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Megumi thinks there's something off about this “Choso” guy.
His first impression of Choso was him leaning from the shadows of the dimly lit ruins in Shibuya. That frightened Megumi a lot more than he would like to admit.
Along with that, he claims to be Itadori’s older brother, constantly. Not in the way where someone calls their friend “bro”, Choso seems to genuinely believe that he and Itadori are blood related when they look absolutely nothing alike.
From what Megumi knows, he and Itadori met in Shibuya on the night of the 31st. Along with that, Choso was supposedly a part of the group of curse users who sealed Gojo. And while Megumi is aware that Itadori tends to attract a lot of strange people… such as Todo, he fails to understand how Choso determined himself and Itadori were related and seemingly “switched sides” after one interaction with him, especially while everything else was happening that night.
What confused him even further, Itadori seems fine with it for the most part. Megumi has seen him cringe when Choso calls him “little brother”, but he still allows Choso to do it with no question.
Finally, it's pretty obvious Choso does not like Megumi. He’s constantly interrupting him. Every time Megumi tries to get close to Itadori, Choso somehow gets to him first, and when Megumi actually manages to be next to Itadori, he can feel Choso’s eyes on him, making holes in the back of his head.
He would like to talk about it with someone sensible, like Maki or Okkotsu. Maybe ask them if they think it’s weird that Itadori’s “brother” is tagging along with them. But as much as he would like to, they definitely have bigger things to worry about.
Currently, he, Itadori, Okkotsu, and Maki are walking back from the Tombs of the Star, down the Star Corridor to go find the third-year student Hakari.
Thankfully, they left Choso and Tsukumo behind to protect Tengen. While Megumi still doesn’t trust him, if Tengen does, then maybe Choso doesn’t have ulterior motives, and he’s just a weird guy that Itadori accidentally got attached to him. Though Tengen did mention she can’t “read people's hearts,” so would she even know if Choso was some sort of spy?
Megumi glances next to him, watching Itadori. His usually bright, amber eyes that could light up a room have been replaced by dejected and dull brown ones, full of guilt. He’s definitely doing better than he was when Megumi first found him with Okkostu in Shibuya, but everything that happened has certainly taken a toll on Itadori both mentally and physically.
Though he supposes the same could be said for everyone.
Itadori’s eyes rise from the floor and catch Megumi’s. Megumi feels his breath hitch as their eyes meet. The dimly lit corridor fades away as all Megumi can see is the light slowly returning to Itadori’s eyes. A light red dusts over his cheeks, and after a moment, he gives a small smile to Megumi.
It’s … odd. Their current situation is a disaster. Gojo has been sealed, “Kenjaku” has forced sorcerers into a killing game, dragging Tsumiki into it as well, and Itadori is currently a wanted man by jujustu society.
But, right now, all Megumi sees is his bright smile and the glow of the lights reflecting in his eyes… and everything is alright.
Loud stomps echo from behind the group, snapping Megumi out of his trance. Itadori’s smile falters, and his eyes go wide. Megumi hears Maki and Okkotsu’s footsteps halt in front of them.
Megumi turns around to the direction of the sound. The sound of someone running towards them becomes louder and louder and reverberates around the corridor.
No one can have passed them when they were walking back, and it's not like anyone would have been able to hide in either the corridor or the tomb without Tengen following them.
Therefore, there are only two possible answers to who could be running at them, and Megumi prays to whatever god is out there for blonde hair.
Instead, a familiar pair of spiky black pigtails bounces into view.
Are you serious?
The anticipation building in the air drops and is replaced by a form of displeasure, at least for Megumi.
He expects Choso to call out to his “little brother”, maybe Tengen or Tsukumo convinced him to go with the students instead of staying back, but instead,
“Fushiguro!”
Megumi is thrown off by the direct address of his name, and watches Choso stop in front of Itadori and him.
“I apologize, I know this is sudden and that you have a limited amount of time to find Hakari, but I would like to speak with Fushiguro. Alone for a moment.”
Megumi feels a growing unease in his stomach. He looks away from Choso to Itadori. He looks just as confused as Megumi is.
There's a moment of silence before Maki steps up to stand behind Megumi to address Choso.
“Why can’t you speak with him here?” Most people falter at Maki’s threatening aura and voice, especially when being questioned directly like that, but Choso stands his ground.
“It’s a private matter. I promise we won’t be long.”
Megumi wants to decline; he doesn’t trust Choso to be alone with him in a dark, empty corridor. But, Itadori puts his hand on his shoulder, and Megumi looks at him in surprise.
