Chapter Text
"M-Megumi-Chan! I... I really like you! Do you feel the same...?"
Yuuji confesses honestly, hopefully. His voice nearly echoes through the leaves of nearby trees. He had these bright hazel, yellow-toned eyes, twinkling with the summer breeze. His words leave Megumi short-circuiting, frozen in place like a statue. The way Yuuji's voice lowers at some words, while it's high-pitched when excitedly yelling his name, was something only Megumi would notice. The thought courses down his spine, icy hands stuffed into his pockets, trembling with a mixture of fear and an unexplained joy. What could that be? Such sudden emotions overwhelm his limbs with anxiety. Megumi's head filled with a sense of dread, thinking forward to every event that would follow his answer. A confused expression crosses Yuuji's face, itching for a response. His fingers were stiffly stuck to his sides as they fiddled with his clothing, his teeth nibbling at his inner cheek. Eyes of emerald fill with doubt, messy black locks cover pale skin, and sweating droplets of alarm and enthusiasm. Did Yuuji really like him? Was this a prank? If it was, it was a cruel one.
A long pause rang as Megumi stood there, paused in place.
"Megumi?"
He adds, his tanned hands reaching to take a soft grip of Megumi's long fingers, his unbelievable warmth spreading without touch. Not physical warmth, but emotional. His warm spirit radiated positivity, scattering his sunshine about. Megumi jolts noticeably, his tongue rolling in his mouth, his mind running in circles. Thinking, looking, planning. How could he get out of this situation without confessing? His heart beats at the sight of him, his voice calling his name echoes in Megumi's mind.
"I-I... I don't hate you." Megumi's thoughts spill out of his mouth like waves, blood immediately flowing to his cheeks, with these four words driving him insane. His emerald eyes avoid Yuuji's and instead focus on the gravelled ground. Palms release drops of sweat; he was beginning to get dizzy with a combination of the sudden confession and heat, making his limbs tingle.
"Cmon, that's not an answer! It's a yes or no!"
He complains with that familiar innocent energy brightly radiating around him. It was as if Yuuji's soul itself glowed brightly within his body. Someone Megumi felt was out of his reach, even if he wanted to grasp his hand. No, that wasn't it. He was scared, terrified, of losing Yuuji. What if an enemy used Megumi to access him? Or what if they become too close? So close they'd become one another's weakness?
"...Itadori, even if I did like you, we couldn't be together, so why even try?"
His brows gently curl at his own words, trying his hardest to hide his deep emotions without understanding them himself. Yuuji's dirty blonde hair lightly blows with the direction of the wind, perfect light brown eyes complementing their almond shape.
"So... you do? Cmon, Megumi, it could be a secret between us..."
Yuuji's face lights up at the implied reciprocation of his feelings. Could Megumi possibly like him back?
"Itadori. I don't think we can... Listen, I really would like to, but if we get found out, it won't be great!"
From the shadows, one of his frog Shikigami wraps its tongue around Megumi's ankle, almost as if to stabilize him. As he realizes what he's said, his hand pinches his nose bridge. 'Oh, God. I messed up.'
"I said you can call me Yuuji. And I know, I just.. I've waited for so long... I thought maybe.. Since I've gotten stronger, I can protect you. Both of us."
Sincerity rings in his softened voice, his hand finally taking Megumi's, and his rough thumb gently rubbing circles on the sticky palms.
"...You'd better keep this a secret. Don't tell anyone, even Kugisaki." Megumi gives in; his blood automatically racing to his cheeks, causing his pale skin to radiate a gentle orange coral. His feet were soaked with sweat, his neck overwhelmed with the weight of his own head.
"Wait, really? Like, for real? Megumi-chan!"
He quite literally jumps for joy, a smile of pure gold spread across his tan face. Without thinking, he locks Megumi in a tight embrace. Megumi's arms bend with the force of the hug, his arms around the raven's waist, comforting yet scary to him.
"Hey, you should eat more.. You're pretty damn skinny. Cmon, we should get some food!"
Yuuji offers a face of blinding purity, meeting Megumi at eye level. He almost couldn't take it. Why'd he agree? No doubt, this will cause trouble.
"What do you mean?.. I'm not skinny, I'm perfectly healthy. Also, we don't need to get food, it'll be obvious." Megumi retorts, his arms sneaking around Yuuji's neck. Maybe... possibly... He could do this. He could keep this a secret, right? Nobody would know. Though the thought of putting his guard down to anyone, even Yuuji, was unthinkable, Megumi thought, 'Well, if I'm already in this situation, I'd might as well have some fun.'
"No, Megumi, you're skinny. I've never seen a man with this physique. It's nice, though. It's yours, so I like it. Don't feel bad about it! It makes you kinda androgynous," He assures, keeping him close to his chest. Megumi stares up at him, his flat stomach pressed against his.
Megumi stares into his deep, light brown eyes, admiring every drop of color. "So you think I'm feminine, eh? Whatever.. I'm going home." He sighs with a soft chuckle, his thumbs fondling together around Yuuji's neck. 'My... I never noticed how truly annoying he is..'