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f l a s h b a c k !
❝AKIRA!❞
Megumi's shout pierced the air as he watched Akira collapse. Swiftly, he moved, catching her before she hit the ground. A gasp escaped him as he beheld the grim sight—Akira, stabbed at the neck. His hands, now smeared with her blood, trembled in shock.
The sudden arrival of a car brought a tall, red-haired lady in a Jujutsu uniform. A loose braid framed her fiery red eyes, and Megumi's widened eyes recognized her. "Hirai-san!" he exclaimed, acknowledging the formidable sorcerer.
"Take her back, Megumi. I'll take care of her," Hirai commanded, flames swirling around her, creating an intense aura of heat.
Megumi hesitated, concern etched across his face. "But..." he began, met with Hirai's stern glare. "Do as I say," she asserted, her gaze a warning. Megumi reluctantly obeyed, settling Akira carefully in the car. A final, uncertain glance at Hirai lingered before he instructed the driver to transport them back to the school.
As the engine roared to life, Megumi found himself grappling with an overwhelming mix of emotions. Akira, still unconscious in his arms, seemed fragile, her life hanging by a thread. "No, damn it," Megumi grunted, his teeth gritting in frustration. "Not you..."
Words failed him; he clutched onto Akira's shoulder, his turmoil evident. The depth of his feelings, usually concealed, surfaced—he couldn't bear the thought of losing her.
★
E I G H T years ago !
"Megumi?" The white-haired man with captivating blue eyes spoke in a cheery tone, his anticipation palpable. "I want you to meet someone!"
Megumi, displaying his signature aloofness, scoffed dismissively. Gojo, undeterred, chuckled and called out, "Akira-chan!~~~"
A youthful figure emerged, a little girl with light brown hair adorned with vibrant violet highlights. Her eyes mirrored the same captivating hue. "Yo!" she greeted Megumi with infectious energy.
Megumi, seemingly uninterested, blinked stoically, choosing to ignore the lively introduction. "Awww... come on, Megumi! Don't be rude!" Gojo's usual exuberance reached new heights as Akira, the spirited little girl, sulked. "You're a...meanie," she declared, pouting with adorable defiance.
Megumi observed her with a discerning gaze before delivering his characteristic retort, "And you're...an...idiot." Akira's sulk deepened, casting a shadow over her cheerful disposition. Gojo, ever the mediator, attempted to pacify the escalating tension. "Okay! Okay! That's enough!" he exclaimed, managing to intervene before the situation spiraled further.
The scene shifted, marking the passage of eight years, and the dynamics between Megumi and Akira, once tinted with initial discord, evolved into a shared history defined by camaraderie and growth.
★
E I G H T years later ,, now
Megumi, amidst the turmoil of the present, found solace in the recollection of a distant past. Even during their initial animosity, he couldn't escape the undeniable truth that they engaged in shared moments—playing, studying, and sharing meals. It dawned on him that these seemingly trivial conflicts were the very threads weaving the intricate fabric of his and Akira's dynamic.
"I...I can't afford to lose...you," Megumi finally whispered, the weight of his emotions evident in his voice. With a gentle resolve, he squeezed his eyes shut, pulling Akira even closer. In that vulnerable moment, the convergence of their histories became a beacon, a testament to a connection forged through the crucible of time and shared experiences. He hated her....but...he loved her like hell.
E N D O F f l a s h b a c k !
★
"And that's how you ended up here!" Hirai finished, taking a graceful sip of water as Megumi nodded.
"You're heavy... My shoulders ache..." Megumi teased Akira as she sulked before exclaiming, "That means you're weak! Jerk!"
Hirai and Gojo chuckled, and Gojo added, "You guys are like me and Hirai... We fight like that too!" He giggled.
Hirai rolled her eyes playfully. "Maybe..."
"Where were you this whole month, Hirai-san?" Itadori asked, genuinely intrigued, while Akira chimed in, "Yeah! I didn't even get to meet you!" she whined.
"I was on a mission to Hokkaido, actually," Hirai explained, shooting a stern look at Gojo.
"In my absence, a lot happened, didn't it? I mean, this idiot right here..." Hirai pointed at Gojo. "He actually sent a literal kid to find Sukuna's finger! And that too alone!" Hirai scolded Gojo.
Gojo smiled nervously. "You see... ah." He was at a loss for words.
"That dude literally ate the finger! Do you know what that costs?! Huh?" Hirai scolded Gojo again, shaking her head, clearly familiar with this banter. Megumi stayed quiet for a moment.
Itadori nervously stared at the scene. "Uh... ha... it's... uh... fine..." he stammered, but Hirai glared at him, prompting him to shut his mouth. He gulped hard while Akira chuckled, "Scared of her, huh? You should be," addressing the red-haired lady.
"Hirai-san is at least tolerable," Megumi muttered, loud enough for Itadori and Akira to hear despite the yelling in the background.
"Where's Kugisaki anyway? She's taking way too long," Akira asked, looking around.
"Must be shopping the hell out─" Before Yuuji could complete his sentence, a sudden jolt made him wide-eyed. There she was, Nobara Kugisaki, grabbing the salmon-haired boy by his collars, glaring at him.
"Do you really think that I'd be shopping when my best friend is injured?!" She yelled at Itadori, shaking him by the collars. Akira tried to suppress her laughter. Itadori's mouth went shut as Kugisaki warned him.
Nobara glanced at Hirai, unfamiliar with who she was. She narrowed her eyes. "Damn... whoever you are... you are breathtaking..." Nobara said, looking at Hirai as Hirai smiled. "Hirai Saike, actually," she introduced herself.
"Okay then, I gotta go..." Hirai spoke, gracefully rising from the chair.
"Where?" Gojo asked, tilting his head in curiosity.
"I have plans with Shoko," Hirai said, winking as Gojo whined, "I thought we would─" Gojo began, only to be promptly cut off by Hirai.
"Nope!" Hirai chuckled.
She left the room, and Gojo trailed off behind her, also exiting. Nobara departed, dragging Itadori with her to assist with some tasks. Now, only Akira and Megumi remained in the room.
The atmosphere was silent. Megumi cleared his throat, and Akira scratched the back of her neck before blurting out, "Ah... you helped me... so... thanks?" She awkwardly expressed her gratitude.
Megumi blinked, "Thanks won't work," he said, smirking, and Akira frowned, "What?" making a perplexed face.
"Thanks won't work," Megumi repeated, maintaining his smirk. "You better..." he trailed off, leaving a mysterious air hanging in the room.
