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Megumi opened his eyes when his eyelids got caressed by the sunlight. The golden light of the sunrise filled the room through the thin curtains. On the first day of spring, the temperatures were still low, and the heat created by the sun against the window was welcomed. The bedroom was quiet, not a single sound dared to break the cosiness of the morning of 20 March.
This day was special for Megumi.
It was the day his own Sun, of his own Solar System, was born.
It was the day Itadori Yuuji took his very first breath.
Megumi smiled tenderly at the thought. It was a small, almost invisible grin. But it was here, a smile that slightly reached his eyes and enlightened his usually strict expression. He looked down to see a pink tuft of hair resting on his chest. Slowly, he moved his right hand to pat the head of the boy lying on his stomach, an arm loosely wrapped around Megumi’s waist, and his head on his chest. Megumi was on his back, his left arm tucked over Yuuji’s powerful shoulders.
After a few minutes, sleepiness completely left his body. He moved carefully to free himself from Itadori’s grip. The boy grumbled in his sleep, and for a second, Megumi was scared to wake him. However, it underestimated Yuuji’s sleep capacity. He moved his hand through the sheets to find Megumi back without success. Megumi took pity on him, and he invoked his Black dog Shikigami. The animal immediately curled up into Yuuji’s arms. The pink-haired boy let out a satisfied sigh before stopping moving. Relieved, Megumi pressed a kiss on Yuuji’s forehead before leaving the room.
He went straight to the kitchen. Today was Yuuji’s birthday, so the breakfast had to be perfect. He grabbed the ingredients to make pancakes. He mixed them all and added chocolate chips to the mixtures, exactly as Yuuji liked. He let the dough rest while he set the table and poured some coffee for himself in a mug. Then he prepared the best hot chocolate he could for Yuuji. Once done, he returned to the pan to cook the pancakes.
As he was working on breakfast, Megumi couldn't help but think about the first time they celebrated Yuuji’s birthday together. It was a few months after Sukuna’s defeat. Everyone was mourning the deaths of the past months. Gojo, Nanami, Choso, Yuki… but hope had started to appear again in the survivors’ hearts. Yuuta had finally found the courage to ask Maki out, Yuuji, Megumi and Nobara were reunited, and all their past injuries were healed. Only the psychological pain remained. The hardest to overcome and the most cruel of all the pains. But they were all relying on and holding on to each other.
Yeah, Megumi remembered really well this day of 20 March, four years ago.
———————————
"Hey, stop sleeping for fuck's sake!"
Megumi woke up with a start. His room was filled with darkness because of the thick curtains. He was sleeping very soundly just before, but apparently, Nobara got other plan for him. She was banging on the door, probably for a while, according to the harsh tone she used. Megumi got up more or less quickly considering the sleepiness paralysing his tired muscles, grabbed a shirt that he put on before opening the door. Nobara was about to knock again, considering her lifted fist.
"It's 'bout time!" She said.
"What do you want?" Megumi grumbled as he passed a hand on his face to get rid of the tiredness.
"It's Yuuji's birthday today."
"Yeah. I know. And?"
"And we should do something for him!"
Megumi sighed. Yuuji was on a mission today, and he doubted he would be up for a party tonight after finishing. After the defeat of Sukuna, the curses were less numerous and less strong, so the missions were easier overall. But still, fighting against them, finding and understanding their techniques and exorcising them was tiring. "I don't think he would be up for a party."
"Who talked about a party?" Nobara said. "Let's just get him a cake and presents."
Megumi looked at her. She definitely changed a lot after all that happened. She looked more adult, even though she was just a teenager, like all of them. She looked more appeased, less angry, but still stubborn and determined. She had never been the tough and emotionless girl she sometimes pretended to be. After they reunited, they all made a promise to be honest with each others and to do hide anything serious. It was still really hard for Megumi, who used to play the game by himself. But something he had ever done, was being observant and noticing. And Megumi couldn't help but notice something was different today.
"Why is it so important for you?" He asked.
"It's not important!" Nobara looked at Fushiguro fiercely. Then her face softened, and a brief, sad expression passed on her face. She looked down, staring at her feet. "It's just… he went through shitty stuff in a very short amount of time and… I don't know. I think it can be good for all of us."
'All of us’. The survivors, she meant. Yuuji, Todo, Hana, Yuuta, Maki, Panda, Inumaki, and them. Megumi looked down, too. Nobara was right. They needed to reunite to celebrate life, to be thankful for being alive and being able to grow, surrounded by friends. And Yuuji's birthday was the perfect occasion for that. First, because it's the first day of Spring. And the National Happiness Day. But most of all because Yuuji is the literal definition of being alive. He was always full of joy, and he demonstrated goodwill with everyone without questioning anything. And he was brutally aware of the value of life and the danger of his own empathy. Megumi looked back at Nobara. "Ok. Let's do something."
