Chapter Text
2006 - Tokyo
Before you stood a tall and lanky man. His hair was white and spiky, almost ridiculously so, and beneath those dark circular sunglasses were two gorgeous blue irises staring directly at you and your twin brother.
However, despite his rather unique appearance, it was his expression that would have made most people turn their heads. To say he looked horrified would have been an understatement.
His jaw was practically touching the floor as he stared between the two of you, as though he'd just encountered the most bizarre thing he'd ever seen.
You didn't particularly understand why, though. You were only six, and as far as you were concerned, the strange man standing in front of you was simply a stranger with very interesting hair and even more interesting sunglasses. Your brother, however, clearly had a different opinion.
“Quit staring at us, you freak,” Megumi spat, his tiny body immediately shifting in front of yours as if his six-year-old frame could somehow protect you from a grown man.
It was something he did often - put himself between you and anything he considered even remotely suspicious.
You, on the other hand, had spent the last several seconds peeking around his shoulder because curiosity had always gotten the better of you.
Megumi was cautious where you were adventurous, quiet where you were loud, and suspicious where you were far too willing to assume the best in people.
It was, according to him, a terrible combination for a person who apparently had no sense of danger whatsoever.
The stranger seemed to realize just how strange he must have looked, because he quickly cleared his throat and straightened himself, taking a few steps closer.
Megumi's shoulders immediately stiffened, and his hand instinctively reached behind him to find your wrist, tugging you further behind his body.
“If you're here to tell us about our father, you can leave,” he said, and despite his tiny voice, there was something unusually firm about it. “He left us. I'm not interested.”
The stranger's eyebrows rose slightly, as though he hadn't expected such a blunt response from a child.
“Well, that's a pretty cold welcome,” he muttered, earning an immediate glare from Megumi.
“You came here because of him, didn't you?” Megumi pressed, and the stranger hesitated for just long enough to confirm that his suspicion wasn't entirely wrong.
“Not exactly,” he finally answered, his gaze moving between the two of you. “You two just-” His eyes narrowed slightly as he took another look at your faces. “You look exactly like him.”
Megumi's expression hardened at the mention of him, but you were far more interested in the stranger himself, particularly the way his sunglasses seemed to sit perfectly against his nose.
You wondered if they were heavy.
You wondered if you could see through them.
You wondered if he would let you try them on.
And because your brain had never been particularly skilled at keeping your curiosity to yourself, you began slowly inching around Megumi's side to get a better look.
Unfortunately for you, you barely made it a step before Megumi's hand shot out and caught you by the back of your collar, dragging you straight back behind him.
Your little feet scraped against the ground as you were forced backward, and you let out a defeated little whine.
“Gumi!” you complained, twisting around to look up at him.
“No,” he answered immediately.
“But I wasn't doing anything!”
Megumi stared at you like you'd just admitted to having no survival instincts whatsoever.
“You don't walk up to strangers like that.” “But he knows Dad.”
“That makes him worse.” Megumi said with a look of pure disgust.
Your mouth dropped open in disbelief. “What does that mean? That doesn’t even make sense-”
“Yes, it does.”
“How?”
“Because I said so.”
You stared at him for a moment, completely unconvinced by his explanation, before turning your attention back to the stranger, only to find him struggling not to laugh.
“What's funny?” Megumi demanded, his little brows furrowing.
The man immediately straightened his face.
“Nothing.”
“You laughed.”
“I didn't.”
“You did!” you exclaimed, pointing at him accusingly, and that was apparently enough to make the stranger's shoulders shake again.
Megumi looked increasingly irritated while you became increasingly offended on his behalf.
“See? He's laughing at you!” Megumi muttered.
“He's laughing at you,” you corrected, and the stranger finally broke, letting out a genuine laugh that made you grin despite yourself.
Megumi looked between the two of you and seemed to realize with horror that you had already begun liking the man.
“Oh, I like her,” the stranger said once he had managed to calm down, and your face immediately lit up.
“You like me?” you asked, completely forgetting that Megumi had just told you not to talk to him.
The stranger's grin widened.
“Yeah. You're cute.”
“Don't encourage her,” Megumi immediately cut in, his tone becoming even more irritated.
“Why not?”
“Because she'll get worse.”
