as the station approached, another new heaviness setting in.
Seeming to sense the pressure on him, Yuji paused a step, reached out a hand, and slid his fingers between Megumi’s. He squeezes his hand once, twice. His gaze finds the honey sweet eyes caressing his face. It holds him close, releases some of the weight into the clouds of his mind.
Now, he can turn to Tsumiki.
—
The park didn’t change in the last 15 minutes. But it feels like it did. Or maybe Megumi did.
Yuji is a warm blanket around him. Hand in hand, they walk about through the fallen leaves.
Megumi didn’t think he would cry. But the slow drops onto the concrete below prove otherwise. Every once in a while, a thumb swipes a tear away. It gently says it’s okay. Let it out.
So he does. He continues to gently cry on the walk home.
And maybe it’s his mind, or Tsumiki’s words, or Yuji’s warmth, but slowly the tears feel happy. He didn’t lose a sister. His life goes on. He feels good.
Keys jingling take him out of his thoughts and back into Yuji’s hands. “You’re smiling.” Yuji murmured, softly but seemingly dumbfounded.
“Ah,” he didn’t really notice. But he felt it. “I’m happy.”
Yuji’s eyes widen, his body freezes. He watches Megumi’s face, a small smile holding steady on his tear-stained face. He wasn’t sure what had taken over Megumi today, but every word tasted sweet and delicate and loving to Yuji. He never needed to hear it, knowing he loved through action. But hearing it struck his heart in a new way. The words flowed through every part of his body, consumed and tangled in his blood, tied his soul even more tightly to Megumi’s.
“Oh.” Yuji forced out after some time. Their eyes meet, smiles growing larger. “I’m so glad.” Those were some of the most genuine words he ever uttered.
The two remained in front of their door, smiling like idiots.
“We do still need to do laundry. Unless you can’t unlock it…” Megumi finally broke the silence and gestured to the door. Though teasing, his words only sounded like a love declaration.
“Right,” Yuji fumbled with the keys, fidgeting to get the right one, with Megumi watching him affectionately.
He finally got the door open, letting Megumi inside first. Shoes and jackets came off easily, habitually. Megumi made his way to the bedroom to collect the clothing, and Yuji went to the washer and prepped. Megumi joined him and fed the machine, about to close the door when Yuji threw two more socks in. Megumi looked down to see his bare feet. He looked back up with judgment.
“Better here than leaving them somewhere random!” Yuji explained happily. He hated wearing socks around the house and tended to leave them anywhere and everywhere. He was all too proud of himself for thinking of it now.
Megumi rolled his eyes and started the cycle.
—
The next 45 minutes were spent side-by-side on the couch — to begin with. Megumi pulled his book and quietly read while Yuji played a game on his phone. As the apartment began to fill with the smell of fresh linen, Yuji’s body slowly slid down more. His head slid across the top of the cushions, purposefully within reach of the other boy’s grasp. He shifted a few times, pretending to find a comfortable position. Yuji just wanted attention.
He soon realized he was reading the same line over and over. And it was not because it was a particularly beautiful line.
Relenting, he placed his hair on Yuji’s head and played with his hair. He gently scratched at his scalp, and Yuji sighed contentedly. He closed his eyes, phone lost to the couch. Yuji’s fingers mindlessly drew on Megumi’s knee.
Megumi tried his best to return to the book. He managed one more paragraph, though if questioned, he couldn’t tell you what happened. Yuji’s fingers drawing shapes and letters had a direct line to his thoughts. Admitting defeat, his book flopped to his chest.
“Your hair is getting long,” he commented as he stretched his fingers away, analyzing the length. The pink framed his face in a way he had never seen before.
Yuji shifted to look at him, using Megumi’s knee as leverage, “you think I should cut it?” He then pulled a piece straight to see how far down his face it went. The strands followed the contours of his nose, and Megumi wanted to run his fingers down that same place.
Instead, he kept combing through the rest. He looked at it and thought hard. He did kind of like it, liked the idea that hair held memories even more.
“No, I like it. At least while it’s cold.” He said honestly.
Yuji sat up and spun to face him fully, “Aw, Fushi, you like my long hair? Should we see how long I can get it?” He shook his head like a hair model showing the results of a new shampoo. But it was difficult to get the image of a wet dog shaking out of Megumi’s head.
“I just like the idea that you won’t complain about your neck being cold when you forget a scarf.” He shoved at Yuji’s head, and Yuji took the chance to dramatically fall to the other side of the couch, a hand over his heart.
