"You know, I just let you win," Yuuji called out, grinning, "I wanted you to have a chance."

Fushiguro scoffed, "Keep telling yourself that."

They were both sitting on the edge of the halfpipe, their legs dangling over the side. They had just come back from the convenience store, both holding an ice cream cone. Fushiguro had won the race, and the smug look on his face had been unbearable.

Yuuji had complained about it the whole way to the store, and the entire time they were getting their ice cream. Fushiguro had just rolled his eyes, muttering, "Sore loser," under his breath.

Yuuji was used to winning, and it was strange, not being the best. But instead of being irritated, he was excited. The thought of going up against Fushiguro, and challenging him, and being challenged, was exhilarating.

And, maybe a little intimidating.

"So, what's your story?"

Fushiguro paused mid-bite, turning his head. "Huh?"

"You know," Yuuji gestured at him with his hand, "Your story. How did you start skating? Why do you prefer to skate at night?"

"You're pretty nosy, aren't you," Fushiguro sighed, "What makes you think I want to share my life story with you?"

Ah, yes. There it was, the icy wall. Yuuji was beginning to realize that it was just Fushiguro's default setting.

"I'm just curious," he shrugged, "Plus, we're friends now. It's a standard question, right?"

Fushiguro looked at him incredulously.

"We're not friends."

Yuuji grinned, "Of course we are. We're ice cream buddies now. That's like, the foundation of a friendship."

"Ice cream buddies," Fushiguro repeated, sounding utterly unimpressed.

"Yeah," Yuuji held out his ice cream cone, "Cheers."

Fushiguro sighed. But, after a brief pause, he raised his own cone, tapping it lightly against Yuuji's.

"There. Happy?"

Yuuji grinned, taking a huge bite, "Yep."

Fushiguro rolled his eyes, looking away.

"Seriously though," Yuuji said, once he had swallowed, "How long have you been skating? You're really good. And, I mean, the tricks you were pulling tonight. Those are advanced, and—"

"Since I was a kid," Fushiguro muttered.

"Huh?"

"I started when I was a kid," he said, staring at his ice cream, "My adoptive dad got me into it. I guess it was a bonding thing. Not that we did a lot of bonding."

"Adoptive?"

Yuuji realized that might be too personal of a question, but Fushiguro just shrugged, licking his ice cream.

"It's not a big deal," he said, "Mom died when I was a baby, and that useless shitstain got into some bar fight a few years later. Got stabbed in the chest."

"Oh."

"It's whatever," Fushiguro scowled, "Probably his best contribution to my life, honestly."

Yuuji bit his lip, unsure of what to say. This wasn't the type of conversation he had expected to have.

It was weird how Fushiguro didn't want to talk about something as simple as how he got into skating, but then he was sharing the story of his dad getting murdered without any hesitation. Yuuji wasn't sure if it was normal for him, or if he was just not used to socializing.

"Geez, stop looking at me like that," Fushiguro grunted, scowling, "I'm not upset. I don't even care."

"Uh, right," Yuuji nodded, forcing a smile, "Of course."

"Anyway," Fushiguro sighed, running a hand through his hair, "What's your story, Mr. Prodigy?"

So Fushiguro did care. Yuuji wasn't sure if it was because they were 'friends' now, or if Fushiguro just wanted the attention off him. Either way, he couldn't help the warm feeling spreading through his chest.

"I've been skating since I was a kid, too," Yuuji grinned, "I once saw a competiton on the TV, and there was this Japanese skater who won first place. It was so cool, watching someone from my home country win. I told myself I'd grow up to be a skater just like him, and then, one day, I could get on that stage and compete in the same competition. It was a childhood dream, y'know?"

At the mention of the Japanese skater, Fushiguro tensed, his jaw clenching. His expression was difficult to read, but Yuuji noticed the way his fingers tightened around his ice cream cone.

"What's his name?"

"Huh?"

"The skater. What's his name?"

"Oh. Gojo Satoru, the one and only," Yuji chuckled, "I know, I know. Everyone knows him. He's practically a celebrity. It's a shame he retired, though. I really wanted to skate against him, one day."

"Gojo Satoru," Fushiguro muttered, "Right."

Yuji cocked his head, "Have you heard of him? Are you a fan?"

"I've heard the name," Fushiguro said, his eyes narrowed, "But, I wouldn't call myself a fan."

Fushiguro seemed to not want to elaborate, and Yuji wasn't about to pry. He didn't want to ruin this fragile connection they had just built.

