A/N: Heyyy, I hope you will enjoy this update! 

I realized that one thing that's awesome about Wattpad is the little mid-chapter comments people can leave on stories. It totally brightens my day, reading them. So, thank you for commenting and all! ❤️

Yuji felt uneasy, as he and Todo rushed to get to Hanami.

Everything played out the same on his end, and the whole plan was going well. But, there was still a feeling of dread creeping up on him, and he didn't like it. Almost like something was going to happen that was different from the previous timeline.

As they arrived at the scene, Yuji felt his stomach drop.

Instead of seeing Megumi, impaled by the curse's buds, there was a field of black and red, shadows dancing around everywhere.

"What the hell is that?" Todo wondered out loud.

Yuji's eyes widened, and his jaw dropped.

"It's a domain," he murmured.

"What? The curse did that?" the other boy asked, staring at him.

Yuji shook his head.

"No," he said. "That's... That's Fushiguro's domain."

Todo gaped at him.

"How is that possible?" he asked. "I fought that kid, and he wasn't anywhere near this level. What the hell did he do?"

Yuji didn't know what to say. How could he explain to Todo that his Megumi had surpassed his own limits? That he had found a way to become stronger, just like Yuji had told him.

And it happened earlier than it was supposed to.

It was strange, and Yuji couldn't wrap his head around it. What had changed this time? Was it because of him?

Then, he saw Megumi.

The boy was laughing like a maniac, his hair disheveled and his clothes torn. He was covered in blood, and his eyes were wild.

Yuji knew that he should rush into the domain and help him, but he couldn't move. He was frozen, mesmerized by the sight.

Megumi was breathtaking.

Todo elbowed him, and he snapped out of it.

"What the fuck are you doing?" he hissed. "Let's go!"

Yuji nodded, and the two of them jumped into the domain.

Megumi was battling the curse, his attacks ferocious and unrelenting. He was like a demon, his eyes glowing, and his smile manic.

Yuji felt his heart race, his entire body shaking.

Todo was attacking the curse as well, and, finally, the balance tipped in their favor.

Yuji didn't think, and just jumped, punching the curse in the face. His fists glowed with red and black, and his power surged through his body.

"Black Flash!," he roared, his fist connecting with the curse.

There was a sickening crack, and the curse was thrown back.

It didn't have a chance to recover, because Todo punched it again, sending it flying once more.

Megumi's eyes locked with Yuji's, and the pink-haired boy was mesmerized. Megumi looked like he was having the time of his life, and Yuji felt something strange shift inside him.

Megumi smirked, and, suddenly, the curse was consumed by his shadows. His Divine Dog Totality was holding the curse in place, and Todo and Yuji wasted no time.

"Black Flash!" Yuji shouted once again, his fist striking the curse.

Todo's punches followed suit, and, just then, Megumi joined in.

The three of them moved together in perfect harmony, their attacks fast and brutal.

They were unstoppable.

Hanami didn't stand a chance.

In a matter of minutes, it was completely destroyed.

They had won.

-

As the domain vanished, and the adrenaline wore off, Megumi felt exhaustion seep into his bones.

He had done it. He had won.

And, now, all he wanted was to sleep.

But, before he could even think about rest, he had something to do.

His eyes darted around, searching for one specific person. And, as he found him, his face lit up.

Yuji was running towards him, and Megumi stumbled forward, the boy's name on the tip of his tongue.

"Fushiguro," Yuji breathed, his arms wrapping around him.

"Idiot," Megumi murmured, burying his face in the other boy's shoulder. "You should have told me."

"I couldn't," Yuji replied, his voice muffled. "I'm sorry."

Megumi didn't care about anything else. He didn't care that there were people watching them, or that he had a million questions. He didn't even care that he was supposed to be mad at Yuji for keeping him in the dark.

All that mattered was that Yuji was here.

He was here, and he was holding him.

"You were amazing," the boy murmured, his hand tangling in Megumi's hair.

The feelings were too much, and Megumi was overcome with emotions. He couldn't speak, and his throat was constricted, and his heart was beating fast. He felt like he was going to pass out, or explode.

He needed to say something. He had to tell Yuji.

"I..." he started, his voice trembling.

Yuji pulled back slightly, and their eyes met. The boy's gaze was soft, and filled with admiration. It was everything.

"Yeah?" Yuji asked.

