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Though things had settled down in many ways from their high school days, getting a group of perpetually stressed out sorcerers together and giving them something to let loose and celebrate was always a recipe for chaos. Maki and Yuta's eventual late spring wedding had been one of those precious occasions, and it had created what could only be called a 'zoo of over sentimental hyped up idiots' by the bride. But Maki was smiling when she said it, so Yuji didn't feel any shame as he added to the buffoonery, glowing with emotion and drunk off of the atmosphere.
After all, two of his closest friends had found each other all those years ago. Two people who had at one time been burnt so entirely by losing their hearts but found love again within each other. Todo( one of the most notable sentimental idiots of the night) had briefly pouted over being banned from making a public speech, so he simply told these things to Yuji and Miwa, sniffling wetly as he opined about love as what made them human, and how it had so much power to persist, to ground and to elevate them all.
"Yeah, it's really sweet," Miwa sniffles as well, missing the glaring contradiction in the last point while trying to delicately wipe her eyes without smudging her suit cuff with eyeliner. Yuji fishes a tissue out of his pocket that she gladly takes.
"Oh! Thank you, Itadori. I always cry at this kind of thing." She smiles at him, then nods her head to the large emotionally compromised man between them. "But you're really prepared, huh?"
"My best friend," Aoi Todo collects himself, eyes shiny with tears threatening to fall yet standing tall above the other two. "…is always tuned in to what people need." However, it's at this moment that the man spots Yuta's mother talking warmly to Maki, gently brushing hair out of her daughter-in-law's face in a way that has his lip begin wibbling again. Yuji already has a tissue raised up into Todo's line of vision as he chokes on a quiet sob and gladly takes it.
Unsurprising to anyone Todo had openly wept through the ceremony, ruining his (perfectly coordinated to his suit's) silk pocket square turned hanky until Yuji found a pack of tissues to substitute out. He had remained teary on and off at the beauty of love even into the reception, so consistently overcome that Yuji assigned himself to play emotional and physical support, something like a human teddy bear who had to stay alert for being swept into an impulsive hug.
Even as sturdy as Yuji is, his ribs ached as Todo leaned into him once again.
"Yeah, I've been playing point for the big guy all day," He slaps Todo's big solid back with a good natured thump. The soft way Miwa smiles at them has Yuji averting his eyes as he pats more rapidly to hurry him up.
"Don't let Todo hog your attention away from mingling, " Kamo interrupts. It was a surprise that he made it considering how much he stayed away from anything involving sorcery these days, even his clothing choices reflect it in his understated yet modern turtleneck sweater and slacks. But he seemed to keep surprisingly close with Maki, so made a special point to make an exception.
"Hanging out with Todo's fun!" Yuji defends, but at the sound of Noritoshi's voice Todo perks up, grabbing at his former classmate and ignoring the dignified curse of complaint in reply to the manhandling.
"Kamo! I know that's your piss poor way of asking for my time! Fill me in, what have you been up to!?" And with that, Yuji and Miwa watch as the former Kamo clan heir is dragged away right before their very eyes.
"Sooo…" After a moment Miwa starts fishing for small talk, "did you know Maki's blowing the Zenin estate money on the food and open bar?"
"You wanted to go put a dent in the inheritance right? I'm game!" Yuji makes a show of polishing his bicep jokingly. If there's a job to do, he's the man for it! Or at least until Hakari starts getting into high gear and starts pulling people into drinking games.
Miwa copies the movement with a happy sound before something visibly crosses her mind and makes her fret momentarily "Oh! But I don't want to get in your way being Todo's designated um…"
"It's fiiiine! It's not like I'm his keeper." Yuji waves her concern off. Everyone's been commenting on them today and it's making him feel contrary, neck prickling in self consciousness. "Plus I sober up fast, thanks to uh…" He gestures vaguely at the whole of himself. So many of their fellow sorcerers have unique constitutions, and Miwa seems to clock his meaning quickly.
"Ah, if you say so! You should see Okkotsu—ah Yuta, though. He seems just about the opposite right now." She giggles, recalling how many of his relatives had been urging him and Maki to drink in celebration with them.
"Really? We'll have to go make it worse," Yuji says, though he looks forward to stuffing himself on free food the most. Nothing better than high quality meat under someone else's bill.
The night was young! There were other people to catch up with! Good food to eat, drinks to drink and dances to dance.
As one song ends and another less familiar one begins, Hana sags into Yuji on the dance floor.
"Okay!" She chirps, wings drooping. Wisps of light hair stick out of her braided updo, frazzled from daring herself to keep up with her friend's endless energy reserves. "I need a tap out."
"Already?" Yuji laughs at Hana's panted scoff in offense before he obligingly leads her back to where Kugisaki and Fushiguro are settled, wall flowering it up at their table. Hana lets herself flop bodily into her chair, her airy blue skirts fluffing out like a dropped cupcake.
Yuji settles in next to her with a creak of heavily rented out event chair, immediately leaning over to elbow Megumi. "Fushiguro! You gotta get out there, man!"
Hana perks up with a smile, flushed from exhaustion but quickly finding her second wind at the idea of seeing their friend unveil his moves. "Yes, you need to dance at least a little!"
