𝕵𝖊𝖆𝖑𝖔𝖚𝖘𝖞 𝕲𝖆𝖒𝖊 | 𝕮𝖍𝖔𝖘𝖔 𝖝 𝕽𝖊𝖆𝖉𝖊𝖗 |

Chapter 18 | Epiphany

Despite experiencing the full, enchanting effect of a mutual crush, you and Choso have remained an unofficial pair. Of course, you know in your mind that you belong to him, and him to you. But there was a certain thrill of mystery in not having a label.

It's been a little over a week since Gojo confronted you, and you haven't heard from since. A part of you knows that it's for the better. But the other part of you does miss his companionship.

Your coworkers and manager have been checking up on you ever since they sent you home early. Megumi has been especially attentive; always asking you if you're okay or if you need any help. And you've declined him politely every time, still feeling a little guilty for having to leave in the middle of a shift. Still, they don't seem to mind.

Since that kiss that you and Choso shared, he'd been in and out of the restaurant every now and then. Stopping by to say hi or to give you a drink from the convenience store just as a little gift. It's been raising a couple questions from your coworkers but you find a way to evade them each time.

I'm taking you clubbing tonight. I'll pick you up after your shift.

A text from Choso, even just after he left. Regardless, it brings a smile on your face. He's been texting you much more often now, despite not solidifying any sort of relationship. It didn't really bother you, though.

Beside you, Megumi notices the delighted smile across your lips and the redness on your cheeks. Seeing you oddly happy brings a relieved smile to his face.

"Who's that?" Megumi asks curiously with crossed arms, almost in a teasing way.

"Just somebody special." You reply, dropping the façade label of a friend because you knew he was means more than that to you now.

Megumi cocks his head back with his eyebrows raised, but the shock fades to a flat face for a moment.

"It's not that white-haired weirdo is it?" Megumi asks with his eyes narrowing into skeptical slits.

"No, no." You shake your head, typing back to Choso.

Looking forward to it :)

"Someone else. Someone better." You reply, stuffing your phone back into your pocket.

"You mean," Megumi's shoulders relax as he uncrosses his arms. He gestures towards the door. "The guy that left a little earlier?"

You nod with a wide and proud smile on your face.

"Oh." Megumi hums. "I thought he was a stalker."

You laugh at his comment. You haven't updated Megumi on your love life in a while, so his genuine confusion makes sense.

"No, he's my neighbor." You explain, facing him. "His name is Choso."

Megumi smiles at you, patting you on the shoulder as if to commend you for actually developing a liking for someone that isn't Gojo. After all, he's seen you shed tears for that asshole several times.

"You're all red in the face, Y/N." He notes playfully, taking a sip of his glass of cold water. "I'm happy for you."

"Thank you, thank you." You reply, taking a jokingly dramatic bow. "Oh yeah and get this,"  You suddenly remember what Choso told you and think that mentioning it to Megumi might bring an even bigger smile to his face. "He punched him."

"WHAT?" Megumi abruptly spews out his drink, nearly choking on the water, spraying droplets all over the floor, causing customers to turn in his direction. You nudge his shoulder as you notice their stares. Megumi makes a face of guilt turning away to wipe his face.

"As in Choso punched Gojo?" He asks in disbelief, lowering his voice.

"Yes." You say between stifled laughs.

"Got men fighting over you now, huh?" Megumi remarks, rubbing his shoulder teasingly against yours.

You roll your eyes with feigned flatter, brushing his words off.

The two of you go back to work after subtly being reprimanded by the manager whose head poked out to holler at the two of you slacking off. Both of you straighten up your shoulders and go back to attending your tables.

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As Megumi finishes up wiping down the last table, you gather your things and head for the door. You patiently wait for him to grab his things and head out the door together.

The second you step outside you notice Choso slowly approaching with a cigarette in between his fingers, as handsome as ever with his hair down this time. He taps off the gathering ash and offers the cigarette to you after greeting you.

"Choso!" You call to him, waving him over. He seems to notice Megumi at your side, his eyebrow raises at him.

"Who's this?" Choso asks with a regarded manner, stepping closer to your side.

"This is Fushiguro. My coworker, remember?" You explain to him, linking your arm with his, looking up at him.

"Oh." He relaxes, extending a hand out for him to shake. "Fushiguro, huh?" There's a familiar nature about Megumi that causes Choso to think for a moment. Megumi appreciates his kind gesture, shaking his hand.

"You look oddly familiar." Megumi comments as he steps back, he tilts his head at Choso. "Does Itadori ring a bell?"

Choso cocks his head back with shock.

"As in Yuji?" Choso replies. Megumi nods. "He's my, uh, half brother." A sudden realization hits him, Yuji's apparent best friend stands before him. "Oh shit- you're Megumi?"

Megumi releases a kind laugh as he steps back, sliding his hands into his pockets.

"Mhm. That's me." He nods. You tilt your head at the both of them, surprised that they seem to know each other, and even more astonished that you haven't heard about his half-brother before. An apprehension hits you that there's not much about Choso that you do know.

You get lost in thought for a moment as they talk and bid their farewells to each other.

"Have goodnight, Y/N." Megumi's voice takes you out of your head. You snap back into reality, nodding your head at him.

"You, too." You say, waving him off.

As Megumi walks off, you turn towards Choso. The look on his face doesn't seem like one needing to explain anything. You shake the thought away. Though hopeful that he'll bring it up later, you decide to focus on the now.

He looks you up and down with a sly but respectful smile. You suddenly realize you didn't bring an extra change of clothes since Choso sprung the clubbing idea on you as a little surprise. You're lucky for having chosen a decent outfit for partying- a black pencil skirt and a black long sleeve, not anything out of the ordinary. But, it didn't matter to Choso, you were always gorgeous to him, no matter what you were wearing.

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A/N: I'm sorry! I know it's short but I promise I'm keeping things interesting! As always, thank you for reading <3