Megumi was about to speak, his words were on the tip of his tongue, when he felt his vision blur, and his legs give out.

He fell, and the last thing he heard was Yuji calling out his name, and the world went black.

-

By the time they got rid of the curtain and Gojo arrived at the scene, the fight was already over.

The sorcerer took in the scene before him, his eyes wide. The curse was destroyed, and the area was in shambles. He removed his blindfold, and blinked, taking everything in.

The residual cursed energy lingering in the air came from a domain expansion, there was no doubt about that. And the only person present who could have done that was...

"Megumi?" Gojo asked, looking around.

"Over here," Yuji replied, waving.

He was crouching down next to the unconscious boy, who was resting against a wall.

Gojo approached them, his gaze flickering between the two boys.

"What the hell happened?" the sorcerer asked, frowning.

"We won," Yuji replied simply.

"I can see that," the man said, raising an eyebrow. "But, how?"

He gave Yuji a meaningful look, and the pink-haired boy smiled, rubbing the back of his neck.

"I'm not sure," he said. "All I know is that Fushiguro is amazing."

Gojo was at a loss for words, and he didn't know how to respond. He had read Yuji's notebook with the timeline. He knew how this battle was supposed to end. Yuji and Todo were supposed to hold off the disaster curse, and then, Gojo would blast a Hollow Purple at it. Hanami was supposed to escape, though, Yuji had added that they should try to take him down before he could disappear.

But, Hanami was dead. And Megumi had expanded his domain.

Gojo couldn't wrap his head around this development. He'd never known the boy to be capable of such a feat, especially at this point in the timeline.

Yuji's eyes were full of adoration, as he glanced down at Megumi. Gojo wondered if he was aware of how obvious his feelings were.

"We need to get him to Shoko," the sorcerer said.

Yuji nodded.

"I'll take him," he replied, moving to pick the unconscious boy up.

Gojo raised an eyebrow.

"I can do it," the sorcerer said.

Yuji glared at him.

"Let me," the boy said, his voice low.

There was a strange emotion in his eyes, and Gojo wondered if Yuji was actually challenging him.

He chuckled.

"Alright," he agreed, stepping aside. "Let's go."

-

When Megumi opened his eyes, he was in a bed, and the sun was shining. He was in the infirmary, and he didn't remember how he got here.

There was a familiar weight next to him, and he turned his head. Yuji was sitting on a chair next to his bed, his head resting on the mattress, as he snored softly. He looked adorable, and Megumi's chest tightened.

He remembered running up to Yuji before passing out, and his cheeks heated up, embarrassment filling him.

Was he really about to confess to the boy, right after a life-threatening battle?

That was insane.

Megumi sighed, and ran a hand through his hair.

What was he thinking?

He reached out, his fingers brushing through the pink-haired boy's hair. Yuji stirred, and his eyes fluttered open. He yawned, and sat up, blinking at the black-haired boy.

"Fushiguro?" the boy mumbled, his voice raspy.

"Hi," Megumi whispered, his heart beating fast.

Yuji grinned, and moved to sit on the bed, closer to him.

"How are you feeling?" Yuji asked, his expression soft.

"Fine," Megumi replied. "My head hurts, though."

Yuji hummed, and reached out, pressing his fingers gently against the other boy's forehead. Megumi closed his eyes, enjoying the touch.

"It's just a small bump," Yuji murmured. "It'll heal."

The boy withdrew his hand, and Megumi's skin tingled where his fingers had been. He was already missing the contact.

"So, I passed out," he stated, sighing. "Not my finest moment."

Yuji chuckled, and shook his head.

"Are you kidding?" he said. "You were awesome! I couldn't believe it, when I saw your domain."

Megumi blushed, and averted his eyes.

"It was what happened in your original timeline, right? I figured, since you didn't show up in time to fight Hanami, I had to step in," he murmured.

Yuji looked at him with a strange expression, and Megumi couldn't quite decipher it.

"That's not what happened," Yuji replied, his voice low.

"Huh?"

"Well, in my original timeline, Hanami impaled you with his buds and you were out of the fight, and then, I arrived and fought him with Todo," Yuji explained. "Also, he escaped, so, basically, none of this happened."

Megumi blinked at him.

"You didn't use your domain," the boy continued. "Not during this fight, at least."

Megumi felt dizzy, and his head was spinning.

"I don't understand," he admitted. "What changed? How did I...?"

