Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Megumi stared at the scene unfolding in front of him and felt dread fill his body. Itadori was already a handful- two handfuls, actually. Keeping up with his endless energy and endearing, yet obnoxious, optimism was a mental workout that left Megumi exhausted by the end of each day. He already had enough to deal with having Itadori as a teammate. Surely it couldn’t get worse, he’d thought to himself last night, yet his heart raced quickly as he sought out sleep. He knew they’d head out today to finalize their team. They’d meet their new teammate- a girl, Gojo had informed them. Megumi had stared at the ceiling and sent a silent prayer to the universe. Let this one be normal, he had pleaded before slipping into slumber. Gojo had woken them up this morning with multiple loud claps of his oversized hands, chirping in excitement about getting to meet his new “precious student”. Gojo talked about this new student the entire ride into the city, which Megumi actually appreciated. He usually tuned Gojo out, but he was attentive to each word this day. He wanted to get a fundamental understanding of who she was. It would make it easier to transition seamlessly into a well functioning team.  She was from the countryside. That was a good sign. Megumi had hummed in appreciation of this fact. Countryfolk were warm and polite. Countryside hospitality was a well known phenomena. She was sixteen, making her the eldest of the team. Thank god, Megumi had sighed out. Her age surely made her more mature than Itadori. He wouldn’t be able to handle another Itadori. Gojo had explained her cursed technique and Megumi’s brows had risen in surprise. He was impressed. She could be a force of nature with a technique like that. She’d be a valuable asset. Megumi nodded his head in content at the idea of the girl he was building in his head. The final person to make their trio. He allowed himself to feel the slightest semblance of excitement as he sat on the railing next to Itadori, his eyes scanning around the crowded street. Would he be able to see her? She might not stand out at first, many sorcerers were lowkey and masters at blending in. What would she look like? Would she have an accent? But then a small scene broke out on the pavement in front of him, breaking him out of his thoughts. His heart sunk. Oh no.

Now he was seeing her. Seeing the girl. The girl who was currently harassing a modeling scout. That perfect idea of this new teammate in his head shattered instantly. Her voice carried and cut through the intense noise of downtown city life, which was impressive in itself. She was loud. Bright ginger hair, amber eyes ablaze, and a scowl on her face. Megumi pinched the bridge of his nose and sucked in a deep breath, trying desperately to ignore the chuckle that came from Gojo. Two headaches. He now had two headaches to deal with. Itadori Yuuji and whoever this ball of uncontrollable fire was. He watched the poor man scurry away like prey that had somehow escaped a deadly predator. The girl had huffed and flicked a piece of her bangs out of her face before she located Gojo and made her way over. Her chin was held high in pride, shoulders strong and straight, and this air superiority surrounded her. Maybe she just had one of those faces. The kind that makes you look like a bitch all of the time. Megumi was grasping onto straws at this point. There was still a semblance of hope, he reasoned. Maybe she was aggressive to that man for unknown reasons, but surely she'd be kind to her team. Or at least try to make a good impression. Megumi took a deep breath and looked up at her from where he sat against the railing. The sun behind her made her ginger hair glow like a halo. Ironic, he mused to himself, she definitely hadn't given the impression of being anything remotely related to an angel.

“Kugisaki Nobara. Be happy boys, I’m the one woman in your group.”

The light left Megumi’s eyes and he could see his soul leaving his body. He was tempted to wave farewell to it as it ascended into the sky. He stared at her, mind trying to process whatever the hell kind of introduction that was. Be happy boys?  Surely he misheard her. The audacity was absurd. Actually, this whole experience had been absurd. Maybe he was still asleep. But no. The universe had heard his pleas last night and laughed at him. Itadori introduced himself with vigorous enthusiasm, completely unbothered by the conceited girl’s words, while Megumi muttered his own introduction as they locked eyes. He saw something flash across her face. Like a challenge. Like she hadn't expected him to respond with disinterest and coldness- like she couldn't comprehend the fact that someone wouldn't immediately cave to her brass personality. She was clearly used to running the show and calling the shots. 

Her bright eyes.. They really looked like pools of honey. If the honey was boiling and could burn you alive. She studied their features. Her hand was on her hip, foot tapping and he could hear her hum under her breath. He felt a bit uncomfortable under her gaze. She was quite intense looking. Her features were striking. Not at all the warm expression he’d imagined. She took them in and analyzed them thoroughly, eyes roaming from the top of their heads down to their shoes. He felt frozen, like a specimen being studied for science. Finally she broke the tension. Her shoulders slouched and she let out a loud sigh of disappointment, muttering about how she always got stuck in unlucky situations like this.

Megumi’s mouth almost dropped open in incredulousness. Was this girl for real? His eyes flickered to Gojo. Their sensei had a grin of pure pleasure on his face. He was enjoying this. Enjoying watching Megumi suffer. Megumi scoffed and pushed himself off of the railing to walk right past the girl- Kugisaki. They weren’t going to get along. He knew that in the depths of his soul, and Megumi has impressively accurate intuition. “The feeling is mutual.” He said quietly to her as he passed her. Saying that to her shocked him. He was very disciplined. Always had self control. Yet somehow.. Somehow this Kugisaki character had already gotten under his skin in the matter of a five minute time span. He could feel her rage spike dangerously. She let out a small gasp of disbelief and he heard her turn sharply on her heel. He was preparing to feel her grab the back of his shirt and yank him back, but then Gojo offered sushi.. And Megumi was sent tumbling back into a state of bewilderment at the way her mood had changed instantaneously. Now her and Itadori were jumping around like children, bickering like siblings, overcome with excitement. She’d been ready to kill him and then sushi saved his life.

What. The. Fuck.

Something was wrong with this girl. 

The rest of the day felt like a fever dream and Megumi had counted the seconds down until the team split for the night. He could finally be alone. Away from Kugisaki. 

But peace was an illusion. A cruel joke. He could hear her footsteps approaching- he wasn't sure how he knew they were her footsteps, but he knew. He just knew. 

“You know, I hate high and mighty dudes,” Kugisaki said as she dropped herself down on the bench next to him. Megumi felt his eyebrow twitch. He’d come out to the pond in the back of the campus to try and unwind. Try and find peace in the fact that he’d never actually experience peace ever again with this new addition to the team. Itadori and her seemed to click relatively quickly, but the same could not be said for the two of them. They were like sandpaper rubbing against each other. “And yet here you are. Bothering me. Stalking me.” He grumbled and shot a glare her way before he settled his gaze on the rippling water in front of them. He heard her tsk under her breath as she crossed her arms over her chest. Her stare was burning into the side of his face, but he refused to look at her. He could tell it drove her crazy that he was ignoring her presence.. And he found enjoyment in that. “I heard you’re Gojo’s little prodigy.” She hummed out as she inspected her manicured nails. He bristled slightly and narrowed his eyes at an innocent lilypad. “I’m not impressed. Your nepotism doesn’t win me over, Fushiguro.”

He laughed. He actually laughed. Nobara’s eyes widened for a split second before she schooled her expression as he lifted his head to look at her. 

She couldn’t explain it. Something about him irked her. Itadori was annoying, but in a charming kind of way, well, when he didn’t make her want to send a nail right into his forehead. Fushiguro was.. Well, he pissed her the fuck off. Everything about him. From the moment she laid eyes on him. His stupid green eyes, those long lashes, his unnecessarily sharp and elegant features. It unsettled her. Immediately made her feel inferior and.. And some other emotion she couldn’t identify. So she came to pick a fight. Assert her dominance. 

“And why would I care about impressing a nobody from the countryside who has probably exorcised one grade four curse in her entire life?”

There was a harshness in his tone that Megumi didn’t recognize. It shocked him into silence. It shocked both of them into silence. Nobara’s eyes narrowed at him and he could see the way her chest began to rise and fall more erratically. He’d struck a nerve. Any regret he might have felt was short lived. He could see her hand going to her hammer and his own hands started to get into position. She vexed him. Scrambled his emotions. Megumi was a master of control and she took that control away from him. She came here to provoke him, and who was he to deny her wants?

“I’ll show you how to exorcise a fucking curse, Fushiguro,” She seethed and got to her feet. Eyes on fire. Her eyes were always on fire. Why could he never look away from her damn eyes?

Megumi stood up without hesitation, his voice coming out as a hiss, "You'd be better just going back to your insignificant home. You want to see prodigy, Kugisaki? I'll show you-"

“Ahh, my wonderful lovely students! What a beautiful bonding moment!” Gojo exclaimed cheerfully as he placed a hand on each of their shoulders. He gave Megumi a look. It was serious- a rare moment of discipline. “As much as I love to see the team building, it’s curfew. Kugisaki, I’ll walk you to your dorm.” Gojo sent him one last look over his shoulder as he guided Kugisaki back in the direction of the girl’s dormitory. Megumi watched them walk away. There was a slight stomp in her steps. He could see that her hands were clenching and unclenching. He could practically hear her thoughts- thoughts that were without a doubt cursing his very existence. He scoffed and kicked a rock as he turned to go to his own dorm. Megumi let out a groan as he entered the dormitory. The back of his neck hot in irritation. 

“Goodnight, Fushiguro! Let’s all have fun together on missions! Our trio- We have our own trio!”  Itadori had called out to him once he’d made his way to their shared hall of the dorms. Itadori's eyes shined like starlight. They were clearly experiencing this new teammate in complete opposing viewpoints. Megumi gave him a short grunt and a nod before waving his hand at him. He saw realization cross Itadori's face that something was off, but Megumi slammed the door before he could say anything about it.

Our own trio, Itadori had exclaimed. Like it was some start to a beautiful story. 

A trio sent from hell, Megumi thought to himself. Itadori was going to be the only person that kept him and Kugisaki from killing each other. Itadori could make friends with anyone. He’d somehow win Kugisaki over in the same way he’d won Megumi over. The stability of their team would rest on the foundation of Itadori. They’d be friends with Itadori. He’d be the glue that held them together. 

Megumi hated Kugisaki, and it was clear felt the same way towards him.

As he'd predicted, Kugisaki and Itadori quickly became inseparable. They finished each other’s sentences. They argued, and most of the time, both of them were wrong about whatever they were arguing about. They fed off of each other, energy inspiring energy, laughter inspiring laughter. Megumi had begun growing more attached to the pink haired boy. He found it much less taxing to be around him. Itadori even got a few smirks out of him. They worked well as a team- even though Kugisaki always seemed to get kidnapped. It was quite the point of contention for the two of them. She was too bold- reckless. She ran into every situation on impulse. They'd argue on the way home from every mission. She'd swear that she had everything under control and that she didn't need his saving. He'd call her crazy and tell her she dragged the team down. Itadori would sit in the middle and shrink into himself while trying to soothe the situation, which never worked. Yet, somehow their dynamic worked. Megumi and Nobara rarely spoke during and outside of missions, but there were often lingering stares. Words that were left unsaid, but neither one of them knew what the content of those words were. They exorcised curses together and talked to Itadori as if the other wasn’t there. Nobara would intentionally aggravate him and grin like a child when he'd roll his eyes and walk away. Megumi would find ways to make her face flush with anger. It was a game between the two of them. For two people that hated each other, most of their time and energy was spent thinking about each other. 

Their dynamic worked. Somehow.

Itadori was their friend.

They were not friends.

Itadori held the group together.

Itadori was vital. 

And now Itadori was dead. 

Chapter Text

She was sitting a step below him on the stairs that led to the training grounds. He could see most of her face from his vantage point, but some of it was hidden by her hair. The silence wasn’t uncomfortable per se.. They weren’t in the habit of speaking often, so there was normalcy to the quiet, but there was a heaviness that was undeniably present. Everything felt heavy once Itadori died. Megumi tapped his foot against the stair below him and pondered, a sigh leaving his lips as his eyes roamed her figure. Wind rustled her ginger hair and he narrowed his eyes to study the strands closely. He’d been trying to figure out if it was natural or not. If it wasn’t, she did an impeccable job at maintaining her roots. It did fit her quite well.. maybe it was natural.. 

They hadn’t talked much. Even before Itadori died, they’d never said much to each other. They’d fling an insult at each other or mumble something under their breath. They’d even gotten into a multitude of arguments in their time being teammates, but they’d never talked . Never got to know each other, never checked up on each other, never complimented each other on a successful mission. Itadori was the string that held them together. He connected the two of them. And now he was dead. 

“Fushiguro.”

His eyes blinked in surprise and he turned his body slightly towards her to face her. She’d been silent the entire time they’d been sitting here. He wasn’t sure why she’d even decided to sit next to him in the first place. He’d heard her footsteps approaching and expected that they’d continue walking past him, but they didn’t. They slowed and then stopped for a prolonged period of time, like she was considering her next move. She’d abandoned whatever plans she had been enacting and sat on the stairs next to him. ..and now she was talking to him. 

“Hm?”

“Fushiguro. Just ask.”

His eyes widened and he straightened up from his slouched position. Kugisaki didn’t look over at him. She stayed still, staring forward, rhythmically tapping her foot against the concrete, and twirling a piece of her hair around her finger. He was stunned. She hadn’t even had to look at him and yet she saw the inner workings of his mind. He’d been rolling around the idea of asking her if she was okay in his head for about twenty minutes now. About the whole Itadori situation. He’d been weighing the outcomes. She was quite abrasive and aggressive. Did he want to unleash her rage on him? Not really. He wasn’t sure why he wanted to ask in the first place. They weren’t friends. Even the term peers seemed too intimate. As dramatic as it sounded, adversaries fit them more accurately. They’d been Itadori’s friends, and now Itadori was gone, and now.. now they didn’t know where they stood. They’d lost their foundation. 

Dealing with her possibly obtrusive reaction almost didn’t seem worth it.. but he’d been thinking. It turns out you start thinking about a lot of things when someone dies. He’d been replaying all of the team’s interactions for days, initially focusing on Itadori. His joy. His energy. How he practically exuded sunshine. He’d begun to analyze the situations his team had gone through, trying to rationalize why he was so devastated by this loss. It felt like losing a childhood friend. At some point, Kugisaki’s role in the interactions piqued his interest and he started trying to figure her out. She was an enigma to him, but he was starting to see her more clearly. 

Yes. Kugisaki was loud. And crass. And rude. She was aggressive and selfish. Materialistic and boisterous.. except Megumi wasn’t so sure he believed the genuineness of those features anymore. She had a strong personality, there was no doubt, but she seemed like she was hiding. Kugisaki was hiding. Protecting herself behind that unpleasant personality. From what? He wasn’t sure, but she made sure to keep people at a distance and ran away from vulnerability. She’d grow more antagonistic if the situation started becoming personal. That probably explained the ridiculous way she introduced herself to them. First impressions were intimate and she’d responded the way she always did in intimate situations. She made herself prickly so no one got close. It worked on him, but Itadori wasn’t deterred. It must be exhausting, he’d thought to himself one night, being constantly ready for a confrontation- a confrontation that most likely didn’t need to happen. He wasn’t sure why she felt the need to fight through her life like this. 

No one could get close to her, but somehow she’d gotten to know him much better than he’d realized. She was attentive. Perceptive. Her intense personality distracted everyone from the fact that she was most likely always observing. Always taking notes on people. She knew he wanted to ask her about Itadori. He’d often thought she was careless and reckless, never thinking anything through- and maybe that was true to a certain extent, but Kugisaki had more layers than he’d initially imagined. 

“..How are you doing?”

She snorted at his awkward cadence and stopped the tapping of her foot. Nobara ran her fingers through her hair as she weighed the options of her possible responses. She hated that he’d picked up on the fact that she was upset. Nobara worked diligently to craft an appearance of indifference, and Fushiguro was somehow seeing through her walls. It irritated her. 

He irritated her. He was so broody. So serious. Like he was too “grown” to be associated with her and Itadori’s personalities. He must think he’s better than everyone, especially with his connection to Gojo. Hell, she’d probably act like that too if she was in the same situation. But she wasn’t. Nobara had to fight tooth and nail to get where she was today. Always fighting. Always having to prove herself. Megumi seemed to have everything just dropped into his lap. He’d never made a joke once since she’d known him. What a boring existence. Itadori joked. Itadori always made her laugh. And now he was gone. And she was stuck with Fushiguro. 

She tsked under her breath in annoyance before she turned to face him. 

“I’m fine. We barely knew the kid. He was funny and sweet, but people die everyday. I’m a sorcerer. This just comes with the job.”

He had to applaud her. She was quite convincing. Her voice was steady and bordered on nonchalance. Her eyes were void of any tears and her brows didn’t knit in distress. She was staring at him somewhat intensely.. there was a slight dare in her eyes. She was ready to fight if she needed to. What a pain.

“Bullshit.”

Megumi sighed out and shook his head. She’d been convincing. Almost perfectly. Almost. Her lip had trembled for a quick moment and he’d witnessed a nearly imperceptible second of fear in her eyes. Fear that he’d seen that weakness. The weakness that exposed her lie.

“What did you just say?”

Her eyes had narrowed into dangerous slits, the amber color suddenly ablaze and her usually deafening voice was low. 

She wanted to fight? Fine.

“I didn’t ask you that question for you to lie. You lied. I called bullshit.”

“Who the fuck do you think you are- Actually, more importantly? Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to?”

Megumi rolled his eyes and stood up from the stairs, brushing his uniform off with his hands before he met her eyes straight on. Beneath the roaring anger was an undercurrent. Pain. Grief. Suffering. But they weren’t friends. He wasn’t going to force her to be honest. It didn’t matter to him. Itadori was dead and they weren’t friends . 

“Itadori died. You’re sad. Why are you so stuck on pretending like nothing fazes you? That you don’t experience emotion like everyone else?” He scoffed and started walking up the stairs. “I’m not like Itadori. I’m not going to patiently wait for that block of ice in your chest to melt and then work my way in. If you don’t want a friend, I’m not going to fight for a seat in your life.” Nobara stared at him with wide eyes. His tone bordered on cold- cruel even. He said it so effortlessly to her. “You’re sad. Maybe you can convince everyone else around here with your act, but not me. It’s bullshit, Kugisaki. Grow up and process shit like the rest of us.” 

He didn’t even wait for her explosion. He didn’t have the time or energy. He missed Itadori too. He had his own grief to deal with. It was much more trouble than it was worth. What a bother. He nearly expected her to charge him. Hammer a nail into his skull. Something. Some sort of retaliation. 

But nothing happened. He walked peacefully to the dorms, feeling a weight off of his chest. He’d called her out and it felt good . I tried, Itadori, he thought as he glanced up towards the ceiling. He knew Itadori would want him and Kugisaki to be friends, but it was clear that there were too many obstacles in that pathway. It just wasn’t worth it. She wasn’t worth it. 

He’d lingered outside of his room for a moment. His eyes stared at the door of what used to be Itadori’s room. He wasn’t sure if his stuff was still in there. Had they cleaned the room? Prepping it for another kid to come in and die like Itadori had? He swallowed thickly before opening his room, one last look at the door before he locked his own. Megumi settled onto his bed and grabbed the book sitting on his shelf. Some reversed curse technique shit he couldn’t figure out. He flipped through the pages absentmindedly, his mind focusing on flashes of ginger hair in the wind or her carefully controlled expressions. That interaction with her didn’t leave his mind, so he shut the book with a huff and scrolled mindlessly through his phone. He wondered what she was doing right now. Probably planning his murder, he snorted. He imagined she was red in the face. That signature scowl of hers was probably present. He was thankful it was the weekend. He wouldn’t have to see her for a few days. Maybe she’d calm down. Or maybe she’d let the anger fester. He didn’t care. 

Unbeknownst to him, Nobara was sitting frozen on the steps where he’d left her, leaving tear drop stains on the concrete. Fushiguro saw her. He didn’t fall for her facade. The panic was paralyzing. He had too much power now. He’d elicited tears from her- the tears she’d done so well keeping hidden- and now she didn’t know how to stop them. Her eyes had welled with tears as she left her only friend in her hometown- that godforsaken town, but even then she’d refused to let a tear fall down her face. The last time she cried in front of someone was as a child. When Saori left. It hadn’t solved anything. It didn’t make her come back. She didn’t cry about Itadori. He wouldn’t come back. She’d been reckless to let herself get attached to the boy. She’d said it herself, they were sorcerers. It’s just a matter of who dies first- you or your friends. She hiccuped on a sob and shook her head. Itadori would’ve never spoken to her like that. Itadori had received the same treatment from her that Fushiguro had, and he saw value in her. Fushiguro didn’t. And why did it make her chest ache so intensely? Why did she want him to see value in her?

Nobara stumbled to her feet as she wiped her face with the back of her hands. What a fucking asshole, she scoffed as her brows furrowed. He didn’t get to do that. He didn’t get to do that to her and leave.

The sun was setting. Curfew was about to hit. She should’ve just gone to her room and cut her losses. She should’ve just pretended this situation never happened- give him less ammunition to use against her. But her feet led her to his door and she knocked quietly as to not alert any adults that could’ve been on the look out for problematic students sneaking around.

“Fushiguro. Open this fucking door.”

His brows shot up as he heard her hiss. Jesus Christ. This girl doesn’t quit.

..and yet he got up from his bed and opened the door. He didn’t have to. The door was locked. Someone would catch her if she lingered too long. He didn’t have to and now he was opening the door to the redheaded nightmare that was Kugisaki Nobara.

“Get in here before someone sees you harassing me in the comfort of the boy’s dormitory.”

He stepped to the side and let her enter as a heavy sigh left him. She had this ability to make him do shit he normally wouldn’t do. There was something about Kugisaki. 

What was that something? Who the fuck knew.

Nobara brushed past him and made her way right onto his bed, grabbing one of his pillows and holding it in her lap. She looked around his room and scrunched her nose up. It was so dull. No color, no personality, and much too serious. It was perfectly fitting.

“Yeah, no, totally. Welcome to my room. Make yourself at home. Just go sit on my bed. No need to ask.”

Megumi grumbled and pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance. This. Fucking. Girl. He turned to look over at her after he locked the door. Once again he found himself studying her face. As his eyes settled on her face there was an immediate twinge of guilt in his chest as he took her in. She’d been crying. She refused to meet his eyes, but he still saw the clear signs. Her dark lashes were clumped together from the lingering wetness of tears. There was a slight hint of red under her eyes, and her cheeks and nose were flushed. Something akin to softness rushed through him. She looked like that ridiculous Christmas reindeer when she cried, all bright nosed. Seeing her like this.. it really humanized her.

She looked like a sixteen-year-old girl. He’d never really seen her through that lens. 

“So.. what do you want?”

She didn’t look his way. He would’ve thought she didn’t hear him with how she had no reaction- except the smallest one. Her fingers began picking at the fabric of his pillow case. He was becoming more attentive to her cues. 

“Kugisaki. You didn’t come barge into my room to sit on my bed and have friendship bonding time.” He sighed out and ruffled his dark hair before he sat in the chair at his desk. Sitting next to her on the bed seemed.. That just couldn’t happen. “Why are you here?”

Nobara let out a dramatic sigh and fell back onto the bed to stare at his ceiling fan. She threw her arm over her eyes and shook her head a few times.

“I don’t know.”

She answered honestly. Quietly. He’d never heard her voice come out that softly before. It made him blink a few times before he brushed it off. 

“Itadori died.” She said plainly.

“Yeah. He did.” He responded in kind.

They both sat with that fact in silence. The ticking of his clock was soothing. He propped his elbow on his desk and sat his chin in his hand as he waited. She was still quite the wildcard, so he didn’t know what to expect, but he knew she wasn’t going to lay here in silence all night.

“Itadori is dead.. and now I’m stuck with you.”

He couldn’t help but snort, a small smirk coming to his face. Amusement danced in his green eyes and he shook his head slightly. This girl.

“Yeah. I’m not too pumped about being stuck with you either.”

This made her uncover her eyes for the sole purpose of sending him a glare and flicking him off. Nobara groaned and sat up, focusing his eyes on a picture on his desk. A sweet girl smiling next to a grumpy Megumi. Did he have a sister? Nobara had never really thought of Megumi in that context- or in any context for that matter. They exorcised curses together and that was it… and apparently he had a sister. She’d heard rumors that Gojo was some sort of father figure to him- maybe his family was just as fucked up as hers. Such a desperate situation that Gojo becomes your dad. Yikes. 

“..can you sleep?”

She asked so quietly he nearly missed it. He hummed softly and stared at the clock on his nightstand. He’d grown accustomed to staring at it. It’s what he did all night. Just watching time lapse without ever enjoying a night’s sleep.

“No. You?”

Nobara shook her head and looked at her hands in her lap. A laugh escaped her and Megumi gave her a look. What could she find humorous in this situation? ..this girl was fucked up. Something was wrong with her. He stared at her in disbelief as the laughter continued, but a frown quickly painted his face. She was laughing so that she didn’t cry. And honestly? It sounded like her laughter was going to transition into tears regardless.

“Kugisaki..” he mumbled in slight concern. She didn’t seem like that kind of person who regulated their emotions very well. This could get messy.

“I’m sorry- sorry. No, it’s just- Itadori died. It’s ridiculous. It’s just- I mean, who does that?” She giggled out as she shrugged her shoulders. “Who waits until we’re a complete team- until we go get sushi with Gojo together every Tuesday. Waits until we go shopping in the city. Waits until he makes us watch those god awful worm movies- and then fucking dies.” Her laughter stopped abruptly and her expression hardened. There she went, Megumi mused, somewhere far away where no one could access her.

Why was she here? Nobara had no answer. Why was she speaking to him? Why was she talking about a situation she swore no one would get insight on her feelings in? Her heart clenched in panic. She was being too vulnerable. Grief had made her weak. He didn’t get to know her like this. She should’ve never come to his room. She had to take control back- reinsert the distance. Anger flared in her. Grief swallowed her whole. Panic dug its claws into her. She’d gotten close to Itadori and he left her. He left . Getting close to Fushiguro would only result in the same pain. She recalled the harsh words Fushiguro had said to her on those steps and her eyes steeled. 

“Listen, Kugisaki.. If-”
“And now I’m stuck with you.” She seethed out.

There it was. Kugisaki Nobara. The wildcard.

“You. You. You, who thinks you’re so superior to everyone else. So mature and wise. You don’t have time for the antics of us ridiculous children. So high and mighty. Talking to me like that as if you’re not the most emotionally restricted person this world has ever seen. You’re not this special golden child. You’re insufferable to be around. You just expect everyone to worship you- to be in awe of you! You expect me to drop to my knees and kiss your feet when you “rescue” me from a curse. Couldn’t even give a fucking smile to Itadori- who just wanted to make you laugh- you absolute piece of shit.”

Her words dripped with venom and Megumi was stunned into silence for a few moments. She’d turned on him in the matter of a second, flinging rage and insults at him. Megumi knew this was grief. He knew this was the overflow of pain. Misdirected anger.. But he was angry too. His grief bubbled in his chest and felt like it was going to overflow. If she got to be mean because she missed Itadori? He did too.

“Holy shit, you really are a miserable bitch!” He exclaimed and stood from his chair. He towered over her from where she was seated on the bed, but she didn’t look intimidated in the slightest. In fact, Nobara had risen from the bed to get into his personal space. She’d be in his face if he wasn’t so much taller than her. “I’m not sure what Itadori found so enjoyable about you. You’re conceited and irritating- there’s no word to express how irritating you are. You have no redeeming qualities. You’ve spent this entire time trying to convince people you’re some important and talented sorcerer. All you’ve done is convince people you’re unbearable to be around. You just bitch, and bitch, and bitch. Do you think I care about anything you have to say? Why don’t you call your fucking mother like any other teenage girl and bitch to her?! Or are you so miserable to be around that even your mom doesn’t want to hear it?”

The satisfaction was immediate. He felt relief flow through his body. It felt good to be angry. To act out. Because Itadori was dead. He got to be angry about that. If she could take it out on him, he could do the same to her. He felt an excitement rise in him as he went to look at her face. She’d be red and rageful. She’d have a sharp retort. She might grab her hammer. His eyes locked onto hers to greedily absorb the fury his words would’ve elicited in her expression.

Green met amber and the sensation of ice water traveled through every vein in his body. She wasn’t aggressive or hostile. He hadn’t riled her up. Her eyes were wide and devastated. Her mouth hung open slightly as if she’d tried to fire back, but couldn’t bring herself too. He watched in horror as she curled into herself, her chest rising and falling in a disorganized pattern. Too fast and too slow at the same time. Uneven. Knocked off kilter. 

Fuck.

He’d gone too far. Her mother. Something about her mother. Megumi knew better than anyone not to bring up parents. Megumi’s eyes traveled over the girl in front of him. She looked so small. He’d never realized the significance in the height difference between the two because her personality added more than a couple of inches to her presence.

She looked shattered. Broken.

“Kugisaki- I didn’t- I’m-”

“Goodnight, Fushiguro.”

Her voice was flat. Apathetic. Numb. She didn’t look him in the eye as she pushed past him and left the room. She looked like a ghost leaving. He’d seen a singular tear roll down her face as she’d past him. He felt like he was going to be sick. He turned to call out to her, but the door had already closed behind her.

“Fuck.” He breathed out and ran his hand through his hair.

He had never lost his composure on someone like that. No one had ever had the power to rile him up to that point. She got under his skin in a way no one else had. 

He didn’t glance at the clock at all that night. All he saw was honey colored eyes drowning sorrow.. And betrayal. She’d let him in more than he’d ever seen her let anyone else in. Not even Itadori heard her speak of anguish like this. She’d overcome her resistance to vulnerability. Whether by choice or by the overwhelming agony of loss. She’d shown herself to him despite her fear. Her fear of betrayal. 

And Megumi had immediately betrayed her.

Chapter Text

“You didn’t come to training today. Or yesterday”

“No shit.”

“Gojo says you’re sick. You don’t look sick to me.”

“Are you flirting with me?”

Heat crept up his neck at the way she batted her lashes at him and he shot her a look. She was quick to look away from him after her tease, even turning her body to angle away from him. She didn’t look sick, obviously. She was lying to Gojo to get out of having to see him. She didn’t look sick, she looked… dejected. Like his comments were still weighing heavily on her shoulders.

He’d tried to hunt her down all day. As soon as his eyes would find her on the campus she was gone in a flash of red. He assumed that she’d spent most of the past two days in her room, but clearly she had gotten restless in her confinement, which led them to this point. It was pure luck, honestly. He’d given up on finding her at that point. His feet dragged his across the campus to the vending machine to get a soda. It was unbearably hot today. He cracked it open with a satisfied hum at the noise and leaned on the wall beside the machine, hidden to anyone coming the opposite way. She, his unwilling victim, just so happened to also want a refreshing drink. He heard her mumbling about the pros and cons of the different flavors for about three minutes before he pushed off of the wall and selected the watermelon one for her. She always picked watermelon flavored everything, so he didn’t know why she thought so hard about it. She was so complicated for no reason. He’d startled her, obviously. She’d let out a piercing scream and he had to duck immediately to dodge the punch thrown his way. He saw the way she glanced around their surroundings as she looked for an escape. She glowered at him and it was abundantly clear that he was the last person she wanted to see. He could see her brain running through her options before she let out a defeated sigh and glanced up at him for a moment. “Let’s get this over with. And then you have to leave me alone.” 

They now sat side by side on a bench. She wouldn’t look at him, but her hair was tucked behind her ear, so he could see her face. Not all of it, only her side profile, but it was enough. Enough of her face to know that he’d really damaged her with his words. He stared at her in silence as he bit his bottom lip. He wasn’t great at apologies. He had a bad streak of pridefulness in his personality. He was sorry, and he didn’t know if there was anything he could say to make her believe that.

Nobara herself didn’t know what she wanted to hear. Did she want to hear anything from him? Would an apology undo the hurt that he’d inflicted to her heart? Could she trust that he’d even apologize? Maybe he’d cornered her to doubledown on his clear hatred for her. Her mind was a frenzied mess as she sat with him in silence. Her anxiety grew by the second and she cursed herself as she felt her throat begin to tighten. She was going to cry. Her fingers fiddled in her lap and she took a few deep breaths to try and steady herself, but heat was rising to her face and she could feel an oncoming burning sensation in her eyes. Her brows knit together in a desperate attempt at control.

Megumi watched her in dread. She was going to cry. Again. Because of him. Again . Say something, he cursed himself. Anything! His fingers twitched in his lap as an odd sensation ran through him. He felt the urge to rub her back and comfort her. He obviously wasn’t going to do that. She might actually kill him for that. Her bottom lip trembled and his mouth opened and closed a few times. He was frozen, heart caught in his throat as tears fell down her cheeks. They were big as they dripped down her red cheeks. She sniffled and finally looked over at him, her eyes filled with so many conflicting emotions he had trouble discerning them. There was anger, fear, embarrassment.. Something else he couldn’t identify. She was the one to break the silence with a wobbly voice thick with tears.

“If you just came here to mock me then I-”
“My mother died.”

Her eyes widened in shock. His did too. He hadn’t known what he was going to say to her, but surely an “I’m sorry” would’ve been more appropriate than whatever the hell just came out of his mouth.

“..Uh.. Sorrows and prayers..?”

She mumbled out in puzzlement. What the hell was that? She could have genuinely never predicted the conversation turning this way. She had a feeling Fushiguro felt the same way. She could see a blush rise from his neck all the way up his face. Her lips quirked in a barely there smile. He was embarrassed . That was a pleasant thing for her to see despite the confusing situation at hand.

“Alright. Clearly- I’m not great at apologies.”
“You are a never ending fountain of new knowledge, Fushiguro. I’m amazed every day.”

He gave her a nasty glare and let out an exasperated breath as his arms crossed across his chest. “I’m trying to be nice to you. Don’t make it harder.” He grumbled before letting out a long sigh and tilting his head back to stare up at the sky. There were no clouds today. An endless expanse of blue. It was almost too bright to look at, but he couldn’t get himself to look at her. He heard the amusement in her tone, along with sarcasm of course, and he was.. A bit caught off guard at how much he enjoyed that. He couldn’t look at her. She’d thrown him off balance. “My mom died. Something clearly happened with your mom. May she rest- or burn- or live a terrible life if she's still living? I don’t know.” He heard her snort and he pressed his lips together to prevent any hint of a smile from coming to his face. He’d never admit it, but he was finding it much more enjoyable to make her feel better than he’d felt destroying her. “Look.. I’m saying that I went too far. Bringing up your family was messed up. I shouldn’t have said that. Or any of that honestly. You just.. Well. You really piss me off. Like- really piss me off.” He took a quick glance at her as she wiped her tears with the palms of her hands. Not her fingers. Her entire hands. His brow rose, but he turned back to the sky. It should not interest him in the slightest that she wiped her tears like a child would. He was here to make peace. To be neutral. “I’m sorry.”

He released a sigh. His shoulders felt lighter. She probably wouldn’t accept it. Or she’d hold it over his head for the rest of their time as teammates, but he didn’t really care. The way he’d been acting around her.. That wasn’t him.

Nobara chewed on her lower lip as she scuffed the ground with the bottom of her shoe. He’d apologized. He was being genuine about it. She could tell because it almost sounded like it was painful for him to apologize to her. She snickered softly before she stretched her arms out, turning her body to face him. 

“I don’t like you.”

“ That’s your response to my apology?”

“Don’t pretend you like me either.”

She got him there. He simply shrugged at her and ran his fingers through his hair. No. He didn’t particularly like her. At all. 

“What I’m saying is.. We don’t like each other, and that was fine because-.. Because we had Itadori.” Her voice trailed off into a whisper at the end of her sentence and she had to steady herself with the clearing of her throat. “We don’t have him anymore. We only functioned as a team because he was there. Us hating each other- it puts our missions at risk. Look, we don’t have to like each other, but I don’t think we can hate each other anymore. Or at least be so open about it.” She expressed to him as she crossed her legs. She’d been staring at his face the entire time she was speaking, and Fushiguro was feeling fidgety under her gaze. She made him nervous , he realized suddenly. That was one of the emotions he hadn’t been able to identify up until this point. “But that means you have to stop being so uptight and miserable.”

Megumi looked at her with a deadpan. “Are you serious?”

She shrugged, completely unashamed at her brutal honesty before continuing on, “And I’ll try to be less.. I won’t pick fights with you. I’ll try to not pick fights with you. You’re just really a stick in the mud.”

“Kugisaki. Since we’re being honest. You are quite literally the most tactless individual I have ever met before in my life. Your attitude is straight from hell.” He told her as his eyes studied her expression. Her lips had a slight pout to them and he couldn’t tell if that was intentional or not. Did her lips always look like that? Perfectly pouted? He couldn’t imagine she’d try to make him feel bad with something as lowkey as a little frown. She was too bold. Maybe her lips really always did look like that.. “You have got to stop being so.. You’re such an instigator.” He huffed out and gave her a stern look. He could see her chest puff and her mouth opened to spit some response back at him, but he held his finger up to silence her, cutting her off with his words. “We’re a team. Stop intentionally getting on my nerves.”

She blinked at him for a few moments, eyes flickering to his raised finger and back to his face. “If you ever, I mean ever , do that to me again, I will slam my hammer down on your finger so hard that your entire body collapses into the core of the earth- put your fucking finger down, what the fuck. Who are you- is this dude forreal?”

Megumi couldn’t fight it this time. A smirk came across his face as he held his hands up in surrender. “My apologies, your majesty.” 

She glared at him for a few moments before he saw the beginnings of a smile tug at her lips. “I’ll be merciful to you today, plebeian." 

Her hand shot out to him with a raised brow.

“Friends?”

“How about we start with acquaintances." Megumi mumbled which made her let out a loud laugh.

“Fine. Acquaintances." 

His hand reached out and grabbed a hold of hers so they could shake. Nobara felt her cheeks warm slightly at the realization that he had big hands. Really big hands. What the hell, she thought to herself. Why did she care about the size of his damn hands?

That’s where they had left off, and Megumi felt at peace with that. He hadn’t expected to be so distressed about hurting her feelings, but he had been. Maybe tonight he’d get some sleep knowing that she was okay. It was still difficult to find rest even as time passed on from Itadori’s death, but sometimes he was lucky enough to find solitude in dreams. 

Acquaintances, he repeated in his head. He could do that. Megumi let out a contented sigh as he dragged his feet to his bed. It’d been a long day. He apologized. Things felt lighter than they'd ever felt since Itadori’s passing. He deserved a good night’s rest.

…so why was there knocking on his door? And why did he know exactly who it was?

“Kugisaki. No way. Go away.”

“Fushiguro. Let me in. We’re acquaintances, remember?”

“Acquaintances don’t show up to their acquaintance’s room at ten in the evening, go away.”

She went silent after that. Maybe she was actually going to listen, especially since she’d made a promise to stop provoking him and intentionally aggravating him. Just as he’d convinced himself that she’d dragged herself back to her own dorm, his door flew open. He jumped in shock and cursed at her with wide eyes as she stood in his doorway like a menacing figure, his heart nearly stopping at her entrance. 

“Hey, so-! What the fuck, Kugisaki?!”

She waved the nail in her hand and flashed him a big grin. She’d picked his lock with her fucking cursed weapon. Megumi let out a loud groan and fell back into his bed, yanking a pillow over his face as she closed the door behind her and strolled in like she owned the place. He slid the pillow slightly off of his face to take in her appearance. She looked ridiculous. She had on what looked like pink pajama pants with.. Were those bears? Little fucking teddy bears on her pants. She had a matching pink tank top with another freak ass bear in the middle, holding a heart in its arms. Her hair sat in two tiny buns at the top of her head- and don’t even get him started on the bunny rabbit slippers. Ears and all . She’d brought a blanket with her and he confidently came to the conclusion that pink was her favorite color. And that she was clinically insane. 

He just couldn’t come to the conclusion of why she was here. At night. With a blanket. And- and getting onto the bed with him?! Megumi scrambled up into a sitting position and shifted to the head of the bed as she made herself comfortable at the foot. She gave him a look of judgment, muttering a quiet “weirdo” under her breath like she couldn’t understand the reaction he was having. His heart was racing and he prayed his face wasn’t red, but the only thing saving him was that the warmth of his lamp light disguised it.

“Couldn’t sleep. I know you usually don’t sleep. So I figured why not come over here.”

She said it so nonchalantly. He watched as she leaned against the wall his bed was against. She fanned the blanket out on top of her legs and looked at him with a nose scrunched in distaste. 

“You keep your room too cold. I had to bring a blanket.”
“It is my room, you know.”

He mumbled in disbelief. He had never met anyone like her before and he had yet to figure out if that was a positive or unbelievably negative thing. She scrolled through her phone while humming softly to herself. Megumi didn’t move a muscle. All he could do was look at her. Try to figure her out. Her attitude was so relaxed, but something felt off. As he took in her features he saw that she looked tired. No. She looked exhausted . She covered that with concealer during the day, but she’d washed her face during her nighttime routine before she had burst into his room. The usually lively color of her eyes seemed slightly dull. Kugisaki was either biting on her bottom lip or picking at it with her nails as she stared at her phone, and her leg shook back and forth rhythmically.

She wasn’t nonchalant. Or unbothered. She was uneasy and perturbed. Realization clicked in his head. She couldn’t be alone at night. That’s why she was here. He wondered how she’d made it this long without coming into his room after Itadori died. It clearly hadn’t been an option before now, so had she just stayed awake in anxiety every night? By herself? A frown came to his face as the tension left his body. This wasn’t some nighttime surprise attack. This was a call for help. His features softened but his uncertainty remained. What was he supposed to do? They were acquaintances. He cleared his throat and glanced around the room for a moment before he let out a sigh. She always put him on the spot somehow.

“...is that your natural color?”

His face burned brightly and he had to fight the urge to bury his hand in his hands. That’s the best thing he could come up with? I mean, technically he did want to know. The look Kugisaki gave him made him want to cover himself up with his blanket and maybe suffocate under his pillow. She was judging him. Hard . But there was also a hint of mirth in her eyes as she lowered her phone and tucked her legs underneath her.

“It looks natural, doesn’t it? It’s not. I’ve got boring brown hair. Does nothing for me. But this? I was supposed to be born with this color. I’d simply be too powerful though, so I have to work for it.”

Megumi smiled slightly at her. She was quite a character. She was framing her face with her hands ase she talked and turning it in different angles to show off her hair color. She could be charming sometimes. Enjoyable even. He could’ve never imagined thinking those things about Kugisaki before. 

“Itadori and I were gonna help each other keep our roots touched up. It's a pain doing it by yourself, but.. Well. We know how that ended.”

“I could learn.”

They both locked eyes for a moment and Megumi felt like he couldn’t look away. He didn’t know why he said that. That was much more friendly than they were.

“You’d fuck it up-”

“I’d fuck it up-”

They said at the same time which made Nobara lean forward in laughter. Her laugh was just as loud as her personality. Bright and unashamed. In your face. It was one of those laughs that seemed contagious. Maybe they’d be able to evolve into friends. They’d been Itadori’s friends.. And maybe they’d be each other’s friends now too. He wasn’t there to hold them together, but maybe one day they’d be able to stand up together by themselves.

Megumi pretended to be occupied with his phone or the reverse technique book for the rest of the night, but his eyes were on her. She was struggling, struggling in a silent way that was easy to overlook. She was good at masquerading, but Kugisaki was drowning, and Megumi kept glancing over to make sure her head stayed above the waves. 

He noticed when her blinks started to last longer, lashes stayed fluttering against her cheeks for a few moments before her eyes opened again. Little yawns would escape her, but she’d shake her head as if fighting off the sleep. Her hand that held up her phone would lower slightly before she jerked it right back up to her face.

“Kugisaki.” He whispered softly,

“Mm?” She was barely awake as she gazed over at him, eyes unfocused.

“You can stay the night. Go to sleep.” He told her gently.

“M’not tired.”

He snorted softly and nodded at her. “I know, but if you do happen to get tired. Just go to bed.”

It took ten minutes max before she was slumped against his wall, completely knocked out. He rolled his eyes and carefully laid her down.

“Why do you always make everything so damn difficult.” He muttered under his breath before he propped himself against the wall beside her. He glanced up at the ceiling with a soft hum,

“Maybe I’m starting to see what you saw, Itadori.” He breathed out with a shrug. It’d be nice to have a friend. He regretted not allowing himself to get close to Itadori. It was lonely without him.. But maybe it didn’t have to be lonely. 

Chapter Text

Megumi was seeing red. Violent fury tinted his vision. He couldn’t stop himself from looking at her side where viscous crimson blood spilled from her wound. His arm was wrapped around her waist so he could press his hand against her, trying to stop the bleeding. It was warm, sticky, and it made bile rise in his throat. Her head rested on his shoulder with her entire body weight leaned against him. She’d stopped speaking. Her skin was pale and sickly and the only sign that she was alive was the labored breaths and small moans of pain she released. 

“Go fucking faster!”

He roared from the back of the car. They needed Ieiri-san. That damned curse. Those damned higher ups. That curse was two grades above what they’d been told. It was supposed to be an easy mission. Nothing was supposed to go wrong. They’d been on plenty of missions by themselves by this point, they’d gotten into a rhythm, they’d gotten into a friendship . They were seamless- this wasn’t supposed to happen.

“We’re almost there. We’re almost there.”

He whispered to Kugisaki as if he were trying to comfort her, but he was the one in desperate need of comfort. He was going to be sick.

The rest was a blur. At some point they’d made it to campus. At some point they’d made it to the clinic. At some point Ieiri-san stopped the bleeding. At some point Kugisaki got color back into her face. The fear didn’t leave his body, it transformed into a boiling rage that flooded his system. She could’ve died. Kugisaki could’ve died, and that terrified him. His body trembled with the ferocity of the anger he felt. He couldn’t hear anything except blood rushing in his ears. His jaw clenched and unclenched as he attempted to steady his breath, but it wouldn’t work. He couldn’t calm down. He didn’t want to calm down.

“That was a close one!” Gojo’s voice rang out as he entered the room his students were in. His voice was too bright. “Glad to see you’re up and kicking, Kugisaki.” He said with genuine relief laced in a jovial tone. He ruffled her hair which made her swat his hand away, but her eyes remained on Fushiguro.

He hadn’t said a word to her since the car ride. He looked.. He looked scary , and she didn’t have the slightest idea of what made him look so.. So furious. He almost looked furious at her . She didn’t want to be the first to say something. He was glowering and it made her anxious. She’d never seen him look like that before, so she felt some relief when Gojo came in. He’d lighten the mood, ease the stress. 

“Send her home.”

Fushiguro’s voice was so quiet. Low and steady. Bordering on clinical- or was it dangerous? Neither she nor Gojo registered it at first, and she let out a quiet laugh. Send her home? Was the Fushiguro Megumi cracking a joke? She grinned his way, it was goofy and lighthearted, but it dropped immediately when she saw the look in his eyes.

They were dark. Cold. Void of any hint of warmth or kindness directed at her. He looked at her like he despised her- like he was disgusted with her. She blinked a few times to see if she was misreading his expression. Maybe she lost more blood than she’d thought because this wasn’t making any sense to her. She let out another laugh, this time one that was quite nervous as she called out to him.

“Fushiguro-”
“Gojo. Send her home .”

Her jaw dropped slightly as she looked over at Gojo who seemed shocked himself. Gojo glanced at her for a moment before turning back to Fushiguro, hands in the air as if trying to dispel the tension.