"So, what do you do during the day?" Yuji asked, changing the subject, "Since you only skate at night, I mean."

"I go to college. It's nothing exciting," Fushiguro mumbled, finishing off his ice cream.

"That's cool, what are you studying?"

Fushiguro shot him a pointed look, and Yuuji laughed nervously. The question was definitely much less personal than talking about dead fathers, but apparently it was still too far.

"Literature," Fushiguro finally said.

"Wow, really?" Yuuji grinned, "I've never met a skater that's into literature. That's so cool."

"Not really," Fushiguro scowled, averting his gaze.

"Well, I think it's cool," Yuuji insisted.

He was being completely honest. He wasn't the type to read anything beyond manga, but he was impressed by people that actually did. It was hard to focus long enough to read a book.

"What about you?"

"Hm?"

"Do you just skate all day, or what," Fushiguro asked.

The way he was glaring at him, it was like he was trying to pick him apart. It was a little intimidating.

"Yeah, more or less," Yuuji laughed sheepishly, "I dropped out of college after I started getting into competitions. I have enough sponsors, and the money from the competitions is enough to live on. So, I'm just focusing on my skating, right now."

It seemed like a logical decision, at the time. Now, Yuuji was beginning to doubt if it had been the right choice.

"You must have a lot of faith in your skills, to give up on a degree," Fushiguro arched an eyebrow.

Yuuji shrugged, "I do alright. But, I know that skating isn't gonna last forever. But I still can't imagine myself sitting behind a desk, working in some office. I'd rather stay in the industry, somehow. Maybe coach kids, or open a skate shop."

"Hmm."

"What, you think I'm crazy?" Yuuji chuckled.

"I'm just surprised," Fushiguro sighed, resting his chin in his hand, "Usually guys like you don't have plans beyond making it big. It's surprising that you're thinking about the future, at all."

"Guys like me?" Yuuji asked, his brow furrowing.

Fushiguro's eyes flicked to him, "Talented, prodigy types. The ones that get all the attention."

Yuuji wasn't sure if Fushiguro was trying to pay him a compliment or an insult.

"Are you always this blunt?" he laughed, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Yeah, probably. Don't get to practice socializing much," Fushiguro grunted.

Yuuji wasn't offended. In fact, he was surprised at how easy it was to talk to Fushiguro. Despite his harsh demeanor, and his biting remarks, it felt natural, speaking with him.

Maybe it was the late hour. Maybe it was the moonlight, making the whole scene feel dream-like. Or maybe, it was something about Fushiguro.

"Well, you'll get to practice a lot more, now," Yuuji said, flashing a smile.

Fushiguro's eyes narrowed, "What makes you think I want to keep skating with you?"

"Because," Yuuji leaned towards him, "I'm just that awesome."

He wasn't expecting the reaction he got. Fushiguro's eyes widened slightly, his mouth falling open. A faint blush spread across his cheeks, and he immediately looked away, gritting his teeth.

"Don't flatter yourself," Fushiguro muttered.

Yuuji had no idea why that comment made Fushiguro's face flush, or why he suddenly seemed so nervous. Maybe it was a reflex. He wasn't used to having conversations, and he was overwhelmed.

Yuuji didn't push it. Instead, he grinned, stretching his arms above his head.

"Welp," he said, rising to his feet, "We should probably get going, huh? Same time tomorrow?"

Fushiguro frowned. After a few moments of contemplation, he finally nodded, grunting, "Yeah. Whatever."

Yuuji was expecting a bit more of a resistance, and he wasn't sure if that meant Fushiguro was warming up to him or just didn't care enough to put up a fight. Either way, Yuuji felt a swell of triumph.

"Great!" he beamed, "See ya."

He waved goodbye, before jogging down the halfpipe and heading home. He was smiling the entire way.

-

The next day Yuuji was back at the skate park. It was early afternoon, and the sun was hot and heavy in the sky. It was a different vibe during the day, especially compared to last night.

A lot of people had come to watch him. Usually, it was a bunch of high schoolers, along with some random passersby. He recognized a few faces, and the group greeted him as he approached.

Yuuji was grateful that there were so many people who supported him. The thought made him a bit more motivated, and he started doing his usual routine. He was supposed to meet up with some of his friends later, so he was mainly just going over the basics, and doing a few tricks to keep the audience entertained.

His mind kept wandering, though. He couldn't help but wonder what Fushiguro was doing right now. Was he in class? Was he reading?

What was his life like, when he wasn't skating?