Yuji gave him a gentle smile.

"You're the one who changed it, Fushiguro," he said, his voice tender. "You believed you could, so you did it."

Megumi looked at him, and his eyes filled with tears. He felt like an idiot, and he didn't want the other boy to see him cry, but he couldn't help himself.

Yuji was looking at him like he was something special. Like he was enough. It was more than he could handle, and his heart was bursting.

"I don't know what happened," Yuji admitted. "I wasn't even there, and yet, you were able to surpass your own limits. It's like, when I saw you fight, something changed, and you became a different person. You looked so powerful, and, honestly, a little crazy."

Megumi laughed, wiping his tears.

"I felt powerful," he confessed, smiling at the other boy. "I felt invincible."

Yuji smiled back at him.

"That's what happens, when you unlock your true potential," the pink-haired boy said, his eyes twinkling. "That's what happens, when you realize you can do anything."

Megumi thought that if he could do anything right now, he would pull the other boy into a kiss. He would run his fingers through his hair, and kiss him until he was breathless.

But, he couldn't.

And, so, he didn't.

"I guess I was lucky," he murmured instead.

Yuji looked like he was going to say something, but was interrupted by the sound of footsteps.

Gojo appeared at the doorway, a smile on his face.

"You're awake," the sorcerer said, striding over to the bed.

"Obviously," Megumi replied, rolling his eyes.

"How are you feeling?"

"Like shit," the boy grumbled.

"Well, that's to be expected, when you overexert yourself," Gojo said, shrugging.

"Yeah, yeah," Megumi muttered, crossing his arms.

"You know, you're the talk of the school right now," the sorcerer continued, smirking.

"Oh, yeah? What are they saying?" the boy asked, raising an eyebrow.

"That you're a prodigy, of course," the man replied, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Megumi scoffed.

"Sure," he said, rolling his eyes.

"Why are you being so negative about it?" Gojo wondered. "You did a great job."

Megumi blushed.

"T-Thanks," he murmured, averting his gaze. "My domain was incomplete, though."

Gojo waved him off.

"It's still impressive," the man said. "You've come a long way."

"Shut up," Megumi grumbled, his cheeks flushed.

The sorcerer laughed.

"I'm gonna go now," he said. "Yuji, keep an eye on him, okay?"

"Sure," the pink-haired boy nodded.

Megumi scowled at the man.

"I'm not a child, you know," he complained.

"Whatever you say, Megumi-chan," Gojo teased.

Megumi sighed, and sank deeper into his pillows.

"Can't I just go back to my room?" he grumbled.

"No," the sorcerer replied, grinning. "You have to stay here for observation."

"Ugh," Megumi groaned.

"Unless you have someone to take care of you?" Gojo added, smirking.

He was doing this on purpose. That blindfolded bastard.

Megumi glanced at Yuji, and his expression softened. The pink-haired boy was staring at him with wide, hopeful eyes, and Megumi couldn't say no.

"Yeah," he replied, smiling. "Someone can take care of me."

-

Yuji was overjoyed by the idea of finally getting the chance to reverse the roles and take care of the black-haired boy, after the countless times Megumi had done it for him.

Megumi, on the other hand, was a lot less enthusiastic.

They were sitting in Megumi's dorm room, and Megumi had just finished taking a bath. His hair was still wet, and Yuji was trying very hard not to stare.

"So, do you need me to, like, feed you, or something?" Yuji joked.

"It's just a minor concussion," he protested. "I don't need a babysitter. Can we just do what we normally do? Like, watch a movie, or something?"

"Absolutely not," Yuji said. "We're taking it easy. That's what you always say."

"Watching a movie is hardly taxing," Megumi muttered.

"No, but arguing is," Yuji countered.

"You're impossible," Megumi grumbled.

The boy looked absolutely adorable, pouting on the bed.

"Why don't you let me take care of you for once?" Yuji murmured, smiling. "Please?"

Megumi's eyes softened, and he nodded.

"Fine," he mumbled. "If it'll make you happy."

Yuji grinned.

"Thank you," he said. "What do you need?"

"Water, and some painkillers," the boy replied.

"Okay," Yuji said, nodding. "Anything else?"

"Just you," Megumi said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Yuji's heart skipped a beat. Megumi was looking at him with those deep blue eyes, and the pink-haired boy didn't know how to handle this situation.

