Chapter Text
The rain was doing its absolute best to drown the city, turning the morning commute into a miserable, gray blur. Inside the warm, dimly lit sanctuary of Kissa Kaze, the air smelled heavily of roasted beans, vanilla syrup, and Megumi’s growing regret.
Megumi stared at the digital ticket printer, watching it spit out its fifth delivery order in under three minutes.
"Fushiguro!" Nobara called out from the back supply room, her voice muffled over the sound of clinking ceramic mugs. "Did the oat milk delivery arrive yet? The app says we’re out, and if one more vegan hipster tries to order a flat white with whole milk today, I’m locking the front door."
"It’s not here yet," Megumi sighed, running a hand through his damp black hair. He was already exhausted, and the cafe wouldn't even open its doors to walk-in customers for another twenty minutes. "The courier is probably stuck in traffic because half the city has flooded."
"Fantastic," Nobara groaned, kicking the stockroom door open and marching out with a box of paper straws. She dumped them onto the counter and squinted at Megumi, her sharp eyes narrowing. "You look like you’re about to commit a felony. Need a shot of espresso before the morning rush?"
"I am a professional," Megumi deadpanned, neatly aligning a row of lids. "Professionals don't commit felonies until after their shift."
"Right, right. Save the murder for the evening crowd," Nobara laughed, tying her crimson apron tighter around her waist. She leaned against the register and glanced out the large front window, where the streetlights were still flickering against the gloom. "Seriously though, look at that weather. We’re going to get zero foot traffic today—just soggy office drones and delivery guys."
Megumi didn't answer. He turned back to the espresso machine, sliding a portafilter into place with a practiced, rhythmic snap. He preferred the quiet mornings, or at least he usually did, before his lower back started aching from standing on the concrete floor since 5:30 AM.
He was just about to pull a shot when a sudden, heavy thud echoed from the front glass, followed by a muffled curse.
Megumi and Nobara both paused, looking toward the entrance.
Through the rain-streaked window, a figure in a violently bright orange puffer jacket was struggling to collapse an oversized umbrella that had apparently inverted itself in the wind. The person was fighting the metal ribs of the umbrella like it was a wild animal, completely oblivious to the fact that the cafe was still closed.
Nobara let out a sharp snort of amusement. "Well. Speak of the soggy devil."
The umbrella gave one final, rebellious snap, turning completely inside out with a sound like a small gunshot. The person in the orange jacket stumbled backward, slipping slightly on the slick pavement before catching their balance with an undignified windmill of their arms.
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me," Megumi muttered, resting his forehead against the cool edge of the espresso machine.
"Don't you dare look away," Nobara hissed, grabbing Megumi’s arm and pulling him slightly to the side so they both had a front-row seat to the sidewalk disaster. Her eyes were bright with malicious glee. "Look at him. He’s fighting for his life out there. If he dies by umbrella, we’re legally implicated."
Outside, the tangerine-colored menace had finally surrendered to the metal skeleton, giving the inverted umbrella a deeply betrayed look before kicking it gently away. He shook out his arms like a wet dog, sending a spray of water droplets flying, and then finally looked up at the cafe door.
His dark eyes widened behind wet eyelashes when he saw the two of them staring at him from behind the counter. Instead of looking embarrassed, a massive, brilliant grin split across his face.
He didn't hesitate. He marched straight up to the glass, ignored the prominent CLOSED sign hanging right at eye level, and gave the door a cheerful, heavy double-knock.
"Are you going to let him freeze to death or do I have to?" Nobara whispered, elbowing Megumi sharply in the ribs.
"I am going to pretend he doesn't exist," Megumi said, though he reached out and flicked the main breaker switch anyway, illuminating the pastry case just a bit brighter. "If we ignore him, maybe he’ll migrate south for the winter."
"No way. Look at those shoulders. That is prime customer service material," Nobara laughed, stepping away from the counter and walking right up to the glass door. Before Megumi could stop her, she unlatched the deadbolt and pulled the door open just a crack.