Yuuji had a hard time imagining him doing anything else. It was weird to think of Fushiguro sitting in a classroom, or reading a book, or eating lunch.

In Yuuji's mind, Fushiguro existed solely in the skatepark. And, now, in the skatepark at night, specifically.

"Dude, I've been calling your name for like, five minutes," he heard a familiar voice say, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"Oh," Yuuji turned around, rubbing the back of his neck, "Hey, Nobara."

Nobara was a childhood friend, and also a fellow skater. She was good, but she never really cared to compete. She was more interested in fashion, and working on her own skate brand. Her name was slowly gaining popularity in the skating world, and she was pretty happy with that.

Yuuji would sometimes model for her. He wasn't exactly a fan of having his picture taken, or dressing up, but Nobara was one of his best friends, so he did it anyway.

"What's got you so distracted?" Nobara asked, narrowing her eyes.

She was wearing black biker shorts, and a pink crop top. The words "Nailed It" were written across her chest, her own personal joke. A yellow sweatshirt was tied around her waist, and she had her signature longboard slung under her arm. Effortlessly cool, as always.

"Nothing, really," Yuuji shrugged.

"Yeah, right," Nobara huffed, crossing her arms, "You didn't even notice me. Usually you're like a puppy, begging for attention. It's creepy when you're quiet."

"Am I really that annoying?" Yuuji laughed sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck, "Sorry, I'm just thinking."

"Thinking? Since when are you able to do that?" Nobara teased.

"Wow, rude as always," Yuuji rolled his eyes, "I'm serious. I met a skater the other day. A really good one."

"Good enough to distract you from skating?"

"Yeah," Yuuji grinned, nodding, "He's amazing. Seriously. I think he might even be better than me."

"Better than the Itadori Yuuji?" Nobara snickered, "You're being dramatic."

"No, really," Yuuji insisted, "I'm not exaggerating. He's incredible. He does these insanely complex tricks, and it's like they're no effort for him. And, he beat me in a race the other night, and—"

"Whoa, hold up," Nobara held up a hand, her brows furrowing, "Someone beat you in a race? You're like, the king of races."

"Yeah, well, I told him I let him win, and then he told me I was an idiot," Yuuji chuckled, shaking his head, "He's such a prick, honestly. He's really rude. But, there's just something about him. Like, when we're skating together, it's almost fun. Even though he doesn't smile, or laugh, or anything."

Nobara raised an eyebrow.

"If I didn't know you were straight, I'd think you were crushing on this guy," she teased.

"Wha—I am straight," Yuuji protested, "Seriously. I'm just impressed, that's all. I wanna see him skate again, so I can beat him this time."

"Right, right. Because nothing gets the blood pumping like a good rival," Nobara nodded, her tone dripping with sarcasm, "So, what's this guy's deal? New in town? How come we've never seen him around before?"

"Apparently he only skates at night," Yuuji replied, shrugging, "Which is weird, but I'm not judging. Anyway, you gotta meet him. He's super talented."

"You just said that."

"Huh. I guess I did," Yuuji grinned sheepishly, "Anyway, are we still meeting up with the others?"

"Of course," Nobara smirked, "But, before we go, I wanted to take some photos of you skating in that hoodie I designed. It'd be nice to get some action shots, y'know? So, get your ass moving."

Yuuji rolled his eyes, sighing dramatically. But, he didn't argue. He'd do just about anything for Nobara.

He put the hoodie on, and started skating around the park, doing various tricks and moves. He wasn't very photogenic, or a good model, but Nobara had plenty of practice taking photos of him.

"Yeah, look over your shoulder, that's good," she said, snapping the photo, "Alright, now do a kickflip."

"Roger," Yuuji said, following her directions.

They went through a few different poses and moves, before Nobara finally sighed, "Alright, that should be enough. Thanks."

"No problem," Yuuji shrugged, pulling the hoodie off.

"Now, c'mon. The others are waiting," Nobara huffed, starting towards the skate park's exit, "Race you there?"

Yuuji grinned, "You're on."

They both grabbed their boards, racing out of the skate park. Nobara was laughing as she kicked off, quickly speeding ahead of him. She had a massive advantage due to her longboard, but Yuuji had stamina, and he easily caught up.

They skated alongside each other, and eventually they were just a blur, zipping through the streets. They arrived at the café, panting and laughing.

"Damn, I thought I had you that time," Nobara grinned, wiping her forehead.

"You got close," Yuuji admitted.