“Now, Megumi-”

“Send her the fuck home. Get her out of my fucking face. She needs to go back to the fucking worthless town because thats what she is! She’s a worthless sorcerer.” He spat out with pure venom as he rose to his feet to tower over where she was sitting. She shrunk back from him and Gojo took a step towards the two, ready to intervene. Ready to intervene? This was crazy. Gojo felt the need to intervene because of how Fushiguro was speaking to her? She didn’t understand. They’d- they were friends . He’d never spoken to her like this even prior to their truce, and over the past few weeks they’d gotten close. Really close. He was her best friend, words she’d never admit aloud. 

“Megumi.” Gojo said in a serious warning, but it was like Fushiguro didn’t hear him. Or maybe he did hear him and he just didn’t care.

“You’re pathetic , Kugisaki. You lack what it takes. You have no natural talent. You have no potential. You don’t deserve to be here- you deserve to be in that shithole town of yours where you can play your little fucking games with those grade four curses, if you can even handle those.” He was in her face now, leaning down towards her, slicing her soul with his words. It was inhumane. It was brutal. It was cruel. Her face burned hot with shame and the tears were nearly instantaneous. She whimpered softly and opened her mouth, saying his name so quietly it was hardly audible. 

“You’re a waste of fucking-”
“ Megumi .” Gojo looked just as dangerous now as he stepped between his students, his hand placed on Fushiguro’s chest. Back up , his eyes warned. Fushiguro’s eyes glanced at Kugisaki, staring at her with a glare like shards of cutting glass. “Kugisaki is a skilled sorcerer. She has proven herself. I’m not sending her home. I’d watch what you say next very carefully.” It was a threat, but Nobara felt no comfort in the fact that Gojo was standing up for her. Her entire body felt cold. Her eyes searched his face in desperation. Please. Please don’t say this to me. Please, let this be a sick joke. Please, Fushiguro, we’re friends. Please don’t hurt me. Her eyes begged. It was pitiful. He spoke maliciously to her and she was begging for his kindness. She begged that he didn’t mean it- that he wouldn’t leave.

“Fine. But she’s off my fucking team. I don’t want to see her. I refuse to go on a single goddamn mission with her,” He seethed before he scowled in disgust as his eyes focused on the girl in front of him, “Stay the fuck away from me. I never want to see your fucking face again. You’re pathetic ” He hissed at her before he left the room, shoulder checking Gojo as he walked out. She shattered. Every connective tissue in her body ripped apart. Her soul was crushed into a fine powder that easily blew away in a breeze. She’d never be able to collect the pieces and build it back up again. Nobara would never be the same. 

She was silent. It felt like a lifetime had passed before she made any reaction. Before she began to slightly register what had just happened. Hot and big tears dripped down her face in a never ending stream. She stared at her hands. They trembled as she investigated them. What was so disgusting about her? Was it visible on her skin? Could she see it on her palms? She stared at the callouses she’d gained from wielding her weapons. A large hand smoothed against her back and Gojo sat beside her on the bed. “Breathe.” He instructed softly but firmly. Oh. That's right. She wasn’t breathing. Her amber eyes looked over at her sensei, the catastrophic damage Megumi had inflicted on her visible in her eyes. “ Nobara, breathe .” She sucked in a breath and any semblance of quiet left her. Nobara cried- no. She wailed . Like she had as a child when her mother had left her. Her arms wrapped around herself as tightly as she could, trying to physically keep her put together after Fushiguro had so skillfully- so intentionally tore her to shreds. He’d shattered her and left. 

Gojo knew Kugisaki wasn’t one to receive physical comfort well. She didn’t receive any forms of comfort relatively well, but she was collapsing in on herself and he took the risk. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her tightly against his chest. What the hell just happened, Gojo thought to himself with furrowed brows. The two of them had gotten close over the past few weeks. They were nearly inseparable- which he never would've thought was possible with the way they’d butted heads at first. Megumi had never spoken to someone like that before. He’d never lost control like that before. “It's alright, Nobara. It's alright.” He muttered into her hair. She was violently shaking in his arms. Megumi had cut her open with his words and she was bleeding out. “It’s not true. What he said. Not a single part of it was true. My eyes know that.” He whispered to her and she choked on her own sobs. “ He knows that.”

“Look, hey, look at me,” He told her gently as he lifted her face towards him. God, she looked grief stricken. He’d never seen eyes so lifeless before and yet somehow so desperately filled with anguish. “You won’t have to see him. You’ll take a few weeks off, and you’ll never have to see him again if you don’t want to” Gojo nodded to her and brushed her bangs out of her face. They were stuck to her cheeks by her tears. “When you’re ready to start training again I’m going to send you to Nanami-san.” He’d take care of her. He knew Nanami would take care of her, and it was a massive benefit that he was an incredibly skilled sorcerer. She’d grow stronger emotionally and progress profoundly in her skills with him. He’d also need time to figure out what was going on with Megumi, his mind still rattled by his outburst. “Let me get you to your dorm. You should rest.”

Megumi made it halfway across the campus towards his dorm before doubling over and throwing up. He dry heaved well past the contents of his stomach had been emptied. Sweat was dripping down his forehead and neck as he struggled to catch his breath. She’d felt cold in the car. There was so much blood- more blood than he could’ve imagined coming from a person, especially someone so small. His uniform was constricting his airway and he ripped it over and off of his head, throwing it to the ground and covering his face in his hands. Kugisaki could’ve died today. He had watched her. She’d been dying. If it weren’t for Ieiri-san- He coughed back the urge gag and shakily bent over to grab the top of his uniform before he covered his mouth. He could’ve lost her. She needed to go home, she needed to go back to that town she hated so much, and she needed to live . His brows furrowed as he felt his face crumple, tears building in his eyes. Megumi didn’t cry, but here he was. Shirtless in the middle of the campus with tears racking through his body. Self hatred and shame bubbled in his chest as flashbacks of her face intruded into his mind. He had never… He had never seen that kind of expression on someone's face before. In all of his panic he’d verbally assaulted her in a way that made him physically nauseated. She’d looked like he killed a part of her- he watched her die, just not physically. The blood from her physical wound no longer tainted his hands. It was now dripping with the blood from the way he viciously clawed open her chest with his words and shredded the delicate heart that lay in it. The heart that had opened itself up to him.

His legs stumbled their way to his dorm, palms bleeding from the way he dug his nails into the skin. He wasn’t shocked to see Gojo waiting outside of his room. His green eyes met piercing blue ones before his head dropped.

“You will leave Kugisaki alone. I don’t want you near her. I don’t want you seeking her out. Do not lay your eyes on that girl, do you understand me?”

Gojo’s voice took on a tone Megumi had never heard before. There was so much depth to his voice. Overwhelming disappointment and rage.   

“If she decides to forgive you, which she has no reason to ever do, she’ll come find you. Leave her alone.”

Gojo’s stare was hardened as he took in his student. His kid. He shook his head in disbelief and clear disapproval.

“Go to bed.”

And then he was gone. Megumi was left alone in his room. Replaying the way Kugisaki had sobbed out his name in the midst of his rampage on her- she’d pleaded to him and he showed no mercy. She’d never forgive him. He’d never see her again. His mouth felt dry as he stared at his hands. Who had he become back there? 

He’d been so scared at the idea of losing her that he’d severed all attachments he’d built with her. 

She didn’t die, but he lost her. 

He lost her.

Chapter Text

Megumi was not new to the brutality of life, but this despair was unlike anything he’d felt before. It was new, completely unknown territory. He couldn’t intellectualize it. He didn’t understand this reaction. His mind- his body reacted in ways he couldn’t explain. He yearned to see Kugisaki again. His eyes would scan around him every time he left the dorm, wishing he’d see her sharp eyes and fiery hair. He knew he wouldn’t, yet he couldn’t stop himself from hoping. Kugisaki had begun training with Nanami-san instead of with Gojo. She didn’t want to be on the same team anymore- of course she didn’t. Why would she? After all he’d said to her? He’d himself made it clear he didn’t want her on his team- but it was a fucking lie. Every cruel thing he said was a lie, and now he reaped the consequences of poorly regulated emotions. Her absence was like a neverending depth of blackness in his chest. It ate at him aggressively, ravaging him.

“You’ve lost weight.” Gojo had commented to him. Megumi looked up at him and for a split second he saw a look in Gojo’s eyes. Something wistful. He looked like he’d gone back in time for a moment. How strange.. I’ve lost weight? He wanted to laugh. No shit. He’d lost his appetite. Kugisaki always had him trying new things. He claimed he hated it because they were always sickeningly sweet, but right now he’d do anything to have her shove some crime against humanity of a dessert in his face. He secretly enjoyed seeing the way her face would light up as his face scrunched in disgust. He’d soak up her laugh and watch her inhale the food she’d just made him try, always getting some mess around her mouth that he’d wipe off with his thumb.

“She still doesn’t want to see me.” Megumi had mumbled out.

“No. And she might not ever.” Gojo shook his head with a sigh, lowering his sunglasses with his fingers as he stared at the distressed boy. “Do you understand yet?” He wanted to laugh at the look that crossed Megumi’s face.
“Understand what?”

“There’s no curse more twisted than it. Go shower.”

Gojo had left him confused on the training grounds after what had been a grueling session. Was it brutal because he was off of his game? Distracted by the sounds of her cries? Or was it brutal because Gojo was punishing him? Maybe it was a mixture of both. And what curse was Gojo talking about? God, what the hell was going on?

His body ached for her. It left his brain disorganized and in complete disarray. He cradled his head in his hands as he sat in the grass. She was all he thought about. Her smile, her scowls, her ridiculously loud laugh. The way he’d learned to leave his door unlocked because she’d waltz her way into his room every night. He couldn’t sleep without her now. It was too empty. Too cold without her warmth. His mind always wandered to what she was doing. Was Nanami-san really training her, or was that just an excuse so she didn’t have to see him? He knew where Nanami-san was located.

She didn’t want to see him, he reminded himself.. But as the days passed he stopped caring. He didn’t care if she wanted to see him- he needed to see her. Megumi cursed and ripped a handful of grass out of the ground as he leaned against the tree, silently praying he’d see her walk by. 

She didn’t.

“Kugisaki-san, that’s enough.” Nanami’s voice rang out over Nobara’s gasps for air and grunts of exertion. It was serious and firm, and somehow had a gentleness to it that Nobara still couldn’t figure out. He was the complete opposite of Gojo and she had no clue how this man ever survived being around the unbearable presence of her white-haired sensei.

“I’m not done yet.”

They’d already trained today and he’d told her to go rest. She clearly didn’t listen. He wasn’t supposed to come out here and find her, she’d been very quiet on her way outside of the apartment. Nanami-san- god, she couldn’t get anything past him. It drove her crazy. She looked over her shoulder and scowled at him with a huff, her shoulders straightening and her hands gripping tightly to her hammer and nails. Nanami let out a sigh and rubbed his thumb against his forehead to smooth out the lines of slight frustration. He’d heard about Kugisaki’s personality from Itadori. He’d been informed that she had quite a temper on her and that she held more stubbornness than humanly possible in her body. She’d fight if she felt threatened, especially emotionally threatened. Now he’d seen the force of nature of her personality face to face. Gojo found great amusement in her hurricane of a personality, but Gojo had come to Nanami in genuine worry and concern. Nanami wasn’t sure what had gone on, but apparently Fushiguro and Kugisaki- or more so, Fushiguro had gone for the kill. Nanami was shocked. Fushiguro had always been well behaved. Respectful and disciplined. Whatever happened made Gojo, the never serious man, pleading with Nanami to take her under his wing. To help build her back up.

She came to him in desperate need of that. There had been tangible suffering in her eyes. Deep pain that was impossible to hide. He’d studied her face for the quickest moment and saw it all. A child whose body ached with hurt. With loneliness. 

“Kugisaki-san. You’re going to hurt yourself. You trained this afternoon, you need to rest.”
“I’m not done yet.”

She spat out at him and tightened her grip on her weapons. Her hands had blistered by this point, ready to begin bleeding at any moment. Her hair was disheveled and sticking to her face and neck. She was clearly overheated, he noted in concern. Cheeks deeply flushed and heavily breathing. His eyes scanned the surroundings and noticed the lack of water. Her shoulders quickly hunched over again as her arms dropped to the side, too exhausted to hold them up in her defiant pose.

Was she training or was she punishing herself?

He felt an ache build in his chest as he looked at her. He took a slow step towards her, the way you’d approach a wounded animal. His eyes flickered to her hands that gripped the hammer and nails and she all but snarled at him. She wasn’t going to make this easy.

“Kugi-”
“Oh, shut the hell up! Don’t walk up here thinking you have any right to tell me what to do! You’re supposed to make me stronger. Stopping me from training- it doesn’t- I’m worthless if I don’t get stronger!”

Nanami was taken aback for a moment, his steps stilling only momentarily. His eyes glanced at her knees and in less than a second he closed the distance between them and caught her right as her knees gave out. “Damn it,” she cried as tears flowed freely from her eyes. Her head dropped against his chest, too drained to resist. She wept as Nanami carried her back to his home. Whatever Fushiguro had said had really destroyed the girl.

Nanami set her at the kitchen table and began to brush her hair out of her face. He gently dabbed a wet cloth against her skin to get the sweat and grime off of it, and she refused to meet his eyes. She was embarrassed, Nanami thought to himself. “Drink. You’re shaking.” He held a cup of water to her lips to hydrate her. Once he felt that she wasn’t going to faint, he brought her an arrangement of snacks. He’d learned quickly that Kugisaki was like her sensei. A deeply concerning love for anything sweet. He’d taken a trip to the store before the arrival of the girl to have these treats on standby. They sat in silence as Kugisaki’s sniffles began to subside, slowly reaching out to the brownie on the table, a wave of relief washing over Nanami. He’d begun growing quite fond of her. Hurricane and all. He was glad to see her settle.

“..thank you, Nanami-san..”

She muttered as she stared at her feet, a bashful blush on her cheeks. She was leaning her head on her arms as she laid against his kitchen table, kicking her feet. She physically looked much better, like she wasn’t going to collapse, but her emotions were still a storm around her. She had this air of heaviness around her. A lingering sadness. Nanami cleared his throat, knowing that he was risking an explosion by bringing this up, but he was worried. He hated seeing this child be so weighed down and despondent. He reached over and gently placed his hand atop of hers, unsurprised at the way the girl flinched.

“Kugisaki-san. What happened?”

It was immediate. She yanked her hand back like she’d been burned. Her face crumpled and she burrowed her face into her arms. “Nothing!” She yelled, though it was muffled in her arms. Nanami felt an inexplicable warmth towards her. She was just a young girl. A child. Too stubborn for her own good. Here she was, shaking with tears, trying to convince him that nothing had happened. He let out a soft sigh as he sat back in his chair. “Kugisaki-san. I hear you crying at night.” He informed her. He was not startled in the slightest at the way her head shot right up, eyes wide. Caught. “Curses don’t always leave you once you’ve exorcised them.” He told her and adjusted his tie. “You wait until you think I’m asleep, but sleep is rare for a sorcerer.”

She was stunned. Mouth agape as tears rolled down her face and dropped onto the table. Nanami-san had this weird vibe about him. Somehow distant and cold- and also intentional and warm. She felt a wave of embarrassment and she covered her face with her hands. What was she supposed to tell this man? This insanely talented sorcerer? Oh, no big deal, a boy had shattered my soul and spirit. It sounded fucking stupid. 

“It doesn’t matter.”

Nanami raised his brow. She was charming in a way she didn’t seem to realize. He sat in silence, looking at her expectantly. Itadori always told him he had that “dad look.” So he stared. And waited. Hoping it would work. 

She stared back at him with an obstinate look in her eyes, roughly wiped her with her tears with her palms, and frowning at him in displeasure. He was almost convinced that he wouldn’t get any information out of her. Maybe she needed space. Just as he was about to push up from his chair, he saw her bottom lip tremble. A new wave of tears burst out of her as she spilled all of the hurt she’d kept inside, the hurt that had been rotting her from the inside.

“Kugisaki-san. You are not weak.”

She blinked up at him with wide eyes. They were so big and honey-colored. She looked so young. Her eyes reminded him of big, innocent brown eyes and his heart clenched for a moment. Haibara. So excited to prove herself. To make her peers and senpai proud. It could kill her. He saw drive and passion in her eyes. Anticipatory grief filled his body like lead. She’d never be talked out of being a sorcerer, so he couldn’t save her from that. That meant Nanami had a job to do. Train her, increase her skill, improve her chances of survival. Keep her alive.

“You’re naturally talented. You have incredible potential. You have every capability of becoming a grade two sorcerer very quickly. Now you have to decide- are you going to let him hinder you? Or will you improve in spite of him and prove him wrong?”

Her brows furrowed as she pondered, moving her head back and forth as if physically weighing her options. Some parts of her did feel too defeated to go forward. The voices he’d implanted in her head telling her to just go home. The voices telling her that Fushiguro was right about her… and then there was the other part of her. The part that looked at Nanami-san in front of her and trusted him. Who to listen to? Fushiguro or Nanami-san? Nanami Kento who held the record of four consecutive black flashes. She snorted to herself and a little smirk came onto her face.

“Nanami-san. Tomorrow we’re getting up early to train. I’m going to kick his fucking ass.”
“Language, Kugisaki-san.”

They both smiled at each other and she gave a nod before she abruptly got up from the table. “I’ve got to shower! I need to rest up! We’ve got training to do! See you tomorrow-.. Hey, Nanami-san? Has anyone told you that you’d be a girl dad? Because you so would.” She called out with a wave as she ran upstairs, freezing halfway up to look at him and make her girl dad comment.

Nanami’s face burned brightly red. Girl dad? It made his chest warm and he cleared his throat, adjusting his tie. She was a flaming hot mess, but one that was easy to adore. He let himself chuckle a bit as he shook his head at the table where she’d left quite a mess. He wasn’t even upset. Maybe he was meant to be a girl dad, or whatever she called it.

It’d been a month since Megumi had seen or heard from Kugisaki.

Maybe she’d moved back home. Maybe that was for the best. Megumi had never experienced a bond like this before. He’d never known friendship could deepen like that. He honestly felt like what they had must’ve been an outlier. Maybe they had some unhealthy attachment to each other. Friendships end all of the time.. And he felt like he’d never recover from this. It kept him up at night. Why? Why had he been so concerned about her that he’d verbally assaulted her like that? He felt the need to break her down because of how desperately he wanted- no, needed her to be safe. Why did it feel like everyday without her only grew more painful? Why did he see her when he closed her eyes? Megumi was always self-analyzing. He always had clear understandings of his thought processes and reactions. He couldn’t explain what he felt towards Kugisaki- or the way she made him feel- It aggravated him. He wanted to grab her by the shoulders and shake her, demand her to tell him what she was doing to him, but he’d never get the chance. The last time he saw her was when he ripped her heart out of her chest. And that would be the last time.

He’d never find peace in that.

“Nanamin-! Nanamin-! Did you- holy shit! Did you see that? I-.. oh my god, that was a black flash! I’ve never- I never- Nanamin!”

Nobara threw herself towards Nanami and grabbed his hands, jumping in place in ecstasy. There she was, Nanami thought, the Kugisaki he’d always heard about. The confident, brilliant, and bold Kugisaki Nobara. He tried to keep a professional air about him, but he couldn’t fully hide his smile. A low chuckle rumbled in his chest as he watched her exude joy. 

“It’s time.” She suddenly said with a serious tone, eyes burning in passion.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. I’m ready.”

Nanami smiled down at her and placed a hand atop of her head. He didn’t ruffle it like Gojo would’ve. He was proud of her. She could feel it. Nanami saw value in her. Gojo saw value in her.

And Fushiguro Megumi was going to be forced to see her value when she came face to face with him.

“I’m going to kick his ass.”

She’d never allow him to be close with her again. She wouldn’t let him speak a word to her, and if he did she wouldn’t respond. He was as good as dead to her. She didn’t need him. She scoffed at herself for ever feeling like she did. For that little flutter she’d feel in her chest when she saw him. Or thought of him. It was over.

She’d see him for the sole purpose of proving him wrong.

“I’ll call Gojo-san.”

Nanami couldn’t help but let out a deep sigh of relief as the girl all but skipped her way back to his apartment. It had been maddening trying to keep Kugisaki and Itadori separated. An entire month of Itadori trying to convince Nanami that it’d be okay if Kugisaki knew. An entire month of raising and nurturing the most nosey girl he’d ever come across. A hum of amusement left him. She was going to have quite the tantrum when she found out that he’d hidden this from her.

And Nanami had learned to love her and her tantrums.

A girl dad, he thought to himself.

Chapter Text

“So. I see you and Kugisaki have reunited.”

There was a smug tone of enjoyment in Gojo’s voice that made Megumi want to throttle him, but throttling meant moving, and moving meant pain. Severe pain.

Ieiri-san had finished patching him up and Megumi didn’t get to enjoy a second of peace before the tall idiot and pain in his ass strolled into the room with a grin. 

There was a nasty split in Megumi’s lip that had him constantly tasting metallic in his mouth. He had a cut on his right brow. A cut was quite the understatement. It was a gash and it left his right eye irritated and burning as a result of the blood that had flowed from his brow into it. His head throbbed and he couldn’t identify which injury caused that. She landed a few good uppercuts on him, her fist had slammed into the side of his cheek, and his head had practically bounced off of the ground when she’d kicked him to the dirt with a slam of her foot mid chest. 

She’d nearly broken his ribs, Ieiri-san had informed him, and he swore he could see the slightest hint of satisfaction in her eyes. Everyone had heard about his outburst, and they all seemed pleased that Kugisaki had picked herself up and come back stronger. Thankfully for him, his ribs had only been bruised. Quite severely bruised, but not broken. Little blessings. It hurt to breathe. His body was a mixture of sharp, piercing, dull, throbbing- every type of pain one could experience, he was experiencing.

“What the hell kind of sorcerer is Nanami-san..” Megumi winced out and tried to glare at the laughter that Gojo let out. What had that man done to Kugisaki? Everyone always knew that Gojo was the strongest- but Nanami might not be too far off. No, he definitely wasn’t far off at all, his skill spoke volumes in the way he’d transformed Kugisaki. 

She hadn’t even had her hammer or nails when she’d confronted him. She didn’t need them. Megumi could lie. He could say that she’d caught him off guard. He could blame the fact that he hadn’t trained well because he missed her. He could say that he let her demolish him because it was Kugisaki, and clearly he wouldn’t fight her back. He could say anything he wanted and it’d be a lie. She was not the sorcerer he’d crushed. Her cursed energy was overwhelmingly powerful, reaching an intensity he had never felt from her before. Close combat had always been her weak spot, her cursed technique sparing her from having to excel in it, but that had changed. She’d grown fiercely powerful and Megumi knew that he would’ve struggled with her even if he hadn’t been caught off guard. Even if he had continued training vigilantly while she was gone. Even if he came at her with all of his force, regardless of the fact that it was Kugisaki. They were equals now. Megumi rolled his eyes at himself. Equals? Not today. She’d obliterated him. 

He’d ended up flat on his back at the end of her attack, her foot painfully pressed against the middle of his chest as she sneered down at him. Hands on her hips, eyes filled with fury. She looked livid.

“Pathetic. You pathetic, worthless sorcerer. Stay the fuck away from me, you absolute nobody.”

She’d hissed his words back at him before pushing off of his chest with her foot and walking to her dorm. She didn’t stomp, she didn’t storm off, she didn’t run. She walked. Walked like she hadn’t even broken a sweat or exerted any energy. Walked like she was enjoying the breeze and sunshine.

He kept thinking about how her eyes looked when she towered over him. The physical pain was intense, but nothing harmed him the way the look in her eyes did. He could see that she was closed off from him. Her eyes were hardened. He couldn’t see into her soul through the pools of honey. Her walls were back up, but they felt impenetrable this time. Physical pain was overshadowed by the realization that he’d once gotten to see the beauty of her being. Of her existence. And she’d never let him lay eyes upon that again. 

Megumi let out a groan and adjusted the ice pack resting on his eye. It had all happened so quickly. He’d been leaning against a tree at the edge of the training ground, leg bent and foot propped against it. He had been lost in thought, like he always was lately. Ever since she left. Mindlessly staring at the way the wind rustled the flowers and grass.. and then he heard it.

“Yo, Fushiguro.”

His heart had stopped. His breath caught. Every muscle in his body went still. He was frozen where he stood and suddenly the world went quiet and all he could hear was her voice. It replayed in his mind as his heart began hammering against his rib cage painfully, nearly shattering the bones encasing it. He was scared to move. Scared that he’d turn and realize that it was a sick trick his mind was playing on him. Her name fell from his lips like a silent prayer as he turned to see her. 

Kugisaki.

He’d begged the universe to see a simple flash of red for an entire month. Just the flash of her hair, even if it meant she was running away from him. He had just wanted to lay his eyes on her, even if only for a moment. Only for a flash… and the flash of red was all he saw before he hit the ground. She’d charged at him, closing the distance between the two at a speed that could hardly be comprehended. All he saw was the flash of her ginger hair before the air was knocked out of him with the sharp pain of her foot slamming into his chest. The shock was overwhelming, he had no time to process before he was yanked up to his feet by the collar of his uniform. 

…and now he was in the infirmary. 

“You’d be smart if you left her alone.” Gojo said with a hum.

Megumi was silent, arms crossed over his chest.

“But I know you won’t. Good luck. You’ve got quite the mess to clean up.”

Megumi was thankful to see his sensei- his biggest headache- walk out of the room. 

Kugisaki had done a number on him. He was off of missions for a week. Minimum. Maybe longer, but that actually worked to his benefit. Now he had a free schedule to work things out. They had to work out.

She’d been back on campus for two days now, her first day spent beating him the fuck up, and now he caught her walking across the training field to get to class.

“Kugisaki!”

If looks could kill he would’ve dropped dead on the spot. It made him falter in his step for a moment before he tried catching up with her, which turned out to be quite a difficult feat with his bruised ribs.

“We have nothing to talk about. Don’t waste my time. Get lost, Fushiguro.”

Her voice was flat. Her usually animated inflection, the depths of her emotions, the peaks of her excitement- her tone that was always rich with layers, was flat. 

Apathetic.

Numb.

Fushiguro froze as she walked away. No. No.  She couldn’t be indifferent towards him. She couldn’t- She was.. she was everything to him. She was his best friend. He’d spent an entire month, a month that felt like an eternity in hell, desperate to see her. He’d missed her violently. And now she spoke to him like a stranger. Not even an enemy. An enemy would’ve invoked more emotion in her. He was a nobody to her. Just someone she used to know and had no desire to know ever again. 

He watched her fade off towards the dorms. He didn’t have the words to convey the things he felt. The guilt, the regret, the fear, the longing. He hadn’t had a coherent thought since the curse had ripped into her side. I can't lose her. That was his last clear thought before he exorcised the curse. Megumi was known for his silence. His use of few words. He never talked much. Until Kugisaki.  Kugisaki had elicited monologues from him as they grew close, but without her- without her help, her encouragement- he didn’t know how to express how sincere his apology was. None of that mattered if she didn’t let him near her. It didn’t matter if he wrote a poem that could move Lord Byron to tears. If he couldn’t get close enough to her for her to hear it, his words didn’t matter. 

Megumi gripped into his hair and pulled slightly as he gritted his teeth, cursing fluently under his breath. He thought he’d feel relieved when he laid eyes on her again, but now the panic had gotten a hold on his throat and was tightening its grip by the second.

“Kugisaki. Please.” 

She didn’t turn back. 

He felt insane. Day three of her back on campus. She was a master at evasion. She demanded one on one classes with Gojo and would meet with Nanami-san to train, leaving him no easy opportunity to run into her. His brow had twitched in irritation when he’d been informed of this fact. How was that even allowed? How had she convinced these grown adults to bend to her will? Because it was Kugisaki. And she was unstoppable when she put her mind to something. Fucking hell. Fine. He’d create opportunities to see her.

This was insane, he thought to himself as he shifted back and forth on his feet outside of her dorm room. He rubbed the back of his neck as he took a few deep breaths, his nerves clawing up his body. His face was a deep red, but he wasn’t turning back. She’d come to his dorm and demanded entry, so he could too. She’d be stuck in her dorm, unable to avoid his presence, and then he could apologize. And then they could reconnect. And then his soul would feel soothed.

Kugisaki wasn’t asleep. He could hear her humming to the soft music she was playing. He could envision her with those tiny buns on the top of her hair that she slept in. She probably had a face mask on. There was a green tea one she favored and had made him try along with her. She was most likely dangling her feet off of the bed- she was always kicking them or shaking them. Maybe she was filing her nails, or plucking her eyebrows. All he had to do was knock. Knock like she’d done to him. And they could put this era to rest.

Megumi took a final deep breath and nodded in determination to himself. His hand shook as it rose, making his face burn in embarrassment, and he produced the world’s most pitiful knock. Her humming ceased immediately. It was silent, painfully silent as he opened and closed his mouth in attempts to speak.

“Kugi-“

And then the music blared. His voice was drowned out. Any attempt to get her attention by knocking was hindered. She tuned him out. 

“Kugisaki- are you fucking serious?!” He groaned and tried feebly to knock a few times. Unfortunately for him, fucking Kendrick Lamar and SZA were louder than him. “Please. Please. Kugisaki, I need you- your friendship.” He mumbled as he pressed his forehead against the door. He was going to outlast her, he decided. It was eleven o’clock. He could manage a few hours, so he sat down with his back against the door and waited.. And waited. Kugisaki either didn’t sleep that night or was more insane than he thought and somehow slept with a concert in her room. Absolutely ridiculous, he scoffed to himself as he dragged his tired ass back to his dorm, hitting his bed at two in the morning.

Day four, five, and six were the same.

She wouldn’t speak a word to him or glance his way. He seemed legitimately invisible to her. He’d show up to her dorm room each night, knock, and then sit on the floor outside of it when she refused to let him in. He’d tell her about his day, either getting silenced by music or ignored- he hoped she wasn’t actually ignoring him when the music wasn’t playing. He’d stop talking when he saw the light of her room turn off from where it spilled out from under the door. He wasn’t going to disrupt her sleep. A tired Kugisaki was dangerous and definitely wouldn’t be receptive to hearing him out.

Each day had him feeling like he was losing control. His tolerance was thinning, his bandwidth becoming nonexistent, and he felt like he was going to explode. How long was she going to play this game? He knew her stubbornness. There was the chance that she’d never spare him a glance until they graduated, and then after that he truly would never see her again. His nights were sleepless, only adding to the growing unhinged aspect in his personality. No one had ever made him feel like this before. No one but her. Fucking Kugisaki. 

Day seven. If you were to ask Megumi what exactly happened on day seven to get them in the position they were currently in, he honestly couldn’t tell you. He snapped. It was a blur really. She hadn’t ignored him today. Well, she did for the entire day until curfew. For the first time since she got back, she looked at him. Actually looked at him for more than a fleeting moment. And then threw her middle finger up at him before walking into the girl’s dormitory.

So how did they actually end up here? He had no idea. All he knew was that he’d kicked her door open and was now on top of her on her bed. His legs caging her in and his hands pinning her wrists down by the side of her head.

“Nobara. Enough.”

Chapter Text

“Nobara. Enough.”

He’d growled at her. One moment she’d been laying out a towel on her bed and shaking a bottle of bubblegum pink nail polish to refresh her nails. She’d seen that her nail polish had chipped at some point when she’d raised her hand to flick him off, so naturally it was the first order of business now that she was in her room. Nobara snickered to herself as she replayed the moment in her head and let out a small sigh. It felt good. Seeing the outrage cross his face. It felt good eliciting negative feelings in him. Payback. Revenge. There was a satisfaction of making him chase her, only to reject his attempts at apologies… and it was also miserable. An empty feeling. It was always a temporary relief for the ache that made its home in her chest. He was never going to be a stranger to her. No matter how hard she tried. She couldn’t just cut off her emotions or forget everything they’d shared, so she had to avoid him. One word responses, ignoring him, blaring music to tune him out. She missed him. As much as she tried to convince herself that she didn't, Nobara missed him. She knew that if she were to be alone with him for any longer than their recent interactions she wouldn’t be able to control her emotions. She’d gotten stronger. Physically and emotionally, but it was still Fushiguro, and there was something about Fushiguro that she couldn’t rationalize. Nobara had to keep her distance. It was the only option. It’ll get easier, she thought to herself with a nod. She just had to push through. One day she’d think back on this and scoff. She’d laugh at the fact that she’d ever thought she needed him. One day. Stay strong, she commanded herself. Just as she went to open the bottle of nail polish, her door was kicked open and she was on her back in the blink of an eye.

Fushiguro was on top of her, breathing heavily, eyes dark and penetrating into her very being. 

Oh. Oh.

Nobara was finding out a lot of stuff about herself right now, but it was not the time to focus on the thoughts that flooded her mind about Fushiguro of all people. Anger flared in her body as she bared her teeth at him, bucking her hips to get him off of her and writhing underneath him to get him off balance. She came to the unfortunate realization that Fushiguro wasn’t as weak as she thought he was when she confronted him earlier this week. She’d clearly caught him off guard which had given her a clear upperhand. Now he’d caught her off guard and she couldn’t even free her hands from his grasp. He always had to be better than her in everything. She was furious, thrashing around forcefully under him.

“Have you lost your fucking mind, Fushiguro!?”
“Yeah! I have! Because of you!”

Nobara’s heart was racing violently in her chest, but not out of fear. It was Fushiguro. He might have said the cruelest things imaginable to her, but he wouldn’t physically hurt her. She never feared for her safety around him. He’d been her biggest protector, during and outside of missions. He would’ve never confronted her the way she confronted him. Part of her felt guilty, knowing that he would’ve never fought back in any scenario. So no. She wasn’t scared. Her body wasn’t having some survival instinctual response of panic because he'd kicked her door in and pinned her to her bed.. She was definitely having a response, but not one out of fear.

“I’ll fuck you up! Do you need a reminder of what happened-”

“I'd let you!”

Her eyes widened at his tone. At his words. At the look on his face. His voice was raw with emotion. There was so much sorrow.. Tangible regret. His eyes were stormy with conflict, but it seemed like most of that conflict was directed at himself. She opened her mouth to send back some retort, but her mind was reeling at his words. He’d let her. 

“I’ll let you fuck me up every day until we graduate if it means you’ll just listen to me for a moment- I just- please, Kugisaki.”

She immediately reprimanded herself for the feeling of disappointment she felt when he called her Kugisaki. He’d called her Nobara upon entering her room today, and she liked it more than she’d admit to anyone.. Even when it came out so aggressively.. Almost because it came out so aggressively? What the fuck.

“Listen to you?” She scoffed and turned her face away from him to hide the pain that was starting to seep out of the wounds she’d been trying so hard to heal. The wounds he had inflicted upon her. “I did listen to you. You had plenty to say, and you were quite clear about it.” She fought to keep her voice steady and strong. If there was the slightest quiver, the slightest waver, Fushiguro would pick up on it without a doubt. He knew her too well. How terrifying. 

“Kugisaki. I'm sorry, I'm sorry!”

She set her lips firmly into a straight line because his tone crushed her heart. His voice came out so weak. He’d apologized to her before. It was right before the beginning of their friendship. She remembered the way he had to force it out of his mouth. He sounded pained by having to apologize to her out of some damage to his pride and ego. This apology was nothing like his first. He still sounded pained, but for completely different reasons. It was like he was pained that he had to apologize because it meant that he had hurt her. And he couldn’t believe he’d done that.

“Fushiguro. I’m asking.. No. I’m telling you. Please. Just leave me-”

Her face scrunched and she flinched at a sudden sensation of wetness on her cheek. Her brows knit in confusion. She wasn’t crying. She was literally begging him to leave her room so that she wouldn’t cry- which she felt like she was going to cry regardless, she just didn’t want to do it in front of him again. She turned her head cautiously to look up at him again, her heart thudding in her chest as she knew what she was about to see. His eyes were staring straight at her. Completely unwavering as tears dropped from them and onto her. His brows were furrowed and his body trembled- not out of anger or frustration. He was consumed by anguish.

“Megumi..” She whispered softly. She tried to pull a hand free off his grip, finding out that he put up no resistance. He closed his eyes as her hand raised, probably preparing for some type of slap, but Nobara cupped his face and brushed her thumb against his wet cheek. She took a deep breath and bit into her lower lip. You’re such an idiot, Nobara, she thought to herself. “Get off of me. You’re a mess. I’ll have to kill you if you fucking snot all over me.” Nobara mumbled and let out a sigh as he crawled off of her, burying his head in his hands.

She wanted to curse and scream at herself. After all he said. The pain he’d caused. After everything, she still wanted to take care of him. Still felt pain when he felt pain. Felt like comforting him when he should be the one comforting her. She sat next to him, putting a small distance between the two. They used to sit shoulder to shoulder. She used to rest her head on his shoulder and take a nap while he read ridiculous philosophy books. Some dude named Albert Camus or whatever. Her heart clenched at the memories. 

“I’m listening. Don’t waste my time.” She huffed out and crossed her arms over her chest. She felt vulnerable and was fighting every urge to lash out at him. She’d been in a fucking tachycardic episode the entire time he’d been in her room, beyond terrified that he would harm her again. She wouldn’t recover this time, and yet here she was. Giving him an opening. He could pierce straight into her heart if he wanted to.. and she’d let him. 

“You were cold,” Megumi muttered into his hands. He received a swat to his shoulder as Kugisaki commanded him to speak up and stop mumbling. He nearly smiled despite himself. “Kugisaki, your body was cold in the car after that mission. I was watching you- you were literally dying,” He breathed out and rested his head against the wall, staring at her ceiling fan. It still made him feel sick to think about, the memories of that day never losing their vividness. Their violence. It still felt raw. Sometimes he’d dream about it. “It was my fault. I got comfortable and I underestimated the curse. If I had been on it- if I had been concentrated, I would’ve had your back. I always have your back, and.. and I-.. I didn’t. And you were dying.” Megumi couldn’t find it in himself to be embarrassed at the way his voice cracked and trembled. He made no move to wipe his tears, but Kugisaki would reach over every now and then and wipe them herself, which only made him want to cry more. He’d learned that she was quite adept at providing comfort. It shocked him beyond belief when he'd found that out. He could’ve told everyone on campus, and no one would’ve believed him. He was lucky to know that fact about her- to know her in a way no one else did. After all he’d done, she still comforted him. It made him hate himself more than he already did.

“Cool. So you drop the ball. I almost die. And then you fucking say the most- I have never.. No one has ever said such vile things to me like that before.” Kugisaki said as she looked away, but he caught the tremble of her bottom lip. It was always the first sign, the clear give away that she was going to cry. “You’re my fucking bestfriend and you- how could you say that to me?” She asked quietly and used her hands to wipe her face- her palms of course. She never just used a delicate finger. It was one of his favorite things about her. The way she wiped her tears like a kid, like the mess she was. The most wonderful mess. “I thought we were friends. I thought you, I thought you respected me. I figured you thought somewhat highly of me. Thought you saw some hint of value- or worth in me. Clearly I was mistaken.” 

“Kugisaki-,” He’d placed a hand on her shoulder only to yank it back when she flinched. He immediately apologized and folded his hands in his lap. Megumi quickly came to terms with the fact that he had to work on her timeline. Work with what she was comfortable with. She felt comfortable touching him for short moments, but she didn’t trust him enough for him to touch her. That was okay. He’d do whatever she needed him to. He’d wait lifetimes for her. “I didn’t believe a single thing I said about you.” She scoffed and he was quick to move in front of her. He needed her to see his face. To see how honest he was being. “I’m serious, I swear to god- I don’t even believe in god!” He gripped her bed sheets to fight the urge to grab her face. 

“Then why did you fucking say it?!” Her voice rose and her fierce eyes were brimming with tears. Her shoulders began to shake and she cursed his name as she roughly ran her fingers through her hair. “How could you say that to me?!” She shouted at him. He could feel the anger rolling off of her. It was mixed with palpable feelings of betrayal and sorrow.

“Because I can’t lose you!” He had no right to raise his voice back at her. He couldn’t tell if she was startled by the volume of his words or by the content of the words themself. Megumi pinched the bridge of his nose and took a few deep breaths. “Sorry. I shouldn’t yell at you.” He apologized after a few moments of collecting himself. “I shouldn’t yell at you.” She gave a slight nod, eyes still big as she stared at him and waited for him to continue, unable to say anything herself.

“I wanted you to give up on being a sorcerer. I wanted to.. Kugisaki, if I could’ve convinced you to go back home, there would be no risk of you getting killed by a curse. Itadori died and you were pretty damn close. I freaked out. The idea of losing you- shit.” He gritted out at the mere thought. It overwhelmed him every time he thought about it. “I can’t lose you,” he whispered with a pitiful shrug of his shoulders, “so I tried.. I tried getting you to give up. Tried convincing Gojo to send you home. Kugisaki, you have to believe me when I saw I didn’t believe a single word I said. I swear.”

Silence filled the room. Their eyes were locked, both burning with tears, and unable to look away from each other. He was relieved to be able to explain himself, but he was also a bundle of nerves and anxiety as he waited for her response. Kugisaki the wildcard. Her eyes narrowed and she gave him a sharp jab of her fingers into his side, eliciting an embarrassing yelp from him. 

“You’re such an idiot. You’re so fucking- I should kill you, I really should.” She hissed at him before she grabbed him by his collar and pulled him close to her face. Her eyes widened for a second at the spike of nerves she felt with him so close to her and they flickered down to his lips for a moment without her consent. “You.” She growled. “You don’t get to decide what I do. You don’t get to determine how I live my life. It’s my fucking life. If I want to risk getting killed by a fucking curse, thats my choice. Know your fucking place.” She warned him as she pushed him back while releasing his shirt. 

Nobara glared at him, trying to glower and scowl. Trying to build back some image of being untouchable and strong. Not some weak girl who could be destroyed by some stupid boy. It only lasted so long before her bottom lip pouted out and she dropped her head. “You’re so stupid,” she whimpered out and rubbed at her eyes. “So fucking stupid.”

Megumi whispered out an apology and his fingers twitched with the urge to run his fingers through her hair to soothe her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.” He repeated to her in a gentle tone. He’d apologize every day for the rest of his life if she wanted him to. Hell, he’d get on his knees and beg for forgiveness if she asked him to. She laughed softly to herself as she shook her head. What a ridiculous series of events. She believed him. Now she had to accept his apology. The apology he'd practically begged her for..

Her head suddenly shot up and she stared at him. There was glint in her eyes and his heart dropped. Oh no, he thought to himself. He realized right then and there that there was no way she was going to just let him off the hook. Not with that look in her eyes. He’d learned throughout their friendship that she had this insane ability to know what he was thinking. Like when she knew he wanted to ask about her grief regarding Itadori. She knew him in a concerning way, and he feared she’d just accessed his mind.

A grin split across her face. It was evil. It made Megumi swallow thickly as he stared at her wearily. 

“Kugisaki. Please. I said I was sorry.” He reminded her.

“I’m not sure I accept it quite yet. What if you’re just saying that so I don’t kick your ass again?” There was enjoyment in her tone. He was fucked. She was playing with him. 

“I literally just cried in front of you. I bared my soul to you. Surely that's enough.” He tried to reason with her.

Her hand lifted up with an elegance that didn’t fit her body. Her finger pointed to the floor in front of her. He stared at her in silence. He didn’t move a muscle. Maybe if he didn’t give any sign that he actually existed she wouldn’t do this to him. 

“Beg.”

“What.”

“On your knees. Beg.”

His mouth was agape and he looked to where her finger pointed and back up to her face. She was pointing to a faux fur pink rug, those goddamn bunny slippers neatly placed right beside the rug. His face burned painfully.

“Kugisaki. Kugisaki. Let's be adults. Please.”

“I’m only sixteen. I can’t even drink. Doesn’t sound like an adult to me.”

His jaw clenched as he looked in her eyes. Sick and twisted amusement danced in them. He also saw obstinance. The stubbornness that Kugisaki was famous for. There was no getting out of this. She was opening herself up to him, giving him an opportunity he frankly didn’t deserve to get close to her again. He couldn’t miss it.

“You’re a fucking demon, I swear to god. You’re always doing your nails to hide how fucked up they are from when you clawed your way up and out of hell,” He grumbled to her, but he slowly pushed himself off of the bed. He stood on the rug for a few moments, pulling his collar up to hide part of his face. The tips of his ears were radiating heat. “You sick freak.” He ground out as he glanced back up at the ceiling, praying a stray lightning strike would kill him before he had to do this. A deep groan left him as he begrudgingly lowered himself onto his knees at the side of her bed. She quickly moved to the edge where she towered over him, clearly soaking in every moment, feeling a rush of power.. And a rush of something else. Her own face flushed, but not out of embarrassment.

Fushiguro. On his knees in front of her. About to beg. Her eyes darkened as she looked down at him, pupils dilating. Holy shit, she thought to herself as her teeth sunk into her lower lip. Her heart raced and she felt her breath stutter for a moment before she tried to snap back into it. She nearly groaned when he dropped his head and clasped his hands together.

“Kugisaki. I-.. I’m sorry. I really fucked up. I behaved poorly. I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I.. oh my god,” he huffed and scrunched his nose in disbelief. This fucking girl. If she told him to jump into the mouth of a massive curse, would he? It sure seemed like it. “I’m begging for your forgiveness. I’ll do anything. Please. Forgive me.”

Nobara’s mouth went dry and she stared at him, licking her lips quickly as she committed the picture to her memory. 

Oh my fucking god.

Oh my fucking god.

There was no way. There was actually no way this was happening to her. Surely she was confused. Surely this was an outcome of the expression of very heavy and intense emotions.

Surely she didn’t want to pull him up from his knees and crash her lips into his.

“...uhm. Kugisaki..? Can I get up now..?”

She blinked in a daze before his words processed to her. She let out a cough and tucked her face into her elbow for a moment before she nodded. “Yup. Good boy.” They both froze as her eyes peeked over her arm. The tension of hurt feelings and broken friendship had resolved.. But now there was a new tension for Nobara. A much more dangerous one.

“I-I.. I have to paint my nails. So, you have to go. Uh- I’ll, I’ll see you tomorrow in class. Gojo already told me he wasn’t going to teach me one on one for more than a week.. But I think, well, I still want to train with Nanamin- but I can also train with Gojo and you too.” She rambled and twisted her hair around her finger nervously, eyes glancing all around the room, everywhere except for him. She didn’t dare meet his eyes.

Megumi raised a brow at the sudden change in her demeanor. Had he missed something? Maybe she was nervous about letting him back in. That would make sense. He really had to prove himself to her. Regain her trust. Make it so she didn’t feel the anxiety she was feeling right now about coming to class and training with him again. 

“Don’t worry about the door! It looks like it’ll still close, ahaha, that’s good news. I’ll have them come fix it tomorrow! Anyway. My nails. Yeah. What a day. Lots of emotions.. I need to rest- after my nails, of course. I’ll see you tomorrow. In class. Right. Goodnight, Fushiguro!”

He snorted softly at her. He couldn’t help but find her endearing. Such a charming girl. A hot mess- the biggest hot mess he’d ever encountered, but so.. so Kugisaki. His soul felt lighter as he got to his feet.