"I don't dance." Megumi states. The idea of publicly embarrassing himself forces a grimace to take over his face so immediately and with such intensity that it sets off the others into laughing at him regardless. He squirms further into his seat, poking at an hors d’oeuvre from his plate.
"Yeah, Fushiguro's awkward shuffling would kill the vibe." Nobara says, grinning like a knife.
"Oh shut the hell up, you've been right here with me this whole time." Megumi snipes.
Nobara huffs defensively, haughtily brushing hair out of her face. She's insisted she's been having a great time all day, gushing over how beautiful Maki looks while the most she's mustered for Yuta is complete careful neutrality. "I'm waiting for someone to ask, as a lady should!"
"Are you sure that's it? You had some pretty good moves on New Years that don't need a partner…" Yuji wonders aloud faux-cluelessly as he recalls her attempts at solo dirty dancing while totally trashed. Nobara glares at him dangerously, set to kick the shit out of his shin under the table. Before she can rev up properly a diffusing hand lands on her wrist from Hana. Ever a girl's girl, it works like a charm to draw her attention away from any stupid boys.
"Nobara," Hana's smile is properly angelic in it's sweetness, her halo casting her in a soft gold. "Would you like to dance with me?" The teasing edge has her and Yuji's eyes meeting briefly in a flash of green to gold and he has to smother a laugh at how many of them have grown to smell Nobara's bullshit from a mile away.
Nobara coughs suddenly, her excuse flimsily dropping from her mouth. "Aren't you tired? Don't let that demon think you have to keep up."
"Just give Kugisaki some time and you'll really see a demon," Yuji jabs and Nobara jabs back, physically right into his already tender ribs. "Ow!"
"I don't want to be tacky but…" Megumi starts, "How late are we staying?"
"Fushiguro-kyun! Wanting to skip out on your precious cousin's wedding? So Rude."
"Shut up! I see her all the time." Megumi grouses, his ears reddening.
Hana hums, checking her phone against the remembered schedule of the night. "At least another little bit, right? I know you probably have to travel back early, but isn't it only appropriate to let the new couple leave first?"
"Yeah, just tank the lack of sleep!" Yuji can't say he's in any hurry, wanting to point out that as the one with the house keys he gets ultimate say in when they all go home.
It was super lucky for him that Yuta and Maki had wanted the wedding to take place in Sendai. They had all prepared for it to be in Kyoto now that the Gojo clan had folded Yuta into them, but Yuta argued that he still had his immediate family in the area and continuing to mend their shaky relationship was important to him. Maki in contrast didn't care for honoring her roots much at all, attached to so many bad memories and full of old dead bastards. She was curious to spend more time where Yuta grew up, and while her and Rika never got along well she felt it was probably proper to visit her resting place. (Yuji wondered if even Maki had been worried about being strangled in her sleep by the shikigami without gaining her blessing….).
All this to say…considering Yuji was also somewhat local he felt like it just made sense to offer his childhood home for people stay for the weekend, but even the four who took him up on the offer ended up pushing the limits of what his grandpa's modest old house could hold. (Though maybe it was mainly the chaotic bustle of everyone getting ready, floor boards creaking and voices echoing off the walls that made it seem that way, considering the lack of company his grandpa and him had ever kept).
Hana and Nobara had exploded the bathroom that morning, trying to tame Megumi's hair into something reasonable together. (They ended up somewhat successful, handsomely swept out of his face with only a few flyaways that added to his wolfish charm.)
In Yuji's old bedroom Todo had pushed aside the three futons folded up for later for the men, standing him and Yuji in front of the door's mirror. He had patiently given instruction on how to tie a Windsor knot essentially one handed, his prosthetic holding one end taut while finishing everything else with the other hand. The giant show off had made it look so easy while Yuji had briefly struggled two handed. (He figured it out! Eventually.)
Todo had stepped into his space then, deft fingers at Yuji's pressed collar adjusting him just so. Once deemed acceptable he hummed in self-satisfaction, smoothing the lapel of his jacket slowly to appreciate the image his best friend cut beneath his gaze.
The look on Todo's face was soft and fond, something so sappy that Yuji felt the warm fidgety need to break the moment, puffing his chest out and asking something dumb about passing the fit check.
Leaning on the table Nobara juts her chin at something in her line of vision past the other wedding guests, "Oi, Itadori. Look alive."
Without even having to ask Yuji already senses his larger than life presence.
"Todo!" Yuji throws his hands up enthusiastically and lets himself be swept up like long lost friends who haven't already been acting the fool together for the past day.
"Brother, it's been far too long! Come and dance!" Todo swings him, heedless of Fushiguro having to dodge.
"I thought you'd never ask!" Yuji faux swoons, and the table at large groans.
"You guys are obnoxious." Nobara complains loudly, attempting to egg them on. Unfortunately for her they've already reached idiot nirvana, happy to ignore it. She sticks out her tongue very maturely before deciding that if she can't beat them then at least she can join them to go make her own fun, sliding out from her chair. "…Well we've lost Itadori for at least another hour or two, so I'm going to go bowl Panda or something."
