wasteland, baby! [fushiguro megumi]

14: drapetomania

july 2018

tokyo prefectural jujutsu high school

third person pov

the echo of crickets chirping stirred an uncomfortable semblance along with the unbearable afternoon heat as megumi and kugisaki found themselves sitting by the steps not too far away from their dorms. both hung a low, brooding expression as they tried their best to maintain their composure while mourning for the loss of their fallen classmate.

"live long he says?" kugisaki broke the uneasy silence between the two. "how can he say that when he's dead? is this your first time experiencing a friend's death?"

"it's a first for my classmate." megumi replies bluntly.

"hm, yet you look surprisingly calm."

"you too."

"of course, i've only known him for two weeks." kugisaki clicked her tongue as she shifted her head away from the boy. "i'm not so weak that i'll cry over a man's death."

despite her strong front, her quivering lips didn't escape megumi's sight as she silently held back her tears.

"where's mizuki anyway?"

megumi looked down at his hands as his mind wandered to the heavy narrative that keiko had revealed just yesterday. she left before he could say anything, what did he have to say about it anyway? he was still trying to sit with the fact that she's half a cursed spirit, and heeding the advice of his sensei, he tried to process the influx of information as thoroughly as he could.

"it's a lot right? take your time, you can go to her when you're ready." he recalled gojo's words.

how was he feeling about it? he definitely wasn't upset, and he definitely wasn't disgusted by the fact that she wiped out her entire clan at just four years old. so what exactly was he feeling?

as much as he hated it, deep down he pitied the girl. whatever she went through, it sure sounds like a hell lot more than any other sob story he's heard. he wanted to help her but, help her how? ever since yesterday keiko had done nothing but avoid him. whenever he would pass the corridor, she'd quickly turn the other way, or when he wanted to get a drink from the pantry late at night and had bumped into her, she simply gave a quick bow and scurried off without a word. even this morning, she wasn't in her room or at breakfast, so it made the boy wonder.

how do i talk to her if she doesn't even want to be around me? should i tell kugisaki about it too?

megumi sighed, expression as exhausted as ever. "i don't know."

from afar, the sound of metal jangling rang with footsteps towards the first years.

"what's going on?" a spectacled, green haired girl stopped before them, a red leather case slung over her shoulder. "your face looks even worse than usual, megumi! are you mourning?"

"zen'in senpai?" megumi raised his head.

"don't call me by my last name-"

"maki! maki!" another voice called out from behind, making the green haired girl turn to face a platinum blonde haired shorter boy and a panda.

"i'm talking here!" she grumbled.

"don't you know why they look so depressed? someone really died yesterday! it was one of the first year boys!" the panda called back in hushed whispers.

"bonito flakes."

while the group of seniors started to squabble amongst themselves, the first year pair stared at them in bewilderment.