Nobara fixed her gaze on Megumi's eyes. She gave a faint smile and nodded. Megumi could tell she felt grateful right now. Then she left him to tell the others about their plans. In the meantime, Megumi grabbed a better outfit and opened the window of his room.
After a moment, Kugisaki and Fushiguro left Jujutsu Tech to go to the stores. They bought all they needed to make some ingredients for a Sukiyaki. They also bought sparkling sake and dangos, a sort of skewers of glutinous rice balls, often drizzled with a sweet-and-sour soy sauce as a dessert. Then they entered the bakery shop to buy a raspberry cake, Yuuji's favourite.
"Do you have a present?" Megumi asked. His arms were full of grocery bags while Nobara was holding the cake.
"Yup."
"What is it?"
"You'll see."
Megumi rolled his eyes but let it go. On their way back, they walked past a store that Gojo used to go to buy an abnormal amount of mochis. Megumi stopped walking for a second, memories going through his head. Megumi wondered what kind of present Gojo would get for Yuuji. Probably movies. They both got on the train to go back to Jujutsu Tech. "I don't have a present," Megumi admitted.
Nobara looked at him with wide eyes. "Why didn't you get something just before?"
Megumi shrugged, his hands into his pockets, and his eyes fixated on his feet. "I- I want something personal."
His friend grinned. "Will you guys tell me what's happening between you?"
The black-haired guy straightened up to look at her. "What?"
"Come on, you guys are not just friends, are you?"
Megumi froze, completely dumbfounded. It was true that he and Yuuji were not really acting like friends do. After all the events in Shinjuku, they used to sleep together to help each other with insomnia and nightmares. It started with Yuuji sticking around his room with a bunch of movies in his arms. "Can't sleep either? Should we watch a movie?" He would say with a wide smile. Megumi couldn't resist this smile. Actually, he couldn't resist Yuuji even without a smile. They spent most of their time together and were often physically close. Fushiguro didn't have anything in mind; he just felt good with Yuuji. His heart was pounding, and his stomach conveyed a warm feeling. He felt at peace and safe with Yuuji around. That's it. Nothing else. Just a feeling, he found his place.
Noticing Megumi wouldn't answer, Nobara gave up on the conversation. They got off the train and walked for a few minutes to reach the school. They put all their stuff into the fridge of the common kitchen and into the cupboards. Then Nobara disappeared, leaving Megumi alone in the room. He came back into his bedroom. He took off his shoes and his clothes to put on more comfy ones. Then he sat on his bed. No matter how hard he tried to think about it, he couldn't find a good present for his best friend.
His best friend.
Actually, he knew Yuuji was more than that. It always had been more. Since the very beginning, when he saw the boy running to reach his friend from the occult club to save them. Since he came to help him, even if he knew nothing about Jujutsu. Since Itadori had always been there for him, even when Megumi tried to push him away.
Yeah. He was totally, completely and madly in love with Itadori Yuuji.
He'd always kept an eye on him, wherever he was, always making sure he was safe. Nothing could ever have been worse than how he felt when he saw Itadori, completely miserable on the ground in front of Yuuta, crushed by the weight of a guilt that did not even belong to him. Seeing his Sun, his light in the dark, being close to being shut off was another heartbreak for Fushiguro. He wanted to find the perfect present that could represent how important Yuuji was to him. Even if they stayed best friends, Megumi could be satisfied with whatever Yuuji could give him.
When dinner time approached, he went to Nobara's room to tell her they should start preparing food. He had received a text from Itadori a few minutes ago to tell him I'll be there around dinner time. He knocked at the door of the girl's bedroom. Nobara told him to come in, and he did. Kugisaki was sitting on her bed, surrounded by balls of wool, crochet hooks in her hands. Megumi looked at her at the entry of her room, frozen. "Seen a ghost?" The girl asked.
Megumi shook his head and walked toward the bed. He sat at the edge of the bed. "What are you doing?"
"Yuuji's present." She put the hooks down on the bed and showcased her creation in front of Megumi's eyes. He slightly leaned back to look at what she was showing. Her creation was a plushy, around twenty centimetres tall, representing Spider-Man, Yuuji's favourite superhero. "I started it a few weeks ago."
Megumi nodded and looked at it more closely. "That's really good. When did you learn to do this?
"When I was recovering after Shibuya. I wanted something mechanical that didn't require to think too much. I found it pretty fun to do."
"Yuuji will love it."
Nobara smiled widely. Then she took the plushy closer to her to finish her piece. Megumi looked at her hand, repeating the same moves again and again. It was mechanical but really meticulous. It suited Kugisaki pretty well, actually. It mixed the precision of manual activities Nobara loved so much, and the repeating moves helped to empty the brain. After a few minutes of observing her working, Megumi's fingers found a string of red wool. He took it between his fingers and started to play with it. Then Nobara put it back in front of Fushiguro's face. "Done!"