Yuji feels electric from his head to his toes, completely free from self consciousness as he moves alongside his partner. He loves her too, but in contrast to leading Hana in a specific dance earlier this is stupid simple fun, trying to stay in sync with the music and anticipate each other. Todo's rhythm is fluid as always, and Yuji wonders if it was in borne or something he had to hone along with his technique?
Either way, he's impossible for Yuji to tear his eyes from.
"You got good moves, man" He blurts out, stepping back to appreciate the show a little better.
"I'm only as good as my partner!" Todo insists between a breath, believing it full heartedly as he pulls Yuji back in by the wrist. "We simply fit together, naturally as waves cresting against the cliffs."
Yuji unthinkingly makes a sound of agreement, "Wish we had longer" He says, alluding to needing to bail early for Fushiguro's sake. He spins on his heel, enjoying the brief dizzy look at the hall blurring around him.
"Me too, brother…" Todo's voice is uncharacteristically low when he catches Yuji by the small of his back, bearing the weight to float on the moment just a bit longer, full of emotion as they stare into each others eyes. His voice gains volume as his momentum grows. “I always wish we had more and more time like this. That we could spend every bit of our fleeting lives together!”
Everything screeches to a halt in Yuji's mind. He can't tell if the ambient chatter has gone quiet or if his heart is thudding just that hard in his chest and ears, unbidden.
"What, like married?" He clarifies with a dumbstruck uptick that he can't smother down. It sounds absurd, which is why he's not surprised at all when he feels his friend's hold on him tense in excitement.
"It can be that, if you want to take inspiration from today." Todo's eyes are alight, and their previous exertion has him all but glowing through the thin sheen of sweat caught by the lights. "I would like to."
“What? I—You…" Yuji starts and then stops, his mouth moving uselessly. "You just decided this five seconds ago!” he snorts, making some kind of twisted up face in his disbelief.
Aoi Todo forges ahead as always, "And yet now that it's out in the air, I feel it was carved on my heart since the day we met all those years ago, I simply didn't yet know the language."
It sounds so absolute…It might be like that, huh? Yuji's stomach flops not unpleasantly. His friend's earnest and stubborn intensity never fails to shock him stupid, even when it's often what he likes most about the guy. This is a lot, though. It's actually kind of crazy.
"I think Kamo had you drinking too much," Yuji stumbles in his laughter but Todo doesn't let him lose balance.
"He didn't." There's a twitch of Todo's brow as he flatly denies it. Yuji knows it's the truth, of course. His senpai's not usually the type to drink much at all for the sake of his fitness, and this close Yuji hasn't noticed anything on his breath. This is all Todo's normal Todoisms, full frontal sincerity defying what anyone else might call better judgment.
Todo looks expectant, eyebrows raised and eyes shining bright with the effort of keeping his expression somewhat neutral up until the moment that another enthused voice joins them, breaking the moment and startling them both.
"Ohh my god…you guys…that'so great!" Yuta slurs, flushed and happy and right into to his ear. Yuji prickles at his unusual closeness. "'m sorry for eavesdropping, but congratulations!"
"Okkotsu…" Todo's face breaks out into a grin finally, welcoming the other man's warm words.
"For what?" Yuji laughs high and brittle.
In lieu of an answer, Yuta wraps his arms around them to turn it into a crushing group hug. Usually? This would be awesome, Yuji loves a good hug. He loves his friends. But the addition of the groom's continued slurring of his congratulations at them has more eyes drawn to them than he thinks should really be happening. Yuji feels like a beloved but harassed cat, ready to claw his way out to run off.
"Sorry, people have been handing him drinks all night and this pushover hasn't been able to turn down anything," Maki apologizes with a fond eye roll, manhandling her man out from the man pile.
"Maki! Isn't this perfect…?" Yuta lets himself be bundled into Maki's loving arms, content in a way Yuji's faintly jealous of. "Look! They're getting married too."
"Really?" Maki's mouth quirks up, and Yuji's always had trouble reading if she's amused by him or if his ever enduring slight fear of her is justified. His blood runs stabbing cold regardless.
“Whoa whoa whoa! Let’s back things up okay!?" Yuji prickles as he untangles himself from his initial over emotional senpai. Even with Maki's laughing confirming she's just teasing him, he fails to find solid ground even as he's standing on it. What the hell is everyone jumping to conclusions for when they're not even going out in the first place!?
Yuji silently begs Todo for an assist to escape the situation, deploying his biggest most pathetic look yet. Considering he's the one who got them into this mess, it's no surprise that the guy obviously misreads it as doe eyed bashfulness from the way he continues on, jostling Yuji heartily.
“Don't be shy, brother! With our bond it’s where our fates are headed,I'm sure of it.” Yuji's cheeks burn just hearing the smile in his friend's voice and his face scrunches in on itself at Okkotsu's sound of approval.
"Take me to dinner or something first…" Yuji starts strong and mumbles more and more as he reaches the end of his weak joke, gut churning in embarrassment. He never dreamed of taking so much attention from someone else's wedding. He doesn't even know if he'd ever want his own in the first place.
"Oi!"
To make it worse Hakari and Kirara wander over, dressed appropriately loud and heat seeking missiles for any type of drama. "You guys having fun without us?"
