𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐒𝐓

chapter twenty-four.

Megumi ran a hand through his hair.

He sat alone, at the dining table. His hair was tousled, and his uniform was messy. Still, after a week and more, Seiko was nowhere to be seen, nor Gojo. Megumi knew that the man went to search for Seiko, but he worried that Gojo would get hurt and disappear as well.

Then, he would really be alone in the world.

The others were in their rooms, after deciding to take a rest from the mental stress that had been put on them. Itadori had urged Megumi to rest, but he couldn't bring himself to even stand up from his chair. It was rather late at night, but Megumi didn't feel tired, but restless. He just wanted to know if Seiko was okay. He wanted her to be in his arms, just as she had been a month ago.

With his head in his hands, Megumi clenched his eyes shut. "Seiko..."

"Yes?"

Megumi had never stood up so fast, in the fifteen years of his life. There, in all of her glory, was Seiko. Her dark hair seemed longer than before and rested messily on her shoulders. The bandage that usually covered her eye was nowhere to be seen, leaving the fading scar out to the open. Under her eyes were dark lines, which advertised her desperate want to rest.

Megumi flew towards her, and the chair he had been sitting on fell to the ground. His arms wrapped around her, and he squeezed her tight. "Seiko," he breathed out. "You're...You're here." It felt unreal to him.

"I'm here," she murmured in reply. But Megumi noticed. Her words had an underlying tone to them. There was something wrong. Megumi pulled back immediately, with his eyebrows drawn together. But he didn't have a chance to ask her what was wrong.

If only he did...would things have ended up the way they had?

"Megumi? What's wrong?" yawned a sleepy voice.

"Yeah, what was that...sound....?"

Nobara had been the first to see Seiko. "Oh my god! Seiko!"

Five bodies tackled the pair to the ground and took them by surprise. Seiko didn't warp away. She let her five friends hug her, along with Megumi. They bombarded her with words right away.

"Where have you been?" Maki demanded once they were seated at the table.

Seiko smiled wryly.

''

flashback

''

"What do I do, Satoru?" Seiko murmured. "They're going to ask."

Gojo ran his fingers through her hair mindlessly. "They will. Megumi and Yuji...they'll notice that something happened."

Seiko shook her head. "I can't tell them. I'd bring them into something that will ruin them to pieces. I can't tell them."

He stayed silent for a moment. "I think it's best that you don't tell them. It's dangerous enough as is. Them knowing would make it harder for you."