“Thank you, Kugisaki. I don’t deserve you.” He said softly, eyes filled with gratitude that she was giving him another chance. “Don’t stay up too late. Sleep well.” He told her with a gentle smile before he brushed off his knees and left her room, glancing over his shoulder one last time before he closed the door- well. Kind of closed the door. He’d taken a hinge off. 

Nobara watched him leave and shut the door. Her hand came and pressed against her chest over her heart. “What the fuck..” She whispered to herself as she brought the backs of her hands against her cheeks where she felt them burning.

It all made sense. That’s why she’d come at him so confrontationally when they first met. It's why she picked a fight with him every time she had the opportunity when Itadori was still alive. It’s why she couldn’t seem to stop looking over at him during class or on the ride home from missions. 

Nobara liked Fushiguro. 

Like that.

Chapter Text

Megumi was relieved beyond belief. Things were back to normal- well, no, not exactly normal. Things were different. Something between them had shifted ever so slightly, but the new nature of their friendship was welcomed openly by Megumi. She’d been aloof the first few days after they made peace, but he reasoned that was only a natural response as she got comfortable with him again.

And she definitely got comfortable with him.

Her new level of physical affection had thrown him off guard at first. It's not like they hadn't touched prior to this, but that was usually in the seclusion of his room, and it definitely wasn’t to this extent. She had started wrapping her arms around one of his as they walked around the campus, leaning into him as they talked. Her head would even rest on his shoulder, even in front of the second years, which Maki loved to give him looks for. She’d grab ahold of his hands as they talked and play with his fingers. She’d trace his palms, interlock their fingers, tap her fingertips against his own. The change in the naps she’d take in his room had been the biggest shock and he’d nearly had a heart attack the first time it happened. He’d opened his book, which was always like turning on a lullaby for the redhead, and he had expected her head to rest against his shoulder like she always did for her nap. This time she pulled away from him and shifted her body, laying out across his bed and resting her head in his lap. His soul left his body and he had to quickly grab it and shove it back into his chest before it escaped the room. He re-read the same sentence for a solid five minutes. It didn’t even seem to faze her. She fell asleep without a fuss. He stared down at her with comically wide eyes. What the hell was happening.. And why didn’t he mind? Megumi let out a deep breath and hesitantly rested his hand on her head. He let his fingers brush through her hair as he read- or attempted to read. He was distracted by how soft it was. Bleached hair somehow felt like silk.. He hummed softly to himself with a small smile coming to his lips. She always kept him on his toes.

Currently, Megumi was staring at her in horror. She’d asked- more like told him- that they’d be having a picnic by the pond in the back. Kugisaki made it clear she wasn’t going to be cooking anything for him. “So if you wanna eat, cook for yourself. A girl has got to look out for herself,” She told him with a nod before turning on her heel and going to her dorm to get ready for the date. Date? It wasn’t a date, he corrected himself. Anyway, back to the horror. Her “meal”. Her picnic food that she’d “prepared” for herself. Her attempt at sustenance was a container of strawberries and a smaller container of sugar. Literal sugar. She hummed happily to herself as she dipped the fruit in the white granules and brought them to her mouth.

“Kugisaki.”
“It’s Nobara, remember?”

Oh, that was another thing. She demanded that they call each other by their first names now. “You started it first,” she had pointed it out to him. He remembers snorting at her before shrugging his shoulders. He didn’t mind. They were close, it seemed like a natural progression of their deepening bond. It was hard to break out of the habit though, and she was quick to call him out on it each time.

“Sorry. Nobara.”
“Hm?”

“This has to be a sick joke.”

He told her blankly and motioned his hand at her eating arrangements. She gave him a nasty scowl and huffed, sticking her nose in the air haughtily. Megumi had brought actual food. Like. Food with vitamins and minerals neatly packed in his bento box. 

“Nanamin said I should eat more fruit and vegetables.”
“I promise you this is not what he meant.”

Megumi deadpanned before a grin came to his face at the way she turned her body away from him. Grabbed her food and turned around so she didn’t have to look at his face.

“Nobara.”

“Hmph.”

“Nobara. Look at me.”

“I don’t want to. You’re a hater. I’m protecting my whimsical and optimistic nature. My childlike innocence.”

He threw his head back and laughed out loud at her dramatics. Laughter was so normal in his day to day life now that he had Nobara back. Maki had told him that it freaked her out, but he rolled his eyes and told her to fuck off. She gave him a look, one he couldn’t decipher, and then a sly grin came to her face before she cackled and went to train. Megumi leaned over and placed one hand on her shoulder and the other at her waist, physically turning her back to face him. He raised his brow at the way she sputtered and turned bright red, but it only made his smile grow. She was such an interesting person. He didn’t quite understand her fully, and he loved that. He loved being able to explore her and learn more about her. What made her tick. Who Nobara was at her core. 

“Open up.”

He told her as he held up his fork that had a piece of red bell pepper on it. Her nose scrunched and she pointed to her berries. “I have food.” She huffed out to him and looked away from him, completely ignoring the vegetable he was offering. Megumi rolled his eyes and grabbed ahold of her jaw to turn her face towards him. “Open up.” He mumbled to her. Nobara nearly passed away. Her mouth dropped open and she ate the bell pepper, staring at him with giant pupils. 

Nobara was fucked. She figured that out pretty quickly once she realized that she had a crush on Megumi. He could tell her to do practically anything. She always put up a fight at first. It was in her DNA to be difficult.. but then he’d tell her. Instruct her. Get a little bit firm with her and she’d fucking fold. 

“There you go. That wasn’t so hard.” He gave her a small smirk before turning his attention to the rippling water of the pond.

Nobara cleared her throat and willed her face to cool down. Jesus Christ. Megumi was.. He was so hot. He didn’t even have to try. It was so natural to him. He probably had to beat women and men off of him with a stick. Wait. That thought made her eyes narrow and a nasty feeling of jealousy stirred in her chest. 

“Hey. Megumi.”
“Yeah?”

“Have you ever dated anyone?”

His brows raised as he glanced over at her, unsure of what brought this topic up. They’d never talked about anything remotely related to this.. but maybe that’s why she was asking. To know more about him… he also was a bit curious about what her answer would be, so he decided to entertain her and moved to face her.

“Not technically.”
“Technically?”

“Like. I guess you’d call it a “fling”. It was stupid. Happened right before the school year with some girl from the other campus.”

Nobara’s face became unreadable, but from what he could pick up on she did not seem to like that answer. Suddenly her face came alive and she was glaring daggers into him and he felt the need to throw his hands up in surrender- what he was surrendering for? No clue.

“Nobara. What's that look for?”

“Nothing. I don’t care.”
“Nobara. Come on. You look mad. Why are you mad?”

“I’m not mad. I think I’m full. We have that test coming up. I need to study.”

She grumbled and began packing up her food and throwing it into her little bag she’d brought it in. Megumi was bewildered as he looked at her. What the fuck just happened? He called her name a few times, but she ignored him with a scowl on her face. Nobara pushed up off of the blanket, mumbling out some sort of bratty goodbye. Megumi’s hand shot out and grabbed her wrist, pulling her right back down onto the blanket, this time right in front of him as he looked directly into her eyes. “Nobara.” He said with that stern tone of his and she immediately went silent and sat still, feeling like her skin was burning where he held her wrist. She swallowed thickly as she watched him examine her face. He was reading her eyes. She could hear her heart beating wildly as he leaned in slightly. Could he feel her pulse where he held her wrist? A small smirk started growing on his face and her heart seized in panic. He was onto her.

“I see. You’re jealous.”

Caught. Nobara’s mind short-circuited before going into overdrive. She could explain- well, not really. Hey, when I made you beg on your knees, I kinda realized that you’re really hot and I want to kiss you. She couldn’t fucking say that. Damage control. That was her only option. She was going to open her mouth and pray to god that whatever came out could save her.

“Megumi- Listen- I-”
“That’s so cute. Little Nobara has never even had a fling. And now she’s all jealous that Megumi beat her to it.”

He snickered before releasing her wrist and tapping her forehead with his first two fingertips. Saved. Maybe there was a god. And maybe this god loved her. She’d have to look up churches in the area. She let out the biggest sigh of relief internally before she processed what he’d said, brows furrowing in indignation.

“Excuse me? How do you know I haven’t had a fling? I could have anyone I want! Have you seen me? I’m, I’m a fucking catch!”
“Okay. Fine. Then how far did you go?”

She blinked big and confused eyes at him. How far did she.. What was he talking about? “..uhm.. far..” she mumbled and glanced around, hoping that was the correct answer. His brow rose. He wasn’t buying it. Whatever it was. A look of mischief lit up in his eyes as he leaned in closer to her.

“Far, huh? So.. clearly you’ve held hands.. and obviously kissed. Making out- of course you have. You have nothing to be jealous of. We’ve both gone just as far, sex and all.”

Her jaw dropped. So much for keeping it cool and convincing. Megumi. The uptight, stick in the mud- Fushiguro Megumi had just admitted to having sex before. And the loud, confident, social Nobara had never even had her first kiss. 

“You-.. You’ve-.. Like-”

“Take your time.”

“Like-.. Like you’ve.. You’re not- 

“A virgin?”

“That.”
“No. I’m not. And you clearly are.”

Megumi was absolutely adoring every expression and reaction that Nobara gave him, and boy was she giving him a lot. He’d never seen her so red before. Actually, he’d never seen anyone so red before. Her eyes were ridiculously large as they roamed all over him. What? Was she expecting to see a scarlet A on his clothes? He couldn’t wipe the smirk off of his face. She was so cute. It was so like Nobara to try and pretend like she’d gotten far in a relationship simply so he didn’t win. He was a little bit surprised. Maybe not about the fact that she was a virgin, but that she hadn’t even had her first kiss. He tried to reason through it. She could put people off with that attitude of hers.. That was true.. But he stared at her flustered face and pondered. Even with her attitude in mind, Nobara was objectively attractive. Her eyes were.. They were addicting to look at. Her lips fit her face perfectly, the perfect shade of pink for her complexion, always pouted perfectly. Did he say perfect already? Her nose was sharp and elegant, and somehow delicate and dainty on her face. Her hair color made her even more vibrant and.. Alright. Let’s not pretend like Megumi was blind. He’d seen her in her sparring clothes. Tight against her figure. And what a figure that was. She was short, but her legs were long and strong. Lean torso and arms- and.. well.. she wasn’t.. flat by any means.

He cleared his throat when he realized that he’d just been blatantly staring and admiring her features. He pulled back and stretched his arms out to appear nonchalant. Nobara was still rebooting.

“It’s fine. Really. It's not a big deal. You’re only sixteen. Maybe I started out early- and for what it's worth it only happened two times. Wait.. maybe three. Yeah, it was three-”
“Three?!”

Nobara shrieked, finally coming back to planet earth, and scaring away the ducks from the pond. Megumi nearly fell backwards in his startle.

“Same girl?” His eyes widened at the sudden change in her tone. It was low. Steady. Too steady. Dangerous. Suddenly his life was on the line. Lying would get him killed.. But he had a feeling his honesty would get him killed too. “Same girl.” He responded slowly. She didn’t react at first. Simply stared at him. She hummed in acknowledgment and nodded her head a few times. Same girl. Nice. Good to know. “Go fuck yourself.” She told him flatly before she got up, kicked his bento box, and stormed off towards the dorms. She passed Gojo and Nanami on the way and held up a hand to warn them not to speak.

Megumi was left on the blanket in pure and unadulterated confusion. What the fuck had just happened. 

“Looks like Kugisaki finally realized.”
“Gojo-san, we really shouldn’t be talking about our students’ personal lives..” 

“You want to know if I think Megumi realized his own feelings. I know you do.”

Nanami sighed and adjusted his glasses, staring straight forward. He’d just ignore the man. He always did… except.. He glanced over at Gojo and rolled his eyes at the grin on his face. Gojo waited patiently.

“..Well. Do you think he realized?” Nanami asked under his breath, glancing around to make sure no one heard him. It was so unprofessional.

“He doesn’t have a clue.”

Nanami gave a curt nod and steeled his face. He couldn’t let anyone know that he was invested. Or that he found this amusing and charming. He couldn’t help but root for Nobara. He was quite fond of the girl.. and she was more than fond of Gojo’s boy.

“They’ll figure it out.” Gojo laughed out and clapped Nanami on his back, “and we’ll be in-laws.”
“Stop talking.”

Megumi didn’t hear from Nobara for the next two days, and unfortunately they didn’t have training sessions or classes that would force them to see each other. She was “sick” again. Megumi had rolled her eyes and tapped his foot against the ground in irritation when Gojo had informed him of this. The grin on his sensei’s face made it clear that they both knew she wasn’t actually sick. She was ignoring his texts and declining his calls. It frustrated him to no end when she acted like this.

It was probably best to let her process whatever she needed to process and give her time.. That had at least been the plan until Maki had strolled up to him on the training ground, a smirk on her face that made him outwardly groan.

“What do you want?”

“Ouch. Can’t I just talk to my dear family?”
“Maki.”

She snickered and took in Megumi’s form. He was breathing heavily and sweating from his training and he had a permanent look of irritation on his face. More than normal. Ah. So something did happen between him and Nobara. Even better.

“I came here to get some insight on Nobara. She’s quite the character.”

Megumi couldn’t help but laugh. Yeah. Quite the character.

“She asked me a question the other day and I told her I needed to think on it so I could give her the right answer.”

Megumi’s brow raised and he narrowed his eyes at his distant cousin. He didn’t like her tone. She looked like trouble, and he hated that she had that look while talking about Nobara.

“Get out with it, Maki.”
“Well, Nobara was asking me about who’d be her best option for a first kiss. She’s on the lookout. Crazy to me that she hasn’t had one yet. Panda isn’t an option. Yuta is- he’s not even here, so. That’s a no. I think Inumaki would have a heart attack. And then I remembered the exchange event.” Her eyes sharpened and so did her smile. “ Noritoshi Kamo. They’d be perfect, wouldn’t they? Those Kyoto students should be headed over pretty soon. I think I should play matchmaker.”

Megumi was fuming from the second that he heard that Nobara was out on the market for someone to have her first kiss with. Then Maki had the nerve to bring Kamo into this. Kamo and Nobara? He’d kill someone before he let that happen. He’d actually kill everyone before he let Nobara go about her first kiss like this.

“I have to go.” Megumi hissed and stalked off the training grounds straight towards the girls dormitory.

Maki laughed as he stormed off with his own little storm cloud raining on him. He was so obvious and yet somehow he still didn’t have a clue.

Megumi knew that Nobara had yet to get her door fixed. He knew that if you put weight on it at a particular angle it would open. He didn’t even think about knocking. No thoughts were going through his mind outside of the fact that Nobara was trying to kiss someone. Someone was going to kiss Nobara. 

Absolutely not.

Nobara’s messily towel dried hair dripped onto her bare shoulders as she came out of her bathroom wrapped only in a towel. She was humming softly to herself, feeling quite relieved and soothed by the bath she’d just taken. She just had to grab a pair of pajamas and then she’d start her very detailed aftershower care.

Just as she entered the main area of her dorm, her door flung open. She couldn’t even scream. She just scrambled to hold onto her towel and stared frozen in shock at her door.

Megumi didn’t even look at her before he spoke.

“Kiss me.”

And then he looked up. And saw a dripping Nobara. With a towel wrapped around her. Only a towel. Droplets of water slid down her legs. She stared at him like a deer caught in headlights. Megumi’s eyes traveled her body, the towel dangerously short on her body. Pink. It was fucking pink. Of course. His mouth went completely dry and heat pooled in his abdomen. 

They were locked in the moment for what felt like a lifetime and he suddenly felt like he didn’t have much control over himself.

“Nobara. Go get dressed.” He nearly whispered, voice solid and firm.

Giving orders to her when he’d burst into her room while she was in a state of undress?! After telling her to kiss him?! Megumi winced internally, preparing himself to get slapped through the wall at his audacity.

..but a bright pink Nobara simply nodded and made her way back into her bathroom after she silently grabbed a pair of pajamas. 

Did she just.. obey him? Jesus Christ, Megumi groaned and dropped his forehead against her door. His body was having a reaction- obviously his body was having a reaction. Her scent was potent in her room and he took a few deep breaths, but that didn't help. Not with the smell of coconut and sweet praline flooding his mind.

Kiss me?! What was he thinking? They were best friends, but Megumi couldn’t handle the idea of her kissing someone. Kamo or not. She’d need her first to kiss to be safe- someone she could trust. Someone that wouldn’t take advantage of her.

He was safe! She could trust him! He was simply looking out for his best friend.

The image of her was permanently burned into his mind and suddenly he felt even more passionately about making sure he was her first kiss.

Holy shit. She was hot.

Chapter Text

Nobara stood in her bathroom with her back flush against the door as she swallowed thickly and tried to take a few deep breaths. Adrenaline was pulsing through her body and she shakily began to dry herself off. She took her time- she needed time before she looked at his face again. If she could ever get herself to come out of the bathroom in the first place. Nobara chewed on her lower lip as she applied lotion to her body, her mind betraying her as she wondered what his hands would feel like roaming her body.

Kiss me.

That’s what he said. He’d walked in on her while she was nearly naked and told her to kiss him. The blush that crawled up her body was painful. Actually painful. Like every nerve was alight. She felt disconnected from reality. Drifting in some kind of dream world. Had she misheard? Surely.. Or maybe she heard exactly what he said.

Nobara stared at herself in the mirror as she placed a hand on her chest to settle her heart. Slowly things started to clear up in her mind and she watched as her own eyes narrowed in her reflection as she realized what had just gone down. What had led her to hide out in the bathroom. Nobara had been avoiding him. Pretended to be sick. Ignored his calls and texts. She clearly didn’t want to see him, and he wasn’t stupid. He knew she didn’t want to see him.

Yet here he was. He busted in her door again while she was for all intents and purposes naked and then gave her a command?! He’d lost it. He’d lost his mind. She’d help him find it.

Nobara gathered her hair brush, her container of face moisturizer, and her hand soap into her arms before she slowly opened the door. Megumi sat on her bed with a pillow planted firmly in his lap.

The nerve of this guy.

“Megumi.”
“Nobara. We have to talk.”
“We do.”

He went to open his mouth, but a yelp came out instead of words as he dodged the first object she hurled his way. He had to scramble around the bed to avoid the household items she’d turned into weapons. She swiftly crossed the distance between them when she ran out of projectiles and yanked him upright by his collar.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?! Barging into a girl’s room like that! I was practically naked!”
“How was I supposed to know that?!”

“You weren’t! That’s why you should’ve fucking knocked! I’m going to beat your ass!”

Both of them were red in the face as they yelled at each other. Megumi embarrassed and.. and concerned about his body’s reaction to the situation, and Nobara embarrassed and full of rage.

“Don’t turn this on me!” Megumi hissed out and grabbed ahold of her face with both of his hands. “The hell do you think you’re doing?! Trying to auction off your first kiss like that?!”

Nobara froze. Megumi could feel her cheeks burn in his hands. He witnessed the flash of betrayal in her amber eyes. Maki clearly wasn’t supposed to tell him that. The embarrassment was lethal. He not only knew that she wasn’t at all experienced, but now knew that she was trying to change that. To prove herself. Maybe to get on more even playing ground with him.

“It’s my  first kiss. I get to do whatever the hell I want to do with it! And what the hell do you think you’re doing coming into my room and telling me to kiss you?! What the fuck is that about?!”

Her voice rose in pitch towards the end and she became a bit breathless. Did he really want to kiss her? Did Megumi- did he like her back? She tried to stomp that fire of hope out, but she stared at him expectantly, silently begging in her head that he’d confess his feelings for her.

Megumi released her face with a huff, crossing his arms across his chest, and Nobara mourned the loss of his touch.

“You have to kiss me. If you’re going to have your first kiss here, it has to be me.”

Nobara buried her own face in her hands to hide the vibrant flush decorating it. 

“Your first kiss should be with someone you trust. Someone you’re comfortable with. You’re not close with anyone else on this campus the way you’re close with me. And you’ve never met the Kyoto students! If you’re going to kiss someone- It’s me.”

This was a fever dream. Had someone slipped something into her water bottle? Her soul was torn. He clearly wasn’t trying to kiss her because he liked her. He was being what Megumi always was to her. Her protector. Making sure she was safe and out of harm’s way. She bit her lower lip and tried to settle the rushing thoughts in her head. She had some options to consider. The likelihood of Megumi being romantically interested in her was slim. It would never happen. They were best friends- that's all she was to him. So she could keep things clear and clean cut and just accept their relationship as it was. She could hope her crush was short-lived or just suffer from unrequited feelings. That was the smart choice, she reasoned to herself.

…but there was that second option. A much messier option by far, but still an option. He didn’t like her like that. So what? He was offering to kiss her. To be her first kiss. Would this cause much more pain for her in the end? Nobara was sure of it… but… she couldn’t pass it up. Maybe she couldn’t have him like that. Maybe they’d never date. He’d never look at her in the way she desperately wanted, but she could kiss him. She’d been dying to kiss him since they reconciled. She peeked through her fingers at him. There was such a serious and determined look on his face. He looked so handsome.

There was a good choice and a bad choice.

I’ll make the bad choice, Nobara celebrated to herself. Her future self could deal with the repercussions. Her present self would thrive.

“So if I’m going to kiss someone.. it has to be you?” She said as she slowly dropped her hands from covering her face. She tried to school her expression. Tried to look cool and collected. Her brain was melting, but he didn’t need to know that. Megumi nodded firmly. They stared at each other in silence, both looking into each other’s eyes and trying to get a read on them. 

“You know, this is a high honor, Megumi. I’m not sure you realize how much of a privilege this is considered. Do you know who I am?”

He rolled his eyes, but they softened. He had to fight off a smile. She was so… that was so… Nobara. He could tell she was nervous. She was fidgeting in her spot on the bed, wringing her fingers, and the pink never left her cheeks. Yet here she was again, trying to play cool. 

“I’m kind of a big deal, you know. I’ve got a stellar personality, I’m a beast of a sorcerer, and-”
“Nobara, are you going to ramble this entire time or am I going to get a chance to kiss you?”

Her mouth dropped open and her shoulders shrugged up to her ears in overwhelming bashfulness. What a bitch, she grumbled to herself, he just always had to call her out! He always saw right through her. It was infuriating. 

“..Fine. You can kiss me. But- don’t be weird about it. Friends kiss all of the time, I’m sure, and I’m only letting this happen because there are no other options and you’ve practically thrown yourself on me, begging me-”

Megumi had mumbled a quiet “Jesus Christ” under his breath as he rolled his eyes before he hooked a finger under her chin to lift her face up, using his lips to cut her off mid ramble. 

She was sweet. Some sort of vanilla lip balm on her impossibly soft lips. Megumi fought back a groan as he held her face up, holding her chin between his finger and thumb. The bold and boisterous Nobara was SHY, kissing him back with hesitancy, timidness, and an innocence and that made his blood roar in his ears. He lost the plot. He lost the fact that this was supposed to be a simple first kiss so that she didn’t give it to some nobody that didn’t deserve her. He heard her whine against his lips, so bashfully, and the noise went straight to his crotch. Her hand came to hold onto the wrist of the hand that held her face, trying to steady herself. She was running out of breath- breathless from the fact that Megumi was kissing her in the first place, but also because he wasn’t stopping. He wasn’t giving her the chance to catch her breath. She was dizzy and her body was ablaze. 

Megumi came back to his senses right as he caught himself about to bite her lower lip. His eyes snapped open, realizing that he’d gotten quite carried away. Kissing her was addicting and he hadn’t been able to control himself. He quickly gathered his bearings and slowed the kiss back to a gentle one- the kind of gentleness it was supposed to be the entire time, and then he slowly pulled away. Not fully. Pulled away every so slightly where their lips were almost brushing still and he could feel her pant against him. It took every ounce of self control to not go back in and ravage her lips, but he managed.. He couldn’t stop himself from pressing a soft kiss to the edge of her lips before sitting up straight and taking in her appearance.

She was red in the face, panting, lips swollen and bruised- leaving them a delightful crimson red. He was looking at her, and her eyes were looking in his direction, but she was not seeing him. Her eyes were unfocused and glazed, like she was on some different plane of existence. 

“Nobara.” He said to catch her attention, to refocus her, but she just blinked like there wasn’t a singular thought in her head. 

“Nobara.” He tried again, this time leaning in slightly to see if her eyes would lock on him. Holy shit, he’d kissed the fuck out of her.

“Hey. Nobara.” Megumi muttered and cupped her face with his hand, a small smile coming to his face. She was burning up. He finally saw recognition come into her eyes and she blinked a few times, finally focusing in on him as he cradled her face. “Welcome back,” he mumbled with a fondness he couldn’t rationalize.

He was fucked. There was no way to avoid the reality he was facing. He was very, very physically attracted to Nobara. The chemistry in that kiss was unreal. He wanted to grab her face and kiss her for the rest of the night, but they were friends. This was also her first kiss, so she had no experience in any other situations related to this. He couldn’t exactly casually bring up and explain a whole friends-with-benefits situation to her. She’d probably kick his teeth in. Not to mention it could totally disrupt their friendship, which he really didn’t want to risk.. but he wanted to do unspeakable things to her in the present moment. Nobara also didn’t seem like the kind of girl who would have sex outside of a relationship, and the two weren’t dating. They didn’t like each other like that.. So maybe he’d made things messy by barging in and demanding a kiss from her. 

“Were you trying to kill me or what?” She whined softly and hid her face in a pillow she’d grabbed. “Can’t a bitch breathe at least once during a kiss?”

He snorted and placed his hand atop of her head, “My bad. I went in a little intense.” He admitted and smoothed her hair before he pulled back, his eyes never leaving her. It took her a few moments- probably a few minutes to finally let her face be seen again, but this time there was a fire in her eyes. A sudden burst of confidence that was the complete opposite of the meek mannered girl she had just been. There was that crazy look in her eyes as she got to her knees, planting her hands on his own and grinning widely. She looked insane. He blinked in confusion and let his eyes roam over her face, trying to figure out what was happening.

“The Kugisaki Nobara has had her first kiss! And she was good at it! You don’t even have to say it, I can see it on your face! I’m a natural!”

Yeah. She was crazy, he determined, but a goofy smile came to his face as he laughed under his breath.

“You weren’t bad at all.”

Nobara felt alive. She had just kissed- no, that wasn’t a kiss. She had just made out with Megumi. It was everything she could’ve imagined it being and she was desperate for more. A rush of energy ran through her and she practically vibrated with a ridiculous smile on her face. The surge of confidence had words spilling out of her mouth before she could process them.

“We have to practice!”

Megumi’s eyes widened and he coughed slightly, clearing his throat. What?

“I was good, but I have to be great. I have to excel, like I excel in every aspect of my life. You’ll be my practicing partner.”

Also known as, Nobara desperately trying to ensure that they’d kiss again. And again. ..and again. 

This was messy. This was going to get really messy, Megumi warned himself, but a small smirk came to his face. God help me, he thought to himself before he shrugged his shoulders. It was a win-win. Nobara would get the practice she wanted and she was more than willing to get it with him. She clearly enjoyed it, and Megumi also clearly enjoyed it which is why he’d discreetly placed one of her pillows in his lap when she was still processing the kiss and was dazed. 

A sudden twinge of panic seized him as he stared at the girl in front of him. He loved her, in the way platonic soulmates love each other, and he never wanted to hurt her. For a moment he feared that he was using her. Taking advantage of her in the way he swore to protect her from, but it was short lasting. He almost immediately soothed himself with the facts of the situation. She wasn’t in love with him. She didn’t even like him like that. She suggested it, and she had no feelings involved that could be hurt.

He would’ve never agreed to this if he knew. If he knew the way her heart had begun beating to the sound of his name. If he picked up on the way that she looked at him like he were the stars in the sky.

But he didn't. He didn’t know. 

So they came to an agreement, and her daily visits to his room got a hell of a lot more interesting. 

It didn’t take long for Megumi to realize just how messy this was going to get. 

And it would get messy.

“What did you do to Megumi?” Maki asked with amusement dancing in her eyes as she sat beside Nobara after a sparring session. She beat Nobara’s ass, obviously. The ginger’s eyes widened before turning into a glare as she stared at the second year who had betrayed her. “And why would I tell you, you traitor! You spilled on me!” Maki’s laughter rang out as she ruffled Nobara’s hair. “You’re so cute. He was going to find out anyway. And clearly something happened after I told him that. He went straight to your dorm.” Maki hummed with a raised brow, nudging her shoulder into Nobara’s.

Nobara’s face betrayed her, burning brightly as she tried to mumble out that nothing happened, but she stuttered. She groaned and hid her face in her hands before slowly peeking out through her fingers at Maki. “..We kissed.”

“Once?” She asked slyly, knowing the answer.

“I plead the fifth.”
“You don’t have to answer. You’ve cast a spell on that boy. He’s a bumbling mess these days. You’re having a little fling, aren’t you?” Maki grinned with a wink that made Nobara stand up with a huff.

“We are not- there is no fling! I have to go!”

“Tell him I said hi!”

Nobara groaned and stomped her way towards the campus. She made it a point to go the long way to Megumi’s room so that Maki didn’t have any more dirt on her. She was right. It was.. Technically a fling, but not in that kind of way. 

Nobara swung his door open to see him looking up from his book, an amused grin coming to his face when he saw the red tint to her face.

“What’s got little Nobara all fussy?”
“Shut up! You’re being too obvious about this! Maki knows!”

“She knows everything. It’s unavoidable. She’s smart. A familial trait, if you will.”

Nobara swatted his shoulder with an eyeroll at his cocky attitude. Megumi placed his book down and she slipped right into his lap. Her fingers ran through his hair with a soft hum. It was messy, more than usual. “Did you take a nap today?” She gasped out softly, pretending to be scandalized. Megumi never napped. “Haven’t been sleeping well.” He answered honestly as he closed his eyes, enjoying the sensation of her fingers.

It was true. He hadn’t been sleeping well. It was pretty difficult to calm his racing mind when all he could think about was her. He was only attracted to her physically. Yeah fucking right. He couldn’t believe he’d ever convinced himself of that. It’d been a week since their first kiss. He had been convinced that it was a purely physical, purely sexual attraction, and then she’d busted into his room like always the next day. She’d clapped her hands and with a look of fierce determination said, “time to practice.” He’d felt his heart rate skyrocket as he looked at her. She got on her knees in front of him on the bed and looked at him expectantly. He got lost in the depths of her eyes before giving a nod. The second their lips touched for their second kiss, he realized.

He realized he was fucked

Megumi liked Nobara. Like- liked Nobara. More than just physical attraction. It was like putting on glasses for the first time after living your entire life blind. All of those feelings he could never understand, the intensity of emotions she elicited from him, and why he’d let someone this close to him for the first time in his life. He almost felt.. No, he didn’t love her. It was a silly crush, he reasoned to himself. He loved things about her. That’s what it was. Loved her character- but in a-.. in a none “I’m in love with you” kind of way.

He felt her tap his forehead and he blinked as he came back to the present instead of lost in thought. He spent a lot of time in his head lately. Thinking about her. Thinking about the situation he’d gotten himself into. She didn’t like him like that. He got to have her, but not really. He didn’t have her. She wasn’t devoted to him in the way he yearned for. She was having fun with him, exploring a new side of life she’d never experienced. He wasn’t victimizing himself- he was also deeply enjoying this, but he was on edge. Knowing this would crush him at the end of this. When she found someone she meant it with. “Hellllooo? You still with us?” She asked with a slightly exasperated tone at the lack of attention he was giving her.

“Sorry,” He mumbled with a soft smirk, “you’re so needy for me, huh?”

Before she could even think of something to fire back with, his lips were on hers, and god she was grateful for that. You're so needy for me. Jesus. It sent a shiver down her spin when he talked to her like that. By cutting her off with a kiss, Megumi helped her avoid making a fool of herself when her face flushed, which it definitely did. She could feel it radiating heat.

They both came to an unspoken understanding very quickly that this was not practicing, and it hadn’t been from their first kiss. Nobara sighed in relief once his lips met hers and she threaded her fingers through the hair at the base of his neck. It started off slowly, it always did. Megumi took time enjoying the taste of her lips, the vanilla he’d come to expect. He appreciated the softness of her lips. He’d even pull back just so he could take pleasure in capturing her mouth again.

It always started off slowly, but that never lasted long. Nobara was so responsive to him. He could work her up so quickly in a way that had shocked him at first, but now he expected it and drank it up. It gave him a power trip like no other. She was pliant in his hands. His hand rested at the side of her neck with his other cupped her face so he could angle her where he wanted her. He was in complete control with her, which was not at all what he was expecting out of Kugisaki Nobara. Maybe that’d change the more experience she got. Maybe she’d get bolder, grab onto control like she did in every situation… or maybe.. Maybe this was what Nobara was like in these situations. He had to stifle a groan at the thought of her being submissive. What a shock that would be. And what he would do to find that out himself.

He brushed his tongue along her bottom lip and her lips immediately parted to give him access. She could feel him smirk against her lips before he pulled back ever so slightly. They’d never kissed like that before. He was testing the waters, not wanting to suddenly escalate the kiss to a point she wasn’t ready for. At the end of it all, her comfortability was the most important thing to him. And he’d just found out she was more than willing to have his tongue in her mouth.

“You’re so obedient..” He hummed softly, pulled back ever so slightly to where their lips brushed as he spoke. So close that he could feel her breath from where panting against him. The whine that left her was sinful. He couldn’t help but yank her closer to him with his fingers tugging in her hair for a bruising kiss. He ran his tongue over where her lips met before letting his tongue meet and slide against hers. She tasted divine, so divine in fact that he had to exercise the most self control he’d ever had to exercise before in his life and pull away from her. If this went any further- if he let himself indulge in her any longer- he would be in a much bigger mess than he already was. The last thing he needed thrown into the equation was sex. He wanted to roll his eyes at himself. Like she’d even want to have sex with him, he scoffed to himself.

He loved looking at her after they kissed like that. Dazed and confused. Cheeks flushed a warm pink, lips swollen and deliciously red, and that look in her eyes. He could almost convince himself that she had feelings for him when she looked at him like that.

“Your skills are increasing, my dear student.” He said cooly as he leaned back against the wall and let his fingers fall from the grip they had in her hair. She didn’t respond immediately and he could tell by the look on her face that she was deep in thought. Oh shit, he thought worriedly to himself. Had he crossed the line? Had he made her uncomfortable?

“Nobar-”
“You’ve had sex before.”

“..yes.. I thought we’ve gone over this..”

“At least three times.”
“Am I about to get in trouble again?”

Nobara snorted and rolled her eyes. Her eyes that weren’t meeting his.. and was her face getting even more red?

“So you’ve got experience.”

“Nobara. You’re being cryptic.”
“You have experience. Yes or no.”
“Yes.”

Nobara hummed to herself and nodded, doing that cute thing where she moved her head side to side when she thought- literally weighing her options. Nobara was a very calculated person. She was also a mischievous menace, so Megumi couldn’t help but start to fidget in nerves. She let him sit in silence. He assumed she was trying to make him nervous. Nobara let him sit in silence because she was desperately trying to conjure up the confidence to pull off the stunt she was about to attempt. 

“Okay. Teach me.”

Megumi choked on his spit and went into a fit of coughs, covering his mouth and face with his elbow. Was she serious? No- he must’ve misheard her. Or maybe he heard exactly what she said but misunderstood. There was no way she was.. She wasn’t offering..

“I-I’m sorry?”

“Teach me.”

He stared at her with his mouth slightly agape. It seemed pretty straightforward what she was insinuating. What she was asking for. 

“I’m-.. I just want to clarify- I think I need to make sure I’m understanding this correctly..” He mumbled out as he felt heat rise at the back of his neck.

Her sharp eyes rolled again, but then she smirked. A dangerous smirk as she leaned in close enough to brush her lips back against his.

“I want you to fuck me, Megumi.”

There wasn’t a moment of hesitation. The second she said those words he’d flipped her onto her back and hovered above her, green eyes dark and blown with desire. 

Messy? Who cared about messy? Maybe Megumi liked messy. Actually, he was really starting to like messy.

Chapter Text

Nobara didn’t know how she managed to pull this off. Her inner self was screaming and throwing confetti as Megumi hovered over her. Her inner self also felt like a deer caught in the headlights because she was about to have sex. For the first time. With the boy she was massively crushing on. She also knew that she’d just sentenced herself to death. She should’ve kept it clean. She should’ve accepted that he didn’t like her and refused the kiss, but she didn’t. How could she? She could have him, or more accurately, pretend to have him. Even just for a moment. She could convince herself that he liked her, that he wasn’t just some teenage boy that wanted to fuck. If she was lucky, maybe this could start some sort of friends-with-benefits situation she always heard about. Lucky, huh? She scoffed to herself. Lucky for opening herself to have her heart shattered every time they finished having sex when the harsh reality would set in? 

But here he was. Looking like he wanted her. Like he’d been waiting for this opportunity. His eyes were the darkest green she’d ever seen them before, nearly overcome by his pupils with his desire- lust. With his lust for her. He was taking slow and deep breaths in an attempt to control himself and her breaths were quick and erratic.

“You want me to fuck you?” He asked. Nobara picked up on a slightly teasing tone in his voice and she was quite intrigued by the way she reacted to that. She liked it. One hand kept him propped up and the other came to her face, tracing her bottom lip with his thumb. She was about to ascend to heaven, but words could not express how nervous she was. What if he didn’t like what he saw? What if she was bad at it- it was her first time, and he was experienced. She’ll disappoint him. She heard that it was painful at first. How painful? Her mind was filled to the brim with rushing thoughts of worry, so Nobara did what Nobara always did.

Pretended. Put on her confident facade. Convinced herself  that this was no big deal. I’m literally Nobara, she conversed internally with herself, I’m hot. He clearly thinks I’m hot. He likes my personality. He looks like he’s about to eat me alive. This will all be fine. By the end of her little pep talk she was feeling much more relaxed, which still wasn’t very relaxed, but her nerves didn’t outweigh her excitement. She was going to lose her virginity to Megumi. She trusted him more than she’d ever trusted anyone in her life… and he was also the hottest man she’d ever laid eyes on, so that was a plus. Megumi would never hurt her.

She was broken out of her thoughts by his hand grabbing her jaw, refocusing her attention on him. “I asked you a question.” He chastised her. Her eyes widened slightly before she let out a little huff. Nobara was Nobara. She would always push back. Always put up a fight. Always be difficult, and it appeared that carried over into her sex life as well. “You asked a stupid question. I told you word for word what I wanted.” She said with a haughty little look on her face. His eyes flashed and her heart rate picked up in excitement.

Megumi fought the urge to groan aloud. So she wasn’t this submissive and malleable girl. She was just as bratty as she always was.. but he saw what happened when their kissing escalated. That brattiness didn’t stay permanently. He’d easily work her out of that attitude. A smirk came to his face as he saw impatience cross her expression. He waited until she opened her mouth to say something snippy before pushing his thumb inside her mouth and pressing down on her tongue, silencing her.

“You sure have a lot to say for someone that doesn’t know what they’re doing.” He wished he could take pictures with his eyes because she looked sexy to a level that it physically pained him. Eyes wide with her lips wrapped around his thumb, but he could still see it in her eyes. There was a fight in them. He chuckled quietly to himself. He’d like to hear what she had to say. It would make it more enjoyable to see how she went from spitting words at him to being completely fucked out, if his assumptions of how this would go down were true. He pulled his thumb back and hooked a finger under her chin to tilt her head up slightly. It exposed her neck to him and he desperately wanted to sink his teeth into her. “Are you finished?” He asked with a raised brow, knowing fully well he was goading her into a response. 

“You sure seem like you’re stalling for someone that apparently knows what they’re doing.” She shot back with furrowed brows. She didn’t know what kind of song or dance they were doing, but she did know it was turning her on. She was fighting off the urge to ask him to hurry up so that she didn’t come off as desperate, but dear god was she desperate. “Maybe I’m teaching you patience.. Which you clearly lack. Rubbing your legs together like that because I’m not touching you. So impatient.”

There it was. Megumi delighted upon hearing the whine that left her. She was all talk. Always was. He let his hand slide between her legs and swallowed thickly at the wetness that had gathered there. In her defense, she’d started getting turned on during their kiss, and things have only intensified from that point. But he could feel her. Through her underwear. Through her leggings. He inhaled deeply through his nose and closed his eyes for a second to regather himself. This girl was going to kill him. He was actually going to pass away. His hand stayed completely still as he cupped her sex and he looked up at her with firm and serious eyes. “Nobara. Look at me.” His voice was softer than she expected, but she wrinkled her nose and made it a point to look at the wall. He was probably just going to tease her. “Nobara. Look at me.” …and just like that her eyes were locked with his.

“All you have to do is say the word “stop”, okay? If you change your mind. If you get nervous. Just say “stop” and I will, alright?”

His voice and expression were so sincere she nearly teared up. Was this just a crush? Was it possible to simply have a crush on someone who spoke to you like this? She gave him a small nod and a little smile that made one spread on his face too. He could tell she was nervous. He could also tell she was anxious for something to start happening, feeling her ever so slightly grind against his hand. Now that she knew she could stop this at any moment, Megumi began moving his fingers in slow circles against her.

“You’re already so wet for me, Nobara. Soaked through your clothes.” He hummed out and watched her expressions. No one had ever touched her like this before. He felt drunk on the thought. He’d love to sit and tease her, and maybe they’d have more opportunities- he prayed they’d have more opportunities, but right now he felt like a starved man. Like he would die if he didn’t get to see and touch her. Megumi pulled back and reveled in her protest, adoring the way her face was thoroughly pink. “Undress.” He said simply as he got to his knees so she could sit up and follow his command. That’s when he saw the hesitancy in her eyes. No one had ever seen her like this before. He leaned in and captured her lips in a surprisingly sweet kiss to soothe her nerves before he muttered against them, “I want you. Let me see you.”

He’d never seen Nobara look so shy before, but she did what she always did. She took a deep breath and then that look of determination settled on her face. He could hear her mumble a quiet affirmation to herself, something along the lines of “I’m hot”, which nearly made Megumi melt with fondness. He was painfully hard and wanted to devour her, and she was somehow also making warmth spread through his chest. He adored her.

Her shirt came off first. That one was pretty painless. It was the bra she was quite nervous about. She didn’t know his preference. She also couldn’t help but think about what this other girl was like. Did he find her more attractive? Suddenly lips were on her neck, nipping and pressing small kisses against her skin, breaking her out of her mini panic. “You’re thinking too much.” She felt him whisper against her neck. Her eyes had fluttered closed at the sensation of his attention at her neck and she allowed herself to get lost in it for a few moments as she built her confidence. With a deep breath she unhooked her bra and let it fall off of her shoulders and down her eyes. She looked everywhere in the room except for him.

“God, you’re fucking perfect,” She heard him groan before she was pushed back down on the bed and his lips were on hers. There was no slow start to this kiss. It was hungry and desperate and would’ve been enough to make her moan, but then his hands were on her and it was unlike anything she’d felt before. His hands were a mixture of frenzied and controlled, desperately grasping her breast and also slowly rolling his thumb against her nipple, groaning against her lips as he felt them harden under his touch. Nobara was always so responsive to their kisses and now he was finding out she was just as responsive to this. Her back arched at his touch, trying to push herself against his hands as she whimpered into his mouth as the dizzying sensations she was feeling. His lips traveled down her neck to her chest where he wasted no time sinking his teeth into her flesh. He couldn’t mark her where it would be obvious to everyone else, but no one would see marks here. Her fingers gripped into his hair to steady herself, but that wasn’t possible. One moment he’d make her jerk and hiss as his teeth bit into her skin and the next she’d let out a shaky moan as he took her nipple into his mouth. “Megumi- Come on-.. P-Please,” She whined out as the heat between her legs started to feel unbearable. 

“Begging already.. What happened to all that talk, huh?” His eyes lit up at the crimson that painted her face. It matched the beginnings of blossoming marks on her chest. “But you’re such a good girl for asking me.” He hummed out and kissed the corner of her lips, biting back the laugh that wanted to escape him at the expression that crossed her face. She was clearly turned on by being called that and she also clearly wanted to snap back with something bratty. “Watch it,” He warned when he saw her lips opening and he deeply enjoyed the way her mouth clamped shut. 

Megumi shifted down the bed and removed her leggings and underwear in one smooth motion. Her legs immediately slammed together and her blush spread to her chest. He gave her a look. You just have to say stop, his gaze said. She looked at him with trusting eyes and that’s all he needed to see before he forced her legs open to expose her to him. He could’ve come right then. He sucked in a sharp breath as he stared at her. Unabashedly stared at her. Nobara felt like she was going to combust under his gaze. What was he thinking? She could feel her own wetness on her thighs. Was that embarrassing? Before she got worked up in her own doubt, his voice broke through. It was low- nearly a growl.

“Look at you.” He used his fingers to trail up her slit and gritted his teeth at the feeling of her slick covering his fingers. “I can’t wait to feel you, god, I can’t wait to fuck you.”

Nobara had to cover her face. Hearing him talk about her like that. It made her nerves catch on fire. Surely this wasn’t normal- surely people didn’t get this turned on. She was so embarrassed, so turned on, so impatient and all she could do to express this was a pitiful whine.

His fingers pinched her inner thigh harshly, causing her to yelp and immediately had her removing her hands from her face, a glare in her eyes. “What the-”
“You’re going to watch. The second your eyes leave me, I’ll stop.” He warned. It was like he cast a spell on her. Half lidded eyes stared at his as she felt a finger trace her entrance. She let out a breath and bit into her bottom lip, legs trembling slightly. A silent plea on her lips. He was gentle, slowly entering his finger into her wet heat. She was going to kill him, Megumi realized. This would be the death of him, and god he was going to die happily. 

Nobara had never felt anything like this before. There was the slightest hint of pressure, but in a way she didn’t mind at all, and somehow one of his fingers felt exceedingly better than two of hers. She panted quietly as she watched him enter her over and over, the scene sinful and absolutely heavenly at the same time, but he was taking his time, and she knew she could take more. “Megumi.. Come on,” She whined, “Just fuck me.”

His eyes darkened and he moved up her body to hover over her again, hand still between her thighs. “No.” Her eyes widened and she scoffed in disbelief. “No? The fuck do you mean no?” Her attitude seeped right out of her as she felt him push another finger in. It made her jaw drop ever so slightly, surprised at the fullness one added finger brought. He brought his lips down to her ear. His voice was steady and there was a danger in his tone that made her quiver. “This pussy is mine.” A wanton moan ripped out of Nobara as she tightened around his fingers at his words. “I get to do as I please with it, and you’re going to come on my fingers.” He said it like it was an order and her eyes rolled as her head dropped back onto the bed, his fingers picking up in their pace. Any complaints she had went right out of the window as he began to drive his fingers into her, pulling out noises she never could’ve imagined making. Her breath started stuttering and she brought her head back up to look between her legs, only to cry out at a particularly harsh thrust. “Look at me.” Nobara choked on a sob as she nodded her head in a jerky motion, chest heaving as a coil tightened in her abdomen. “Megumi,” she whimpered out, her walls starting to flutter around his fingers, “Megumi-” she repeated as if she were trying to warn him of something. He smirked down at her, taking her face in. Her brows were furrowed, bottom lip abused by her teeth, and her eyes had a glassy look in them. He brought his thumb to her clit and watched in unadulterated pleasure at her response. She was suddenly frantically spilling his name from her lips, gripping onto him wherever she could grab, and her legs began to tremble as they tried to close around his hand. “There you go..” He cooed out, and then his tone switched. “Come for me.” He muttered to her darkly. 