He took a deep breath.

"You've got me," he said. "I'll be right back."

"Okay."

Yuji was grateful for the opportunity to collect himself.

As he was filling a glass with water in the kitchen, he thought about how Megumi made him feel. Why was his heart beating so fast? Was it the happiness of getting the chance to repay him for all his kindness?

Such a strange sensation.

He was confused - the past two months had been filled with strange, new feelings. But, why?

He sighed.

It was probably the trauma, and the fear of losing Megumi again. The past had affected him, and his mind was playing tricks on him. So, no wonder he was feeling all strange, when he saw Megumi pass out earlier.

Yes, that was definitely it.

His brain was still processing everything, and this was the result.

"Are you okay?" a voice called out.

He was snapped out of his thoughts, and he realized that he was standing in the middle of the kitchen, holding a glass of water.

"F-Fine," he replied, clearing his throat. "I'm coming."

"Okay," Megumi said.

Yuji sighed, making his way back into the bedroom.

Megumi was laying down in bed, his head resting on the pillow. His hair was drying, and his skin was soft and pale. He looked tired, but his eyes were still alert.

"Here," Yuji said, holding the glass out.

"Thanks."

Yuji handed him the painkillers, and Megumi swallowed them, taking a sip of water.

"Can I sit next to you?" Yuji asked.

Megumi blinked at him.

"What the hell kind of question is that?" he said, shaking his head. "What have we been doing for the past two months, then?"

Yuji chuckled.

"It's polite to ask," he replied. "Now, scoot over."

Megumi moved closer to the wall, and Yuji slid into bed next to him.

"What do you wanna watch?" Megumi asked.

"Anything you want," Yuji murmured, leaning against the headboard.

Megumi hummed, and opened his laptop. Yuji had noticed that ever since his panic attack during that stupid alien movie, Megumi was always the one to choose what they would watch. Megumi claimed that was because Yuji had the worst taste, but Yuji suspected that it was because he wanted to make sure that nothing would trigger him again.

It was a sweet gesture, and it made Yuji feel warm inside.

Megumi picked some random documentary about dogs, and settled into the bed, laying his head on Yuji's chest. The pink-haired boy smiled, and wrapped his arms around the other boy, enjoying the way he snuggled into him.

He couldn't resist the urge to stroke his hair, and he gently ran his fingers through the damp strands. Megumi looked up at him, and Yuji was startled to see his expression. He couldn't quite decipher the emotions in his dark blue eyes.

"What's wrong?" Yuji whispered, afraid that speaking any louder would ruin the moment.

Megumi stared at him for a moment, and then, shook his head.

"It's nothing," he murmured, averting his gaze.

"Fushiguro."

Yuji's tone was gentle, but firm.

"You can tell me," he murmured.

Megumi was quiet, and Yuji thought that the boy wouldn't answer him. But, he did.

"I was just wondering," Megumi whispered, his voice hesitant. "Now, that you moved back to your room, and stuff..."

Yuji's heart stopped.

"Aren't you going to have nightmares if you sleep alone?"

"Fushiguro," Yuji mumbled, his chest tightening.

"I just, I'm worried about you, and I know you're worried about me, too, and, I guess, I was wondering if, maybe, we could keep doing this?" Megumi rambled, blushing.

"Keep doing what?" Yuji asked, even though he already knew the answer.

"This," Megumi said, gesturing between them. "S-Sleeping in the same bed. I mean, if you don't mind."

Yuji stared at him.

"What?" Megumi frowned.

"I've never heard you stutter before," Yuji admitted.

Megumi glared at him.

"That's what you're focusing on?" he grumbled.

No, Yuji thought. What I'm focusing on is the fact that you're offering to continue sleeping with me, and I'm freaking out, because this is so much more than I deserve.

But, instead of saying all that, he simply smiled.

"Of course, we can keep doing it," he murmured. "I thought I was being a burden, honestly."

Megumi rolled his eyes.

"Idiot," he muttered. "Like I'd ever think that."

Yuji smiled again. The fact that Megumi was the one offering to share a bed made all the difference. The pink-haired boy wasn't sure if he could have asked him, even though he wanted to. It was a selfish request, and Yuji had no right to ask for more.

But, if Megumi wanted to, he would take what he could get.

"What are you thinking about?" Megumi murmured, his dark blue eyes piercing.

"You," Yuji replied, without thinking.