You gasped, turning toward your brother with an expression of pure betrayal.
“I'm not bad!”
“You tried to climb onto the roof yesterday.” Megumi deadpanned.
“Because my ball went up there!”
“You could've fallen.”
“But I didn't.” You stuck your tongue out.
“Because I pulled you down.”
“I would've been fine!”
“You would've broken your neck.”
“I wouldn't!”
“How do you know, huh?”
“Because I'm good at climbing!” You exclaimed, proudly, with a grin.
Megumi stared at you blankly.
“You're terrible at climbing.”
You looked absolutely scandalized.
The stranger, meanwhile, had gone completely silent, watching the exchange with growing amusement.
“Wow,” he finally muttered. “You two are siblings, huh?”
Megumi's eyes narrowed.
“Obviously.”
“I can tell,” the man said, his gaze drifting between the two of you.
“You're the responsible one.” Megumi nodded once, apparently satisfied that somebody finally recognized his efforts. “And she's…” The stranger's eyes moved toward you, just in time to see you attempting to sneak around Megumi's side again. His lips twitched.
“...the opposite.”
Megumi sighed.
“Exactly.”
You frowned at both of them.
“I'm responsible.”
Megumi looked at you. You looked at him. There was a pause.
“You tried to follow a stray cat into an alley yesterday,” he reminded you.
“It was lonely.”
“It was a cat.”
“Exactly! It needed a friend.”
“It was hissing at you.”
“It was probably scared.”
“It tried to scratch you.”
“Because it didn't know me yet!” You pouted.
Megumi stared at you for a long moment, clearly trying to understand how your brain worked.
You were always like this.
You saw the best in everything, even when Megumi couldn't.
If somebody looked sad, you wanted to know why.
If someone was alone, you wanted to sit beside them.
If you found something interesting, you wanted to touch it, climb it, investigate it, or somehow make it your new best friend.
Megumi thought it was going to get you killed one day. You thought Megumi was simply too pessimistic. And unfortunately for him, he knew that if he didn't constantly keep an eye on you, you'd probably wander into danger without even realizing it.
“You're too trusting,” he muttered.
“You're too grumpy,” you shot back.
That only seemed to make the man more amused, and after a moment he crouched down in front of the two of you, bringing himself closer to your height.
Megumi immediately tensed again, his hand finding your wrist as though he expected you to bolt forward at any second.
“Relax, kid,” the stranger said, lifting both hands slightly. “I'm not here to hurt you.”
Megumi didn't look convinced.
You, however, were staring at the man's face with growing fascination.
He pushed his sunglasses down the bridge of his nose, allowing his impossibly blue eyes to become fully visible, and your entire expression changed.
You had thought they looked pretty before, but now you could actually see them. They were really blue.
You leaned around Megumi's shoulder to get a better look, and his hand immediately tugged you back.
“Gumi!,” you whined.
“Stop.”
“But I wanna see.” You pouted.
“You're seeing him.”
“I wanna see closer.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I said no.”
“That's not a reason.”
“It is when I'm the one saying it.”
You frowned deeply, while the stranger's mouth twitched with amusement.
“She's got a point,” he said.
Megumi turned toward him with an expression of complete disbelief.
“You're making this worse.” He sighed.
“I haven't done anything.”
“You're encouraging her.”
“I'm just saying she's right.”
“See?” you immediately brightened. Megumi looked at you. “Don't.”
You were already reaching for the man's sunglasses.
Megumi caught your collar again.
Your entire body was pulled backward, and you let out another miserable little whine as you dangled there for a moment before Megumi released you.
“No.”
“I just wanna try them!”
“They're his.”
“He can let me!”
“You don't even know him.”
You pointed at the stranger. “What's your name?”
Megumi's eyes widened slightly.
“Why are you asking him that?” Your brother asked, as cautious as ever.
“Because I wanna know, duh.”
The stranger's grin returned as he watched the two of you argue.
“She's got a good point.”
“Stop taking her side,” Megumi snapped.
You looked back at the stranger expectantly, waiting for an answer, and he seemed to finally realize that he'd been speaking to you for several minutes without introducing himself.
He straightened slightly and placed a hand against his chest with exaggerated confidence.
“Satoru Gojo,” he announced. “That's my name. You can call me Gojo-sensei when I'm older and you're both students.” Megumi stared at him.
