This Side of Paradise (Megumi Fushiguro x Y/N)

9

Y/N POV

Friday

The rest of Wednesday passes by, and the same with Thursday. I stayed after school with Megumi for a little, just going over our project and starting to work on research. Something has shifted between us. What used to be animosity and strain is now light-hearted and relaxed. I have even started looking forward to going to the library.

Brett came to my house on Thursday to talk. At first, I was not in the mood to see him, but he brought me a beautiful bouquet of flowers and explained how stressed he's been recently with classes and football— since much of his future relies on those things. He said he didn't mean to hurt my feelings and that he recognized he was being a dick.

He apologized for our "friends" and proceeded to go on about how much he appreciated me and my patience, telling me he loves me. It was actually really charming.

I let him stay the night and the next morning, after we showered together, he drove me to school. I felt the best I had in our relationship in a while. After school, Brett and I hung out at my place before he had to go back to school to warm up. I text Megumi a reminder for when the game starts. Then I made a simple dinner, called my parents and got dressed.

Tacky Tourist is a very fun theme and Thursday before I came home, I bought a few things to wear. I decided on the classic ripped jean shorts and a white crop top. I borrowed one of my Dad's Hawaiian shirts that I leave unbuttoned. I put on one of the rainbow leis I bought and after styling my hair, I add sunglasses to rest on my head. After doing my makeup, I slip on my white Birkenstocks and just as I head out the door, I pocket the other lei... just in case. Brett told me this game should be an easy win so it'll probably be super energetic in the stands.

I pull into the parking lot (without almost hitting anyone, thankfully) and manage to find a spot in the middle of the senior section. As people start filing in, I can't help but look for a head of black hair. My "friends" see me and stand in the row in front of me, critiquing the outfits of people around them. The stands are now crowded and the marching band takes the field, getting ready to play a few songs before the game kicks off.

I check my phone for what feels like the twentieth time, but there are no messages. I sigh. It's fine. But when I look up again, I see Megumi Fushiguro in all his glory. He's wearing a white t-shirt and navy blue swim trunks. My heart leaps in my throat as he walks up the bleachers, eyes scanning the crowd. I call out to him over the noise of the band and he locks eyes with mine. I wave him over, and he pushes his way through once he gets to my aisle. I latch onto his arm and pull him up onto the bleacher seat— everyone now stands on the bleacher seats as the marching band plays our fight song and the team storms the field. I ignore the field, all my attention on the boy next to me.

"You came!" I exclaim, a wide grin on my face.

Megumi shrugs but a small smile is on his lips as he looks down at me. "Didn't have anything better to do."

I laugh happily and realize my hand is still on his forearm. I remove it and remember something."Here! This is for you," I say, taking the extra lei from my pocket and draping it over his head to settle on his broad shoulders. "Now you fit the theme."

He quirks a brow, the smile still on his face. I want to point it out, but I know he'll hide it again as soon as I do.

"Thanks, sunshine," he says, looking at the field for the first time since getting here.People cheer as they kick-off and the game begins. Our row is packed tight, causing Megumi and me— along with everyone else in our row to be pressed shoulder-to-shoulder. I turn my head back to Megumi, "fair warning, I don't know much about football. I usually just cheer when everyone else does."