Work Text:
Megumi had an awfully hectic month ahead of him.
Exams, back to back for at least two weeks straight, homework that needed to be turned in before the semester ended, and studying that he needed to catch up on.
It was his own fault, though, choosing computer science as a major and a music minor.
His heavy backpack burdened his shoulders as heavy rain rapped against his black umbrella. He really hadn’t left campus before—too absorbed in all his work to be frolicking around aimlessly, he claimed. And he really didn’t need to leave his dorm unless it was to shop for groceries, primarily coffee.
But he had jinxed it. He had run out of coffee, and the small market he frequented no longer had any stock left of his favorite grounds or even his preferred brand and roast of instant coffee.
He exited the gates of the campus, his shoes patting softly against wet concrete. A chilling breeze blew past him, seeping in through his white dress shirt. He suppressed a shiver—it was much too cold for it to still be autumn.
A quaint yet finely cleaned building across the street snagged his attention. A cafe, right next to a library. A very convenient study location. Maybe he should’ve actually paid attention when he left the campus (once or twice a month).
He checked the street—left, right, left again, skipping safety precautions would be unwise—and quickened his pace, beelining for the oak doors of the cafe.
A cheery bell rang as he swung open the door.
“Hello! Hey, wait, you’re new!” Someone exclaimed as Megumi shut his soaked umbrella.
“…Yes, I am,” Megumi deadpanned as he walked to the front, absentmindedly holding a strap of his backpack.
“Well, then, welcome! My name’s Yuji Itadori,” said the excited barista behind the counter. So he was the one speaking. Why was he so energetic? And why did the pink in his hair look natural? The boy—Itadori—seemed to radiate positivity simply from his facial expressions alone. Megumi almost felt guilty for his own lack of optimism, but also slightly irritated by the barista’s excess supply of it in such early hours.
Ah, introducing himself would be the polite thing to do, wouldn’t it? “Megumi Fushiguro.”
“Alright, Fushiguro! What would you like?” Itadori beamed at him.
I haven’t even looked at the menu yet. “…Could I have a minute?”
“Of course! Just let me know when you’re ready to order.”
Megumi looked up at the poster menus above, but a sweat drop formed on his forehead as he felt someone’s eyes burning into him. “I’ll just get an espresso,” he decided after not fully reading the menu.
As he had presumed, it was Itadori’s eyes that were boring into his head. The barista grimaced, “Espresso? How can you even drink that stuff? Eugh, it’s so bitter, mochas are much better…Oh, sorry! It’ll be out in a second,” he smiled again as Megumi handed him his card.
As they fell into silence, Megumi began picking out the wafting smells of the cafe.
The scent of coffee grounds wafted through the building—almost stinging his nose—accompanied by smells of sweet pastries. Large windows put the stormy weather on display, the raindrops pelting against the glass rapidly.
Megumi inhaled, “I’ll just—“
“—So, are you a student here?”
He loves talking.
“Yes. Are you?”
“I actually am. I’m surprised we haven’t seen each other around before,” Itadori remarked as he put the espresso in the grinder. “What’s your major?”
“I’m a computer science major with a music minor,” Megumi’s lips formed a straight line.
“Oh really? That’s cool,” Itadori replied, hardly looking up from the espresso machine. “I’m a business major myself.”
“Oh. Nice.” No wonder he has the time to work outside of school. Business majors don’t have to do—
“Well, compsci’s really difficult, right? Is that why you’re ordering an espresso?” Itadori raised an eyebrow.
“…Not completely,” Megumi shrugged, as if he hadn’t lost sleep for days straight because of computer science.
All Megumi saw as Itadori focused on his work was a pink fluff of hair. It was almost cute.
Almost. Yes. Almost .
Megumi’s eyes flicked absentmindedly around the cafe, vaguely aware of the small line that had formed behind him.
The espresso machine’s whirring ceased. “Here’s your espresso, Fushiguro,” Itadori smiled at him. Again.
“Thank you,” Megumi gave a slight bow of his head, taking the to-go cup which almost burned his hand even through the sleeve.
Megumi scratched at his cheek awkwardly as he eyed the cafe for a small table.
It’d be nice if there were seats for one…
Finally laying eyes on quainter table by a window, Megumi moved into a quick walk and set down the burning hot cup of coffee.
As Megumi worked, Itadori kept chirping greetings and smiling “Of course” to essentially all the customers.
He’s kinda noisy, especially with all that small talk. And why does he even have pink hair?