Nobara’s back arched clear off the bed as she cried out at the sudden snap of pleasure that rushed throughout her entire body. She tried in desperation to keep her eyes on him, but the sensations were so overwhelming she couldn’t stop them from shutting tightly. She rasped out broken moans and rolled her hips up to meet his fingers, chasing the rest of her orgasm as he diligently worked her through it. Megumi was silent. In complete awe of what he was witnessing. She looked.. Divine. Ethereal. Beautiful. His heart was violently thudding against his ribcage as he watched her orgasm rack through her body. It was practically a spiritual experience. She was a goddess and he wanted to worship her. Devote himself to her.

He slowed his fingers so as to not overwhelm her with overstimulation and he studied her face. It was the way she looked after they’d make out- only so much more incredible. She was slumped against the bed, panting, eyes looking at him but not really seeing him due to the aftershocks of pleasure. It was the most satisfying thing he’d ever seen. He wanted to see it over and over again, but she looked quite exhausted. Just as he was coming to the conclusion that they weren’t going to have sex, she reached down and grabbed ahold of his wrist that was still in between her legs, fingers still inside of her.

He blinked a few times at how odd she was behaving, pulling his fingers out of her and moving his hand up by his wrist. Just as he was going to ask what she was doing, she looked at him with the most sultry eyes he’d ever seen and took his fingers into her mouth, tasting herself. Megumi’s brain stopped working all together as he watched her suck and lick his fingers clean. He’d been painfully hard this entire time, but this… this was a new level. She always, always, kept him on his toes. How the fuck was he supposed to prepare for that.

“Fuck me,” she whispered out.

He’d never undressed that quickly before in his life. Clothes were flying as he simultaneously searched his drawer for a condom. Nobara watched with a sense of pride, a smirk on her face. He wanted her. He was desperate for her. She felt on top of the world.

And then she looked. And then she saw. And then she blinked. 

“Megumi?”
“God- Yes, Nobara, yes?”
“You’re huge.”

She said it so flatly, but her eyes had widened considerably as she took in his appearance. His fingers had made her feel full… and she was not looking at his fingers right now. Megumi couldn’t stop the blush from spreading across his cheeks, mumbling under his breath, “I’m, like, average..”

“That is not average.”

Nobara sat up slightly and simply stared. Was this even… was this even humanly possible? Who knows, he might really be average- she highly doubted that, but… okay, clearly people do this all of the time so it's obviously possible. And someone had sex with Megumi before and survived… and what he managed to do to her with only his fingers? If he could make her see stars like that with two fingers? 

“We don’t have to-”
“Come fuck me.”

Megumi was a bit surprised at the turn this conversation took because her apparent weariness had disappeared in a matter of moments and now… and now she was looking at him hungrily. 

He thanked the universe for this opportunity. Thank you, whoever is out there, for blessing me with this chance.

“Fuck, Nobara, been wanting to fuck you so bad,” He muttered to her as he got situated between her legs. He spread her legs to him, rubbing and squeezing her thighs as he looked at her. “We’ll take it slow.” He told her. It wasn’t a question, so she nodded. Her heart raced again and she swallowed thickly as he pressed against her entrance. Holy shit, she thought to herself. Megumi was about to have sex with her. 

Turns out, his fingers were nothing like his dick. Nobara winced immediately and twisted the sheets in her hands as he pushed into her. He was slow and even that didn’t alleviate the burning that left her face scrunched up. He mumbled quiet apologies and brushed her sweaty bangs out of her face. Seeing her in pain completely blocked out the fact that he was physically entering the gates of heaven feeling her wrapped around him. “Ah- fuck,” She hissed, but she was determined. Megumi had sex before. He’s slept with someone multiple times, meaning he didn’t have to deal with this- this adjustment. The thought crossed her mind. She could technically speed up the process, make it better for him. All she had to do was push her hips up and he'd be fully inside of her. He wouldn't have to take it so slow, she reasoned. She felt a little bit proud of herself for her solution. It was going to hurt like a bitch, but the end result would have her on top. Her hips twitched slightly, but before she could lift them up to take his entire length in one go, his hands pinned them to the bed with a bruising grip.

“Don't you fucking dare, Nobara.” He seethed at her with genuine anger in his tone. He knew exactly what she was going to try because he knew her. Nobara. Always trying to prove something, always trying to be the best, always trying to one-up everyone. His hand gripped her jaw in a hold that was bordering on harsh as he leaned his face closer to hers. “I will stop right fucking now and leave you on this goddamn bed if you try that shit again, do you understand me?”

He looked livid… he looked so sexy she had to bite back a moan. She was getting in trouble and felt a strange mixture of emotions. She felt… devastated to have upset him… and she also felt… turned on beyond belief at the tone he was speaking to her with. Also.. he was so angry with her because he didn't want her to hurt herself. He was protecting her from pain. Her heart swelled. He was perfect. He'd never hurt her. She gave him a quick nod, but he narrowed his eyes and shook his head. “Words. Use your fucking words, Nobara.” She was trying to breathe deeply, pain completely forgotten about by this point as adrenaline coursed through her. God, when he told her what to do- She hated people giving her commands, but when Megumi did it? Jesus Christ. “...yes. I understand.”

Megumi stared down at her with a hardened look for a minute, waiting until he could physically feel her relax against him. They locked eyes and she gave him a small nod, which is when he pulled back slightly to push back in.

She was made for him, he was immediately convinced. He’d had sex before. Multiple times. Nothing- nothing compared to the feeling of her walls wrapped around him. He was sure his bottom lip was going to bleed with how harshly he was biting into it trying to maintain a slow pace so she could continue to adjust to the new feeling. He watched every change in her expression, took into account every way her body reacted to him, and suddenly felt his heart seize as she spoke.

“Megumi, please.. I need you.”

It hit him violently, threw him so off guard that his thrusts stopped as his brain reeled with what he came to the conclusion of. Seeing her looking up at him with so much trust, feeling the way her body accepted him and clung to him, hearing her voice. He stared into her amber eyes. They were his favorite thing about her. They were so expressive. She never had to say what she was feeling, her eyes always made that clear- and yet she'd always run her mouth anyway. He looked at her lips. They were bruised from their kissing. Her lips that moved with the sharpest words that could cut deep.. but also the lips that said the kindest things in the quiet of his room. The lips that could light up an entire room when they smiled. The lips that made him laugh when they scowled or pouted. Her short ginger hair. It made her glow. The strands that felt like silk when she'd sleep in his lap. Her scent. Coconut and praline. It always announced her presence when she walked into a room- with the help of her voice that was always too loud for the given situation. He looked at all of her. Felt all of her. And he knew.

Megumi didn’t like her. 

Megumi loved her. Desperately. He loved her.

His lips crashed into hers as he began to thrust into her. He pulled all of the way out just to feel the sensation of entering her fully again. All of it was overwhelming. His emotions. The way she tightened around him and keened. He felt his soul crying out her name and he sunk his teeth into her neck, no longer caring who saw. His hands gripped her hips and he started pulling her up to meet his thrusts, Nobara gasping out for breath at the way he slid impossibly deeper into her. She felt so full she felt like she couldn’t breathe. His thrusts picked up, making punched out moans leave her as her nails scratched into his back, leaving her own marks on his pale skin.

She didn’t care if he didn’t like her. She needed this. She needed him. And she’d take him anyway she could. In any way she could have him, she’d take him. She felt like she couldn’t breathe without him, not anymore. Not after this.

Something was different. Something had changed between them. 

Megumi slid his hand between her legs and dragged his fingertips against her clit, desperate to feel her come undone on him. He’d commit it to memory. He wouldn’t have to commit it, actually. It would never leave him. It would haunt him.

He couldn’t do this. He loved her, and if he couldn’t have her- if she couldn't love him back, this would kill him. It couldn’t happen again. Nobara didn't love him. 

“Come for me, Noh,” He breathed out against her lips before pressing his firmly against hers. He never wanted to break this kiss because he knew. He knew this was the last one.

Nobara pressed herself up against him and clung to him as she felt herself right on the edge. She gasped against his mouth before her orgasm crashed into her, leaving her writhing in his grip and he continued to thrust into her. He groaned as she clenched around him, but he didn’t stop. He held on, clawing at control as desperately as one could so this moment didn’t end. But she was made for him. She was perfect around him. It was impossible to deny himself when it came to her. He cursed under his breath as her whines went up a pitch, his name tumbling from her lips as he pushed her into overstimulation. His orgasm hit him despite his best efforts and he groaned into her neck.

He stayed there, tucked into her neck. Taking in her scent. Feeling the softness of her hair brushing his face. He took in the feeling of her sweaty body. She was trembling and yet she still held onto him so firmly.

He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t do it if he couldn’t have her.

He pressed a kiss right underneath her ear and took a deep breath before he pulled back. He didn’t look at her face as he pulled out of her. He slipped into the bathroom to grab a towel and handed it to her even though his heart screamed for him to clean her up. Clean her up and then hold her tight in his arms for the rest of the night. But he didn’t. He pulled his clothes on silently, not responding to her calls to him.

“Hello?! What the fuck, Megumi! Are you even alive right now?” She was frustrated, he could tell by her tone, but she also had a hint of amusement in it. It made him smile sadly to himself before he steeled his expression and turned towards her. 

“I’m going on a walk. Be gone by the time I’m back.”

And he walked out, closing the door behind him.

Chapter Text

Nobara couldn’t tell how long she sat on Megumi’s bed naked, unmoving, and barely breathing. He’d given her a towel to clean herself up and then left. Left her naked on his bed and told her to be gone by the time he came back to his room. Left with her virginity and tossed her to the side. She stared at the towel for what felt like hours. As if the towel could tell her what was going on or what to do. She knew what to do. She knew to leave his room, and yet Nobara sat on the bed. Naked and with a mess between her thighs. She was sweaty and sore as she stared at the stupid fucking towel. Her heart was like a heavy lead in her stomach. She couldn’t feel her own heart beat. She just felt a radiating pain in her chest. An indescribable ache. Her hand trembled as it stared at the towel before she glanced up at the door he’d left her through.

Nobara may have been a virgin, but she wasn’t stupid. Or maybe she was. Maybe she was too stupid to see the signs, but she knew what just happened. Megumi had played the long game. Befriended her, gained her trust, made her develop feelings for him… all so she’d put her guard down so that he could fuck her. Now that he reached the goal, he could drop her like she meant nothing. She always meant nothing, she realized.

After a lifetime of unmoving, Nobara stumbled off of the bed and rushed into the bathroom to throw up. Megumi. Her safe person. Her protector. Her everything. The thoughts brought up another round of retching. Kugisaki Nobara. Confident. Loud. Boisterous. Left crumbled naked on the ground of the bathroom of someone who used her. Her hands shook violently as she wiped between her legs. She couldn’t wipe off the marks he’d made on her. Her breasts were covered. He’d even marked her at the side of her neck. Had he wanted people to know? Did he want to show off that he’d used her?

She felt like a ghost as she drifted back into his main living area, pulling her clothes back on. She felt another wave of nausea as she pulled her underwear up, still slick with her arousal. It was late, so the chances of running into somebody was low. She quietly slid out of the room and closed the door with a gentleness she couldn’t explain. Like maybe if she was soft and delicate with the door, all of the wonderful moments they’d shared would be kept sacred in there… but they wouldn’t. They were now tainted after he tossed her the towel and didn’t look at her. And then he left.

They always left.

Her feet dragged herself to her dorm. She had to shower. She smelled of sex and sweat. She smelled of him. Nobara’s shower ended up being a thirty minute event where she sat on the tiles of the shower floor and let the water run over her. She didn’t wash her hair, she didn’t wash her body, she just let the water disguise her tears until her fingertips wrinkled and the water ran cold.

She was alone. Utterly alone. The one person she had, her person, was gone. She pulled a sweatshirt on, a big one to hide her body. Her hair was too short to cover the mark on her neck. She pulled on a pair of sweatpants and sat. Silently sat. She couldn’t go to anyone. There was no one she could tell. She always told everything to Megumi. Everyone else would judge her. Everyone else would call her a fool. Everyone else-

Her dull eyes widened for a moment as a flash of blonde hair and glasses crossed her mind.

Nanamin.

It was dark. Eleven in the evening at the earliest, but sorcerers don’t sleep, she remembered him telling her. The curses don’t leave you alone at night. She grabbed her phone, slipped on some shoes, and ran. Ran until her lungs burned. Ran until she felt light headed. Ran until she hauled a taxi and gave the driver the address to Nanami’s apartment. It was raining- raining being an understatement. By the time she’d gotten into the taxi she was already soaked. Now she stood at his apartment, standing in front of his door, leaving water droplets where she stood. What was she doing here? Nanami- why would he care? That she’d been stupid and gotten herself into a situation that had shattered her entire being. He trained her. She got attached to him, but she was just his student. She chewed on the edge of her thumb and swayed back and forth on her feet. Did she knock? No. Did she go back to campus? No. …Did she return to her hometown? 

Was that the answer?

Just as Nobara began to struggle with her options, the best sounding one being returning to the shithole she escaped, the door opened. Nanami didn’t look shocked to see her. 

“Your cursed energy is erratic, Kugisaki-san. I could feel it.”

He said it so matter of fact, but he took a step towards her, stepped behind her, and carefully guided her into his apartment. She didn’t speak and he didn’t press. He grabbed her dry clothes, which made her look like a child in the way his clothes drowned her frame. She looked like a child with her bright red nose and cheeks, eyes swollen from tears she seemed to stubbornly be refusing to let fall. He gently sat her at his table and sat across from her, offering her tea. It was hot. He knew she preferred iced drinks, but the rain had chilled her and she was shaking, even under the blanket he’d draped over her shoulders.

She didn’t touch it. Nor did she touch any of the sweets he’d offered. Nanami frowned. His heart had clenched in distress when he felt her cursed energy. He’d been terrified that she’d been hurt. He was beyond relieved to see the girl at his door with no bodily injuries, but that did not mean she wasn’t hurt. She was shattered. A shell of a person. She stared right through him with her hands folded neatly in her lap. She wasn’t even swinging her legs or rocking them. Nobara sat completely still. Nanami Kento was not known for his comforting skills. He was quite reserved. Always professional. People often read him as cold and distant. And for the most part, that was true. He wasn’t a warm, comforting mentor. He’d learned through grief to stay detached… but Kugisaki-san. She’d somehow slipped in through the cracks. She’d pull the slightest hint of a smile out of him. He’d huff softly, which was his version of a laugh. He felt pride and fondness when he looked at her.

And now he felt grief. He felt devastation. He felt suffering. Suffering because she was suffering. It was too late, Nanami reasoned to himself. He’d already attached. There was no going back. He slowly rose to his feet and walked around the table, carefully pulling her up to her feet and guiding her to the couch. “Sit with me,” He mumbled quietly to her. He situated her on the couch, fixed the blanket on top of her, and took a seat right next to her. She was stiff. Her usual carefree attitude was gone. He sighed with a frown and reached his arm around her shoulder, pulling her close to him. Relief flooded him when she melted into his side, but it was short-lived as violent cries became to leave her. She wailed. She suddenly looked so much younger than she was. He was looking at a five-year-old girl rather than one sixteen years of age. “I’ve got you.” He told her as her body shook against him.

Being a girl dad had a negative side, he concluded. Being a girl dad when your girl was broken apart- it was a pain he’d never be able to put into words.

“We don’t have to talk. I’ll call Gojo-san and you can stay with me again.”

He assured her and gave her arm a squeeze as she buried her face into his chest, soaking it with her tears. He’d seen the mark on her neck. Nanami was smart enough to start placing the pieces of what happened together. It was that Fushiguro boy. The boy who’d broken her the last time. Nanami felt anger rise in his body, but he tried to reason with himself, tried to calm himself down. This was not professional. He was a student. Gojo-san’s boy. A boy… But Nobara was just a girl, Nobara was his girl. 

“How can I help you?” He asked her quietly.

“Don’t leave. Everyone leaves.”

Her tone was a punch to the gut. He’d heard bits and pieces of her upbringing. Things from her file that got brought up during conversations regarding her admission. Her mother was out of the picture and her relationship with her grandmother didn’t seem solid. So who did this girl have? She had Fushiguro, but now she didn't. Who did she have?

“You have me. I’ll wait as long as I need to until you’re ready to talk. I’ll still be here. I think you need rest, Kugisaki-san.” He muttered to her gently. “We can talk in the morning. I’ll stay right here with you.”

Her sleep was fitful. It didn’t disrupt Nanami. He never slept well. It did distress him though. She tossed and turned all night, waking up only to cry herself back to sleep, but she never moved from his side. He didn't attempt to find sleep that night. He stayed awake so that anytime she stirred, he’d be right there to comfort her. At some point, probably around three in the morning, the full weight of her exhaustion hit her and she slept without interruptions. Once he was sure that she’d be asleep for the foreseeable future, he gently laid her head on the couch throw pillow, smoothing her hair out of her face. “It’ll be okay. You’ll be okay.” He whispered to her. 

Nanami showered, thankful that the hot water relieved some of the soreness he’d gained from sitting in one position all night. A frown never left his face. He saw that mark on her neck. He knew she had feelings for Fushiguro. She’d call it a crush if he were to ask her, but he knew it was deeper. He could see it in her eyes when she talked about him- which she did. Often. Nobara was in love and now she was heartbroken. Nanami’s jaw tightened in simmering anger. Had that boy used her? He was a young boy, the blonde reminded himself. Nanami was an adult. He needed to keep himself in check.

He’d finished preparing lunch by the time she woke up. He could hear her let out a sigh. A sigh of heaviness as she realized it hadn’t been some awful dream. Her eyes burned and she buried her face in the pillow, pleading with herself to not shed anymore tears. Nanami walked over to her and leaned down slightly to rub his hand up and down her back, gently mumbling her name. His touch brought a wave of tears, but he kept his soothing motions. “Nobara-san,” he said warmly, saying her first name for the first time, “Let’s get some food for you.” He knew she was going to put up a fight. He was sure she wasn’t hungry. Him smiled with fondness at the way she shook her head in refusal, never removing her face from the pillow. Unfortunately for her, Nanami was much bigger and stronger. He sat her up and grabbed ahold of her hands, carefully pulling her up despite her resistance. She dragged her feet, but he got her at the kitchen table by the end of it. She stared at the plate as it had personally insulted her. “You don’t have to eat a lot. Just something. Even just a few bites of toast.” He told her, giving her some choice in the matter, but he was still firm. She would eat. It would probably take awhile for her to open up to him about what happened- if she ever did. 

She begrudgingly picked up the toast, making it a point to take the world’s smallest bite. He huffed a quiet laugh to himself at her little acts of defiance. She stared at the toast in silence and he could see her thinking. The tilting of her head being a dead give away. 

“We slept together.”

She said suddenly. A look of disinterest on her face. A cold tone in her voice. He watched her eyes dull as she cut off her emotions. Nanami didn’t respond. He didn’t want to stop her from speaking if she wasn’t done.

“And then he left me naked on his bed and told me to be gone by the time he came back from a walk.”

She even let out a little laugh. It was absurd. The whole situation was absurd. Nanami tried to control his expression, but there was a deep anger flaring up in his chest. He would have never thought that Fushiguro was the kind of boy who would do that. He’d always been so polite and respectful. Kind in his own way. And now Nanami was looking at Nobara- what was left of Nobara because of the devastating damage he’d done.

“I guess it's my fault. I knew he didn’t like me. I knew he wasn’t going to date me. I even knew it was a bad decision. Because.. Because I liked him. I really like him, Nanamin.” Her voice trembled before her head dropped, palms raising to wipe at her face as she laughed and sobbed at the same time.

“I knew he didn’t like me-.. But, but I thought he was my friend. I thought he cared about me as a person- he called me his best friend... But clearly- clearly I was some prize to be won. Something to check off of a checklist. H-He.. he took my virginity and then threw me to the side. Like I’m worthless now. Like I lost my value.” He could hear such deep layers of shame in her voice. She was embarrassed and heart broken, but the shame rang louder than anything else. She was humiliated. He could see that the tips of her ears were hot and red in her mortification. 

“Nobara-san. No one can take your worth or your value. He was cruel. I’m disgusted, but not at you. I don’t see you any differently than I did before. You’re still my student. You’re still a skilled sorcerer. You’re still you. It just might take you some time to find yourself again.” He told her before reaching over and lifting her face. “Nobara. He’s a fool. Only a fool could know you and think of you as anything other than treasure. You’re precious.” His voice was soft and somehow held so much conviction. You matter to me. That’s what Nanami was telling her. I care about you. And when she looked in his eyes for the first time she cracked a small smile. I'll kill him. Just say the word. His eyes were full of fury. Not at her, but at Megumi. 

“God, you’re such a girl dad.” She mumbled as she took a deep breath and wiped her face. “I don’t know what to do.” She told him honestly. “I can’t go back. I can’t.. I can’t go back to school.” She whispered before she pressed her lips together. “But I can’t go home.. I’m stuck.” She shrugged as silent tears welled in her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. Go back home? To what? No mother or father? Go back home to a grandmother who would throw this in her face every opportunity she got? Her and her grandmother had gotten into countless fights over her coming here. They fought until the moment Nobara closed the door behind her. “You insolent girl! You’re going to regret this!” Her grandmother had shouted at her. And she was right. Nobara was drowning in regret.

“This apartment has two bedrooms.” Nanami said to her. 

Nobara blinked at him and slightly tilted her head to the right.

“Congrats. Cost of living is pretty high in the city. Two bedrooms is kind of a flex.”

Nanami sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose before he took her hands into his. 

“Nobara. My home is your home. If you want it to be. I can continue to train you,” He said as he watched her eyes get big, “Only if you want. I could be.. A girl dad.” He winced his last words out, but he said them specifically for her. He knew it’d make her laugh or at least feel some sort of relief. “I know I’m not your biological family. But I’m here. And I won’t leave you.” Like everyone else had, he thought to himself. He didn’t understand how anyone could look into those big amber eyes and not feel the fierce need to protect her. She was a child- how could so many people have betrayed this girl? 

Nanami’s heart began racing in panic as she stared at him. This was definitely not professional. Teachers didn’t practically adopt their students- although Gojo and Fushiguro had an interesting relationship. This was definitely not holding his boundaries up regarding not getting emotionally attached to his students. Being a sorcerer meant that it was just as likely for the student to die before the teacher. But it was NOBARA. And Nobara was special. Nobara had him wrapped around her finger- like a daughter would have their father. 

“Nobara-san, if I have overstepped, I-”

He was cut off by the sudden movement of her pushing her chair back so aggressively that it knocked over onto the floor. All he could process was the flash of red before he felt her body weight crash into him. She’d nearly knocked them both over. He felt her fingers tightly gripping his shirt as she buried her face in his chest.

Family. She’d never had that. She’d convinced herself she didn’t need it. Didn’t want it. What a liar, she thought to herself as she clung onto Nanami. 

“Please.” She said and she didn’t say anything else.

Nanami smiled and held the back of her head with his hand.

“You have me.”

All Megumi saw was a flash of green before the air was knocked out of him as Maki slammed him against the wall. Her arm was pressed against his neck, not cutting off his arm but holding him in place. Her eyes were wild and furious, teeth bared at him.

“What the fuck is your problem?!” Megumi yelled at her in disbelief.

“My problem? My problem? What the fuck did you do to Nobara?!” She seethed at him, adding more pressure to his neck.

Megumi was startled slightly. The sound of her name made his soul shake. But it was none of Maki’s business.

“It doesn’t impact you at all, mind your fucking business!”

Her eyes flashed dangerously as she pulled back to stare at him. To look at him in disgust at his audacity. Doesn’t affect her? Maki had been returning to her dorm when she saw that Nobara’s door was opened. Maybe she was getting it fixed finally, Maki had thought to herself with a snort. She glanced into the room as she passed it and made it a few more steps before she froze. It was empty. Not a sight of pink anywhere. No stuffed animals the redhead was too old to own. No vanity covered with skin care, make up, and an ungodly amount of perfume. 

Gone. Empty. 

Maki had slammed Yaga’s door open and the principal sighed, clearly expecting a reaction of this sort once someone realized Nobara’s absence.

“Doesn’t impact me? You’re fucking pathetic. Nobara resigned. She fucking dropped out of the school. Doesn’t impact me? You piece of shit,” she growled and shoved him by his shoulders, making his back hit the wall again. “She was your best friend, but she was mine too. And you took her away from me.” She hissed at him, taking no enjoyment in the way his eyes widened upon hearing that Nobara was gone. 

“Fuck you. Fuck you, Fushiguro.”

Megumi didn’t notice Maki leaving. He stood with his back still flush against the wall and stared ahead. Nobara dropped out. He didn’t… he didn’t ever really think through what the consequence his actions would be. He assumed he’d take a step back. Collect himself. Place firm boundaries when he came back to her- he was always going to come back to her.

And now he couldn’t. He couldn’t come back to her.

Nobara was gone.

Chapter Text

It was useless. Megumi knew it was useless. He knew every punch he threw wouldn’t hit. Every kick. He knew his shikigami would be ineffective, but he called on them anyway. He fought until exhaustion brought him to his knees. His fingers gripped into the ground, ripping grass and digging into dirt as sweat dripped off of the tip of his nose. He was panting and red in the face from exertion, but he was planning on gaining some of his energy back and going back in for another attack. He just needed a second. Then he'd get up and try again.

All the while knowing it was useless.

“Tell me, Gojo! Where is she? Where did she go? Is she okay?” Megumi growled out through gritted teeth. 

Gojo stood above him, staring down at him with piercing blue eyes.

“You’ve lost your right to know anything about her.”

Megumi punched the ground with his fist and glowered up at Gojo, eyes flashing in betrayal. Gojo couldn’t stop himself from scoffing as he ran his fingers through his white hair, shaking his head in disbelief. How audacious. To act like he was the one being betrayed. He had no right. Not after what he’d done to Kugisaki. Nanami had called Gojo the night after Nobara had shown up at his doorstep. His anger was palpable through the phone and Gojo was silent. For the first time in his life, Gojo was silent as he listened to what Megumi had done to Nobara. Gojo knew Megumi. He knew that the boy had poor emotional regulation. That every emotion he experienced was severely constricted, often leading to reckless outbursts, specifically regarding Nobara. He knew that there was more to the story. Disappointed didn’t even begin to express the way he felt about Megumi’s choices. Gojo knew that Megumi hadn’t gone out of his way to befriend Nobara just to have sex with her and abandon her, but what else was the girl supposed to assume? His actions told a story different from his heart, but Megumi didn’t show people his heart.

Well. He showed Nobara his heart, and that’s what led them here.

“I know you know where she is, Gojo!”

“You’re right. I do.”

Megumi stumbled to his feet and got in the position to start fighting again, but his legs trembled holding his weight up. Suddenly, aggressiveness turned to desperation, his hands coming to his face as his shoulders slumped in defeat.

“Gojo. I’m begging you. Please. Please tell me.”

“She’s safe. That’s all you get to know.”

“Gojo-!”
“How many times did you think you got? How many times did you think you could continue hurting her and still have access to her?”

Megumi’s fingers clenched into fists as he took a deep breath. He mumbled silent pleas under his breath. Megumi knew he didn’t deserve to see her. He didn’t deserve to even think about her. He’d hurt her countless times, and yet she’d always accept him back in. He saw the hesitancy in her eyes each time. Fear would swim in the amber pools before they’d soften and look at him gently, accepting him despite her fear of getting hurt again. But there was no coming back from this one, was there? She’d let him into her most intimate self. He’d seen her purest form and the love that spilled from his chest had choked him in terror. He didn’t even know what her face looked like when he left her. He couldn’t get himself to look. There was a feeling of disgust that he couldn’t scrub off of his body. He was drowning in shame. He’d taken her innocence and left her. He left her.

“Gojo. Please. I love her,” he choked out. Gojo only shook his head with a smile laced with grief of his own. “Sometimes love isn’t enough.”

Gojo placed his hand atop of Megumi’s head with a sigh. “I can’t fix this for you. I’m not sure there is any fixing this. I’m sorry, kiddo. This may be a pain you carry for the rest of your life. I hope you grow from this.” The sincerity in his tone was a rare occurrence and Megumi felt tears gather in his eyes, though he refused to let them fall. “That was not you. What you did to her, that wasn’t Megumi. But that doesn’t matter. You did it. Whether it was what you truly felt or not, you still did it.” Gojo closed his eyes for a moment, sitting with the fact that Megumi, his Megumi, would most likely suffer from this for the rest of his life. He was quite sure Nanami would never let Megumi near her if he were to ever find out that Nobara lived with him now. “Go clean up.” He told his student before a soft sigh left him. “I’m sorry.” Gojo said one last time before he turned and left him.

Megumi had taken to sleeping on the floor when he could find rest, which wasn’t often. He washed the sheets multiple times, trying to cleanse them of the sin he committed, but his sin was unforgivable. He couldn’t sleep on the bed he’d left her on. The bed she cried out his name in bliss and clung onto him, connected fully to each other in every way possible. In the bed where he’d realized his love for her. He swore he could still smell her on his sheets after countless washes. Megumi had settled on throwing a pillow on the ground and sleeping with a throw blanket rather than the comforter he used- They used. He stared at the wall endlessly for hours. How could you do what he did to someone you loved? Megumi was absentmindedly tracing his finger against his floor before he felt it. A strand of hair. Red hair. That girl- that girl shed like no other. He always found her hair on his clothes. Strands of her hair were all over. She was all over, and yet nowhere to be seen. He was just tortured by the remnants of her. He spent his nights lost in thought. Did she go back to her hometown? She hated it there. Had he hurt her so intensely that she felt the need to return to a place of misery? Was her mother there? He’d never asked her about her family, but from the way she’d responded to his comment regarding her mother in one of their first fights, he could only assume things weren’t great. Had he forced her back to a loveless town? Taken away her safe people? His fingertips tapped against the hardwood floor. Maki wouldn’t look at him. She didn’t speak to him. He didn’t exist to her. He didn’t blame her. He’d known the two were close. Nobara talked about Maki endlessly… and he’d broken them apart. 

“I’m sorry, Noh. I’m so sorry.” He whispered in the emptiness of his room. “I love you. I’m sorry.”

Nobara had good days and bad days. 

Today was a bad day.

Nanami had been asleep in his bed, a rare occurrence, when Nobara quietly opened the door and stood in the doorway. She was working up the nerve to wake him, but he’d already woken up at the turn of the doorknob. “C’mere.” He mumbled, voice raspy with sleep as he heard her drag her feet towards the bed. He’d noticed she wore slippers around the house. Bunny rabbit ones with ears. How endearing. Nobara crawled onto the bed and sat up against his headboard as Nanami stayed on his back, looking up at her to see tears brimming her eyes. “I miss him.” She whispered with a sniffle. “Do you think he- do you think he thinks of me?” She asked him without looking down at him. Nanami knew the answer. Him and Gojo were in constant communication regarding this situation between their students. Megumi was desperate, falling apart. All he could do was think of Nobara. “If he does, he doesn’t deserve to.” Nanami said as he slowly sat up with a grunt, rolling his eyes as Nobara made some comment about him being an old man.

“Should we go on a walk today, Nobara?”

He was surprised to find out that Nobara thoroughly enjoyed nature. He’d always seen her thrive in the hustle and bustle of the city, but serenity enveloped her in the quiet comfort of nature. Maybe nature was her one friend in the countryside. Her eyes lit up ever so slightly and she nodded. 

“Can we stop at the bakery before we go? A little treat for the walk?”

Nanami looked over at her and let out a sigh that was accompanied by a smile. He wasn’t sure it was possible for him to say no to her anymore. “We can do whatever you want.” He said warmly before gently smoothing her hair down. It was wild and messy, she’d clearly been tossing and turning all night. “But you look completely unpresentable. You’ve got drool on your mouth. Go freshen up.” A quiet chuckle rumbled in his chest at the glare she sent his way. Man, did she have quite the scowl on her. Regardless, she got off the bed with a grumble and stomped her way to her room. Nanami had gotten her mind off of Megumi, but he knew it was only a matter of time before she crashed again. His goal was to keep her as happy as he could for as long as he could, and then he’d comfort her when the heartbreak broke through again.

Nobara looked like a mess. Beignet power all around her mouth as the wind rustled through her hair, but she looked peaceful. “One time, Megumi and I went to the beach. He told me, very firmly by the way, to not feed the seagulls. Well. I didn’t want to be told what to do, so I did it anyway. Moral of the story, we got attacked, and I don’t feed birds anymore.” Nobara talked about him often. Wistfully, reminiscing, and sometimes drowning in anguish. Other times she spoke of him like he was still her dear friend.. He wondered if her mind refused to accept what happened when she spoke like that. He let her talk. He let her process. He glanced over at her and she didn’t seem distressed, so he felt no need to steer the conversation in a different direction, but he kept looking over just in case. "He always read those dumb philosophy books. At first they’d literally put me to sleep, but then I started to pretend. I’d pretend to be asleep because he’d start playing with my hair. I liked when he did that.” The volume of her voice slowly descended. Nobara had no volume control, her voice filling up any space with ease, so when she quieted down it meant her spirits were lowering too.

Nobara stared at her pastry as her feet slowed until she stopped walking all together. Nanami stopped alongside her and turned his body to face her. It was coming. The heartbreak would make itself known.

“Nanamin.”
“Yes, Nobara?”

“..what’s wrong with me?”

Her question startled him quite frankly and his brows furrowed as he lifted her face, taking an opportunity to wipe the powdered sugar off with a napkin he’d placed in his pocket. It made her nose scrunch up and she tried to turn her face away, but Nanami succeeded in the end. She was such a messy eater and somehow always manage to pick the messiest food to eat.

“What kind of question is that? What’s wrong with you? What are you talking about?”

Amber eyes grew watery as her bottom lip trembled. She shrugged pitifully and let out a laugh that lacked any humor.

“Why didn’t he want me?”

His arm wrapped around her and pulled her to his side as he began walking with her again. “I don’t know. It doesn’t make sense to me. Fushiguro-san has a troubled background. Maybe that has something to do with it, but in no way is a shortcoming on your behalf.”

“You’re just saying that.”
“And why would I say that if I didn’t mean it?

“Dads do that. They lie to make their kid feel better.”

His heart swelled. She’d technically referred to him as dad. He gave her shoulder a squeeze, a hint of a smile on his face.

“I’d never lie to you, Nobara.”
“I know. Unlike some people.” She grumbled and kicked a rock, making Nanami laugh quietly.

They’d found a bench to sit on and Nobara stared at the leaves, eyes following them as they floated gently to the ground. She didn’t speak for some time. She’d occasionally glance over at Nanami before looking back up at the limbs of the tree. Something was on her mind. She wanted to say something, but she was debating internally. Nanami let her take her time. 

“My mom left me when I was five. I never knew my dad, but I knew my mom. I was old enough to know her and know that she left me. I always vied for her attention. I tried to make the most beautiful crafts in class to impress her. She’d sit on her phone on the couch, probably texting some random man or buying a shit ton of useless things, but those were the times I got to sit with her. She’d let me rest against her shoulder. I’d occasionally get a pat on the head when I asked to be held- even just a hug would’ve done.” She’d never told this to anyone. Only her and her grandmother knew, and now Nanami did. "I think my grandmother began to resent that she had to be a mother because her daughter refused to be. She grew pretty irritated with me when I'd cry. My mother was a bad mother, but she was still my mother. And children want their mother. Grandmother told me to stop crying because she wasn't coming back.. and my grandmother was right. I haven't seen her since the November that I was five." She’d planned on telling Megumi at some point, but it didn’t seem smart. It might’ve given him the idea that she was someone to leave, that something was wrong with her. Whose mother left their own child? Something was wrong with Nobara. She didn’t know what it was. Her mom hadn’t contacted her since she left, so Nobara couldn’t even ask her. 

What is wrong with me?

“I see.” Nanami said shortly.

Nobara blinked in surprise at his tone and she turned her head to look at him. He was angry. She could feel it radiating off of him.

“Nana-”
“Do you want me to find her?”

Nobara’s mouth dropped open as she stared at her new father figure. He wasn’t asking if she wanted him to find her so they could reconnect. He was asking if she wanted him to find her mom in a threatening way. The Nanami Kento. Ready to fight a woman he’d never met. All for her. She knew he’d never put his hands on her mother, but he’d scold her. He’d tear her apart with his words. It was… unbelievably unprofessional. Stifled laughter left her before it bubbled out. Loud and open. Free of pain, even if just for a second.

“No- No, Nanamin, I don’t need you to find her. Oh my god,” She giggled out as she shook her head, unable to settle her laughter, “You’re- you’re so funny sometimes!”

Nanami was still beyond enraged at her mother’s behavior, but his soul felt lighter seeing her look so carefree. She had joy. It wouldn’t last forever. This heartbreak would take her a long time to work through, but every instance where he could make her smile or laugh was a blessing to him. A hint of a smile crossed his face and he rested his hand atop of her head for a moment. 

“Nobara.”
“Hm?”
“If you ever want a hug, I’m here.”

Once again Nobara stared at him with wide eyes. Nanami’s reputation was not that he was this soft, caring, affectionate teacher that acted paternally to his students. He was not known for hugging. Quite frankly, he was known for maintaining a distance away from physical touch, and yet… and yet he was willing to give her what her mother refused her. Her bottom lip trembled as she cursed and looked away, not before he saw her face turning pink. She’d never had parents. She’d never had someone like this in her life. She couldn’t believe that someone, especially not someone as talented and educated as Nanami, could care for her. Could see past her flaws. “Thank you..” She whispered out and wiped her face messily before she turned back to him and rested her head on his shoulder. “Thank you.”

Gojo didn’t even blink when his door flew open and slammed into the wall. He knew Megumi would put two and two together at some point. It had actually taken him longer to figure out where Nobara was than Gojo had predicted. It made sense though, Megumi was completely off his game after losing Nobara. He wasn’t sleeping, was getting absolutely destroyed in training sessions, and spent most of his days lost in thought.

“She’s with Nanami-sensei. You said she was safe. She wouldn't be safe back in her hometown and she’d never go back there anyway. She has no family here, and when we got into a fight she went and stayed with him. She’s with Nanami-sensei.”

He had this wild look in his eyes and Gojo knew exactly what his student was planning to do.

“The chances of you listening to me are practically nonexistent, but I’ll say it anyway. Do not go to his apartment.”

“Maybe she’ll let me talk to her if I go over! If she sees me!”

Gojo couldn’t help but let out a laugh and lean back in his chair. Nobara was not the problem. Sure, the girl probably didn’t want to see him at all while also desperately wanting to see him simultaneously, but that was not going to be the obstacle he ran into.

“You won’t get past him.”

“Who?! Is she- is there a guy I need to know about?!”

“How are you my smartest student and yet you’re so stupid sometimes. Nanami-san. He’d never let you in. He wouldn’t let you lay eyes on her. I wouldn’t put it past him to physically keep you away from her. You’ve managed to get on his bad side. Massively on his bad side.”

Megumi’s jaw dropped. Nanami-sensei was reasonable. Nanami-sensei was level headed. Physical? That had to be a joke. He knew Nobara had trained with him, but they’d only trained together for around a month. Was Gojo trying to convince him that Nanami- The Nanami Kento had gotten attached to a student the way Gojo was implying. Nanami didn’t get attached to any of his students. He protected them and he was by no means cruel, but he maintained boundaries.

“He’s not her fucking dad.”
“I’m not so sure about that.”

Megumi groaned and rubbed his face with his hands, leaving it red by the time he ran his fingers harshly through his raven strands. No one was working with him. Gojo wasn’t technically punishing him, more so allowing Megumi to face the natural consequences of his actions, but Nanami-sensei? This was some sick joke. He made a mistake, yes, he knew that, but he’d spend the rest of his life making it up to her. He just had to get to her.

“Megumi. Sit down.”

There was a seriousness in Gojo’s tone that made Megumi more compliant than he naturally was with his sensei. He didn’t look at Gojo. He was.. He was angry with him.  “You’re supposed to be on my side.” Megumi suddenly said, voice so quiet it was nearly audible before he finally looked up at Gojo, tears swirling in his verdant eyes. “You’re supposed to take care of me. You’re supposed to help me. Why are you-..Why aren’t you helping me? I need you and you’re.. I need your guidance, Gojo, and you’re just.. No one is.. I’ve got no one.” His voice trembled as he spoke and his breath hitched as he fought the urge to cry. He felt like a little kid. Needing his father or his mother, but he didn’t have one. He had Gojo.. and Gojo was his father. Whether the teenager wanted to admit it or not, and Gojo wasn't helping him.

A gentle smile came to Gojo’s face. FInally. He got up from his chair and crossed the distance between the two, sitting next to Megumi on the couch. His hand rested on his shoulder and gave a slight squeeze. “Because you never let anyone help you. You never let anyone take care of you. You think I’ve enjoyed watching you suffer?” He asked softly and gently ruffled Megumi’s hair as the boy’s shoulders shook slightly. “Megumi. You’re so terrified of being known. Because you were known, and then you were left.” Megumi always pretended to be completely unfazed by his father’s abandonment. Even as a small child he maintained an attitude of indifference. It was clear in how these last few situations had unfolded that there were long lasting repercussions from this abandonment. “You feel like you won’t survive if someone leaves you again. Am I right? So the idea of Nobara leaving you.. Now that you’ve realized you love her.. It’s something you won’t let yourself risk.” Gojo hummed out as his hand moved to Megumi’s back to rub up and down. This was the most physical affection Megumi had ever allowed Gojo to give him.

“But, Megumi. Love is worth it. It’s worth the risk. It’s worth the pain.”

Megumi tried to discreetly wipe his tears, but ended up with his head in his hands as tears spilled from his eyes. “Is it worth it when it's unrequited? When she doesn’t love me back? And now I’ve lost her friendship. I’m so fucking stupid.” He cursed at himself under his breath and gripped into his hair. Gojo laughed at his student and slapped him on the back. “You are.. You are so incredibly smart. My brightest student and yet you are so stupid sometimes. Nobara has been in love with you from the very beginning. You’re just so emotionally inept that you never picked up on it.”

Megumi’s eyes widened as he jerked his head up. 

“What? What did you say?”

“You heard exactly what I said.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?!

Anger was back in Megumi’s voice as he stared at Gojo. Gojo sat up straighter and turned to Megumi. “Because you would have shut her out completely. You have got to let people in. You’re hurting people. You’re really harming them. Why? Because they love you? You think you’re punishing yourself, and maybe you are, but you’re also punishing innocent people.” He gave his student a small smile, hand back on his back. “You need to start being honest with yourself. You have to allow yourself to feel.”

“...you’re going to have to work your ass off to get on Nanami-san’s good side again, but you love Nobara, right?”

“More than anything.”

“Then get to work.”

Megumi chewed on his lower lip as he contemplated his next move. He could work on himself on campus. Put his all into training. Find out a way he could get some sleep. Maybe he’d journal. He groaned at the thought of having to verbally process with Gojo, but his sensei had said some impressively wise things just now.. Maybe he was someone Megumi could talk to. He’d have to do a lot of introspection. 

“Gojo..”
“Yes, my precious student?”

“I’m going to go try anyway.”

Gojo snorted and ruffled Megumi’s hair as he got up with a stretch. “I’ll try to help you get on Nanami-san’s good side again. I’m the strongest after all, but even I have weaknesses. He’s pissed. He won’t let you in, so prepare yourself for that.”

Megumi nodded and took a deep breath. Even if he didn’t see Nobara he’d let Nanami know his intentions.. Which was so strange because it was sounding like Nanami had become her fucking dad or something? The thought had his brows furrowing, but then he shrugged to himself because this whole situation was absurd. Megumi had to work up the nerve first. He had to look presentable. He showered and fixed his hair- his face burning brightly because it sure as hell felt like he was asking Nanami for permission to date his daughter. He gave himself a determined nod in the mirror before he made his way to Nanami’s apartment.

He didn’t get the chance to knock. Nanami had felt his cursed energy in the same way he’d felt Nobara’s. Nanami quietly stepped out into the hallway, closing the door with the same kind of silence as to not alert Nobara. He didn’t want her to see him. Nanami stared down at him with hardened eyes. Megumi cleared his throat as he looked up at the sorcerer. Had he always been so tall? With such defined muscles that could crush his skull? It took him a moment to work up the courage to speak, but he was cut off the moment he opened his mouth.

“Leave.”

Megumi felt a shiver run down his spin. Holy shit, this man was terrifying.

“Nanami-sensei, I’ve come to apologize! I’m, I’m working on myself. If you could just let me see her, if you could just let me explain myself-”

“Go home. I will call Ijichi-san to come pick you up”

Ice cold.

Megumi felt desperation rise up in his throat as his eyes looked past Nanami’s towering figure. He could try. He could try and slip past him and into the apartment. He could shout her name from the hallway where he stood so she’d know he was there. Was there a window he could access that would lead him to her room? That would risk breaking into Nanami’s room instead of Nobara's, and he wouldn’t survive that. Nanami’s voice broke him out of his thoughts.

“Watch it. Do not come here again.”

And with that, Nanami opened the door just wide enough so he could slip in. The door was opened for a split second, just long enough to look into his living room where Nobara mindlessly scrolled through her phone on the couch. A split second. Just long enough for Nobara to lift her head to see Nanami come back inside. A split second. Amber eyes to met green. 

And then the door closed firmly.

Chapter Text

She was unmoving where she sat on the couch, phone still unlocked and in her hand, her finger positioned as if she was going to continue scrolling. 

Megumi.

She glanced up at Nanami and back to the door. A menagerie of emotions crossed her face, and Nanami let out a sigh. He had hoped she wouldn’t see him. He’d tried so hard to be secretive and quiet as to not alert her to anything. “I’m sorry, Nobara.” He said as he sat next to her. His hand rested on her shoulder as he looked at her face, trying to get a read on her emotions. He was surprised she didn’t automatically dissipate into tears. They brimmed her eyes, but they didn’t fall. She silently rose from the couch without glancing at Nanami.

“Nobara. I don’t think this is a smart idea.”

Nanami warned gently. This could set her back to the beginning. She’d have to restart the healing process, but she was her own person. She got to make her own decisions. Nanami could advise her and try to protect her, but when Nobara made up her mind, no one could convince her otherwise. She walked to the door. Her pace was slow, but didn’t falter. A frown crossed his face. His heart began to ache. He was dreading what Nobara would look like when she came back inside. He knew the boy was still standing out there.

Nobara grabbed the door handle and took a deep breath before she opened it. He was standing there with hope in his eyes. He’d been desperately waiting for her to open the door, praying she’d come out to him, and here she was. Standing in front of him. Radiant, even with tears in her eyes. Breathtaking even in the way anger made her brows furrow. They stared at each other in silence. Megumi felt like his heart was going to burst out of his chest. He couldn’t be the first one to speak. He’d taken so much from her, he couldn’t take her ability to speak first. He also had no right to speak with her. This was an opportunity he could’ve only dreamed of.

“Do you feel good?”
She asked in a low and steady tone despite the way her tears burned her eyes. Megumi blinked a few times and felt his brows knit in confusion. Did he feel good? What kind of question was that? Of course he didn’t feel good- could she not see him? He probably looked like a corpse at this point due to how his devastation had ravaged his body.