"Mind your business," Maki says, holding Yuta steady as she prepares to steer drunky away. Yuji decides he needs to tell her that he appreciates her way more often.
"Aoi proposed!" Yuta betrays him with a beaming smile, much to the other couple's much more immature glee.
"Oh my god, at someone elses wedding!?" Kirara slaps her hand to her mouth in amused shock as she death grips Kinji's shoulder with the other, giggling madly at the scandal of it all. "I didn't know you guys were so messy!"
"What do you expect from the blowjob brothers?" Kinji drawls, and Yuji doesn't appreciate how funny they both think it is. Usually he'd trade ribbings, but his gaze fixes somewhere on the floor beyond everyone, unwilling to check Todo's reaction right next to him. "We really gotta go to another one of these already? You guys gotta slow the fuck down."
Maki can't help finally interjecting her true feelings on it, nodding her head toward Kinji and Kirara. "Yeah, I would have figured this was a move you two would pull."
"Salmon!" Inumaki helpfully added. Because of course he was there too.
"What!? Come on! I didn't even wanna!" Yuji blurts out to interrupt them all, palms pushing Todo an arm's length away. He knows it's a harsher move than he means from the slight tremble through their shared contact point in the hand on his back.
When Yuji finally risks a look up at Todo's face it's stoic. In contrast to his animation from only moments ago, it says everything. Yuji flinches, backpedaling desperately. "…do this…right here, I mean.”
"Right. I came on too strong," Todo says, nodding curtly. He's looking straight ahead, glancing only briefly at Yuji, and not at all at anyone else. Yuji expected to see his temper blow up at all this interruption. Some kind of …well anything other than this.
"You're fine," Yuji mutters self consciously, edging them away from the dance floor. He feels like it's a good sign that Todo follows his lead up until he excuses himself entirely.
"Dude, you're so in the dog house." Hakari grabs Yuji by the back of his suit jacket, keeping him from following. The action has aggravation flaring white hot right through him as he whips around to glare at his senpai.
"Man, shut up!" Yuji snaps, and he's not proud of that.
"What, you want in a fight too?" Hakari's unflinching at the flash of murder in Yuji's eyes. He smirks instead, head cocked like the punk he never grew out of being. "Come on, be smart."
Yuji carefully deflates as he watches Todo leave his sight. Hakari looks sympathetic enough that Yuji wonders if he was enforcing space out of his own brand of kindness.
"Didn't know you guys had a thing going on, though. That's crazy."
"We don't," Yuji says and despite how intertwined they've become over the years that should be obvious….right?
"For real?" His senpai sucks his teeth. "Guess this is the next level of that gorilla's ongoing mental break?"
"Come on Hakari, don't be an asshole," Yuji doesn't appreciate where this conversation is turning. He was trying to diffuse things, not humiliate one of his best friends. It might not always come across as obvious, but he's not bulletproof and Yuji immediately hates hurting his feelings. "I'd marry any of my friends! I love you guys!"
"Well you should have answered that, huh Yuu?" Kirara says with a hum, arms crossed over her mesh neckline.
"Hrghh…" Maybe? Yuji's suddenly hit with another wave of nerves, scruffing his hair and letting out a frustrated puff of air. But he wouldn't want to run his mouth and have that answer taken seriously, right? It would have caused a whole different circus that he didn't care to be the center of. Even as people dissipate around them his poker face is as bad as ever. Hakari openly cackles at him, slapping his back in comradery with a hard thump. He cringes against it, resisting the urge to cause more of a scene.
"You really set yourself up for some drama at home!"
"It's gonna be awkward, I don't envy you!" Kirara grimaces, pulling Hakari towards herself to cling to his arm. Roasting him together as a couple.
"You could try being a little more sensitive, y'know…" Yuji exhales in frustration.
The train home is muted by the late hour.
Besides a few stray salary men, it's just the folks going back to Yuji's place and the clattering of the tracks.
It feels tainted by awkwardness, even as everyone seems outwardly content to shift conversation to the mundane. Things like who gets the bathroom first, how his grandpa's old room smells of cigarettes ("I really tried to get the smell out, but I think it's just part of the walls." Yuji apologizes to the girls, even as he finds it nostalgic and doesn't know what he'll do once time wipes it fully away), Hana's vast collection of teas and other frivolous things.
Yuji can't help sneaking glances at Todo sitting a little away, book ending Hana on the train seats. He had been scarce until it was time to leave, appearing suddenly right on the dot. He had seemed…okay? Even now Todo was joining the casual conversation, but the distance prickles at Yuji. Neither of them are guys who are good at hiding their inner feelings, and Yuji feels hyper sensitive to every sign of his friend's mutedness. Todo typically crowds in next to him whenever possible, shoving past Fushiguro and Kugisaki similar to a large dog slowly sinking his weight until the ruffled cats flee, so this new distance itches at him. It makes him realize how much he's taken for granted.
Those outside the situation could explain it all away by a long day spent partying until night, but…it just feels like they're miles away, worse than when they're physically apart.
Fushiguro catches Yuji's eyes, giving him a seeking look. Of course he'd catch the tense atmosphere right away. Yuji can only shrug sheepishly. It's a bruise he's been trying to not press on out in the open.
