Chapter Text
Megumi sank deeper into the office chair as his principal droned on about his “poor behaviour.” His skin itched with irritation at this whole situation—not because he was called into the office, no, he was quite used to that by now. His anger was mostly directed at the fact that they just had to bring his dad into the office with him.
Whenever Megumi got into a fight, they never sent more than an email back home—an email that Toji never bothered to check. The staff probably got the memo that his dad was not at all aware of his “delinquent tendencies” at school, so these jerks called him over to discuss how terrible Megumi was in an in-person meeting. But even so, that still wasn't the biggest factor as to why Megumi was so pissed off.
“Mr. Toji Fushiguro, over the past month, your son has gotten into 4 separate fights.” His principal stated, “This behaviour is unacceptable within our school and if he does not fix it, then he will be expelled.”
“Expelled? Seriously?” The man next to him chuckled as he flicked Megumi’s forehead. Megumi responded with a scowl.
His principal continued to speak, “Fushiguro’s grades are impeccable and we believe that if he adjusts his attitude, then he has the potential to be a model student. As you are his parent, we ask you to help fix his behaviour since Fushiguro demonstrated clearly that he will not listen to any of the staff at our school.”
“Got it!”
“I would also like to discuss his hostile attitude in general and how it negatively impacts the classroom environment.”
“Oh, Megs…” The man sighed, pouting his lips childishly at Megumi.
The thing that pissed him off the most was the fact that his actual dad didn’t even come. Instead, Toji called Gojo fucking Satoru to come and pretend to be Megumi’s dad.
When Megumi was told his father was asked to come into the school, he just expected that his dad just wouldn't show up at all; it was quite in his character to do that. Instead, as he walked through the office doors, he was met with piercing blue eyes and an obnoxious grin.
He would have much preferred the absence instead of this white-haired freak showing up to roleplay as his dad.
The meeting went on for 25 minutes, 20 of them spent discussing Megumi’s “faults” and the remaining 5 brainstorming ways to help. Megumi successfully tuned out most of the conversation, rather focusing his attention on the large bookshelf behind the office desk. His thoughts drifted into wondering why his actual dad didn’t even bother to show up, but that just worsened his already bad mood so he opted to continue staring off into space, catching fragments of the conversation going on next to him.
Those 25 minutes dragged on for an eternity until everyone finally got up and said their goodbyes. Well, not Megumi. Megumi instead attempted to send his principal the scariest glare that his 13 year old self could muster before he and Gojo walked out the office door and through the halls together in silence. Megumi desperately tried to pick up his pace to hopefully lose Gojo in the crowd of people. Unfortunately for him, that did not work.
Why Gojo was still in his life was beyond him. It’s not even like he was friends with Toji or anything—he just used to babysit Megumi and his sister when they were kids as a favour for Tsumiki’s mother. Honestly, when Tsumiki’s mom died when he was 5, Megumi expected Gojo to leave as well. Instead, this nosy creep just started coming over more often, basically forcing himself into their lives.
“So,” Gojo started as they continued to walk, “you’ve been getting into fights, huh? I should have known. You seem like the delinquent type.”
“Shut up.” Megumi hissed, “Why are you even here? Where the hell is my dad?”
Gojo huffed, “Your dad is on some business trip again. On that note, you’re staying at my place until he’s back.”
For a man so broke, his father sure went on a ton of business trips.
Megumi groaned as he continued his way out of the school, Gojo annoyingly trailing behind.
They finally stepped outside and Megumi allowed the breeze to wash over him for a moment. The weather was nice today with the sun casting a golden hue on everything in its sight. He took in the view before heading towards the sidewalk. He wanted nothing more than to go home and lie down on his bed all day. This whole week had been tiring, the recent meeting being the cherry on top.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Gojo asked, a punchable grin printed across his face as he grabbed Megumi’s backpack and dragged him to Gojo’s car, “I said you’re staying at my place, remember?”
“I’m going to my own house. I can handle being alone for a week.”
“Nuh uh, you’re coming home with me. And who knows if your dad would even be back in a week? He didn’t tell me how long he’ll be gone. He just told me to go to that meeting and hung up.”
Yea, that checks out.
“He does this all the time. He’ll come back within 1-2 weeks.” Megumi brushed off.
Gojo frowned and furrowed his eyebrows, eyeing the boy strangely. Megumi was terrible at reading people but this look was especially hard to decipher. Gojo seemed to get it together again after a few awkward seconds, snapping back to his usual toothy grin, “Don’t care! You’re coming over whether you like it or not.”
“I don’t like it and I’m not coming over.” Megumi scoffed, “Nobara thinks you and my dad are a divorced couple because of how often I’m at your place.”
Gojo laughed at that statement and ruffled Megumi’s hair (much to his annoyance) whilst leaning against his vehicle, “If I leave a 13 year old to be home alone for a week, what does that say about me?”
“It won’t say anything about you because you have no obligation over me. Also, you leave Tsumiki alone all the time.”
