Chapter Text
“Would you rather...give up ginger and chicken for a year, or give up reading?”
“What kind of question is that?”
When Megumi agreed to taking a walk with Yuji, he always expects random conversation. He does more listening than talking, but Yuji's never minded; he does enough talking for them both. Kuro and Shiro between them almost seem to be listening too, staring up at Yuji with adoration.
At this point, it's like they love Yuji more than I do.
He blushes at those words crossing his mind; even after three years together, Yuji still manages to fluster him. Thankfully, Yuji doesn't notice this time, always quick to tease him.
“Never played would you rather?” Yuji asks.
“Not really.”
He's never played anything many people do when they're young: would you rather, truth or dare, never have I ever, spin the bottle, seven minutes in heaven. He's fine with that. He doesn't believe he missed much.
“Come on, it's a harmless question,” Yuji insists.
Megumi quietly sighs and decides to indulge him. It's too nice a day to get annoyed at him.
The things I do for this man.
“Fine. Ginger and chicken, I guess. There's other things to eat. But reading is irreplaceable.”
“I love that for you,” Yuji comments, affection in his voice. “Favorite season?”
Megumi glances at him, slightly irritated now. “That's not a 'would you rather.'”
“I want to guess winter.”
He sighs again at Yuji ignoring his statement. “You'd be right.”
“And mine?” Yuji asks like it's a quiz.
“Spring, of course.”
Yuji beams at him for guessing correctly, making Megumi's face turn warm again. “So why winter?”
He considers, imagining the cold, crisp air, sweaters and scarves and crackling fireplaces, a mug of hot tea in hand, watching Yuji, Kuro, and Shiro frolic in the fresh snow on the ground, pausing to take pictures before he's inevitably encouraged to join, snowball fights and building snowmen and making snow cream with Yuji.
But he can't say all that without his face burning, so he settles for a safer version that Yuji is less likely to tease him for.
“It's...soothing. Refreshing. Easier to breathe. Everything dies, but you know it'll always grow back. Sort of like...a rebirth. Recovery.”
Yuji smiles softly and teases him anyway. “That's beautiful, Megumi. A little poetic and sappy, but I like that.”
Megumi allows himself a small smile in return rather than feeling embarrassed. “It's nice when it snows, too. It's...fun to be in the snow. With you.”
Yuji laughs. “You, too. Especially when I always win our snowball fights.”
“Because I let you win.”
Yuji gives him a one-armed hug and kisses his cheek. “Sure, love.”
They reach their destination: the dog park, where Kuro and Shiro race away once Megumi releases them. The opposite of Megumi's introverted nature, they easily mingle with the other dogs, playing and barking with joy in the late afternoon sun.
Like Yuji in dog form.
He follows Yuji to a bench to sit down, keeping one eye on the dogs as he continues the conversation. “What's your favorite thing about spring?”
Yuji considers, tapping his chin in thought to add to the effect. “Hmm. It feels like a reset. A new start. A beginning. The time when everything is regrowing after a harsh winter. Plus, it's cherry blossom season. It never gets old watching them bloom.”
“True,” Megumi agrees. “Remember the first time we took Kuro and Shiro with us?”
Yuji smiles fondly at the memory. “Yeah, they caused a scene trying to catch the blossoms while they fell. I still have the video.”
Megumi gives a quiet laugh at the reminder of such a warm day. He's unsure which he prefers: Kuro and Shiro chasing cherry blossoms or playing in the snow.
Sitting there with Yuji, he lets himself take in his surroundings: the cool breeze ruffling his hair, birdsong in the background of human chatter and dogs barking, the shade providing relief from direct sunlight, the human embodiment of the sun himself seated next to him, leaning slightly against him as he chatters about anything that comes to mind, Megumi listening and responding when needed.
The perfect spring day. Megumi could sit here all day, basking in Yuji's presence and closeness as they watch Kuro and Shiro run about to their heart's content.
Until he glances up and sees sudden clouds rolling in from the left, light gray at the start, but darker in the distance. He nudges Yuji to get his attention, pointing to the clouds.
“Well, damn,” Yuji comments.
“Help me get the dogs?”
“'Course.”
Quickly, they track down Kuro and Shiro, shuffling through other people gathering their own dogs to beat the storm home. He feels a few light raindrops on his back as he finally catches them, leading Kuro as Yuji takes Shiro to start the walk home.
Before long, it's pouring, like a faucet switched on full blast. Their clothes are soaked in seconds; Megumi's shoes are drenched from puddles already forming on the ground. He doesn't have to look at Yuji to know he's smiling. He loves all weather, rain, snow, or shine.
At the house, Megumi makes quick work of unlocking the door so they can get inside. He holds the dogs in place by the door while Yuji slips off his shoes and grabs towels to dry off the dogs before unleashing them.
Megumi grabs towels for himself and Yuji next, Yuji taking both and saying, “May I?”
He asks the question so sweetly, Megumi can't refuse him. He sits down in one of the kitchen chairs and relaxes as Yuji dries his hair, his movements gentle and tender. They switch places once Yuji's decided he's sufficiently dry, Megumi taking great care with Yuji's hair, kissing the top of his head when he's done.
After changing clothes (Megumi throwing on sweats and a t-shirt, Yuji opting for shorts and a sweater), they settle into the living room with a large blanket and a bowl of popcorn to share to watch a movie, Kuro and Shiro curled up on either side of them.
“Say what you will about the rain being dreary, but it's refreshing, isn't it?” Yuji says.
“I've never called the rain dreary,” Megumi points out.
“I mean, in general. Like people saying the rain is sad, like the sky's crying. And I guess in a poetic sense, you could say that. But it's also sort of...I don't know...”
“Refreshing?” Megumi volunteers.
Yuji laughs. “Exactly, you get it.”
“I agree. Sometimes it's nice sitting by the window watching the raindrops on the glass, too.”
“Could practically make artwork out of it, you know?”
Megumi hums in agreement and relaxes into Yuji's arms, content in his warmth, the dogs pressed against them, a good movie blending with the rain pattering against the house.
Peaceful.