“Nobara.. What? Do I feel good?”

He asked with an unsure tone, feeling the need to take a step back as she took a step forwards to him. He swallowed thickly. Nobara was the wildcard, that’s what he always called her. Especially when he didn’t necessarily understand what she was communicating. Nobara scoffed and rolled her eyes, causing a few tears to slip down her cheeks.

“Did it make you feel good? Finally getting to fuck me? All of your hard work finally paid off. I bet it made you feel powerful. Fucking me and then throwing a towel at me. Congratulations. I’m glad you reached your goal.”

Megumi’s eyes widened and his mouth dropped open slightly as he stared at the girl in horror. Is that.. Is that what she thought happened? He was stunned into silence and his mind reeled. of course that's what she thought happened, he cursed to himself. That was the logical thought process. He’d slept with her and immediately abandoned her. His heart shattered. She thought he thought of her as some good fuck. Some object he’d wanted to get his hands on only to discard once it was used.

“Nobara- No, that’s not,”

“Bullshit. Bullshit- you’re so full of it!” She hissed at him and gave a shove to his shoulders. Her bottom lip was trembling, but he could see how valiantly she was trying to keep herself composed. Nobara was fighting every instinct to break down. She felt like she could fall to her knees and sob for the rest of her life, but he’d seen enough of her. He’d seen all of her. She didn’t want him to see anything else. “It’s not your fault at the end of the day though, is it? Because I played along. I knew. I knew you didn’t like me. I was the one who got us into that situation.” She scoffed at herself and shook her head. She felt so stupid. She had been so stupid. “I wanted to convince myself that you liked me back. I wanted.. I wanted to get a taste of what it would feel like if I had you. So does the blame really fall on you?” She asked him. He could see in her face that the anger was directed at him and also towards herself.

She wiped a singular tear, leaving the rest to fall freely as he saw her shrink into herself. Nobara. Making herself smaller. It was.. It was distressing to see. Beyond belief. He couldn’t find words. He was speechless upon hearing the words that she liked him, and then further silenced at the heartwrenching words she said along that. 

“You didn’t have to like me back,” She seethed at him, “You didn’t have to. I would’ve accepted just being someone you wanted to sleep with. It would’ve hurt like a bitch, but I would’ve survived. You left me. You took my virginity and left me, left me like I was some stranger. You didn’t have to like me back, but you were still supposed to be my best friend!”

His own eyes burned. He’d hurt her more times than he’d ever forgive himself for, but this time.. The way she looked.. The way she sounded. He’d truly destroyed her. Tore through her skin and muscle. Crushed her bones. Ripped her apart cell by cell.

“So tell me. You owe me this. Fucking tell me something.” She said as her chest heaved, still trying to maintain some semblance of composure. 

“I’ll tell you anything- I’ll tell you everything, I, I have so much to tell you, Nobara.” He told her earnestly, desperation laced in his tone.

Nobara stared at him. Her eyes dull and fierce at the same time. Only she managed to be as complex as that. All of her layers. All of the layers he loved. Her complexity, her intricacies. Everything that was Nobara. She bit her lower lip and gave a shrug of her shoulders. She was working up the courage to ask. To ask the question she’d begged to have the opportunity to ask her mother. The question she wanted to ask Saori. And now the question she would ask him.

“What’s wrong with me?”

It was a punch to the gut. He felt physically winded as he stared at her in aghast. What was wrong with her? He’d hardly been able to hear her with how quietly she’d asked him. He didn’t have time to answer before she spoke again.

“What is it about me that makes me so easy to discard?”

His breath hitched and his fingers twitched as he fought off the urge to pull her into him. Easy to discard? He’d been drowning. Gasping for breath and trying to grab onto anything to pull himself out of the water. Leaving her had killed a part of him. He wasn’t sure how he’s managed to survive this long without her.

“You don’t owe me love. You don’t owe me friendship. You don’t owe me anything- except. Except this. I think I deserve to know this. Maybe I can change. Maybe I can change myself. If I know what makes me so-.. so repulsive to people that once they get to know me they leave me. What is it, Megumi? Please. Please tell me. What's wrong with me!?"

He’d had so many things about her that irritated her when they first met. Her volume control. She was so loud. Her attitude. She was so crass. The stubbornness. She’d fight anyone to get her way. The way she refused help. The way she made everything a competition. The way she had a permanent scowl on her face. The eye rolls. The way she was an instigator. He hated that she’d always get Gojo to drag them to a dessert shop after a mission when he just wanted to go home. He hated that she’d blatantly shop online during class. He hated that she was a skilled sorcerer, her technique making her invaluable. He hated that he needed her on his team.

And now he loved every part of her. He loved everything that once grated him. He loved the things that still irritated him to this day. What was wrong with her? Nothing. She was perfect in all of her imperfections.

She tore him out of his thoughts as she grabbed him by the collar and pulled him into her space, face to face. He could feel her anger flaring. She was trembling. Still grasping onto control as her hurt spilled out of her regardless.

“Answer me, dammit!”

“I love you.”

Her entire body stilled and the grip on his collar loosened, her arms falling to her sides. She couldn’t do anything but stare at him. 

“I love you,” He whispered out again. It was terrifying to say. It was also the most liberating thing to say. He allowed himself to feel. He allowed his emotions to be known. He let her see him. “I love you.” He repeated. 

Her face crumpled as the attempt to stay composed slipped right through her fingers. She cried. Sobbing as she shook her head, taking a few steps back from him until her back was against Nanami’s door.

“Megumi. Stop.”
“Nobara, I love you,”

“Megumi, you’re being cruel. Please stop. You’re being mean.”

He stepped towards her and grabbed her shoulders. His hands were gentle even though he wanted to shake her. He needed her to believe him. “Nobara- Please, listen. Then you never have to talk to me again. If you tell me to never show my face around you ever again, I’ll listen.” His words stumbled out messily in his pleas. Nobara was too despondent to fight back. She could never seem to deny him. “I-I’ve loved you for a long time. I just didn’t know, I couldn’t, I didn’t understand the feelings I was feeling. I’m, I’m not good with feelings,” He breathed out which actually got a quiet laugh from Nobara. No shit, she thought to herself. “I thought I was just physically attracted to you. I loved you as a friend-.. you’re my best friend, and then you.. And then we kissed and I-.. Well, I became really physically attracted to you, but I swear to god the second time we kissed I realized I was fucked. I was so totally fucked.”

Nobara wouldn’t look at him. She looked to the side, staring down the hallway, wishing she could tune him out. This would only hurt her in the long run. She didn’t know if she could handle more hurt.

“I realized I liked you, and I thought.. I didn’t know, Nobara. I didn’t know that you had the same feelings for me. But I thought I could handle it. I thought I could handle being your best friend who had feelings for you. I thought I’d be fine if we kissed or had sex or did things best friends usually don’t do because I’d be able to have you. Even when I didn’t have you, I could pretend to have you, and I could survive that.”

He took a risk. He cupped her face and turned it to look at him. Upon seeing the look on her face he broke, tears of his own streaming down his face as he mumbled quiet apologies. 

“Nobara. I didn’t know. I didn’t know I loved you, and then.. And then we had sex and you- you said my name, and I..” He swallowed thickly and took a deep breath before continuing. “I realized I loved you. Desperately. I realized I loved you like I couldn’t breathe without you. Like I’d die if you didn’t love me back. I would die, Nobara.” He brushed her bangs away from her face, some of the strands sticking to her face from the wetness of her tears. “I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t survive without your love. I left. Not because you were just some girl I wanted to fuck. I left because you’re everything to me. You're everything.”

Nobara’s head dropped as she choked on sobs, her heart melding and fracturing at the same time. 

“There is nothing wrong with you. Nobara, there’s nothing wrong with you. Even the shit you do that pisses me off- It only makes me love you more. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for ever making you feel like you weren’t worth it. I would hang the moon and stars just so they could shine down on you.” He whispered and ran his fingers through her hair. She always loved when he did that. He’d caught onto the fact that she pretended to be asleep so he’d start playing with the silky strands. “If you let me.. If you let me, I’ll show you every day. I’ll apologize every day. I’ll do anything you ask. I’d kiss Panda on the mouth if it meant you’d even look my way again- sorry-.. sorry, that was weird. That was a weird thing to say.” He cringed at himself and felt his face burn from embarrassment this time. 

Nobara wrapped her arms around herself and tried to take a few settling breaths. She looked at him, but seeing his eyes only made her cry harder. She’d never felt so conflicted before in her life. He loved her. She loved him. It should be simple, right? They could make up and move on. She could have everything she’d ever wanted. She could have him. But her body remembered. Her body remembered every time he’d hurt her. When her heart tried to open herself up to him again, her body physically closed it. Could she forgive him? Could she trust him? He’d hurt her over and over again. Wouldn’t he only do that again?

“Nobara..” He said her name quietly. Like he was begging.

He stared into her eyes. The amber eyes that looked at him with hesitancy every time he apologized. The amber eyes that would eventually soften and let him back in. This time all he saw was hesitancy. His heart dropped to his stomach. Her eyes weren’t softening. They weren’t opening up to him again. They weren’t gently welcoming him back in.

“Nobara. Nobara, please.”

She stared at him. Her chest was ripped open once again, and this time… this time, instead of letting him deliver the final blow. Instead of letting Megumi plunge the knife into her, she grabbed the knife herself and pierced her own heart.

“Go home, Megumi.” She told him as her heart bled out. She couldn’t let him hurt her again. Sometimes love isn’t enough. “I love you,” She whispered with a smile filled with grief and anguish. “I really love you.. But you need to go home.” She grabbed the door handle and let it linger for a moment, glancing back up at the boy who stole her heart. The boy she’d love for the rest of her life. The boy she’d never let herself have. “I’m sorry. I would’ve loved to feed you more treats and exorcise more curses together. I would’ve loved to graduate with you. I would’ve loved to live life together. To become adults that had to pay bills together. I would’ve loved to watch you desperately try to get me to eat anything other than sugar.. I would've loved to be loved by you.” She whispered to him as large and hot tears poured down her face, rolling down her neck and dripping off of her jawline. Just as she went to turn the door handle, Nobara froze for a moment and glanced behind her at the boy who looked like his soul had just been slaughtered. She let go of the handle and gently cupped his face before pressing a soft kiss to his lips, tasting the saltiness of their mingling tears. “Maybe in another lifetime.” She said as her lips hovered his, “Maybe we’ll do it right that time.” With one last press of her lips against his, she turned and opened the door.

This time it was her turn to close the door behind her and not look at his face.

Nanami was waiting on the couch, rising to his feet immediately when Nobara came back inside. He closed the distance between the two of them as she ran towards him. She wailed. She wailed like she used to wail for her mother and Nanami kept her held together. “Come sit with me..” He whispered gently, and just like the night she’d first showed up at his doorstep, they sat together on the couch as Nobara grieved. She clung to Nanami like he was the only thing keeping her from drowning- he was the only thing. He only got up to grab her water, concerned that she’d dehydrate herself, and even as he got up and assured her he’d be right back, she grabbed ahold of his hand and followed him. 

It was late. Too late for Gojo to be comfortable with the fact that Megumi hadn’t come back yet. He let out a sigh. He didn’t need his six eyes to know that things didn’t go as Megumi would have hoped. His heart broke for his student. For his kid. He knew exactly where to teleport to. Nanami wouldn’t have let him in. Megumi would be right outside the apartment, and he was. Sitting on the floor. Staring at the door, mumbling under his breath. “Please. Please. Please.” He repeated. His face was raw from constant tears streaming down his face. Gojo walked over to him and kneeled. “Kiddo.” He said gently and brushed Megumi’s hair out of his face. He was hot and sweaty from the exertion of his crying. “Let’s go home.”

“I’ve got you. Let’s go home.”

Chapter Text

“...And you think this is a good idea? Really?”

Nanami and Gojo let their heads drop in shame at the judgement in Shoko’s voice. She had a way of speaking where it sounded like she didn’t care, but the men could hear the criticism seeping in her tone. She let out an annoyed sigh and smoked from her cigarette, tapping her foot on the ground as she looked at the three men in front of her. Well. Technically two men and a teenager. Said teenager was vibrating with excitement as they sat in Shoko’s clinic. 

“Shoko-san. What other option do we have? You should see Nobara.”
“And Megumi doesn’t look any better.”

Yuuji’s brows furrowed for a moment in confusion. What happened to them? Suddenly, understanding filled his eyes. Completely incorrect understanding. “Oh man.. They’re still grieving me pretty hard, huh?”

Shoko and Nanami just blinked at each other in silence. They hadn’t really broken down the situation to Yuuji yet. It was quite… intricate. Complicated, if you will. They were honestly using the boy as a weapon- or more so a peacemaker, which Nanami felt conflicted about. “This is completely unethical.” He mumbled under his breath and glanced at Shoko’s cigarette. He didn’t smoke, but he was stressed enough that it looked appetizing. “Itadori-kun, could you go find my purple folder in the office? I seem to have misplaced it.” The student’s eyes lit up at the opportunity to be of help and he nodded eagerly. “Yes, Nanamin! I’ll be right back!” There was no purple folder. That’d buy them some time.

What was Nanami supposed to tell his pink-haired student?

How was he supposed to explain the situation to him? Oh, by the way, while you were dead, a lot happened. Your best friends who hated each other became best friends, but Nobara fell in love with Megumi immediately, and then they had sex. Well, once they were having sex, Megumi realized he loved Nobara. Neither of them communicated and Megumi left her naked on his bed. Nobara then thought that he’d used her, so she dropped out. She’s been staying with me and trying to heal, but then Megumi shows up. They talk it out. They explain the situation. Megumi confesses his love. Nobara confirms her love, but has been hurt too many times to be with Megumi. Now Megumi weighs about three pounds and Nobara nearly dehydrates herself to death every day because she can’t stop crying.

Oh. And a lot of it is mine and Gojo’s fault. We could’ve intervened. We could have helped them process their feelings healthily before things got messy. We could’ve done a lot, and we didn’t. We failed as adults. We failed our kids. 

“Shoko-san. Please. If you saw Megumi, you’d understand.” Gojo said with a pleading inflection in his voice. “This morning was.. We have to do something.”

Gojo had never seen Megumi torn to shreds in the way he was now. Even with his sister. Maybe it was because Megumi still had hope that Tsumiki would wake up, or maybe it was because now the pain of Tsumiki’s condition was compounded with the pain of losing Nobara. “Hey..” Gojo announced himself at Megumi’s door earlier that day, leaning against the frame. Gojo had moved Megumi out of the dorms and back into his house. The house Gojo had raised him in.. And the house Megumi sometimes raised Gojo in. Megumi glanced up at his sensei for a brief moment before staring back down at his bed sheets. “Megumi. You’re losing a lot of weight.” The white-haired man said as he walked a few steps into his student’s room. “It’s making me worried. Isn’t there anything you’d be willing to eat?” He asked softly. He didn’t want to pressure Megumi, but Gojo was being eaten alive by nerves. Megumi wasn’t eating. Megumi would shower, but they were long and when he came out his skin was bright pink with how hot he made the water. He either slept the entire day or he’d stay awake for multiple days. His skin was pallor. Dark circles under his eyes. He was struggling and Gojo was starting to panic. “I’m not hungry,” Megumi mumbled. Gojo ran his fingers through his own hair in stress. “I know. I know you’re not hungry, but your body is. Your body needs food.” He countered. His voice was gentle, but it was bordering on stern. Bordering on panic. Megumi made no response and Gojo closed his eyes for a few moments. How could he help? He predicted the outcome of Megumi’s visit to Nobara’s would be a negative one, but he could’ve never expected this to be the outcome. “...Okay. Okay. I’ll be back to check on you later. Call me if you get hungry.”

Shoko hummed at the information Gojo had just given her before she glanced over at Nanami with expectant eyes. “Well? What about your girl?”

“Similar state. Just in different ways.” He sighed out and tried to rub the crease of stress out between his brows. She couldn’t be alone. She now slept in the bed next to Nanami who stayed up to watch over her fitful rest. She didn’t eat much these days, but she tried to fill every second of every day with something. If she was busy enough throughout the day, she’d have no time to think about it. She was pushing herself too hard. Nanami worried her body would exhaust itself and she’d get sick or collapse. Then came the crying spells. She’d dissolve into tears and then wouldn’t be able to stop crying for hours. 

The two adults were at a loss. What were they supposed to do? They watched helplessly as their students collapsed into themselves, both realizing that the love the two shared was not a simple young love. Nanami never believed in soulmates, but he was starting to question his beliefs. Maybe there were soulmates. And maybe this is what happened when soulmates couldn’t be together.

“Itadori-kun is what brought the two together in the first place. He was the glue that held that team together. Gojo-san tells me he’s the one that kept the two of them from actually killing each other. Shoko-san, they don’t have anyone. They lost Itadori-kun, and now they’ve lost each other. They need someone. They need Itadori-kun.” Nanami said with a face filled with stress and dark circles under his eyes. No one told him how hard being a girl dad was. Nanami was conflicted. He saw flashes of red as he talked about bringing Itadori back into the equation. His girl was miserable. That word didn’t even begin to encapsulate the agony Nobara was going through… But Megumi had hurt her. Nanami knew- Nanami knew it was all miscommunication. Nanami knew that he could’ve done more to avoid this situation in the first place. Nanami knew that Megumi was a child in the same way Nobara was.. But Nanami didn’t want Megumi near her. Could anyone blame him? He was here with Nobara, trying to locate tiny shattered pieces of her around the house and then trying to glue them back together. Was he protecting her by keeping Megumi away or was he only hurting her?

The men looked up at her expectantly. The two father figures clearly weren’t the most well-versed parents, and they’d made this situation more difficult than it needed to be. In their defense, it was their first time living too. Their first time being parents. And usually, in most cases, you didn’t suddenly become a parent to high schoolers. Shoko had the most levelhead out of all of them. They both wished they had come to her first instead of seeing her as a last resort.

“You’re both idiots. Gojo, that’s a given. Nanami-san, I’m shocked,” She said to them as she flicked her cigarette and sent embers flying. “The elders are going to kill both of you, and I’ll deny having ever been involved." There was the tiniest hint of a smirk on her face as she looked back and forth between the men. “It’s quite the sight seeing you beg for me.” Nanami and Gojo both coughed and glanced away with a pink hue tinting their cheeks. She was a menace… She was similar to Nobara in a lot of ways. Just different fonts. “I think this is your best bet. Which is sad. You two really shot yourselves in the foot. We’ll bring Itadori back into their lives, and maybe that’ll help. Or maybe I’ll see Fushiguro and Itadori in my clinic because I don’t doubt that Kugisaki might beat them up.”

Nanami gave a short nod. That was true. She could resort to violence easily when she was overcome with strong emotions. Finding out her dead best friend wasn’t actually dead qualified as a strong emotion kind of situation in Nanami’s mind. 

“Nobara likes going on walks. We’ll walk to a park we like to go to.”

“And I’ll teleport Megumi. Moral? No. But he wouldn’t come of his own free will.”
“And I’ll get Itadori there, but I’m not staying for the reunion.”

Gojo saw an emotion cross Shoko’s face. The tinge of grief. He felt it too. He needed the trio of his students to reunite because his trio didn’t get to. Shoko was skilled at seeming indifferent to the situation, but Gojo knew her too well. She couldn’t watch the kids come back together. She’d only think about how they lost Suguru. It's why she drank so much. Why she always had a cigarette in her hand. A heaviness settled in the room as the presence of Geto- or more accurately, the absence of him filled the room. It weighed heavily on Shoko. Gojo still dreamed of him.  “You don’t have to stay. Bringing him there will be enough. Thank you, Shoko.” Gojo said with a gentleness that made Shoko’s nose scrunch in distaste. How dare he. How dare he get soft on her and risk cracking her nonchalant exterior. How dare he know that she was thinking about Geto this entire time. That she thought about him every night. “Whatever.” She mumbled and put the cigarette out. “Someone get Itadori back in here.”

Just as she said that, a sweaty and flustered Yuuji burst back into the room. “Nanamin! I looked everywhere! I could not find a purple folder. Come to think of it, I couldn’t find any folder. I’m sorry!” He said and bowed. Just like that the boy had brought a lighter energy to the room and the adults were either smiling or fighting one off. “It’s okay Itadori-kun. I must’ve misplaced them.”

Nanami stood up and placed his hand atop of Yuuji’s pink hair before looking down at his student in fondness. 

“Do you want to see them?”

“More than anything. More than anything.”

Nanami glanced back at Shoko who gave him a shrug and a nod. If shit hit the fan she’d at least find some amusement in it.

“You’ll go with Ieiri-san to pack your stuff up, and then we’ll bring you to them.”

And then we'll throw you into the lion's den, Nanami thought to himself more accurately.

Stars bloomed in Yuuji’s eyes and he jumped around the room, hugging each adult in the clinic as he beamed. He was like sunshine incarnate. This would work. This had to work. Yuuji followed Shoko, leaving the two men together to sit and worry. Nanami sat back down and stared ahead.

“Nanami. Do you think it’ll work? Or do you think we’ll only hurt them more? Nanami, I’m tired of hurting them.” Gojo said, nearly a whisper, clearly weighed down by their failures leading up to this situation. “I don’t know. I hope it works. Maybe it won’t fix everything, but maybe it’ll fix something. Maybe Nobara and Megumi can be friends again. They’ll probably never be as close as they were, but that’ll still be better than where they sit now.” Nanami sighed out and rested his elbows on his knees as he leaned forward. “It keeps me up at night. Thinking of how I could’ve done better. How I could’ve protected her more. My actions hurt Megumi as well.” The blonde expressed with a frown etched into his face. Gojo nodded and let out a sigh. The guilt was suffocating. “I guess all we can do now is try to be better. Make better choices. We can’t go back and change it, but we can grow from it.” The white-haired man said as he glanced over at Nanami.

Nanami looked over and stared at Gojo in silence before a tiny huff left his lips. “I hate when you say wise things.”

They cracked a small smile at each other before getting up and parting ways.

“Nobara, let’s go on a walk.”

“I’m not in the mood, Nanamin.” 

The redhead mumbled as he entered the apartment, laying eyes on the girl who was curled up on the couch. He smiled warmly and walked over to her to run his fingers through her hair. Her roots were showing. She never let that happen. “You’re just upset that I was gone for so long.” She rolled her eyes and glanced away. He was right. Nobara hated being alone and Nanami tried to stay by her side, but this meeting was important. This meeting could save her from the downward spiral she was caught in. “I’m sorry, Nobara. I couldn’t miss the meeting.” He mumbled and sat next to her as she made it a point to turn her body away from him. It made him snort. “Come on. It’ll make you feel better.” Nobara buried her face in the cushion of the couch and shook her head before mumbling into it. “I don’t want to feel better.” Nanami frowned. He was hoping things would go more smoothly than this. She was clearly declining. Nobara never turned down walks because it gave her a distraction. Now she was sitting, doing nothing, letting herself drown in her misery. “Nobara. Get up.” He was a girl dad. A girl dad. And dads got stern and dads told their kids what to do. She lifted her head and looked back at him with furrowed brows. She just blinked at him a few times. He never.. He always did what she wanted. He never made her do anything she didn’t want to do. “No.” She huffed out and wrapped the blanket tighter around her. Nanami raised a brow. “I’m not asking you. I’m telling you. We’re going on a walk. Get up.” She stared at him like he was crazy. Who the fuck was this guy?

Nobara sat up and glared daggers at him, crossing her arms across her chest. “I. Said. No.” Nanami sighed and held his hand out, her eyes glancing from his face back to his hand again. “What? What the fuck are you doing?” She asked and he nearly wanted to laugh. He was seeing bits and pieces of old Nobara. “Give me your phone. If you’re not going on a walk, you don’t get your phone. I’m not going to let you stay here all day and rot your brain.” Nobara sputtered in indignation and stood up from the couch. “Are you serious?! What the hell?! No- You don’t- You can’t tell me what to do! You’ve lost your mind!” He had to fight a grin. He was about to do it. He was about to pull out the ultimate dad card. The one his father used on him. The saying that Nanami didn’t personally believe in, but the saying that would benefit Nobara in the long run. 

“My house, my rules. Go get dressed or hand it over.”

She stared at him. Stood completely still and simply stared at him. He could feel the rage radiating off of her body. 

“You piss me the fuck off.” She grumbled before turning around and stomping to her room. She was such a sixteen-year-old. It made Nanami roll his eyes, but in complete endearment. He adored this girl.

Gojo was having a similarly difficult time. Yes, all he had to do was teleport Megumi, but Megumi looked like a mess. “Hey, kiddo. I love you so much, but you have got to shower.” Megumi wasn’t completely unhygienic, he still changed his clothes and brushed his teeth, but dear god his hair. It was a monstrosity. He clearly wasn’t washing or styling it during or after showers. He needed to look presentable. For Nobara. Gojo knew he shouldn’t get his hopes up. He knew he shouldn’t hope that they’d end up together because it definitely wasn’t looking like that would be the case, but he couldn’t help it. “Fuck off.” Megumi mumbled and turned away from him on his bed. Gojo let out a sigh and tapped his foot impatiently. They were kind of in a time crunch. Nanami had texted him that Nobara was showering and getting ready for their walk. “Megumi. I’m honestly not even asking. I’m telling you. Go shower.” He said sternly. That’ll get him, he thought to himself with pride. He sounded pretty firm. Megumi rolled back over to face him and a smile grew on Gojo’s face only for it to drop as Megumi raised his middle finger up at him.

“I didn’t want to do this.”

“Don’t fucking play with me. Whatever you’re thinking of doing, don't.”

Megumi warned him, not liking the look in Gojo’s eyes or the tone of his voice. He sat up as Gojo strolled into his bathroom and turned the shower on. “Hey-! Get the fuck out of my bathroom! That’s my shit!” This was the most emotion he’d gotten out of Megumi in so long. The most he’d spoken. It relieved Gojo even as he knew he was about to make Megumi unspeakably angry. Now that the water was running, Gojo came back to Megumi, grabbed his arm, and teleported them both into the shower. Clothes and all.

“Gojo-! I'm going to kill you!” Megumi shouted. He was like a cat in water. It was actually quite humorous. “The more you resist the longer we’ll be in here. I will teleport you over and over again.” Gojo hummed out as he poured shampoo into his hands and started lathering up Megumi’s hair. Megumi was in disbelief. Seething with anger. Chest heaving in fury, but this was Gojo. He really would teleport him endlessly, and Megumi wouldn’t stand a chance fighting him off. So he sat as his wet clothes stuck uncomfortably to his body as Gojo washed his hair. “Conditioner too,” Gojo hummed out, making Megumi’s jaw clench “Going to fucking kill you.. Going to actually fucking kill you..” He muttered under his breath. He didn’t put up a fight. It was useless. The more he complied the quicker he’d be free from this shit show.

“All better!” Gojo said with a grin and clapped his hands together as he turned off the water. Both of them were soaked. Gojo and his ridiculously expensive clothing, completely soaked. Most likely ruined. All for Megumi. “I’m gonna change. You change. Then I’m going to style your hair. I’ll leave you alone after that. It’ll make you feel better.” He told his student as he dripped water out of Megumi’s room. Megumi was too bewildered by what just happened to say anything. Gojo.. What the fuck was he up to? Just as he said, Gojo was back in his room in dry clothes. Megumi glared at him and stood up, about to get in a position to throw hands at Gojo for his stunt. It made Gojo laugh aloud. “Megumi. You weigh about seven pounds soaking wet. Oh, and also, let's remember. I'm the strongest. Sit your ass down.” Megumi’s face burned bright red and he kicked his dresser before making his way into his bathroom. He let Gojo blow dry and style his hair because he had no choice. This was against his will. He’d get him back. He didn’t know how, but he would. Gojo would rue the day. 

Shoko was left to deal with Itadori. He was nearly about to pass away from his excitement. “I know you’re excited to see them, but just prepare yourself for their reaction.” Shoko told him with a raised brow as the boy couldn’t still his body for more than a millisecond. “We’re best friends! They’ll be so happy to see me!” Shoko had to hold back a laugh. Happy.. Yeah. Totally. Because Kugisaki and Fushiguro were so happy right now. “Yes. You are best friends, but they think you’re dead. You’ve been alive this whole time and didn’t tell them.” Yuuji stilled for a moment and pondered, finger tapping on his chin. “Yeah, I could see that being difficult. Kugisaki is probably going to be really mad. She might punch me if we’re being honest. But! In my defense I wanted to tell them!” He pointed out. Shoko let out a soft sigh. This boy was hopeless… she hoped being a sorcerer didn’t take his light away. 

“So what’s the plan, Ieiri-san?!”

“We’re on our way to a park. Nobara will come with Nanami, Megumi will come with Gojo, and then you’ll.. Pop out or something.” She grumbled and glanced at the giant box Itadori was easily pulling behind him. Gojo was so extra. Having this boy hide in a box that clearly stuck out in the midst of trees and flows just so he could pop out like some confetti cannon. God, this would be such a mess.

“I’m still mad at you.” Nobara grumbled and dragged her feet against the trail. “I know, but you still have your phone.” Nanami pointed out. He was getting nervous. Really nervous. He was leading Nobara to the boy that had completely destroyed her. Not to mention she was about to find out that Itadori was alive and that he’d known the whole time. She’d feel betrayed- she honestly has been betrayed. This might ruin everything they’d built together. She may never trust him again. The thought crushed him, but when he thought about it.. When he really thought about it, Nobara’s happiness was his main priority. If he lost her but she gained her spark back, he’d willingly take the pain.

“Are you done yet?” Megumi practically growled as Gojo pulled back to admire his work on Megumi’s hair. “I ate that shit up.” Megumi groaned and glared at him through the reflection. “You’re a grown ass man. I’m begging you to not use teenage slang.” He told his sensei. Gojo stared at Megumi’s clothes and a slight frown came to his face. His student’s hair looked great, but the outfit.. Sweatpants and a baggy t-shirt.. “Are you sure that's what you want to wear?” Megumi’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Yeah. I’m sure. Because I’m in my fucking house. In my fucking room. No one else is going to see me. Can you get out of my room now?” He hissed. His heart started to beat rapidly. Gojo was planning something. He could see it in his eyes. Megumi stood up quickly and tried to make a run for it, but Gojo snatched his wrist and teleported before Megumi could save himself.

Nobara yelped in fear and clung onto Nanami at the sudden appearance of two people right in front of her face. “Sorry! I almost teleported right on you!” Gojo apologized sheepishly. 

After the initial shock wore off she looked up and noticed her surroundings. She’d been too busy pouting to really look around. Her arm had been looped with Nanami’s elbow, so she knew she was safe and didn’t need to be vigilant about her surroundings. 

Green locked with amber, brown eyes locked with blue, and Shoko stared at the box she was leaning on with a look of disinterest, but she was way more invested than she’d admit to.

First they’d get the two broken hearted students to talk. Maybe work through some emotions. Then they’d give the sign for Itadori to jump out. It could be a messy outcome, but they had a well thought out plan.

“Megumi..”
“Nobara..?”

The students glanced up at their sensei’s and then back at each other.

“Nanami, I want to go home.”
“Gojo, what the fuck is wrong with you?!”

The men glanced to Shoko. They weren’t ignorant to the fact that the students weren’t going to immediately accept being set up like this, and that’s where Shoko would come in. She was wise. Level headed. Emotionally neutral, which was necessary.

“Alright. Listen up,” Shoko started, “Obviously things-”

It was going perfect. It had been going according to plan. Everything was working out. Gojo and Nanami let out a quiet sigh of relief even though they were still a bundle of nerves. Things were going smoothly, giving this intervention the best chance of success.

Things were going according to plan.

But Yuuji couldn’t handle it. He could hear his friends. His best friends. They were right outside of this box. He knew he was supposed to wait for his cue. It was very important to wait for his cue, but they’d asked the impossible of him. He couldn’t wait any longer. He’d been waiting for months.

It all happened so quickly. Shoko was nearly knocked off balance as the top of the box she’d been leaning on flung open. Yuuji jumped out with the biggest smile the world has ever seen, his arms extended out wide as he prepared for his friends to run to him and embrace him so hard that his ribs might break. He would heal them. They’d been so upset about his death that they weren’t even a team anymore. 

“Kugisaki! Fushiguro! Surprise! I’m alive! I’ve been alive this whole time!”

“Fuck.” All three adults said simultaneously. 

Nanami looked at Nobara and Gojo looked at Fushiguro. All color was drained from their faces as they stared at their dead- well, I guess no longer dead, best friend.

“We’re fucked.” Gojo said.

“Completely fucked.” Shoko replied.

“Utterly and devastatingly fucked.” Nanami responded.

Chapter Text

The adults were concerned about all of the student’s reactions, but there was one student in particular they were most uneasy about.

Kugisaki Nobara and her hurricane of a personality.

Megumi looked like he might pass out or throw up, Yuuji looked at his teammates in disbelief at their reactions to his surprise, and Nobara..

Nobara was staring everyone down with murderous intent in her eyes. Everyone except Megumi. Ieiri-san, Gojo-Sensei, Itadori, Nanamin. They’d all known. They knew this entire time that Itadori was alive. They knew. They knew and they let Megumi and her suffer. They knew and let Megumi and her lose nights of sleep. They knew and they watched them mourn and grieve. This was unlike anything she’d ever felt before… no. No. She’d felt this before. This level of betrayal. A memory crossed her mind. Standing at the door of her childhood home, watching her mom walk to her car, and knowing that she’d been left.

“How could you.” Her voice was flat, not at all matching the pain and agony in her eyes. The fury. Gojo opened his mouth, but she held up a finger. “Shut up. I’m not talking to you.” She spit at him. Nobara slowly turned and looked at the man standing next to her. “How could you.” She asked, stabbing her finger into Nanami’s chest. “How could you do this to me? How could you lie to me like this? How could you watch me suffer and never tell me? How could you betray me like this?” She ranted, hardly taking a breath as her volume increased, tears filling up her eyes. “The whole time. You knew the whole time. You kept my best friend from me, when I needed him. I needed him.” Her voice was raw as she grasped the fabric of his shirt in her fists. “You knew! You knew! You knew I needed him- I can’t fucking sleep alone! I have to come with you to get groceries! You have to fill up my water bottle so I don’t fucking die from crying so much!” She screamed at him and hit her fists against his chest. “You know- you know how everyone leaves… and you let me think Itadori left me. He was right here. with you.” She weeped and shook her head at him as he quietly said her name. His tone was desperate. “You’re not.. A father would never do that. You.. you.. I hate you, Nanami. I fucking hate you, I will never forgive you.” She hissed at him as tears dropped down her face. “I trusted you. I fucking trusted you.”

Nanami felt like he’d been stabbed and that someone twisted the knife. It pulled out of him just to pierce him again. Over and over. His hand reached out to her as she walked away, but he didn’t grab hold of her. He hovered his hand before letting it drop at his side.

She then turned to Gojo and closed the distance between the two. Gojo turned off his infinity. He deserved whatever she was going to give him. “You’re supposed to take care of him.” She gritted out as she pointed her finger down at the boy, the boy she loved, who was sitting on the ground next to their sensei. “You’re supposed to make sure he’s okay. Did he seem okay when Itadori died? Did he seem okay when he’d come to class with dark circles under his eyes because he couldn’t sleep? Did he seem okay when he lashed out because his grief was eating him alive?” She shoved his chest with each question she asked, putting distance between him and Megumi. He had no right being near that boy. “You failed him. You’re a disgrace. The strongest? You’re weak. You’re a pitiful, weak, weak man. How dare you ever think that you’re his protector- or that you’re his family. Families are- Families don’t- Families don’t fucking exist.” She said as she looked back over at Nanami and hiccuped on a sob as she stared at the blonde man that had been her rock.

She didn’t look at Shoko. She’d always respected the woman, but they were never close. It didn’t hurt. Or maybe it did, but the pain Nanami and Gojo caused was overwhelming and might have covered up the pain Shoko caused.

Her eyes met Itadori’s and the violent sobs began. “Why didn’t you tell us? Why didn’t you come see us? We missed you. We couldn’t sleep, we couldn’t eat, we missed you! You’re my best friend, I was, I was devastated. We were a pair. We were a duo. I lost my twin. I lost everything!” She shouted as she glanced around at the people surrounding her. “We lost everything. Megumi and I lost everything and had to fucking rebuild ourselves with no help. You watched us- You all watched us fucking drowning and you didn’t jump in to save us. What kind of fucked up adults are you? Watching two kids trying to save themselves! And doing nothing! Fuck you. Fuck all of you. I hate you- I hate you, I hate you.” She cried out, making no effort to wipe her tears. She made no effort to compose herself.

Nanami was shattered. He was looking at her and seeing what she must’ve looked like as a five-year-old, watching her mother leave her. His throat constricted. He was near tears. He hadn’t cried since Haibara. How could he have done that to her? Why? To keep those elders unsuspecting and calm? Those elders who viewed them all, teachers and students, as replaceable weapons. “Nobara-” He called out, only for her head to snap in his direction, her voice low and shaky. “Don’t you ever call me that again. It’s Kugisaki, Nanami-sensei.” His heart collapsed into itself. She closed herself off from him. The girl who had been sleeping in his bed next to him because she’d been too distressed to be alone. The girl who called him Nanamin instead of Nanami-sensei. The girl he’d wipe tears or sugar off of her face. The girl he’d grown to love as a daughter. She looked at him like he was a stranger.. No. Not a stranger. She looked at him like he was an enemy. A traitor.

She turned to Yuuji and shook her head. “I know they told you not to tell us. I know you wanted to let us know. Itadori. I would’ve told you.” She sniffled out and shook her head again as she bit into her lower lip, shoulders shrugging. “I would’ve told you.” She whispered and used the palms of her hands to wipe her face. “We’ll talk. We’ll talk later, but not right now. I can’t- we can’t-.. We trusted you.” It came out a whimper, which she resented. She hated sounding so weak. So pitiful. “We missed you.” A few more sobs broke through before she looked at the adults. She didn’t have anything to say to them anymore.

Nobara took a deep breath and walked over to Megumi. She held her hands out for him to grab so she could help pull him to his feet. This didn’t happen to Nobara. This didn’t happen to Megumi. This happened to them. They were the only ones who understood. He glanced up at her with surprise. She was offering her hands to him. Her eyes were red and tears flowed down her face, but there was no hesitancy. They were gentle. They were devastated, but gentle towards him. He reached up and took a hold of her hands, getting to his feet and giving one glance to Itadori. He didn’t look at any of the adults. “Let’s go,” she said quietly, trying to stop her tears, but it only made her hiccup on her breath. Megumi placed a hand on her back as if to block anyone from attempting to get near her. He’d shut it down. He would protect her. He’d be the barrier between her and those who hurt her.

They walked in silence to the dorms. Dorms they’d both moved out of, but dorms that always had a bed ready for a new student. A new victim they could use until a curse killed them. Unused dorms were locked, but Nobara never fixed her door. The door that would open if you put pressure at just the right spot, at just the right angle.

They sat side by side. Megumi was silent. Nobara’s cries filled the room. Her sobbing shook the bed. Megumi stared forward. He didn’t want to speak or move or do anything that could break the spell. Nobara was with him. Nobara had grabbed his hands and brought him with her. Nobara, who he was desperately in love with, was letting him near her. His fingers twitched and grabbed onto the bedding at his sides. He wanted to comfort her. She looked at him and he couldn’t help but look at her back.

It wasn’t fair. They were kids. They were kids grieving the death of another kid, who wasn’t actually dead, and their teachers didn’t help them. Their teachers watched them at each stage of their relationship. Their teachers expected kids to figure it out. To do it right. Specifically two kids that didn’t have parents. They didn’t have parents that gave them life lessons and wisdom. They were doomed from the start and their teachers just watched. Now they’d burned each other beyond recognition. Megumi was so livid and broken. He felt stuck. Frozen. Abandoned.

He stared at the girl that he’d hurt. Over and over again. Had he been given guidance.. Had someone helped him.. Maybe things would’ve been different between the two. Maybe it wouldn’t have to be in another lifetime.

“‘Gumi..”

His breath caught. ‘Gumi. Did she call him that because a cry cut her off? Or did she call him that as a term of endearment? In the way he’d called her by a term of endearment when they slept together.
“...yes, Noh?”

He held his breath. If she hadn’t called him that on purpose and he’d responded with the name he’d called her during their intimacy, during the time he found out he loved her.. He could’ve just shattered the spell.

She rubbed her eyes and took a few deep breaths. Shaky breaths. She couldn’t fill up her lungs. She was being suffocated.

“Can you play with my hair?” Her voice cracked and a fresh wave of hot tears dripped down her face.
“Of course. Of course.” He breathed out, maybe too quickly, maybe too shakily. This was delicate. This was fragile.

This was hope.

He moved up to sit against the headboard and Nobara crawled over to him, settling her head into his lap and letting her eyes close as his fingers began carding through her hair. Just as soft as he remembered.

They hadn’t just upset Nobara and Megumi. Yuuji exited the box and looked around at the adults that had thrown him into this situation. His usually bright and lively expression was somber. It was disappointed. “You let me hurt them. You let me hurt my best friends. Did you see them? Did you see them? The looks on their faces?” He asked through gritted teeth. “Dammit!” He cursed and kicked the stupid fucking box he’d been hiding in. “What the hell was that?!” He shouted. Nanami and Gojo looked like they’d just had their hearts ripped out of their chest. The audacity. “You’re.. You’re the senseis. You’re supposed to take care of us. What a joke.” He breathed out in disbelief. “I’m going to go find them. You stay the hell away from them.” Itadori Yuuji. Speaking to them threateningly. Speaking to them in disdain. Contempt. He ran off in the direction his friends had gone, leaving the three adults standing in the middle of nature. In a fucking park.

Nanami and Gojo were bleeding out. Shoko was unsure she could heal the wounds that were just inflicted.

They’d failed them. They’d hurt them. They could’ve saved them.
How could they do this to them?
All parents fail their children.

But they weren’t sure they had a right to call themselves parents anymore.

Nobara was asleep. Actually asleep. Not just pretending to be asleep so that he’d play with her hair. He looked down at the girl who’d exhausted herself with emotions today. Emotions she shouldn’t have had to feel. Megumi sighed and laid his head against the headboard. He was upset, yes, but he found that he was much more angry because Nobara got hurt. He was lied too as well, but Nobara. They lied to his Nobara. Her breath still occasionally stuttered in her sleep from the remnants of her sobs, but she did not wake. Good, he thought to himself. If she’d been experiencing anything like he’d been experiencing ever since he’d shown up to Nanami’s, then she needed her rest. No one was going to come bother them.. He might as well get some rest too. He always slept better with her. She was a heater, body radiating the most comforting warmth in her sleep. He’d rest his eyes.

There were two places they could be. Fushiguro’s room, which he assumed was the right choice, or Kugisaki’s room. The locks on unused rooms didn’t deter Yuuji at all, he simply broke through them and slammed the door open. Sometimes having freakish strength was a benefit. It usually was. “Come on,” He whined at the empty room. It didn’t even look like anyone had been there for weeks. Okay. Kugisaki next. If they weren’t in there, Yuuji didn’t know what he’d do. Would they even pick up the phone if he called them? A rush of thoughts swam through his head as he ran to the girl’s dormitory. He didn’t like when his brain was such a complicated mess. He didn’t like when his viewpoint began to stain with pessimism. He nearly ran right past her door, but skidded to a halt and shoved the door open. It opened considerably easier than Fushiguro’s. How odd. He scrambled to grab the door before it slammed into the wall. Kugisaki would kill him if he dented the wall with the door knob. His eyes met Fushiguro’s who looked like he’d been startled awake at the noise Yuuji made. Yuuji took a deep breath and opened his mouth before Fushiguro shook his head and pointed down at Nobara. She’d stirred and groaned at Yuuji’s entry, but seemed to settle and slip right back into sleep.

Yuuji stared at his teammates and the position they were in. It was.. Quite intimate. I mean-! It’s not like they were making out or anything, but Kugisaki? Sleeping with her head in Fushiguro’s lap? His face went pink and he cleared his throat. What on earth happened when he left?

“We have to talk, please,” Yuuji asked with his hands locked together as he begged, whispering surprisingly well. The boy also struggled with volume control, just like Kugisaki.
“Fine,” Megumi sighed out and pointed to the end of the bed where he could sit, “You have  to be quiet.”
“I will, I promise, I will!” And he was immediately hushed by Fushiguro when his volume increased.

They went silent and stared at the slumbering girl before letting out a sigh of relief. Safe.

“...I know this is probably not what we should talk about first.. And I know you probably have a lot of questions… but I.. but can I steer the conversation somewhere for a second?” Itadori asked shyly and his eyes flickered between his two best friends.
“We got close.” Megumi responded without having to be asked. It was a valid question. The last time Itadori saw him and Nobara, they were still complete enemies who couldn’t stand each other. And now she was asleep in his lap.

“Yeah.. I mean.. I can kind of see that.. But like…”
Megumi pinched the bridge of his nose with the fingers that weren’t brushing through her hair. “We were both pretty upset when you died. She was.. She was really suffering and.. It brought us together. It also brought a lot of fights, but we ended up being best friends.”

“Right.. Right.. But like. There was this like.. Back there with the senseis.. Well and right now- Like she’s sleeping with her head in your lab.. You guys got really close.”

Megumi cleared his throat and looked away from Itadori, his cheeks getting pink. He was not having this conversation with Itadori.

“Yes. We got really close. Without you, we only had each other.”

Yuuji’s eyes narrowed slightly as he looked between his friends. Something was missing. Fushiguro was being vague. Yuuji knew, he knew that information was being withheld, but he didn’t know what it was.

“Okay. Okay. That’s good. Friendship is good. So, you got so close that you.. That Nobara naps on you. That’s really close. I’m surprised she’d let her guard down like that.” He mumbled as he stared at the redhead. Yuuji rubbed the back of his neck and looked back up at Fushiguro. “Best friends. You and Nobara don’t hate each other anymore, but you’re best friends. But.. From what the senseis were saying and how you two reacted when you saw each other.. That didn’t seem like you were just best friends. Did something-”

“We fucked.”

Nobara’s voice cut through, laced with sleep, but completely deadpan.

Megumi felt heat travel up his neck and concentrate in his face, his body heating up. “Nobara,” He hissed and used his hand to cover her mouth so she didn’t give anymore details. He didn’t even want to look at Itadori’s face.

Yuuji sprung to his knees in front of them with his jaw dropped open and his eyes so wide it looked nearly painful. He quickly grabbed Fushiguro’s hand and pulled it off of Kugisaki’s mouth so she could tell him everything. He needed to know everything. Nobara sat up with a yawn and a stretch, sitting herself against the wall. Megumi at the headboard, Itadori across Megumi, and her against the wall in between them. A triangle. A trio.

“You guys-! You guys had sex?! Holy shit! Like-!.. Like sex sex?”
“You’re fucking stupid, yes, sex sex. Like, we were making out, he fingered me, and then he flipped me over and-”
“Kugisaki Nobara.”

Yuuji’s brain was going to actually melt and spill out of his ears. He couldn’t comprehend this. And Kugisaki was being so  honest, he was visualizing a lot of things he couldn’t have ever conceived of being possible. And then the way Fushiguro just said her name? Fushiguro was going to get his ass beat! You can’t talk to Kugisaki like that, she’ll kill you! His mind was racing and he was preparing to have to pull Kugisaki off Fushiguro, but then the most unbelievable thing happened.