The two entered the café. It was an alternative, hipster kind of place. Despite its distance from the skatepark, it was popular among their group of friends, though another reason was the fact that it was owned by Tsukumo Yuki, ex-skating champion and Yuuji's brother's fiancé.

She was eccentric, and definitely didn't seem like the type to settle down and run a café, but it worked out for her.

They found their friends—Maki, Panda, Yuuta and Toge—sitting at a table in the back.

"Hey guys!" Nobara greeted.

"Sup," Yuuji smiled, sliding into a seat.

"There you two are," Maki sighed, shaking her head, "Let me guess. You were racing."

"Yup!" Nobara chirped, taking a seat, "I totally had him for a second."

"In your dreams," Yuuji scoffed, reaching across the table to ruffle her hair, "I'd smoke you any day."

"Whatever," Nobara scowled, swatting his hand away, "Don't mess with the hair."

They both knew the playful insults were all in good fun. Yuuji and Nobara had been friends since they were kids, and they always treated each other like siblings. They had similar energy and attitudes, and the group always joked that they shared a single brain cell.

"It's been awhile, Yuuji," Yuuta said, giving a soft smile, "How have you been?"

"Fine," Yuuji nodded, "Just busy with competitions and stuff."

"Speaking of," Maki hummed, leaning forward slightly, "I saw some posters around town for a big tournament coming up. Are you gonna enter?"

"I'm not sure yet," Yuuji admitted, rubbing the back of his neck, "It has a portion where you have to pair up with someone, and I'm not sure if I wanna do that. Like, I could probably find a partner, but I've always skated solo."

That wasn't the whole truth. Yuuji had never even considered entering the tournament before. He'd seen the posters around town, but he didn't give it much thought, as it wasn't his usual scene.

But, he couldn't deny the fact that the thought of skating with Fushiguro had crossed his mind. Of course, he had a feeling that if he actually asked, Fushiguro would tell him to fuck off. Or, just ignore him completely and skate away.

"I see," Maki hummed, tilting her head, "Well, you don't have to do it. It's a pretty big event, though. Lots of sponsors. Yuuta and Toge were actually talking about entering."

"Really?" Yuuji raised an eyebrow, looking between the two.

"Yeah," Yuuta nodded, "I know we don't stand a chance against big shots like you, but we have a lot of experience skating together, so we figured it'd be a fun challenge."

"That sounds awesome, dude," Yuuji smiled.

Toge nodded, flashing a peace sign.

He and Yuuta were a duo, both professionally and romantically. They skated together often, and had a sort of chemistry that couldn't be replicated. Yuuji was always in awe whenever he watched them, and was a bit jealous of how they were always able to match each other's movements.

Sure, Yuuji was way more talented than them individually, but he was impressed by their dynamic. He wished he could have a connection like that.

"Well, I'm rooting for you guys," Yuuji smiled.

"Thanks," Yuuta laughed, rubbing the back of his neck, "But seriously, you should consider entering. You're an amazing skater. I'm sure anyone would be happy to pair up with you."

"Yeah," Nobara huffed, smirking slightly, "Anyone, right?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Yuuji asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I was just thinking, if only there was someone else who skated here," Nobara tapped her chin, feigning ignorance, "Someone who was talented, incredible, does these insanely complex tricks, blah blah blah..."

"Yeah, yeah, okay," Yuuji rolled his eyes, crossing his arms, "Look, he is super talented. But, that doesn't mean he's good at skating with other people."

"Well, why don't you ask him?"

"I could," Yuuji nodded, "But I'm scared he'd bite my head off and never talk to me again."

"Wow, he sounds delightful," Maki commented.

"He's...complicated," Yuuji decided.

"Right," Nobara drawled.

"Anyway, I doubt he'd be willing to skate with me," Yuuji huffed, slumping back in his seat, "And, besides, even if he agreed, I'm not sure how good our dynamic would be. Like, we could barely skate together for five minutes without him insulting me."

"Wow, sounds like he really likes you," Nobara deadpanned, "Are you sure he's not flirting?"

"Oh my god, shut up," Yuuji groaned. "That's not funny."

"It's a little funny."

"Guys," Yuuta interrupted, giving an awkward laugh, "I think you're getting a bit off topic here. Yuuji, if you want to enter the competition, and find a partner, I'm sure you can do it. And, even if this guy is rude to you, that doesn't mean you should let him affect your life. Skating is a lot of fun. Don't let it become stressful for you."