"It's been a long day," Fushiguro says, and Yuji hums in agreement. "Don't go overboard on being a good host, we can figure out getting settled in on our own if there's stuff you have to take care of."
"Mm hmm, thanks Fushiguro. It's fine though, really." They both pretend it's true for now, their years of friendship making his lie obvious. He loves Megumi for the way he knows when to push and when to leave it alone. His head is already jumbled up, and he doesn't really think well meaning advice from anyone would help untangle the mess at this point.
(He can't help but think one of the first people he would go to about unraveling messy things like feelings is exactly who he'd need to talk about.)
Their stop arrives thankfully soon, the group crowding out of the train with movements slowed by grogginess and aching feet. The late spring air feels cool but humid, thick with ozone. The clouds have been threatening it for a while, but it's safe so far. Yuji takes the lead before the weather can catch up to them, herding them home.
"Ugh, I love them and all but fucking finally," Kugisaki groans upon entering the house. She helps herself to using Fushiguro's shoulder to balance as she toes off her heels at the genkan. "Remember, I have dibs on a bath!"
"Shouldn't you be last since you're going to soak the longest?" Fushiguro complains, knowing the answer already.
It comes with a short tempered click of the tongue. "I take a normal amount of time!"
"Right..." Fushiguro doesn't bother fighting it, finally shedding his suit coat and shoes to sneakily beat Nobara to the bathroom. This goes immediately noticed as she hurls insults after him, scrambling down the hallway to intercept him.
"Careful!" Yuji shouts over them, never feeling more sympathetic to his grandpa's need for peace than in this moment. He follows as far as the living room before he notes the absence of Kurusu and Todo. Now that he's aware of it, if he concentrates among the shuffling of bodies he can hear the faint conversation behind him.
Hana sounds carefully casual, much like Yuji she's not one to ignore someone's distress even if it means imposing herself. "If you give me a second to change I'll join you." Her footsteps get further away, back to the doorway.
Frustratingly, Todo is too far off to hear anything but a muffled idea of his tone. The low bass is adamant about something in that familiar way where he's set in his ways. Something a man must do alone, maybe. Yuji hopes he doesn't feel unwelcome.
Yuji sorts through junk mail piled up on a bookshelf just to have something to do with his hands. He barely has to look at the paper in his hands to know it's all useless shit. It's his own house but he feels awkward and like he doesn't know where to be. Guilt gnaws him for listening in, a hot churning pit in his stomach. He wants to move but his feet feel glued to the spot.
He forces himself to not tense up once he hears the door shut followed by footsteps in his direction. He's not that pathetic, he won't hide. This is his house, he repeats to himself. He can be wherever he wants.
However, his heart drops when the only person to pass him by is Hana.
"You've been hovering there for a while, Itadori." Kurusu looks back at him, her golden curls bouncing with the movement. He wonders how much she's heard about earlier? Probably a lot considering that she's been sticking to Todo like glue until now. "You should make sure Todo doesn't get lost on the way to the conbini."
"You think that's a good idea?"
She shrugs, "I just know what I'd want."
Ah. That's right. He guesses she really would know all about sudden confessions. He wasn't privy to what exactly had gone down back in high school with her and Fushiguro, except that it was a miscommunication mess. This was probably about to be one too… though he guesses he has the power to decide that.
His feet finally start moving before his brain can catch up, grabbing his house keys and jogging into the dark. When had Todo ever left him alone to stew? This didn't have to be a wedge between them.
The big guy is easy to find if not for his formal wear and daunting height, but also because he's nearly the only person out at this hour.
"Hey." Yuji calls out once he's returned to his friend's side, slowing to a walk. Something in him finally settles down, just with that small bit of familiarity of Todo in his peripheral.
"Brother," Todo greets simply. There's no need to slow his own pace considering Yuji's never had trouble keeping up with his naturally long stride.
Yuji however feels the need to uselessly elaborate, filling the empty space. "I wanted to come along with."
"Of course."
"Or ah…do you need space?" He doesn't especially want to, but it's probably best to give a blunt way out.
"You're always welcome to join me anywhere." There's a pull of a smile.
"Yeah. Company always makes things better, right?" His small talk is horrendous, but he keeps at it. Like most things in life, if he just keeps battering he can make it through.
Embarrassingly, even as Todo's assurance feels good the lack of strong reaction is making him antsy. It sounds bad but he wishes Todo were more straightforwardly pissed off at him. Yelling or crying. Those big emotions that are easy to work through.
"Hey." Yuji bites the bullet, fingertips itching with unease. He breathes out, somehow more anxious compared to when he's had his life on the line. Having a physical problem is always so much easier, but he won't back down. "Sorry—"
A hand is raised to halt him.
"If I ask something," Todo swallows, "I should be ready to accept any answer."
"Mn, that's mature," Yuji concedes. But he's not going to push back at all? That's…it's good? It doesn't sit well with him, but it's the most comfortable option between them.
Back to status quo.
Todo looks like he wants to say something, but settles on humming the affirmative as they head towards the nearest convenience store just outside the few blocks of houses.
They move from street light to street light and the soft drizzle of rain in the dark does little to muffle the sound of their steps, out of sync.