Kugisaki’s mouth shut and she gave a little nod.

“Hey so-.. Hey so.. What the fuck was that?!”

Yuuji shouted as he held his face in his hands. “That. I feel like I wasn’t supposed to witness that. Whatever that was.”

All three of them were red in the face and none of them could make eye contact with each other. Minutes passed. Maybe five, which doesn’t seem like a long time when you think about it, but five minutes of silence is a lifetime. Yuuji finally broke the silence.

“So… you guys.. You know. And now you’re not best friends.” He angled his face to Kugisaki and covered the side of his mouth so that Fushiguro couldn’t hear what he was saying. “..He was that bad?”

Yuuji yelped as a pillow was thrown at him, “I can fucking hear you, dumbass!” Fushiguro shouted at him. “I was not bad!” Yuuji hummed softly and looked at Kugisaki before he glanced back at Fushiguro. “I mean. You probably weren’t good. You had sex and now you don’t talk.”

Now it was Nobara’s turn to cover the side of her mouth and talk to Itadori. She pulled him in closer to her and hid her mouth from Megumi, trying to whisper. “No. It was good. It was like. I almost ascended to heaven good. He fucked me so-” It was her turn to let out a little scream as a pillow slammed into her head.

“In case you have forgotten, I am right here, oh, and also, you two are the loudest people I have ever heard! It is physically impossible for you two to whisper!” He wanted to throttle them, but also.. Also a smile was tugging on his lips despite his best efforts. It was like nothing had changed between Itadori and Nobara. They were always getting into trouble like this. Always on the same wavelength.

“I’m just telling him that our friendship didn’t end because the sex was bad! I’m complimenting you! Don’t piss me off!” She huffed out and fixed her hair that had been disturbed by the flying pillow.

“Then what happened?”

Megumi saw Nobara’s expression darken. They’d talked it out, but there were residual feelings. Lingering feelings of being left, of being used. It made his chest ache to know that she might carry that thought for some time. She was silent, crossing her arms over her chest, and staring forward. She didn’t look at either of the boys.

“I fucked up.” Megumi said honestly. He didn’t try to make it sound any better. No excuses. “I left her. We had sex and I left her.” His voice was steady and calm, but Yuuji could see a storm in his eyes. “Because I realized I loved her, and that I’d loved her for a long time. I didn’t think she felt the same and I couldn’t handle it. So I left.”

“Shit. This is deep.” Yuuji mumbled, earning him a glare from Fushiguro. Yuuji then turned to Kugisaki with a frown. “That would suck, but the friendship ended because you didn’t love him back.”

Her face flushed and she gave a slight shake of her head, mumbling something under her breath that Yuuji couldn’t quite catch. “What did you say?” Nobara took a deep breath and gave Itadori a shy and hesitant look. “No. I love him too.”

Okay. So. I die. Right? I “die”. And then they fall in love and have sex and then break up. Well, is it a breakup? Were they ever official? Jesus, this was a mess, Yuuji thought to himself, scratching the back of his neck.

“That’s messy as hell.”
“Tell me about it.”
“No shit.”

But there was a clear solution in Yuuji’s head and he couldn’t understand why they weren’t making the easy fix. “Well now you both know that you love each other, so what’s the problem? Just start dating.” He said with a raised brow. His best friends looked away from each other, Fushiguro sighing deeply and Nobara scrunching her nose.

“I tried.”
“It’s not that simple.”

There was a sudden tension that made Yuuji shrink into himself. He’d struck a nerve. Oops.

“He still did what he did. Love doesn’t mean that didn’t happen. He loved me and did that to me- and that wasn’t the first time he hurt me! Which he did while apparently loving me the whole time.” She said bitterly. It made Megumi’s brow twitch in irritation. He tried to take a deep breath. He’d owned up. Something she had yet to do about her own role in the situation. “Yup. All my fault. I just attacked her for no reason, I definitely wasn’t provoked, she definitely didn’t instigate, and she definitely didn’t say any hurtful things to me. It was all me.” He said with frustration laced in his tone.

Oh shit, Yuuji thought. “Guys, guys, come on! We all make mistakes. We can move on! I mean, we get to be a team again. That’s great!” He said cheerfully, trying to dissolve the tension. It didn't seem to be working.

“You hear that? Hear how snarky he gets? Like I'm the one who fucked him and threw a towel at him.”
“Are you serious, Nobara? I already explained what happened- also, mind you, Itadori, SHE asked me to fuck her!”
“Which only happened because you wanted my first kiss to be with you!”
“And you’re the one who decided we should practice! Which led into making out, which led into you asking me to fuck you!”

Itadori gulped as his head turned back and forth between his best friends seething at each other.

“I’ve got an idea, Megumi! Instead of fucking me, you should fuck yourself!”

She hissed at him and got off the bed, storming out of the room.

The two teenage boys sat and stared at each other.

“Should we.. I mean.. Should I go after her?” Yuuji asked quietly.
“She’ll be back.” Megumi huffed with a roll of his eyes.
“I don’t know. She seemed pretty pissed.”

Megumi sighed and rubbed his face with his hands. He was fucking exhausted of this. Of his teachers, of her, of everything. “She’ll be back,” He said again, “She has nowhere else to go. We don’t have anywhere else to go.”

A frown settled into Yuuji’s face. Fushiguro was right. There was no way Kugisaki was going back to Nanamin’s place and the same went for Fushiguro and Gojo. “You guys can stay with me. In my room. We’re a trio. It might take some time for you and Kugisaki to figure it out.. Whatever “it” is, but you guys have me.” Megumi gave a short nod. It wasn’t ideal. The idea of being stuck in a dorm with his teammates, but there was no other option. Itadori kept the two from killing each other in the first place, so maybe he could manage to do that this time as well.

The door opened again and Nobara dragged her feet back into the room, sitting on the floor in defiance so that she didn’t have to be near Megumi. He snorted quietly at her childish behavior. “Couldn’t stay away from me?” He teased even though he was still irritated. “Fuck off. You know we’re stuck. I couldn’t go anywhere.” She grumbled, but Megumi and Yuuji saw it. The slight tremble of her bottom lip. The grief of losing Nanami’s comfort and presence. She took a deep breath, and though it was shaky, it kept her composed.

“Itadori called.” Shoko said to the men who were sitting on her couch. They looked like ghosts. Wandering ghosts stuck in purgatory. They didn’t respond, but she knew they wouldn’t. “He’s going to come grab some of their stuff from your places. Just the necessities, and then little by little over time. They’ll be staying with him in his dorm.” Which sounded like a nightmare to Shoko… Except it didn’t. Her, Satoru, and Suguru always stayed together in one dorm. It was always HER dorm, which she found annoying, but it was always the three of them. Crammed into the small dorm room. Her and her boys. “I need a drink.” She muttered to herself and made her way to the kitchen. Vodka would do. “Want anything?” She asked, once again knowing there would be no response.

Nanami got up from the couch and joined Shoko in the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of sake. He looked like he’d aged ten years today. He was despondent. Gojo’s face contorted in disgust. He hated alcohol, and right now he hated that he hated alcohol. It would numb this… Could anything numb this, he thought to himself. “You guys can stay here, I guess. At least for tonight.” It’d be too raw for them to go back to their homes where Kugisaki and Fushiguro would no longer be. She was concerned. Trying to come across as uninterested, but she didn’t want the men out of her sight.

Chapter Text

“Megumi, you can sleep on the floor.” Nobara said matter of factly as she climbed into the bed where Itadori was already laying. Megumi’s head shot up from his book and he looked at her incredulously. There was so much wrong with what she just said. Firstly, what the hell? He was just assigned to the floor like nothing? Like what the hell? More importantly, she was going to share the bed with Itadori? His eyes narrowed. Absolutely not. “Fine, but then Itadori is on the floor with me too. You get the bed.” Itadori, being the gentleman he was, nodded at this. “You are the girl, and I know, blah blah gender roles, but it’d be weird making you sleep on the floor.” He explained.

“Absolutely not. Itadori is sleeping in the bed with me.” She said in a tone that left no room for arguing. Too bad for her, Megumi was in the mood to argue. She was not sharing a bed with Itadori. “He is not.” Megumi said, trying to keep his tone steady. “You’re on the bed, alone. That's how this is going to go down.” He noticed her eyes widen on a particular word he used. Alone. There was a sudden flash of panic. Right, he remembered. She’d been sleeping in the bed with Nanami-sensei since their breakup, which wasn’t actually a breakup. “What- No, I’m not sleeping alone- It’s Itadori’s bed! I’m not going to, he’s, it’s his bed. He gets to sleep up here with me.” Megumi’s eyes softened as he stared at the girl who was trying to keep her fear locked down. She was trying her facade again, but he knew her too much. She couldn’t be alone.. But he wasn’t about to let her sleep next to Itadori.

“Fine.” He said with a shrug. “We’ll all sleep in the bed.”

“W-What?!” Nobara stuttered out and glanced at Itadori, hoping he’d come in and save the day.

“Honestly, yeah! That way no one sleeps on the floor! It’ll be a tight fit, but it’ll work.”

Nobara’s face burned. She did not like when things didn’t go her way. She also was still irritated with Megumi, so sharing a bed with him was the last thing she wanted to do. She wanted him to suffer on the floor. Now Itadori was agreeing with him, which meant she was outvoted. Damn democracy. 

“Fine, but I’m sleeping against-”
“You’re sleeping in the middle.” Megumi said cooly as he cut her off, eyes back on the book. “You’re the smallest. It makes the most logical sense. It’ll be the only way we’ll fit,” Megumi stated nonchalantly. It would mean she wasn’t only snuggled up to Itadori is what it would mean. Her jaw dropped and she looked at Itadori to be her saviour, but her head dropped as she saw him nodding. “He’s right. You’ll be in the middle.” He hummed out completely obliviously. Nobara turned to him and hissed under her breath, “Who's side are you on?” Itadori raised his brow and pondered for a moment, deep in thought, before he looked around. “Who's side? Well.. I’ll sleep against the wall, so I’ll be on your side and against the wall. Megumi will be on your other side.” 

Nobara groaned and dropped her face into her hands. God, she’d missed him, but Jesus Christ Itadori Yuuji was such an idiot sometimes. Megumi covered his face with his book to hide his smirk. He won. He could feel her glaring at him from the other side of the book. He knew that she knew he was pleased with himself. “Ugh! Whatever! I’m showering next.” She huffed and quickly grabbed what she needed to shower. Their stuff was still unorganized in Itadori’s room, but she had her pile and Megumi had his.

She fumed the entire shower. He was such a little bitch, she thought to herself. She couldn’t stand him. Megumi was a pain in her ass. Itadori had already showered, so Megumi would be the last one. Fine, she huffed, she’d use all of the hot water. Let him freeze. He wasn’t going to win, not against her. She took her time in the shower and even outside of the shower, enjoying the idea of making him wait. She had control in this situation. She was starting to calm down. Feeling less agitated about the sleeping arrangements as she started pulling her pajamas on. 

Then horror set in as she went to grab her underwear and pajama pants. Where were they? No- No, she totally brought them in! She would’ve never forgotten- Fuck. She was too busy throwing a fit to notice what she was grabbing and what she was leaving behind. She couldn’t just waltz out in a towel in front of Itadori and then have to bend over and search for the bottom half of her clothes. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. She chewed on her lower lip and stared at the door. She had no choice.. Well.. she had one choice. She could text Megumi. Itadori had been turned facing the wall on his bed, totally invested in whatever game he was playing on his switch. Megumi was leaned against the wall right outside of the bathroom. He could sneakily grab her things and slip into the bathroom with Itadori noticing.

But then he’d win. She stomped her foot against the floor and yanked her phone from the counter, sending him a text. Grab my shit and give it to me and then leave me alone, is what the basic content on her message was.

Megumi was grinning to himself wildly when he received the message. It was beautiful karmic justice. Her immediate consequence for throwing a tantrum. Megumi slowly crawled over to the pile of her stuff and silently picked out what she needed. Being a sorcerer had its perks. He was quite stealthy.. It also didn’t hurt that Itadori was clueless. He turned the door handle as carefully as he could before slipping into the bathroom and closing himself in with her. He could’ve very well just cracked the door open and handed it through the opening, but his body reacted on its own. 

“Thanks,” She grumbled and snatched her clothes from him.

Megumi stared at her wide eyed. It was like deja vu. She was wrapped in a towel, wet hair dripping onto her shoulders, and the endless expanse of legs. She glanced up at him when she realized he was lingering, and she opened her mouth to curse him out and tell him to go the fuck away, but then she saw the look in his eyes. The look. She was wrapped up in only a towel in front of him and she could practically see his pupils dilate and consume the green of his eyes.

Don’t, she warned herself. This was already messy enough. They’d hurt each other too much. This would only complicate things.. But he was looking at her like that. He wanted her and despite her best intentions she wanted him back. They held gazes in the room full of steam from the shower.

“Fuck,” She whined, admitting defeat and surrender, which was all Megumi needed to hear to cross the short distance and crash his lips into hers. It was hungry and aggressive and angry. It was also so hot, Nobara whined against his lips. She grasped onto his arm as he bit her lower lip before letting his tongue fight with hers. She didn’t even know why she was trying to assert dominance. She folded immediately. It was getting particularly difficult to keep her towel on, but Megumi pulled back from her lips ever so slightly and whispered to her. “You have to keep quiet.” He warned. Perfect, the towel did not need to stay on. Problem solved. She gave a nod of understanding, not really knowing if she’d be able to stay quiet, but not really giving a fuck.

Sorry, Itadori. You open your dorm up to us and we fuck around in your bathroom the first night we’re here. Our bad.

He pressed her back against the wall and pulled the towel from her body, which she put up no fight to. “Open,” He muttered to her and tapped the inside of her thigh. She could’ve died. She hated this stupid fucking boy and how fucking hot he was. She spread her legs slightly and panted as she stared at him, watching the way his eyes roamed her body. He caught on to her heavy breathing and a smirk came to his face. “All out of breath and I haven’t even touched you yet. So, so needy.” Her teeth sunk into her bottom lip harshly. She wanted to say something back. Wanted to curse him out, but he was right when he commented that she had no volume control. She just glared her eyes at him which only made him smirk. He let his hand start at her waist before sliding it down between her legs. 

God, he wanted to tease her. He wanted to make her beg. Wanted to get her back for her fits and tantrums, but Itadori would notice his absence sooner or later. He was on a time limit. He had to hold back a groan himself when his fingers felt the wetness that had gathered. “God Noh," He mumbled out as if it were painful for him, "You're so wet."  God, she was made for him. The way her body immediately responded to him. Nobara let out a breath as his fingers started to rub against her, spreading her wetness. He didn’t even make her wait, he was immediately circling her clit. He was being kind today. Or maybe he was just aware that their teammate was right outside. The thought had a moan slipping out of her before she had the chance to hold it in. Her eyes widened and she glanced up at him who was staring at her with narrowed eyes. “Quiet,” He hissed. They could get caught. Nobara could get them caught… but Megumi couldn’t get himself to stop.

His fingers dipped at her entrance, getting dizzy at the feeling of her trying to clench around him, trying to draw his fingers in. He focused on her face as he pushed two fingers into her core, soaking in the immediate change in her expression. She was struggling to keep quiet, he could tell. She’d hold her breath, bite her lower lip, even shake her head as if denying herself the right to make noise. It was the hottest thing he’d ever seen. “Be a good girl,” he whispered to her before he began thrusting his fingers into her. Normally he’d take his time, enjoy the moment, but Itadori.. Fuck, Itadori. He was really pissing Megumi off right now.

Megumi immediately set a quick pace, one hand pressed against the wall next to her head, and the other one fucking her like it was his life’s purpose. Her face was flushed and her mouth had dropped open slightly as he worked between her legs. He automatically noticed the risk. She wasn’t in the headspace to work on staying quiet. Her hips grinded against his hand as she took in erratic breaths, brows drawing together. He could feel her flutter around his fingers and cursed under his breath. He could never get enough of this girl. “God, Nobara,” he breathed out. 

It was his mistake. He should’ve predicted the outcome, but he was a bit lost in the moment himself. He curled his fingers without any thought in his head other than wanting to feel her tighten around his fingers. A whine, a whine that was too loud, fell from her lips and Megumi’s eyes widened as he looked at her face. She was close. She was too close to stop. He also wasn’t going to leave this restroom without making her come. His body acted before his mind did and his free hand slid two fingers into her mouth to silence her. Her eyes widened in shock for less than half of a second before they rolled. She came immediately. As soon as she processed what he’d done, she fell over the edge. Her hips rolled against his hand that was working her through it, fingers driving into her while his thumb pressed and circled against her clit.

It was religious. He was looking heaven right in the eyes as he watched her come apart on his fingers. Not to forget what was by far the hottest thing he’d ever experienced. Nobara was either biting or sucking on his fingers through her orgasm. A shiver ran down his spine. He was desperate to keep going, to work her up to another orgasm. He was desperate to bend her over against the bathroom sink and bury himself inside of her. His heart was racing in his chest and he lost all common sense. All logical thought. He was going to fuck her in his best friend’s bathroom. He was going to hell. He was going to hell happily.

He pulled his fingers out of her mouth and just as he went to pull his hand away and get her against the sink, there was a knock on the door.

Fuck.

It broke Nobara out of her post orgasm bliss immediately. Megumi’s fingers stilled in her and they stared at each other in horror.

“Hey, Fushiguro? Are you in there too?”

Nobara was too breathless to speak. It was up to Megumi. 

“Y-Yeah-! I mean, yeah!” He cleared his throat and cursed himself at the way he’d stuttered out. His fingers were still in her. In a bathroom that was not theirs. “There was.. Nobara.. She needed.. There was a bug! So she texted me so I could kill it!”

“That was really nice of you!” He could hear the smile in Itadori’s voice, their best friend feeling like the two of them were getting over their negative feelings for each other. “Can I come in and see it? Was it big?”

“No!” They both said unanimously.

“I flushed it.”
“He flushed it.”

They heard Itadori sigh sadly over the missed opportunity to stare at a fucking bug. “Alright! Well. I’m crushing people at Smash Bros right now. I just.. You took a really long time in there.. But that makes sense. I heard Nobara when she saw the bug.”

Her face turned crimson. The noise he’d mistaken as her seeing a nonexistent bug was the noise she was making as Megumi fucked her with his fingers. Megumi had a tiny smirk on his face that she wanted to smack right off.

“We’ll be right out.” Megumi said and waited until he heard Itadori flop back onto the bed. They were unmoving for a few seconds before he pulled his fingers out of her. His eyes glinted as he looked at her before he held his fingers to her mouth. “Suck,” He told her. He’d never forget their first time when she cleaned herself off of his fingers. It was a blessing to get that opportunity again. Nobara let her mouth fall open before her lips sealed around his fingers. Megumi nearly whimpered. The way she kept eye contact the entire time- The way she let her tongue swirl around his fingers- The way she hummed softly in satisfaction. 

He stared at her in awe and in a daze for a minute or two before coming back to reality and pulling his fingers out of her mouth.

“Sorry. You literally just showered.” He mumbled once he gathered his bearings, looking around for a wash cloth. He almost felt bad for using one of Itadori’s, but it’d get washed. “Open,” He said to her in a much gentler tone, one not dripping with desire. She stared down at him in surprise and slowly opened her legs again. He carefully and gently wiped her. So gently. She felt her face burn as she mumbled a quiet thank you.

“I…I used all the hot water.”
“That’s okay. I’m in desperate need of a cold shower.”

Was he.. Making a joke? A small smile tugged on her lips before she shook her head. No. This was a one time thing. They were not going to do this again. She couldn’t just open her heart up again. 

“I’ll be done in a second. Then you can shower.” 

Megumi nodded and rubbed the back of his neck. It was clear he wanted to say something, but he decided against it and quietly slipped out of the room, letting his book rest on his lap. For no particular reason.

Megumi’s shower did not end as excitingly as Nobara’s had, but he didn’t care. By the time he came out, Nobara was blinking sleepily as she applied her nighttime skin care. She’d be the first to fall asleep… especially after their bathroom event. Sleep didn’t come easily to Megumi, so he figured Itadori would fall asleep next. 

“Itadori, lay down.” She mumbled as her best friend yawned. He complied and laid down next to her, groaning something about how he lost against some online player in America. Nobara shushed him and turned to her side to face him, snuggling into him. Megumi didn’t even have it in him to be mad. He was looking at a girl desperate for comfort. He watched her fidget around. She couldn’t get comfortable. She couldn't feel safe, he realized. “It’s getting late.” Megumi said as he got up from the floor and joined them on the bed. He wasn’t tired at all. He slipped next to Nobara and ever so quietly mumbled “You’re okay,” to her. She took in a shaky breath and bit her lip. She wanted to cry. She wanted to be home with Nanami. She let out a quiet sniffle and quickly rubbed her eyes to keep any tears out of them. Itadori had turned to face the wall, which gave Megumi the opportunity to brush his fingers through her hair.

Nobara was not the first one to fall asleep. Itadori was. Nobara turned towards Megumi’s body and let her head rest on him, his arm around her. “I’m sad.” She whispered quietly. In a tone she resented. She sounded pitiful. “I know. I’m sorry.” He hummed out to her as he rubbed up and down her arm. She cried quietly that night, muffled into his chest. Itadori was a heavy sleeper apparently. Thank god. 

It took her awhile to find enough peace to fall asleep. He never stopped trying to soothe her. He let out a sigh of relief as she finally fell asleep. It killed him to see her hurting. 

In the dark of the room, he leaned down and pressed a kiss to her hairline. 

“I love you,” he told her quietly, not loud enough to wake her up.

But Nobara hadn’t fallen completely asleep. 

I love you, she replayed in her head. She wanted to tell him to say it to her again. To kiss her forehead again. To hold her tighter.

She only snuggled closer into him before letting sleep take hold of her, the tiniest hint of a smile on her face.

Chapter Text

They didn’t wake up the way they fell asleep. Nobara was halfway under Yuuji, practically crushed. Her free leg was splayed out over Megumi’s hips. Which.. how had she managed..? She had moved in a diagonal angle? There was no way that was comfortable. Her arm was so close to his face, her finger tips too close to his eyes than he would’ve liked. And Megumi. The only normal one. Had remained on his back the entire night.

“Nobara.” He mumbled softly, trying to wake her gently. She was not known to be a morning person. It felt dangerous trying to wake her, but his body ached. “Noh..” he tried again. He let out a defeated sigh. He reached down and softly rubbed the leg that was over him. “It’s time to wake up.” She grumbled under her breath and he saw the slightest flash of amber eyes before she shook her head and tried going back to sleep. “Baby. Come on.” It slipped out of his mouth that it was natural. He froze with his hand on her leg to see if she’d recognize his slip up. “I’m sleeping,” she said in the raspy voice she got from her rest. “Right. Right, I see that. That’s why I’m telling you to get up. To stop sleeping.” A whine left her, one that made a smile come to his face. 

Her hair was a mess from her movement in her sleep. Was she sleeping or wrestling last night? She blinked her eyes open, bleary and halfway opened, and tried to sit up. “What the..” she mumbled and looked over to the weight pinning her down. Her face soured and she tried to wiggle her way out. “Itadori.” She huffed out as she struggled. “Helloooo, wake up bitch! You’re suffocating me!” She was much less gentle in her attempts to wake him, and yet he was still just as difficult to rouse. She glowered at the sleeping boy. “Wake the fuck up!” She shouted into his ear which finally made Yuuji startle awake. “Get off of me!” Yuuji blinked slowly a few times before realizing that Kugisaki was under his body. “Oh shit, my bad.”

It took some genuine effort to get the trio untangled, Megumi groaning from being trapped in the same position from Nobara’s leg, and Nobara groaning from having to deal with Yuuji’s weight all night. Yuuji perked up with sunshine in his eyes. They both glared at him.

“Woah, Kugisaki. You should see your hair,” Itadori laughed out before he looked at Megumi’s. “Wow. So it really does just sit like that.. I always thought you were lying. How unnatural. Anyway, I’m gonna go for a run!” 

Was this… was this kid for real? He’d been dead asleep about two seconds ago and was now immediately coursing with pure energy. He practically flew out of the door the second he finished brushing his teeth.

“What a fucking weirdo..” She mumbled and rubbed her eyes. It was just the two of them, but she didn’t necessarily feel like ripping him to shreds. I mean.. It was hard to be mad at him after how he made her feel in Itadori’s bathroom last night.

“Your hair is crazy..” Megumi hummed out and climbed off the bed, ignoring the glare he knew she was sending his way. “I’ll grab your brush.” She felt her cheeks burn. He was being so.. So sweet with her. She kept thinking about what he did when he thought she was asleep. It felt unfair to her to keep villainizing him, but Nobara was stubborn and vengeful. Every time she thought about letting him back in, panic would shoot through her heart and she’d bare her teeth. Megumi settled behind her on the bed and began gently untangling her hair. They didn’t say anything, the only noise being Megumi’s soft humming. He hummed a lot. Everyone always thought he was so quiet, but if they really paid attention they’d know. He hummed.

He broke the silence first. “You’re sad.” It wasn’t a question. He knew. Even if she hadn’t told him, he would’ve known. There was a heaviness around her. Permanently sad eyes. He heard her take a shuddering breath and shrug her shoulders. He knew she wanted to say that she wasn’t, but even she couldn’t convince herself of that lie. “I don’t think I’m meant to be a daughter.” She mumbled out. He replaced the brush with his fingers and played with her hair. “I must be doing something wrong. There must be something inherently wrong with me.” She raised her arm and wiped her tears.

“My dad left me.” He told her, voice soft and soothing. “My mom died, so technically she left me, but not of her own free will, but my dad left me. Chose to leave.” She turned slightly to look up at him before setting her gaze back at the wall in front of her. “Got a new girlfriend. New girlfriend had a kid. They got married and they left us. Both of us.” He’d never opened up to her like this before. She never knew his family situation. She also didn’t know what was inspiring him to tell her this now. “My sister- Well, technically my step-sister, but my sister is perfect. Tsumiki. She’s an angel. Even as kids. Even with Gojo’s influence when he took us in. She’s everything you could ever want in a sister.” Nobara heard a switch in his tone. Longing and wistful. Voice full with an undercurrent of pain. “..What happened to her?” She asked quietly. She didn’t know if she had the right to ask, but it left her mouth before she could stop it. “Coma.” He responded simply. Nobara’s eyes closed. She hated this. She hated this shit. Megumi lost his mother, his father left him, and now his sister is in a coma. 

How was this fair? What the fuck was wrong with cursed world?

“I’m sorry.” Nobara told him earnestly, having to bite her lower lip. She wanted to cry for him. He left out a quiet laugh and rubbed her back. “I’m not telling you this to make you feel bad for me or to depress you. I’m telling you this because they left Tsumiki, and she was perfect. You couldn’t have asked for a better daughter and they still left her.” Her eyes widened and filled with tears with the realization of what he was trying to tell her with his story. It wasn't your fault. It's not your fault. She covered her face with her hands as the familiar sensation of tears rolled down her cheeks. She turned and buried her face in his chest, arms wrapping around him to hold onto him tightly. “You don’t have to tell me about your family history. I don’t need to hear a single sentence about it to know that it wasn’t your fault. There’s nothing wrong with you.” He whispered into her hair as he placed his hand at the back of her head. She wept into his shirt, gripping onto the back of it.

Megumi smiled down at her, a breath of sadness in it. “They didn’t mean to hurt us.” Nobara immediately knew that he was now talking about Nanami and Gojo. It only made her cry harder. “I’m angry and upset with them, but I know they didn’t mean to. It wasn’t their intention.” Just like when I hurt you. “Gojo is probably screaming, crying, and throwing up right now.” That got a laugh out of her which made his smile widen. “And I know. I know Nanami-sensei is heartbroken. You should see the way he looks at you. Like he’s raised you his whole life. Like his sole purpose is to protect you.” His words made her cry more intensely, but it meant she was processing, and he needed her to do that. She’d lost the spark in her eyes. There was no purpose to life when her eyes were dull and defeated.

He leaned back to rest against the headboard, pulling her with him so she could rest against his chest. She cried for a considerable amount of time, and Megumi rubbed up and down her arm the entire time, soft words of comfort slipped through his lips. “I’ve been really unfair to you.” She sniffled out. “Putting all of the blame on you. That’s not fair.” Her fingers rubbed against the soft fabric of his sleep shirt as she tried to steady her breathing. “I fucked up a lot too. Like. A lot. I’m sorry… and I can feel that your heart just started racing.” She mumbled with a little giggle and patted his chest.

Megumi’s face burned as he gently pinched her arm. “Shut up.” He huffed, but he couldn’t deny it. She was giving him hope. Maybe things could work out. Maybe things had to hit rock bottom and now they could finally rebuild.

Hope.

They laid together for the rest of the morning. Sometimes a few tears would slip out of Nobara, but Megumi was always right there to comfort her. 

Yuuji was trying to catch his breath. Damn, he ran for a really long time. He was giving them space. Giving them time to figure it out. He saw the way they looked at each other. There was so much love. They just had to grab onto and hold it instead of getting swept up in the hurt. 

“I’m hooome,” He called out before entering the room. Giving them time to adjust themselves if they needed to. Giving them time to break away from a cuddle session if his hopes were accurate.

Nobara and Megumi separated quickly. Megumi grabbed his book and Nobara panicked because she didn’t have anything to look natural with. In the end it didn’t matter because Megumi looked the most unnatural.

“Hey, Fushiguro. The book is upside down.”

Nobara could see the life leaving Megumi’s eyes and she couldn’t stop the wide smile that spread against her face. She giggled with her hand covering her mouth only for Megumi to gently smack the top of her head with said book. “Fucking brat,” he grumbled under his breath. Itadori was fighting off a grin. He could’ve jumped and cheered in relief. The tension was dissipating. Finally. 

“I need to shower. I’ll be right back.” Yuuji hummed happily and closed the door behind them. 

“I’m going to go for a walk. Just to think for a little,” Nobara told him before she crawled out of the bed. Megumi immediately missed her weight on the bed. He gave her a nod and a slight smile. He knew her and Nanami-sensei went on walks together. Maybe it would be good for her.

The world didn’t look the same as she looked around at the nature surrounding her. The sun was warm on her, but she felt no warmth. Not the warmth of safety and comfort she felt when she’d skip around through the park with Nanami. Tears pricked at her eyes but she shook her head. Her feet guided her to the park. Their park. She’d sit on the bench they used to sit on and eat the pastries from Nanami’s favorite bakery. Maybe that would make her feel better. Maybe that would make her feel worse.

Nanami lifted his head up at the sound of footsteps approaching. No one ever came to this area of the park. It was his and Nobara’s secret place. Sunshine bounced off of red hair as Nobara approached. She hadn’t noticed him yet. She could be so unaware of her surroundings sometimes. He’d often have to guide her away from a raised root of a tree so she didn’t trip, or warn her about the ant pile she was about to step in. His heart ached. His heart ached when she finally saw him. She stopped right in her tracks. Her eyes held a multitude of different emotions. Violent and loud emotions that she couldn’t mute due to their intensity.

Relief. Anger. Pain. Fear. 

She looked like she wanted to run, but she stayed in one spot. 

“I just… I didn’t know you would.. My feet kind of just led me here.” She whispered with an unsure shrug of her shoulders. Nanami’s soul revolted at the way she felt the need to explain herself. He stared at her without saying anything for longer than he should’ve. He could see the way his silence was causing a frenzy to unfold inside her head. But what could he say to her? Did he have any right to talk to her?

“Nanami-sensei.”

He was surprised that she called out to him rather than walking away. It stung to hear the honorific attached to his name. 

“Yes?”

His voice sounded tired. He looked tired. 

“Will you say something?”

He could see her take deep breaths. He could see her trying to steady herself. He could see that tremble in her bottom lip, and the way her nose scrunched in distaste at her perceived weakness. She was holding on by a thread.

“..Would you like to come sit with me?”

The tears were immediate as she nodded her head. She nearly ran over, but slowed down considerably once she was close. She wanted more than anything to sit next to him, but she was filled with hesitation and uncertainty. She carefully took a seat next to him and placed her hands in her lap, fiddling with the fabric of her skirt. He could sense that she was working up the courage to say something to him, so he kept silent. Even when he was desperate to encourage her. To tell her that she could say whatever she wanted. She cleared her throat and began to kick her feet rhythmically as they hung from the bench. “You really hurt me.” She whispered. So quietly it could’ve been carried away by the breeze and never heard. Nanami heard it like it was shouted into his ear. A direct blow to his heart. 

“I know,” He responded, sounding physically pained. 

“You really hurt me,” She repeated and inhaled sharply through her nose, “I would’ve never-.. I never thought you’d do that to me. I thought we were a team.” She whispered and used her sleeve to wipe her face. “You were-.. You were like.. I felt like you were my fucking dad,” She laughed out humorlessly. She felt embarrassed to admit it out loud. Her feet stilled and she looked over at him. Tears overflowing in her eyes and a look of desperation on her face, like she was pleading, like she needed closure. She needed something. “Was it something I did? Or-.. or maybe something I didn’t do? Did you mean it? Did you know it would hurt me and do it anyway? Did you even care about me? Or did you just.. Did you just pity me?”

This time he spoke without hesitation. He spoke with conviction and grabbed ahold of her hand, thankful that she didn’t pull away. 

“Nobara. Look at me.” There was an uptick in her crying and it took her a moment before she looked back at his eyes, but she did. “Nobara, I love you. I never imagined myself as any sort of father figure. I never thought I’d be a parent. I couldn’t visualize myself taking care of an infant, but it all makes sense. It all makes sense because I’m supposed to take care of you. Not a newborn, not a toddler, not an elementary school kid. I’m supposed to take care of this rollercoaster of a sixteen-year-old girl. And I failed you.” He said as he squeezed her hands. “I never meant to hurt you. It wasn’t- Nobara. I failed you. You didn’t fail me. It’s my fault. It is not yours.” He said to her firmly. The girl was easily consumed by self-doubt and difficulty believing in her own worth. He needed her to understand.

“I am so sorry. It's one of my biggest regrets. I don’t know what I was thinking. I’m not sure I was thinking. I am so sorry. Nobara, you have to know I am sorry.”

Her shoulders shook with her tears, tears that were rapidly increasing into full body sobs. She turned to him and wrapped her arms around one of his, hiding her face into his shoulder. “I miss you, I miss you, I miss you,” She repeated against his shirt that she was soaking with tears. “I want to come home! I want to come home with you, but- but I can’t, I can’t right now,” she was devastated that she couldn’t heal immediately. She knew he was being honest. She knew he meant what he was telling her. But Nobara was Nobara. And when she got hurt she remembered. Her body remembered and it held onto the hurt and distrust would begin to fester.

“I’ll always be there. I’ll always be there. I’ll wait. No matter how long it takes, no matter how long you need. If you ever want to come home, I’m there.” He told her gently, throat constricting at the fact that she wasn’t coming home with him today. But. There it was. The slightest bit. The little inkling.

Hope.

“Let me walk you home.” He whispered and gently pulled her up from the bench. She clung onto his arm as they made their way back to campus. He knocked and the door immediately swung open. Both Megumi and Yuuji were at the door. She’d be gone for too long, both of them were worried. The wave of relief that filled their bodies was indescribable. “There you are,” Itadori sighed out before a small smile came to his face. She was obviously upset, but she was with Nanami. “We’ve got her.” Megumi told Nanami as he pushed past Yuuji to pull Nobara into the room, immediately wrapping his arm around him as led her to the bed. 

“Take care of her.” Nanami said as he looked each boy in the eyes. They nodded back.

Hope, Yuuji thought to himself.

Hope.

Chapter Text

“You think she’s okay?” Itadori asked quietly as he looked down at Kugisaki. “She’s been asleep for awhile.. Should we wake her?” 

They’d taken her from Nanami and moved to the bed so she could sit down and stabilize herself. Megumi took one look at her and knew what needed to happen. He moved up the bed to rest against the headboard and gently pulled her to him. “C’mere.. You should rest..” Her head settled into his lap as his fingers began to run through her hair. “Itadori, come over here.” Megumi told him, “Just touch her. A hand on her shoulder, arm against her back, leg against her leg. Just touch her.” Itadori’s eyes widened and he looked at Fushiguro anxiously. He didn’t know what to do in a situation like this, and Fushiguro was telling him what to do, but he was suddenly very aware of how fragile Kugisaki was at that moment. What if he did something wrong? “Yuuji,” The use of his first name snapped him into action and he moved to be near the crying girl to do exactly as he was told. She was practically laying on Megumi’s legs, but one of her legs hung off of his, and Yuuji moved over to rest his leg against hers.

He panicked as he looked at his best friend who was clearly in shambles. He’d been really relieved to see her with Nanami-sensei, but now he wondered if their meeting had made her worse. Sensing his anxiety, Megumi nudged his shoulder against Yuuji’s. “She’s alright. She just needs to be grounded. She needs physical touch. She’ll be okay.” He hummed softly as he threaded his fingers through her silky strands. They were talking about her and she wasn’t responding. It was so.. unnatural and uneasy to Yuuji, but Fushiguro seemed unconcerned. He looked like he was in his element. Like he’s done this before. “She just needs to rest.. She’ll feel better when she wakes up.” Itadori was witnessing something he’d never seen before in his life. He didn’t even have the words to explain what was happening. Love was the only word that came to mind. Unconditional love. Nobara rubbed her fingers against the fabric of his pants until her crying slowed. "Rest." Megumi told her gently. She gave a small nod and let out a shaky breath before she nuzzled into him. It took her surprisingly very little time to find sleep, and once she found it she was out. Like.. Yuuji had to check her breathing because the girl who moved around all night and got into the strangest sleeping positions stayed completely still. Not even the slightly shift in her position.

She’d been asleep for a good three hours at this point. It was making Yuuji freak out. She wasn’t dead- obviously! He could clearly see her breathing, but the high emotions she came in with and the sudden descent into such a heavy rest was unnerving. Megumi snorted. He’d never stopped playing with her hair for the entire three hours thus far. “You think waking Nobara is the right thing to do?” Yuuji thought about it for a moment before he scrunched his nose. No. It wouldn’t be smart. She’d kill them. “But.. shouldn’t she eat something?” He asked while checking to make sure his leg was still touching Kugisaki’s. “Oh, she’ll eat. She’ll eat once she wakes up.” Megumi laughed quietly and looked down at the girl asleep in his lap with pure fondness. Unadulterated adoration. “..Big emotions like that exhaust her. She hasn’t quite found a way to process through things without it all coming out in some giant explosion. Once the energy is released, she’s exhausted. She’ll wake when she’s ready.” He said. The look in his eyes as he looked down at the redhead almost made Yuuji blush. The love. It was palpable. "...did you do this with her when you guys thought I was dead?" He asked quietly. There was guilt laced in his tone. God, he'd regret that for the rest of his life. "Yeah. She really missed you. We both did, but her.. expression was a bit more intense. You've got to handle situations very carefully with her. Make sure she can get her feelings out before they overwhelm her."

“..You really love her.”

“More than anything.”

Warmth blossomed in Yuuji’s chest and spread throughout his body. He knew at that moment that everything was going to work out. He wanted to laugh at himself. He’d always hoped they’d at least become friends. Well, they’d exceeded his expectations. 

She slept for another half hour before beginning to rouse. It looked like a struggle for her. Head raising only to rest back on his lap, eyes only opening for a few seconds at a time, and grumbles leaving her lips. “...my head hurts.” She said hoarsely. Megumi very gently got her into a sitting position and brushed her hair out her face. “Yeah. You need water. You’re dehydrated.” He mumbled sweetly to her before turning to grab her water bottle. It was much too large and too brightly pink, but it had its benefits. He brought the straw to her mouth and she drank like she’d been stranded in the dessert for months. Yuuji felt like he shouldn’t be witnessing this. It was so intimate, but god did it make him so happy. His heart felt so full.

“Are you hungry, Kugisaki?” Yuuji asked, hardly finishing his sentence before she cut him off.

“I’m fucking starving.” She whined out and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes.

“It’s already on the way.” Megumi told her as he rubbed his hand up and down her back.

No fucking way, Yuuji thought to himself. Fushiguro had ordered food while she was asleep, knowing she’d want to eat immediately upon waking up. “Holy shit,” he said aloud. “You’re down so fucking bad, dude.” His comment brought heat to Megumi’s cheeks and he sent a glare his way, but Nobara.. Nobara had a little smile on her face.

It sounded like Nobara fell first and then Megumi fell harder. Like Yuuji wasn’t even sure how Megumi survived that fall.

“Listen.. If you guys ever need like.. alone time.. I can go somewhere. Watch a movie.”

Megumi’s face flushed violently red and he hissed Yuuji’s name, but Nobara laughed, and before Megumi could cover her mouth she already incriminated them. “Dude, you don’t even have to leave, Megumi fingered me in the bathroom.” Megumi’s hand shot over her mouth and pulled her entire body against his while he told her to shut the fuck up. Yuuji’s eyes were like saucers. He was scandalized. “What-.. Oh.. oh my god! There was no bug!” Nobara’s laughter couldn’t be silenced by Megumi’s hand. Megumi’s head dropped with a sigh of defeat before he shrugged. “She’s hot.”

Like that excused it?! Itadori glanced at both of them before he shrugged as well. “I mean, yeah, she is.”

And suddenly the room’s atmosphere took on a murderous intent. Nobara’s eyes quickly glanced up to look at Megumi’s face. She was delighted by what she saw. His jaw was clenched, anger in his eyes, and expression dripping with jealousy. With possessiveness. Like she was his. She fought the urge to grin against his hand. That might distract him from his main goal, which looked like killing Yuuji. 

“Hey-! What’s that look for?! I’m not blind!”

Megumi’s grip on her tightened and she was thriving. Genuinely thriving. 

“Itadori.” Megumi said coolly. A warning. A warning she knew her best friend wouldn’t catch onto.

“Dude! Why am I getting in trouble? I’m agreeing with you! Your girl is hot! That’s a good thing!”

“Get the fuck away from her.”

“You said to touch her-”

“Move.”

Itadori, finally realizing the danger, scrambled to the end of the bed and stared widely at the couple. Technically not a couple, but come on. WIth a response like that? A fucking couple. There was tense silence for a moment, but it was quickly broken by Nobara’s loud laughter breaking through. It was more like a cackle honestly. She pulled his hand off of her mouth and turned to look at him, batting her lashes. “Did someone get a little jealous just now?” She asked in faux innocence. Megumi groaned and gently shoved her off of him, with a “Get the fuck out of my face.”

She then turned to Yuuji with a grin and tossed her hair over her shoulder, never one to shy from a compliment. “You’re got great taste, Yuuji. I’m proud of you.” That got a grin out of the pink-haired boy, but it didn’t last long since Megumi chucked a pillow directly into his face. And just like old times, Nobara and Yuuji laughed so hard they nearly cried. Gripping onto each others arms to try and stabilize themselves, bent over, crying laughing. Megumi still wanted to murder Itadori, but he couldn’t help but smile. He fought it off as hard as he could, but it still tugged at his lips.

“Fuck you guys, I’m sleeping in the middle tonight, Nobara is against the wall, and you’re on the other side.” He said firmly which made his two best friends- well.. One best friend and one..? Anyways, they both snickered at each other and saluted him as if he were a captain of some sort. “Yes sir!” Megumi rolled his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose in irritation before a knock at the door saved their lives.

“Food!” Nobara shouted and nearly knocked both boys off of the bed to yank the door open and bring the food Megumi had delivered in. “Don’t go near her just yet.. Let her fix her plate..” Megumi whispered to Yuuji. It truly was a life or death situation when it came to Nobara and this level of hunger. 

Yuuji watched in amazement and slight horror at the manner in which Nobara ate. Was it even considered eating? It was like inhaling. It was.. impressive. Then he glanced over to Megumi and saw the complete opposite. He was so polite and full of manners as he ate shitty take out. The two couldn’t be more opposite if they tried, but Yuuji was sure that’s what made them click together the way they did. Something was healing in Yuuji. He didn't know what it was exactly.. He'd always only had his grandpa, and he'd been fine with that... but this... this was family. These were people he never wanted to leave. He loved them. He loved them, they loved each other, and they loved him. Yuuji had to blink a few times to clear the beginnings of tears in his eyes. He was so lucky, he thought to himself. To have something so precious. Like watching Megumi sigh and wipe Nobara's face because she was eating so messily while he was completely pristine. "I missed you guys." He said suddenly. The three stared at each other, misty eyed, and gave small smiles. "We missed you." Nobara said before reaching over and pinching his cheek. "Welcome home, bitch."

They laid in bed that night, Megumi in the middle, and talked aimlessly for hours. Just talked because they could. Because no one was dead. No one was fighting. They just got to be kids and talk about the most pointless topics known to mankind. 

“..Soooo. You think you’re gonna talk to Gojo anytime soon?” Yuuji asked as he glanced over at Megumi. Nobara also turned her attention to the boy in the middle. She was still quite angry at their sensei and how he’d failed to protect Megumi.

“Of course.” He said without a second thought.

“Of course!?” Nobara shot up, resting on her elbow as she looked down at him like he was crazy. “Megumi- Megumi, he hurt you. He, you’re just gonna-.. He doesn’t, he doesn’t deserve access to you that way!” Her brows furrowed and she was obviously not happy about the idea. A soft smile graced Megumi’s lip and he reached up from his laying position to tuck her hair behind her ear. “Noh. It’s okay. I’ll be okay.” She now sat up and crossed her arms over her chest, clearly getting flustered and a bit upset. “He’s supposed to take care of you, and he didn’t!”

Megumi’s chest filled with warmth. She was upset for him. Upset because she cared about him. Upset because he got hurt and now she wanted to protect him from that happening again. “Noh, lay down. C’mere.” He pulled her down and let his arm wrap around her to hold her against him and let out a soft sigh. “Gojo.. Gojo is a lot of things. I think we all can agree to that.” Nobara rolled her eyes and Yuuji hummed in agreement. “But he’s not cruel. From the time he took me into his care, he has always tried to do what was in my best interest. Always. Guys. He was a kid. Trying to raise a kid… and he’s really suffered. I think he’s suffered his whole life.” A frown settled on Megumi’s face. From what he’s heard, Gojo knew grief. A kind of grief that some people couldn't survive. Gojo did. Somehow. He survived and still allowed his heart to be seen. Still gave love. After so much loss. “I have never once doubted that he cares for me. I even know that he loves me. He does his best, and sometimes that’s not enough, and sometimes that gets people hurt, and that is just how relationships go. Friendships and family alike.” His hand rubbed up and down Nobara’s arm to try and soothe some of her upset as he spoke to her and Yuuji. “He loves me… and I love him.”

Yuuji’s eyes widened slightly and it was his turn to prop up onto his elbow. “That’s like… are you feeling okay? That was really some poetic shit, and you admitted to loving Gojo-sensei.”

“Shut up before I push you off this bed.”

“Okay, first of all, rude. Second of all, it's my bed so that's actually crazy to say.”