Yuuta was always the mediator of the group. He had a natural tendency to calm things down, and he was always there for his friends. He was the best listener, and would do anything to help his friends, no matter what.

"Yeah," Yuuji hummed, nodding, "You're right. Thanks, dude."

"No problem," Yuuta smiled.

"Well, now that that's settled," Maki said, crossing her arms, "We should get something to eat. I'm starving."

"Agreed," Panda nodded.

"Pork buns," Toge added, holding up his hand.

He didn't speak much, but when he did, it was always food-related. They had a running joke that the only thing he liked more than skating was food, though the truth was he was just a shy person.

"Good call," Yuuji agreed, "I'll order for us."

With that, they all went back to chatting and joking around.

Yuuji's friends were an odd bunch, but they were his family. They'd been there for him for a long time, and were always there to support him. They were the only ones who really understood his passion for skating, and could relate.

He couldn't imagine skating without them.

-

Megumi hated himself for feeling excited.

When he heard the sound of a board rolling across the ground, his heart skipped a beat. When he turned around and saw Yuji, his lips threatened to curve into a smile.

Ugh, how pathetic.

Thankfully he managed to doctor his expression, keeping a neutral mask. He crossed his arms, his bored gaze falling on the skater.

"Fushiguro," Itadori smiled, stopping next to him, "You came."

"Did I have a choice?" Megumi asked dryly, "You'd just come and annoy me if I didn't show up."

"Probably," Yuji shrugged.

"Great," Megumi muttered.

Truth was, Megumi was a dirty liar. He had a choice, and he chose to show up. If he wanted to avoid Itadori, he could just stay home. Or, change his skating location. There were plenty of options. But, no, Megumi was stupid, and wanted to see him again.

He wasn't entirely sure why. There was just something about Itadori that was addictive. Like a drug, or some stupid shit like that. It pissed Megumi off, because he wasn't supposed to be attracted to anyone, let alone an idiot like Itadori.

But, then again, Megumi never did have a good sense of self-preservation.

"Anyway," Itadori huffed, putting his hands on his hips, "Let's get down to business. I was wondering if you wanted to do some tricks and stuff together. You know, like, a collaboration. I think it'd be fun."

Megumi's eye twitched.

"Fun? For who?"

"Both of us, duh," Itadori rolled his eyes, "Dude, have a little faith. I bet you don't have anyone who can keep up with you. Have you ever tried skating in a pair? I'll blow your mind."

Megumi wanted to point out that blowing his mind would involve a lot less skating, and a lot more of the two of them being horizontal, but he wasn't a complete idiot. He knew not to voice that.

"I'll pass," Megumi said, starting to walk past him.

"Whoa, hold up," Itadori caught his wrist, holding him in place, "Come on, Fushiguro. At least give me a chance."

Megumi paused. The contact was...odd. It wasn't uncomfortable, or unwelcome. His hand was warm, and Megumi wondered if his fingers were rough from all the skating. He could feel his pulse beating quickly, and Megumi had to wonder why he was nervous.

"You're really annoying, you know that?" Megumi huffed.

"Sorry, I guess," Itadori laughed, letting go of his wrist, "So, will you skate with me?"

No. Absolutely not. That was a horrible idea. There were countless reasons why Megumi shouldn't.

"Fine," Megumi sighed.

Apparently his self-preservation had taken a vacation.

"Awesome!" Itadori cheered, grinning brightly, "I'm really glad. Okay, so, I have some ideas. First—"

"No," Megumi shook his head, "You don't get to call the shots. We do this my way."

Itadori tilted his head, humming thoughtfully.

"Okay," he said slowly, "I can work with that. How are we gonna do it, then?"

Megumi paused, thinking.

He'd never skated in a pair before. He never even considered it. But, there was a first time for everything.

"Follow my lead," Megumi ordered.

With that, he kicked off, doing a few simple moves. Itadori was quick to follow, matching him perfectly.

They fell into sync. Like, really well. It was almost like they could read each other's minds, anticipating the next move before it happened. Megumi was a bit surprised and had to wonder how they were so in tune. Maybe Itadori was more perceptive than he'd given him credit for.

Or maybe Megumi was just easy to read.

Either way, it worked. Better than expected. They tried out different tricks, and it was like a game of chess—each thinking a step ahead, anticipating the other's moves. Megumi had never felt this in sync with anyone before. It was like they were sharing a brain, or something.

Wait, no. Gross. Megumi definitely didn't want to share a brain with Itadori.