Welcoming them in from the weather, the store's door slides open with a jingle. They stick out even more than usual, two scarred men on a late weekend night in formal suits. The cast of sickly fluorescent lights makes everything feel untethered from reality. Like nothing exists outside of this store, just cheap prepackaged food, bad coffee, and wayward night owls.
This place opened up sometime in the last few years, replacing the mom and pop shop where Yuji used to spend his rare bit of allowance on snacks and manga after he got out of school. (He started avoiding it later on when the old lady who owned it always asked too many questions about his grandpa. She meant well, but he never had good news for her and he couldn't stand the pity.)
There's still some novelty to this place being open at all hours of the day. It's ready for exactly this kind of situation where you need an emotional support egg sandwich at nearly midnight. There have already been a few occasions that Yuji's needed one more than anything else in life. He almost grabs for it by habit before aborting the action.
Todo glances over at Yuji's empty-handed hovering. "Indecisive?"
"…I forgot my wallet." Yuji admits, hand raking through his hair with a faint flush. A few stray pink strands fall into his face and stick back to his forehead. It elicits the first amused chuff from Todo of the night.
"I'll cover it," Todo's always so damn nice to him, even when he doesn't deserve it. It's more than he knows any one else would ever get away with.
"No, it's okay. I have stuff at home." Yuji smiles, trying to force the mood to lighten.
Yuji points out a drink he thinks Todo might like, but otherwise finds his tongue feeling too big for his mouth, awkwardly stuck as they haunt the aisles. Despite his appetite being dead, something funny happens in Yuji's ribs when he notices despite his lukewarm refusal that there's food for both of them on the counter for payment.
"I owe you for the other day," Todo says, answering simply as he hands the sandwich off. It's cold in his hands, crinkling in its plastic as Yuji waffles over eating it yet. It's such a stupid little thing to get stuck on, but he realizes that up until now he's grown too comfortable with taking advantage of these small gestures. The natural way they've always covered for each other.
The taller man loosens his tie, trying to free himself from the ramped up humidity of near-summer rain. His gaze is firmly forward, out into the small parking lot as the drops patters down harder than before, the concrete turned into an inky sea. He looks handsome in profile, and this meloncholy is starting to drive Yuji crazy.
"Okay!" He says suddenly, with far more bravado than needed. "I'm sick of this weird mood! We have to talk for real real."
Todo lips quirk up, and then break fully into a brief grin at the show of passion. "You're right. It won't do to keep dancing around it." His expression falls away, sober. "Itadori, I've been acting like a coward over it but my ego was sorely hurt."
Yuji makes a sound of acknowledgment, obviously it would have been. He steps out into the dark, ready to head back home. "Everyone didn't have to make it so embarrassing..."
It takes a second to realize that there aren't steps beside him, and he slows to a halt. When he looks back Todo's brows knit together, looking mixed up in a way Yuji's rarely ever seen. He hasn't moved from edge of the conbini's awning, back lit from the light inside.
Something in Yuji clenches to look at him.
"I'm sorry." Yuji reiterates, feeling like dirt. He pushes aside the feeling that he doesn't deserve to stand side by side at this moment as he takes cover from the rain again.
"I don't need it." Todo's a prideful guy through and through. His fingers start to crinkle his drink before forcibly softening. "As long as you're in my life in whatever form that takes."
"I'll be here." Yuji says simply. An unbreakable truth.
Todo's one of his best friends, and a steady constant in his life since the day they met. He's someone that he doesn't have to hold back around, who will always enable and inspire his best. The idea of losing that seems so impossible that it scares him. He senses that Todo's still got more to say and the best he can do right now is listen.
"An outright rejection would have been fine." The rain comes down in sheets, cooling the air with it. The artificial lights from behind them cast their faces in the dark. "It's disappointing that you were considering my words seriously and then let peer pressure sway you so easily."
" Ugh..." Yuji scruffs the back of his neck, trying to release some tension he's holding. He doesn't want to keep taking anyone's feelings lightly. "It just freaked me out from how sudden it was."
It sounds weak, his excuses in the face of all he hasn't let himself examine just yet. "And you gotta understand where I'm coming from, right? I mean…I didn't even know you liked me that way."
Todo nods and it's hard to say if it's because he understands or is simply accepting it.
The silence that follows is still a little uncomfortable, but Yuji finds it easier to let the words bubble out of him, now that they're alone.
"But, you'd be a really good husband," Yuji is sincere in his assurance, head knocking against the wall. He leans back to look up at his friend, illuminated in blue when they both finally face each other.
"Then what's the problem?"
"It's just…" Yuji pauses. He doesn't know how to phrase it. It's just nothing he's ever seen for himself. He hasn't thought hard about his future, just things he wants for others. His heart is spread among all his loved ones past and present, but having someone else commit themselves to him like that? "It's nothing I've thought about before?"
"Well, visualize it now." The command is so blunt after everything, it's a little hilarious.
"Todo…Come on!" Yuji barks out a laugh despite himself that he works hard to smother. "You're probably imagining something really corny and perfect, but relationships are hard y'know? Sure you can deal with me now but what about when…"
Yuji gestures vaguely in the air for his words. "When everyone's pulling me in ten directions at once, and I can't say no to any of it?"
