𝙮𝙪𝙖𝙣𝙛𝙚𝙣 | 𝘮𝘦𝘨𝘶𝘮𝘪 𝘧. ᯓ ᡣ𐭩

003 ⭑ ʀᴇꜰʟᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴꜱ

Ino's eyes sparkled with pure joy. "Yay! Thank you, Gumi!" she exclaimed, wrapping her arms around his shoulders from behind and giving him a quick, affectionate squeeze.

Yuji and Nobara stood off to the side, amusement clear on their faces. They watched the exchange between Ino and Megumi with entertained, playful glances. The sight of Ino clinging to Megumi's back and her evident excitement was a familiar and entertaining sight for them.

The two exchanged looks, their amusement evident. They chuckled at the scene unfolding before them, enjoying the banter between Megumi and Ino.

Yuji's eyes gleamed with mischief, while Nobara wore a smirk that seemed almost knowing.

Their gazes moved between Megumi and Ino, observing the dynamic playing out before their eyes. Their amusement was laced with playful admiration, as if they were both silently urging Megumi to give in to Ino's request.

Yuji, grinning and unable to contain his amusement any longer, spoke up. "Hey, it's about time you gave in, Megumi." he chimed in, voice teasing.

Nobara joined in, her laugh mixing with Yuji's teasing remarks. "It's hard to resist that pleading expression of hers." she chimed in, amusement dancing in her eyes.

Megumi rolled his eyes, his expression mildly annoyed at Yuji and Nobara's playful remarks. Yet, their words held a hint of truth — he had a soft spot for Ino, even if he wasn't ready to admit it aloud.

"Shut up." he retorted, his tone half heartedly. He glanced behind him at Ino, catching her clinging onto him and pleading. Megumi glanced back at Ino and added, his tone a mix of reluctance and concern, "Don't let that big ego of yours get any bigger."

Ino smirked, her ego inflating just as he feared. "You say that as if you don't like it." she said, her tone holding a mix of teasing and arrogance.

Megumi's expression shifted to a slight annoyance, his eyes rolling once more. He knew she had a tendency to inflate her ego whenever she could. "Don't flatter yourself too much," he replied, sounding slightly exasperated yet maintaining a playful undertone. "I'm only around you because you give me no choice most of the time.

She rolled her eyes, her tone becoming more exaggeratedly offended, "Only around me because I give you no choice?" she teased back, holding onto him tighter. Her voice held a hint of amusement, and she added, mocking a pout, "You make it sound like it's such a sacrifice to be around me."

He looked over his shoulder at her, a deadpan expression on his face. "It is." he retorted, voice devoid of emotion.

Her facial expression changed to one of exaggerated offense, her pouty face clearly feigned. "You're so mean." she complained, her tone over the top dramatic, yet her eyes held a glint of mischief.

Yuji and Nobara watched on, thoroughly amused by the exchange between Megumi and Ino. They held back laughter, their amusement evident on their faces.

Megumi adjusted his hold on Ino, making sure she was securely positioned on his back. His strong hands slid beneath her thighs, fingers spreading out to offer a firm yet gentle support. It was as if he was mindful of both her comfort and the necessity of keeping her steady. The warmth of his hands contrasted with the cool air around them, providing a sense of reassurance.

He shifted his weight slightly to balance her better, his muscles tensing momentarily before relaxing into a more stable stance. His grip tightened just enough to ensure she wouldn't slip, yet remained gentle enough to avoid causing her any discomfort. The way he held her spoke of his careful nature, always considerate and attentive to those around him.

He let out a small sigh, his breath visible in the crisp air. His expression was a blend of reluctance and resignation, as if he was caught between his sense of duty and the mild annoyance at the situation. He glanced back at her, his eyes softening slightly despite the exasperation in his voice. "Alright, Ino," he began, "I need to hurry and summon the Divine Dogs so you can finally leave me alone."