“During the few times Tsumiki is in town, I can leave her home alone because I don’t have to worry about her getting into trouble. Also, she's 3 years older than you. Also, she’s not a delinquent. Also, she is actually nice to me. That adds a lot to my decision, you know. Now get in the car.” Gojo explained, poking Megumi’s head with every syllable that came out of his mouth (which hurt, by the way.)
Megumi sighed and got into the car, slumping into the soft padding of the seats.
He knew that Gojo couldn’t actually do anything if he just ran away, yet Megumi always found himself obliging to his requests anyways. Perhaps it was because even though Gojo Satoru was a childish, loud, irritating, idiot—Megumi did somewhat, very deep down, kind-of-sort-of enjoyed Gojo’s presence. Well, compared to the emptiness in his own home, anyway. The silence that loomed in his apartment was familiar, comforting—even, yet it felt almost suffocating. The only time warmth bloomed in the tiny, cold, apartment was during his weekly facetimes with Tsumiki; who was currently at a boarding school in Yokohama. Even when his dad was home, the emptiness remained, sometimes even more prominently.
Gojo’s house wasn’t like that. Gojo’s house was warm.
However, even if Gojo provided that for him, the guilt he felt for receiving that warmth was horrible. Unbearable, on a bad day. He would much rather be content with his slight loneliness than bear more responsibility on the man for no reason, even if Gojo himself didn’t mind it.
Yet selfishly, Megumi couldn’t bring himself to let go. He was just hoping that Gojo would eventually get tired of Megumi’s attitude and finally leave. Maybe then, he could focus on his own responsibilities and not some wayward brat that he used to babysit. That was a much easier option than Megumi having to pull away himself.
Megumi’s train of thoughts were interrupted by Gojo, whom Megumi didn’t realize also got into the vehicle. Gojo stared at Megumi with his uncanny blue eyes for a few seconds. Creepy.
“You ok, kid?” Gojo asked softly, a large contrast to his usual chirpiness.
Megumi scrunched his nose and sent a side-eye his way before responding, “Yea?”
Gojo softly smiled and once again, ruffled Megumi’s hair before turning on the engine, “The teachers had a lot to say about you. You seem to be quite the problem child.”
Guilt throbbed in his throat. “It’s not like I start fights.” He paused for a moment, “Sorry. That you were dragged here.”
Gojo loosely waved around a hand, “I don’t mind, I was dying of boredom at home anyways and that meeting was super entertaining. But I wanna know, why do you get into so many fights? Are you just a magnet to them? You do have a pretty kickable face.”
“I only fight people when they deserve it.” Megumi grumbled, “They pick on random kids for no reason so obviously I beat the hell out of them, otherwise they’ll just do it again.”
“How heroic.” Gojo laughed, “If that’s your reason, I don’t really mind. Just don’t do it anymore—if you get expelled then that’ll suck pretty bad. Also, justice-driven school beatings can easily lead you down the path to illegal-gang-street fights if you aren’t careful.”
“I doubt that.”
“Trust me, I’ve seen it happen before.”
Megumi opened his mouth to respond but was interrupted by a ringing coming from Gojo’s phone. Gojo checked who was calling and beamed widely at the caller ID before answering.
“Tsumiki!” Gojo chirped while placing his phone on a stand, “The least problem-causing Fushiguro! How are you?”
“Least problem-causing? Oh no, what did Megumi do this time?” Tsumiki teased while walking down what seemed to be a sidewalk in the busy street. The sunshine glared through her camera and shopping bags were lined up across her arm. She seemed to have adjusted well to the new environment compared to the beginning of the semester.
“I didn’t do anything,” Megumi snapped, “Gojo is just being a little bitch.”
Tsumiki giggled and Megumi couldn’t stop the corners of his mouth from slightly moving upward, the former tightness in his chest loosening. Although it’s only been a week since they last called, he realized how much he needed to hear her voice. When she first left to Yokohama, Tsumiki assured him that they could call every day but Megumi knew how busy she was with school, considering the fact she was in her junior year at one of the most prestigious academies in Japan. With that in mind, he insisted on only calling weekly.
“Megs got into a fight at school, multiple at that!” Gojo added.
“Megumi! You told me you would stop!” Tsumiki scolded, her usual soft features shifting into an expression of anger.
“Wait what? Tsumiki knew? ‘Miki! Why didn’t you tell me?” Gojo began to repeatedly poke Megumi’s shoulder with his free hand, “And Megs, listen to your sister!”
Megumi groaned, forcing Gojo’s poking hand off of him, “It’s not a big deal. Now that I might actually get expelled, I won’t do it anymore.”
“You might get expelled?!” The voice from Gojo’s phone screeched. Gojo burst into laughter as Megumi pinched the bridge of his nose, letting out a sigh.
“Megumi, seriously. If you really wanted to help out the kids being bullied then you should just tell the mean guys to leave them alone or something! No need to beat them up!” Tsumiki frowned.