Megumi nodded, a small grin growing on his face as he saw the proud look on Nobara's expression. "Should we make dinner then?"
Nobara carefully put her present into a box and followed Megumi out of the room. They knocked on all the doors of the dorm to tell the other it was time to get ready. Rapidly, they were all reunited in the kitchen. It was kind of loud, but for once, it didn't bother Megumi. He was happy to be with these people, who can share and understand his torturous feelings, organising a surprise for his loved one. As they were all preparing the food for the Sukiyaki, Megumi felt like the sixteen-year-old he was supposed to be.
Around eight, the door of the common area opened, and Yuuji interrupted. "What's up, guy?"
As soon as they heard him, everyone in the kitchen faced him and started to scream, 'Happy birthday, Yuuji!' The new comer smiled widely and almost ran into the kitchen, thanking everyone, flitting between the different dishes, his face expressing more joy than he was even able to feel. Then his feet led him to Megumi, and he offered him an even bigger smile that made Megumi's heart flutter. "Thank you, Fushiguro!"
"It was Nobara's idea," Fushiguro said, his cheeks blushing slightly; it was almost unnoticeable.
"I know, she told me. But you hear, and I'm thanking you like everyone else here." Yuuji's simplicity always tightened his throat. How can a boy be so sweet? Yuuji didn't wait for an answer and wrapped his arms around Fushiguro's body. The black-haired guy froze for a bit before his body went limp against Yuuji's warmth. His own arms tucked around him, his chin was placed on Yuuji's muscled shoulder. "I'm gonna take a shower", Yuuji said, breaking their embrace.
Megumi nodded and helped the others to set the table while Yuuji was taking his shower; He came back a few minutes after, clean and refreshed. They all sat at the table and shared the sparkling sake, savouring the taste of the Sukiyaki. Megumi didn't have it in so long since it was a birthday dish. The last time he had one was for Tsumiki's birthday before she fell into a coma. His heart sank at the thought of his sister. As he was staring at his plate without touching it, he felt fingers brushing his. He looked up, and his eyes met Yuuji's interrogative and worried gaze. Megumi grinned tenuously to tell him he was okay. His gaze fell upon their almost intertwined fingers. The black-haired guy slightly moved his own finger to caress Yuuji's.
Megumi felt his stomach spreading a warm feeling through his whole body. His shaky smile became more confident as Yuuji's finger brushing against his was putting his doubts aside. He could feel Yuuji's gaze on him, but his own stayed on their hands. He felt reassured and protected in his gaze. Then Panda asked Yuuji about the last movie he saw, and Yuuji took back his hand, breaking the moment. The warmth that Megumi's body gained vanished through his fingers, let alone. He listen Yuuji talking absent-mindedly, already regretting the lack of contact between them.
Once they finished their dinner, Todo proposed opening the presents. Everyone got up to grab what they bought for Yuuji. Fushiguro started to clear the table with Itadori's help. Everyone sat again around the table, a small mountain of presents in front of the birthday boy. Yuuji opened them one by one. Todo offered him a collector's edition CD of their favourite pop girl, and Yuuta got him a sweater. He also received Human Earthworm merch from Inumaki and Maki, a bunch of movies from Panda. Then Nobara handed him the plushy, and Yuuji got almost euphoric. "Wow, Nobara, that's insane!! You did it yourself?"
"Of course I did, dumbass, who do you think I am?" She said with a fake modest expression, tucking her hair behind her ear. Yuuji almost jumped on her to seize her into his strong arms. She pretended to struggle, but her proud smile couldn't fool anyone. They ended up in a group hug as some were screaming for being crushed. Megumi didn't offer him anything, but Yuuji seemed not to have noticed.
They all participated in cleaning the kitchen before crashing on the couches to watch some movies Panda offered to Yuuji. They shared the dangos while commenting on the scenario, the character's bad decisions and acting. For the first time in a while, they all felt like teenagers enjoying a good night with their friends, away from their responsibilities. After two movies, they all returned to their room, happy smiles on their lips and eyes full of shining stars.
Megumi entered his room and slumped on his sheets. Exhaustion was taking him over; his heart was full of gratitude and… love. This was the kind of life he wanted from now on. As he was sliding into sleep without noticing, he got abruptly woken up by knocks on his door. He got on his feet quickly, making his head spin for a bit as dark spots appeared in front of his eyes. He walked toward the door and opened it.
Yuuji was standing there, his hands behind his back, holding his brand new plushy, a cute smile on his face. "Can I crash at yours tonight?"
"As always," Megumi answered with a tender smile as he shifted to let him enter. Yuuji walked into the room and threw himself on the bed. Megumi smiled wider as he joined him. He sat crossed legs on his bed, facing Yuuji, who sat as well. They were both facing each other, silently. "Did you enjoy your birthday?"