Megumi's face turned bright red, and Yuji cursed himself. Where the hell did that come from?

"I mean, uh, what you did today," he rambled.

Megumi stared at him for a second longer, before nodding.

"Oh," he murmured.

Yuji sighed in relief. That could have turned weird, and he was glad it didn't. He didn't want Megumi to think he was thinking about him in a way that could be considered inappropriate.

"Do you think I have a problem with anger management?" the black-haired boy asked quietly, fiddling with the edge of his blanket.

Yuji blinked. That was the last thing he expected.

"What makes you say that?" he asked, furrowing his brows.

"Well, cause I lost control like that when I opened my domain," the boy mumbled. "And, uh, there was something else, too. With Kamo. But, that doesn't matter."

"Huh? What happened with Kamo?" Yuji questioned.

Now that Megumi mentioned it, he realized he hadn't seen Kamo around, when they were fighting Hanami. In Yuji's original timeline, he remembered that Kamo got pretty messed up, fighting the curse. So, what the hell happened?

"Nothing," Megumi insisted.

"Fushiguro."

Yuji tried his best to replicate the stern, yet gentle tone Megumi always used when he was questioning him.

Megumi stared at him.

"Are you trying to copy my voice?" the boy asked, raising an eyebrow.

Damn it.

"N-No," Yuji stammered.

Megumi sighed.

"Well, before the whole deal with the special-grade, I was fighting against him," he started.

Yuji nodded. That part was the same.

"And, he was saying all this crap, and, I guess, I wasn't very rational," he continued.

"What kind of crap?"

Megumi looked away, and muttered something under his breath.

"I'm sorry, I didn't catch that," Yuji said, leaning closer.

"He was threatening you, okay?" Megumi shouted, scowling. "Are you happy now?"

Yuji's eyes widened.

"W-What?" he mumbled, his mouth dropping open.

"It's not a big deal," Megumi grumbled. "I was just, a bit worked up, and I might have overreacted."

"Overreacted," the pink-haired boy repeated.

"Yeah," Megumi shrugged. "I didn't hurt him too badly. I just, punched him a few times, and threatened to kill him, and..."

"And, what?"

Yuji was starting to have a hard time breathing.

"Um, I may have broken some bones," the boy admitted. "Not, like, a lot, though. I think. Maybe."

Yuji could barely hear him over the ringing in his ears.

"F-Fushiguro," he stammered.

Megumi looked at him.

"What?"

"I think you may have a problem with anger management."

"Hey!"

Yuji laughed, as Megumi tried to smack him.

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding," he said, still chuckling. "Honestly, I don't know if you have a problem or not. You're gonna have to ask someone else. But, you were defending me, right? I'm sure Gojo-sensei would say that's fine."

"Are you seriously suggesting that I should ask the most impulsive person alive for advice on how to deal with my emotions?" Megumi deadpanned.

Yuji chuckled again.

"Okay, good point," he conceded. "How about Kugisaki, then?"

"She would probably just tell me to punch more people."

Yuji thought about it.

"That's true," he admitted. "Hey, maybe it's just the way Jujutsu sorcerers deal with stuff, you know? It's not necessarily a bad thing."

"Hmm," Megumi hummed. "I guess."

"Don't worry about it," Yuji reassured him. "We're all have something that's a bit, uh, messed up. I probably have PTSD, and you beat up people who threaten your friends. It's fine. Uh, maybe not fine, but, well, normal?"

Megumi laughed, and Yuji felt his heart flutter.

"That's the worst pep talk I've ever heard," Megumi declared. "Please, never try to be a counselor."

Yuji blushed.

"Hey, it's not my fault," he complained. "I'm trying, okay?"

Megumi giggled, and Yuji realized that he hadn't heard him laugh in a while. The boy had been so stressed lately, and it was nice to see him relax.

"I think you're doing great," the boy murmured. "I'm just messing with you."

"Jerk," he muttered.

Megumi laughed again.

"Sorry," he grinned.

"Whatever," Yuji grumbled.

Megumi rested his head back down on Yuji's chest, and Yuji wrapped his arms around him again. They watched the rest of the documentary in silence, and by the time it ended, both of them were close to dozing off.

"Let's go to sleep."

Megumi nodded, closing his laptop.

Yuji shifted, and reached to turn off the light, before laying back down. The two boys laid together in the darkness, the only sound coming from their steady breathing.

