Slow and Steady

Episode 8: Boredom

Nobara knows she's heading into unknown territory when she pulls Megumi away from the kitchen. She hasn't had a fit like this since elementary school when Saori left, after her town bullied her back to the city. The thing is, she knows how to speak her mind, knows how to tell people to shut up if she thinks they're stupid, but feelings? Especially about her insecurities? It's got to be one of the most nerve wracking things she'll ever do. Not even fighting a special grade is as scary.

Her hands nervously play with the hem of her tracksuit, as she rounds the corner for some privacy. Megumi's silence isn't reassuring at all, but she understands this may as well be awkward for him too.

When they get to the mini snack bar, Nobara sighs and she sits down on a chair. Megumi sits across from her, looking down at the table. Well, here goes nothing, she thinks, clearing her throat.

"Fushiguro," The boy looks up, eyes encouraging Nobara to speak her mind. Megumi's not mad at all, he too, said hurtful things, but he doesn't want their friendship to be weird because of it. "I-, Listen, I know I was out of line there. I really didn't mean it when I blamed you for the plan. I was just frustrated we lost, and I know it was a spur of the moment battle, but I got to thinking, if we couldn't even handle a training exercise, how bad would we do in the field? And I took that and turned it on you. I shouldn't have, and I'm really sorry."

Megumi swallows. He did get where she was coming from. He was beat up by Yuta, after all, and the humiliation he so rarely felt had put the blame on Nobara as part of the reason they lost. "Me too. I don't think you're useless. You just have so much room to improve, and I didn't know how to get that across. But I realized that I'm not good at words, so I'll bottle it up and say things I dont mean to. It's not an excuse, but I'm sorry I hurt you."

Nobara grins weakly at him. She huffs. "Bad at words? Oh, I couldn't tell."

Megumi blinks, snorts then gives a little smile. "Yea. I need to work on that. All of us should. I think sometimes because we're so used to the possibility of dying, we tend to just not care as much as we should when it comes to other people. You know, not letting yourself get close to others, because so often we die?" Nobara nods grimacing.

Sorcerer life was not as perfect as it seemed. Megumi continued. "For me, I'll just get so pissed at other people for not doing what I think they're capable of, that I try to do it all by myself. It's not a habit I noticed till recently, and I've been trying to fix it, but with so many of my old mission partners dying, I didn't care much. At least till you guys."

"Yeah, I get it." Nobara draws small circles on the table with her finger. "You and Itadori are great at making strategies...Me? All I know is how to fight. That's all I've ever known. Fighting against my town, my grandma, and now curses. The pressure of keeping up with you gets to me sometimes. But at the same time, I get to challenge myself. It's...nice being friends with you."

Megumi reaches out and grips her hand tightly. "Me too. I respect the second and third years, but I'm not as close to them as you two. And I want to be able to fight you all seamlessly one day. Where we're all alive and healthy."

"Of course." Nobara giggles, squeezing Megumi's hand back, before standing up. "Wanna go back? My pancakes are going to get cold, and I'll shred anyone who touches them."

Megumi rolls his eyes, but stands up as well. "Sure, but don't count Itadori out from taking them. You know how he is with food."

Nobara smirks at the boy, running a hand through her hair. She knows while Itadori does steal their food when he's ravenous, he's smart enough to never take when they're also hungry. The habit between the three of them started as a joke and now it's a natural part of their meals. "Please, he'd be six feet under if he tried anything. In fact, I bet he's protecting our plates from the others."