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Inumaki Toge was not a morning person.
He had hit snooze on his phone alarm 6 times, (though thankfully he had anticipated this and set the time between snoozes to two minutes), and he was planning on hitting it another time. Just as he was about to reach over and hit it again, a pale hand descended and shut off his alarm completely.
“Get up,” the person who the hand belonged to barked. “I’ve been watching you flop around like a fish for the past fourteen minutes and twenty three seconds, Inumaki-san.”
Registering the complaint, Inumaki reluctantly sat up in bed, only to fall back on his pillow from a wave of dizziness. He signed to Fushiguro: Low blood pressure, give me a minute, and then started to slowly sit up again.
“No worries,” Fushiguro said, “as long as you actually get up in one piece.”
Someday, I swear I’ll get up with my alarm, Inumaki replied. However, today is not that day.
“Every day should be that day,” Fushiguro grumbles, before starting to walk away. “I’m heading out to grab breakfast for Itadori and I. Don’t touch my stuff and don’t pass away”
Got it, he signed at Fushiguro, before watching him head out the door. As soon as the door shut, he flopped back onto his bed.
The door swung open, and Fushiguro yelled across the room: “Get out of bed or you’ll be late to class! Someone wants to meet you!”
He slammed the door shut, and Inumaki heard his footsteps fading down the hall. Damn.
Wait, Inumaki thought, he said that someone wants to meet me? Inumaki sat up straight. Oh my goodness, what if it’s the cute guy?
He jumped up from bed, briefly stumbling from more cloudy vision, and rushed to get ready. He threw on a dark purple T shirt to compliment his eyes, black cargo pants, and a black hoodie. He put on all his usual jewellry, brushed his hair and teeth, washed his face, and was ready to go. He grabbed his outdoor headphones, because he obviously had a (purple) pair of headphones for sleeping that charged while he’s out, and a (black) pair of headphones for going out that charged while he’s sleeping. All because it’s convenient and he genuinely cannot survive without music. Putting on the same shoes as yesterday, he grabbed his keys and school supplies in a bag, and headed out the door.
•••
It was not the cute guy. It wasn’t even a guy at all. It, or rather she, was the grouchy looking green haired girl who Kugisaki and Itadori had gotten up to greet yesterday.
She introduced herself as Maki, and proceeded to watch him in silence, as if he had committed a major transgression. OH! Inumaki realized. She’s waiting for me to introduce myself, most likely. I thought Fushiguro would have introduced me, because…? Nevermind… He lost his train of thought, and fumbled for his notebook. Opening it to the first page, he handed it to her, and as she read, her eyes widened with realization.
“My sincerest apologies,” Maki said. “I had no clue that you were mute! My fucking cousin doesn’t tell me shit.”
Seeing Inumaki tilt his head in question at the word “cousin”, she explained. “Fushiguro-kun, your roommate, is my cousin. And an idiot.”
Inumaki nodded his head sagely, grinning slightly behind the mask.
“Oh, and before I forget to tell you,” Maki started. Inumaki tilted his head in curiosity once more, prompting Maki to finish. I am pretty much fluent in JSL, she finished by signing.
LET’S FREAKING GO! Inumaki exclaimed, overjoyed. Maki smiled, pleased.
Are there any more of you in your family that I need to worry about? Inumaki asked, mildly worried.
“Well, let’s see,” Maki hummed. “We have me, my twin sister Mai, dearest cousin Fushiguro, our other cousin, Naoya, and finally, our family friend who I’m fairly certain our family likes more than us, Okkotsu. He’s actually Itadori’s roommate, and I am Kugisaki’s roommate.”
Wow… Inumaki signed. That’s a lot of people. He paused, remembering something. Wait, what about Fushiguro-kun’s sister? Tsumiki-san?
“Okay, so here’s where it gets complicated. Tsumiki-san and Fushiguro aren’t technically related,” Maki explained.
What? Inumaki asked. How?
“Let me explain,” Maki continued. “So basically, Toji-san, Fushiguro’s father, married a woman with the surname of Fushiguro, took her last name, and had Fushiguro. Then, Mama Fushiguro passed away, and Toji-san found Tsumiki-san’s mother, who had already had Tsumiki-san by that point. Then, Toji-san and Tsumiki-san’s mother married, giving both her and Tsumiki-san the last name Fushiguro.”
Holy shit, Inumaki swore, That’s a lot!