"Yeah. Thanks to you…" As he noticed Megumi's severe gaze, he added, "…guys."
They stayed there, diving into each other's eyes. Slowly, Yuuji held out his hands to grab Megumi's, his thumb gently stroking the back of them. Megumi could feel goosebumps from his neck to the end of his back. As usual with Yuuji, he felt good. His eyes locked on the crocheted plushy.
"You really like this plushy, don't you?"
"Yeah! Isn't Nobara really talented?"
"She does," Megumi smiled tenderly, his eyes going back into Yuuji's.
"And… you don't have anything for me?" Yuuji addressed him with his sad puppy eyes, the one nobody could resist. And Megumi perfectly knew that Yuuji actually didn't have any clue about the efficiency of it.
He freed his hands from Yuuji's and put his hand in his pocket. He took it off and presented his closed fist to Yuuji. Delicately, he opened his fist, and the red wool string appeared, protruding at the sides. Yuuji looked at it longly, then looked up to reach Megumi's face. He was trying to guess what was the meaning of it in the curves of his lines. Then he extended his wrist toward Megumi, who tied the thread around Yuuji's wrist really tightly.
"Is it about the Red Thread of Fate?" Yuuji asked, breaking the silence.
"Maybe."
Megumi looked at Yuuji, who was still uncertain. The Red Thread of Fate was an East Asian belief from Chinese mythology that an invisible, unbreakable red cord connects those destined to meet, love, or influence each other. The string can stretch or tangle but never breaks, ensuring a destined connection occur regardless of time, place or circumstances.
This was how Megumi was feeling about Yuuji. He didn't care if it was about love, romantic or platonic, if it was friendship or just two paths destined to cross forever or for an instant. He loved Yuuji. So much. And this red string, as stupid as it was, negligently abandoned on Nobara's bed after she finished doing a crocheted plushy with red wool, was the perfect representation of his feelings. It was a way to say: whenever it is, we were meant to be.
To be what? That doesn't matter. That never mattered.
Yuuji chose his own meaning, as he was leaning in to chastely press his lips on Fushiguro's.
———————————
Megumi got pulled out of his thoughts by two strong arms wrapping his upper half in a tight embrace. He smiled as Yuuji pressed a gentle kiss on the junction between his shoulder and his neck. "Happy first day of spring," Yuuji said.
"Happy Birthday."
"Happy Happiness day."
"You're my happiness," Fushiguro was being sarcastic.
"Ew, gross. You're stealing my job."
Yuuji released Megumi from his embrace and took a seat around the table. Megumi finished his pancakes quickly and joined him with a full plate. They ate breakfast while talking about random stuffs, things they still got to tell each other even after leaving together since five years. Once he had finished, Megumi cleaned his plate and walked into their bedroom. He opened a drawer of the nightstand and grabbed a small box. He returned to the kitchen and sat back in front of Yuuji. Then he handed him the box. Yuuji opened it and discovered a delicate white gold chain. He took it off the box and gave it to Megumi, who fastened it around his wrist.
The refined look of the jewel contrasted with Yuuji's veiny and strong arm. He looked at it with a tender smile as he was brushing his fingers on it. "I love it, thank you, babe. It's beautiful."
"Now you can take off that ridiculous red string," Megumi said.
Yuuji opened his eyes wide as he fixated them on his boyfriend. "What? No!"
"Why not? Come on, Yuuji, it's ridiculous."
"It's the first birthday present you gave me. The first present even!"
"You have a really nice chain now."
"I love this red string. It's our Red Thread of Fate."
"Come on, Yuuji, this is a myth."
"Yeah. Maybe. But every time I'm looking at it, it reminds me of us."
Megumi raised an eyebrow, but he didn't add anything. It was useless anyway, Yuuji decided he won't take this ridiculous red string off of his wrist. After all, it was armless. Yuuji got on his feet and walked around the table to face Megumi, who was still sitting. The pink-haired boy slid between Megumi's thighs and pulled him into a tight embrace, his arms around his shoulders as Fushiguro let his head rest against Yuuji's chest, wrapping his own arms around his waist. Yuuji let some kisses on the top of his head. They stayed like this a few times before Fushiguro got up and grabbed Yuuji's t-shirt collar to kiss him with all the love that no words could ever express.
They spent a long time like this, cuddling and kissing each other to the point of not remembering where their bodies began and where they ended.
Yuuji was born on 20 March.
Yuuji was born on the first day of Spring, as the symbol of the renewal he offered to Megumi the second they met.
Yuuji was born on the International Day of Happiness, as another proof of his generous and kind heart, bringing happiness and comfort to anyone, anywhere, anytime.
Yuuji was born to love and to be loved. And the red string around his wrist always remembered him who abled him to do what he was made for.
Fushiguro Megumi.