“Ah, my boyfriend wounds me. He doesn’t worry that I could be cold, just doesn’t want to hear me complain.” His eyes closed like an actor monologuing. He would never get the part with his acting skills. Suddenly he sat up again, accusatory look in his eyes. “Is that why you always give me yours? Just so I shut up?”
Megumi rolled his eyes. He put his book on the side table, sat up, and squished Yuji’s cheeks. “I give you mine because I want to. It is not to shut you up. You keep talking anyway.”
Yuji’s face shifted from sad to in love to realization. “Hey!” He muffled through Megumi’s hands.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way, I like listening to you talk.” He promptly let his face go and sat back to try and resettle with his book, trying to hide his face from Yuji’s view. He really was just saying every thought today.
Yuji watched him with the same wide eye look from earlier. “Megumi!” He shouted as he threw his body on top of Megumi’s, crushing him into a hug. “You’re really sweet, you know that?” He stated as he nuzzled his head into his chest, hands pressed firmly around his back.
They lay intertwined and Yuji asked, “Will you read to me?”
His voice came out shy, uncertain to Megumi’s ears. He had read out loud before, but usually, it was when Yuji was already sleepy and just needed that final push. Had he become greedy with all that Megumi had said today?
He could never resist him though. Megumi started back where he was. The boy’s words and heartbeat and words all flowed together, composing a song just for Yuji’s ears.
They kept this up until the washing machine broke them apart with a jingle. The boys followed the noise and began their drying ritual.
Megumi threw all the clothes back in the basket, grabbed the pile of hangers, and sat on the floor by the balcony. Yuji stood outside, ready to arrange. Megumi grabbed a hanger and began. Yuji started asking questions about the book Megumi was reading when he was handed the first shirt. He secured the hanger as Megumi answered, explaining a character.
Yuji asked a follow up, took the next shirt, and moved one step over. Megumi put the next clean piece on a hanger, handed it over, Yuji hung it outside, and the ritual continued.
Megumi’s mind cleared. The meditative state took over his mind. Yes, the sadness still sat quietly in the back of his head, but he was happy. He felt the breeze, heard Yuji’s words and clinking hangers, and he relaxed completely into the moment.
They relaxed back into the couch, watching the shirts twist and turn with the wind. The beginnings of the setting sun reflected off the clothing, lighting the home with a golden tone. The boys were settled back in together; Megumi’s head now resting on Yuji’s chest, Yuji’s hand finding a sliver of bare skin on Megumi’s waist. Clean scents wafted around the room, the sounds of the city shifting with the hour.
This was peace, he knew that now.
—
“How did you make breakfast? We have nothing!” Yuji exclaimed from the fridge. He closed the door and made his way to Megumi and hovered above him. “Wanna go grocery shopping with me?” He smiled, sweetness oozing out of him.
When had Megumi ever said no to him? “Sure.” He found his bookmark and set his book down. Yuji smiled and pulled Megumi’s hand to get him standing. For a second, Yuji wouldn’t let his hands go. Megumi could only watch him, waiting for him to move. He scanned that smiling face, trying to read his subconscious body language. But all he saw was ease, comfort.
“Okay let’s go!” He dropped one hand and led Megumi to the front door. He could only shake his head and follow, getting shoes and his light jacket back on. Yuji grabbed the shopping bags, and they headed out.
—
Yuji loves grocery shopping. Megumi discovered that early on. At first, he never asked. Megumi assumed it was his love of eating and cooking that naturally led him to love the act of purchasing it.
One day, he finally asked why he seemed so excited every time.
“Oh, I mean… I guess I just like doing this kind of thing with you. You know, the whole home life thing. Cooking, cleaning, shopping. It’s nice with you.”
Megumi went with him every time now.
“Did you make a list?” Megumi asked. They passed families with their own grocery hauls, businessman trudging home, elderly people on their evening walks. Everyone seemed to want to bask in the setting sun. The last moments of warmth.
“Of course not! I never do.” Yuji stated with a shake of his head.
Megumi side-eyed him. “How do you know what to get?” He sounded a little accusatory. Megumi typically had a running list on his phone. Moving threw off all routines, so this grocery trip was a reset; Megumi hadn’t had a chance to really prepare ahead of time.
Yuji huffed a laugh and looped his arm through Megumi’s. He leaned his face in close, “You just gotta trust me, baby.”
