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Megumi, Yuuji, and Kugisaki wandered across the brightly lit, packed mall. Crowds of chattering people passed by them, and they stuck close, Kugisaki stopping in every clothes store she spotted. Her and Yuuji bickered playfully, while Megumi sighed, trying his hardest to keep track of them. They went through practically the whole store. At least, it felt like it to him. Yuuji and Kugisaki were laughing as they spoke, walking alongside him. Finally he spoke up, the throbbing of hundreds of voices and footsteps in his head finally getting to be too much. It’s not that he hadn’t enjoyed shopping with his friends, he did, but he had his limits.
“Hey, why don’t we grab something to eat?” Megumi asked the other two, knowing they would never turn down food. Their eyes light up, speaking loudly about where to go. They finally decided on a small place nearby that was like a cafe and bakery.
“I could definitely go for something sweet” Yuuji piped up, frowning at his stomach. “Now that you mention it, I’m starving ”
Megumi rolled his eyes, a slight grin playing at the corners of his mouth. Of course he was. They walked down the street, Megumi listening to his friends talk amongst themselves. The two were always so loud, but he strangely didn’t mind it, finding pleasure in listening to their voices. He enjoyed these days, when they could finally relax, no curses, no fighting, just…being a teen. They stepped into the shop, gazing around at the displays of pastries, foods, and the large menu of drink options. The sweet scent of fresh baking and warm coffee filled the air. Yuuji sighed happily
“Oh man… I can’t decide, I’m going to get one of everything…” He said, smiling excitedly.
“You cannot eat that many.” Megumi pointed out, causing Yuuji to pout slightly before brightening again.
“Oh, I’m gonna get the chocolate filled bun” He decided
“I’ll have a red bean paste bun.” Kugisaki added, checking her wallet for cash and handing it over to Megumi. Yuuji smiled sheepishly
“I’ll pay you back?”
Megumi sighed, but agreed to buy it for him. The things he does for these two.
“Drinks?” He asked, crossing his arms.
“Oh, I’ll get a matcha latte!” Kugisaki said happily “I can taste it already…”
Eventually Yuuji decided on a caramel frappe or something. Megumi wasn’t too well versed in coffee knowledge. He stepped up to the counter, speaking to the cashier.
“Can I get a red bean paste bun, a chocolate bun, a sesame bun, a matcha latte, a caramel frappe, and a black coffee?” The cashier nodded, punching the order into the register and flashing them a certified customer service forced smile. "Of course, that’ll be about fifteen minutes. Cash or card?” Megumi swiped his card and they moved over to the end of the counter. As they waited for their order Yuuji’s stomach growled and he sighed.
“I’m starving…” Kugisaki raised her eyebrow “We ate lunch right before we left?” Megumi smiled softly as he listened to them argue playfully.
Finally their order was done and they took it out, walking as they ate. Yuuji bit into his bun, sighing. Megumi drank his coffee, the hot liquid warming his body comfortingly, the smell and taste filling his senses. They walked down the street. The cool autumn air was a nice contrast to their treats and the red leaves fluttered to the ground around them, it felt almost peaceful.
“Is there anywhere else you guys wanna stop by before we head back?” Kugisaki piped up, looking over at the boys.
“I don’t mind if we do, as long as it’s not the movies. I will not make that mistake again” Megumi replied, causing Yuuji to frown.
“Hey! What’s wrong with the movies?”
“You make us watch Wormy boy or whatever it’s called.” Megumi reminded, crossing his arms.
“That’s not-” Yuuji sighed. “Fine, we won’t go to the movies…” He pouted slightly, but didn’t really seem that upset. As Megumi sipped his coffee Kugisaki made a face.
“How do you drink that? Isn’t it so bitter..?” She asked, glancing at the cup.
“Yeah, but I like it… Gojo eats almost nothing but sweets, so I had too many as a kid. He does it to stay awake and keep up his technique” He responded. The other two looked surprised.
“Oh, man, I could never stay up too long…” Yuuji said thoughtfully.
“Of course not, you sleep like the dead. Not even Sukuna wakes you.” Megumi pointed out. Yuuji nods in response.
“Yeah, that’s the good thing about being a deep sleeper, he can’t bother me at night, I’d pass out either way”
Megumi huffed grumpily “He bothers me, always going on and on trying to wake you up. Makes it hard to sleep”
Yuuji smiled sheepishly. “He bothers you? I’m sorry… I didn’t realise he went off that much”
“It’s okay, I deal with it.” Megumi said, seeming mildly annoyed but not too angry about it.
The three fell silent, walking along the bustling streets. Occasionally Yuuji and Kugisaki would go on about something, Megumi listening patiently. He liked this. He liked them. And being together in a way that wasn’t fighting curses together was a very calming feeling. He hoped it would one day be normal.