But, the point was, they were a good match. He couldn't explain why or how, but it was undeniable. They seemed to be on the same wavelength, able to read each other's intentions effortlessly. It was almost like a dance.

And, much to Megumi's dismay, he had to admit—it was kind of... fun.

After a while, they ended up stopping.

"That was awesome!" Itadori exclaimed, pumping his fists in the air, "Damn, dude, I've never had so much fun skating with someone. We were like a single mind. You're seriously incredible."

Megumi's chest swelled, and a traitorous part of him wanted to agree. Wanted to praise him and tell him he was amazing too. But, instead, he just scoffed.

"Not bad," he said, shrugging, "You were adequate, I guess."

"Oh, just 'adequate,'" Itadori repeated, putting his hands on his hips, "Don't act like you weren't having fun. Your poker face is weak. I could totally see the sparkle in your eyes."

"Whatever," Megumi rolled his eyes, turning around.

He tried to ignore the fact that his heart was pounding, and that his lips were threatening to turn up in a smile. He wasn't going to admit that he was impressed. Or, that he was having fun.

Nope. Not gonna happen.

"Hey," Itadori called, "I kinda wanted to ask you something."

"What is it?" Megumi asked, turning to look over his shoulder.

"Have you seen any posters around town for an upcoming competition? There's a portion where you have to skate in a pair."

Megumi had, actually.

There were posters plastered around everywhere. Some on the side of buildings, some in store windows. It was a pretty big deal.

Megumi didn't know the details, but he'd heard people talking about it. Apparently the winner would get a huge cash prize. He'd also overheard some guys at the park bragging about how they'd enter, but it was obvious they were just trying to look cool.

Megumi thought the whole thing was kind of pointless, but to each their own.

"I have," Megumi said, nodding, "Why?"

"Well, I was thinking," Itadori paused, looking at his feet, "Maybe we could, uh, enter together."

Ah. So that's what it was.

Of course, Megumi had already suspected that's what this was leading up to. There wasn't much else Itadori would ask about. But, the confirmation still made him freeze up.

"I don't do competitions," Megumi stated.

"Yeah, I know," Itadori sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, "Just, hear me out. I'm not trying to force you. If you really hate the idea, then whatever. But, you've gotta admit, we were good. Like, really good. I've never had that kind of chemistry with someone. I've always skated solo. Until you."

He looked up, meeting Megumi's gaze.

Megumi swallowed. No one had ever looked at him with so much intensity. He felt like he was being stripped bare, and he hated how exposed he felt. It was a struggle to maintain eye contact, but he didn't want to back down.

But, he reminded himself that this was a horrible idea.

He didn't do competitions. He didn't like crowds. He didn't like attention. He hated the idea of having his every move analyzed by strangers. And, more than anything, he hated the thought of having to stand on the same platform as Gojo.

He wasn't going to get roped into this. No way.

"No," Megumi stated.

Itadori blinked, frowning.

"No?" he repeated.

"No," Megumi confirmed.

"Right," Itadori said slowly, "Well, you should think about it. I won't bug you if you say no, but—"

"I'm not going to change my mind," Megumi interrupted, crossing his arms, "Look, we can skate together, fine. But, I'm not doing some stupid competition."

"Okay," Itadori said quietly.

His eyes were downcast, and Megumi had a hard time reading him.

Megumi was expecting him to try harder. To argue, or persuade him. But, he didn't. He just accepted it, and let it go. Megumi wasn't sure what to think.

"Okay, well," Itadori started, turning to walk away, "Thanks for skating with me. It was fun. Same time tomorrow?"

Megumi paused, pursing his lips.

"I'll come watch you do your stupid tricks," he muttered, hating the way his voice sounded. "Tomorrow, during the day. I won't skate, though."

"Oh," Itadori brightened, grinning slightly, "Really? You'll come?"

"Yeah," Megumi mumbled, averting his gaze, "Whatever. I have nothing better to do."

"Awesome," Itadori laughed. "Well, then, I'll see you tomorrow."

Megumi hummed in acknowledgment, watching him leave. He couldn't understand why his chest felt heavy, and his stomach churned. It was a feeling he was unaccustomed to, and he had no idea what it meant.

Was he upset?

Did he feel guilty?

No. He refused. He was perfectly within his rights to reject the invitation. This was all Itadori's idea, and it was a dumb one. It was better to put a stop to it before it got out of hand.

Then why did he feel like shit?

With a sigh, Megumi shook his head. He didn't have the energy to dwell on this right now. He turned and started walking away.

The feeling in his chest lingered.