A rush of cold, damp wind swept into the warm cafe, carrying the scent of petrichor and wet wool.
"We don't open for another twenty minutes," Nobara called out, leaning against the doorframe with an easy, mocking smirk. "Unless you're here to apologize to our window for trying to break its nose."
The stranger blinked, rainwater dripping off the tip of his nose, but his grin didn't falter for a single second.
"Please, it would be nice if you let me in," the stranger begged. "It is raining heavily, and I cannot go out in this weather."
Megumi rolled his eyes and ignored the stranger entirely.
"It is not nice to ignore a customer, you know!" the stranger pouted.
"Not a customer. We are not open," Megumi corrected flatly.
"You are welcome to stay. Don't mind my grumpy coworker," Nobara offered brightly.
Megumi grunted while Nobara just smirked. The customer took a seat near the front and pulled down his hood, revealing a shock of dyed pink hair.
"I fucking hate you," Megumi grumbled under his breath at Nobara.
"Anyway, keep him busy. I am going to do something important," Nobara announced, flashing a grin as she walked away.
"Kugisaki, I swear, if you—" Megumi warned, but Nobara had already escaped through the back door.
"So, can I—" the stranger tried to prompt.
"No."
"But—"
"No."
"Grumpy much?"
They sat in silence for a few awkward seconds until the stranger spoke again.
"So, are you a college student too?" he asked.
"Why are you asking?" Megumi frowned, clearly annoyed.
"I didn't know it was wrong to ask questions," the stranger said, rolling his eyes playfully.
"Well, I have a question for you," Megumi slammed his book down onto the counter, finally looking up. "What are you doing outside on a rainy day at 5:00 AM?"
"Ummm," the stranger looked around, clearly dodging the question. "The weather is nice today, isn't it?"
Megumi just looked at him, completely unimpressed. "My name is Itadori Yuuji. What is yours?" Yuuji smiled awkwardly.
"Read the fucking name tag, dumbass," Megumi rolled his eyes.
"Ah. So, Fushiguro Megumi. It's a bit of a feminine—well, I mean, there is nothing wrong with that," Yuuji began to backtrack, wincing slightly. "I thought—listen, I am sorry."
"No need to be. It's not your fault my eccentric father gave me a feminine name," Megumi sighed.
"Well, I think it's cute," Yuuji complimented effortlessly.
"Please stop talking," Megumi’s face flushed red at the sudden compliment.
"Fine. What are you reading?" Yuuji asked, undeterred.
"Did I not just say that I do not want to talk to you?"
"No, you only said I should stop talking."
Megumi rolled his eyes and answered tightly, “Mornings with My Cat Mii."
"By whom?" Yuuji asked with genuine curiosity.
"Mayumi Inaba. Now, stop bothering me."
"What is it about?"
Megumi ignored his question, which only made Yuuji more curious. But before he could press further, the back door swung open and Nobara stepped back out.
"Bonding time is over, boys. We are opening in five minutes. Four, now," Nobara declared, tapping away on her phone.
"We were certainly not bonding, Kugisaki," Megumi corrected sharply.
"Sure you weren't," Nobara teased. "Anyway, get ready, old man."
"Fuck you," Megumi grumbled.
"I should get going; the rain has stopped. I had a great time, Fushiguro!" the pink-haired boy waved goodbye as he headed toward the exit.
Megumi found himself starting to wave back before catching himself and abruptly dropping his hand when he realized Nobara was watching. But it was too late—she had seen the whole thing.
"Ooh, Fushiguro Megumi was just caught waving at a cute boy. Could this be love?" Nobara mocked.
Megumi swatted at her arm as he stood up to drop his book off in the staff room.
"That was not nice! But you have my blessing—"
"Shut the fuck up, Kugisaki," Megumi cut her off. "I do not like Itadori."