“But wait, there’s more,” Maki added. “At some point, Toji-san and Tsumiki-san’s mother left, so Fushiguro and Tsumiki-san moved in with Gojo-san and Geto-san, who are also Itadori and Okkotsu’s legal guardians. Okkotsu is Gojo-san’s distant cousin, and Itadori is Geto-san’s… nephew? That part is complicated. But basically Fushiguro and Itadori met then, and have been dating for a few years now. Also, Itadori’s biological father has passed away, as well as his grandfather. His biological mother is… Geto? It’s still complicated. Oh, and Itadori had a half-brother called Choso who is related to him through Geto.”
How the fuck do you keep track of all of this shit? Inumaki asked her, genuinely baffled.
“Years of practice,” Maki replied nonchalantly, shrugging her shoulders. “Now, class is about to start, so let’s pay attention. Don’t wanna get caught chatting on the first day of class.”
Inumaki shrugged, pulled out his notebook, and sat down at the desk next to Maki.
- ••
The class, Foreign Language English, proved to be just introductions and the syllabus that day. Throughout the class, Inumaki’s stomach grumbled periodically, expressing hunger. He had skipped breakfast because he didn’t feel like going through the trouble of trying to order at a cafe. It’s not like he could just walk up like a normal person and tell them what he wants, anyway.
Whenever his stomach made a noise, he noticed Maki side-eyeing him, appearing concerned. Near the end of class, she asked him: Did you have breakfast?
He shook his head no, much to her disdain.
•••
As soon as class ended, Inumaki felt a hand reach out and clasp his wrist. Before he could move, Maki hissed in his ear, “Bitch don’t move. I am buying you food. Come with me.”
Not refusing the offer of free food, Inumaki dutifully packed up his belongings as quickly as possible, and waited for Maki. As soon as both of them were ready, Maki grabbed him by the wrist and dragged him out of the building. He heard someone wolf whistle at the pair of them, and when he turned around, it was someone who… looked like a giant panda? Okay, sure! Today can totally get weirder!
“Ignore him,” Maki groaned. “What time is your next class?”
Four hours from now, Inumaki replied with his free hand.
“That’s more than enough time for brunch!” Maki cheered, turning into one of the nearby cafes.
As the entry bell jingled, Inumaki gazed around at the soft atmosphere, a comfortable looking cafe lit by twinkling fairy lights. Green plush chairs surrounded little tables, where patrons sat sipping coffees and nibbling on pastries.
Maki pulled him over to sit at a free two-person table, and passed him a menu. He hesitated at first, but with Maki’s urging, picked out a few items to eat. Maki called the waiter over, and ordered Inumaki exactly what he asked for.
Thank you, Inumaki signed gratefully. What can I do to make it up to you?
“Well, I wasn’t going to expect something from you in return until you brought it up, but now I have the perfect thing.” Seeing Inumaki’s wariness, she added, “It’s not awful. Probably… You get free food though!”
Alright, I’m interested. Inumaki nodded, smiling behind his mask. The mention of free food won me over.
“So basically, my family is having a dinner party tomorrow night, where we all are supposed to bring a plus-one.” Maki clarified, “Fushiguro is bringing Itadori, obviously. I’m bringing Kugisaki, and who knows who Mai and Naoya are bringing. However, Okkotsu, has nobody, as the girl he’d usually go with these events to is banned from my house. Permanently.” She shuddered, as if remembering an unfortunate event. “Basically, I’m asking you to be Okkotsu’s plus-one so that he doesn’t get himself in trouble, and you get to make another friend.”
Do I have to like… do anything? Inumaki asked her, confused on what his actual role is.
“You just have to– ah, thank you!” The server came back with the food, and placed it in front of Inumaki upon her direction. As the server left, Inumaki dug into the food as Maki continued. “You just have to stick near Okkotsu all evening. He’s fluent in JSL, and Fushiguro and I can also help translate if all else fails.”
Okay, Inumaki replied, fingers slightly greasy with the residue of the pastry he had just finished. Doesn’t sound like I’ll die!
“I’ll also alert my family of your condition beforehand, so that there are no misunderstandings,” she stated matter-of-factly. “And, I’m sending Kugisaki and Itadori to come and collect you and Fushiguro this evening so that the four of you can purchase acceptable outfits– don’t worry about the cost, Fushiguro will put it on the family card.”
Yay! Inumaki cheered. No going broke!
“And tomorrow night, you’ll ride over there with Fushiguro for convenience,” she added. “So you’ll meet Okkotsu for the first time at the party.”
Delightful, Inumaki signed sarcastically. I love meeting people who I’m supposed to stick to right at the event.
“Don’t worry,” Maki reassured him, “Okkotsu’s really nice– you’ll like him.”
I sure hope so, Inumaki replied.
“And on that note,” Maki smiles, “let’s talk about something more fun!”
Deal. Inumaki grinned mischievously. So when are you planning on telling people that you like Kugisaki?