Tell the bullies off. As if that would do anything.
As much as Megumi loved his sister, she just didn’t understand that people don’t really change because of a few kind words. Not if they’re from Megumi, anyways. Tsumiki just had this weird aura where she’s so sweet that you had to listen to her. For Megumi, it was the opposite. He’s so unlikable that no matter how good his advice was, people won’t want to even hear him out.
Being kind and expressing his “sense of justice” in a civil manner did not come naturally to him. Maybe it’s because, as Maki once said, he was “emotionally stunted” due to "family issues” and he “didn't know how to express his feelings" so he "channeled them through anger.” That, or he just wasn’t programmed to be normal and ended up as an unlikable loser that sorely lacked in basic communication skills. He assumed it was the second option.
Either way, his fists had a much bigger impact on the bullies than his words.
“Anyways, changing the topic. Tsumiki! How’s school!” Gojo asked cheerfully.
Tsumiki beamed at the camera, “Oh my goodness, it’s so good! Yokohama is so nice and I finally started making some friends! But now that the first semester is ending, the exams are coming and it’s eating me alive!”
Gojo laughed, “Who cares about grades? Just have fun!”
“Gojo,” Tsumiki groaned, “You’re literally a teacher, you should not be saying that. Also, now that I’m a junior, I have to study way harder than I did before! Apparently everyone wants to become a psychologist nowadays so I have to make sure that I’m the absolute best!”
“You’re definitely one of the best already, ‘Miki. You've always studied like crazy, even during freshman year.”
“If I knew back then that the first year didn’t matter then I would have savoured that time and relaxed.” Tsumiki sighed.
Tsumiki and Gojo continued chatting while Megumi watched, not being able to stop the small smile from creeping upon his face. He liked this—he liked watching the two talk while he just listened, only adding a few small comments every now and then. Even if Tsumiki was talking through a screen, it felt as if she was there with them, like her liveliness reached them from across the phone, filling up the car. Tsumiki tended to have that effect on people.
Wherever she went, Tsumiki could light up a room. She was like that ever since Megumi first met her; ever so patient and caring. Even her very presence could make someone happy.
Megumi could not relate, nor did he even try to. Though, he wondered what that would be like; to have such a positive effect on people, to be able to even slightly uplift their spirits. He knew it was silly to pretend he could ever do that, but it was nice to imagine.
“Megumi, when you visit I have to take you to this restaurant—like, they have these garlic scallion noodles and I literally go every single day. You would love the ginger miso one.”
“That sounds nice. What’s the place called?”
“Oh, I’m in front of it right now!” Tsumiki shifted the camera view to a blue, brick building called ‘Yokohama’s Noodle Bistro.’
“Let’s all go next weekend! Suguru can join too!” Gojo chimed in.
“Do you really have to invite your boyfriend?” Megumi muttered.
“Yup. Stay jealous that I have one and you don’t. It’s ok though, ‘Gumi. You’ll find a partner some day!”
“Who’s jealous?”
“You, obviously.”
Tsumiki began walking across a street as she burst out in laughter, flashing her usual smile, “Leave him alone, Gojo.” She said, though still giggling.
"Ok, fine. I'm so sorry, Megumi, please forgive me." Gojo pouted mockingly before turning back to the facetime, "So, 'Miki, next weekend sounds good?"
“My exams will be over by then so I’ll be free!" Tsumiki confirmed, "Oh my gosh, I haven’t seen you guys in so long, I really want to show you my new dorm decorations! I changed it so much since you lasted visite–”
— — —
Megumi sat completely still in his chair, a stark contrast to Gojo; whose legs were shaking so hard that the echoes of his foot tapping the floor rippled through the hospital. The fluorescent lights blinded his eyes and out of the corner, he could see Toji shoving his way past the nurses to rush in the room. He heard Gojo leave his seat to go towards his father, his gentle voice translating into vibrations through Megumi’s ears. He heard a doctor, his dad yelling, Gojo trying to calm everything down. Then eventually, the noise faded back into just the gentle hum of the air ventilator as Gojo slumped in a chair next to Megumi again, his face buried in his hands.
Megumi’s mind was moving impossibly slow while also racing at speeds it had never moved before.
None of this feels real.
Yet at the same time, everything felt so real. It felt too real. The car speeding behind her, the terror on her face, the phone falling out of her hand and tumbling into the ground. That horrible, blood-curdling scream that came out of the phone before all the noise in her lungs died out.
The look on Gojo’s face, a look Megumi didn’t even know that Gojo was physically able to carry.
It was so unnatural, but it was so real.
But it wasn’t. A life without Tsumiki was not plausible, no—it wasn’t even imaginable. Megumi was not Megumi without Tsumiki because as far as he could remember, his sister was always there. Way before Nobara, Maki, or even Gojo; she was by his side.
That shouldn’t be allowed—what right did the world have to take her away? Take away his first ever source of light?
A world without Fushiguro Tsumiki was not real.