Megumi shot his glance back forward. Yuji watched his face, witnessed the red bloom across his cheeks. Pet names always did that to him. Though Yuji used them, it was sporadic. It allowed for his flustered state to return every time because he would never be used to it.
“Whatever,” was all he could manage.
Yuji smiled and turned his gaze back forward, but kept Megumi within his grasp. Walking arm-in-arm felt different. Even when it overwhelmed his senses, he reveled in the feeling of Yuji holding onto him. The public display of affection satisfied the hopeless romantic that sat deep within him.
When they arrived, Megumi grabbed a basket and trailed behind Yuji. He decided to trust in Yuji and let him throw whatever he wanted in — almost. They did not need that much of anything, let alone sweets. There were just a couple of repeat items he quietly placed back on the shelf.
Yuji let his nose and instincts lead, pulling ingredients for his go-to dinner ideas. Meat, ginger, noodles, sauces, anything that looked good. Megumi kept an eye out for the staples Yuji often ignored due to excitement from the fun.
“Oh! I want to see if there’s anything new in the…” his voice faded as he all but sprinted over to the fish section. Megumi smiled to himself and continued through the aisles, picking up the usual snacks and breakfast items. At this point, he didn’t really need a list either.
In the next aisle, Megumi stood in front of the drink options, trying to decide what sounded good for the next few days. With Autumn, maybe some of the fruit flavors were not the vibe anymore, but did he only want tea now? Maybe—
Suddenly Yuji was on Megumi’s back, nearly pushing him into the shelves. “Megumi, look! They had octopus! I haven't seen any here before.” Yuji’s whooping had others looking in confusion. All they would see is a disgruntled Megumi hunched over as Yuji wrapped around his back like a koala, flaunting a package of octopus in front of him.
Through gritted teeth, “You’re making a scene, Itadori.”
“Oh, it’s bad when the family name comes out.” Yuji feigned being guilty as he slid off. He gently placed the octopus in the basket and moved in front of Megumi. “Sorry, I was just excited.”
He couldn’t help the social conventions from taking over his own behavior. But even more, he did not like Yuji apologizing for being himself. “Don’t apologize.”
Yuji leaned in close with a smile. Yuji’s height over him could be felt in this moment. “I’m not actually sorry. These people are just no fun.”
Megumi met his gaze, shifting a couple of centimeters closer. “I’m sure the children are.”
“I’m just forever a child at heart.” Yuji pulled in closer.
“That was obvious from the amount of sweets you tried to sneak into the basket.”
“Sorry we don’t all have the palette of a 80 year old man.”
They both froze before breaking into a laugh. Their faces had shifted closer and closer, and the tension needed to be broken in a more socially appropriate way. Though he loved the comfort of home, sitting together on the couch, Megumi loved the banter and fun he had with Yuji in a different way. It challenged him, forced him to keep up. Yuji had to be pretty smart to play so dumb.
Breaths caught, Megumi took a look at their basket. “Anything else?”
“I think we’re good. Unless you need some softer foods for your old tastes.”
Megumi pushed and elbowed past Yuji, lips pressed to hide his smile.
—
“Here,” Yuji reached out his free hand. Megumi’s eyebrow cocked up in question. “That bag, I’ll take it.”
Megumi relented, still a little confused. They had three full bags, and Megumi was fine carrying the two he had. But he knew Yuji would not let it go. He passed the lighter of the two bags to Yuji, only for Yuji to pass it to his already full hand.
“Why are you…” Megumi asked, concerned until Yuji’s free hand grasped Megumi’s. He looked down to confirm that was happening.
“I just wanted to hold your hand.” He stated simply. Like carrying that weight on one side for 20 minutes was nothing to him, as long as they could hold hands.
Every once in a while, Megumi became completely self-aware. Yes, he was always grateful and in love. But in moment like this, where Yuji wanted to be connected and take the brunt of the weight just to do so, he didn’t know what kind of good karma he earned in a past life.
To have someone so kind and affectionate and caring and everything Megumi didn’t dare try to think would be real, he was truly the luckiest. He lived a peaceful life with this boy. He got to wake up to the sight of honey-sweet eyes. He received lovesick looks from across every room. He did laundry and cleaned and cooked and shopped with him. He genuinely laughed at his dumb antics. He was cradled in warm, strong arms whenever he wished. And he got to do it every day.
Ah, he was so happy.