"Hey, Itadori?" Megumi whispered, breaking the silence.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks," the boy murmured. "For everything."

"It's no problem," Yuji said, smiling softly. "Goodnight, Fushiguro."

"Goodnight, Itadori."

Yuji closed his eyes, trying to ignore the warmth spreading through his body. He hoped that whatever was going on with his brain would stop, soon. After all, the last thing he needed was for Megumi to somehow get the wrong idea and think he was crushing on him or something.

The pink-haired boy let out a small sigh.

As if.

-

"Hey losers, are you decent?"

Megumi was startled awake by a voice and a banging sound, and he opened his eyes, squinting at the bright light. He felt something warm behind him, and then, realized that it was Yuji's arm, wrapped around him.

Oh, right. They had fallen asleep together, and now, Kugisaki was here.

"We're fine," he called out.

Nobara walked into the room and grinned when she saw the two of them.

"Well, aren't you two cute," she teased.

"Shut up," Megumi mumbled, yawning.

"Glad to see you're not naked, though," she continued.

Megumi glared at her.

"Why the hell would we be naked?" he hissed.

Nobara snickered.

"I don't know," she said, her eyes twinkling. "What do you usually do when you're in bed together?"

Megumi stared at her.

"Sleep," he stated.

"Wow," the girl commented. "That's all? Not even a little bit of—"

"Shut up, shut up, shut up," Megumi hissed, covering his ears.

Nobara laughed, and then, turned to the pink-haired boy.

"Wake up, sunshine," she said, poking him. "Gojo-sensei asked me to get you two."

Yuji groaned, and slowly opened his eyes.

"Whassgoingon," he mumbled.

"Gojo wants us," Megumi translated.

Yuji nodded, and rubbed his eyes, trying to wake up.

"Oh, right," he murmured. "Gotta play baseball, huh."

Nobara stared at him.

"Are you high or something?" she asked.

"Uh, no," Yuji replied.

"Then, why are you talking about baseball?" the girl asked, her voice puzzled.

Yuji yawned.

"Because we're gonna play baseball," he said.

Megumi frowned.

"Are we?" he questioned.

"Yeah," he said. "Wait. That was supposed to be a secret. Shit."

Megumi was even more confused.

"Ugh, nevermind. I guess it's not the biggest deal if you know," Yuji mumbled. "The second day of the exchange event. It's supposed to be individual battles, but Gojo-sensei rigged it, so we'd end up playing baseball, because he thought it would be fun."

"What," Nobara deadpanned.

"I know, right?" Yuji laughed. "Principal Yaga and Principal Gakuganji were pretty pissed."

Megumi raised an eyebrow.

"Is it okay to just tell us about this?" he questioned.

"Probably," Yuji shrugged. "It's not a major thing, anyways. No one died, or anything. The biggest thing that happened was Maki-senpai hitting Todo in the face with the ball. But, yeah, other than that, not a big deal."

Nobara was staring at him.

"This is so weird," she mumbled. "Anyway, we're meeting everyone downstairs in twenty minutes, so you two better get ready, and stop cuddling."

Megumi was pretty sure he wasn't capable of blushing anymore, since his entire face was a constant shade of red at this point.

"We're not cuddling," he muttered, but Nobara had already left the room.

"We're not?" Yuji yawned, looking confused.

"No," Megumi mumbled.

"Huh," the pink-haired boy grunted, letting him go.

"I'm gonna go shower," Megumi mumbled, his face still hot.

"Okay," Yuji said. "I'm gonna get ready."

Megumi grabbed a towel and a fresh set of clothes, and headed towards the showers. As he stood under the hot water, he found himself thinking back to last night. He knew he shouldn't have asked Yuji if they could keep sharing a bed, but, Yuji didn't seem to mind. In fact, he had looked quite happy about the whole thing.

Megumi's heart skipped a beat, and he shook his head.

He really needed to stop reading so much into this.

-

When they arrived downstairs, the rest of the students were already there, and Yuji felt Todo's gaze on him, as he and Megumi walked towards them.

"Itadori, my brother!" the guy yelled, as he spotted them.

Megumi stopped, giving an incredulous look to the pink-haired boy.

"Eh?"

"Uh, long story," Yuji muttered.

"Well, you'll have to tell me later," Megumi whispered, as they kept walking.