Nobara was silent. Tracing patterns against Megumi’s chest with a little pout of her lips. Both boys settled into silence. They’d wait for her to process Megumi’s words and then respond. Yuuji had now learned what Megumi had known for a long time by now. Nobara needed time. She needed to be given the opportunity in a safe environment to sort through her feelings. It’s how they avoided explosive bursts of emotions from her.

“I don’t want you to get hurt…”
He pressed a kiss to her hairline and smiled against her. “I know. Thank you, but in the same way you need Nanami-sensei, I need Gojo.”

A long sigh left Nobara and she shrugged her shoulders after slipping deep into thought for another minute or so. “I assume you’ll see him tomorrow?” Megumi nodded and gave her a squeeze. “Yeah. Tomorrow. He’s gonna be a mess. What a drag.” He mumbled with a slight grumble. He was slightly nervous. Not that Gojo would hurt him. There was just going to be a lot of vulnerability involved in their reconnection. That was always a bit anxiety inducing to Megumi. 

“Sooooo…” Yuuji started and sat up fully to look down at his two best friends. “Like. You guys are dating, right? I mean… neither one of you has said that you're dating, but. But guys. You’re dating.”

Megumi and Nobara flushed a brilliant crimson and stiffened in each other's hold, trying to get some words out but fumbling before giving up and going silent. Yuuji only rolled his eyes and laid back down. “You’re making something so clear and obvious complicated. Just let yourselves love each other. It’s that simple. If you get hurt, if it doesn’t work out, so what? Isn’t that the price we pay for love? To experience love knowing the risk that it might hurt… but that the love is worth it. Even if it hurts.”

“I’m going to bed. I’m hallucinating. Yuuji just made sense. My brain hurts. Like what the fuck just happened. Did you hear him, ‘Gumi? That was some Lord Myron shit.”

“Byron. It’s Lord Byron.”

“And you just pissed me off, so, right now? Right now we’re not dating.”

A loud laugh left Megumi and he pinched her cheek. God. She was so endearing. “You’re such a fucking brat. Go to bed.” Megumi snorted, making her huff and grumble to herself, but he saw the little smile she had on her face. She quietly told him to fuck himself, but immediately nuzzled into his side. She fell asleep almost instantaneously, still drained from the high emotions or meeting with Nanami, which left Yuuji and Megumi alone. 

“Hey.. about earlier..” Yuuji started and Megumi immediately looked over to him with a glare. “Don’t.” Megumi said firmly. Yuuji scrunched his nose up, and Yuuji being Yuuji made the stupid choice. “Like.. earlier… Like, Megumi. She’s hot. Not in a Jennifer Lawrence kind of way. Still hot, but also really cute. Look at her. So I’m like. I’m like fist-bumping you. Like bros. Imagine if I said she was ugly. You’d be upset. So I’m just saying like. Your girl is hot and-” In one sharp motion Megumi used his free hand to shove Yuuji off of the bed. Yuuji yelped and tried to catch himself, looking up at Megumi with wide eyes… but then a grin spread to his face. Megumi looked furious. And Yuuji saw that he’d brought Nobara further onto his chest, clearly tightening his hold on the girl. “Jesus Christ, Megumi. You’re so down bad. Alright, alright, I won’t call her hot… this is so crazy. I didn’t even know you knew how to feel love.” He snickered and shook his head. “Can I come back on the bed?”

“No.”

“Wha-, Megumi! Come on!”

“You can lay on the floor and think about your actions for the rest of the night. Sweet dreams.” Megumi said and tossed him a pillow.

Yuuji was left flabbergasted and also so full of joy it almost hurt. His two favorite people. Completely and utterly in love with each other. Nobara and Nanami-sensei were taking steps to heal, and tomorrow Gojo-sensei and Megumi would start that journey too.

There was a lot of hurt and suffering that came with being a sorcerer… but god. There was so much beauty. Bonds no one else could understand. Yuuji knew it was a reckless thought to have. He knew he shouldn’t think this way as a sorcerer, but as he looked up at his best friends on the bed he smiled to himself.

They’d be together forever. Him, Megumi, and Nobara. Gojo-sensei and Nanami-sensei. Nothing would happen to them. 

It couldn’t. 

Not to his family. 

“Goodnight, Megumi. I love you.”

“Shut up, Yuuji. Go to bed.” Megumi hissed out, but Yuuji only laughed because he could hear that Megumi got flustered from that.

“Whatever. You love me back.”

“Yuuji, I’m about to kick you out of the room. You’re already on the floor. Don’t play with me.”

Yuuji had to bury his face in his pillow to stifle his laughter so he didn’t wake Nobara. He heard Megumi huff..and he also heard a quiet chuckle leaving him. 

Together forever.

Chapter Text

Gojo’s heart picked up considerably as he felt Megumi's presence growing closer. His six eyes were a blessing and curse. It gave him time to collect his bearings. It also gave him time to overthink. Megumi had never been in love before. This was new. What if this failure regarding this new love was the nail in the coffin. It was often thought that Megumi needed Gojo, but it was just as true that Gojo needed Megumi. It was unnatural to say the least, the way the two came into each other's lives. A seventeen year old taking in a first grader. A first grader he dedicated his life to protecting. Him and his sister, who was a radiant and beautiful soul. He grieved Tsumiki too. 

He inhaled sharply through his nose as the door handle turned and Megumi, his boy, walked in. He didn’t look angry, but Megumi was excellent in masking his emotions. Gojo was trying to find the words as Megumi approached. What could he say? Was sorry enough? Would things ever be the same?

“You’re thinking so damn loud,” Megumi huffed as he closed the distance. He stood and stared at his sensei.. His dad in a more accurate way.. And studied his expression. His eyes were still piercingly blue, but there was darkness under them. Eye bags that exposed that the man was having fitful sleep. His skin even looked paler, which Megumi didn’t think was possible.

“Megumi, I-”

“Shut up.”

Megumi said before he pulled Gojo into a tight hug. The man was so much taller than him, but it gave him the opportunity to rest his head against his shoulder. “You’re so stupid sometimes.” Megumi mumbled with a heavy sigh. “That really sucked. You did a really shitty thing, Gojo.” He said with a frown as he pulled back. Gojo looked like he was experiencing every emotion humanly possible. Relieved to have been hugged, ashamed of his actions, devastated to have hurt Megumi. “I’d never… I’ve never been in love before. You have. I know you have. I needed some sort of guidance. You just let me walk into the fire over and over again. Why didn’t you help me?”

Gojo’s eyes dulled the second Megumi mentioned love. His love. A storm flooded the endless blue of his eyes and there it was. The grief. The grief that Gojo always tried to suppress with his jovial attitude. “Can we sit?” Gojo asked, sounding burdened. Sounding like he had something heavy sitting on his chest. Megumi gave a nod. He wasn’t sure if he’d ever heard Gojo use this tone, and if he had it happened so rarely he couldn’t remember. They moved over to the couch and Gojo turned his body towards his student. Megumi could see a multitude of thoughts running through his sensei’s mind.

“I have been in love.” The white-haired man started. He paused for a few moments with his brows furrowed. “Before I got you.” A small smile came to his face, but it was still there. Grief. The grief was still there. “It couldn’t have… I could’ve never comprehended it ending the way it did. I think I died a little bit. I think that love killed something in me.” He admitted quietly. A deep sigh left him and he made eye contact with his student before frowning at him. “I didn’t want… I didn’t want to mess up your love. I didn’t want your love to turn and rot the way ours did. I was scared. Scared that I’d lead you down a similar road. Lead you to dying inside.” Megumi watched as Gojo swallowed thickly. This was the most vulnerable he’d ever been with him. He saw honesty in his eyes, but, god, the pain was the most potent look. “Not that Nobara would ever-.. I could’ve done a lot of things differently. I’m at fault for how things turned out. I felt like I had no right to help you do something I failed at.”

Gojo’s voice wavered and he glanced away. His look was far off and wistful. Longing. Pining. Grief. “And it looks like I’ve failed again.” He said with a laugh that didn’t have any humor behind it. “I’m sorry, kiddo. I’m sorry.” He said sincerely, nearly sounding tearful as he reached over and gave a gentle squeeze to Megumi’s knee. “I hope you know… I hope you know that I’ve always wanted the best for you. You and Tsumiki. I just… tend to fuck up a lot along the way.” Gojo pressed his lips together into a thin line before they turned into a frown. 

“You don’t have to forgiv-”

“I forgive you. I forgive you and I always will. Always.”

Megumi said earnestly with a serious look in his eyes. A flash of the first grader Gojo had met crossed his mind, causing the man to smile softly. He was always so serious.

“I’m serious, Megumi. You don’t have to.”

“And I’m telling you that I will forgive you. Every. Single. Time.”

Gojo felt his throat constrict and he took a deep breath as he stared at his student. His kid. His kid, that often, taught him more life lessons than he taught Megumi. He watched as a pink hue tinted Megumi’s cheeks as the teenager crossed his arms over his chest and glanced away. “You’re like my fucking dad..” He mumbled out, the blush only intensifying. “You took me in when my actual dad left. You were a teenager and you took me and Tsumiki in… and you’ve never left since then. You’re stupid, like, really fucking stupid… but you’ve always… I can’t thank you enough.”

The two locked eyes. Vibrant and teary blue meeting verdant green. 

“You mess up sometimes, but most of the time? Most of the time you’re everything I could ever want. I know you didn’t mean to hurt me. I know. I know that you’ll never intentionally hurt me.” Tears spilled down Gojo’s cheeks as he pulled Megumi into a hug, resting his chin atop of raven hair. Megumi himself felt tears burning at his eyes as he held onto Gojo. 

“I love you, kiddo.”

“I know. I love you too.”

Megumi never said that often. Actually, he might have never said it before, he realized. It seemed like he had never said it with the way Gojo’s reacted. Megumi got squeezed to the point that it was nearly painful and Gojo sobbed. Gojo, the strongest, sobbed as he held Megumi. And Megumi let him. He didn’t roll his eyes or push him away. He let himself be loved by Gojo. Gojo held him and felt like he was holding the child he’d met all of those years ago. The child that never let him get close. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before pulling back and wiping his face.

“Are you and Nobara.. Are you guys okay?”

He was scared to ask the question. Scared at the possibility that his shortcomings could’ve ruined what he had with his other student. His body relaxed at the sound of Megumi’s light chuckle, his student rubbing the back of his neck with an eye roll. 

“We’re something. She's something. We’ll be fine. She’s still trying to prove a point, but as Yuuji says, we’re technically dating… which is a bit interesting with all three of us in bed.”

A grin came to Megumi’s face and Gojo watched in awe. He was so carefree. He found amusement in things. Nobara had really opened up a brand new world for him. Gojo wouldn’t be able to thank her enough. He smiled at his student as his heart ached. It shattered. He thought of long hair and wonderfully purple eyes. He thought about standing on a busy street, surrounded by people, but only seeing one person. He thought about raising his hand to kill him… and then lowering it.

He thought about the smile. The last smile he gave to him. He smiled at him as he died. So twisted. Love was the most twisted curse of all.

Please. Not for him. Gojo didn’t know who he was pleading with. He was just pleading. 

Megumi felt and saw the shift in Gojo’s demeanor. A small frown played at his lips as he got to his feet. “Nobara will kill me if I don’t head back soon.. Hey, Gojo?” Gojo came back to the present and looked up at Megumi who was now standing above him. “Hm?”

“I’m sorry. About your love. Whatever happened. I’m sorry.”

He froze for a moment before slipping into his character. A big grin spread against his face and he shook his head while waving the apology off. “It was so long ago. Back Yaga had the worst haircut known to man. I’m fine! I just love the drama of it all.” He said with a lighthearted tone. It was fake. The smile was fake. The voice was fake. The laughter was fake. Megumi stared at him with furrowed brows. “Right…” He mumbled, not exactly seeing anything beneficial coming from confronting his sensei about this. Maybe not right now, but one day. One day he’d ask. And maybe one day that could lessen the burden his sensei carried everyday that no one else ever seemed to notice. 

“Nobara is still figuring stuff out with Nanami-sensei, and I’ll be honest, I’d steer clear from her for a little bit longer. She is not a fan.”

Gojo snorted fondly and nodded his head. “Got it. Once everything settles we’ll officially reunite the team. Once Nobara isn’t ready to take my six eyes out of my head.” They shared a small smile before Megumi left to head back to Yuuji’s dorm.

He stopped right outside of the door and took a breath. He had yet to figure out what to expect before he entered the dorm. Yuuji and Nobara could find themselves in interesting situations. He cautiously opened the door to find a very dejected Yuuji sitting on the floor with his switch in his lap and a very prideful Nobara towering over him. She had an evil smirk on her face as she leaned down. “What happened? I thought you were “the best” at Smash Bros? I’m just so confused! It made me feel bad, honestly. Destroying your poor little Yoshi. Sheik and I are just built different I guess..” She reached down and ruffled his hair with her hand. Neither of them had noticed Megumi’s entrance and he was too amused to say anything for a moment. 

He finally walked behind Nobara, who was still terrorizing Yuuji, and he circled his arm around her waist to pull him against his chest. He put his lips near her ear as he squeezed her against him slightly, “Be nice to Yuuji.” He hummed out against her ear. She froze in her spot, heart immediately going tachycardic, and face burning red. Something happened to her when he spoke to her like that. He was quite literally the hottest person she’d ever met. She could meet every person that graced this earth and not find anyone remotely close to Megumi’s level. “Sorry,” She grumbled under her breath, but Megumi shook his head and made a noise of disapproval. Good god. She was about to kick Yuuji out of his own room. “...Ugh. Fine. Sorry, Yuuji, For being mean.” She felt Megumi smirk against her neck and there was no doubt that he could feel how much her skin had heated up.

Yuuji perked right up with a grin. “Good game, ‘Bara! I’ll get you next time. Yoshi and I have some bonding to do, but I believe in us.” He said as he got to his feet. “Anyway, I’m supposed to spar with Panda, but I didn’t want Nobara to be alone while she waited for you to get back. I’ll see you guys later!” He called out to them before he threw his switch on the bed and ran out of the room. 

“As much as I would love for you to fuck me right now, I need to hear about how things went.” She said as she pulled away only to grab his hands and bring him towards the bed. They sat across from each other, which was rare. Nobara usually preferred to be side by side so she could rest on him, but she wanted to look at his eyes. Make sure he was really okay. 

Nobara hummed to herself as Megumi led her through the events. He never looked distressed or sounded upset regarding anything. He actually looked quite peaceful. Him and Gojo had been in each other’s lives for a long time. Much longer than she’d known Nanami-sensei, so it made some sense that they were able to click back together much quicker. “Well… I’m glad that things went well… I still don’t like the motherfucker, but, I like you. So. If you’re happy, that's all I can ask for.” She told him and got on her knees in front of him to place a sweet kiss to his lips. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

Megumi smiled against her lips and pulled her into his lap. “You’re so soft.” He laughed softly. “Always trying to convince the world that you’re this aggressive and evil girl.” He hummed out and brushed her hair behind her ear, “and you’re just the sweetest girl.” Nobara whined immediately as her face burned and she shoved her face into the crook of his neck. “Shut the fuck up.” She huffed out against his neck, but a smile came onto her face as he rubbed up and down her back. 

“Well… you said you needed to hear about how things went with Gojo, and now you know.”

“Yeah. Duh? I know that.”

He smirked and cupped the back of her neck to pull her in slightly.

“Do you remember what you said before that?”

She hummed in thought for a moment before her eyes lit up once she remembered. “Are you gonna fuck me?” She asked coyly, looking up at him with her big amber eyes from under her lashes. Her fingers threaded through his hair and began running through it as she shifted her hips against him slightly. “Are you going to behave?” He asked. Her eyes flashed and she scrunched her nose at him, “I always behave.” He snorted and began kissing against her neck. “And she starts off by lying..” He said in amusement. She huffed yet tilted her neck up to give him more access to her sensitive skin. “Always talking before actually doing anything. Do I make you nervous, Megumi?” She asked with a smirk. She drove him crazy. The change in their position was instantaneous. She was on her back with him hovering over her and a thrill of excitement ran through her. “A lot of attitude in you today..” He hummed out. “You’re such a brat.” He smirked to her, knowing it would get a rise out of her. She glared and opened her mouth. Some sharp retort ready on her tongue that never got to actually leave her mouth as he pressed his thumb into her mouth and pushed down on her tongue. “Wouldn’t want you to get yourself in trouble,” He hummed out to her, “already got so much brattiness to fuck out of you.”

He saw the way her pupils began to swallow the beautiful amber color of her eyes. Her chest was heaving already in anticipation. He knew he could take his thumb out of her mouth and she’d be quiet. “I bet you’re already soaked.” He said before pulling his thumb out and resting it on her bottom lip. “Are you?” Her face flushed red immediately upon realizing that he was asking her a question, and that he wanted an answer. An answer to a question he already knew. “I-I’m- Megumi!” She whined and glanced away from him. He gave her a few moments before he grabbed her jaw and made her look at him. “Are you wet, Nobara?” He asked, his voice smooth and low. She chewed on her bottom lip and furrowed her brows. He wasn’t going to move forward if she didn’t answer. With the smallest nod and the quietest voice that had ever left Nobara, she finally responded. “Yes.” His smirk grew and she wanted to groan. He wasn’t done. “Mmm, and do you want me to fuck you?” She was glaring daggers at him. So tempted to say something. To snap back at him. He watched her internal struggle in pure enjoyment. He was going to fuck her anyway. It was only a matter of how long she’d have to wait. “Of course I want you to fuck me, I just said I was wet. Like, obviously that’s the clear answer.”

She could never stop herself. Nobara always fought back. His eyes darkened in delight. 

“That wasn’t very nice, Noh,” He hummed out and brushed the back of his fingers against her cheek. He felt the heat radiating off of them. “Well, you’re asking stupid questions!” She snapped at him with tightly knit brows. She was so easy to rile up. It was addictive. “Someone’s in a mood.” He said and pretended to be lost in thought for a moment. 

“Megum-”

“You want to come that badly?”

“No. Obviously not. I’m just fucking ruining my underwear for the hell of it.”

He couldn’t help but laugh as he climbed off of her and started pulling his clothes off. “You just can’t help yourself.” He chuckled as he pulled her shirt over her head before removing the rest of her clothes. He pulled her up to a sitting position and dragged her to the edge of the bed where he stood in front of her. Nobara nearly had to hold back a moan at the way he towered over her. “You just have to be a fucking brat all of the time.” He muttered as he grabbed her jaw firmly between his fingers, using his hand on her face to make her stand. Her breath hitched as he leaned down and kissed her harshly, the pressure of his fingers against her face dizzying. “I’m gonna bend you over that fucking counter in the bathroom and have my way with you like I wanted to the other day.” He said darkly, lips brushing ever so slightly as he spoke. She felt her knees go a little weak and she grabbed onto his arms as she gave a short nod. He smirked and squished her cheeks together slightly with his fingers, making her lips pout. “And suddenly she’s silent. And suddenly she’s such a good girl. Would you look at that.” He said in a teasing tone before he released her burning face. 

“Go.”

She would’ve been embarrassed at how quickly she made her way to the bathroom had she not been painfully turned on. She wasn’t exactly sure what to do once she got in there, still quite inexperienced. Megumi could see the confused thoughts running through her head as he followed in behind her. “What are you waiting for? You’re the one with the attitude. The impatient one. What are you doing just standing there?” His tone bordered on mocking and heat shot straight down between her legs. She looked at him with big eyes and caught her lower lip between her teeth for a few moments. He could witness her blush deepening. “I-I..” she started off so quietly that he cut her off. “Speak up.” A soft whine left her lips and she glanced away in her bashfulness. “I.. I don’t know what to do now.” She admitted. His smirk grew but his eyes softened.

“Interesting. Getting an attitude with me when you don’t have a clue about what to do. Forearms on the counter.”

The glare she sent slipped out of her, she couldn’t stop it, but she quickly realized her mistake and mumbled a quiet sorry before following his command. He chuckled and moved behind her, eyes trailing her body from this new view. Her spine was long and elegant. “Fuck,” he mumbled quietly as he noticed the back dimples, which he immediately sunk his thumbs into. He could see how wet she was. “You’re dripping,” he hummed out, enjoying the way she shifted on her feet, still so shy over being seen so intimately. He noticed that she had her face turned to the side so as to not look at them in the mirror. That won’t do. He gave a sharp smack against her ass, eliciting a yelp from her and making her look at him through the reflection of the mirror. “You’re going to watch.” 

She swallowed thickly and looked forward at the mirror. She glanced away a few times out of reflex before finally settling her gaze. She was overcome with shyness at the idea of watching herself getting fucked… and also overcome with arousal so intense her mind was getting fuzzy. A few shaky breaths escaped her as he rubbed his tip up and down her slit, her lashes fluttering every time he bumped against her clit. She watched herself in the mirror. She looked like a complete mess. Her cheeks were flushed and her lower lip was caught between her teeth. She noticed the way her brows were furrowed before she looked up at Megumi. A moan left her lips at the way he was looking at her, head dropping at what she saw. Pure hunger and desire. “Fuck,” she mumbled under her breath before picking her head up quickly to follow the rules he’d laid out for her. He positioned herself at her entrance and she took a deep breath to prepare herself for when he entered her.

…which he wasn’t doing. Her eyes glanced up to him in the mirror and saw that he was looking at her expectantly. “Megumi..” She mumbled, trying not to whine, but this was just cruel. She saw his features darken and her breathing picked up in response. “Beg for it.” Her mouth opened slightly and she blinked a few times as if she’d misheard him. “‘Gumi,” She whimpered softly with a slight shake to her head, “c’mon, don’t make me do this.” She couldn’t hold the whine back in her voice this time. Nobara was prideful. Asking her to beg? She scrunched up her face after she waited to see if he’d just fuck her regardless, only to find that he was unmoving and that his gaze never wavered from her. 

Fuck. He was going to make her beg.

“...this is… fuck,” she breathed out and rubbed her lips together before accepting her fate with a sigh. “..Please.” She nearly whispered only to see him shake his head. “Louder.” He could feel her fighting to keep her hips still, trying to stop herself from pushing back against him. It was intoxicating. She huffed slightly and took two deep breaths before trying again.

“Megumi. Please.”

“Please what?”

He reveled in the way her expression changed. She was getting antsy. Frustrated. Shyness overwhelmed her features. She looked perfect.

“..Fuck! Fine! Please, Megumi, please fuck me. Please fuck me, I want-.. I need you, please,” The words tumbled out of her mouth and he could pick up on the genuine desperation in her tone. He gave her hips a squeeze and smiled at her, the smile slightly cruel. “See. That wasn’t so hard. You’re so obedient.”

He decided to have mercy on her, reward her for her obedience, and he pushed into her. He eased himself in slowly, giving her time to adjust and watching her expression intently in the mirror. Her breath hitched at the feeling, mouth ever so slightly agape and her eyes shut as he brought his hips flushed against hers. There was no pain unlike the first time, which she was thankful for, but the fullness took her breath away. “Fuck,” she panted out and pressed her fingertips against the counter as if she could dig them into the hard surface. She felt his thumb rubbing soothing circles on her hip before he asked in such a gentle tone, “You okay, baby?” 

She was quiet for a few moments as she focused on breathing and relaxing, and then she looked at him in the reflection. “Megumi, please, please fuck me,” she pleaded, not even instructed to beg this time. It brought a smirk to his face. His pleasure. He pulled his hips back and hummed at the feeling of her around him, he’d never be able to rationalize how perfect she felt around him. Made for him. Just as he saw her mouth open to presumably beg more, he snapped his hips forward, making her cry out. He could listen to her forever. He decided he’d made her wait long enough. 

Nobara felt like she could hardly breathe. He thrust into her quickly, a pace that made her struggle to collect herself, not that she necessarily wanted to. She was in bliss. An overwhelming type of bliss that made her brain go into a frenzy and set her body ablaze. “F-Fuck, fuck,” Nobara gasped out as she clenched her hands into fists. This position had her seeing stars. Beautiful bursts of light and he fucked into her roughly. “You’re, holy shit, Megumi, you’re so deep- fuck,” She rambled, “please, please- more,” she cried, her words mixed and convoluted between the moans and whimpers he was pulling from her. Megumi was mesmerized. Nobara was babbling. She’d never been vocal like this before- not with words. It had been quite the task to keep her quiet in the bathroom the other day, but not because she was speaking. And now she couldn’t seem to stop. It was so hot that Megumi had to refocus himself so he didn’t finish.

“More? You want more?” He growled out, groaning at how immediate her nod was. It was a messy nod and she nodded more times than necessary. She was gone. Completely gone.

“Don’t stop, please, please, fuck me- feels so good, I can’t-, Megumi,” she was practically incoherent, words just flying out of her mouth with abandon. He wasn’t even concerned about making sure she kept her eyes on the mirror. He was too busy getting drunk on what he was seeing and feeling. 

Her hair was stuck to her face which was flushed and sweaty. When her eyes weren’t closed they were completely unfocused and glassy, he wasn’t even sure she was seeing anything. Her walls fluttered and clamped around him, making him swallow hard and bite back moans. He was grasping onto control. She was somehow calling all of the shots without even knowing it. 

“Noh, jesus,” He groaned out in honest amazement, “you’re taking me so well.” He felt his pace falter as she pulled a moan from him by pushing herself back against him, meeting his thrust. 

Jesus Christ. What had he just unlocked in this girl? 

Every drag of his length made a shockwave go through her as he hit a specific spot that felt like an otherworldly sensation. She could feel herself getting close and the idea of having to wait was unbearable. She dropped her head against one of her arms, back arching slightly as she slid her free hand in between her legs. Megumi’s eyes widened and he choked out a strangled noise at the realization that she was touching herself. Her fingers were frantically circling her clit to reach the orgasm she felt like she’d die if she didn’t have right now. “Fuck, ‘m gonna come, Megumi-, Megumi, Megumi,” she repeated his name until her orgasm violently crashed into her. He had to quickly tighten his grip on her hips as her knees went weak, sobs of pleasure leaving her as she let her fingers work her through it along with him. Her body trembled and she was impossibly tight around him. He stood no chance fighting off his own orgasm. Curses flew out of his mouth as he jerked into her with no rhythm. His fingers tightened into bruising grips that would leave marks on her hips. He clenched his jaw in a final attempt to hold on, but it was useless and he groaned as he came inside of her.

She called the shots today.

He had to lean into her slightly to keep himself upright, pressing her further into the counter as he panted to catch his breath. He could feel the way her chest expanded against him and it oscillated between quick and shaky breaths to her attempts and drawing in deeper ones to fill her lungs. Fine trembles ran through her body and her ears were filled with the sound of rushing blood and racing heart beats. They were both in a daze, Megumi having experienced the best sex he’d ever had. 

He finally pulled his weight off of her, making sure to keep a hold on her hips so her legs didn’t give out from under her as he pulled out of her. Nobara made the smallest noise to indicate that she felt that, but otherwise she was still splayed out on the counter. 

“Noh.. I need to get a towel to clean you up.. Can you stand?”

He’d sit her up on the counter and let her lean back against the mirror if she couldn’t hold herself up. She hummed softly and mumbled something he couldn’t hear. She probably didn’t even say words.

“...Okay, I’m going to put you on the counter before things get.. Messy..”

Suddenly Nobara stiffened. Completely tensed up as her blood ran cold. The realization sobered her immediately and she picked up her head to look at him through the mirror. Her face was pale. Messy. Things were going to get really messy. In more ways than one.

“Megumi.” She sounded horrified. It made Megumi’s heart race.

“What? What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

She was silent, but was clearly trying to work up what she needed to tell him.

“Megumi. You came in me.”

His life flashed before his eyes.

Fuck. Fuck.

Chapter Text

“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Shit. Oh my fucking god-”

“Nobara, I think-”

“You shut the fuck up!”

Nobara was pacing back and forth in the room. It was making Megumi more anxious than he already was, and he was terrified. She’d been like this for a good thirty minutes, pacing and cursing and running her fingers roughly through her hair. He couldn’t get through to her. He’d seen fear in her during missions before. Fear at the threat of death. But that look of fear paled in comparison to what she looked like now. 

“Why didn’t you put on a goddamn condom?!”

“We’re not in my room- I keep them in my drawer! I didn’t even think about it! I-, Nobara, I really wanted to fuck you. It slipped my mind! I’m sorry!”

“You used your fucking dick instead of your brain, are you kidding me?!”

She was furious. Fuming. He knew the foundation of her anger was terror, but it was easy to slip back into old roles. He was scared too. Plus, she could’ve just as easily reminded him to put on a condom! The blame didn’t fall solely on him!

“And what?! You’re not on birth control, clearly!  Don’t you think I would’ve been more likely to remember to grab a condom if I knew that?!”

“Why would I be on birth control?! You took my fucking virginity! It’s not like I’ve been fucking bitches!”

Both of their voices had raised and tension was building rapidly. Two kids choked with fear. A baby? Nobara was sixteen, and Megumi was younger than her! 

“This is your fault, Megumi!”

“My fault? Are you fucked in the head?! This is your fault!”

“Well, technically it's both of your fault.”

Megumi and Nobara froze. Both of their eyes stayed locked. Megumi watched as Nobara’s face flushed and Megumi was sure she was witnessing the same thing on his own face. In all of their shouting Yuuji had been able to walk in undetected. The situation his best friends had found themselves in was immediately obvious. He tried to leave the room to give them some space, but the content of the fight was already exposed and the fight was escalating. He already knew. It’d be dishonest of him to exit the room and pretend he hadn’t heard anything.

“Megumi forgot the condom. You forgot to tell him to wear a condom. You didn’t tell him you weren’t on birth control, and Megumi assumed you were. You both had sex. Both of you.”

God, it was so unnatural when Yuuji was the logical one out of the three. Nobara was the one to break eye contact with Megumi to look at Yuuji and his light brown eyes. She swallowed thickly and inhaled sharply through her nose. Yuuji could tell she was hanging on by a thread. Megumi was too wrapped up in his own emotions to be level headed right now. “‘Bara.” Yuuji said, and it was all that needed to be said before tears spilled down her cheeks and she rushed over to her best friend. He quickly enveloped her in a hug. A tight one to help settle her, something about deep pressure nervous system shit or whatever. He didn't know what the fuck it was, but he wanted to try. “It’s okay. We’ve got options. You might not even get pregnant in the first place. You need to talk to Ieiri-san.” He told her and rested his chin atop her head. She’d gripped onto his shirt and twisted it in her hands as she wept against him. “I’m scared, I’m scared, I’m so scared. I fucked up so bad, I really fucked up,” She muttered against him as he started to rub her back.

Megumi cursed himself under his breath as he watched his girlfriend- they were definitely dating by now.. Right? Conversation for another time. He watched his girlfriend fall apart. The prideful Nobara looked the smallest she’d ever looked. Her body was trembling. Not only from her tears but from her panic, from the adrenaline coursing through her body. Yes, this was happening to him too. Yes, this was scary for him too.. But this would impact Nobara infinitely more if she got pregnant. She had choices, but he didn’t even want her to have to make a choice. He could only imagine those kinds of choices could really fuck you up, even if you knew what you wanted. It wasn’t a situation people sought out. If she was pregnant and made the choice to follow through, her entire body would change. Her fucking organs would shift in her body as she’d grow a human- a fucking human. And he was here yelling at her. “Fuck,” he breathed out and shook his head at himself before walking over to where they were, gently pulling Nobara from Yuuji’s hold and wrapping his own arms around her. 

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled at you. I’m scared, but I know you are too. I should’ve handled that differently.”

He whispered against her hair as he squeezed her to him. She was hiccuping on sobs, breath hitching, and overall unable to catch her breath. “Hey, hey.. Let’s sit down..” He murmured and led her to the bed and pulled her into his lap. He smiled softly despite the situation at the way she wrapped around him, much like a koala would. “Just breathe with me for a second. That’s all you need to do. Just follow my breath.” She didn’t automatically respond, still stuck in the cycle the situation had worked herself into. “Noh,” He said gently against her temple before he placed a few soft kisses on it. “C’mon. Breathe with me.” She gave a short nod before practically gasping down a deep breath. It took her some time as she tried to steady herself enough to keep herself from hyperventilation, but she got there. It wasn’t the most rhythmic breathing, but she wasn’t about to faint anymore, so Megumi was satisfied.

“What do you want to do?” He asked her, not surprised at the way she shook her head and shrugged her shoulders, his question bringing more tears. He wouldn’t know what to do either. “Do you want to see Ieiri-san? We probably need to see her pretty quickly..” He was surprised at her response this time. She shook her head no. No? They needed Ieiri-san. Like. They needed her. No one else could help them figure this out. “Nobara. She’s going to know what to do. We have to see her.” He tried keeping the urgency in his voice under control, but her refusal was making his panic rise again. He felt her mumble something against her collarbone, but it was too muffled. “Noh, I can’t hear you.” He said, but she only mumbled again. He sighed and pulled her back slightly. “What did you say?”

“I-I.. I need to, I need to see N-Nanamin,” She sniffled out and used her palms to wipe her face, which was never very effective, and yet it was his favorite little quirk of hers. He glanced up at Yuuji to get some input. He was lost. Last time she saw Nanami-sensei, she’d come back pretty overwhelmed. Was now a good time? Would seeing him lead her to seeing Ieiri-san? Did Megumi want anyone to know? His mind was convoluted with racing thoughts, but Yuuji gave a simple nod.

“He’s practically her guardian.” Yuuji reminded Megumi, “and an adult would know what to do. Much better than we do. It’ll probably calm her down. We should at least try.”

And that’s how they ended up outside of Nanami’s apartment. Yuuji and Megumi weren’t let in, so they sat with their backs against the door, grumbling every now and then about it being hot or hungry, but clearly Nanami was focused on Nobara.

She’d shown up at his door with Megumi and Yuuji and he had never seen her look that distressed before. Not even with everything that happened with Megumi… which it didn’t look like he’d wronged her again seeing as he showed up with her this time.

“Nobara,” He said gently, “I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what’s going on.” He pushed her hair out of her face and stared at her with concerned eyes. His presence was so steady, but this situation felt like it could destroy anything, even a firm foundation. “You have to tell me. You could say anything and I’m not going to get mad at you or kick you out. Nobara, you’re safe here. Please, I want to help.” Seeing her like this was painful to him. His heart clenched in his chest and he was desperate to help. She couldn’t meet his eyes. 

“You’re gonna hate me,” She whimpered.

“What? Nobara, no. No. I could never hate you.”

“I was so stupid, you’re going to be disappointed in me.”

“Nobara, you’re young. You’re allowed to make mistakes.”

She took a deep breath and looked at him briefly before focusing on her hands in her lap, fiddling with her fingers. “I.. Megumi and I.. We..” She felt her face burn and her brows knit together. This situation was also incredibly embarrassing for her. Letting your dad know about your sex life. A unique experience to say the least. “...We didn’t, uhm, we didn’t.. Use a condom.” She whispered out, her lower lip starting to tremble again. Her breathing started to pick up and she shook her head, “I don’t know what to do. I can’t get pregnant. I can’t, I can’t have a baby, I'm a baby.” She cried softly and dropped her face into her hands. “I’m scared. I’m scared and I’m stupid, I’m so fucking stupid.”

He was glad that she couldn’t see his face because it was a lot to take in, and he wasn’t expecting to have this conversation. He actually wasn’t expecting her to have any conversation with him, much less this one. He let out a sigh but placed his hand on her head to smooth her hair down. Disappointed? Was that the word? No. No, not really. She was a teenager. Teenagers made reckless choices. Maybe stressed. Maybe a little bit angry at Megumi, which Nanami identified as not being fair, but he still felt it. “You’re okay. Everything is going to be fine, Nobara.” His voice was so solid. Like he didn’t have a single doubt in his mind. It made Nobara release a shaky sigh. He was her rock. “You need to go see Ieiri-san.” Nobara groaned at that and shook her head, which made Nanami laugh quietly to himself at her neverending stubbornness. “Nobara. Saying no is not an option. You’re not pregnant right now, that’s not how the body works. This is truly an easy fix.”

Her head popped up at that comment, wide eyes and heart racing. An easy fix? This wasn’t the end of the world? She wasn’t going to die? The world would continue to spin on its axis? “What do you mean? I’m not fucked? Are you saying I’m not completely fucked?” She asked with the slightest bit of hope in her voice. “Language,” He scolded gently, a smile on his face as he laughed- well, laughed in the way that Nanami laughed. Quiet and a barely there chuckle. “Nanamin, with all do respect, I think I’m allowed to say fuck right now. I’m a little bit stressed, if you couldn’t tell.”

He snorted and rolled his eyes fondly before grabbing ahold of her hands and giving them a squeeze, grounding her like he always did. “Nobara. There’s a pill. You take it after you have unprotected intercourse. It prevents pregnancy if you take it within a few days of said intercourse.” She cringed at his use of the word “intercourse”, nose scrunching up, “Nanamin, saying intercourse is so weird. You’re really showing your age.” He blinked at her before sighing and shaking his head. Nobara. What a character. “I fear you’ve missed the point.”

“I didn’t! I heard you! There’s a magical pill and all of my problems are solved and you-..” Her eyes widened at him before they narrowed. His heart stopped. He could see the evilness fill the amber of her iris. “...and you know all about this magical pill… interesting.” She hummed out. He closed his eyes for a moment as he saw exactly where she was taking this conversation. His soul died a little inside. No. A lot of his soul died. 

“Nobar-”

“You be fucking, huh?”

He choked on his spit and his face went a brilliant shade of red. He knew she was going to go there, but the way she said it? The horrific grammar and the curse word put together nearly gave him a heart attack. “Nobara!” He scolded, but it was to no avail. She grinned, eyes alight with enjoyment as if she hadn’t just felt like the world was going to end. “That’s how you know so much about it! You’re getting bitches! How scandalous! Good for you, Nanamin!” She said and held out her hand for a high five. He obviously didn’t give her one, so she picked up his hand and brought it against hers. 

Every day he learned the truth more and more. Being a girl dad was not for the weak.

“Nobara.” He said seriously. In a tone that had her stopping in her tracks. A dad tone. She stared at him with big eyes, the grin completely dropping from her face. “You have to be more careful. You need to make smarter choices.” Now it was her turn for her face to blush. “You’re a teenager. These things are natural. I’m not going to tell you what you can and can’t do with your body, but you have to be more responsible.” He was disciplining her, she realized. She couldn’t help the way her bottom lip pouted out and her eyes grew watery. “It’s an easy fix this time, but you could get yourself into bad situations that aren’t so simple to get out of.” He told her sternly while wondering how anyone could’ve ever told this girl no, wondering how he was able to discipline and scold her when she looked at him like that. She was sixteen and he saw a five year old every time he looked at her. “I’m not mad. I just want you to be safe because I love you.” A few tears escaped her and she nodded with a shaky breath. Yikes. She did not like that. She did not like getting in trouble.

“I’m sorry. I’ll be more careful,” She whispered out and sniffled before she crawled over to him and hugged him. “Nanamin? Can I come home?” She asked so quietly it was a miracle he heard her. The unbearable pressure that sat on his chest every day since the Yuuji situation dissipated. His body was flooded with relief. The house was too quiet without her. It was too empty. Too boring, and Nanami couldn’t believe he wanted chaos. “Of course. Of course you can.” He told her and held her close to him. “You can always come home.” He promised her before he pulled back to look at her face. “But right now, you need to go see Ieiri-san, okay?” 

She was beaming. She got to come home and she wasn’t going to get pregnant. She nodded and jumped off the couch. “I’m gonna wait a few days and then start moving my stuff back over! ..which gives you a few days to do as you please… use protection!” She called out before she ran off in a flash of red hair. Nanami groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. This girl.

..and that’s how they ended up in the clinic with Shoko. 

“It’s one pill. That’s it. Here's the water,” Shoko said as she handed the medication and cup to Nobara. She glanced over to Megumi… and her stare lingered on Yuuji for a moment. 

“Is there a reason Itadori is here?”
She asked calmly, her mind coming up with some interesting situations.

The three tilted their heads at the exact same time and a hint of a smile crossed her face. 

“Are you sleeping with both of them?” She asked casually, “Because if you are then we need to talk about some things. You’ll need to get tested. You’ll also need to discuss if you’re sleeping with anyone outside of the trio. Condoms every time, even if you get on birth control, Kugisaki. That won’t protect you from STIs.” 

The trio was too horrified to speak. Their jaws were dropped and all of their faces were bright red and radiating heat. They were stunned. Is that.. Did people think they were all sleeping together?! …All of them sharing a bed together probably didn’t make the optics look great, but was she being serious?

“Listen, it happens. You spend a lot of time with your team. Things happen. It's natural. Nobara, you have to be careful. Have you gotten your HPV vaccinations yet?” Shoko asked while looking through her chart before humming softly. “You haven’t. It’s preferable to get it done before having sex for the first time, but it’ll be effective if you haven’t been exposed to it yet. It’s a series, so we’ll start with the first one today.”

Nobara could only nod. They were completely silent. She hardly blinked as Shoko gave her the vaccine. She refused to make eye contact with either of the boys and the boys were doing the same. No one was looking at anyone. “It’s just like any other vaccine, so you can expect some soreness. Maybe fatigue, malaise, just regular side effects. Shouldn’t be too bad. Your next round will be in two months. There’s a total of three doses. I’ll just make a note of when you need to come back and see me.”

She was so… nonchalant about it all. So clinical- which, clearly, made sense, but the teenagers were about to melt in their seats. “Itadori. You’re next. Fushiguro is after.” They were stiff as they walked to sit on the patient bed. None of them could’ve expected this visit happening the way it did. Mortification and vaccination. What a pair. “Males can be carriers of HPV as well, so I’m getting you vaccinated so you don’t transmit it to anyone. Same side effects. Three doses for you as well.”

She tossed her gloves in the trash and washed her hands as she looked at the teammates in her office. It was so hard not to laugh. She could’ve cackled at the looks on their faces. The way they were sitting as far away from each other as possible. 

Sometimes. Just sometimes this cursed world had moments of levity. Her eyes had a spark in them she rarely had these days. 

“Alright, you’re all set. Nobara, take some of these pregnancy tests. I’m quite confident you won’t get pregnant, but nothing is foolproof. They’ll also be beneficial for future endeavors. Come and see me if you have any questions.”

They walked out of the clinic like mechanical robots, every muscle in their body tense and rigid. Shoko couldn’t wait to tell Gojo about this. 

The walk back to the dorm was done in silence. Today was quite the day. Yuuji was the first to speak. “I think I’ll sleep on the floor tonight.” He said after clearing his throat and rubbing the back of his neck. Nobara and Megumi nodded as they climbed onto the bed, all three still blushing violently.

“Hey, guys?” Nobara asked quietly as she looked between the boys. “Do you think… Did Ieiri-san just… well, she kind of admitted that she..” Nobara rubbed her lips together and looked at Megumi in hopes that he finished her thought, which he thankfully did. 

Megumi laid on his back in the bed, arms crossed under his head with a noise of affirmation. “They definitely fucked.” He said simply. 

Yuuji popped up with wide eyes and his mouth agape. “You think so?!”

“Her team fucked. There’s no doubt. We all heard her.”

Nobara covered her mouth with her hand in pure shock. “So..! Ieiri-san fucked Gojo and, and who was the other teammate?! Who did her and Gojo fuck?! Wait-! Wait, I need to know! Okay, Gojo! Bisexual king!”

Megumi groaned and begged her to not talk about Gojo having sexual relations with anyone. He’d rather die. “I don’t know who the third teammate is. No one talks about him. Like, no one. I don’t even know his name or if he’s dead or what. Something happened.” He shrugged out. He was pretty convinced whatever happened with that teammate was the reason for Gojo’s grief and the dark circles under Ieiri-san’s eyes.

“I’m moving back in with Nanamin.”

“I’m moving back into my own dorm.”

“I’m staying here.”

“And we are not fucking.” They said at the same time.

Chapter Text

Gojo found her where he knew she’d be. On her balcony, cigarette in hand, some unknown liquor resting on the railing, and a far off look. He stood in the doorway and took in her figure. It was late, but that was immaterial to Shoko. He knew she didn’t sleep, and when she did it was filled with terrors. It was understandable why she avoided it all together.

“It’s painful.” 

She said suddenly. She hadn’t made any sign to indicate that she knew he was behind her. He laughed quietly to himself. He didn’t know how she did it. How she could sense so many things without his six eyes. He was convinced she sensed more than he ever could. Gojo sighed and scuffed his shoe against the floor before joining her and resting his hands on the railing. Her statement was vague, but he knew what she was talking about. They were in tune with each other. 

“Seeing them together.”

She continued and took a long drag of her cigarette. She hadn’t glanced his way and he knew she was planning on avoiding his gaze entirely. She hummed in amusement. A bitter amusement as she shook her head and looked up at the sky. 

“Makes me think of him. I hate thinking of him.”

She cursed slightly under her breath and flicked her cigarette. She wasn’t often vulnerable. She never really was. She always had tight control of her emotions and was the clear level headed one of the trio, with Suguru following, and Gojo being dead last. This vulnerability was not shocking to him because he was feeling everything she was feeling. Their heads were filled with flashes of him. Purple eyes, long hair- but hair he kept in a bun rather than down, and the bangs sweet Riko always teased about. Gojo always recalled the exasperated way he’d say his name. Suguru was much gentler with Shoko, but she was also less irritating that Gojo was.

“It’s nonsensical. It’s all so nonsensical. Everything. Missing him. Missing him when he did what he did. I can’t comprehend it. I can’t dissect it. How did we end up here? How did this happen?”

Her voice was gritted with irritation, but Gojo knew it was the way she expressed her despair. Her grief was not one of tears. She didn’t allow it to be. Gojo, who never stopped talking, was silent. He let her speak out all of the thoughts that were in her head. He watched her and fought the urge to take the cigarette from her hair while also tucking her hair behind her ear.

Shoko had told him about the day his students showed up at her clinic. A pregnancy scare. She’d laughed as she went through the events that followed once she asked if they were all sleeping together. Asked if they were in some intricate relationship with each other that blurred the line between platonic and romantic feelings. She told him of the horrified looks on their faces. Megumi looked like he was wishing to be struck dead by lightning. Yuuji looked like he was getting in trouble, wide eyed and nervous. Nobara was the funniest in her opinion. Her expression had blanked out. She just sat completely expressionless, the only sign of her embarrassment was the pink hue to her cheeks.

“It was like they couldn’t comprehend it. They couldn’t imagine a scenario where the three of them would end up in that experience. I felt sorry for them. I also felt envious of them. Jealous that they don’t know the suffering that came with it. I often wonder if I’d do it again. If the outcome would end up the same regardless. If Suguru would go down that path in every universe. It infuriates me because I would. The smartest out of the three of us and I’d do it again. Every new universe I’d make the choice to have what I had with you two knowing that I’d never be the same afterwards.”

Shoko scoffed and put out her cigarette as she rested her forearms on the railing and lowered her head. Her hair shielded her face and she bit into her lower lip. Control. She had to maintain control.

“And I’m so angry. I’m so fucking angry. I’m so angry at you, Satoru.” She muttered out. “You got to see him. You got to say goodbye. I know. I know that comes with its own shit. You probably wish you didn’t have to see him, but I fucking wanted to see him. I.. I want to see him.”

