closed 🐇 September catch-all

[mahoraga]

Who ⬤ Megumi and lovely people who deserve only happiness
What ⬤ Many things
When ⬤ At different times
Where ⬤ In different places
Content Warnings ⬤ None for now, but who knows.



The cut is fake as always.

Comments

[oversize]

( the invitation isn't surprising, but there is some level of it that is cautiously suspicious: he figures that megumi will want to do something to try to make up for the alleged slight, or hurt feelings, even though it isn't necessary; that's just the way that megumi is, and bringing yuuji into it isn't a far reach. the two of them seem particularly close, in this place--something he's grateful for, in all honesty--and living together must also mean that they have to handle some things together, namely having their wayward teacher over for whatever it is he's coming over for.

it turns out to be, to some surprise, gifts: that much is a surprise, and while he holds his large hands out to receive the bundle of things, a pair of sunglasses and a few convenience store sweets, he lets out a low whistle, like it's a pile of treasure being deposited into his grip. )

Wa~ah, for me? ( it's his usual warm voice, completely content, as though he's resolved with himself that it's better to be this way in front of the kids. even if megumi wanted him to be more honest, he doesn't want to make either of them worry about him when it isn't necessary. ) Hang on, let me settle here...

( he maneuvers to the sofa so that he can take a seat at the corner, crossing one leg over the other so that he can put the snacks and the glasses in his lap. to yuuji, he gives a big thumbs-up. )

I need the shades, you're right! These are cute! ( closing his eyes, he takes off the pair he's been wearing--they get folded up into his pocket, and he makes a show of placing the gifted pair right onto the bridge of his nose, waiting to open his eyes once they're on properly. ) C'mere, let's share.

( there's a tilt of his head to megumi, too, indicating he means the both of them: and he's smiling his usual smile as he gestures towards the snacks in his lap. )

This is dinner, right~?

[mahoraga]

[ Though Megumi stares at Gojo's excitement over the glasses in his usual, stone-faced blasé, there's a slight ease to his posture, like he doesn't hate what he's seeing, even if he doesn't fully understand the appeal of Yuuji's gift (then again, he doesn't understand the appeal to his own gift as well). It seems to have made Gojo happy, and that's what matters.

The nudge he gets from Yuuji is ignored. What's wrong with the way he had presented the gifts? It's very practical and to the point. He's not someone who sees the appeal in ceremony or fanfare.

Anyway, that last question from Gojo, innocent as it seems to be, makes him bristle immediately. ]

No. I'll bring out the actual food. [ The offer to share the couch is ignored for now, as he busies himself with getting their food. Yuuji will probably take it up, and it's better if he sits between them. ]

And if I find out you've been having chocolates instead of meals, I'll take it all back.

[ Has anyone told Megumi that what has been given cannot be taken back?

Anyway, he heads into their small kitchen and brings out the dishes prepared by Yuuji - ginger meatballs and hearty vegetables in soup, along with some steamed fish and rice. A typical but fulfilling homecooked meal. Since they are eating on the couch, he places the dishes on the coffee table in front of them. ]

[ahost]

[ yuuji, on the other hand, was more than happy to accept the invite and flopped down next to his teacher. they end up fooling around for a bit with the ridiculous shades, in which he asked gojo to put them on and then proceeds to compliment how good they look on him. for a blissful moment, yuuji felt like he was back home, enjoying a casual day after school while hanging out with gojo and the others. it was bittersweet— in a sense, he didn't miss the anxiety of being alive yet he missed what they all had.

he waits for megumi to finish setting up the table, happily spreading his arm to brag about the beauty of his cooking. no, their dinner won't involve them having only sugary treats, but they can totally enjoy them after a proper meal. ]

Go wild. Eat as much as you want!

[ and of course, yuuji and megumi will join as well. there is no need to urge anyone into grabbing a plate and serving themselves; it's not their first time sharing a meal together, and hopefully, it won't be their last. as megumi joins them on the sofa and everyone had their share in hand, small talk aside, yuuji's forward honesty might be a bit too bold given the situation— but that's how he has always been, right? ]

Sensei.

[ he waits for gojo to give him his full attention, and then: ]

... how are you? and be honest.

[ after all, being in this city is a lot. their history as sorcerers, their upbringing, the burden on their shoulders, and the failures will always find their way to lurk behind them. while gojo is the strongest, the best, the formidable—

he is still human. ]

[oversize]

( it does start to feel like the old days--not that those days are very old, at least to him. it doesn't feel like it's been so long since he's seen either of them, no matter the time he's spent locked away; it's impossible to know how long he stayed trapped there before arriving here, hard to know when time seemed to stop within the confines of the prison realm, but even so, nights like these, spent in the warmth of yuuji's excited voice and megumi's glowering face, feel something akin to home. it feels less like they're trapped in some strange, foreign city and more like they're back in tokyo, enjoying a light evening together--which is why he settles in comfortably, taking up a plate so that he can dish himself up.

of course, compliments are due to the chef, which he gives, liberally--nothing wrong with hyping up yuuji's ego, after all, as he sets his dish on his lap, legs crossed comfortably to support it. the candies and sweets are, of course, tucked dutifully by his thigh; he hasn't forgotten about them, and he isn't the type to indulge much in regular food, anyway.

it's why he's idly toying with the piece of fish he's snagged onto his plate when yuuji speaks--and his brows lift in question over the rim of his new sunglasses.

it isn't strange to hear such a forward question from yuuji: he's perceptive, in a different way than megumi, but he still picks up on things without realizing; it's more that he isn't sure whether or not honesty suits the situation, or how to proceed. he's still wearing a smile as he sets his chopsticks down and smacks a hand onto yuuji's back, lightly, fondly. )

He~ey, what's with this? You guys are looking so glum. Shouldn't you be glad to see me? ( his hand draws back, fits up the chopsticks with one smooth move. ) ...Really, you don't need to worry about me. I'm just adjusting, you know? Moving...some thoughts around.

( it's honest, at least. he just isn't saying what those thoughts are. )

[mahoraga]

[ Once on the sofa with Yuuji in the middle of them, Megumi allows Yuuji to steer the conversation, sitting with their sides lined up comfortably as he picks up his bowl of rice and starts to get through it. Yuuji's very forward with his questioning and concern, not one to beat around the bush or allude toward his meaning, and a lot of the time, it helps to have someone able to ask direct questions with no sense of awkwardness. Though he appears focused on his meal, Megumi listens intently during the conversation for their teacher's response.

And it's just about as expected. ]

... I told you he wouldn't tell us.

[ He did tell the other boy that, but Yuuji seemed to want the opportunity to show his concern, which explains why they're sat here on the couch having this get-together at all. Megumi could probe further, but that last attempt only went so wrong - causing more harm than good - and he's humbled and deterred. Talking about more delicate matters has never been his forte - especially given how unnatural it feels for him to express his feelings with sensitivity.

He'll leave that to Yuuji, if that's what he wants to do. If all that happens is that they have a quiet meal together, he doesn't mind that either. Not everything has to be laid out in the open, and he does note that his teacher is just slightly more open than he used to be thanks to their last conversation. ]