“Fushiguro, it’s okay. You can trust him, I promise.” He gives a bright smile to Megumi, his new mouth scar curling around his lips. Megumi pauses, and the unease in his stomach is replaced by something else.
It's hard to name; it still makes him feel jittery, but almost in a good way. He still doesn’t trust Choso fully, but Itadori’s smile makes him able to for maybe a moment.
Megumi nods, and the rest of the group continues onward without him. Itadori waves back to him and Choso as they wait awkwardly for the others to be out of earshot.
Megumi kept his head towards the end of the corridor where the others were walking, trying to pretend Choso wasn’t staring at him.
Itadori’s figure slowly fades into the shadows ahead. Now it’s just him and… “Itadori’s brother.”
It’s painfully awkward. It's most likely been less than a minute, but to Megumi it feels like an hour. He still refuses to look at Choso, and neither has said a word to the other yet. The tension starts rising in his stomach again as the silence draws out before Choso clears his throat.
“Fushiguro, I once again apologize for taking you away from the others, but… something has caught my attention that I wish to speak with you about.”
Megumi finally decides to look at Choso. Deciding to glare at him in annoyance, to hopefully speed this exchange up.
Now, fully looking at him and taking him in, his face is strikingly pale compared to Itadori’s tan skin. His eyes are sunken, and his eye bags are so cartoonishly purple they almost look like makeup. A thick black line lies on his nose, almost resembling a bandaid, and Megumi wonders in what world he and Itadori would be related.
“I’m under the impression that you are seeing my younger brother?”
…
What?
“... What?”
“My younger brother spoke very highly of you when I was with him in Shibuya. It was quite adorable, but I find myself quite worried for my brother and his mental state.” Choso’s tone is calm, almost fond, contrasting Megumi’s current feeling of internal panic. “I’m in no way against the idea of two men dating, but-”
. . .
Megumi feels the heat start to pool in his cheeks and his chest grows tight.
What. the. hell. Is this guy trying to mock him?
“No, you- w-we aren’t-” Megumi tries to deny Choso’s claims, but Choso continues with his speech
“I just want my younger brother to be happy, and you are clearly very important to him-”
No matter how much Megumi tried to interrupt and object, Choso kept on going.
“I’m sure you're aware. You know Yuji blames himself for Sukuna’s actions. He feels immense guilt for the events that happened in Shibuya, and I wish to help to lessen that burden on him, and I know you feel that way too.”
Megumi paused his stuttering and truly began to process Choso’s words.
“And since you two have a very special relationship, I am entrusting you to protect my younger brother. Please try to keep him from blaming himself and feeling the weight of Sukuna’s actions. Furthermore, keep him out of harm's way. I know our current mission is dangerous and there is bound to be injuries, but. . . I failed to protect my two other brothers. And I don’t want the same to happen to Yuji.”
“I.. I promise.” Megumi likes to think of himself as someone hard to fluster, but right now, he’s speechless.
He’s somewhat happy that Itadori has someone who clearly cares about him this much. Yet, he can’t help but think of the first thing Choso said.
As much as he doesn't want to admit, he definitely developed some sort of bond with Itadori. Maybe some … romantic feelings, but Megumi has no time to indulge in those fantasies now. With everything happening, he needs his full attention on finding Hakari and saving Tsumiki. There's no time to think about “crushing” on his best friend.
Megumi takes in a deep breath and says, “Look, I’ll absolutely protect Itadori for you. But… Me and him aren’t date- … together.”
Choso looks honestly confused. Megumi thought he was teasing him in some way earlier, but Choso seems to have genuinely thought him and Itadori were… like that.
Choso puts his hand on his chin and looks down. He starts tapping his foot, seemingly deep in thought.
Megumi watches warily. Did he say the wrong thing?
“I’ll be honest, I’m not the best with relationships… but,” he looks back up and makes eye contact with Megumi, his dark eyes are set and determined, “you do like my younger brother in that way, right?”
Megumi feels the heat rush back to his face again. He really wants to deny his feelings, but deep down he knows he’s liked Itadori since that day he ate Sukuna's finger to save Megumi. But… there's no way his feelings are that obvious.
He rarely let himself entertain it. He treated Itadori the same as he treated any other friends he had. Which, to be fair, he has a very limited selection of friends. But still. He’s been around Choso for barely a day and he can already tell?
It seems he’s taken too long to respond as Choso’s mouth quirks into a slight smile. “It’s okay, Fushiguro, I understand.”