"So, you did exchange names?" Nobara asked, the corners of her lips rising into a knowing smirk.
Megumi ignored the question entirely, which only made Nobara laugh harder.
"First step of love," she chuckled, walking over to flip the front sign from CLOSED to OPEN.
The bell above the door chimed again less than an hour later, its cheerful note cutting through the hum of the espresso machine just as Megumi was in the middle of steaming a pitcher of oat milk.
"Welcome to Kissa Ka—" Megumi started on autopilot, his eyes fixed on the milk jug, before freezing completely as the familiar shock of pink hair and a bright orange puffer jacket stepped past the threshold.
The bell hadn't even finished vibrating.
Yuji shook off a fresh, albeit much lighter, drizzle of rain, stepping onto the floor mat with a grin that could rival the cafe's overhead lights. He looked entirely too awake for a Tuesday morning, holding a damp crumpled umbrella like a walking stick.
"Guess who survived the morning commute!" Yuji announced, strolling right up to the counter as if he hadn't just promised to leave twenty minutes ago.
From the end of the bar, Nobara instantly dropped the dusting rag she was holding, her eyes snapping between Yuji and Megumi with the terrifying intensity of a predator locking onto its prey. A slow, utterly malicious smile spread across her face.
Megumi felt the blood rush straight to his ears. He’s back, the panic bells screamed in his mind. It hasn’t even been an hour.
"You," Megumi choked out, gripping the edge of the counter hard enough for his knuckles to turn white. "You said you were going home."
"Yeah, well, I remembered I actually need caffeine to function," Yuji reasoned smoothly, leaning his elbows against the wood and resting his chin in his hands, blinking up at Megumi through long, dark eyelashes. "And besides, someone has to make sure my favorite grumpy barista doesn't snap a portafilter in half."
"I am going to murder you," Megumi whispered, his voice dangerously low.
"Ooh, romantic tension right out of the gate!" Nobara chimed in loudly from down the counter, leaning over the register with her chin propped in her hands. "Don't mind him, handsome. He's always like this until he gets his second cup of black coffee. What can we get started for you?"
Yuji’s grin widened, if possible, as he shot a quick, appreciative wink in Nobara's direction. "I like your style. Uh, I'll take whatever Fushiguro recommends. Surprise me."
Megumi shot Nobara a look that promised swift, agonizing retribution, before turning his deadpan glare back to Yuji.
"We serve coffee, Itadori, not magic tricks," Megumi snapped, though his fingers were already reaching past his usual preference for the drip machine and grabbing a fresh paper cup. "And if you're going to stay, you're sitting in the corner booth where I don't have to look at your stupid jacket."
"Ouch. Harsh," Yuji laughed, pulling a crisp ten-dollar bill from his pocket and sliding it across the counter. "Does the corner booth come with conversation, or is that an extra charge?"
Megumi didn't answer, but as he turned to pull the espresso shot, he couldn't entirely stop the small, reluctant huff of breath that sounded suspiciously like a laugh.
“Oh my fucking gosh.” Yuuji exclaimed.
“What?” Megumi asked in genuine concern.
“It just laughed,” Yuuji joked.
“That was a huff of breath not a laugh,” Megumi argued.
“That definitely sounded like a laugh,” Nobara chimed in.
“See! She heard it!” Yuuji shouted.
“I hate both of you,” Megumi grumbled.
“You do not even know me, we just met like 40 minutes ago,” Yuuji teased.
“Well, I know your name and I know you are annoying,” Megumi huffed.
“That hurts my heart, Fushiguro,” Yuuji dramatically said, holding his chest.
“Are you guys going to forget that I am here or continue doing a lovers quarrel?” Nobara reminds the 2 of her existence.
“Fuck you,” Megumi rolled his eyes, “We met 40 minutes ago.”
“But you can hate him after 40 minutes? If that is your logic then you can also like him.” Nobara concludes.