Her control was slipping. She straightened up abruptly and nearly knocked her glass of alcohol over, which he caught with ease. “It’s getting cold. I heard you had a busy day at the clinic. Let’s go inside.” He said softly. He didn’t move until she did, giving her the semblance of control she desperately needed. She grabbed ahold of his hand as she passed him to walk ahead of him to go back inside. Her hand was trembling and he gave it a slight squeeze. I’m here, it communicated. He couldn’t say it verbally to her. She and Nobara were alike in so many ways. People wouldn’t see the similarities unless they knew each girl intimately. Shoko was a master at walls of defense just like Nobara was. Overstep even slightly and she’d shut down. Barricade herself further in.

They sat side by side on her bed, Gojo never taking his eyes off of her face. Constantly checking in, making sure she was okay- even while knowing that she wasn’t. She wasn’t okay. He wasn’t either. They never would be again.

“What an asshole. A selfish, stupid fucking asshole.”

She was grasping onto the control, and she wasn't able to get a grip on it. It kept slipping from her hands. Gojo watched her for a moment before he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her against him, making her rest her head on his shoulder. “It was pretty fucked up.” Gojo agreed with a small smile. “I wish I could hate him. Maybe that would make it easier. I’m not sure anything could make it easier.” He mused and rubbed his hand up and down his arm. 

“I’d do it again too.”

“Yeah?”

“Every time.”

Shoko’s lips twitched in the slightest smile and she hummed softly. 

“I’m glad they’re not following our footsteps. Imagine Yuuji got involved. They’re all in love. Which one of them would go off on a murderous rampage and have delusions of grandeur?”

He was trying to get her to laugh and it worked. She gave a light slap to his chest as a reprimand she didn’t really mean. 

“I’m going to get into pajamas. Satoru. You can stay if you want to."

She was saying it like she was offering it to him. Like she was giving him the permission, but he knew she was asking. Asking if he’d stay the night. It was the only time she really rested, but it didn’t happen often. The crushing reality of waking up without Suguru was often too much to handle. Waking up to warmth only on one side of her when she used to be cocooned in warmth from both sides. She was the smallest. She was sure Nobara slept in the middle too. 

Gojo let out a quiet sigh of relief. She’d been crumbling since the trio reunited. Slowly and covertly, but he noticed. He always noticed.

On nights where she'd let him in her space, she’d lay down next to him, back towards him and on the complete opposite side of the bed. She’d always migrate and end up tucked up against him through the night. 

Gojo shook his head as she got changed and he laughed softly to himself. “You’re such an asshole.” He said to no one in the room, but he spoke out as if Suguru could hear him. He talked to him often like he could. “Look at how you’ve left us.”

“Why? Why weren’t we enough?”

Shoko came back out and climbed onto the bed with a deep sigh. She finally made eye contact with Gojo and he was startled at the vulnerability within them. “Satoru. You can’t leave me too.”

And that was all she said before she turned off the lights, going to the opposite side of the bed, and turning away from him.

Megumi and Nobara were having quite the opposite kind of night than Gojo and Shoko.

Megumi’s head was in Nobara’s lap as she played with his hair. “I’ve been thinking,” She hummed to him as she twirled her fingers around a few of his strands. Megumi peeked open one eye and looked at her warily. Nobara thinking could be a great thing or a terrifying thing, and he never knew which one was coming. “I’m listening.”

She let out a dramatic sigh and let her fingers move from his hair to delicately trace his features and brush her fingers against his cheek. “I think you’ve proved yourself.” He snorted, knowing whatever she was about to say would be so Nobara. “Oh? Have I? And what have I proved?”

A grin came across her lips, but it was a little bit shy and he could see her cheeks pink up. “You have the honor of officially dating me.” He raised his brow for a second before he laughed and reached up to cup her face. “Noh. We’ve been dating this whole time. I love you, you love me, we’ve been doing all of the dating stuff. You’re just stubborn and wanted to be a brat. You’ve been my girlfriend for a while now.” His own grin spread across his face as she sputtered and flushed a deeper shade of pink. “My girlfriend,” He hummed out as he saw her open her mouth to push back. Typical Nobara behavior. His words seemed to settle her immediately, actually, they made her a bit giddy as she giggled under her breath. “Whatever.” She said with an eye roll, but he watched in fondness as she tried to fight off the smile threatening to break through. She was losing the fight. 

“...my boyfriend..” she whispered to herself and scrunched her nose in delight before she leaned down and pressed tiny kisses all across his face. He chuckled and slowly sat up so she had time to move back, wanting to avoid any concussions if they could. “Let me hold you,” He hummed out, not expecting the whine that left her lips accompanied by a pout. “How come I never get to hold you? You’re always the big spoon.” Megumi pinched the bridge of his nose, but out of pure affection rather than irritation. 

“Because I like holding you.”

“Right. What if I also like holding you.”

“Nobara, it’s more physically logical for me to hold you.”

“Megumi. I thought you’d do anything for me.”

“That’s not fair.”

“I’ve got the solution to solve your problems.”

Nobara groaned aloud at the introduction of the new voice, even going so far as to chuck one of her pillows at the person who spoke.

Nanami caught it with ease and raised a brow at both of them. Nobara huffed and looked at the clock before shaking her head at Nanami. “Nanamin. It’s not even that late! We’re not even doing anything! Look, we’re literally on top of the covers! Nothing sneaky is happening!”

“I let him stay longer than I normally do. You should be thanking me.”

“Nobara, it’s okay, I’m not going to disrespect him in his own house. We’ll see each other tomorrow.”

“Okay. So now I’m being betrayed by everyone.”

Both Megumi and Nanami let out an amused sigh at her dramatics. Megumi pressed a kiss to her forehead and temple before he got off of her bed and bowed respectfully to Nanami. “Thank you for allowing me over, Nanami-san.” He knew he had some work to do in getting on Nanami’s good side. He wasn’t necessarily on his bad side… but the pregnancy mishap edged him a little closer to the bad side.

Nobara huffed and puffed as she slid on her slippers and grabbed a hold of her blanket. “You’re actually the worst. You’re really mean.” She grumbled to Nanami, who stepped aside from her doorway to let her walk out of the room. He followed her because she was going into his room. “I think you’ll survive,” He hummed out to her with a light laugh at the glare she sent over her shoulder. “No. I won’t. I feel the life leaving my body as we speak. I’m growing weaker by the second.” She sighed out dramatically and placed the back of her hand on her forehead as if she were faint. 

“Are you done?”

“No. I don’t like you.”

“I see. Then you should probably sleep in your own bed tonight. Since you don’t like me.”

She could hear the grin in his voice. Nanami was being playful. It made her smile to herself. He was always so serious. He always looked so stressed whenever she first met him. Burdened by things he’d never speak about. He was still serious, but he smiled. He chuckled. She wasn’t sure how he’d ever thought he wasn’t meant to be a dad. 

“I wish I knew you sooner.” She said suddenly, her tone genuine and sincere, ending their banter. She climbed onto the bed and sat with her legs crossed as she looked up at him. “Because you wouldn’t have left me.” She said with a confident nod. “You would’ve picked me up when I wanted to get picked up, instead of an occasional pat on the head.” She continued. “You wouldn’t have gotten irritated with me when I cried over my mom like my grandma did.” She hummed out. Her brows knit slightly in curiosity. Nobara was experiencing grief, gratitude, and warmth simultaneously. She was devastated and serene all at once. It was such an odd feeling. “I think you would’ve made me pancakes for breakfast and written little notes to put in my lunch box.” 

Nanami was surprised to see her smile as tears welled up in her eyes. It wasn’t insincere. It was a complicated smile. Joy and despair. The thing that shocked him the most was the way she openly let her tears fall. She didn’t clench her fists to try and maintain control. Her nose didn’t scrunch in distaste at being vulnerable. She didn’t look away or mumble curse words under her breath. She didn’t get angry. She was.. simply letting herself feel.

“You would’ve learned to do my hair. Braids and shit. You’d let me paint your nails or put makeup on you.” She giggled softly and gently wiped her face. She swallowed thickly and gave a shrug of her shoulders. “I don’t know why I’m saying this to you. I just wish I had you. I wish I grew up with you. I wish I could’ve shown you my arts and crafts instead of my mom.” She trailed off into a whisper and he could see that the emotion that was beginning to take over was sorrow. That’s when he settled onto the bed in front of her and smoothed her hair down with a warm smile. He wished he had all of those experiences with her too.

“But now you have me. Now you get to drag me out to the stores and spend my money. Now I get to desperately try to cook you well balanced meals that you’ll eat because you’re a teenager, and teenagers' diets are horrific. I’ll get to see you get nominated to be a grade two, and someday a grade one sorcerer. I get to watch you find yourself. I get to deal with your attitude, which is quite an experience. It’s becoming clear to me that teenage girls are fear inducing creatures.” He chuckled and reached out to brush her tears off with his thumb. “I get to watch you and help you go through your first relationship. I’ll get to see you graduate. I get to scold you when you make reckless decisions. I would get to teach you how to drive, but I’m never letting you get behind the wheel. I’ll just drive you everywhere.” The immediate scowl that came to her face was a delight.

“I wish I had you sooner too,” He told her, “But there’s so much to experience together. We’ve got time. You’ll have so many experiences that I’ll have the privilege to be a part of.” He placed his hand atop of her head and leaned closer to her, “We've got time.”

She took in a shaky breath and nodded with a teary laugh.”Yeah. We’ve got time.” She agreed, her expression lightening up as the grief processed out of her. 

They didn’t have time. They both knew the harsh reality of being a sorcerer. Deep down they knew they didn’t have time, but both were willing to live in denial of that. They’d avoid it until they could no longer.

Don’t leave me, Nobara’s mind whispered, barely letting herself register the thought.

“Are you really the strongest?” Megumi asked out of the blue as he swiveled back and forth in Gojo’s ridiculously fancy chair. Gojo laughed and raised a brow as he looked over at his student. “Of course I am.” There was a cocky tone to his voice, but Megumi didn’t really need to ask the question in the first place.

“You’d win every battle?”

“I wouldn’t break a sweat with Sukuna.”

Megumi snorted to himself. He was so full of himself, and yet Megumi felt a sense of relief flood into his body. He was uneasy these days. He felt like something… something was off. Maybe something was coming.

“You don’t have any weaknesses?”

Gojo was silent for a moment before shaking his head. “No. Not anymore.”

“Good.” Megumi said with a nod. “That’s good.” Gojo gave him a funny look and tilted his head. Megumi was acting oddly. He’d sought Gojo out of his own volition. Said he just wanted to talk. To hang around for a little. Nobara and Yuuji were busy, he’d told his sensei, but Megumi would usually take that time to enjoy his solitude.

“Are you alright, Megumi?”

“What? Yeah, yeah. I’m fine.”

He said too quickly and it made him roll his eyes at himself. Very smooth, he thought. Gojo didn’t push, which Megumi was grateful for. Gojo didn’t push… and yet Megumi spilled anyway. It was against his will. He didn’t want to be having this conversation. He didn’t want to be vulnerable, but he couldn’t stop himself. 

“Tsumiki may never wake up.”

“Megumi-”

“That’s just the truth. She might never wake up. You’re all I’ve got left.”

Gojo blinked in surprise and opened his mouth to say something, but what was he supposed to say to that? How was he supposed to interact with a Megumi he’d rarely been given access to? “Megumi..” His student looked at him and gave a slight smile. “But it doesn’t matter, because you’re the strongest.” Gojo’s face grew solemn and he let out a sigh. It was seeping out. Megumi’s fear of being left. Of being abandoned. Of being alone. 

“You have Nobara and Yuuji too.” Gojo reminded him.

“It’s different with you.” Megumi said simply. 

He stood up from the chair and stretched his arms above his head before looking at his sensei again. “You’re the strongest. Be the strongest.” For me, the thought rushed across Megumi’s mind, don't leave me. He rubbed the back of his neck for a second, uncomfortable at the thoughts in his head. It honestly made him a little nauseated to think about something happening to Gojo. He’d never had those thoughts before. Megumi always assumed that he’d die before Gojo because obviously. He was nowhere near Gojo’s skill level. 

“We’ve got time.” Gojo told him with a soft smile, somehow intune with Megumi’s inner thoughts. “Yeah. Time for you to piss me off.” Megumi grumbled which made Gojo let out a loud laugh. “You wound me, Megumi!” His sensei’s dramatics brought a slight smile to his face as he rolled his eyes. “Let’s go train. Let me try to wound you physically and emotionally.” 

A wide and genuine smile spread across Gojo’s face as he clasped his hands together in front of him. “My teenager actually wants to spend time with me! I’ve done it! I’ve melted Megumi’s heart!”

Megumi turned to walk away from him, but also to hide his own smile. “Whatever. Mind you I’m spending time with you by trying to beat you up, which I feel is an important clarification.” He told Gojo as he led them to the training grounds. Gojo caught up quickly- his damn long legs- and ruffled Megumi’s hair up with his hand. “I’ll get through to you one day, Megumi. One day you’ll express your familial love for me for all of the world to hear!”

Megumi only scoffed and tried swatting Gojo’s hand away.

“Oh, and Megumi?”

“What now?”

“It’s impossible for you to actually physically hurt me. Not even a single scratch. I am the strongest.” Gojo said smugly while he lifted his foot and pushed against the back of Megumi’s knee, causing the boy to tumble. God, the look on his face. Priceless.

He’d soak up every moment he had pissing Megumi off. He was the strongest, but that made him the strongest weapon. That’s what he boiled down to. His fate was sealed. A weapon. They don’t last forever. One day they break. One day he’d break. 

Gojo slipped his hands into his pockets as they walked, humming a little tune to himself. He’d stick around as long as he could. He’d do everything in his power to keep Megumi safe. He’d do everything he could to give them as much time together as possible.

I don't want to leave you, kiddo.

Chapter Text

No class, no training, no mission. Just a day to themselves. The trio laid out on the grass by the pond in the back, the grass soft against their skin as they’d all been too lazy to go to a room and grab a blanket to lay on. The sun was out, but the cool autumn breeze brought a chill to them, one that was pleasant with the body heat their huddle created. Nobara was in the middle. It was her assigned spot. Megumi was always on her right and Yuuji was always on her left. All of their shoulders touched against each other. It was serene. Different shades of leaves filled their vision. Brilliant shades of red, orange, and yellow. A perfect day. One of those days that made you think about the future with a sense of hope. One that convinced you that all of your pain lived in the past and would stay there. Nobara was beginning to doze off against Megumi’s shoulder when Yuuji broke the silence.

“When you guys get married, can I be, like. Like one of those people that stands next to you?”

Nobara’s face heated up and she coughed quietly, turning her face away from the boys, which was difficult seeing as she was in the middle, so she just shut her eyes tightly. Marriage? Yuuji just casually brought that up? Of course she’d thought about it. She’d find herself lost in daydreams more often than she’d ever admit. She was sixteen and envisioning her future with Megumi. Would they live together after graduating? Would they get engaged and then move in together? What age would they want to get married? What kind of wedding would it be? A spring one?

Kids. Would they have children? If they did, how many? Would they look more like her or more like Megumi? Maybe a perfect mixture of both? Or maybe one would look like her and the other would look like Megumi. What kind of dad would he be? Just the thought of him being a father made her melt. ..Would she be a good mother? Probably not. She was too crass. Would him seeing her as a mother stain his view of her?

“You think she’s gonna come back to us anytime soon?” Yuuji asked as they both watched her get completely and intricately lost in her thoughts. Thoughts that made her blush deepen, or her brows knit with worry, and thoughts that brought a small smile to her face.

“You brought up us getting married. What did you expect?” Megumi mumbled, trying to settle his own heart that had raced at the thought.

She was it. She was the one. The only one. He knew he sounded like any other dumb teenager when he said that he’d never love anyone again if he lost her, but it was true. The idea of ever breaking up with her was inconceivable. He'd never do it. She'd have to break up with him, and that didn't seem reasonable either. Nobara had Megumi convinced of the concept of soulmates. He was a firm believer in them now. He could never marry another woman. It had to be her. He didn’t know how he felt about kids much less her own thoughts, but if he had kids? It’d be with Nobara. She was everything. Everything always led back to her. This girl whom he couldn’t stand to be in the same room with had bewitched him. His body and soul melded with her. There was no Megumi without Nobara. Her presence was the reason his heart beat and his lungs breathed in air.

He chuckled to himself as he thought about how dramatic and rocky their start had been. How deeply they hated each other. Enemies to lovers, or whatever it was that Nobara liked to read. He decided to break her out of her thoughts by leaning over and kissing against her temple. “Noh,” he murmured against her skin with a smile. “Come back. Yuuji has to know the answer to his burning question.” She huffed out softly and leaned into his kiss before pinching Yuuji’s arm. She was satisfied by the yelp it elicited from the pink-haired boy. “You’re so stupid. It’s called a groomsman or a bridesmaid. You’ll either have to pick one of us or you can be our ring bearer. You’re definitely not officiating it. Oh, I know! You can be our flower girl! That's a perfect role for you. You couldn't possibly fuck that up." She snorted and laughed at the little whine Yuuji let out at her teasing. 

A smirk made its way onto Megumi’s face and he propped himself up on his shoulder to look down at Nobara. “Look at you. Already planning our wedding.” He hummed out and brushed her cheek with his fingers just to feel the immediate heat they’d radiate. “Megumi! Fuck off!” She whined and shoved his shoulder so he’d fall back on his back, which he did so while laughing. “Ughhhh, you guys are being gross again.” Yuuji gave a whine on his own as he sat up. He didn’t even try to hide his smile. He loved seeing them together. Love was a really beautiful thing to witness, especially when you were witnessing it in the two most important people in your life. He looked over at his best friends and couldn’t help but beam at them. They'd gone through a lot of pain. That's what came with being a sorcerer, but Yuuji would suffer every time if it meant having these two as his best friends. He could've never imagined that his grandfather's last words would bring him here. To a family. 

“We’re always going to be together.” Yuuji said gently, his eyes softening, his words breaking Nobara and Megumi out of their little “fight” which was just them shoving each other with no force.

Nobara looked at Megumi before looking at Yuuji and a smile came to her face. It radiated joy and warmth. She suddenly threw herself on Yuuji, wrapping him up in a tight hug that made him wheeze. “Of course we are!” She giggled before only slightly letting go of Yuuji so that she could grab Megumi’s arm and rope him into the hug. “You, me, and ‘Gumi. Forever.” She said gently as she held her boys tight. 

Megumi was grumbling about being in this group hug, but Nobara and Yuuji were feeding off of each other’s optimism.

“And Nanamin will walk me down the aisle, and he’ll definitely be crying, but not nearly as hard as Gojo will be!”

“Gojo might throw up with how hard he’ll be crying.” Megumi added, which made the other two laugh. “Can I be released now?” He asked. Nobara scoffed and pushed him off before giving Yuuji one last squeeze. They sat next to each other now, a small smile on each of their faces.

“You think we’re too old to go trick or treating?” Yuuji asked.

“Yes, but you and Nobara are going to go regardless, which means you’ll drag me with you.”

“Ugh, my baby is just so smart. You’re completely right.”

It was the perfect day.

The perfect day.

Nobara died that day.

Killed by the curse Mahito. Mahito had killed Nanami-sensei right before. Yuuji’s voice cracked on every word as he told Megumi. His tears mingled with the blood covering his badly injured face. His body shook violently. Nobara died. 

Megumi had thrown up. Retched and dry heaved. They were supposed to go trick or treating like fucking kids. They were kids. They’d been talking about getting married mere hours before this. He’d thrown up and then grabbed Yuuji by his collar before slamming his fist into his jaw. Over and over. Until Megumi’s own knuckles bled.

And Yuuji let him.

“How could you let this happen?!” He screamed, “Why didn’t you protect her?! You let her fucking die- You fucking killed her!” He’d screamed so intensely he was sure his throat would begin to bleed and he’d choke on it. He wished it happened. He wished he'd choked. He wished his heart had torn to pieces and killed him. He wished he dropped dead to the ground the second he heard Yuuji say it. Megumi had to be pulled off of Yuuji. He didn't know by who. It was a blur, really. Megumi couldn’t remember all of the things he’d wailed to his best friend. He could remember the way Yuuji crumpled. The way he gasped for air as the sobs overtook him. Yuuji's guilt constricted his airways and filled his body with lead. Megumi learned that Nanami-sensei had died in front of Yuuji, just like Nobara had.

Yuuji blamed himself enough.

Megumi regretted ever speaking to his best friend like that. He regretted a lot. He regretted everything. He regretted not holding her for a second longer. He regretted that their kiss was a quick one due to the adrenaline coursing through their body. The adrenaline too intense for them to think about taking a moment with each other. He regretted that he only told her he loved her once before they went to their assigned areas. He would’ve told her until his dying breath if he knew what was coming. It had never crossed his mind as she waved at him with a fierce look of determination. He could've never imagined that being the last time he saw her. Nobara dying? It wasn't possible. 

I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you.

He’d lost the beating to his heart that day. It sat cold and heavy in his chest. Color left his world. The only sounds he heard were of screams and cries. He saw her when he closed his eyes. He’d overheard the details when a few assistants didn’t realize he was there. Every night he saw it. They said her eye burst out of her skull. Her beautiful amber eyes that held the universe in them, blown out of her skull. 

His brain gave him no rest.

Once she realized what was happening, was she scared? He wasn’t there to soothe her fears. He wasn’t there to comfort her. To hold her. He hoped it happened so quickly that she felt no pain.. But was it painful? How painful? How long did the pain last?

Did she grieve right before her death? When she realized that the daydreams she’d been stuck in this morning were all just a brutal lie? When she realized she’d never marry him or have children with him?

Was she angry at him? For not being there when she died? He was. He was furious. Self-hatred festering inside of his soul like a thick black sludge that drenched his body and left a trail everywhere he went. He should've never let her out of his sight. She was reckless. She was impulsive. She was too cocky. She always had something to prove. He knew all of that. He knew and he watched her run in the opposite direction. How ironic, he thought. To have blamed Yuuji. Yuuji hadn't killed her. He had. Megumi's hands dripped with her blood. He should've demanded to be assigned with her. He didn't. And now she was dead.

He kept her slippers- her stupid fucking bunny slippers- right at the side of his bed. It made it look like she’d slipped them off right before crawling into bed with him. It made it look like she was still alive with him in his bed. Her toothbrush was still in his bathroom. He never removed her shampoo or conditioner from his shower. He kept the room in a delusion. Left everything right where it was. So he could pretend.

So he could see if he just waited long enough, if he kept everything frozen in time, frozen in a time where she was alive… maybe she’d come back.

“Please come back. Please come back. Please come back.” He’d whisper in the dark of his room. 

“Noh, please. Noh. I need you. I need you, please.” He’d beg as he’d brush his fingers against the obnoxiously pink blanket she required at bed time.

“I love you. I love you. I’m sorry. I love you. Forgive me.” He’d cried as the world kept spinning.

The world kept spinning. How? How was it possible that the fabric of the universe didn’t shred the moment she died? How did the sun rise the next day? Where did it get its light from now that she wasn’t there? How did people in the world find humor to laugh at without her jokes? How did people rest? Weren’t they too cold? She was always a heater in her sleep. Why did dessert shops keep making sweets? She wasn’t there to eat them anymore.

He talked to her as if she could hear him. She was always the one who talked his ear off. He couldn’t stand the silence, so he took her place and talked. He talked and talked alone in his room. 

“We’ll move in together after we graduate. Live together for a few years and then I’ll propose to you when you’re twenty-two. I think a year long engagement will be plenty of time, we’ll already have most of the things figured out before I propose. It’ll be a spring wedding. We’ll pick a venue that has an outside option for the ceremony. I’d like to see you with all of the blossoming flowers, but the venue will have an inside event space just in case it rains.”

His breath hitched, but he pushed through. If he kept talking to her, if he kept speaking, he wouldn’t hear the absence of her voice. She wasn’t really truly gone if the silence didn’t tell him she was.

“I think it’ll be smart to wait a few years before we have kids. Just enjoy the two of us. I never really thought about having children, but I’ve been thinking. You’d be the best mother. We’ll have two, if you’re alright with that. So they always have a friend. I hope they look like you- though I hope they act a little bit more like me. I love you more than life, but god, Noh, you really are a brat sometimes.” 

“Noh. Say something. Please.”

Silence. She’s gone, it told him. 

He had appointments with Shoko. Twice a week, every week. She’d made a comment that he looked like her now. Dark circles and all. She’d prescribed him some kind of pill. It was green and looked like it could be broken in half into smaller dosages. He never took it. It’ll help, she said. He didn't believe her. She always had a cigarette or a drink in hand. It clearly didn't help her. He also didn’t want it to help. He didn’t want to ever experience joy without her. He never wanted to feel neutral without her. He wanted to sit in the agonizing suffering. The suffering was where he was the closest to her. Nobara couldn’t laugh, so he would not. She couldn’t smile, so he would not. She couldn’t experience happiness, so he would not. 

He didn't read anymore. His hands were so used to holding a book and running fingers through her hair simultaneously. He'd never learned how to touch up her roots. Maybe she would've told him her secrets on how she made bleached hair feel like silk. He wished he had.

He never visited the pond anymore. That was their place. It ceased to exist once she did. 

He sprayed her perfume on his pillow before bed. Coconut and sweet praline. It didn't help. It didn't help. Nothing helped. Nothing stopped his tears from soaking into his pillow.

Nobara died, and so did he.

Chapter Text

It was rainy and a bit too cold for her liking, but this was their time. Their ritual. Their communion together, and she’d never miss it. 

“You told me we had more time.” She sighed out and placed bright pink flowers at the gravestone. “I’d like to be angry with you. I am sometimes.” She admitted as she took her seat on the grass. His body wasn’t there. There wasn’t any body left to bury due to the manner in which he died, but she liked to think that he was still here. That she could feel him here, and that he could feel her too. Wherever he was. “I’ve never missed anyone like I miss you.” She couldn’t help but laugh at the feeling of tears welling up in her eyes, “When does it get easier? Shouldn’t I feel just a little bit better?” She asked him. Her head dropped and she allowed her grief to crack open her ribs to expose her heart. She bled out in grief, soaking the ground where she sat. Every Wednesday she’d come to visit him, and every Wednesday she learned little by little that it doesn’t get easier. 

“It’s a bit hypocritical of me, I suppose. To be mad at you. Mahito killed me that same night. Right after you, actually. Truly an iconic father-daughter duo if you ask me,” her attempt at levity made a violent sob rip through her as she gripped her fingers into the grass and yanked. “It hurt. Dying hurt. I hope it didn’t hurt you.” She breathed out shakily. “So many things are happening. I keep growing up and I can’t run out of my room and tell you about my life. We can’t sit on the couch together anymore. I can’t just crawl into bed next to you and sleep, all while knowing that you never slept. You stayed up and kept an eye on me. You made sure I was okay. I hope you’re sleeping now. I hope it's a comforting sleep, like the kind I got with you.”

“I’m much better at eating actual food now, although I still go to the bakery and sit at the bench. Our bench. It’s silly, but sometimes I can make myself believe that you’ll be there waiting for me. Like how we ran into each other after the whole “Yuuji’s alive” scandal.. But you’re never there.” She used her palms to wipe her face, but the tears were constant. It was useless.”You’re never there. God, I want you to be there, Nanamin.” She choked on a few sobs as she placed her hand atop of the gravestone in the same way he’d place his hand atop of her head affectionately.

“I have something special to tell you. I wish I could see your face when I say this-.. Well, I always wish to see your face.” Her breath grew erratic and her body shook with tears as she held up her left hand to show a ring. “I’m engaged!” She laughed out a bit unstably. “To Megumi, of course. I know you were quite stubborn about liking him, but we’ve both grown a lot. We’re not reckless teenagers hurting each other all of the time anymore.” She smiled at the engraved letters of his name before her face crumpled, her hands grabbed the headstone and attempted to shake it as if it were his shoulders. “Who's supposed to walk me down the aisle? Who’s supposed to give me away? We need more time. We need more time, and I don’t know how to get it. Shouldn’t love be enough? Shouldn’t how much I love you count for something? Can’t I just have you back for a day? I’d take a single minute- just one minute! You could never say no to me, please don’t say no to this. Just one minute, please.”

A hand, firm and steady, settled on her back, her name said so gently. “Noh. Take a few breaths.” Megumi instructed her softly as he sat beside her, pulling her flush against him. She wept openly, collapsing into his chest. “I’m sorry.. I’m sorry, baby.” He whispered against her hairline. He felt this way when he lost her. He felt this way without Tsumiki. Without Gojo. “He loves you. You’re the light of his life. He’d do anything to be here with you. Anything.” He felt his own throat constrict. Her grief was difficult to witness. He hated seeing her suffer. Her grief also activated his- activated was the wrong word. His grief was constant, but sometimes he could push it below the surface. It was difficult to ignore in a moment like this.

He had to bring her down from the verge of hyperventilation multiple times before she settled. Settled as much as she could, anyway. “Hey.. Nanami-sensei.” Megumi started, making Nobara look up at him in shock. “I know I almost got your daughter pregnant- which didn't happen, and I know I broke her heart a few times before that, so I’m not sure that you’ve got the most warm and fuzzy feelings regarding me.. But I promise I’ll take care of her. I’ve got her. I hope that makes you rest.” Nobara’s tears were silent as she wrapped her arms around Megumi and hid her face in the crook of his neck. “Plus.. did you see that ring? I think I get some extra bonus points for that.” He said, and Nobara could hear a bit of playfulness and a hint of a grin. He was trying to make her laugh and it worked. She giggled into his neck and took a deep breath before pulling back and cupping his face. “Thank you..” She whispered to him before pulling his face in to kiss him. Her lips were salty with tears. 

Nobara pulled away from Megumi and faced the stone again, this time with a smile. “It’s kind of funny. Kind of like old times. Where I’d just talk endlessly and you would listen quietly. You always just let me talk.” She laughed out softly and brushed her thumb against the side of his gravestone. “I can’t wait to tell you about how wedding planning goes. You’ll get to hear all of the things I’m keeping secret from Megumi. Just like old times.” She grinned at Megumi’s little noise of protest at being kept out of the loop. “We’ve got to go visit Gojo, but I’ll be back next Wednesday. Same time. If you could, could you maybe make the weather more suitable? Not a fan of the cold rain.” She said as she got to her knees and crawled to the stone to press a soft kiss to the top as if it were her forehead, the same way he did to her when he was alive. 

“I miss you, dad.” She whispered with a deep sigh. “But I’m happy. Don’t worry about me. I miss you every day, but I’m still happy. I’ve got a beautiful life and I owe it all to you.”

“Thank you.” Nobara got to her feet with the help of Megumi and glanced down at the gravestone. “Alright. Gojo’s an impatient brat, so we really got to go! I’ll see you next Wednesday! I love you, dad!”

Nobara spoke to Nanami when she visited him. Megumi didn’t speak to Gojo. His grief was complicated. He resisted going to visit, but Nobara made him. It was important. He couldn’t heal without it. So Megumi would sit silently, and Nobara would speak to Gojo.

“Gojo-sensei, we brought you something good today,” Nobara hummed and placed little candies in front of his gravestone. Nanami got flowers and Gojo got sweets. It made sense in its own strange way. They sat side by side and Nobara rubbed her hand up and down Megumi’s back as she spoke.

“He thinks it's his fault.” She started with a shake of her head, “It’s why he doesn’t talk when we come see you. You and I both know that’s not true. It wasn’t his fault.” She leaned into Megumi and rested her head on his shoulder, her hand still on his back. “He misses you. We all miss you, but Megumi really misses you. I bet that makes your head big, huh?” She grinned slightly. She missed him too. The world was a little darker without the intense light he brought. 

“I thought we had more time,” Megumi said so quietly it was nearly inaudible. It was the first time he’d spoken. Nobara didn’t move from her spot. She kept rubbing his back and made no sign that she was shocked- which she was, but she wasn’t going to make a scene about it. It’d make him shut down. “I know. I wish you two had more time too.” She told him sincerely.

They sat in silence. Tears dripped off of Megumi’s face as he clenched his hands into fists and released them again. Nobara didn’t break the silence. She could see that he was processing, and that made her internally sigh in relief. She let him sit with the feeling. Let him feel the grief of not having more time with Gojo. Let him feel angry if he wanted to. She’d let him feel whatever he needed or wanted to feel. Except.

“I’m sorr-”

Except guilt and shame. She cut him off immediately.

“Do you want to tell him our big news or should I do it?” She asked as she picked up her head and turned his face to look at her, a warm smile on her face. He blinked slightly as she held up her left hand to show him the dazzling ring on it. Pink morganite that sparkled when the light hit it. It shone even in the rain. Smaller diamond gems accenting its oval shape. She shows it to everyone. Even people who have already seen it. Multiple times. Her smile grew as his face dusted with a pink blush. He coughed slightly and mumbled under his breath. He could do it.

“..Nobara and I are getting married. I proposed to her…” He grumbled out shyly, his face starting to burn as his blush deepened.

“He’s too shy to tell you about how it went down, my bashful baby, so I’ll tell you.” She beamed and hooked her arm around Megumi’s after she leaned over and stole a few sweet kisses from his lips. “Picture this, Gojo. Yuko- Yuuji’s girlfriend, invites me to go get our nails done. You know me. I’d never say no to that.” She said with a nod before continuing. “Now, we graduated years ago. Like. I’m twenty-two. Yikes.” Her nose scrunched up in distaste at the age that came out of her mouth without realizing that she was practically still a kid. “Anyway. He took me to the bakery that Nanamin used to take me to and we walked through the park Nanamin and I always went to. He’d bought flowers, which I assumed were for me, but then he placed them on the bench. The bench Nanamin and I always sat on.” Her eyes always grew misty at this point. “He said “thank you”, which really confused me, but I was moved that he brought Nanamin flowers.”

She used her free hand to fan her face with a little laugh as her tears warmed her face that was chilled by the October chill. End of October chill specifically. It was the 31st. The day Shibuya happened. The beginning of the end.

“I had no clue what was going on. He said he just wanted to walk around, but then he took us to the school. If I’m not teaching class, I don’t go to that hell hole, so I was completely lost… until he took me to the back. To the pond we always sat together at when we were still in school. There were flowers everywhere. Everywhere. Baby’s breath, forget-me-nots, pink roses, I mean- so many flowers. He guided me to the middle of the flowers and then got on his knee and I swear to god, Gojo. I nearly passed out. I would say I nearly died… but time and place, you know.” Her last comment got a snort out of Megumi.

“You’d be so proud of him-, no, you are proud of him. You’re so proud of him and so am I.” She said softly and got onto her knees in front of Megumi to pull him into a hug, knowing he was about to crumble. “He loves you. He’s so proud of you. He’s not angry at you. Megumi. It's not your fault.” She whispered against his temple. She kissed it and let her lips linger against his skin, squeezing him tightly against her. “It’s not your fault, my love.” She held him as he clung to her, only pulling back once his breath slowed and his grip on her loosened. She cradled his face in his hands and brushed his cheeks with her thumbs with a small smile on her face. It was full of sorrow and gratitude. 

“Are you ready to head back?” She asked gently, making it known that she would stay here for the rest of the night with him if he needed to. He gave a nod and took a deep breath before getting to his feet and holding his hands out for her to grab onto. He glanced at the gravestone one last time. “Miss you, dad.” He breathed out and squeezed Nobara’s hand as they walked back to the car, both soaked in rain. “Yuuji’s gonna come by tomorrow to visit you and Nanamin! He’s got a bunch to tell you too. We’ll see you next Wednesday! Bye, Gojo-sensei! We love you!” She called out to their sensei’s gravestone.

Nobara stared wistfully at the burial grounds where the sorcerers laid to rest as it faded further into the distance. There was a smile on her face, gentle and warm, as she grabbed ahold of Megumi’s hand. “We were so lucky to have them.” She said with a little nod as her eye burned. “So lucky.” She breathed out with a sniffle all while the smile stayed on her face. “I hope we can be like them to our students. Without the dying part.” Both her and Megumi let out a laugh.

They got home, shivering at the way their wet clothes had chilled their bones, and were quick to enter their bedroom to start peeling off their clothes. Megumi stared at her face. Her eye, her remaining one, was so expressive. Sorrow and love. He could see the tear marks on her face and knew that her skin was raw. She looked beautiful.

She was everything.

“You’re staring,” she stated as she peeled her wet leggings off of her with a scrunch of her nose at the sensation. She wasn’t even looking up at him, she could just feel his gaze.

“You’re beautiful.”

“I know.”

His heart swelled. She had immense difficulty with her physical appearance after the Shibuya incident. She never believed him when he told her she was still breathtaking. She often hid her face from him. She never looked at the mirror. And here she was, confident in her beauty. Confident in the way he looked at her. He crossed the room and tilted her head up with a finger under her chin so that he could press his lips to her.

The kiss wasn’t hungry. It wasn’t aggressive. 

Megumi loved everything about Nobara. Even the things that made his teeth grit in irritation or made him let out exasperated sighs. He loved her boldness. Her crass and often tactless language was somehow endearing to him. He loved her intricacies. How complex and often complicated she was. How she existed in extremes and dichotomies. Nobara had so much depth. How lucky was he? To have been able to explore her soul. To know her core being. To be given the opportunity to express his love for her. And somehow, in such a cursed world, he got the opportunity to hold a star in his hands.

His star. Burning hot with immense energy. So blindingly bright. The beauty of the universe. Long, lasting, enduring, and brilliant.

She pulled back from the kiss and pressed one to his cheek before she cradled his face. The love she felt was overwhelming to her. It brought tears to her eye. Her fingers were featherlight against his face. Tracing the angles and features that she loved neverendingly. Her thumb brushed against his cheek bones, ran along his nose, reveled in the softness of his lips as her thumb brushed against his bottom one. She hummed to herself before she replaced her thumb with her lips. It was a gentle kiss that didn’t last long before she was kissing the corner of his lips. She kissed every area of his face. His jawline, the tip of his nose, his forehead, his temple, above his brow. They were full of tenderness and conveyed her love.

He loved everything about Nobara, but in moments like this where she allowed herself to be soft his heart clenched in adoration. When she was serene and allowed herself to be delicate. When contentment filled her honey eye and the sweetest smile graced her lips. When her spirit was light and free despite the weight of grief. It was an honor to witness. To be welcomed into her vulnerability. To know that she felt safe with him. 

He leaned down and kissed underneath her ears as his hands ran up and down her sides to warm them. As teenagers, he was the one who grounded her. As adults, she often was the one to ground him. “Do you need me?” She asked softly as her fingers ran through his wet hair. He gave a slight nod against her. “I need you,” he muttered against her ear. Her arms wrapped around him with a quiet hum leaving her lips, “You have me,” she whispered as she released her hold and grabbed his hands to bring him to the bed. Megumi took in a shaky breath as he looked at her. She looked like home. She looked like healing.

She was laid underneath him, wet hair dampening the comforter. “I love you.” There was tremble in his voice that was barely noticeable. Like he couldn’t survive without her. He leaned down and kissed her. Devoted and ardent. He whispered her name against her lips as if he were saying a prayer. She brought color back into his world. She was like the crescendo of an orchestral piece. His brows were knit as he committed the way she looked to his memory. She protected him. The sight of her kept him standing. She was the hand that pulled him out of the violent waves of anguish. “I love you,” he repeated with a shaky breath as his hand traveled between her legs. His fingers were gentle against her, not teasing. He touched her delicately. They gathered her wetness and circled her clit as he stared at her, watching the way her cheeks began to flush. Her breath shuddered as she caught her bottom lip between her teeth, her eyes never leaving his. “Megumi..” She breathed out, a quiet whimper leaving her as he pressed two fingers into her, his own breath escaping him at the sensation. His pace wasn’t hurried. It wasn’t harsh. He gently worked her up, smooth slides of his fingers and curls at the spot he’d memorized years earlier. “You’re so perfect.” He mumbled and brought his thumb to press and circle against her clit. Warmth traveled through her entire body, spreading from her chest to the tips of her fingers as she panted quietly, eye now shut from the building pleasure in her lower abdomen. It wasn’t his usual intensity, and she loved it just as much. He could feel her begin to tighten around his fingers. He leaned down and caught her lips as he picked up his pace, adding more pressure against her clit. She gasped out against his lips and arched her back as she reached her climax. Quiet cries left her as he continued to finger her through the aftershocks of her bliss. The orgasm was gentle and warm, it was so intimate and made her cling to him as her hips pushed against his fingers, his name leaving her lips the entire time. She caught her breath and brought his forehead against hers, the chill of the rain having left her completely. 

“You have me,” She told him softly. He swallowed thickly and buried his face in the crook of her neck, as he aligned himself with her entrance. He was motionless, but not out of his usual reason to tease her. His emotions locked him up for a moment and she rubbed her hands up and down the expanse of his back. “You have me. I have you,” she whispered. He nodded against her with a deep breath before he slowly pushed into her. Nobara let out a moan and wrapped her legs around him as his hips came flushed against her skin. She felt his lips press against her neck and she knew he wasn’t going to move immediately. It grounded him to be completely connected with her. To feel her walls around him as her arms held him. To feel her body heat join his. To be in her safety. “I love you,” he mumbled against her neck, the quiver in his voice more noticeable. 

“I love you. You’re okay. You’re okay,” She soothed him through soft pants of breath at the way he stretched and filled her. 

He pulled his face back to stare at her, tears in verdant eyes, and a choked out breath of relief and a multitude of other emotions as he looked at her. “I love you, I love you,” It was an endlessly saying on his lips as he pulled his hips back to begin to thrust into her. They were languid strokes. Purposeful. They hit the deepest parts of her and pulled whimpers out of her as her nails grazed the skin of his back. He filled her to the hilt, making her dizzy and breathless. A cry left her when he angled his hips and she pushed against him. “Fuck, right there,” She gasped out, “oh god.” Her brows knit and her mouth was slightly agape, little cries leaving her each time he pushed back into her. He took in the sight of her. She was flushed and sweaty, trying to keep eye contact with him but often failing as the build up of pleasure began. “Touch yourself,” he murmured to her and began to speed up his thrusts. She let out a breath and gave a slight nod, her heels digging into him to pull him closer. She felt perfect around him, each drag of his hips bringing pleasure and comfort through his body, making his heart ache. “You feel so good, Noh.” Her hand slid down her body and jolted slightly when the pads of her fingers came into contact with her clit, swollen and sensitive from her first orgasm. They both let out a moan as she tightened around him. Her breath caught as she began to rub her fingers against herself. She looked like she was in bliss and his heart clung to that image. 

“I love you,” his voice cracked, a tear slipping from his chin onto her cheek. In the midst of her pleasure, she brought her free hand to cup his face, her thumb brushing against his cheek to wipe any tears that fell, although the movements weren’t as smooth as they’d normally be. Her back arched, pressing her chest against his as she sped up her fingers and choked out on a moan. “Megumi,” she cried out and sunk her teeth into her lower lip as a shiver ran down her body. “I’m close,” she whimpered out, “Kiss me.” He was moving down to meet her lips as she pulled him closer with the hand cupping his face. Their lips met, but Nobara was often whimpering against him or gasping for breath as her fingers and his thrusts made her body thrum with pleasure. He gave a particularly deep and sharp thrust and her body tensed immediately. His name escaped her lips when she could get words out, but most of the time she was letting out cries and cut off moans as she clamped down around him. Her body responded underneath him as her hips rolled up to meet his, chasing the pleasure he extended for her. Trembles of sensitivity ran through her body as he rocked into her, her nerves alight and high pitched whines leaving her as her body jerked in response to his continued thrusting, which had now picked up in pace as he chased his own release.

“Fuck, Nobara.” He groaned out as his eyes traveled every aspect of her face. “So good, you’re so good to me,” He breathed out to her as her nails dug into his back. She tightened around him unrhythmically and she sounded wrecked with her sharp inhales of breath and the cries that were leaving her. “One more,” He told her and brought his own hand between her legs as he began to fuck into her quickly. She keened and her hands frantically tried to find places on his body to hold onto as his thumb pressed against her clit. Punched out and strangled whines left her as her body jolted with each thrust. The pleasure was overwhelming and her hips pressed closer to him while also trying to pull away as electricity lit up her body. “M-Megumi-!” She sobbed as she felt herself on the edge yet again, “Oh, fuck, fuck, I-I can’t, I-” He thrust into her harshly twice before she shattered in pleasure. Mouth open in a silent scream, only choked out sobs escaping her as tears slipped down her cheek, her body arched and writhed, vision filled with bright white and spots of black. The shockwaves cut off her breath and she erratically gasped for breath until he spilled into her and slowly stilled his hips. 

She barely registered his fingers as they brushed her hair out of her face and wiped her tears. His hand cupped her face as he brought their foreheads together while her chest heaved and her body shuddered occasionally. His lips were gentle against her sweaty hair line before he pulled out of her, his arms immediately wrapping around her to pull her close against him. Her erratic breathing began to subside and he started feeling her fingers brush against his back again. Soft little hums began to leave her lips as she came back to him all while he whispered confessions of love into her hair. Time stood still between the lovers. 

Yuuji let out a loud groan and threw his arms out in exasperation as Yuko laughed delicately at his response.

“They always do this! They never take game night seriously!” He whined with a pout coming to his face. “They’re having sex right now, I know it.” Yuko squeezed his hand and brought the back of it to her lips as she giggled. “They’re engaged. That is what engaged people do. They’re newly engaged. They’re still coming and then you get to tease them because they always look a little bit disheveled, or someone has a shirt on backwards, or Megumi’s hair is sticking up in an incredibly unnatural way. You love doing that.” She reminded her partner and laughter escaped her again as his eyes lit up. “You’re right. I really do like to do that. They get so embarrassed.”

They were thirty minutes late this time. Never over forty-five minutes, but rarely on time. Clearly the teenage hormones didn’t ever level out for those two.

“Look who decided to grace us with their presence!” Yuuji called out, making Megumi roll his eyes and show him the middle finger. “We were busy,” He replied smoothly. He immediately regretted it when he saw the grin spread across Yuuji’s face and noticed that Yuko glanced away from them. “I see… Busy… I can see that. Because you’re wearing two different types of shoes and Nobara is practically walking with a limp. You freaks!”

“Yuuji! I’m gonna beat your ass!”

“I’d like to see you run for three seconds with those wobbly ass legs!”

“Has someone forgotten about my cursed technique? I don’t need to physically touch you!”

Megumi sighed and slipped into the chair next to Yuko, grabbing a drink and watching the two go at it. They always did.

“Were they always like this?”
“Always. From day one. They share one damn brain cell.” Megumi muttered, but there was a smile playing on his lips. 

“They’re pretty great.” Yuko hummed out as she stared at the bickering pair.

“They’re wonderful.” He said so gently and sincerely. “They’re everything.”

“May I ask, how did you and Nobara get together?”

Megumi, Nobara, and Yuuji all froze for a moment after hearing the question.

Nobara and Yuuji immediately migrated to where Megumi and Yuko sat, big grins on their faces while Megumi’s neck burned.

“You may ask, sweet Yuko. You may.” Nobara grinned.

“Babe. Grab a snack. Grab a drink. Get ready for the ride of your life.” Yuuji snickered.

Megumi groaned and rolled his eyes before taking a swig of his own drink. 

“Alright,” he huffed out. “Let me set the stage.” Megumi started. “Picture a crowded street and across that street is a fucking crazy menace of a girl harassing a poor man, and that girl is your new teammate.”

END