"Hey, you guys," Maki greeted them.

"Hi, Maki-senpai," Yuji answered, smiling.

Maki smiled and looked at Megumi, eyebrow raised.

"See? Yuji can call me by my first name. How many weeks did it take for you to stop calling me Zen'in-senpai, again?" she asked.

"Shut up," Megumi muttered.

Yuji laughed. If only Maki knew how well he had known her in his old timeline, she wouldn't even bother bringing that up.

They sat down on the stairs, waiting for all the students to gather. Yuji noticed the sharp looks some of the Kyoto students were giving them, and he frowned. His eyes searched for Kamo, and, sure enough, the guy looked like he'd seen better days.

Yuji winced. He knew that Megumi hadn't meant to do any real damage, but his strength wasn't something to be underestimated.

In the corner, Mai and Momo were whispering. They kept glancing at Megumi, and the black-haired boy scowled, leaning closer to Yuji.

"What the hell is up with those two?" the boy grumbled.

Yuji chuckled.

"Fushiguro, you opened a domain expansion in the middle of the exchange event, and you killed a special-grade with barely any help. You're a pretty big deal now," he pointed out.

"Oh," Megumi mumbled. "Huh. Weird."

Yuji rolled his eyes.

"What are you rolling your eyes at?" Megumi glared.

"You. Duh," Yuji said.

Megumi shoved him.

"Shut up," the boy muttered.

Yuji stuck his tongue out.

"Make me," he challenged.

Megumi looked at him, dark blue eyes shining with amusement.

"Hey, lovebirds, stop flirting and pay attention," Maki yelled, grinning.

"We're not flirting!" both boys protested.

Maki laughed, and Nobara snorted.

"Sure," the girl teased.

"Kugisaki!"

Yuji's whining was interrupted by the arrival of Gojo, Principal Yaga, and Principal Gakuganji.

"Oh, shit," he whispered, elbowing Megumi. "It's about to go down."

Megumi gave him a confused look, before understanding dawned.

"Oh," he murmured.

"So, a lot of stuff happened, and some people have even got injured," Gojo said, looking around the room. "Whaddaya guys think? Should we continue the event?"

"Yeah, we should continue," Todo answered, before anyone else had a chance to speak. "Sure, it was a bit more challenging than defeating a second-grade like in the previous years, but ultimately, no one died. We're all in top shape, ready to compete."

The Kyoto students stared at him.

"Well, I don't know about-"

"I'm sorry, but didn't someone get critically injured?" Principal Gakuganji interrupted, his eyes cold.

Megumi stiffened, and Yuji nudged him, offering a reassuring smile.

"Kamo-san was very unfortunate," Todo conceded. "However, what happened to him wasn't against any rule, so it should not affect the event. As a matter of fact, the person who caused it was the very same one who eliminated the special-grade. So, I fail to see why it would be considered a disadvantage."

"I agree," Maki chimed in.

"Same here," Yuji added.

"I also agree," Nobara said.

The Kyoto students reluctantly nodded.

"Well, I guess, if everyone's in agreement, the Goodwill Event can proceed as planned," Principal Yaga decided.

"Yay!" Gojo cheered.

"Are the pairings for the individual portion drawn at random?" Maki asked, looking at Gojo.

"Huh?" the sorcerer asked, looking confused. "We're not doing that this year!"

Everyone looked at Gojo, with expressions reflecting various stages of confusion.

"I don't like routines," the sorcerer explained casually, throwing Yuji a wooden box. "Every year we put format suggestions in this box and open it on opening day. Go on Yuji, pick one!"

Yuji nodded, and put his hand inside the bowl.

He ruffled through the slips of paper, trying to recreate the moment when he had picked the baseball theme. Was it the third or fourth one?

He took out a slip of paper, and unfolded it.

"Soccer," he read. "Huh?"

"Yes, yes, great choice," Gojo mumbled, grabbing the slip and shoving it back in the bowl.

"Soccer," Gakuganji repeated.

"What a great choice, don't you think, principal Gakuganji?" Gojo asked, turning to him with a sickly-sweet smile.

The elderly man scowled.

"I don't recall submitting this suggestion," he grunted.

"Maybe you did," the tall man hummed. "Or, maybe, it was submitted by someone else. Either way, soccer is a great theme."

He was rewarded by death glares from both Yaga and Gakuganji.