Of course, these irritation-caused inquiries lingered in Megumi’s mind on the way back to his dorm.
And so, naturally, Megumi stepped through the doors of the same cafe the following morning.
“Oh, hey, again! Fushiguro, wasn’t it?” Itadori waved at him.
“Yeah, that’s me,” Megumi freely walked to the front counter, unburdened by a soaked umbrella due to the cloudy yet rain-free weather.
“Well, what would you like today, Fushiguro?”
“A drip coffee. Er—please.”
“Room for cream?” Itadori gave him an almost hopeful look.
“No, thank you.”
“Aw, come on! Do you at least want a cookie? You shouldn’t have black coffee on an empty stomach.”
Megumi hated sweets. “…Okay.”
…
What did he just say?
“Great! I knew you had a bit of sense in you,” and despite knowing that he would have to grimace his way through the dessert, Megumi handed his card to Itadori.
And as Megumi nibbled a chocolate cookie in between sips of black coffee, he refused to acknowledge that it didn’t taste all that horrible. Good, even.
_____
Megumi was horrified with himself.
Why did he keep coming to this random coffee shop, even though the market had restocked their coffee grounds? Surely going to the cafe was more expensive than just making it himself, right?
“Fushiguro, nice to see you again!” Megumi faced the same pink-haired student for the fifth day in a row.
“You as well,” his mouth nearly twitched into an actual smile.
Itadori seemed to smile wider than usual. Before Megumi could speak further, Itadori gestured to a coffee machine. “Black drip coffee?”
“Yes, thank you.”
Itadori simply pressed start on the machine, not preparing the coffee grounds.
“Hold on,” Megumi walked closer to the counter, brows furrowed. “Did you already have it ready?”
“Uh…yeah?” Itadori raised an eyebrow.
Megumi scratched at his neck. “Why?”
“Because you’ve been ordering a black drip coffee for the past four days?” Itadori’s tone was almost dry, as if the question’s answer was obvious.
“Ah, okay…” A tint of warmth prickled at Megumi’s cheeks, his brows still slightly displaced in confusion.
Itadori hummed idly, “Any plans for the weekend?”
Megumi averted his eyes before glancing back at the barista, “No, I don’t think so, you?”
“Me neither. I would normally complain about being cooped up, but it’s almost finals and I need to work on the material,” Itadori sighed.
“Business majors have finals? That you need to study for?” Megumi blurted, then covered his mouth, his eyes wide once he had realized what he’d asked.
Itadori stared at him, dead in the eye, before breaking out into laughter. “That’s the funniest joke about business majors I’ve heard in a while! You’re hilarious, Megumi!” Itadori gripped Megumi’s shoulder in attempt to not completely keel over.
It wasn’t that funny…I’m glad he thinks it is though. Better than him feeling insulted, I guess.
A minute later, Itadori handed him…two cups of coffee, a drip coffee and a latte.
“Huh?” Megumi quirked an eyebrow, taking the drip coffee, but eyeing the latte.
Itadori looked away, “I just wanted to practice making lattes and you seemed like an honest person, so could you please try it and tell me what you think?” His head was down, only his pink fluff of hair visible and his voice uncharacteristically quiet.
“Alright. Thank you,” Megumi took the latte from Itadori’s hand, fingers brushing for a quick moment.
Itadori’s head snapped up. “Thanks, Fushiguro!” He beamed.
“‘Megumi’ is okay.” What the hell am I saying ?
“Oh, okay. Thanks, Megumi!”
“Anytime, Itadori.”
Megumi didn’t particularly favor lattes and their sweet nature, but Itadori’s glowing expression almost made it worth it. Almost .
And if he did tell Itadori that it was the best latte he’s had in a long while, it was frankly nobody else’s right to know.
A week straight.
He had gone to this coffee shop for a week straight. Why?
“Here’s your drip coffee, Megumi!” Itadori gave him the usual smile after their now-daily conversations.
“Thank you,” Megumi gave a short bow of his head.
As he typed code into his laptop and the coffee cooled down, Megumi slipped the sleeve off of the cup to reap as much warmth from the coffee as he could.
He did a double take at some odd writing on the sleeve.
No plans over the weekend, right? Followed by a phone number.
How ridiculous. This barista was already talkative, why would Megumi speak to him outside of this new daily routine? Wasn’t daily enough?
Megumi turned on his phone to add a new contact.
“Bye, Megumi!” Yuji waved happily as Megumi pushed the cafe doors open to exit.
“See you, Yuji,” Megumi smiled.