"We already deal with distance." Todo points out. "It's always a comfort knowing you're out there."
"Sure, but I get kind of…"
There are days afterward when he can barely stand to exist without distraction. Or when he loses that battle and can't get out of bed instead? It's not like his fellow sorcerer doesn't know what it's like but…Everyone feels so much better at compartmentalizing it than he does. He feels like he takes graveyards home with him.
Todo deserves someone who's always going to match his energy, someone absolutely crazy for him in the same way he loves. Unapologetic and loud.
As he has a knack for, his senpai's voice draws his attention and cuts to the heart of it. Stubborn and convinced they're both capable of anything. "Do you really underestimate me so much? I've known and stuck with you for years. I may have said it impulsively, but I've thought about it at length. I know what I'm getting into and it's nothing that would make me love you less."
Yuji flushes in shock at the bold admission (the doubling down?). He laughs again, an incredulous puff of air that lodges a lump in his throat. Obviously his senpai had always been like this, but it never stopped putting him on his ass. "Is that right?"
"Itadori, everything is impermanent. One day in some form we will part, whether by death or circumstance." Yuji hates the familiar cold turn of his stomach at the mention of people dear to him leaving him. Todo's words continue on, planting a warm spark to melt past it. "But right now I want to treasure the present, to follow my feelings as honestly as I can."
' When I understand that the glass is already broken, every moment with it is precious.' He knows what his friend is getting at. With their kind of lifestyle there's no such thing as living without hurt and regret, that you can't use it to live cautiously.
If Todo's going to be so obstinate, he might as well humor the idea a little. Just as a mind exercise.
"It might be nice," Yuji admits, his words a little choked as flimsy excuses start to tumble out again. "But that's later! Who knows if it would ever even work out for long? Like what if you're really annoying to sleep next to?" Yuji squints, wrinkling his nose in accusation. "I can't do snoring."
"Itadori," Todo squints right back, calling out his bluff immediately. "You could sleep through being thrown onto a highway."
"Wha—I'm not that bad!?"
"You are! Your alarm goes off for a good five minutes before you seem to hear it."
"So then I'm the annoying one!" Yuji says it excitedly, like he's won something.
"No."
"No!?"
"It's not something I care about. I get up early anyway." Todo challenges with little room to argue against.
"Tsk!" So casual for once! Yuji pouts, defeated. He'll prove that he's a pest yet. But before that, he checks his phone to open the weather app again and is met with terrible news. Todo hums in question at Yuji's expression.
"Shit." Yuji stuffs his phone back into his pocket. "Looks like it's due to rain the whole rest of the night."
"Should we make a run for it?" Its good to see a more typical grin pulling at Todo's mouth. He looks eager to race home.
"You should have brought your thingy," Yuji mimes a fist hitting into his palm like a percussion instrument. "It would make it a lot easier."
"Vibra-slap." Todo corrects. "And I don't think throwing you home would be preferable to an umbrella!"
"Eh!? Don't tell me what I prefer!" Yuji argues for the joyful sake of no-stakes arguing, though he's starting to lean away from the awning in preparation of making a break for it.
There's one thing that makes Yuji hesitate for a moment, looking at the long road ahead before turning back to the man who's always supported him. With a breath he steps out, water cool on his skin.
"…Let's…" He hunts for how to phrase it as they hold eye contact. "Let's just try step one okay? We have plenty of time to figure stuff out."
"Itadori!" Todo cries out as he closes the gap into the rain after him, the words sinking in and stealing any further words.
The way Todo lights up makes Yuji's face heat despite the chill. The guy can be cute when he wants to be. "D-don't make a big deal of it just yet!"
They brave the cold rain, running home like kids.
Bursting inside the house to leave a puddle in the doorway is so nostalgic it's almost physically painful. All that's holding Yuji back from running straight to the bathroom is the need to be a good host and knowing that he's going to be the one to have to mop the trail of water up later.
"Horrible out there," Yuji complains with a laugh, scruffing water out of his hair before remembering it's going to make the mess worse.
Todo cringes unsubtly as he kicks off his waterlogged shoes. "I can't stand wet socks."
"Right? Top ten worst feelings ever." Yuji agrees whole heartedly as he makes room for Todo to peel said socks off.
"And yet I would brave them again and again with you," Todo says with a sweet sincerity.
"Ahahah, guess I asked for the corniness as part of this," Yuji jokes, though they both know it's barely anything new to how they usually talk. It might be easier to cross this line than Yuji thought. "But same."
Yuji strains to listen for anyone else up as he adjusts his volume. "…You think everyone's asleep already?" Nobara and Hana had taken his grandpa's old room and the boys crowded futons into his old room. He can't hear anything besides the house settling. The wedding must have really knocked them all out. He especially doesn't want to wake Fushiguro up...the guy sleeps pretty fretfully as it is…
"Mn, I'm going to need a shower." Todo interrupts his thoughts, "It's been an eventful day and it's the perfect refresh."
"Oh yeah, me too. I feel like a cold wet rat. I need some good water to override the bad water, y'know?"
