Chapter Text
The library is quiet, save for the occasional sighs of a very bored Nobara and the turns of pages made by Megumi's slender hands. Both are quietly reading across from your seat, your own book long forgotten. You swear you tried to read it, but when you re-read the same sentence 7 times you decided to give up.
It's booooriiiing. You only want to go outside, see if Yuuji is back from his afternoon jog. You know... just because. But of course your other classmates decided to drag you to the library instead.
You sigh loudly and Megumi shoots you a sharp glare.
"Sorry", you mutter and turn the page to skim over more wordy pargraphs with tiny lettering. Pfft. How can Megumi stand to read so much of those boring jujutsu books written by dinosaurs is a mystery to you.
Nobara had grabbed a tome about cursed weapons, but she's currently leafing through one of those teen fashion magazines with furrowed brows. You grab your study notes and you're about to dissociate when Nobara lets out a dramatic snort, throwing the magazine onto the table.
"This month’s issue is absolute trash!" Nobara complains, slumping back onto her seat. "It’s just insanely boring autumn fashion and some ridiculous guide on how to get a boyfriend."
You glance up as casually as you could.
"A... guide?" you ask innocently, trying your absolute best to sound completely indifferent.
Nobara raises an eyebrow, seeing right through you in a split second.
"Yeah, like a step-by-step guide," she says, tapping her fingernail against the glossy cover. "7 Foolproof Steps to Win Over the Guy of Your Dreams and Make Him Fall Head Over Heels. Absolute nonsense. No man is worth that much effort."
She stands up from her seat to stretch, leaving the magazine wide open.
"I'm getting some tea and rice balls. If that idiot Itadori comes back from his run, tell him to eat his share immediately or I will," Nobara says, walking outside of the stuffy library.
The moment the door closed behind her, you wait exactly three seconds. You glance over at Megumi; he hasn't even looked up from his book. With the agility of a ninja, you slip your hand across the table and seize the magazine.
Your eyes scan the page quickly. You don't know why but you don't want anyone finding out you're reading this.
FOOLPROOF STEPS TO MAKE ANY MAN FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU!
Is your crush completely blind to your hints? Do you want your guy to be completely crazy about you? Don't worry! With these 7 foolproof steps, you’ll make him completely lose his mind over you!
Step 1: Be sure he's the one and commit. The very first step to success is total dedication. After all, no goal can be achieved without compromising!
You are sure he's the one for you. Are you the one for him?
You bite your lip and look at the door, then down the hallway. Your brain immediately fills with Yuji's perfect smile, the warmth of his innocent hugs, and how ridiculously handsome he looks when his hair gets messy after training. It's a dopamine rush.
Ugggghh.
You are so horribly, hopelessly down bad for him it actually hurts.
"You're frying your brain again," Megumi’s voice shatters your trance.
"I'm not doing anything!" you almost squeak, slamming the magazine shut.
Megumi just sighs, turning a page of his book without giving you much thought. "If you're planning on using advice from a fashion magazine to get Itadori's attention, I'm warning you right now: you're wasting your time. Only an idiot would follow that ridiculous shit."
"What? Of course not- I'm not using anything!" you protest, your face burns with the weight of your lie. "I'm just... looking at the pictures. I'm into fashion too, you know. I have to keep up with the trends." You nose itches. "Besides, who says I want Yuji's attention?"
Green eyes look at you with a deadpan expression. Megumi pinches the bridge of his nose, shakes his head and returns to his apparently very interesting reading.
At that exact second, the main door to the library burst open.
"I'm baaaaack!" Yuji announces at full volume, not minding the big sign that said "please be quiet". He brings in a rush of fresh air and the faint scent of sweat and soap. Itadori has a small towel draped around his neck, and his workout shirt is clinging slightly to his chest.
Why does he smell so good even when sweaty? You peel your eyes from his chest, you were not about to be caught ogling him. But- ohhh his hair! It's a perfectly tousled mess of salmon pink. If only you could run your hands through it.
The moment he spots the two of you, his face lights up with that big, boyish grin that melts your soul every single time.
"Hey!" Yuji says, walking straight over and leaning against the back of your chair with total, casual comfort. "What are you guys up to? What were you reading? Looked interesting."
And to absolutely torture you, he leans down slightly to try and peek at the magazine cover. His face now mere inches away from yours. You can feel the warmth of his skin, see the tiny beads of sweat trailing down his neck, and notice the golden catch of the afternoon sun peeking through the blinds in his eyes. And would you look at that? They have honey colored flecks in them. Tiny stars of gold.
Your brain crashes. There's a pleasant sensation numbing the world from you, all but Yuji's presence.
"Honey," you mumble distractedly.
"Huh?" Yuji replies, brow furrowed in confusion.
Megumi coughs and the choked sound reboots your brain back. You turn to see Fushiguro's constipated expression. You don't know if he wants to laugh, puke or cry. That brings you back to Yuji's question- right! What were you reading?
Shoving the magazine beneath your arms as inconspicuous as possible. You quickly supply: "Honey, like um, the color, you know? It's trending this season."
Yuji blinks, his eyes going to the folded magazine and you try and cover more of the text with the sleeves of your shirt from his prying, pretty eyes. He nods solemnly. "I see".
"Yeah," you nod back. "If you ever- um, need fashion advice just ask me. I'm kinda well versed on it now. I mean, not- not that you need it.” You gesture to his whole being. “You always dress up nice.”
His lips spread into a boyish grin that completely steals the air from your lungs.
"Really? Thank you!" He supplies you with a couple of warm pats on the head, messing up your hair a bit. You don't mind, in fact, you want to tell him to please never stop. "You're the best! Right Fushiguro?"
Megumi doesn't look like he wants to dignify Yuji with an answer and you'll never know if he was going to do it because in that moment Yuji's stomach grumbles and Megumi takes that as a cue to change the topic.
"Nobara's in the kitchen," Megumi murmurs from his chair. "Go eat something before you faint."
"Awesome!" Yuji spins around, practically skipping toward the kitchen. "I'm starving! I'll see you guys later!" he shouts over his shoulder before disappearing behind the door.
You sit there, completely paralyzed in your chair, clutching the magazine tightly in your hands, feeling the exact spot on your head where his fingers just touched you.
If only Yuji knew how much brighter he makes your days with his presence.
So yeah, there's no other path for you. Yuji's the one. Step one was achieved long before you ever found this magazine, you don't think you were even given a choice.
You gather your notes and the book you couldn't actually read, sandwiching the magazine in between them.
"Um, see you later, Megumi." You fake a yawn. "I'm getting a little tired."
You don't wait for Megumi's answer and make it into your room in record time, throwing yourself onto your bed with the magazine sprawled over the soft quilt.
Operation get Yuji Itadori's attention is officially on.