"Very well, then," Gojo sang. "Everyone, do your best! You can go."

With that, he was out of the door, leaving the two principals dumbfounded.

"Satoru! Get back here!" Yaga yelled, running after him.

Yuji was staring after him, dumbfounded, until Megumi's voice interrupted him.

"Baseball, eh?"

"I don't know what happened! I was supposed to randomly pick baseball, but then I started stressing about picking the wrong theme, and ended up just, well, randomly picking," Yuji whispered, panicking.

Megumi giggled.

"Don't worry about it," he reassured him. "You told me yourself, it's not a big deal."

Yuji wasn't worried about the soccer theme, not really. The thing he was most concerned about was how easily the future was changed, and how little it took for the butterfly effect to take over.

"I guess," he relented.

Megumi's lips curled upwards, and he bumped his shoulder.

"Let's go," he said, getting up.

Yuji nodded, and followed him.

-

Megumi noticed a few things while playing soccer.

First, Panda was very good at defending the goal. His size was definitely an advantage, and he had managed to prevent the Kyoto team from scoring on a lot of occasions.

Second, Maki's heavenly restriction was extremely helpful. Megumi had seen her jump, and her kick had sent the ball flying into the net. She had scored five goals already, and it was the reason the Tokyo students were ahead.

Well, one of the reasons. Yuji's superhuman speed was also a significant advantage, and he had gotten two goals, thanks to his insane reflexes.

The third thing Megumi had noticed was that he was actually a pretty decent midfielder.

"Hey, Fushiguro, pass!" Yuji yelled, running towards him.

"Here!" Megumi shouted.

Yuji caught the ball, and ran past a Kyoto student. The boy dodged a tackle, and sprinted forward. Megumi's gaze was fixed on him, and, for a moment, he was distracted by the sun's glare, and how it shone brightly on the pink-haired boy.

Yuji kicked the ball, and it hit the back of the net, perfectly.

"Woooohoooo!" he yelled.

Momo, who was the Kyoto team's goalkeeper, groaned, her broom clattering to the ground.

"Another one for Yuji," Maki announced, smirking.

Megumi chuckled, and watched his friend celebrate.

Yuji had always been a competitive person, and seeing him so happy was endearing.

"Great job, Itadori," the boy said, as he got closer.

"Thanks," Yuji murmured, grinning widely. "And, you're doing great. That was a sick pass, Fushiguro."

"Thanks," Megumi said, returning the smile.

Yuji was looking at him, and his cheeks were flushed from the exertion. He had beads of sweat dripping down his neck, and his bangs were plastered to his forehead.

"Alright, we have ten minutes left, let's do this!" Todo yelled.

"Good luck," Megumi told Yuji, giving him a thumbs-up.

The boy grinned, and nodded.

The match continued, and Megumi could tell that the Kyoto students were losing hope. Their faces were grim, and they kept glancing at their watch.

Utahime was shooting daggers at Gojo, and the white-haired man looked way too pleased.

"Kugisaki, you're gonna cost us a penalty, stop it!" Megumi complained.

Nobara, who had been trying to trip Mai, rolled her eyes, but stayed away from the girl.

"It's almost over," Megumi told her.

"Thank God," the girl groaned.

"You guys were amazing!" Yuji exclaimed, coming up to them.

"As if there was any doubt," Nobara teased.

Yuji snickered.

"Alright, time's up," Utahime announced. "The score is ten to five. Congratulations, Tokyo students, you won the game."

"Thank you, thank you," Gojo sang, waving his hand.

Utahime glared.

"Well, congratulations, Tokyo students," Todo boomed, grinning.

"Thank you," Yuji answered.

"No, thank you," Todo replied. "My brother, this time spent with you was a gift I will treasure forever."

Megumi couldn't hold back his laughter.

"Come on, what the hell is he on about?" Megumi mumbled.

"I'm not sure, but he's definitely weird," Nobara whispered.

"You have no idea," Yuji muttered.

They started walking back towards the school, and Megumi sighed.

"I'm going to take a shower, I'm exhausted," he announced.

"Same," Nobara yawned.

"Yeah, let's go," Yuji agreed.

As they made their way to their rooms, Megumi thought about how a nice change of pace this had been. It had been fun to play soccer, and not have to worry about special-grades and evil ancient sorcerers, and time travel.

Maybe Gojo-sensei wasn't so stupid, after all.