"Where should I…" Todo trails off in question, in the process of stripping off his wet clothes. His shirt is clinging to him in a way that can't be comfortable despite the way it highlights every dip and curve of his impressive musculature. Yuji decides that he's allowed to ogle a bit if he wants to.
"Here, throw it at me, I'll take them to the washer when I grab my sleep stuff."
"The top layers are dry clean only, is there anywhere to hang them instead?" Todo continues taking off layers. His near nudity is nothing out of the ordinary, but Yuji still balks at just being out here. Titting boobily in his entryway as he folds his damp shirt to hand over. (Is he doing this on purpose??) "This is fine for the dryer."
Todo wicks water out of the few strands of hair that have fell loose from his topknot. "And so we both don't cause undue noise could you get me a change of clothes too? My bag is in your room."
"—Right," Yuji reactivates, turning on his heel to pad down the hall as his friend follows. The movement makes his clothes chafe in all the wrong areas, proving Todo's idea for a impromptu strip routine was the smartest move. He unbuttons his shirt one handed, slowing his walk long enough to peel it and his under layer off and toss it in the direction of his laundry basket. Like many things, it's potentially a problem for him later.
As Todo messes with hanging his suit jacket and slacks properly in the small room, Yuji continues on to his bedroom. He slides the door open, cringing at the way it always catches in the track and causes more noise with the added force needed to get it open.
"You okay?" Megumi mumbles, stirring from his futon as Yuji tiptoes past to grabs his sleep clothes from his sliding closet and then Todo's whole duffel bag while he's at it.
"Yeah." Yuji assures, noting how Fushiguro's dragged the other two futons out already. He's really got a lot of good friends. "Don't worry about us, just go back to sleep."
"Itadori." Megumi would sound authoritative if he didn't sound so groggy at the same time. It makes Yuji laugh, tapping him over the quilt with a foot like he'd pat Fushiguro's shoulder if they were up and more awake. Megumi grunts and swats, not appreciating it.
Yuji dodges the sleepy hand, laughing softly on his way out of the room. "I'll fill you in later."
"You look dead on your feet, dude." Yuji chuckles quietly back in the hallway, noting how Todo's leaning against the wall resting his eyes. "You wanna go first?"
"Mn." Todo grunts, proving the point and blinking owlishly as he takes his bag. "The day catches up with me no matter how I may try to keep it at bay." He mumbles nonsensically.
He's sure had a long one, Yuji thinks. It's mostly self inflicted but it's a little cute to see the gears turning in his head for once before Todo speaks again.
"You have to get up early, don't you? To see Fushiguro off?"
"Yeah, but are you going to make it if you have to wait?"
"It's your house. I'll survive 20 minutes longer." Todo stubbornly offers.
"But you're my guest." Yuji counters, and he can see the endless loop ahead of them. If they're going to give this a real shot then Yuji wants to be good to him. "I'm trying to be a nice host here. If you don't have a preference, I mean…we've been to bath houses together, it's not a big deal if we go in together, right? You've seen it, it's traditional style, not a stall we have to cram into or anything."
They can try all kinds later. Maybe. In any case, they gladly settle on the compromise.
And he was right, it's not that strange to be side by side washing themselves like this. It feels natural. Like playing house. He lets himself really consider what it might be like going out with one of his best friends. If they build something together. It's a more and more comfortable thought. Life with Todo is definitely be lively already, and he likes the idea of holding nothing back.
"It's nice out here," Todo muses, relaxed as he sits on the edge of the small tub and rinses his long hair out.
"If you like it that much, you can stay here too." Yuji pitches automatically, before he can over think it.
"So after all this, you want me to move in with you so quickly?" The amusement in Todo's voice threatens to ruin their careful quiet. Yuji bulldozes it entirely, squawking at the way he set himself up.
"Uh!?—I only live here on and off!" Yuji has to reel his voice back down, wringing his soapy towel out like he's strangling it. After a moment he takes a steadying breath "But it has the space. And I think it'd be nice if you wanted to use it."
"Brother…" He looks overcome with emotion, lips pursing for a moment before schooling his face carefully. "I'll consider it." He jokes, and Yuji grabs the shower hose to hit him with the full spray.
Slap fighting in the bathroom was one way to feel all keyed up with giddy idiotic energy, and Yuji has to settle himself down, worried they woke the whole house up as they finally slink towards the futons.
He doesn't want to risk waking Fushiguro up again, but heedless to Yuji's worries Todo settles himself in close under the covers anyway, a glint in his eyes. Yuji's eyes bug out wide in response, hand landing on a solid chest to give them space again. Todo just huffs, allowing Yuji to keep him in place even as his own hand rests on top, large and warm.
"Something wrong?"
"Shhh!"
"Your shushing is louder than me." Todo points out as quietly as the bass of his voice will allow.
"Shhhshshshh!!" Yuji hisses out in a laughing staccato, gesturing to quiet down with his other hand.
"SHUT UP AND GO TO SLEEP!" Megumi grits out and Yuji just about jolts out of his skin with a sharp yelp.
He expects Todo to start a fight back at being told what to do, but he just huffs with what Yuji knows is an eye roll even in the pitch black room.
Sleep comes easily after that, exhausted to the core, a warm body nearby, breathing shockingly softly.