Damn this guy. Megumi hates him and his stupid pigtails.
“I haven’t known you for that long, Fushiguro. But if my brother trusts you, then I do too.”
Choso walks up and puts his hand on Megumi's shoulder. Megumi stiffens and furrows his brows at the other man, confused at the sudden contact.
“When this is all over, I give you permission as his older brother... to date Yuji.”
.
.
.
Did Choso just give Megumi his blessing to date Itadori???
Oh god he totally did.
This is terrible. Absolutely terrible. He should have stayed with the group.
Choso smiles softly at Megumi, completely oblivious to Megumi’s mental anguish, and lowers his hand from his shoulder.
“I must return to Tengen now. I wish you luck on your mission, and with Yuji. Goodbye, Fuhsiguro.” Choso turns swiftly on his heel and begins walking down the corridor back to the tomb of the stars, where Tengen and Tsukumo reside.
Megumi has no idea how long he’s been standing there for. He’s very much aware he needs to meet up with the others; they are probably already back outside now, but Megumi cannot will himself to move out of pure embarrassment.
If Choso was able to spot Megumi’s “crush” then who hasn't by now?? Does Itadori know?? What did he even mean when he said Itadori “spoke highly” of him?? What could he have possibly said that made Choso think they were dating?? Megumi wants to curl into a ball and stay in the corridor forever. Just stay there and wallow in embarrassment. But his mind flickers back to Tsumiki, and the embarrassment is crushed by dread.
He exhales shakily and begins to run down the corridor, hoping his “talk” with Choso didn't take too long.
- - -
He eventually catches up to the three students at the end of the corridor. They all seem to have been waiting there for a while. They all silently watch Megumi walk up to where they're standing.
Megumi doesn’t know what they were expecting exactly, but they all stare at him, waiting for an explanation of some sort.
“It was nothing important, just some more details on Hakari’s location.”
It's not his best excuse, and Megumi is gambling on the fact that no one will ask for elaboration. Tengen already explained exactly where Hakari was, but Megumi had no time to think of an excuse on his walk as he panicked about seeing Itadori again.
Speaking of Itadori, Megumi can’t bring himself to make eye contact with him, worrying his “crush” will be obvious to the two second years. Instead, he faces Okkotsu and Maki and gives his excuse to them. Though out of the corner of his eye, he can see Itadori staring at him.
Maki seems to catch Megumi’s bullshit immediately, “Oh yeah? Why couldn’t he tell us? Why only you?”
Megumi shrugs in a hopefully showing indifference. “I don’t really know myself. I guess he thought you guys would go ahead without us. It's nothing important, let's just get going.”
He starts walking out of the corridor in hopes of convincing everyone to drop the topic. It's another risky gamble, but no one asks any more questions as everyone separates to go on their missions.
- - -
It ends up being just him and Itadori. They make their way down a dirt path in the forest surrounding the tomb. Slowly heading towards Hakari’s fight club.
“So, what did you and Choso actually talk about?”
Damn, if even Itadori caught onto his lie, then the two second years definitely did.
He internally debates whether or not he should actually tell Itadori or not. He could just say that Choso was being a protective “brother” and avoid the awkward conversation of “Oh! It's just that your supposed brother thinks we are dating haha!”
Megumi can’t explain it exactly, but it feels like there's something he and Itadori are constantly tiptoeing around, something they both know but maybe can’t put into words.
As much as he doubts Itadori could like him, Megumi thinks back on all the shared looks between the two of them, the slight touches, the way Itadori looked at him back in Shibuya.
“Fushiguro?”
Megumi blinks up at Itadori, realizing he’s been in his own head for too long.
“Cmon just tell me! It can’t be that bad, right?”
Megumi's eyes meet Itadori's, and once again, all his thoughts leave him immediately. Looking into Itadori’s eyes feels like a warm hug, while Megumi hates most physical contact, something about Itadori makes him like it, maybe even crave it in a way.
Itadori gives a small, hopeful smile. It makes Megumi want to hope too.
Still staring into Itadori’s eyes, Megumi takes a deep breath. He nods, then looks towards the dirt path and the dark forest.
“ He said that as your… older brother, he wants to protect you. But since he won’t be here with you, he “entrusts” me with that duty.”
Itadori pauses, then shakes his head in amusement and chuckles softly.
“Yeah.. sounds like him.”
“He really cares about you, Itadori.”
Megumi whispers to himself softly, “And I do too.”