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Itadori Yuji was not someone who typically panicked, but the current situation was unlike anything he’d faced before. The living room of their small apartment was strung with lights, the faint smell of pine wafted from their little, uneven Christmas tree, and he was absolutely losing it.
“What do I get him?!” Itadori wailed, pacing back and forth while Kugisaki slouched on their couch, scrolling through her phone, and Gojo stood in the kitchen sipping hot cocoa like he had all the time in the world. Fushiguro was out running errands of his own, picking up groceries for tonight’s dinner, and getting last-minute Christmas decorations for Jujutsu Tech that Gojo begged him to do for him.
“Why are you even asking me?” Kugisaki said, not even looking up. “You should know Fushiguro better than anyone.”
“I do! But that’s the problem! It has to be perfect,” Itadori groaned, dragging his hands down his face. “This is our first Christmas living together! What if I mess it up and he hates it and—”
“Relax, Yuji,” Gojo said, leaning against the counter with a smirk. Itadori’s face scrunched when he saw the pastry wrappers on the counter, but decided not to comment on it. “Megumi isn’t the type to care about material things. Just give him something from the heart.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know,” Gojo shrugged dramatically. “A book about brooding? A year’s supply of black turtlenecks?”
Nobara snorted. “Or you could get him a dog… you know, since he’s obsessed with them.”
Itadori froze mid-step. “A dog…”
“No,” Nobara deadpanned, realizing what she’d just unleashed. “You cannot handle a real dog right now.”
“No, not a real dog!” His face lit up as the idea took hold. “But maybe… something like that. Like… a plushie!”
Gojo raised an eyebrow. “That’s cute, but how is a plushie perfect?”
Itadori hesitated, a small, bittersweet smile crossing his face. “I was thinking… one of the demon dogs. The one that…”
Nobara sat up, her expression softening. “The one that passed away?”
Itadori nodded. “He doesn’t talk about it much, but I know he still misses it. I just… I want him to know I get it, you know?”
Gojo gave a rare, genuine smile. “Now that is a good idea, Yuji.”
By the time Christmas Eve rolled around, Itadori was both excited and nervous. The plushie he’d ordered was perfect—black fur, piercing eyes, and an uncanny resemblance to Fushiguro’s late demon dog, complete with a small charm around its neck engraved with the name Shiro.
Now, they were sitting in the living room in their matching Christmas pajamas that Itadorii spent ten minutes convincing Fushiguro to wear. The soft glow of the Christmas tree lights reflected off their gift boxes as they exchanged glances.
“You first,” Fushiguro said, handing Itadori a small, neatly wrapped box.
Itadori tore into it eagerly, revealing a sleek silver chain with a ring threaded onto it. The ring itself was simple but elegant, engraved with a small inscription on the inside that read Always together.
“A ring?” Yuji’s voice cracked as he looked up at Fushiguro.
“A promise ring.” He added. “Since I think we can agree we’re too young to get married. But, then again, we’ve been through too much together for me to not give you this.”
Itadori took the ring in his hand, and slid it on his right index finger. “How do you know my ring size?”
Fushiguro smiled softly, “I took a guess, I’ve held it enough to make a close one at least.”
“You’ve thought about our future this much?” Itadori asked, as if he hadn’t spent countless nights thinking of marrying the man sleeping next to him.
Fushiguro’s ears turned red, but he nodded. “I mean, we’re already living together, and I wanted to give you something to show that I’m serious about this. About us.”
Itadori was silent for a moment, his throat tightening. “Megumi… this is amazing.”
“And it’s a chain, since you can’t wear it on your left ring finger. Plus, I wouldn’t want it getting in the way of any fights.” Itadori smiled, bringing the ring closer to look at the details again.
Fushiguro shifted, looking almost shy. “Okay, your turn now.”
Suddenly, Itadori felt a pang of insecurity. How could his silly little plushie compare to something as meaningful as a promise ring? But there was no backing out now. He handed Fushiguro the carefully wrapped package, his palms clammy.
Fushiguro opened it slowly, his expression unreadable as he pulled out the plushie. His fingers brushed over the soft fur, his gaze lingering on the small charm.
Itadori panicked at the silence. “I-I know it’s not as meaningful as a ring, but I thought—”
Before he could finish, Fushiguro’s eyes welled up, and he quickly looked away, blinking furiously and pointing his head up to the ceiling to prevent any traitor tears from falling.
“Megumi?” Itadori leaned closer, worried. Even if they were dating now, he still wasn’t used to seeing the more vulnerable side of his boyfriend. Tears, were not a common thing to see between them, really.
Fushiguro shook his head, clutching the plushie tightly to his chest. “It’s perfect,” he said softly, his voice trembling. “Thank you.”
Fushiguro blinked, stunned. “Really?”
Fushiguro looked at him then, a rare, raw vulnerability in his eyes. “Yeah. I miss them every day. And… this makes it feel like I have a piece of him back.”
Itadori chest felt like it might burst. He pulled Fushiguro into a tight hug, his own eyes stinging. “I’m so glad you like it.”
“I don’t like it,” Fushiguro murmured against his shoulder. “I love it.”
They stayed like that for a while, holding each other under the warm glow of their little tree. For Itadori, it didn’t matter what gifts they exchanged in the future—this Christmas, their first together, was already perfect.