“Why would we call you that?”
Gojo's smile faltered.
“Wow. Tough crowd…”
You giggled, and Gojo immediately looked at you again.
“See? She gets it.”
“She laughs at everything,” Megumi muttered.
“Because you're funny!” you protested. “I'm not trying to be.” He sighed.
“That's why it's funny!”
Gojo looked delighted.
“I really like her.”
Megumi's expression immediately darkened.
“Stop saying that.”
“Why?”
“Because she'll get attached.” Gojo paused, looking down at you. You were already smiling at him.
“...Too late.”
You hadn't even noticed Megumi's complaint because you were staring at Gojo's sunglasses again. They were cool. Very cool.
Probably the coolest thing you'd ever seen.
You looked at Gojo, then at the glasses, then at Gojo again, hoping that perhaps he would somehow understand what you wanted without you having to ask.
Unfortunately, Megumi knew you too well. “Don't,” he warned.
“Don't what?” Gojo asked, clearly entertained.
“She's thinking about something.”
“I am not!” you protested, even though you absolutely were.
Gojo leaned closer. “What are you thinking about?”
You looked at Megumi. Megumi looked at you. You looked back at Gojo.
“Can I try your glasses?”
Megumi immediately sighed. “Of course.”
Gojo, meanwhile, looked delighted. “Sure.”
You retreated, a little sad, before speaking, “Gumi said no.”
“Gumi doesn't get to decide everything.”
Megumi's eyes narrowed. “She's going to break them.”
Gojo shrugged. “I can buy another pair.”
Megumi stared at him like he'd just said the most ridiculous thing in the world. “That's not the point.”
“Then what is the point?”
“She can't just take things from strangers.”
You gasped. “I'm not taking them! He said I could!”
“That's not-”
“Let her have them,” Gojo interrupted, already reaching up to remove his sunglasses. “You're going to give both her and me a headache if you keep arguing.”
Megumi looked personally offended by the fact that this man had somehow managed to win you over within minutes.
Gojo crouched down again and carefully placed the sunglasses over your little face.
They were far too big, slipping slightly down your nose and nearly swallowing your entire face.
You went completely still, as though you'd just been given the most valuable possession in the world.
“How do I look?” you asked proudly.
Gojo stared at you. Megumi stared at you. You waited.
“Ridiculous,” Megumi finally said, and your smile fell.
“You're mean.”
“They're too big.”
“I think they look good,” Gojo said immediately, and your face brightened again. Megumi gave him an unimpressed look. “You're lying.”
“I'm being supportive.”
“You're encouraging her.”
“You really love that phrase, huh?”
You giggled and pushed the glasses further up your nose, immediately turning toward Gojo with a grin.
“Look! I look like you!”
Gojo's expression softened in a way that Megumi noticed immediately. He reached forward and gently adjusted the glasses so they weren't slipping off your face. “Yeah,” he said, smiling. “You do.”
You beamed.
Megumi watched the exchange silently, and something about it made him uneasy.
You liked people too quickly.
You trusted too easily.
You had known this man for barely any time at all and were already standing there wearing his sunglasses, calling him funny, telling him that his eyes were pretty, and apparently deciding that you were friends.
Megumi didn't understand how you could be so comfortable around strangers.
He didn't understand how you could look at somebody and immediately assume they had good intentions.
He knew better than that.
The world wasn't kind. People weren't always kind. And Megumi had already learned far too young that sometimes the people who were supposed to protect you were the ones you needed protecting from.
You hadn't learned that yet.
Maybe that was why he was so protective of you.
You could afford to be kind because he was there to be suspicious for you. You could afford to be adventurous because he was always watching where you were going. You could afford to trust because Megumi would make sure nobody took advantage of it.
At least, that was what he told himself.
Gojo, however, seemed to notice the same thing.
His gaze moved from Megumi to you, and for a brief moment, the playful expression disappeared from his face.
He looked toward the abandoned building behind you, then back at the two of you.
There was something heavy in his eyes that you didn't understand.
You were too busy admiring yourself in his sunglasses, turning your head from side to side and giggling whenever your reflection appeared in the glass.
“You know,” Gojo began, and you looked up at him immediately. “I think you two should come with me.”
Megumi's expression hardened.
