Shadows unseen

12-Maybe just maybe

Y/n awoke to the gentle warmth of sunlight streaming through the curtains, casting a soft glow around the room. For a moment, she lay still, eyes half-open, blinking as her surroundings came into focus. The room was unfamiliar yet neat, with minimalist decor and a sense of calm order. She quickly realized this wasn't her room.

Her eyes widened as last night's events replayed in her mind. Movie night. Megumi's room. I... fell asleep here. Panic started to bubble up in her chest, and she turned her head slowly, catching sight of Megumi beside her, still sound asleep.

Her heart skipped. Megumi's face was relaxed, his features softened in sleep. His hair, usually controlled and spiky, fell messily over his forehead. The sight made Y/n's cheeks flush. She swallowed hard, trying to figure out what to do. Should I get up? Will that wake him? How long have I been asleep here?!

Carefully, she began to move, lifting the blanket just enough to slip out of bed. But as she shifted, the mattress creaked slightly, and she froze. She held her breath, glancing nervously at Megumi. He stirred.

Y/n's heart raced as his eyes fluttered open, his gaze sleepy and unfocused. When his eyes met hers, the realization of their situation seemed to dawn on him. For a few long seconds, they just stared at each other in silence.

"Morning," Megumi mumbled, his voice still thick with sleep.

"Morning," Y/n whispered, feeling her face grow hotter by the second.

Megumi blinked a few times, as if trying to process everything. He sat up slowly, rubbing the back of his neck, and his eyes flicked toward her, a hint of confusion in them. "You... slept well?"

Y/n stammered, "Y-yeah, I guess I did. Sorry, I didn't mean to stay here all night."

Megumi gave a small shrug, still looking half-asleep. "It's fine. You were tired... so I let you sleep."

Y/n swallowed, her fingers nervously fidgeting with the edge of her shirt. The awkwardness in the air was thick, but there was also a strange sense of comfort being in his presence like this. She glanced around the room again, trying to find something to say that wouldn't make things even weirder.

Megumi stretched, his shirt riding up slightly as he yawned. "You don't have to rush out or anything... it's not like Yuji and Nobara will care." Or will they care...

Y/n bit her lip, unsure if she should be relieved or more flustered. "Right... but still, I—"

Before she could finish, Megumi stood up, walking over to the window and drawing back the curtain just slightly. The morning sun spilled in more brightly now, and the room felt less tense, more calm. He turned to look at her, his expression unreadable, but his voice softer than usual. "It's not a big deal, really."

Y/n watched him for a moment, her nerves calming down bit by bit. His usual stoic demeanor had an odd way of making her feel safe, even in awkward moments like this. She stood up too, smoothing her clothes absentmindedly. "Thanks... for, um, letting me stay."

Megumi gave a small nod, and for a second, Y/n thought she saw the corner of his lips twitch like he was about to smile but caught himself.

As she gathered her courage to head toward the door, a soft sound stopped her. Her heart skipped as she turned around to see Megumi holding out a hairpin. She blinked, confused until she realized it was hers—she must've dropped it sometime during the night.

"You dropped this," he said, his voice quiet but steady.

Y/n felt her cheeks flush even more as she reached out to take it from him. Their fingers brushed briefly, sending a little spark through her. "Oh, thanks... I didn't even notice."