“Where?”
“Somewhere better than here.”
“Why?”
“Because I'm not leaving you at the Zenin clan.”
Megumi's eyes narrowed. “That's my home.”
“No,” Gojo corrected, suddenly serious. “It isn't.”
Megumi went quiet, and Gojo crouched again, his eyes level with his.
“The Zenins aren't going to treat your sister kindly. You know that.”
Megumi's jaw tightened. “I'll protect her.” “I know.” Gojo's answer came without hesitation, and that seemed to surprise Megumi.
“But you shouldn't have to do everything yourself.”
Megumi didn't respond. Gojo's eyes shifted toward you, and the corner of his mouth lifted when he saw you still wearing his glasses.
“Besides, I'm pretty sure your sister already likes me.”
You immediately nodded. “I do!”
Megumi looked at you like he wanted to scream.
Gojo grinned. “See?”
“She's a kid.”
“And?”
“She doesn't know you.”
“I know myself pretty well.”
“That isn't what I meant.”
You looked between the two of them, completely confused by their argument. “Can I go with Gojo?”
Megumi's expression softened for just a second as he looked at you.
You were smiling at him, completely trusting that whatever decision he made would ultimately keep you safe.
He hated that.
Not because he didn't want to protect you, but because he knew exactly how much responsibility you were placing on his tiny shoulders without even realizing it.
You trusted him because he was your brother. Because he was Megumi. And Megumi would rather die than let anything happen to you.
“You don't even know where we're going,” he muttered.
“I don't care.”
“Of course you don't.”
“You're always worried.”
“Because you don't think.”
“Hey, I think!”
“You asked a stranger if you could wear his glasses.” You looked down at the sunglasses. “They're cool.”
Gojo nodded solemnly. “They are.”
Megumi's head snapped toward him. “Stop agreeing with her!” Gojo laughed, and you immediately joined in, your laughter bright and unrestrained as you reached out and grabbed his sleeve.
Megumi stared down at your hand wrapped around Gojo's arm.
Then at Gojo.
Then back at you.
You smiled up at him as if nothing about this was strange.
Megumi sighed.
“You're staying next to me.”
Your smile widened.
“Okay!”
“And don't wander off.”
“Okay!”
“And don't touch anything without asking.”
“Okay!”
“And stop talking to strangers.”
You hesitated.
Megumi narrowed his eyes.
“Okay,” you finally said, much less enthusiastically.
Gojo's shoulders shook.
Megumi glared at him.
“What's funny now?”
“Nothing,” Gojo said, although his grin made it obvious that it was absolutely something.
He reached down and ruffled your hair, immediately earning an offended squeal as you tried fixing it with both hands. “Hey! My hair!”
“Sorry.”
“You ruined it!”
“You'll survive.”
“Gumi, tell him!”
Megumi stared at you.
Then at Gojo.
Then back at you.
And for the first time since the stranger had arrived, the tiniest hint of a smile appeared on his face.
“Serves you right.”
Your mouth dropped open. “Gumi!”
Gojo burst out laughing.
And perhaps that was the moment Satoru Gojo realized exactly what he'd gotten himself into.
Megumi Fushiguro was quiet, guarded, stubborn and far too serious for a six-year-old, already carrying the weight of a world he barely understood on his tiny shoulders.
His sister, meanwhile, was the complete opposite - loud, affectionate, endlessly curious and so trusting that she had apparently decided within ten minutes that Satoru Gojo was her new favorite person.
She was going to be trouble. Gojo could already tell. The kind of trouble that followed him around, stole his sunglasses, asked too many questions and probably wouldn't hesitate to throw herself into danger if somebody she cared about was standing on the other side of it.
And yet, as you continued complaining about your hair while Megumi tried to convince you that Gojo had done you a favor by messing it up, Satoru couldn't bring himself to mind.
Not even a little.
Maybe he'd come here because of your father.
Maybe he'd expected to find two frightened children who would have no reason to trust him.
Instead, he'd found a boy who was already willing to fight the entire world for his sister and a little girl who had looked at him for the first time, decided his eyes were pretty, and somehow made him laugh within minutes.
Gojo watched you tug impatiently at Megumi's sleeve while demanding that he fix your hair, and his smile softened.
Yeah.
He could work with this.